Long-time Adventist vs. Clifford Goldstein

Over on the Spectrum blog, a fascinating exchange has erupted between an 82 year-old Adventist, Dr. Thomas J. Zwemer, and Clifford Goldstein, editor of the SDA Sabbath School quarterly.  Zwemer, who served on the board of trustees of Loma Linda University for nine years, has taken exception to the prominent status given to Goldstein by the current Adventist administration and laity.  In his opening volley, Zwemer says, “I’ve read your book. You did what every prior SDA writer did to anyone who challenged, even in the most Christian manner, any dogma of the Millerite Movement. And you did it with glee. Then wiped your sword and now strut your stuff like a giant killer. I find that behavior disgusting.” While quite raw in his remarks, the honesty displayed by this elderly Adventist is a breath of fresh air.  Read on for more comments from Dr. Zwemer, particularly the last one which is a gospel appeal that seems to have been brushed aside as the irrelevant rantings of an old man.

“Before you throw me out, a little history. I was a member of the Board of Trustees of Loma Linda University for nine years. The Board would meet 3-4 times a year for two or three days. Each morning about an hour before the scheduled opening a small number of retired or ‘cashiered’ workers would gather at the door, seeking audience with the President of the General Conference or one of his top aids...in each and every instance, the supplicant would be brushed aside without a handshake, a reassuring pat on the shoulder–just cold disregard. We would then assemble and have a long worship service in which ‘compassion’ was stressed. I saw that repeated at least 36 times in nine years. I saw how they treated M. L. Andreasen, Walter Rea, Des Ford, Frank Knittel, and a host of others. Now Cliff comes a long as a Johnny come lately and repeats the sorry mess [and] to top it off he infers that ‘He’ is the custoidian of ‘Objective Rational Truth’. That is too much to stomach. signed Tom”

“...I believe it is time to say goodbye and God’s speed. I wish no one harm. I just can’t stand to see good, honest, Christian men and women pilloried because their world view differs from that of a cult created out of a great disappointment. I gave 60 years to the ‘work’ and have received great blessing from it. I cherish many good friends within and without. I applauded Jan Paulsen’s appointment as President. I am deeply offended by the star role given to Cliff. Why in the name of all that is Holy should all the old wounds be opened? At 82 I don’t need it. I thought that Spectrum, at its founding, was a breath of fresh air. I even published in several of its early editions and recently published in Liberty. But it is in vain to extenuate the matter. Soon, no one knows how soon, the Remnant will be down to 144,000 and then the Lord will come! When Cliff is terminated at the G.C. let me know. I’ll be glad to renew our conversation as sinners in need of Salvation. In the mean time give him my prayer for His conversation to Christ now that he has gotten as far as corporate Adventism. sighed Tom...”

[Editor’s note, this next section is copied in full without editing.]

FROM DISCIPLES TO APOSTLES

Matthew begins his narrative of Christ’s ministry by recounting His recruitment of Peter and Andrew. “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men. Matt. 4:19 kjv Matthew continues, describing the scene on the Mount of Blessing. “Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.”

Matthew closes his narrative with a charge: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them.” Matt. 28:19 kjv

The Gospel Story is about the doing and the dying and the resurrection and the ministry of Jesus Christ. The subplot is about those people who saw, followed, accepted, and told the Gospel Story. The Gospel corollary is from recruitment to commission, from student to teacher, from follower to messenger, from disciple to apostle.

The object of Christian education is an educated Christian. The object of evangelism is an educated Christian. The object of the school and the church is one. An educated Christian is one who knows who he is, who the Lord is, who his brother is, and how best to serve the Lord, his brother, and himself.

Christians believes that what happened at Calvary is the most significant event of eternity as well as in history. Calvary is the compelling force in their lives and the benchmark of their theology, their worship and their service. A Christian is one whose confidence is based upon the assurance of salvation inherent in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Thus, a Christian not only worships Christ and follows Christ but is constrained by love to witness to/for Christ before all others. That testimony will be about Christ and not about him or her self. It will be about who Christ is, what He has done, and what it means to each of us. [Ye are my witnesses]

Therefore, a Christian gives testimony that Jesus Christ is God in the fullest and highest sense.

A Christian gives testimony that Jesus Christ set aside His prerogatives as God and became a man in the full extent of humanity, sin excepted.

