| Author | Message | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 8214 Registered: 9-2006  |
Why should we be so concerned with cult doctrines? There are three reasons. 1. Its DANGEROUS. 2. Its DANGEROUS. 3. Its DANGEROUS. My own brother was involved in the cult of Masonry. A few years ago I was visiting with him, and I was sitting on his back porch reading my Bible. He walked out on the back porch, and ask what I was reading. I said I was reading the Bible. He said, Do you want me to tell you about another way? I said, No, thank you, I am happy with this. Many Adventists will try to steal sheep from another church, and basically it's the same thing...they think they will show you a better way, but any christian religion should be based on what the Bible tells us (or) to put it another way, the simple Gospel of Jesus, that was handed down to us from the beginning. Ok, I will get around to what I wanted to say. Since then, my brother had a serious brain hemorrhaging, and died. Ever since, both my older brother, who is a Christian...and I have been bothered in our hearts by his death. Of course, we neither one really and truly know his condition with the Lord, but the Mason thing was enough to put a question mark in both our minds. Masons will claim it's not a religion, Adventist will claim their religion is christian, Mormon...same thing...and its DANGEROUS. Dale Ratzlaff was telling about how many Adventists leave the Adventist church each year (several thousand) and it sets them up to be agnostics, also DANGERIOUS. Like my brother who was so suddenly struck down by that brain bleed, and never recovered, there may not be much time, and perhaps none at all for many. That is why I wanted to get this off my chest. I'm not around much, but I do come on the forum to read, and I do care about those who are caught up in these cult religions. River | ||
| Chris Registered user Username: Chris Post Number: 1874 Registered: 7-2003  |
Exactly right, River. We take a lot of flack, not just from SDAs for being "hateful" and not just "moving on". More concerning, we're frequently chastised by evangelicals for being "divisive" and not just "moving on". The evangelicals, at least, ought to know better. Evangelicals believe that there is only way of salvation and that it is by faith alone, through grace alone, in Jesus Christ alone. But what if a persons faith has been place in a different "gospel" that is no gospel at all because it has corrupted grace. What if a person is trapped in a system that promotes corrupted doctrines regarding the person and work of Jesus. What if that person is actually worshiping a different Jesus? Can we have any assurance that a person in such a system with a false gospel and false Jesus is saved? Is it hateful to point this out, to seek to help, and to seek to present the real Gospel and the real Jesus? Is it really loving to just "move on" and leave our friends, families, and loved ones to empty religion. Should we just hope that somewhere within that all that false religion they somehow stumble on the real Gospel and the real Jesus? I would argue that the most loving faithful thing we could possibly do is proclaim the Gospel. In fact, I believe we are obligated to use the experiences God has given us to reach those in need. | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 8215 Registered: 9-2006 |
Two old miner's decided to mine a mountain, so they drilled a deep hole in the face of the rock. The idea was to shove the dynamite all the way to the bottom of the hole, and that way the charge would be shaped to blow a hole in the rock face. One miner said to the other, Did you shove the dynamite all the way to the bottom of the hole? The other miner said, Sure, I got it. The dynamite went off, and blew the whole side of the mountain off, killing both miners. The two miners woke up at the edge of hell. First miner said, You said you shoved the dynamite all the way to the bottom of that hole! The other miner said, I thought half way would be enough. And thats the problem with cults that have a halfway gospel, it'll more likely kill them. What I hear from Adventists is:I don't think observing the Sabbath will save me, I do it because its the right thing to do. We've heard all the arguments, taken flack, both the loud kind, and the silent kind. It may be the right thing to do to blow a hole in a mountain, but many of us just want to be sure the dynamite is all the way to the bottom of the hole. | ||
| Carol_h Registered user Username: Carol_h Post Number: 6 Registered: 3-2016 |
