| Author | Message | ||
| Blessed Registered user Username: Blessed Post Number: 43 Registered: 1-2007 |
I was visiting an Adventist friend and noticed that she had a number of pictures in her living/dining room that were of Christ. They all had titles underneath and one of them was The Second Coming. Another one had a number of scenes in it and in one corner was Ellen White. I didn't get a chance to look close to see what all was in that one. I think the third one was of Jesus with his hands open. Do most SDA's have pictures like this in their homes? Interestingly there was nothing about the cross and salvation - not sure how we get to the Second Coming without it!!! | ||
| Jorgfe Registered user Username: Jorgfe Post Number: 352 Registered: 11-2005 |
I have always wondered why SDA churches are so opposed to displaying the cross either inside or on top of their churches. And, of course in Adventism, a person wearing a small cross would be a "heathen" with jewelry. Does anyone know why? In the Christian world it represents the depth of God's unfathomable love for us. Gilbert Jorgensen | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 1002 Registered: 9-2006  |
Yes I think I can Gilbert, it is because the Adventist Doctrine does not represent the cross, it represents man. It exalts man and not God. I don't think they are consciously aware of this thing that they represent, a false church never does, that is why it exist. On the other hand just because the cross is displayed is no proof of representation of the cross of Christ either, it is an icon. The fact that I display a horse in my icon on the left doesn't mean that I properly represent horses although my wife does mention from time to time that I am stubborn as a mule! Christ can only be approached in Spirit and in truth, not through any icon or lack thereof. River | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 6224 Registered: 12-2003  |
Ohh, well said, River. Blessed, some Adventists do display pictures of Jesus, but generally I haven't seen many in any SDA home I've been in. Most of the "Jesus pictures" I've seen have been in bedrooms of children. Actually, I believe Ellen spoke against the use of the cross. I remember that when I was growing up, the cross was considered "popish" or a Catholic icon. We would not think of embracing anything Catholic. The unspoken subtext, though, is a revulsion toward the blood of Jesus and His completed work. Focusing on Jesus, as you said so well, River, takes the attention off what WE need to do. Colleen | ||
| Laurie Registered user Username: Laurie Post Number: 29 Registered: 6-2007 |
It's also because a cross, or crucifix, is so closely associated with catholicism. | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 17 Registered: 7-2007 |
I wonder why Ellen White would speak against having a cross in a church, but she would be in favor of putting a Christmas tree in a church for people to put money on. There's nothing Christian about those trees. I don't want to offend anyone who likes Christmas trees, but I think the practice of having those trees came from heathen who worshipped spirits that they thought were in the trees. (Also in the Bible, Jeremiah 10:2-4 the Lord was talking to Jeremiah, saying "do not learn the way of the Gentiles" and going on to say how they would cut down a tree and decorate it with silver and gold.) Anyway, it's curious that Ellen White would be in favor of that. (I looked up what she said about the Christmas tree in the E G White estates.) Dianne | ||
| Reb Registered user Username: Reb Post Number: 290 Registered: 5-2007 |
Germanic Pagans did worship spirits they thought were in those trees. | ||
| Grace_alone Registered user Username: Grace_alone Post Number: 651 Registered: 6-2006  |
I know a few SDAs that have that attitude towards not only Christmas Trees but Christmas as well. One of my extreme SDA bils refuses to even acknowlege Christmas. I don't believe you have to celebrate to prove you're a Christian, but I've always felt that his attitude was another way of taking focus off Jesus, just to prove a point. (He's an EGW drone if I've ever seen one). Asurprise and Reb, with all due respect, many things in the world may have started as heathen practices. Be careful what you do!  Leigh Anne | ||
| Jorgfe Registered user Username: Jorgfe Post Number: 355 Registered: 11-2005 |
The reason why Ellen White was in favor of Christmas trees is that is was a way to raise money. "God would be well pleased if on Christmas each church would have a Christmas tree on which shall be hung offerings, great and small, for these houses of worship." Review and Herald, December 11, 1879 Gilbert Jorgensen | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 1910 Registered: 10-2004  |
The Jeremiah passage is not talking about Christmas trees. It is talking about carved wooden idols/graven images/fake gods.
Jeremy (Message edited by Jeremy on July 06, 2007) |