A Christian gives testimony that the most complete expression of God’s personality, character, and purpose ever revealed to man, was made in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. [He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.] A Christian gives testimony to the fact that Jesus Christ alone is the ultimate Prophet.

A Christian gives testimony that Jesus Christ became by His life, ministry, death, and resurrection the only necessary advocate between God and man. A Christian witnesses to the fact that Jesus Christ is the highest of Priests.

A Christian gives testimony that Jesus Christ conquered sin and death and holds within His power the key to heaven and hell and has dominion over the earth and the spiritual realm. A Christian gives testimony to the fact that Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

A Christian gives testimony that Jesus Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of the people, and that He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.

A Christian gives testimony that while Christ is away, He has sent the Holy Spirit to guide is His “children” into all truth. A Christian witnesses that saving truth is embodied in Christ alone.

A Christian gives testimony that no man can say Christ is Lord or believe in his heart that God called Jesus Christ from the dead except by the Holy Spirit.

A Christian gives testimony that Jesus Christ is the object of true worship and to Him alone every knee should bow in reverential awe.

A Christian gives testimony that such worship will result in dynamic fellowship and service to his brothers and sisters of contrary opinion as well as to those of like faith.

A Christian gives testimony that one who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law. Such a love will neither keep score nor try to even or settle a score.

A Christian gives testimony that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the judgment hour message. Faith in Jesus Christ brings a declaration of freedom from condemnation. Such a believer is declared just on the basis of the merits of his Savior Jesus Christ. On the other hand, rejection of the finished work of Christ on ones behalf brings condemnation and death.

A Christian gives testimony that such freedom from condemnation compels him not to judge his brother in worship or in service.

A Christian believes that with his past forgiven, his present covered, and his here-after assured he has an unparalleled opportunity fir growth and service.

An educated Christian finds his theology in the Bible, his science in the laboratory, his history in the library, his service among the people and his assurance in Jesus Christ alone.

An educated Christian has not seen statistical evidence that Christians are immune in a greater degree that non-Christians to the diseases that afflict the human race. Therefore, he does not follow Christ for promised healing above his fellows.

The educated Christian is not convinced that Christians live longer than other persons. Therefore, he does not follow Christ for the promise of long years, though he is grateful for every day of grace.

The educated Christian sees no sign that Christians escape disaster and accident more often than others. Therefore, he does not follow Christ for any promised or expected miracle or protection from disaster.

The educated Christian has not observed that Christians are especially favored with prosperity. Therefore, he does not follow Christ for the hope of wealth.

The educated Christian has not observed that Christian are more gifted that others in economic and political matters. The “born again” have not proved to be politically astute. Therefore he does not follow Christ for an assured kingdom of peace built upon human effort.

An educated Christian has not seen Christians having stronger personalities, fewer neuroses and more satisfying relationships. Therefore, he does not follow Christ for any promise of personality enhancement or perfection.

The educated Christian is not impressed with the spiritual superiority of those who talk much about spiritual matters and special baptisms. Therefore, he does not follow Christ in the expectation of a religious high.

Why then does he follow Christ? Why is he a disciple of Jesus and an ambassador His Grace?

Why? for one reason only: in Jesus, He has beheld the face of God. He believes the Christ is the word of God for him and for all persons. Christ is the truth, the everlasting truth, God incarnate. The Christian believes that in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection he has been reconciled to God, the Giver of Life. He believes that nothing can separate him from that suffering love. Christ is the union of power and goodness. The Christian trusts Him. He offers his life—damaged, brief or full of years. No matter, Christ is his point of reference. Christ is worshiped because He is God who has reconciled the world to Himself. He is the Christian’s Savor. Christ is his justification—He alone and by faith alone, He is the center that hold against all the centrifugal forces in the world.

Because of this:
An educated Christian accepts himself.
An educated Christian is conscious of the needs of others.
An educated Christian identifies himself with a cause greater than himself—He must be about his Father’s business.
An educated Christian has a sense of humor. He can laugh at himself.
An educated Christian is cheerful.
An educated Christian is patient.
An educated Christian has the ability to rise to the occasion when adversity strikes. He can do all things through Christ which strengthened him
An educated Christian does his best and leaves the result with his Lord.

The church is the place for discipleship and the world is the place for apostleship. My dear friends, as educated Christians we now have the best of both worlds. As we continue in our discipleship of Christ we will grow in our apostleship for Him

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen and Goodby!

