| Author | Message | ||
| Cortney Registered user Username: Cortney Post Number: 16 Registered: 8-2006 |
I recently read this article in the signs of the times magazine,my mil keeps sending us this magazine. Anyway,this article sorta disturbed me when read this. "Observing the sabbath is a way to take a stand on legalism.It is a time each week when we stop working,we break from the daily grind,and we celebrate the great work of Christ on our behalf. By waving the sign of the sabbath-we proclaim that Christ's sinless life and death on the cross are all we need and that we are resting in Him. Because of Christ's bloodshed we are free in him.The sabbath is a reminder that the Lord is the One who makes us holy. Rightessnous is a gift from from Christ,who laid down his life for us.That's what the bloodstained banner of the sabbath proclaims.The sabbath is a flag,proclaiming our allegiance to the God who saves us.The sabbath flag symbolizes the joy of heaven.The rest in Christ that sabbath embodies foreshadows the ultimate heavenly rest.Time devoted in a special way to God speaks of the time when we will se the Father face to face.The bible indicates this Sabbath Flag will continue to fly even when we have arrived in paradise.The sabbath is a symbal of that new and eternal landof promise.God wants us to remember the sabbath day.Why? Because it is a memorial in time,it links us to Him as our Creator.As such,it tells us who we are.It declares we didn't just evolve out of the primevil ooze by an incredible series of accidents.We are childre of an all powerful,caring God.We are created in His image.We are spiritual beings with the ability to remember-to worship.So the Sabbath is a symbol,a kind of flag.When we wave this flag above us, we show who is ruling in our hearts-the Creator,our Father in heaven." | ||
| Cloudy Registered user Username: Cloudy Post Number: 34 Registered: 7-2007 |
Cortney, I also received this magazine and read that article and also found it disturbing. I recall it was written by Mark Finley. We just started receiving this magazine, and I do not know who is sending it to us. I am tempted to call and cancel the subscription, but it is being sent in my husband's name, so I will ask him if he wants it to continue. | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 133 Registered: 7-2007 |
That is soooo sad! Adventists put themselves squarely into the old covenant. They fail to regard the new covenant (New Testament) and see that the Sabbath is a shadow that Christ fulfilled. I feel so bad for them while at the same time I rejoice in the freedom in Christ I now have. (I feel bad for the people in ALL the false religions) The devil is so cruel! He gives false gospels to so many! The SDA religion is so much more subtle than the other false religions, in that it has a form of godliness that looks so much like genuine Christianity, yet it lacks the power and the joy of real Christianity  Dianne | ||
| Raven Registered user Username: Raven Post Number: 804 Registered: 7-2004  |
That sounds so nice and hard to argue with (i.e. deceptive). But, I don't see it matching up with the Bible. I notice that Scripture is absent from the quote. Probably because there are no verses to support the many things they claim Sabbath is forever a symbol of. Instead, what I see in Scripture is that the seventh-day Sabbath was a symbol of the rest the believer now has in Jesus, but nothing about hanging on to the symbol once the real Sabbath rest has come. (Hebrews 4). The article seems to be yet another manipulation to convince unsuspecting Christians that SDA's really do believe in faith-alone, and/or assure SDA's they have to hold on to the Sabbath because that is THE proof of their loyalty to God. | ||
| Jonvil Registered user Username: Jonvil Post Number: 109 Registered: 4-2007 |
This need of an external display of waving a flag just indicates the lack of internal confidence in the promises of God. Whistling in a graveyard? JONVIL | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 6545 Registered: 12-2003  |
Jonvil and Raven, very good points. I was thinking the same thing, Raven...this argument doesn't have Biblical texts to support it, and it assumes connections that aren't there. It's a manipulation that effectively plants deep seeds of guilt, i.e.: "If I really love God, I'll fly His flag so everyone can see I'm not ashamed." You know, I'm more and more convinced that we need to pray that truth will be known, evil confounded, those in bondage will be set free in Jesus, and the unsuspecting will be protected. Colleen | ||
| Cloudy Registered user Username: Cloudy Post Number: 35 Registered: 7-2007 |
I no longer have the magazine to refer to, but verses were quoted to support his points, in Exodus and Hebrews 4. It was disturbing that the verses were taken out of context to support his point. | ||
| Spokenfor Registered user Username: Spokenfor Post Number: 78 Registered: 12-2003 |
I too, recently began receiving that magazine. Perhaps there's' an 'outreach' push going on within adventism to have subscriptions sent to those who have left?? Anyway, I am always annoyed when I recieve sda propaganda in the mail and emailed the subscription department immediately to have it cancelled. Today I receive a copy of "Our Firm Foundation" so I am further annoyed. | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 1279 Registered: 9-2006  |
