Will the Adventist Church split amid challenges over unity?

Date: Oct 24, 2016

The One Project Supported by Person in High Position in SPD of SDA Church

Date: Oct 25, 2016

     Before the last developments of the work of apostasy there will be a confusion of faith. There will not be clear and definite ideas concerning the mystery of God. One truth after another will be corrupted. {Mar 192.2}
     After the truth has been proclaimed as a witness to all nations, every conceivable power of evil will be set in operation, and minds will be confused by many voices crying. "Lo, here is Christ; lo, He is there. This is the truth, I have the message from God, He has sent me with great light." Then there will be a removing of the landmarks, and an attempt to tear down the pillars of our faith. A more decided effort will be made to exalt the false sabbath, and to cast contempt upon God Himself by supplanting the day He has blessed and sanctified. This false sabbath is to be enforced by an oppressive law. {Mar 192.3}
     In the future, deception of every kind is to arise, and we want solid ground for our feet. We want solid pillars for the building. Not one pin is to be removed from that which the Lord has established. The enemy will bring in false theories, such as the doctrine that there is no sanctuary. This is one of the points on which there will be a departing from the faith. {Mar 192.4}
     There will be false dreams and false visions, which have some truth, but lead away from the original faith. The Lord has given men a rule by which to detect them: "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:20). {Mar 192.5}
     As we near the end of time, falsehood will be so mingled with truth, that only those who have the guidance of the Holy Spirit will be able to distinguish truth from error. We need to make every effort to keep the way of the Lord. We must in no case turn from His guidance to put our trust in man. The Lord's angels are appointed to keep strict watch over those who put their faith in the Lord, and these angels are to be our special help in every time of need. Every day we are to come to the Lord with full assurance of faith, and to look to Him for wisdom. . . . Those who are guided by the Word of the Lord will discern with certainty between falsehood and truth, between sin and righteousness. {Mar 192.6}

Date: Oct 25, 2016

sad but true.... the 1 project is in a nutshell, it's all about Jesus... in other words, Jesus ONLY...touch everyone for Jesus... and put away your doctrines and unite with the other churches.

they want to separate Jesus from His teachings... separate Him from His true character and all that He really died for... mercy, truth, justice, the Law, vindication of our God, etc.

as the 4 winds are pulling back, Satan is gaining strength and is weaving his traps with more and more power than ever before...

Only if we have Christ in our hearts will be able to discern and withstand the forces attacking us from without and within. If we reflect the image of Christ only then will people be drawn to us and want that love and peace in our hearts. It is God-given and anything else of this world will not satisfy.

It's getting late in this world.... we must be on board that ark.

Date: Oct 27, 2016

I think you meant *as the four angels are pulling back*...

This doctrine of *unconditional love* leads to things like this One Project, because it is something that basically everyone can agree on. If Jesus Christ is only love, then the Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Voodoo worshipers etc. will all become *Christians*.

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Good quotes vigilantius. There is one place in the inspired writings where Ellen White writes that Satan has 10 times the power of deception now, compared to at the time of the apostles.

Date: Oct 28, 2016

webmaster wrote:
I think you meant *as the four angels are pulling back*...
This doctrine of *unconditional love* leads to things like this One Project, because it is something that basically everyone can agree on. If Jesus Christ is only love, then the Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Voodoo worshipers etc. will all become *Christians*.
.
Good quotes vigilantius. There is one place in the inspired writings where Ellen White writes that Satan has 10 times the power of deception now, compared to at the time of the apostles.

I have been shown that Satan has not been stupid and careless these many years, since his fall, but has been learning. He has grown more artful. His plans are laid deeper, and are more covered with a religious garment to hide their deformity. The power of Satan now to tempt and deceive is ten-fold greater than it was in the days of the apostles. His power has increased, and it will increase, until it is taken away. His wrath and hate grow stronger as his time to work draws near its close. {2SG 277.1}

Date: Oct 28, 2016

God's love is not - never ending, nor unconditional. God abhors Satan, and God's mind was alienated : see

Genesis 6:

5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

Ezekiel 23:

1 ¶ The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,

2 Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:

3 And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.

4 And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.

18 So she discovered her whoredoms, and discovered her nakedness: then my mind was alienated from her, like as my mind was alienated from her sister.

