G'day Barny
Hi brakelite,
You seem to have missed my point regarding Sabbath observance and SDA legalism. As SDA beliefs can vary amongst it's individual members, I am curious about your belief. For example, many Christians never observe Saturday Sabbath throughout their lives. What do you believe about their position on salvation, considering their continual "disobedience" of this commandment? Do you have any scripture to support this belief?
Jesus had the following to say to the religious do-gooders and legalists of His day....:
[HIGH-LIGHT]Matt. 12:38 ¶ Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.[/HIGH-LIGHT]
My understanding of this passage, or at least one way of looking at it, is that Jesus is telling these hypocrites that we must live according to the light we have. If we are convicted to observe the Sabbath, if we read in the word of God that the commandments of God are sacrosanct and binding, to not do so is disobedience. If we are not convicted to do so,or we simply do not believe what the scriptures tell us, or we have placed ourselves deliberately in a position whereby conviction becomes near nigh impossible, (for example we don't honestly study the scriptures on the subject presuming we know everything...and this can apply to any topic...thus not having a heart toward truth) then our disobedience becomes our own responsibility. If however we are sincerely searching for truth and we are hungering and thirsting for righteousness then the onus is upon God Himself to reveal the truth to us. We are free. The promises of God are that He will fill us with His righteousness and His truth. We must examine ourselves as to whether we are standing before God with an open and honest heart. I judge no-one, but simply teach what the scriptures reveal.
(2Co 4:2; Eph 5:9; 2Thess. 2:10; Matt. 5:6.)
I do not teach Sabbath observance because I believe everyone should be living up to the light I have; I teach it because I believe obedience to all God's commandments are vital to an ongoing fruitful relationship with our Creator. I also stress that we are not to focus on obedience, but on our relationship. As we abide in Him the fruit of the Spirit becomes manifest and obedience is a natural result of that. Thus there is nothing legalist about obedience, it grows from our love of God and His love for us. It is a fulfilment of the whole purpose of the incarnation. To save us from our sins.
I note your quote of 1Cor 6:9 and Gal 5:21.
How do you determine who the "unrighteous" are?
And considering that Christians are led by the Spirit, thus not under the law (Gal 5:18), how would a Christian turn back to works of the flesh?
Jesus told us clearly that we are to judge people by their fruits. Judging them however need not be coupled with condemning them. Some are young in Christ and have certain issues that are yet to be dealt with. With such we are to show patience and understanding, for we were all there were we not? Had not the Galatians turned back to works of the flesh? Paul wasn't rounding on them for obeying God's commandments, he was rebuking them for getting circumcised, and believing their circumcision was necessary for their justification.
While we are on that topic, in light of what was going on at Galatia, please give your explanation for Acts 16:1-3.
Interestingly I was speaking to an SDA just yesterday who agreed that some SDAs are legalistic. He however, works some Sabbaths, drinks beer and eats meat. Another SDA I know even takes some recreational drugs on rare occasions.
Like I said. Some still have issues. Others are more liberally minded and believe what they are doing is acceptable. Before their own Lord they stand or fall. Like I said in the beginning. We must all live up to what light we have.
I am a dairy farmer. I work 7 days a week. The cows don't stop giving milk on Sabbath. Nor do they time their calving to suit my dya for going to church. Nor do they get sick only during the week, and again, they gotta be fed, watered, etc. Animals are a 24 hour responsibility and can get sick very quickly with fatal results if neglected. Even not milking them twice a day can result in mastitis, which can, if not treated immediately, result in the loss of that quarter of udder. Other than all that I in good conscience believe to be essential to the well being of the stock, I do not do haymaking etc or maintenance work on the Sabbath. I would that I had another line of work, but God brought me to this place as an answer to prayer; someone else's prayer that is. However, that said, I know some members of the church who do not go along with this, and look at me sideways. While others understand and give me no grief. The whole thing however was something I never approach lightly, and have agonised in prayer many times.
I also eat meat, though I prefer vegetarian food, for both the health benefits and the variety, and have greatly reduced my meat intake from when I was not an Adventist over 14 years ago. My wife at this time is not Christian.It would be patently unjust for me to demand a radical change in diet for us both, or to demand she makes allowances for two distinctly different diets. God calls us to to walk justly, to love mercy, and walk humbly. Love is the fulfilling of the law. She is learning however to cook vegetarian, and we are both learning to enjoy it more and more, and I am sure one day soon we will take that step. I do not take meat to the church potlucks lol.
The beer and drugs belong to a very distant past, and well may they remain there.