10. Experience of Salvation. Salvation issue. However, in my opinion, we Adventists are such joy kills to others on this point. Do we really have to fight over once saved always saved? The Christians, whatever denomination they are, that truly live in a constant state of knowing they are saved, loving God, serving others, are the happiest people I know. I’m more of a believer like the song “Savior please, keep saving me.” It was once and for all, wasn’t it? I hate playing semantics with this one. It makes people mad. Honestly, I can totally see why. It’s like we convince people Jesus is Mighty to save no matter what our transgressions and people are like “YES!” then we pull the carpet out from under them and say, “No, no, no, not so fast. Don’t be too sure. Did you do everything right yesterday. There you go. You can’t act too sure. Yes, He’s Mighty but you never know…”
11. Growing in Christ: Salvation issue but this is individual. Who can judge it? Baby steps to some may look like leaps and bounds to others. Yes, I said earlier there is evidence. And there is. But we have to continually allow the Holy Spirit to show us that evidence. Because we label so much or we expect so much, we don’t see. We end up impeding progress by our demands instead of letting Jesus work individually with others. Let’s pay more attention to ourselves on this point, shall we? We know. We know what the Lord is saying to our hearts. Let’s focus on that.
12. Church: Here I go. I’m actually not sure if I categorize this as a salvation issue or not. There are those that through persecution cannot meet together, there are those that have experienced toxic church situations but are still followers, there are those that are shut in. So can I say belonging to a church is a salvation issue, I can’t. Do I believe personally in the advantages of going to church? Absolutely. And I go, so that should speak more than my indecision. Ask me during the time of trouble.
13. Remnant and Its Mission: I don’t think this qualifies as either precisely. The remnant is composed of individuals that as moved and prompted, share the Good News with those that don’t know Jesus. I do have a problem with any denomination that claims to be the only one that has been called or does God’s work. I don’t get that, especially if remnant is what’s left and we are not at that point yet. Very, very, near, yes, but I have way too many brethren in other denominations to assign myself that label yet.
14. Unity in the Body of Christ: If we define salvation issue as something that helps us stay alive, then yes. Have you ever belonged to a church or home that’s divided? It’s rough. Our relationships with each other help mold us. Look up Ephesians 4:29 for my position on how we should treat each other.
15. Baptism: Yes and no. It’s kind of like this. If you have the opportunity and you are preparing for it but keep postponing it because it’s not convenient, then that’s a reason for some soul searching. It’s kind of like the couple that’s engaged for like 10 years and never gets married. What’s the point? Some people don’t get the opportunity therefore I can’t just say yes.
16. Lord's Supper: I have to say no. Anything that we measure or test people’s growth in before we allow them or they feel like they can participate, I have to say no to. I love communion, it’s a fantabulous time. I will NEVER say no to a party with Jesus. But it can become simply tradition so I have to say no.
17. Spiritual Gifts and Ministries: not using them or using them inappropriately is in my opinion an affront to God. However, sometimes this part becomes too works oriented so I have to say no. I say this because if I got hit by a train tomorrow and survived and could do nothing, I rest assured in my relationship with the Lord. Even if I could do nothing for Him, I would still be saved.
18. The Gift of Prophecy: Here we go again. And sometimes as Adventists we forget the church’s actual position on her writings.
AFFIRMATIONS
1. We believe that Scripture is the divinely revealed word of God and is inspired by the Holy Spirit.
2. We believe that the canon of Scripture is composed only of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments.
3. We believe that Scripture is the foundation of faith and the final authority in all matters of doctrine and practice.
4. We believe that Scripture is the Word of God in human language.
5. We believe that Scripture teaches that the gift of prophecy will be manifest in the Christian church after New Testament times.
6. We believe that the ministry and writings of Ellen White were a manifestation of the gift of prophecy.
7. We believe that Ellen White was inspired by the Holy Spirit and that her writings, the product of that inspiration, are applicable and authoritative, especially to Seventh-day Adventists.
8. We believe that the purposes of the Ellen White writings include guidance in understanding the teaching of Scripture and application of these teachings, with prophetic urgency, to the spiritual and moral life.
9. We believe that the acceptance of the prophetic gift of Ellen White is important to the nurture and unity of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
10. We believe that Ellen White's use of literary sources and assistants finds parallels in some of the writings of the Bible.
DENIALS
1. We do not believe that the quality or degree of inspiration in the writings of Ellen White is different from that of Scripture.
2. We do not believe that the writings of Ellen White are an addition to the canon of Sacred Scripture.
3. We do not believe that the writings of Ellen White function as the foundation and final authority of Christian faith as does Scripture.
4. We do not believe that the writings of Ellen White may be used as the basis of doctrine.
5. We do not believe that the study of the writings of Ellen White may be used to replace the study of Scripture.
6. We do not believe that Scripture can be understood only through the writings of Ellen White.
7. We do not believe that the writings of Ellen White exhaust the meaning of Scripture.
8. We do not believe that the writings of Ellen White are essential for the proclamation of the truths of Scripture to society at large.
9. We do not believe that the writings of Ellen White are the product of mere Christian piety.
10. We do not believe that Ellen White's use of literary sources and assistants negates the inspiration of her writings.
We conclude, therefore, that a correct understanding of the inspiration and authority of the writings of Ellen White will avoid two extremes: (1) regarding these writings as functioning on a canonical level identical with Scripture, or (2) considering them as ordinary Christian literature.
You may check out the complete statement at http://www.whiteestate.org/issues/scripsda.html Replacing the Bible with Ellen White’s writings is definitely a salvation issue. She was a prophet. She is dead now. She left wonderful works. She is not God and not part of the Godhead. If we studied our Bibles more, we would not “need” her. It can be a crutch. It’s a salvation issue not in a good way.
TUNE IN NEXT WEEK FOR PART THREE AND FINAL THOUGHTS!
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