| Author | Message | ||
| Nowisee Registered user Username: Nowisee Post Number: 983 Registered: 5-2009 |
I used to believe, in the beginning, that a certain term was way too harsh to describe the SDA organization. Here is another reason I've changed my mind: Was going through some old papers and found an article written back in 2007 in the Pacific Union Recorder, by the now president of the Pacific Union Conference, Ricardo Graham. He talks about a conversation he had had on a plane ride with a fellow who wanted to visit when he really wanted to read, but closed his book when he discovered the man was a former Adventist. The former told Mr. Graham that he was "happily attending an evangelical church in Northern California." Mr. Graham immediately recognized his last name, which included "several prominent ministers". Mr. Graham of course asked why he left and was told of a divorce, estranged family and hurt. Didn't give him any doctrinal reasons. Afterward, Mr. Graham ruminated about whether he had handled the situation correctly...was this a providential meeting? He writes that "Jesus cares about every one of our 'former' members" and asks himself what he could do to reach out to this man. Send literature, call him, visit his work? "...and when the Spirit moves both of us, who knows what can happen?" Mr. Graham cares, he is sincere, but his assumption in the last paragraph over this man's salvation stands out like a red thumb! He concludes, that after all, "I know that only God can CONVERT and SAVE a soul." Now, remember, the fellow traveler told Mr. Graham that he was happily attending an evangelical church in No. CA. Obviously, the now president of the Pacific Union believes that to happily attend another Christian church means we are unconverted and unsaved. He ends his paragraph urging his readers to also "reach out and touch people for the Kingdom", telling them that when Jesus returns we will see the results of our efforts. Remember, he is speaking of a happy, church-attending Christian! Message loud and clear, Sir! | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13154 Registered: 12-2003  |
Wow! You're exactly right, Nowisee. Colleen | ||
| Mjcmcook Registered user Username: Mjcmcook Post Number: 207 Registered: 2-2011 |
Actually, when I read your post I can only see 'APOSTATE' adventist~ not saved, not going to heaven~ in the language of, R. Graham~ ~mj~ | ||
| Jonvil Registered user Username: Jonvil Post Number: 645 Registered: 4-2007 |
Typical Adventist arrogance: "Well yes, Jesus was great BUT we have so much more for only we have THE (present) TRUTH (found only in the writings of their deluded Pen of Desperation) My wife's dorky Ellenista pastor keeps 'visiting' to rescue me from my apostasy. I just keep repeating variations of 'saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone' to which he has no response. It's amazing that, while unable to refute the Gospel, they refuse to accept it. UNBELIEF | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13157 Registered: 12-2003 |
And while we're on the subject of "proof", I'm once again preparing the Letters to the Editor section for the next magazine. My goodness...there's an amazing number of especially rancid notes! We have two accusing us of stupidity: one overtly says we're stupid; the other calls the editorial "stupidity". The personal digs are quite amazing, actually...and refer to "evangelical perverts", yada,yada... There's some sort of "proof" in there... Colleen | ||
| Butterfly_poette Registered user Username: Butterfly_poette Post Number: 102 Registered: 5-2011 |
Adventism is a classic case of denominationalism. They feel that the only good Christians are those in the same church as them. | ||
| Gcfrankie Registered user Username: Gcfrankie Post Number: 837 Registered: 1-2007 |
Colleen The stupidity is in the closed minded church and those who belong to it. When I stand back and take a good hard look at the people involved in this church my heart breaks for them because they have no idea who the real Jesus Christ truely is nor the Holy Spirit who leads us to Him. Their eyes are not on Jesus but on their church. | ||
| Mjcmcook Registered user Username: Mjcmcook Post Number: 214 Registered: 2-2011 |
Heartbreaking~ yes it is~ that so many people in the adventist church are 'closed-minded'~ However, I do not believe it gives them liscense to poor out such 'vitriolic hatred' while proudly wearing the 'crown' of adventist Christ follower~ Be it in person or in print! They should be 'ashamed'~  ~mj~ | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 9497 Registered: 3-2004  |
