Revise the Bible? Sacrilege! Or is It?

[elmer_cupino]

What we lose by this unnecessary restraint is an inability to credibly adjust to changing new moralities. In the process we’ve become spectators, while our youth, out of exasperation, slowly but steadily consign our hallowed texts to the heap of irrelevance because they cannot relate to some of its backward positions.

Revising the Bible may only prove futile as the role of the Bible is as a stimulus to guide us in our individual spiritual journey. Our individual spiritual journey in turn is influenced by our cognitive maturation and development. The church would do better by fostering spiritual maturation to understand the deep principles underlying the narratives in the Bible.

[cincerity (Kim Green)]

"The church would do better by fostering spiritual maturation to understand the deep principles underlying the narratives in the Bible."

I agree…but it seems that this would take away from what appears to be the church’s main emphasis- “rule keeping”.

[Dartom (Darnley Thomas)]

Blockquote … there is not so much as a whisper about the Sabbath in Genesis.

This is so because God’s ‘work’ing did not require Him to rest to recover (energy, or whatever) when His work of creation ended. His rest signified the completion of His work. Adam and Eve were to remain in that Rest forever if they had not failed “the test”. Banished from Eden, with a punishment to fit the “crime” as it were, they forfeited the perpetual rest of Eden and were confined to back breaking labor and the difficulties of life brought about by their disobedience. The restoration of that Edenic Rest can only be brought by the Complete obedience of the Second Adam, who as man, took man’s place suffered the judgement pronounced upon Adam (in the day that you touch/eat the fruit you shall die) and by His triumphant victory over death brought about salvation for Adam’s race and reconciliation to God. Jesus’ offer stands: Come unto Me and I will give you rest!

[niteguy2 (Steve Mga)]

Darnley–
Your statement also goes along with the experience of Israel. They
were to “enter into a REST when they crossed the Jordan.”
Psalms 95 tells us that because of their rebellious behavior, God
would not let them enter into the “REST” and had to wander for
another 38 years until all of that generation died in the desert.
Hebrews 4 tells us that there is STILL A REST waiting for the
people of God.
Sabbath Rest may be just a stop once a week. But it is a REST
that we are to ask the Holy Spirit to bring into our minds, our
emotions for the other days of the week. And so we have a
CONTINUAL REST that begins on Friday evening.
And Actually, THIS REST is one of the major readings in the
Jewish Book of Common Prayer that is read EACH Friday
Evening at the beginning of the Sabbath meditations.

The Jewish devotional readings have a MUCH Better grasp of
the “meaning” of Sabbath than what we Seventh day Adventists do!
And is NOT preached to the 20 million members.
So Sabbath observance becomes a LIST of the DO’s and the DON’TS.

In the discussions that Jesus had about the Sabbath, it is evident that
the Jews in HIS day STILL had not received the promised “REST”.
Their Sabbath devotional activities included a LONG LIST of DO’s and
DON’TS. Jesus had a difficult time pointing them to a higher level of
Sabbath observance.

A great book regarding Sabbath is by Jewish Rabbi Abraham Joshua
Heschel [internationally known scholar, author, activist, theologian and
a professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America].
It is titled – “The Sabbath”. 100 pages.
Actually, I have 8 books on Sabbath Keeping and Sabbath Enjoyment
in my library. ALL written by Sunday Keepers. I have been blessed by them.

[harrpa]

The fact that we continue to quibble over sabbath keeping and OT law reveals that we don’t get the seismic shift that happened through Christ, and the outpouring of his Spirit. We don’t get what Paul and the other NT writers were really saying about how the revelation of Christ, while witnessed to by the law and the prophets, was the culmination of that revelation, and surpassed it. We get stuck in the cookbook while the Messiah has put the meal on the table and calls all to come and eat together with no distinction based on law/not law, race, ethnicity, or gender. Nor are his gifts doled out based on these distinctions.

This is chilling. The further degrading of Jesus through the neo-subjugation of Christ in the Trinity in the Headship Heresy, shows this movement headed straight down a road of belittling Christ. Could there be anything more demeaning through “downing” Christ rather than lifting Him up?

This posting by Frank brings a clarity to what happens when the Holy Spirit is ignored, rejected, and the Old Testament overshadows The Christ Event.

[Norman_Young (Norman Hugh Young)]

Thank you Matthew your posts are always worth reading. You might now turn to the four Gospels for more examples of adaptation. Kind wishes, Norman.

[David1]

This indeed is the church culture that we grew up in and echoes in many minds including my own. How did we trade works for the faith of Jesus Christ as a church?

