| Author | Message | ||
| Goldenbear Registered user Username: Goldenbear Post Number: 90 Registered: 12-2004 |
In the May 12 version of the Adventist Review, a reported that the 2005 Spring GC meeting took the following action... "Delegates voted to finance and put into action a plan to distribute globally 2 million Ellen G. White books with study guides, an initiative called "Connecting With Jesus" and originally voted at Annual Council 2004. Because recent surveys indicate a decline in readership of the 10 E. G. White volumes to be distributed, church leaders cited an objective of "enhancing Adventist identity and increasing spirituality among church members." Surveys also suggest that most church members believe that the Spirit of Prophecy is "an authority for the Adventist Church today" and that there is a relationship between a strong spiritual life/mission emphasis and members regularly reading Spirit of Prophecy books. The books will be distributed over five years and financed by the General Conference as well as division offices. They will be sold for a small cost." My thought, why not have FAF members create a drive to donate our EGW books to the cause. I know that some may see that as perpetuating the lie, but if we could somehow place "truth filled literature" in them we might wake people up to the truth. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1485 Registered: 3-2004  |
Whoever received our books just might go through them and take out the literature. Then we might go through them and write on the page, FALSE WITH A BIBLE TEXT TO SHOW WHY. Just an idea. I do not know about you, but as for me, I threw all my EGW books away where no one could get at them. Diana | ||
| Lindylou Registered user Username: Lindylou Post Number: 51 Registered: 1-2005 |
Goldenbear, your post made me smile. At one time I wanted to burn all my EGW books. I had them stashed away in boxes. But just recently, I've gotten them out- for reference. And I have to say I'm glad I saved them. Because - when I bring certain quotes of Ellen's up to folks - they don't believe she actually said that - and it is handy to be able to show them from the actual book. Over the years - the SDA church has gleaned out troubling quotes of EGW and really whitewashed a lot of her literature. The more recent generation has no clue as to what those books originally said. So keeping a few on hand has it's good points. I've pulled them out for my own kids sake - so they can see the "truth" of the lies themselves. (When I showed my youngest the quote about how the prayers of parents who put eggs, milk and butter on the table will never reach God - she said, "Mom that lady was crazy!") Flyinglady had a good point herself - writing in the book and showing from the Bible how the quote contradicts. It is interesting that there is a sudden push to get EGW out there. The SDA church has once again lost a wonderful opportunity to come clean and admit their mistake. But instead, they are going backwards again! | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 443 Registered: 7-2004 |
Goldenbear! It is GREAT to hear from you! I have missed you. I have tried emailing but have not heard back. I hope everything is going well for you and Mrs. Goldenbear  . Please tell her hello for me. | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 879 Registered: 7-2003  |
I agree, Lindylou, that they are whitewashing the things EGW really said. I've tried to find older versions of her books just so I can "verify" the discrepancies, but I don't want to spend much on them. I actually found a couple in my church library and when I told the librarian about the author, she was going to throw them away...so I got a couple that way, but they're still comparatively recent volumes. With the older volumes getting harder to find, it's harder to prove. The "internet books" aren't the actual thing, so it's easy to claim they're "doctored". It's always so fascinating to me because B continually insists EGW is not that big of a deal to the church, yet every time I turn around it's her books being pushed, not the Bible. I figure they've got a better return on EGW books, both in terms of keeping the people deluded, and their pocket books. I guess that sounds awfully skeptical.... | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 1958 Registered: 12-2003  |
Awfully accurate, I'm afraid, Melissa... James White also valued Ellen's (and his own) books for their monetary rewards. Colleen | ||
| Jwd Registered user Username: Jwd Post Number: 6 Registered: 4-2005 |
