From: [S]@comcast.net
Sent: Saturday, February 26, 2011 10:29 AM
To: Eric
Subject: Just something to share
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Is the General Conference Involved in
Ecumenism?
John Graz
Public Affairs and Religious Liberty
Is the General Conference of Seventh‐day
Adventists a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC)? Every week someone
calls the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty office of the General Conference
and asks this question. My answer is always the same emphatic “No!” Some
callers believe that the Adventist church is a “secret member” or something
“like a member,” but these categories do not exist. Visiting the WCC web site
one can read the membership list. The name of the Adventist Church is not found
there. In other words, the Seventh‐day Adventist Church is not a member of the
WCC and is not planning to become one.
Does the church have relations with the
WCC? From time to time Adventist observers attend the WCC Central Committee at
their General Assembly. This attendance is not a secret, and articles are
published in the Adventist Review which give a report
of these meetings.
Some readers have heard that a delegation
from the General Conference attends the annual meeting of the Conference of
Secretaries of the Christian World Communions (CS/CWC). This is correct, but
the WCC is not the CS/CWC. Let me explain.
The WCC is the official organization of the
ecumenical movement. Its headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland. About 340
churches are members of the WCC, and they represent 592 million Christians. The
purpose of the WCC is to promote Christian unity. “To promote” would have been
too weak a goal for the founders of the organization. Following two World Wars between
so‐called Christian countries, it was their dream to build a visible unity
between Christians—a unity which would be the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer for
unity and a major factor of peace in the world. Today visible unity even among the members of the WCC is
a real challenge. Members of the Orthodox and Protestant churches do not even
share the Eucharist together despite half a century of meetings, statements,
and studies.
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My
note-
'not
even share the Eucharist’- why is an Adventist representative even bringing up
the sharing of the *Eucharist* as if this proves
the churches are not in accord in the WCC, when Adventist are not even supposed
to believe in the *Eucharist* ? If he'd said 'share communion' that'd be
more understandable, but using the word Eucharist- is telling. The Eucharist is
a Catholic belief that the bread and wine are literally Christ's body and blood
after a priest blesses them- they change into Christ. Odd phrasing,
acceptance of the Eucharist is growing more and more common.
End
note.
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The majority of Christians (about 75%) are
not members of the WCC, and the most dynamic wing of Protestants, namely
Evangelicals and Pentecostals, have not expressed any interest in becoming
members. The Roman Catholic Church is very influential within the WCC, but is
not a member either.
When we think about the WCC it is important
to remember its purpose, which is the visible unity of Christianity. Unity may
have different interpretations and it may seem a long, long process, but the
WCC is the most significant religious organization which is totally committed
to this goal.
What about the Conference of Secretaries of
the Christian World Communions? Adventists are not a member of the WCC, but
they are involved in the CS/CWC. The difference is that the CS/CWC is not an
organization but a conference of Christian leaders, composed of the Secretary General
of the conference, other top officials, and representatives of various
churches. The purpose is not to build the visible unity of the Christian
family, but to share information, concerns, and reports, and to become better
acquainted with each other. No church is encouraged to change her beliefs or to
create a new Christian community. Doctrinal issues are not on the agenda. The
members represent their churches and their beliefs.
The Conference of Secretaries represents
about two billion Christians and covers more churches than any other
organization, including the WCC. The Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Russian
Orthodox Church are represented and so are the Roman Catholic Church, the
Lutheran World Federation, the World Mennonite Conference, the World Alliance
of Reformed Churches, the Baptist World Alliance, and others. Adventists have
played an important role in this Conference in opening it to Evangelicals. Bert
B. Beach was the Secretary of the Conference for 32 years. In 2002 I have been elected to
serve in this position. Our presence in such a group, which represents the
Christian world, has been extremely helpful for our church around the world. It
has shown that we are a Christian Church recognized by the Christian family of
leaders. We are not a cult or a dangerous group of fanatics, but a Christian
denomination.
The relations between the WCC and the
CS/CWC were difficult at the beginning, but they have improved. Difficulties
arose because the CS/CWC accepted churches as they were and respected their
differences. This was perceived as approving the division of Christianity
rather than building unity. Today the WCC has its representative within the
CS/CWC. Will the CS/CWC join the WCC? Some on both sides think a close
cooperation would be good for all and a consultative commission was set up last
year, but other members of the CS/CWC do not want the Conference to change its
main purpose.
Adventists
have always been favorable to developing good relations with other churches or
religious groups while staying faithful to their own mission and their beliefs.
Although Adventists respect other Christians, they believe that God has called
them to fulfill a specific mission and to proclaim a specific message for the last
days. They do not feel threatened within the CS/CWC, and meeting other
Christian leaders gives them a great opportunity to be better known and to
share their mission without compromising their identity and faith. The
Adventist agenda is not ecumenism; it is building good relations.