They are just following the example of their profitess who poured out all kinds of vitriol and hatred. Why should they be any different?? My heart breaks for those trapped in adventism. Diana L | ||
| Jackob Registered user Username: Jackob Post Number: 642 Registered: 7-2005 |
Colleen While you're preparing you're next magazine I'm just receiving (today) the last issue, it was worth waiting to read the interview with Stanley Rouhe, you actually published a last will and testament, impressive calm and assurance coming from a man resting in Jesus's arms. You're "stupid" because you're not participating in the "revival and reformation" brought by Ted Wilson, you just left the adventist ship and went with other 'sinking' ships just when they are going to enter into the haven by distributing 166.600.000 copies of "The Great Controversy" around the world. Even if this seems like a joke, sometimes I wonder if Ted Wilson is thinking of infuriating the catholics in order to bring some negative reactions from them toward the SDA just to make the prophetical scenario plausible. It seems that the current pope isn't going to do something with the adventists, so he needs some reasons (read- good rhetoric and propaganda with 666 on the papal tiara). A self-fulfilling prophecy, sell GC, infuriate catholics, bring the Sunday law and behold, "we live prophetic times." Gabriel | ||
| Mjcmcook Registered user Username: Mjcmcook Post Number: 216 Registered: 2-2011 |
~Gabriel~ I think you give Ted Wilson Way TOO much credit!!! ~mj~ | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13160 Registered: 12-2003 |
 Actually, I believe that at the top, Adventism is collaborating with the Catholics. It's the "little people" in the pews who don't realize it. Adventism is consorting with Islam, Catholicism, and liberal Protestantism...they actually call themselves a "world religion" now. Colleen | ||
| Indy4now Registered user Username: Indy4now Post Number: 1058 Registered: 2-2008  |
wow Colleen... referring back up to your comment on the "Letters to the Editor"... and they call us formers bitter and angry? I've never called a person stupid for their belief, yet I'm the one who's accused of being bitter and angry. Nowisee... I had always thought that the word "convert" basically meant that I was changing beliefs. Kind of like changing a job. I just read something by John MacArthur in his book called "The Gospel according to the Apostles." He wrote:
I didn't know that "conversion" is "an absolute change of moral and volitional direction." All these years I've casually asked people about how they "converted" to Adventism, I didn't realize that I was really saying that their life previously to adventism was immoral. It is sad to read about this pastor labeling a former as unconverted and unsaved. I thought it was interesting that he said that only God could convert and save a soul and in the same breath "when Jesus returns we will see the results of our efforts". So which is it? God's effort or ours? vivian | ||
| Jackob Registered user Username: Jackob Post Number: 645 Registered: 7-2005 |
MJ Yeah, I think you're right. I incline to think that the distribution of the GC book is a movement toward regaining the trust of the hardcore conservatives, which the last years under the leadership of Paulson became restless. It's an administrative clever movement based on the reality that the conservatives being more loyal to the system are also more loyal financially and constitute the financial first contributors. Gabriel | ||
| Foofighter Registered user Username: Foofighter Post Number: 181 Registered: 7-2005 |
Gabriel, Hubby and I have thought of Wilson as "the Adventist Ahmadinejad". They both seem to think that they/their group have something to do with hastening the end times. Of course, Ahmadinejad has lots of ability to perpetrate death and destruction, while Wilson and SDA are just legends in there own minds...but still part of spreading spiritual deception, which is deadly in its own way. Vivian, your comment about not realizing that you were saying that "their life previously to adventism was immoral", really resonated with me. When I first joined the SDA church, I would sometimes mention that I wasn't raised SDA. Several times, people would look at me with sad eyes and say ohhh... in a sad voice, as if my life couldn't have possibly been worthwhile or good, since I wasn't SDA. How insulting and arrogant they can be. Carol | ||
| Indy4now Registered user Username: Indy4now Post Number: 1060 Registered: 2-2008 |
wow Carol... |