There definitely appears to be a focused effort to pull attention (and loyalty) back to traditional SADventist beliefs by coating everything with a thick frosting layer of Egg White. For me, I see the distinct possibility of lifting SADventism out of the questionable sect and cult identity to make it equally as sectarian as Mormonism; which gives Joseph Smith authority prominence above even "their" bible. Jesus said, "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me." Spreading Egg White prominently will only draw attention to what my personal contention has been for years: namely, that the REAL message of the SADventist Church is "The Church! The Church! The Church!" Jesus and their version of a distorted Gospel ranks only one sigle night in their proselytizing meetings; while the trail of their spotlight in advertising points inevitably to the Sabbath as one signal sign of the only true remnant church. Christ is NOT, not only # 1, He is not "All and in All." JWD | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 658 Registered: 10-2004  |
"James White also valued Ellen's (and his own) books for their monetary rewards." And the same is true for Ellen herself. Diana, I think that may be a good idea about writing in the books. Jeremy | ||
| Heretic Registered user Username: Heretic Post Number: 89 Registered: 2-2005 |
Talking about "proselytizing meetings", we had a guest speaker today at the local SDA church who is having a Revelation seminar here in our town right now. Most of the sermon was about how when Peter walked on water, he fell in when his faith wavered. The main point was that Christ works through us to do wonderful things. I believe this to be true, but I'm sure it was meant more in the spirit of using the power of Christ to empower us to keep the law. But what I really wanted to talk about was the last 5 or 10 minutes of the sermon which focused on the seminar. He talked about how important it is for everyone to be there at the offsite location so that when they started talking about new "truths" like the Sabbath, mark of the beast, etc., there would be plenty of people there saying amen and backing him up so that it would be easier to accept being among people who already believe this. He also asked that people "try to become friends" with the non-SDA's so that it will be easier for them to want to come into the fold and thus easier to accept the "truths" if they are endorsed by their new "friends". "Hey, John and Barbara seem like such a nice couple, and they are so darned friendly. If they believe it, maybe it's true." Many years ago, I was duped into going to a cleverly disguised multi-level marketing introductory meeting. There were probably 30 or 40 people there but only 3 or 4 were possible signees. The guy up front would say something like, "Who wants to make a lot of money?!!!" and the crowd would get into a big frenzy and shout, "Meeeeeee!!!!", "I do!!", "Who wouldn't?!!", or "Bring it on!!" They were obviously current reps brought in to try and legitimize what it was they were trying to sell or get us to sell and it seemed way disingenuous to me. They were all so interested in us as people or "friends" until we told them we weren't interested and suddenly they had no more use for us. Today's appeal reminded me of that whole experience. Bringing in "ringers" seems utterly dishonest and Snake Oil Salesman-esque. Why can't they just let people decide for themselves without the peer pressure? I think the answer is obvious. Heretic | ||
| Becky Registered user Username: Becky Post Number: 14 Registered: 2-2005 |
Oh Heretic, that is horrifying. I heard something today that I question as well. A friend of ours has an adult relative with autism. This relative got involved with SDA. He was receiving disability and apparently the church was taking minimally 20% of that each month. This happened until another relative found out and threatened the church with a lawsuit. I visited my parents' church ONCE and thought how odd they had such a large percentage of deaf folks there. Can anyone confirm or offer any insight on the SDA policy on duping the disabled? | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 660 Registered: 10-2004 |
I know that they practice elder abuse as a regular practice of theirs--they get the elderly people (and even the not-so-elderly I assume) to give a large amount of money to them in their wills/trusts. They even have denominational employees who write up the wills/trusts for the lay members, and they try to make sure the SDA cult gets a nice share. Jeremy | ||
| Heretic Registered user Username: Heretic Post Number: 90 Registered: 2-2005 |
Just in case, I'd better clarify something. The comment made in my post above, "Hey, John and Barbara seem like such a nice couple, and they are so darned friendly. If they believe it, maybe it's true.", was my comment, not stated in the sermon. Heretic | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 295 Registered: 3-2005 |
Heretic, Yes, I believe the SDA church is as deceptive as those Amway style meetings you mention above! Stan | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 1963 Registered: 12-2003 |