? Another Deliberate sda Deception? I just glimpsed a few segments of "Keepers of the Flame #8: Ellen, the woman" on You Tube of:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LvhNCeEla8 & at the 16:40 - 16:45 minutes portion it shows egw kneeling @ her husbands grave marker BUT it is a small square stone inscribed with only 3 words "Father James White". While in the sda church this video was shown several times. WHY have they not shown the OBELISK??? Does anyone know if Jame's grave was first marked with such a stone before it was replaced with the OBELISK that egw approved?? Or is this another deliberate deception to hide the truth from unsuspecting viewers? Also in my research I learned OBELISK's can be "SIGILS" & SIGILS can denote ownership... so please ponder that. I was so angry to see this... I wanted to post a comment under that video...but I don't know how. By the way... it was after stumbling across something on the 'net that revealed to me that egw's grave marker was an OBELISK that thrust me into compulsive research about sda'ism, discovered it is a cult & requested my membership termination. So THANKS to all who have shared on the 'net about the deceptions of sda'ism... All of you ... plus, plus, plus & GOD OF COURSE carol | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 15429 Registered: 12-2003  |
River, thank you for your post. You are absolutely right. I am frankly alarmed because it seems evangelical Christians are, perhaps, less concerned about Adventism than they used to be. As evangelicalism absorbs more and more seeker-sensitive approaches to worship and focusses more on social needs than on feeding the sheep in church, Adventism "fits in" with less and less dissonance. Richard and I watch the Adventist News Network's weekly video broadcast online. There are some trends that are becoming extremely clear because these things are consistently repeated. First, the anchors of the show call the SDA church the "Seventh-day Adventist World Church" several times during each half hour broadcast. Now, "World" is not in the official name of the organization, but they CALL it a World Church repeatedly and consistently. Second, echoing the "World Church" designation, the weekly news is dominated by stories of ADRA helping in every major world crisis. Not only is ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency) helping in every crisis, but ADRA has national branches, so that reports will come from ADRA Brazil, for example, and ADRA Sudan, etc. Moreover, ADRA is not merely a ministry of the SDA Church. It is an organization that is given government contracts and is financially supported by the US government and, I am guessing, by the other countries where it has official branches. The Adventists are positioning themselves as a world humanitarian "force" to be reckoned with. They move in high profile places and do high profile things, and they seem to have a goal of being seen as a major world impacting organization. Also, whenever there is a disaster like a flood or an earthquake or a huge fire, etc., Ted Wilson and/or the president of the union whoever the disaster happens issues a "statement" expressing condolences and prayers for the victims and survivors. These statements have a distinctly "papal" flavor...words of compassion from a major world religious leader letting the suffering know that the leaders and the Adventists are standing in solidarity with those who are in need. Furthermore, the GC director of religious liberty has been making speeches on religious liberty and humanitarian needs at United Nations committee meetings where he is a member. Adventism may still seem like a provincial EGW-shaped remnant religion in rural areas, but publicly, at the GC level, they are clearly shaping an image of being a leading player in world humanitarian causes. It is not "benign" and insignificant anymore. It is growing and moving among world powers. Colleen | ||
| Chris Registered user Username: Chris Post Number: 1875 Registered: 7-2003 |
Interesting Colleen. Union College has developed the International Rescue and Relief Program. They are now graduating students with a B.S. in this field. It's the first I've ever heard of a college level degree in international relief. It does seem like there is a strategic plan. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 15430 Registered: 12-2003 |
Wow. I did not know there was a major like that. That is very telling, it seems. I do think there's a strategic plan. I can't tell you EXACTLY what it is, but it's clearly aimed at increasing membership, power, and prestige--and in many ways, it settles in politically "liberal" places, with its emphasis on veganism, religious liberty/tolerance, and abortion (while they may SAY conservative-sounding messages as they pursue these other things). In spite of its traditional, legal rigidity theologically, in practice it is a theologically liberal organization in its non-inerrant approach to Scripture and the core beliefs of Christianity. Ultimately, I think there's an element of "Follow the money"... Colleen | ||
| Mainexile Registered user Username: Mainexile Post Number: 221 Registered: 6-2008  |
