The Seventh-day Adventist Church has a list of "fundamental beliefs" written by church leaders. Six years ago I traveled to the General Conference Session in Atlanta in an effort to persuade a delegate to propose a change in the fundamental belief on "creation". Others had the same idea and the need to make a change was discussed at the Session. Why was it necessary to make a change? Because it was written by faulty human beings.
If the church finds it necessary to publish what it believes are fundamental beliefs, then it ought to use inspired statements that do not mislead those depending upon such statements.
|
Who is this that
darkeneth counsel?
|
The church remains in a Laodicean condition. As such, she is not in any way prepared to substitute her words for the Word of God. The Bible tells us that it displeases God when we darken His counsel with our words. "Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?" Job 38:1,2.
There are too many in leadership positions in the church who are not able to discern simple truth as it is written in Scripture to substitute a statement of beliefs prepared with our words instead of God's Words. The statement that was in need of correction dealing with "creation" was influenced by a past president of La Sierra University. His thoughts on the length of time since creation is not in harmony with Scripture or the Spirit of Prophecy. In an interview during the Atlanta GC Session, Dr. Lawrence Geraty stated his belief and the reason why he did not believe the inspired statements are accurate. That interview has not been made public. It will be published today for the benefit of those who want to hear for themselves what this prominent church leader believes and how he influenced the statement such that it needed to be corrected. Lawrence Geraty
To further the concern about the church stating fundamental beliefs in human terms, the rebellion in the church over the role of women reveals a serious divide over what is truth. There is a large contingent of church leaders in Europe and North America who believe the societies in which they live are correct in making women rulers over men. They want women to occupy all positions that men now occupy. This would include drafting women and putting them on the front line in battle.
When it comes to stating fundamental Biblical beliefs, we ought to stay with what Scripture says. How can we know who is right and who is wrong when it comes to making fundamental
| There are ten fundamental truths |
belief statements? And, when we believe we ought to narrow Bible doctrine down to a few beliefs, who is going to say which beliefs are most important, that we would name some, and not others? Is a Laodicean capable of deciding what God thinks is so important we need to list them separate from the Bible? God has already narrowed His law down to a small number, has He not? There are ten fundamental truths He wrote with His own finger. Have we named them in our fundamental beliefs, or did we leave some of them out? They all were not as important as some others we have chosen?
| "Thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." Genesis 3:16 |
If we go back to the beginning of the Bible, God did make a doctrinal statement that would help in dealing with the rebellion in the church. But, that statement by God is not in our fundamental beliefs, why not? What did God say? "Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." Genesis 3:16. Where does the Bible say that women shall rule over men? It is the belief in Europe by many of its citizens, including most of the leaders in the Trans-European Division. [1] America is following in her footsteps, thus we see the ways of the world entering into God's church in America also.
Some have strong beliefs that what was stated by God in Genesis 3:16 is no longer binding. Just as many "Evangelicals" throw away the Old Testament doctrine as "legalistic", so some in God's church think what God has said way back in Genesis is ancient history. Well then, let's take a look at the New Testament as the "Evangelicals" do. "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety." 1 Timothy 2:12-15.
Why leave this out of our statement of "fundamental beliefs" when we have God stating it and the Apostle Paul confirming it in the New Testament? It may appear that I am making women's ordination the subject of this article. I am not. This is the first in a five part series on "fundamental beliefs". While the rebellion taking place in the church is most serious, it is not as important as other matters. It needs to be addressed, but it is only a symptom of a much deeper problem. That the church remains in a Laodicean condition cannot be argued against successfully. We have watched conferences foment rebellion over a twenty five year period. It is further evidence things are not right in God's church.
What is the Laodicean condition? If we rely upon the interpretation given by some leaders in the church, we would be led astray. On the other hand, if we were to read what Jesus said about it, if we have the least amount of spiritual discernment, we would have a fairly good idea, it is a lost, but not hopeless condition. Let's read what Jesus says to the last church just before the second coming of Christ. The last of the seven churches revealed in the Book of Revelation.
