September, 2011
Vol. 7, No. 8
Adventist World is free online. For that reason, I only review or comment on articles and editorials that I believe to be of special interest.
THIS ISSUE
This issue of World does a good job of informing members and nonmembers around the world of current Adventist beliefs and practices. That said, in addition to recommended reading, I have my usual comments and questions.
RECOMMENDED READING
SNACKING AND HYPOGLYCEMIA by Allan R. Handysides and Peter N. Landless
THE KINGDOM BELONGS TO THESE by Addison Hudgins
NEW BODIES by Edna Olsen Regester
COMMENTS
Ted Wilson continues to expound his recipe for “biblical” worship music and “the integrity of Seventh-day Adventist preaching as a component of true worship” in WHAT MAKES WORSHIP “ADVENTIST”?
–Surely the Adventist Church is confronted by more pressing problems.
MEET THE FUTURE by Kimberly Luste Maran is an account of her conversations with young General Conference delegates from around the world. The piece is fresh and informative. There was, however, the following exchange that suggests that SDA converts in developing countries may “join the church” for reasons other than agreement with or even understanding of the 28 Fundamental Doctrines.
“You all seem to feel that the church has good leadership. So this is a bit of a pointed question: What do you all think the church is doing right? What could it do better?”
“We have to be careful about how we prepare members to be Adventists, and when we baptize them. New members are more than numbers—they have to know who we are as a church and whom we stand for.
“Here’s what happened to me during an outreach event at my church. We were dispensing medicine for those in need. At one point I was writing down a woman’s name, and there was a friend of mine just next to me. My friend very nicely asked the woman, “So how did you learn about Jesus?”
“The woman responded, ‘Who is Jesus?’ She really did not know—and she had just been baptized! I can’t imagine a person who is baptized not knowing. But it was true.” (Alice Danla, a delegate from India)
--If I were a poverty stricken villager in a remote province of India, I would be first in line to be dunked, if clean water, literacy, education, medical assistance, and possibly a job were offered to me on condition of baptism!
WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE, by Paul Peterson is an explication of Fundamental Belief Number 10. While Peterson’s words obfuscate rather than illuminate the belief itself, the actual “The Experience of Salvation”, is included on the second page. It begins with these words: “In infinite love and mercy God made Christ, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Him we might be made the righteousness of God…”
--God turned Christ into sin? Maybe, in spite of our protestations, Adventists are a sect after all. In addition, these words smack of Arian heresy.
Finally, in CHOICE OR COERCION? Angel Manuel RodrÃguez gets entangled in his own rhetoric once again as he attempts to answer the crucial theological question, “Why did God harden
Pharaoh’s heart?”
--Editors, have you given this guy a carte blanche pass? Does he have a BRI contract?
4 comments:
WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE, by Paul Peterson is an explication of Fundamental Belief Number 10. While Peterson’s words obfuscate rather than illuminate the belief itself, the actual “The Experience of Salvation”, is included on the second page. It begins with these words: “In infinite love and mercy God made Christ, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Him we might be made the righteousness of God…”
--God turned Christ into sin? Maybe, in spite of our protestations, Adventists are a sect after all. In addition, these words smack of Arian heresy.
-- you claim that the words "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might be made the righteousness of God" smack of Arian heresy. My question for you is are you saying the Apostle Paul was teaching Arian heresy? Have you read 2 Corinthians 5:21? Paul Peterson is in full agreement with the Apostle Paul. Maybe you should check scripture before making such claims.
Shawn,
I prefer the words of the Good News translation: “Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God.” As far as Aryanism, A case can be made for the notion that Paul believed that Jesus was the Son of God.
Thank you for your comment. It’s nice to know that you are out there, reading with a critical eye! Andy
As far as what the Good News translation says, I don't see any difference in meaning. I still have to agree with Paul Peterson and the Apostle Paul. Also "so that it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. This life that I live now, I live by faith in the SON OF GOD, who loved me and gave his life for me." Gal. 2:20-the Good News bible. So, quoting the Apostle Paul himself its a good bet that he believed Jesus was the Son of God.
Shawn,
You may have missed my point. “Son of God” and “God” might well mean two different things to a Jew, particularly one living at the time of Paul. My only point in raising the wording of Fundamental Belief #10 is that the language is without context, and for a Christian community that believes in the Trinity, confusing. I offer only two of many Pauline references that undoubtedly helped to convince our early church fathers and mothers that Jesus had a Father.
Romans 8:3
For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.
Romans 4:24
but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
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