Thomas J. Zwemer.

The New Adventist Crisis

Trevan Osborne has posted a topic on his blog about why so many of his friends are leaving the Adventist church.  He says, “There are numerous reasons why they are leaving but one common thread seems to be a feeling that church has become meaningless. They’ve felt this for a long time but kept going because they hoped it would get better or just because they’d feel guilty if they didn’t. But, they aren’t going to play the game anymore. The young adult exodus out of the church isn’t news to really anyone but there’s something important that I think will make this crisis be more severe.” He then reviews some of the theological crises that have erupted in the church in recent decades, concluding that the church has sought to crush these uprisings by taking a doctrinal hard line.  Trevan’s solution is to do away with theological “sameness,” saying, “We’ve sought to have a unity of sameness. Instead, we need to explore how we can more effectively provide a unity within diversity.” I’ve briefly responded to Trevan on his blog and have also posted the response below.  To summarize my response in as few words as possible, the Adventist church needs to discover Jesus Christ and the gospel.

My response: I’d argue that the central problem of the Adventist church is the utter lack of focus on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Perhaps this is because the gospel is seen as “old hat” or maybe because it is doctrinal ground that other Christian denominations have already claimed. So instead of preaching “the power of God unto salvation,” many Adventists focus on the things that make one Adventist apart from being a Christian.

If the Adventist church wants to avoid a long and painful decline in attendance, it would do well to discover and preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The farther away from 1844 that time progresses, the less compelling the distinctive message of Adventism becomes. The kids in the pews intuitively understand this, but the question is, have they seen the depth of their sin and their great need for a Savior?

The Experience of Salvation

On a recent thread, the question was raised as to whether current and former Adventists could agree on the language of Seventh-day Adventist Fundamental Belief #10 - “The Experience of Salvation.” This belief statement summarizes the Adventist position on justification and sanctification, concluding with this very reassuring statement: “Abiding in Him we become partakers of the divine nature and have the assurance of salvation now and in the judgment.” While most Christians would not have any problem with the fundamental belief statement as written, many Adventists might think twice about the promised assurance expressed in the last sentence.  Some will recall the Investigative Judgment and the cautioning words of Ellen White to never affirm one’s salvation (Christ’s Object Lessons, pg. 155), leading them to wonder how Christian assurance can be balanced with the historic teachings of the church.  But is this fundamental belief statement as conclusive as it sounds?  For more explanation, we can learn much by studying the expansion of this belief statement in “Seventh-day Adventists Believe...A Biblical Exposition of Fundamental Doctrines” (online here).  A closer look at this doctrine reveals that those who seek the assurance of salvation will find it–if they stop reading before the end of the chapter–while those who try to reconcile the statement with historic Adventist teachings will also find what they are looking for by reading all the way to the end.

At first glance, we may be tempted to conclude that an undercover Calvinist penned much of the chapter explaining fundamental belief #10.  “Trying, apart from Christ, to develop the good in oneself is counterproductive.  The experience of salvation that reaches deep into the soul comes from God alone” (pg. 120).  “God’s Spirit convicts those who receive Him of the seriousness of sin by bringing them to a sense of God’s righteousness and of their own lost condition” (pg. 120).  “Although repentance precedes forgiveness, the sinner cannot, by repentance, fit himself to secure the blessing of God.  In fact, the sinner cannot even produce from within himself repentance–it is the gift of God (Acts 5:31; cf. Rom. 2:4).  The Holy Spirit draws the sinner to Christ in order that he may find repentance, this heartfelt sorrow for sin” (pg. 121).  “Through faith in Jesus, the heart is filled by His Spirit.  Through this same faith, which is a gift of God’s grace (Rom. 12:3; Eph. 2:8), repentant sinners are justified (Rom. 3:28)” (pg. 121).  “Through justification by faith in Christ, His righteousness is imputed to us.  We are right with God because of Christ our Substitute” (pg. 122).  With these statements, the authors affirm that salvation is completely the work of God, that it is God who calls and draws sinners to Himself, even providing the faith necessary to believe in Him (John 6:35-40, John 10:14-18, Mark 9:24).

The chapter continues by affirming that those who are justified will manifest good works, beginning the process of sanctification which is described in the Bible as both a present and ongoing experience (1 Corinthians 6:11, Titus 3:4-7, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8).  If we stop reading here, we find no disagreement with what the Bible teaches on the doctrines of justification and sanctification.