River, I don't think observing the Sabbath will save me, I do it because its the right thing to do. I've heard this too. Every time I hear it, I can't help thinking how convoluted that statement is. It's downright contradictory. Perfect example of a rationalization to ease cognitive dissonance. | ||
| Taluur Registered user Username: Taluur Post Number: 101 Registered: 8-2012 |
Indeed, Mainexile. This is very much like a Roman Catholic apologist who called into Matt Slick's radio show a few days ago. The caller agreed with a previous Pope's encyclical that no one can come to Jesus except through Mary, yet at the same time insisted that one can go straight to Jesus. The illogic, the cognitive dissonance, was such a dazzling display. The back-and-forth between Matt Slick and the caller was another example to me how the RCC and SDAC are so similar in their "gospel" message and way of thinking (or lack thereof). Both "gospels" put something else in front of Jesus when He says very clearly that all who are weary are to come to Him for rest and salvation. | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 8216 Registered: 9-2006 |
I believe we are moving, and are already deep into the days when it won't be so popular to be a Bible believing Christian as large church organizations lose their hold on solid doctrine in order to meet the expectations of the world. As these organizations do lose their hold on solid Bible doctrine, they will be ready receptacles for Adventist doctrine or other heretic doctrines. We can't hold on too solid Bible doctrine, and be all inclusive at the same time. As for Adventists themselves, I think former Adventists are their best shot. I know I've said this before, and I still believe it, because I just can't see them getting much help from the evangelical's, because number one, as Leigh Ann said some years ago, the Adventist fly so low under the radar as to be almost invisible. Two... Adventists are not going to tune in much on evangelical stations, or anything else thats not Adventist. | ||
| Butterfly_poette Registered user Username: Butterfly_poette Post Number: 434 Registered: 5-2011  |
I don't think there should be a BS in International Relief. I know that Andrews University has an International Development degree, but that's a Master's degree. I think it's important to have post-graduate studies in such a discipline. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 15466 Registered: 12-2003 |
Butterfly-poette, the issue of having SDA schools giving these degrees seems significant to me. ADRA is HUGE, and there is an ADRA presence in countries around the world. I know they receive government contracts and/or subsidies; they are not simply a humanitarian outreach of a concerned church. ADRA has a huge presence and is involved with refugee relief around the world, with natural disaster relief, and their employees and volunteers work with other agencies. I suspect that an Adventist graduating with a BS in International Rescue and Relief will have no trouble at all being employed by ADRA. In fact, I'll conjecture that the degree has been designed in order to increase the availability of trained hires in the various branches of ADRA. Adventism is shaping itself into a worldwide humanitarian "force". It's director of Religious Liberty, for example, speaks on committees at the UN and various other international agencies working for world peace. He pleas for human rights, religious rights, etc etc, and he is definitely positioning Adventism as championing the cause of all oppressed and marginalized groups. From a world perspective, Adventism is more and more becoming a non-judgmental, we're-here-to-help-whoever-is-suffering organization. What they don't tell the international agencies is that they will present Adventism to anyone who is open and curious after having their needs addressed. And we know that Adventism is not the gospel. This is a huge, morphing movement that is positioning itself as a compassionate religion that is just here to practice the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus, as Loma Linda Med Center's motto says. Colleen | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 8221 Registered: 9-2006 |
I heard a pastor say on CSN, which is purely an evangelical station,"Cults are expert at introducing doubt." | ||
| Mjcmcook Registered user Username: Mjcmcook Post Number: 2026 Registered: 2-2011  |
River~ I so agree !  Oh, yes, "Who" was it that introduced "doubt" to mankind in a Garden, long ago? ~mj~ | ||
| Foofighter Registered user Username: Foofighter Post Number: 425 Registered: 7-2005 |
That is so true, River. The level of uncertainty regarding salvation among the members is palpable. Ugh!!! What is CSN? Sounds good. | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 8222 Registered: 9-2006 |
Christian Satellite Network. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 15470 Registered: 12-2003 |
Wow. River, that really is a great quote. That's exactly what they do! They introduce doubt! Colleen |