[frank_merendino (Frankmer7)]

How does an entire denomination trade identifying itself by faith in Jesus as messiah and king alone for worship time, food laws, eschatological timetables, and a woman claiming prophetic status?

Frank

[cincerity (Kim Green)]

Not sure exactly…but it is the Achille’s Heel of Fundamentalisticly-oriented church organizations, David. Adventism is currently swinging heavily into a “Works” orientation.

[cfowler]

How did we trade works for the faith of Jesus Christ as a church?

It all began with EGW and her cohorts.

[elmer_cupino]

“rule keeping”.

Kim, it is not as much the “rule keeping” as how the rule keeping is adhered to. The GC’s mandate of rule keeping is rigid and it’s appropriateness and fairness is never to be challenged, all pointing to an infantile level of rule keeping.

[niteguy2 (Steve Mga)]

Paul’s set of “Rules”.
Col 3. – Get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, dirty
language. Put away greedy behavior, sexual immorality, impurity,
lust, evil desires. Don’t lie to each other.
NOTE: paul considers “GREED” as being “Idolatry” behavior. Which
is Commandment No.1.

Clothe yourself with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility,
gentleness, patience. Make allowances for other’s faults, forgive
anyone who offends you.
Accept peace into your heart.

Galatians 5: Put away emotional behaviors such as hostility,
quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, dissention, envy,
Develop adult, mature behaviors of love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Also see Eph. 4:22-31 for another list of mature “Christian”
behaviors.

[cincerity (Kim Green)]

Yes, thanks for clarifying.

I suppose that I feel it is the same reason(s) that spiritual development and discipleship is so under-emphasized/developed in Adventism. Individual development is arrested at the childhood stage and is therefore always subservient and beholding to the “Parent” (i.e. Church).

[niteguy2 (Steve Mga)]

Kim, Elmer.
The reason WHY [to answer your statement] is that there is
So Much FEAR regarding “Spiritual Formation.”
Any type of TALK that even SOUNDS like “Spiritual
Formation” is considered bringing in “heresy into the church
congregation.”
I have heard it in church, on 3ABN, youtube of independent
ministries.

Any kid will tell you it is EASIER to reject an invitation from friends
by using a “thus saith mom or dad” than to own up to the fact that
one would not prefer to do something.
“Rules” over self-responsible behavior. Makes Life much easier.
Including the Spiritual Life.
Think Maslow’s higher thinking behavior pyramid.

[cincerity (Kim Green)]

The whole “Spiritual Formation” thing is what is stated (or not) as a fear and having the “knowledge” of doing what is “right/wrong”. Critical thinking is not encouraged or taught.

Yes, there is also an issue with “Rules” over self-responsible behavior. Children gradually learn by the parents allowing them more autonomy to make choices/decisions. We can see that currently there is a large problem with those areas (children) of the church who have made decisions (WO) that do not jibe with the parent (GC).

There are so many things that we could say about the relationship that the Church has with its members, Steve.

[Paul62]

At my BIL’s SDA Christmas SDA church service.

“happy sabbath!” greetings everywhere.

Opening prayer by clergy starts with:
“Dear Lord,
thank You for the Sabbath,
thank you for Jesus,
thank you for Jesus’ birthday…”

Not 1 but 3 separate money giving opportunities including children with baskets and another hanging $ on the lone Christmas tree… which is a justification for having a Christmas tree, we are told, by EGW.

Later, after the aforementioned happy sabbath greeting, the sermon was what the many dimensions “peace on Earth” actually meant. One of many was the assurance of salvation and the peace in your heart that brings (rare observance which BIL acknowledges).

Benediction- “happy sabbath”!!!

[frank_merendino (Frankmer7)]

Can’t just say Merry Christmas! It’s very sad. Just so fixated on guarding its own uniqueness that it misses the mainstream joy of the Christian message that all Christians celebrate.

Thanks…

Frank

[Paul62]

Yeah I seriously don’t recall one of those except for my replies!

[niteguy2 (Steve Mga)]

I always have to go to a non-SDA community for Lessons and Carols.
I got in the habit of enjoying the very late evening Christmas Eve
music and Incarnation readings. This is close to 35 years of enjoying
it some place.

[JohnCarson (Johnny Carson)]

Benediction- “happy sabbath”!!!

Such a travesty! Can you imagine?!?!?!

And here I was feeling put upon by all the Friday evening “happy sabbath!” Greetings going around on Facebook from all those Adventists wanting all the other Adventists to know of their sanctimony!!! The horror of it happening in church must have been traumatizing!