Where things get a little trickier is in a section entitled “Move on to perfection,” where the opening sentence reads, “What role do we, as believers, play in all this?” (pg. 128).  After reviewing the words of Paul, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” and quoting Hebrews 10:26-27, the following statements (with references) are made:

These exhortations make it evident that Christians “need more than a purely legal justification or sanctification.  They need holiness of character even though salvation is always by faith.  The title to heaven rests on the righteousness of Christ only.  In addition to justification, God’s plan of salvation provides through this title a fitness for heaven by the indwelling Christ.  This fitness must be revealed in man’s moral character as evidence that salvation ‘has happened.’” -Hans K. LaRondelle, Christ Our Salvation, pg. 77 (pg. 129)

To support this difficult quote, another statement is made that confounds the Reformation doctrine of justification by faith:

All believers who are living the Spirit-filled sanctified life (Christ-possessed) have a continuing need for daily justification (Christ-bestowed).  We need this because of conscious trangressions and because of errors we may commit unwittingly. (pg. 129)

The implication that the sinner requires continual justification is at odds with what the Bible says in describing justification as a one-time event (Rom. 3:21-28, Rom. 5:1, Rom. 8:30. Rom. 10:4, Gal. 2:16, Gal. 3:24).  Further weakening this assertion is the fact that a secondary source (LaRondelle) must be quoted to sustain it.  The historic teaching of Protestant Christianity–that we are declared righteous by receiving Christ’s imputed righteousness–is thus clouded by LaRondelle’s flawed conclusions.

Reading further, we find yet one more reference to LaRondelle:

The scriptural view that in one sense adoption and redemption—or salvation—have “already” been accomplished and that in another sense they have not yet been accomplished has confused some.  A study of the full scope of Christ’s work as Saviour provides the answer.  “Paul related our present salvation to the first coming of Christ.  In the historic cross, resurrection, and heavenly ministry of Christ our justification and sanctification are secured once and for all.  Our future salvation, the glorification of our bodies, Paul related, however to the second coming of Christ.”

“For this reason Paul can say simultatneously: ‘We are saved,’ in view of the cross and resurrection of Christ in the past; and ‘we are not yet saved,’ in view of the future return of Christ to redeem our bodies.” LaRondelle, pg. 89 (pg. 130)

The very next sentence reads: “To emphasize our present salvation to the exclusion of our future salvation creates an incorrect, unfortunate understanding of Christ’s complete salvation” (pg. 130).

A previously clear declaration of God’s salvation and justification by faith is now blurred considerably by mixing the meaning of the believer’s present “salvation” and future “glorification” (see Romans 8:15-17).  This mix-up leaves the reader questioning the security he thought he had in Christ by softening some of the greatest promises in Scripture which show that it is God who saves and sanctifies, being faithful to complete the work He began (Philippians 1:6, Romans 5:8-10, Romans 8:29-30, Ephesians 2:4-8, Titus 3:4-6, 1 Peter 1:2-3, Galatians 2:20-21).

Finally, the authors of this chapter conclude with a fortifying quote from Ellen White:

As long as life shall last, there is need of guarding the affections and the passions with a firm purpose.  There is inward corruption, there are outward temptations, and wherever the work of God shall be advanced, Satan plans so to arrange circumstances that temptation shall come with overpowering force upon the soul.  Not one moment can we be secure only as we are relying upon God, the life hid with Christ in God. -Ellen White, SDA Bible Commentary vol. 2, p. 1032 (pg. 130)

If the reader was not confused before, he is now, because his security has been replaced with trepidation about an overpowering force upon the soul he must contend with.  Instead of knowing the joy of being confident in Jesus’ promises, the reader may be led to believe he cannot possibly know whether he is saved and even if he is, whether his salvation will be at risk with each new attack the “overpowering force” of the devil brings.

Fortunately, the Bible clears up all this confusion in affirming that we can be confident and secure in our justification and in the promises of Jesus:

“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31-39 ESV)

Furthermore, we can sing confidently with the Psalmist “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1 ESV).

