“Cordiality Marks Adventist-Presbyterian Conversation”
The Presbyterian News Service just published a story on the recent conversation that took place between theologians of the Presbyterian Church of USA and those of the Adventist church.The press release said:”Participants discussed four papers prepared for the gathering on the two traditions’ understandings of sola scriptura (biblical authority), law and gospel, and the writings of Adventist theologian Ellen G. White and John Calvin in relation to the two topics.”The conversation, notable for its cordiality and warm fellowship, revealed unanimity concerning the place of Scripture as the only rule of faith and practice. It also produced agreement on the role of the law as a guide to Christian living.”Read the rest here.
September 1st, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Hey,
What’s the message behind your putting cordial in quotes?
Thanks,
Johnny
September 1st, 2007 at 10:48 pm
Johnny,
There’s no “message” of any kind except that I’m quoting the headline of the article I’m referring to where it says “Cordiality Marks….” But if you’re asking if I’m being sarcastic here, I can see how some might read it that way.
To remove any misunderstanding I’m gonna go ahead and revise the title of the post.
September 2nd, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Cool,
Saw this article in my google alerts email and my eyebrows did go up. Sometimes I get the impression that these dialogues are, in view of QOD, an attempt by certain factions to define Adventism inward through outward dialogues. That they are as much interested in defining what Adventism is within itself as they are defining it in relation to, say, Presbyterians.
I am interested in hearing how these contemporary intra-Christian dialogues are viewed by someone who has spent a great deal of his life work on QOD.
cheers,
johnny
September 4th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
In hindsight I’d say that my prior comment describes the World Evangelical Alliance discussions, where we’d possibly move towards signing a statement on scripture more narrow/ strict than the one we’re currently articulating officially.
I like what I’m reading on the Presbyterian conversations.
thanks,
johnny
September 5th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
Other than the Roman Catholics and Episcopalians, the Presbyterians have some of the coolest church buildings. I know the church is not about buildings, but I’m a sucker for inspiring architechture, reverberant acoustics, and fine pipe organs playing great hymns! More specifically, “The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord” (especially as a part of John Ness Beck’s, ‘Upon This Rock’). Is the church’s one foundation the sacrifice of Christ (nailed to a cross and nailed to a wall), or the teachings of Christ?
How about one equmenical question, “Do you agree to make the teachings of Jesus first and foremost in your church, from top to bottom?” If the answer is yes, then issue a press release to that effect, and do it. If the answer is no, then don’t walk, run, to the nearest exit!
September 21st, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Yes, Mr. Vickham,
Run!
No Red-Letter-Theology for me.
–Wondering
September 23rd, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Wondering: I’m wondering if you have a problem with what Jesus had to say, or if you have a problem with Tony Campolo, Jim Wallis, Sojourner’s, et.al., with their aggressive social-political agenda attached to select phrases of Christ, and using the term Red Letter Christian? Or all of the above, or non of the above?
What I am refering to is having most, if not all, sermons based upon the teachings of Jesus, in context, utilizing careful exegesis, not isogesis, and cross referencing related texts in the Old and New Testaments. And then implementing the underlying principles and concepts throughout each Christian organization.
By definition, a Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ. Not a follower of Moses, Paul, Apollos, Luther, Graham, Peale, Schuller, Wimber, Warren, White, Smith, the Pope, or the Anti-Christ.
September 24th, 2007 at 10:01 am
There would be no Christians or a Christian church wre it not for Paul and the apostles. Jesus was born, lived and died as a Jew and NEVER rescinded orf abrogated a single Jewish law or ritual given by God to the Hebrew nation.
IOW, simply delete everything in the NT beyond the Gospels? What would we have then but another Jewish sect, of which there wre already many in the first century?
September 24th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Elaine: The Desire of Ages, Christ’s Object Lessons, and Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing by Ellen White are examples of an approach to scripture which places the life and teachings of Jesus at the center, where they belong. These books include voluminous Old and New Testament references, which the scripture index in each book reveals.