| Author |
Message |
Heretic
Registered user
Username: Heretic
Post Number: 29
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Friday, April 01, 2005 - 6:26 pm: |     |
Skip,
I empathize with you, brother. This is a problem that I'm having right now as I process out of the church. As my wife and I have been discussing SDA church doctrine lately, we're finding that our conversations are peppered frequently with "Was that from Ellen White or the Bible?" However, I think it's things like this that are beginning to show my wife in a practical way that there is indeed something wrong with this picture. This isn't a question that Christians should ever have to ask themselves. We've also been alarmed at EGW/SDA doctrines being seruptitiously injected into the kid's books, weekly periodical, and educational materials. When your "EGW filters" are in place these things aren't always so easy to detect thanks to a lifetime of indoctrination. With some folks (like our R/S friends), I believe it would take more than just taking off the filter glasses but would require laser surgery. I still have trouble even recognizing that my filters are on sometimes, but the more I study Scripture and trust the Holy Spirit to lead me to Truth, those filters start to disappear. |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 1719
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, April 02, 2005 - 10:39 am: | |
Dennis, you are so right about the internet changing the church's control of information and about their being their own worst enemies.
I'm actually curious to see how the next GC Session plays out this summer. The leak of membership is growing into a hemorrhage in North America.
Colleen |
Flyinglady
Registered user
Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 1292
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, April 02, 2005 - 12:11 pm: | |
Looks like God is really working and answering our prayers. Hallelujah! Praise God!
Diana |
Esther
Registered user
Username: Esther
Post Number: 191
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, April 03, 2005 - 5:59 am: | |
Praise God for those exiting! FYI: I was in our local Banner Bookstore this weekend and saw that they are now carrying Dale's books, Greg's book, and all the White books (White, Out; White-washed; etc). I was really excited to see that! |
Riverfonz
Registered user
Username: Riverfonz
Post Number: 133
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, April 03, 2005 - 10:44 am: | |
Esther, Is Banner bookstore a chain, or can you order those books thru any Christian bookstore? Stan |
Esther
Registered user
Username: Esther
Post Number: 192
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Monday, April 04, 2005 - 6:13 am: | |
I'm not really sure if it's a chain. I know several places I've lived have had a Banner Bookstore (which is always a Christian bookstore), but all my attempts to find a reference online fail. Some of the local Banner's have websites, but there doesn't seem to be a corporate one.
So, it may just be a fluke that this particular store has them. I plan on calling in to talk to the manager to thank him for carrying them. In this Adventist community I don't suppose he will get alot of that response  He is a very old German man who is filled with the Spirit. When Stephen and I first were questioning things, and hadn't contacted anyone yet, we went there to find new Bibles (we only had KJV...like good little SDA's) and he really reassured us that the Bible could be trusted and helped us find a good modern translation that was very close to the original text (NRSV and NASB). Only, at that time, he didn't have any books against Adventism. Anyway, it just sent a spark of joy through me to see them there now! |
Pw
Registered user
Username: Pw
Post Number: 354
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 05, 2005 - 8:14 am: | |
Intimidation doesn't come from the Bible, but from Ellen White. Whenever a SDA tries to put a guilt trip on you, they will usually quote something from White's writings. Although they love to use the old tactic of Jesus saying "If you love me then keep my commandments" and tie in sabbath keeping with that, but his commandments said nothing about sabbath keeping. Jesus said to love God with all your heart and soul and love your neighbor as yourself. That sums up the whole law. Hardly what White taught her clan to do. |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 1729
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 05, 2005 - 10:33 am: | |
Hardly, indeed. I'm working on an article re: the current liberal interpretation of the investigative judgment to accompany an excellent one by Chris Badenhorst explaining exactly how the traditional doctrine was formulated using the tabernacle service as a model. In researching the subject and reading essays/ publications explaining the subject, I'm battling that old zoned-out, heaviness-in-my-stomach, confused feeling such writings used to produce in me.
What I'm realizing now is how TWISTED and dishonest those Adventist publications are. Even the current "theologians" who write about the subjects are just as confusing and dishonest with Scripture as Ellen was. Yet everything is blended together with a few clever transitional words that leave the reader feeling as if they're getting "deep thoughts" and clever insights--but when you step back from it and try to assess what you've just read and compare it to Scripture, it's all confusion.
No, Ellen certainly did not make loving God with all one's heart and one's neighbor as oneself the central point of her message.
Sigh.
Colleen |
Faith2
Registered user
Username: Faith2
Post Number: 30
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 05, 2005 - 11:08 am: | |
Colleen,
You are absolutely right about Ellen. Nevertheless, I thank God every day for my freedom in him. At times I feel sorrow for the many Adventist who are "happily" deceived.
Satan is so wicked. I truly believe in many areas he mockingly led Ellen to write about herself and the stance of her followers.
In the Great Controversy she wrote that in the end that the throng of the lost will look at Satan and want to tear him to shreds because they allowed such a lowly coward to deceive them. I believe that she was describing her own fate!
Colleen, relax and allow God to flow through you. You once were blind girlfriend but now you see. We serve an awesome God!
|
Pw
Registered user
Username: Pw
Post Number: 356
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 05, 2005 - 11:26 am: | |
That's a big problem I encountered within the SDA. If you dared to contest any of White's writings you were scorned into thinking that you are questioning God's prophet and therefore putting your salvation on the line.
Again, fear and guilt are the two strongest bonds that cults use to keep their flocks tied down. I'm so glad I broke free through God's grace. |
Bmorgan
Registered user
Username: Bmorgan
Post Number: 35
Registered: 7-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 05, 2005 - 2:33 pm: | |
Faith2,
I don't remember whether or not I extended a hearty welcome to you for being on the forum. I am doing so now.
Correct me if I am mistaken but did I read a post from you expressing your "fears" about being in a church not predominating AfricanAmerican? I am interested in hearing how you are doing now, and whether your fears have abated any.
I would like to speak to you privately. You can get my e mail address from Colleen. Ilook forward to hearing from you.
bmorgan |