"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art
| Be zealous therefore, and repent |
neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." Revelation 3:14-22.
As we read, most ought to be able to understand since Jesus speaks very simply. It is a rebuke to His church, and encouragement that we need not remain in a lost condition. If we will come to Him just as we are, we may be converted and sit with Him on His throne. Such a promise!!
And, for some who will still argue either we are not in such a terrible state, or that the church will not see revival and reformation, let us read what a modern day prophet has to say about the Laodicean Church:
I was shown that the testimony to the Laodiceans applies to God's people at the present time, and the reason it has not accomplished a greater work is because of the hardness of their hearts. But God has given the message time to do its work. The heart must be purified from sins which have so long shut out Jesus. This fearful message will do its work. When it was first presented, it led to close examination of heart. Sins were confessed, and the people of God were stirred everywhere. Nearly all believed that this message would end in the loud cry of the third angel. But as they failed to see the powerful work accomplished in a short time, many lost the effect of the message. I saw that this message would not accomplish its work in a few short months. It is designed to arouse the people of God, to discover to them their backslidings, and to lead to zealous repentance, that they may be favored with the presence of Jesus, and be fitted for the loud cry of the third angel. As this message affected the heart, it led to deep humility before God. Angels were sent in every direction to prepare unbelieving hearts for the truth. The cause of God began to rise, and His people were acquainted with their position. If the counsel of the True Witness had been fully heeded, God would have wrought for His people in greater power. Yet the efforts made since the message has been given, have been blessed of God, and many souls have been brought from error and darkness to rejoice in the truth.
God will prove His people. Jesus bears patiently with them, and does not spew them out of His mouth in a moment. Said the angel: "God is weighing His people." If the message had been of as short duration as many of us supposed, there would have been no time for them to develop character. Many moved from feeling, not from principle and faith, and this solemn, fearful message stirred them. It wrought upon their feelings, and excited their fears, but did not accomplish the work which God designed that it should. God reads the heart. Lest His people should be deceived in regard to themselves, He gives them time for the excitement to wear off, and then proves them to see if they will obey the counsel of the True Witness.
God leads His people on, step by step. He brings them up to different points calculated to manifest what is in the heart. Some endure at one point, but fall off at the next. At every advanced point the heart is tested and tried a little closer. If the professed people of God find their hearts opposed to this straight work, it should convince them that they have a work to do to overcome, if they would not be spewed out of the mouth of the Lord. Said the angel: "God will bring His work closer and closer to test and prove every one of His people." Some are willing to receive one point; but when God brings them to another testing point, they shrink from it and stand back, because they find that it strikes directly at some cherished idol. Here they have opportunity to see what is in their hearts that shuts out Jesus. They prize something higher than the truth, and their hearts are not prepared to receive Jesus. Individuals are tested and proved a length of time to see if they will sacrifice their idols and heed the counsel of the True Witness. If any will not be purified through obeying the truth, and overcome their selfishness, their pride, and evil passions, the angels of God have the charge: "They are joined to their idols, let them alone," and they pass on to their work, leaving these with their sinful traits unsubdued, to the control of evil angels. Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation.
God proves His people in this world. This is the fitting-up place to appear in His presence. Here, in this world, in these last days, persons will show what power affects their hearts and controls their actions. If it is the power of divine truth, it will lead to good works. It will elevate the receiver, and make him noblehearted and generous, like his divine Lord. But if evil angels control the heart, it will be seen in various ways. The fruit will be selfishness, covetousness, pride, and evil passions.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Professors of religion are not willing to closely examine themselves to see whether they are in the faith; and it is a
| It would be more pleasing to the Lord if lukewarm professors of religion had never named His name |
fearful fact that many are leaning on a false hope. Some lean upon an old experience which they had years ago; but when brought down to this heart-searching time, when all should have a daily experience, they have nothing to relate. They seem to think that a profession of the truth will save them. When they subdue those sins which God hates, Jesus will come in and sup with them and they with Him. They will then draw divine strength from Jesus, and will grow up in Him, and be able with holy triumph to say: "Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." It would be more pleasing to the Lord if lukewarm professors of religion had never named His name. They are a continual weight to those who would be faithful followers of Jesus. They are a stumbling block to unbelievers, and evil angels exult over them, and taunt the angels of God with their crooked course. Such are a curse to the cause at home or abroad. They draw nigh to God with their lips, while their heart is far from Him. The Laodicean Church, Vol. 1 Testimonies for the Church, pgs 186-188.