The “Clear Word” Debate

The Clear Word Bible/paraphrase has sparked controversy since its inception.  Initially sold as a Bible, after much protest from Adventists and non-Adventists, the book was re-branded as a paraphrase in the same vein as Eugene Peterson’s “The Message.” The problem is, instead of simply paraphrasing the Bible with modern language, Adventist doctrines with already tenuous biblical support are inserted into the text, effectively making the book a basis for supporting Adventist teachings on doctrines such as the seventh-day Sabbath and the investigative judgment.  For example, Daniel 8:14 is rendered in the Clear Word as “He said to him, ‘After two thousand three hundred prophetic days (or two thousand three hundred years), God will step in, proclaim the truth about Himself and restore the ministry of the Sanctuary in heaven to its rightful place. This is when the judgment will begin, of which the cleansing of the earthy sanctuary was a type.’” Clearly, the original text has been fundamentally altered in this Adventist Bible now marketed as a paraphrase.

Ron Corson, a Seventh-day Adventist who hosts the blog “Adventist Media Response and Conversation,” has posted his thoughts on a debate over the newest iteration of the Clear Word: The Clear Word for Kids.  Corson makes some important observations based on an exchange between former Adventist Dale Ratzlaff and Adventist apologist Jud Lake.

In asking a rhetorical question about whether inserting passages designed to strengthen unique Adventist doctrines into a Bible paraphrase is wrong, Corson says, “Is that wrong? I think so. At one time we as a church would say do not add to or take away from the words of the Bible. Clearly we don’t live by that point of view anymore. In fact if it were applied to Ellen White the Adventist church would have condemned her long ago. Saying one thing and doing another has always been a problem in the SDA church. The church should not be surprised when, as has been the case for over a hundred years when people call the church on such activity.”

Please read the whole post here.  Corson’s Adventist voice deserves to be heard on this issue.  One wonders how long the Adventist church can continue to repackage doctrines such as the investigative judgment in modern publications without the support of a real Bible, and how long Adventists will continue to tolerate it.

An Appeal to our Adventist Friends, part 5

The teachings of the historic Adventist church as found in the writings of Ellen White have fundamentally obscured the biblical gospel. At its most basic level, the historic Adventist doctrine of justification is ironically in agreement with the teachings of the Roman Catholic church. Ellen White said “When it is in the heart to obey God, when efforts are put forth to this end, Jesus accepts this disposition and effort as man’s best service, and He makes up for the deficiency with His own divine merit” (My Life Today, pg. 250). This idea of justification implies that man’s “best service” must be combined with Christ’s divine merit to “make up for the deficiency” in the character of the believer, as if the believer can contribute anything to his own salvation. This is no different than the false teaching that prompted the Protestant Reformation. At the Council of Trent, the version of justification promoted by Ellen White was vigorously defended by the Roman Catholic church, pronouncing condemnation upon anyone who disagreed with it. “If any one shall affirm, that man’s freewill, moved and excited by God, does not, by consenting, cooperate with God, the mover and exciter, so as to prepare and dispose itself for the attainment of justification...let such a one be accursed!” (Council of Trent, Canon IV)

If you are an Adventist, we do not bring these things to your attention to ridicule or condemn you. We are truly concerned for your salvation if you adhere to the historic teachings of Adventism or if your understanding of the gospel has been clouded by the teachings of the Adventist church. You may be surprised to learn that the historic teachings of Adventism on justification and the gospel are more in line with Roman Catholicism than with Protestant Christianity. This difference is critical to understand because it is the heart of the gospel and it puts true faith in Jesus into sharp focus. Without acknowledging what God has done for humanity by reconciling us to Himself freely through Jesus apart from our “best efforts,” we cannot have genuine faith. If we believe that our effort in any way adds to salvation apart from what Jesus has already obtained on our behalf, we have fundamentally distorted the gospel. If righteousness could be obtained through our own effort, Jesus died for no purpose (Gal. 2:21).

If you have not done so already, we most sincerely pray that you will place your faith in Jesus Christ outside of your own efforts, acknowledging your sinful condition and your utter incapacity to save yourself. “We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20). Turn from your sin (including the sin of believing you can earn God’s favor) and put your faith in the Savior, who will cleanse you of all unrighteousness—past, present and future. Recognize that God made him to be sin who knew no sin (Jesus), so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21).

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). “So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace” (Romans 11:5-6). We pray that the Adventist church will turn from a gospel of works intertwined with grace and awaken to the biblical gospel of righteousness by faith alone, in Christ alone, by His grace alone, and for His glory alone. The salvation of souls depends on it.