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Isaiah 61:8 For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

Jeremiah 44:4 Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.

Amos 5:21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.

Zechariah 8:17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.

Revelation 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Date: May 24, 2017

The One Project will be held, this year, at Avondale College of Higher Education (Lake Macquarie campus) (NSW, Australia).

Quote from Record article: Stories dont need explaining or have moral points drawn out. We experience them individually and find our own meaning from them.

https://record.adventistchurch.com/2017/05/16/avondales-one-day-one-project/

Date: May 24, 2017

Sadly, our church is so divided, that a standing ovation at a One project gathering is a sign that you are 'relevant'.

"The standing ovation he was given after speaking at the One project in San Diego in February is testament to respect he is held in across generations and the relevance of what he is continuing to say as an Adventist leader."

https://record.adventistchurch.com/2017/05/18/review-where-are-we-headed-adventism-after-san-antonio/

Date: May 24, 2017

Nathan Brown quote from comments section: "To see the One Project as a rival/liberal GYC or even an anti-GYC is to misrepresent it, sell it short and miss the core passion of the One Project."

https://atoday.org/a-second-look-at-the-one-project/

1P:

https://the1project.org/about/faq

GYC:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_of_Youth_for_Christ

AYC:

https://record.adventistchurch.com/2013/07/31/ayc-prayer-summit-re-mobilises-youth/

Date: May 25, 2017

I have never attended a 1P gathering and have no intention of doing so. I have asked a friend who has attended a 1P gathering what it was like. Their response was a shoulder shrug and "no big deal, it was nice, I don't know what all the fuss is about".

Many would agree that 1P (One Project) and GYC represent different ends of the Adventist theological spectrum, the former being progressive and the latter conservative. If the two 'camps' have been communicating and/or co-operating, as claimed in the Adventist Today link (provided above), what does that imply about our duty to be theologically tolerant in the context of our global church?

Should we work hard to speak a theological language that does not offend anyone? Would learning to hear the language of the other side deepen and inform our own language? Should we merely tolerate theological diversity or cherish it and celebrate it?

Can I say that I am religiously mature if I haven't learned the others' language?

How do we live with this theological tension in our church? How do we stay true to our convictions each day and live peacefully with all our brethren in the church?

God bless.

Date: May 25, 2017

https://perspectives.adventist.org/en/questions-answers/questions/go/2017-04-15/will-the-adventist-church-split-amid-challenges-over-unity/

Will the Adventist Church split amid challenges over unity?

Apr 15, 2017 |

Q: I am very worried about the unity of the Church. It seems that there are some who are determined to go their own way instead of staying together as a world church. Do you think the Church is going to split? Marie, from the United States

A: Marie, its important to remember that Christ is the head of His remnant church. Although we may go through stormy times, we do not need to fear if we keep our eyes on Him, trust in His Word, and remain faithful to His calling.

God is watching over His precious Advent movement. According to the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, Gods remnant people, represented by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, will not fall but will be used in an increasingly powerful manner by the Holy Spirit culminating in the latter rain when the full truth as it is in Jesus will be spread powerfully throughout the inhabitants of the world.

The proclamation of the three angels messages of Revelation 14 and the fourth angel of Revelation 18 with their messages focusing on Christ and His righteousness and calling people back to the true worship of God will be providentially used to touch the hearts of all who long for truth in every culture. Marie, lets all be part of Total Member Involvement as we lean completely on Christ and His unifying power.

In a recent two-part article titled, Unity Then and Now: A divine movement founded on the Word, well-known and respected Pastor Mark Finley wrote:

The unity of the church lies at the very heart of the gospel and matters greatly to God. Without unity the church is powerless to proclaim the gospel in its fullness to the world; worse yet, it becomes a contradiction to the true nature of the gospel.

In his article, Pastor Finley looks carefully at what the Bible and Ellen White have to say regarding the unity of Gods Church, and then applies it to the Church today.