I agree. Colleen | ||
| Heretic Registered user Username: Heretic Post Number: 100 Registered: 2-2005 |
Someone tell me if you've seen this before or if it's a new device for proselytizing. Check this out. This an update of my above post from last week. As stated, there is a Revelation seminar being put on by two SDA churches here in our town with our church being one of them. In a couple of weeks we won't be having church at our own church building but at the site of the seminars. I'm almost certain this is to ensure large attendance for the broaching of the 7th day Sabbath doctrine, mark of the beast, SDA as remnant, etc, in other words the more controversial material (just as the speaker wanted -- as mentioned in my post above). Then the next two weeks after that first meeting at the hall, the church service will again be integrated into the seminars but this time they will be held at the church during the regularly scheduled worship time. Anyhow, maybe I was just too young to remember all the ins and outs of those types of series but I don't remember our church services ever being integrated with a series of meetings in this manner. To me it merely seems like more manipulation, not only of the unsuspecting targets, but of the church members by making them be part of the meetings. By even being there at the offsite or the church, it seems like its giving tacit approval of the chosen methods thus making all church members accomplices to the deception. I know most members could never see it this way, but it just seems so misleading, and like I said above, manipulative. Oh well, the end result justifies the means, right? Have any of you seen this happen before? | ||
| Belvalew Registered user Username: Belvalew Post Number: 470 Registered: 7-2004 |
I grew up in the Southwest and I remember the Las Cruces, NM church joining forces with the El Paso, TX church. We helped prepare the mailing on one Sabbath afternoon (the prohibition against working was suspended that day), and the members of the Las Cruces church drove 50 miles both ways to become part of the audience in a rented hall, and we also drive to El Paso on weekends during the course of the campaign to keep the "attendance numbers" looking good. This was in 1958. This type of padding the numbers has been going on for a very long time. | ||
| Chris Registered user Username: Chris Post Number: 797 Registered: 7-2003  |
It is quite common to rent a hall to mask the fact that the seminar is linked to Adventism (you will not see "SDA" in any of the advertisments). When renting a hall is not possible, the SDA church sign is often covered up with a banner (I have personally seen this in Lincoln). If held at a church the name is often altered when the location is given in the newspaper. For instance, here in Lincoln, The "Piedmont Seventh-day Adventist Church" became the "Piedmont Christian Church" during the "Bible Prophecy Seminar". As an aside, this is sometimes done even when it is not in connection with a Revelation Seminar. The "College View Seventh-day Adventist Church" in Lincoln goes by the name "College View Christian Church" when broadcasting its services on a local TV station. As a result of having our Lincoln FAF contact information posted on this website we were recently able to help an evangelical pastor whose congregation had been receiving Bible Prophecy Seminars. We were able to confirm that indeed the advertised speaker was an SDA evangelist (even though the fliers did not say so) and provide info on the types of materials that would be presented at the seminar. The Pastor was very grateful and was able to give his flock the information they needed to avoid getting sucked into these meetings. I believe it behooves each one of us to share the information that we have with unsuspecting evangelical Christians. Heretic, I pray that you will be empowered to get the word out in your area! Chris | ||
| Bob Registered user Username: Bob Post Number: 262 Registered: 7-2000  |
Chris, those SDA evangelistic "cover-up" methods shout loudly that they are immersed in SHAME, whether or not they will admit it! On some level, the KNOW that what they are doing is WRONG! Bob | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 683 Registered: 10-2004 |
Heretic, are you going to be handing out Dale Ratzlaff booklets to the attendees, or anything? Jeremy | ||
| Belvalew Registered user Username: Belvalew Post Number: 475 Registered: 7-2004 |
Jeremy, that's a wonderful idea. If each of us were to contribute $10 or more to the cause, Heretic could have several copies of "The Truth About Seventh-day Adventist Truth. I'm more than happy to contribute to that cause. How quickly could we get this organized so he can have the booklets in time? I'm serious here. Tell me where to mail a check. Belva |