I received a copy of the mag. ,but it is already in the garbage, I guess one of my Adventist friends signed me up, I guess I should start glancing through it to see what I could learn, but I threw this one in the garbage and hacked a luggy on it, so I guess I will have to wait until the next one comes out.  River | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 4148 Registered: 3-2004  |
I have read this over a number of times. Finally I knew what I wanted to say. It is so sad that a group of people who say they love Jesus have to wave a flag to prove it. It is so convoluted. So I continue to pray for them. Diana | ||
| Raven Registered user Username: Raven Post Number: 805 Registered: 7-2004 |
Back when I was still an SDA, a couple years before leaving, the thought occured to me that Jesus says His followers will be known by their love for one another. He didn't say His followers would be known by their Sabbath-keeping. Interestingly, even what Jesus says we will be known by was not an admonition to be more loving so people will know Who we belong to, but more of a natural effect of what would happen. This article makes it more about what we should do to prove or show our allegience. We still get the Signs as well, unfortunately. In fact one come today and it was already in the trash before I read this thread. I'm not planning to dig it out to read the article. | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 1280 Registered: 9-2006 |
I am God's child (John 1:12) I am Christ's friend (John 15:15) I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17) I am bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:19-20) I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1) I am a personal witness of Christ (Acts 1:8) I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt. 5:13-14) I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27) I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2) I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil.3:20) I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31-34) I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor.5:17-21) I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:18) I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6) I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom.8:35-39) I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor.1:21-22) I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8: 28) I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16) I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13) I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5) I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10) I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). I have been justified (Romans 5:1) I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10) I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected (Phil. 1: 5) I have been redeemed and forgiven (Col. 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5) Do I need that Rag of a mag and a flag? River | ||
| Leigh Registered user Username: Leigh Post Number: 184 Registered: 2-2003 |
Amen!!! River. | ||
| Lucybugg Registered user Username: Lucybugg Post Number: 65 Registered: 2-2007 |
I don't even open those magazines...they go straight to the garbage. The only reason I haven't cancelled is I think if they keep sending them to me that's one less sent to some poor unsuspecting individual.... | ||
| Grace_alone Registered user Username: Grace_alone Post Number: 748 Registered: 6-2006  |
That was really beautiful River - thank you! Raven, this morning I was really touched by what you said. "the thought occured to me that Jesus says His followers will be known by their love for one another. He didn't say His followers would be known by their Sabbath-keeping. Interestingly, even what Jesus says we will be known by was not an admonition to be more loving so people will know Who we belong to, but more of a natural effect of what would happen." That is definitely something I would like to instill in my kids! It reminds me of that song we sing in church - "They will know we are Christians by our love". I hate the melody, but love the words. I get those magazines as well. In fact, I tried to cancel our subscription to Pacific Union Recorder, (actually spoke to someone in person!) and they still keep showing up in my mailbox. I'm glad the recycle bin takes magazines. Leigh Anne | ||
| Pheeki Registered user Username: Pheeki Post Number: 871 Registered: 1-2003 |
Why don't SDA just shut up about the Sabbath? If it was really what God wanted for Christians...wouldn't we all eventually arrive at that conclusion with the Holy Spirit's help? No. So why do they keep trying to make everyone keep it? Because it's the Sabbath that really saves us in SDA gospel!!! | ||
| Pheeki Registered user Username: Pheeki Post Number: 872 Registered: 1-2003 |
There is no day and night in heaven...so how can we keep a day in paradise as the article suggests? It will be a perpetual Sabbath rest just as we have now! | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 2037 Registered: 10-2004  |
"the bloodstained banner of the sabbath" The...WHAT?!?!?! Talk about blaspheming the blood of Jesus! Jeremy (Message edited by Jeremy on August 14, 2007) |