It appears we have a most serious problem in the church that has delayed the second coming of Christ. He cannot come until He has a church which has been purified of sin, which can stand through a time of trouble such as never was without a Mediator (Daniel 12:1).
In the next four articles we will examine the evidence that is before our eyes that the church is today in a Laodicean condition. The evidence will be rejected by some, for even though many are called, few will choose to follow Jesus up that steep narrow pathway leading to heaven. The sacrifice of pride is just too great a cost for them to enter heaven. But, all who are willing to give up their sin polluted hearts will be granted everlasting life. Such a trade!!
The question may come to some who are reading, what is "gold tried in the fire", "white raiment", and "eye salve"? And, how do we buy them? We are saved by grace through faith. Does this help? "Gold tried in the fire" is faith that works by love, the love of Jesus. Grace is the highest form of love, for it is unmerited. "White raiment" is the "righteousness of Christ" that He offers to us in exchange for our sin polluted hearts. "Eye salve" is the Holy Spirit that opens our blind eyes to the truth of our great need of Jesus and His great desire to help us, to cleanse our hearts of sin and selfishness.
How do we "buy" them? We only need to ask with a sincere heart. If the heart is not willing,
| It is an intellectual and a spiritual truth that by beholding we become changed |
then pray to God "Lord make me willing to be made willing, I believe, help thou my unbelief". Jesus will not turn away from the one that prays that prayer. In 2 Corinthians we are told how the mind is transformed. It is just as John the Baptist proclaimed "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29. It is an intellectual and a spiritual truth that by beholding we become changed. The mind gradually adapts itself to that which it is accustomed to love and reverence. Paul puts it this way "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord (His character), are changed into the same image (character) from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18. Daniel understood the need to maintain his connection with Christ. He dared not miss his noontime visit with Christ.
It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour a day contemplating the life of Christ. As we behold His loveliness, we will be transformed in character. Who could not love Jesus if they truly know Him! We invite you to join with us every morning in studying the life of Christ. We have a daily reading and sharing as we feed upon the most beautiful revelation of Jesus we have been given, The Desire of Ages. Come and taste! Man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Jesus is that Manna which came down from heaven. He is the Word made flesh.
After considering the evidence of the need for revival and reformation we reveal in the next four articles, we will suggest a new "fundamental belief" which ought to have been stated before any other. If it had been recognized sooner, we would not be where we are today. There would have been no WWI, or WWII, or Vietnam War, or any other war since 1888 if we had not rejected the message presented then to the church. Seventh-day Adventists ought to understand we are the ones who have delayed the second coming of Christ. God forgive us and help us to redeem the time wasted is our prayer in the precious name of Jesus.
_________________________________________________ ________________
[1] TED website, Nov. 2011
Within the church and European society at large gender equality and excellence in leadership are priorities. In many of the TED territories it is, or soon will become, illegal to make any differentiation on the basis of gender.1
The TED has made significant progress with the appointments of a female Division Secretary, a woman union secretary in Finland, a union and a conference treasurer in Hungary, a conference secretary/treasurer in Iceland and Slovenia, a conference treasurer in the South Conference of the South-East European Union and principal and bursar at Newbold College. In response to a statement from the Women’s Pastor’s Council at Newbold in 2009 the then executive committee at its Winter Meetings in November of the same year voted to make the ministerial career paths for men (ordination) and women (commissioning) of equal value and transferable within the Division.
|
|
Topics and Links
If you know of one who would benefit from our newsletter,
|