7/07
http://www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/documents/is%20the%20GC%20involved%20in%20ecumenism.pdf
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My
note-
Why
would the SDA church CARE if it's considered a cult or not? Why? Why does the
church go to great lengths to be *ACCEPTED* in the mainstream as being
legitimate when that was NEVER supposed to be an issue? They make a BIG
deal over belonging to these groups that make up a multitude of churches (or
not even belonging but associating with them- making a TECHNICAL distinction
but not a REAL distinction at all). They say it's necessary to be a part of
these groups even if it's not a formal part so others can see the SDA as being
a *REAL* Christian church.
When
the association with these groups are made it's very
hard to ever disassociate no matter how hard you back peddle.
Not
being a part of the WORLD but something separate means just that. Our witness
is offering a chance for others to COME to the truth, not going to others and
becoming a part of them in order to witness to them. Again mere
technicalities will not hold water with our Savior, we are called to come out
of the world NOT mingle with it. We preach and those who do not accept the
truths we offer- we leave. We don't stay in and among the unbelieving just to
show we are a Christian church. We don't stay to show our UNITY with the belief
that others need to recognize us as a TRUE Christian church like those in the
group already because we CAN'T believe those in the group are TRUE Christian
churches!
There
is only ONE true church and if we believe we are that ONE true church then
becoming part of, or associating with organizations of
many different churches is US acknowledging that THEY have a validity as true
churches when they do NOT.
WE
CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!
This
is corruption, this is falsehood, this is DECEPTION of the worst kind because
it paints the picture of being good and right, acceptable, and desired, all the while it's enough to destroy everything.
Remember
Gal 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth
the whole lump. It's foolishness, deadly and eternal deception to
believe that you can enter something under a certain pretext that nullifies the
corruption, when you are not supposed to be any part of it. We are not called
to enter into communication with others and thereby accept them for what they
are without telling them they are NOT true, they are NOT right, they are
corrupt and will not be saved. Yet here admittingly
the SDA representatives take part in activities - conferences, talks - being
agreeable to all these other false religions all the while touting they're just
there to witness when out of the same lying mouth they say they desire to be
recognized as a legitimate Christian church and belonging to this group allows
for that. Associating with these other supposed
LEGITIMATE Christian churches is WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! They aren't LEGITIMATE
CHRISTIAN CHURCHES! By our own definition of being the ONE TRUE CHURCH we must
believe all others are NOT true!!!!
Does
this sound like extremism? It's supposed to. The truth is extreme! Either we believe or we don't, we cannot sit on the fence,
we cannot jump into a pool filled with deception and do so because it validates
us to a corrupt world full of corrupt churches as a Christian church.
You
are NOT sharing a mission when you enter into apostasy supporting the many
false churches you are supposedly enlightening. If you enlighten them and
they don't accept enlightenment you LEAVE, you do not stay. And your
leaving makes the point of the truth- you will not be a part of deception and
corruption.
How
tragic that the SDA Church has accepted their own failings- calling truth lies
and lies truth.
Deception. The
devil will deceive all but the very elect and there will be very few elect.
Isa
59:4 None calleth for
justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity,
and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
Jer 9:3 And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies:
but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from
evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.
Isa
5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness
for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for
bitter!
In
all truth- if they were doing something ordained by God as the truth they
wouldn't need to justify themselves to anyone and yet they do.
By
saying they are not members of the WCC but merely observers is akin to going
into a brothel and watching the whores over and over again then coming out of
the brothel saying you were just observing. By going in time and again to WCC
conferences you prove you are there for more than just witnessing. You enter
the devil's realm, the devil's deceptive organizations and try to call them
good, try to justify being there when there is NO justification.
I
will not attend other churches because my presence there is silent support. I
don't have to say a single word but my presence says it all silently. If I do
choose to go into other churches I'd better be doing it with the intention of
revealing the truth of God's One True Church pointedly, not quietly hoping
people will read my mind to know I'm not a supporter of their church. If
the SDA church does not believe all these other denominations are true they
have an obligation to let them ALL know and then show how strongly they believe
that they are the ONE true church and LEAVE, never to go back. But they
DON'T leave, they stay and stay and stay and have stayed for many, many years
now and they are NO LONGER GOD'S ONE TRUE CHURCH. God's ONE TRUE Church are the
believers of the truth scattered near and far that have come out of the
apostate SDA church, the ones who will not be spewed out of lukewarm
Laodicea. The ONE TRUE Church are those people who God calls to accept
all truth in Him and they do and will, and they're not going to be part of the
deception running rampant today. They are not going to be a part of the
spiritual Pharisees, but they'll come out from the spiritually deceived false
Israel. God's chosen people did NOT believe in the Savior when He came
but were left desolate. God's chosen people today will NOT believe in all
TRUTH, but those called out of Her will be saved, the
rest left desolate.
May
God open the eyes and hearts of all who would be His in truth and deed! In His
love!
AMEN!
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*******Signature
Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Rev 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
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