I highly recommend reading and sharing Pastor Finleys excellent article (published in two parts in Adventist World) at the following links:

www.adventistworld.org/2017/04/05/unity-then-and-now-part-1/
www.adventistworld.org/2017/04/05/unity-then-and-now-part-2/

Date: May 25, 2017

This is the last paragraph from the link posted above.

http://www.adventistworld.org/2017/04/05/unity-then-and-now-part-2/

The unity of the church is maintained when our commitment to Christ is foremost; when we are united in the truths of Scripture through the guidance of the Holy Spirit; when we place priority on mission and are moved by what moves the heart of God; and when the mutual agreements or policies of the church serve as the foundation for a system of church governance and authority. To neglect any one of these four aspects of unity is to invite disunity, a dismantling of biblical truth, and a distortion of mission. To downplay church organization or authority is to leave the church in disarray and fundamentally erode its mission.

May we be filled with the Spirit of Christ while proclaiming the message of Christ, fulfilling the mission of Christ, and upholding the church of Christ. Then, and only then, will the church arise to fulfill its destiny and reveal the glory of God to a waiting world and a watching universe.

Date: May 25, 2017

Shireen wrote:
How do we live with this theological tension in our church? How do we stay true to our convictions each day and live peacefully with all our brethren in the church?

Hi Shireen, what I'd suggest is to dig out some of the key Bible and SOP quotes on this topic. In my experience this type of material simply doesn't match the popular or mainstream view of "unity" in the church.

Here are a few examples from the SOP.

I was shown the necessity of those who believe that we are having the last message of mercy, being separate from those who are daily imbibing new errors. I saw that neither young nor old should attend their meetings; for it is wrong to thus encourage them while they teach error that is a deadly poison to the soul and teach for doctrines the commandments of men. The influence of such gatherings is not good. {EW 124.3}

Christ calls for unity. But He does not call for us to unify on wrong practices. The God of heaven draws a sharp contrast between pure, elevating, ennobling truth and false, misleading doctrines. He calls sin and impenitence by the right name. He does not gloss over wrongdoing with a coat of untempered mortar. I urge our brethren to unify upon a true, scriptural basis. {1SM 175.1}

It is impossible for any one to become a true follower of Jesus Christ, without distinguishing himself from the worldly mass of unbelievers. If the world would accept of Jesus, then there would be no sword of dissension; for all would be disciples of Christ and in fellowship one with another, and their unity would be unbroken. But this is not the case. Here and there an individual member of a family is true to the convictions of his conscience, and is compelled to stand alone in his family or in the church to which he belongs, and is finally compelled, because of the course of those with whom he associates, to separate himself from their companionship. The line of demarkation is made distinct. One stands upon the word of God, the others upon the traditions and sayings of men. {RH, July 24, 1894 par. 3}

The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure. {1SM 204.2}

Date: Jun 8, 2017

Last week I read an in-depth article by someone over on Compass Magazine. They used to be big in the GYC movement, and perhaps still are, but they started exploring the One Project, and are now a big fan of it.

The stated goal of the One Project is, of course, spot-on, as they profess to be for unity of the body of Christ, which Jesus himself prayed for.

However, their means to "unity" is not based on Bible doctrines, but on "unconditional love". That type of unity will only be achieved when all those who believe in the words of God, are eliminated.

I made a video recently showing how all this "one" stuff leads to Panentheism.

Connect the dots for yourself, if this is hard to believe. Nearly all groups that are touting "one" are into spiritualism.

I expect that if current trends continue, this One Project will grow very large, and perhaps become the "New Organization" prophesied of to take over the SDA Church.

Let's warn people, and only unify on the never-changing platform of the Words of God smile

Date: Jun 21, 2017

Let's warn people, and only unify on the never-changing platform of the Words of God smile

Amen!

Date: Oct 8, 2018

Interesting, seeing as the One Project was officially dead according to Nathan Brown in March 2016... https://record.adventistchurch.com/2018/03/16/the-end-of-the-one-project/

Somehow, I do not believe Nathan!