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Randyg
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Username: Randyg

Post Number: 263
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Tuesday, October 03, 2006 - 12:41 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

As some of you might recall, I have the pleasure of playing 9 holes of Golf once a week with 2 of my Adventist buddies.

We haven't spoken about anything specific to my leaving for probably 6 weeks or so. This week after dissecting the Ryder cup results, Tiger's win on Sunday, and my new putter, IT came up again, out of the blue, as I was teeing up my ball on the last hole.... Now I know there was no intent to throw me off my game, because I hadn't hit 2 consecutive decent drives all evening, and I could't find my game, or the fairway with a flashlight.

HOW CAN YOU JUST IGNORE THE SABBATH?

Sure enough I hooked the ball into the trees.

So began my brief description on my understanding of New Covenant Theology, and Christ's fulfillment of the Sabbath commandment, and the Mosiac Laws in general.

My friend said he recognized Romans 14:5 where Paul states "Let every man be convinced in his own mind." It seemed like an honest question as to how I could be convinced anyway other than we had been taught.

This question about the Sabbath, and the Mosiac law (10C) is the toughest concept for most Adventists to deal with.

As My brief explanation was somewhat cryptic and off guard I said I had two articles I would like him to read if he was truly curious as to how I now understood the Sabbath and the Law. He said he would read them so he would have a better understanding, be it right or wrong.

Now there is a lot of material that goes into great detail on the Sabbath question, the Old and New Covenants, and what is, and is not applicable to Christians.I have found that Adventists are not the only ones who try and mix the Covenants together to come up with an acceptable Theological Statement or Creed.

The two articles that I dropped off for him are the two that I found the most easy to understand, and I believe are sound theological representations of the Christian's understanding of the New Covenant in Christ. I highly endorse both articles and would share them with anyone how finds these topics a source of interest or conflict.

John Reisinger's The Believer's Sabbath is found at http://www.soundofgrace.com/jgr/index076.htm
THe whole Soundofgrace website is a treasure trove of helpful material for those trying to gain a greater understanding of the New Covenant.

The other article that I feel is a true masterpiece of New Covenant understanding is titled "Christians and the Ten Commandments" by Dave Root. This paper touchs on all the arguments that Adventism throws up to support the Mosiac Law and especially the 4th commandment. If you have any questions regarding these topics, PLEASE READ and/or get a copy of THIS ARTICLE. It is found at http://www.layhands.com/TenCommandments.htm.

We have a hiatus from Golf for a couple of weeks as my friend is traveling. Please pray that he will take the opportunity to look closely at these papers, and that he prayerfully seeks understanding.

I'm just glad he is still curious and is willing.I don't want to change him. He is happy having all his theology correct. And I am glad he still hangs with me.

Lord, Thy will be done, is my prayer.

Randy

(I did not capitalize the G in Golf to denote any deification of the game, only to point out that it is a noble pursuit worthy of respect....It can also, like theological debate, be extremely frustrating, and yet we continual jump back in for more punishment. In Golf like in the Christian life, the pursuit of excellence never leads to perfection. And just when you think you have won a battle, or can see improvement, you end up in a trap or out of bounds.)




Randyg
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Username: Randyg

Post Number: 264
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Tuesday, October 03, 2006 - 1:10 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Addendum to above post:

Mosiac Law should read Mosaic Law. It is late, I am tired, and I am out of excuses.
Javagirl
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Username: Javagirl

Post Number: 297
Registered: 6-2005
Posted on Tuesday, October 03, 2006 - 6:04 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Randy,
I doesn't take a sabbath question to get me to hook the ball into the trees!~~ (wrong driver, too hot, too cold, too quiet, too noisy, someone whispered, too rushed, too much time to think, sun in my eyes, dirty club, grass too wet, grass too dry, too much humidity, sore shoulder, a distracting leaf on the ground....)
But thanks for the laugh. I could just picture the moment.

And thanks for the links. I am finally beginning to build up some resources for sharing on the sabbath question. I didnt read the 2nd link yet, but I loved the statement by the author at the end. "This article contains my own personal views after doing my best to prayerfully, honestly, thoroughly, and objectively study what God has said in His Word, and I pray that it will be a blessing to you!" I will try to study the article with the same attitude!

Lori
Randyg
Registered user
Username: Randyg

Post Number: 265
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Tuesday, October 03, 2006 - 8:05 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Lori,

You described my excuses from the first 8 holes that evening, to a tee. Thankfully the drive TO the golf course was nice.

Fairways and greens,(maybe in heaven,eh!)

Randy
Colleentinker
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Username: Colleentinker

Post Number: 4703
Registered: 12-2003


Posted on Tuesday, October 03, 2006 - 11:21 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Randy, good links. I've read Reisinger on the law before, and he is good. The Root discussion was really good. Do you know if he has Adventist background? He knew all the main argumentsómost "regular" Christians don't know those!

Colleen
Grace_alone
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Username: Grace_alone

Post Number: 213
Registered: 6-2006


Posted on Tuesday, October 03, 2006 - 12:54 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Colleen, that's for sure! I downloaded the adobe file for study.

I think that's the main problem why mainstreamers get so confused about SDAism. It's the new covenant that we often take for granted and "just know" but rarely have the words to explain. (Kind of like knowing how to get somewhere without actually knowing all the street names) It's sad, and unacceptable, but all too often true.

Anyway, thanks to Randy for posting the links!

:-) Leigh Anne
Bb
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Username: Bb

Post Number: 151
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Tuesday, October 03, 2006 - 1:39 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Reading the postscript in your 1st post Randy, reminded me of a sermon I listened to today (on tape) by a former Muslim who is now a Christian. I think he wrote a couple of books, something about unveiling Islam. I haven't read them, though they sound good.

What struck me was that he said the Muslim live their lives by scales. If, at the end of your life you have the scales tipped at 51% good works, you will make it to heaven. If, however, they are not tipped in favor of the good things you did, you will not. His father would ask his boys every night "did you do more good than bad today?".

I couldn't help but say out loud, even though I was alone in my car, "At least in that religion you didn't have to reach perfection!!!" Because that is how I grew up, believing that by the end of time, I must be perfect or forget it!

That really is a load to put on a human being!
Praise God for His Son Jesus!
Bb
Tricia
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Username: Tricia

Post Number: 7
Registered: 3-2006
Posted on Tuesday, October 03, 2006 - 7:02 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Randy,

Thanks for the fantastic links! I've printed them, along with several of the other topics that were on the link. Thanks!

Tricia

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