| Author | Message | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 2005 Registered: 5-2007  |
In the February 2010 issue of the ‘Signs of the Times’ Clifford Goldstein writes an article titled ‘How Perfect Must I Be?’. After considering a number of worldly solutions to this question He then uses Rev. 12:17 as a foundation for his answer. Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea. (Rev. 12:17 ESV) His logic is that we must both accept the gospel of Jesus Christ to have ‘eternal life’ and keep the ‘law of God’. And behold, a man came up to him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?" And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." (Matt. 19:16-17 ESV) After a dialog of what is meant by “keep the commandments” where the ‘Rich Young Man’ states that he has done all of that, Jesus adds in one more requirement on how to become perfect, verse 21. The man then departs in sorrow. The man is fosused on 'good deeds' and knows he is a failure. Jesus has something totally different in mind. Jesus then turns to his disciples who ask the question:, "Who then can be saved?", verse 25. But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matt. 19:26 ESV) Goldstein ends by saying we cannot earn salvation but then goes on to say we must keep the law if we expect to be part of the ‘remnant’ that will be saved when Jesus returns. Apparently he doesn’t see the contradiction of his own words. Goldstein ignores the book of Hebrews where the Law of Moses was fulfilled by Jesus and the Old Covenant was replaced by a fuller and compete law inscribed on our hearts by his gift of the Holy Spirit through the working of the New Covenant. Goldstein totally ignores a need for the new birth, to be born spiritually, to join the Kingdom of God. Goldstein never answers his own question; “How perfect must I be?” The answer is simple; we cannot by our own works become perfect enough to meet God’s perfect and holy righteous requirements. But, with God all things are possible. Fearless Phil (Message edited by philharris on February 26, 2010) | ||
| Loneviking Registered user Username: Loneviking Post Number: 721 Registered: 7-2000 |
And that's when I like to sit them down and say 'O.K., so you want to keep the Sabbath? Using the O.T. rules, you aren't supposed to light a fire to keep your house warm on the Sabbath. Is your furnace on, btw?'. And just let the fun begin!... | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 2008 Registered: 5-2007 |
Loneviking, I have wierd thoughts such as the fact that most of us use electricity. Since this is a utlity that requires power plants that have people running them, shouldn't we shut them down once a week on the Sabbath so everybody can take their required rest. Since this involves many differnt time zones, is it ok to recieve power from another time zone if our time zone utlities are shut down? In cities, there are water and sewer utilities. Should we be shuting them down during the Sabbath so the ones who keep them functioning can stay home and rest. Why does a SDA pastor work by preaching on the Sabbath when he should stay home and rest? Fearless Phil | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 10983 Registered: 12-2003  |
Exactly, Phil. I was made to understand that the very fact that public service people have to work on weekends was one BIG reason why Adventists shouldn't make a career in them. I once asked my in-laws what would happen if, perchance, the entire world became Adventist...who would keep open the electric company, police the streets, etc. The answer was vague and involved things such as, "In such a case, there would be no need for the police to be out.." etc. Adventists, like orthodox Jews, need a few gentiles around to do the work of living they themselves cannot do on Sabbath. It was startling to me when I taught at Arrowhead Christian Academy...never, in my years of experience in and with SDA schools, did I encounter (or at least so seldom I can't remember) children of (or parents of students) who were police, firemen, or military. At ACA, there were many students of public servants including sheriffs, firemen, etc. One of my colleagues who attends our church with her family is married to a vice detective with the sheriff's dept. Another was married to a life-long professional fire fighter. At our church there's a young former Adventist whose husband is a highway patrol officer. Another friend of ours, also a former Adventist, is a criminalist with a law enforcement agency. It's been amazing...and within Adventism, these professions are discouraged and even looked down on because they would involve "Sabbath problems" besides the fact that they don't all (the criminalist excepted) demand a college degree...sigh. Colleen | ||
| Nowisee Registered user Username: Nowisee Post Number: 291 Registered: 5-2009 |
I like your 'weird' thoughts, Phil  It's stuff I never really thought about when I was SDA. I remember a weird experience of my own when I was in academy--we ate out on Sabbath all the time and my conscience didn't bother me. One Friday night, after Young People's Meeting (remember those?) some SDA friends of the family took me with them to a coffee shop and got hot fudge sundaes for all of us. I was so shocked at the 'sinfulness' of this (I guess 'cause it was foreign and not part of our Sabbath routine) and then I realized, what's the difference between this and lunch on Sabbath? It just felt "wrong", though---how's that for 'weird'? | ||
| Snewbie Registered user Username: Snewbie Post Number: 11 Registered: 2-2010 |
Nowisee, It must have been the chocolate. | ||
| Animal Registered user Username: Animal Post Number: 722 Registered: 7-2008  |
Remember...... Rootbeer and popcorn are permissible on Any Holy day. No reason to feel guilty to partake of such nutrients (yes...I said nutrients) on any day of the week....You can quote Animal on that if you like. Now...concerning chocolate guidelines:...... The Rules of Chocolate..... If you've got melted chocolate all over your hands, you're eating it too slowly. Chocolate covered raisins, cherries, orange slices & strawberries all count as fruit, so eat as many as you want. The problem: How to get 2 pounds of chocolate home from the store in a hot car. The solution: Eat it in the parking lot. Diet tip: Eat a chocolate bar before each meal. It'll take the edge off your appetite and you'll eat less. A nice box of chocolates can provide your total daily intake of calories in one place. Isn't that handy? If you can't eat all your chocolate, it will keep in the freezer. But if you can't eat all your chocolate, what's wrong with you? If calories are an issue, store your chocolate on top of the fridge. Calories are afraid of heights, and they will jump out of the chocolate to protect themselves. If I eat equal amounts of dark chocolate and white chocolate, is that a balanced diet? Don't they actually counteract each other? Money talks. Chocolate sings. Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger. Q. Why is there no such organization as Chocoholics Anonymous? A. Because no one wants to quit. If not for chocolate, there would be no need for control top pantyhose. An entire garment industry would be devastated. Put "eat chocolate" at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you'll get one thing done. Animal...a little sin isnt that bad...right??? |
