Adventist Sunday Church" Shocking? It
ought to be
by Vance Ferrell
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Foreword by Ron: Vance is absolutely
correct in saying that we are not to hold worship services on Sunday. How can
we call folk out of the Sunday-keeping churches if we are sanctioning worship
on Sunday ourselves? There is a vast difference between evangelistic meetings
which may be held on any day of the week and the Divine worship service which
is to be held only on the Seventh-day Sabbath. It should be obvious to every true
Seventh-day Adventists, that holding the divine worship service on Sunday’s,
will serve these fateful causes: · It will get SDA’s used to Sunday
services rather than Sabbath services so that when the church says keep
Sunday, the members will already be used to it! · If SDA’s can keep Sunday sacred by
holding the divine worship on Sunday, this will cause any Sunday keeper to be
confused when SDA’s try to convince them that Sunday sacredness is wrong and
against the law of God. · The Catholics began the change to
Sunday by keeping both days. The SDA church is treading in those same steps. End
comment. See the following article and note
this excerpt from the article: http://www.adventistreview.org/article.php?id=1062 "A few of our churches have
introduced Sunday morning services for Easter,
which for many
Adventists creates problems. We recognize that we are not treating Sunday as
holy time, but the public may not catch the subtle difference." ******* I did not give it that name; the
Pacific Union Recorder did. They emblazoned it across the top of page one of
a two-page article in their February 2000 issue. It is not only being done by
at least one local congregation, it is recommended for other churches to do.
The article says it is being done elsewhere in our denomination. As the apostasy deepened in our denomination
in the 1980s, I wondered what would be the key points, on which our journey
down the slippery slope would accelerate. One would be required obedience to
Gods law. We began discarding that in the 1980s. An advanced step much
further downward would be Sunday morning worship services. The key issues are summed up in
Revelation 14:12, one of the most-quoted, most-emphasized Bible verses in the
Spirit of Prophecy. "Here is the patience of the
saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of
Jesus" [can be translated, "by faith in Jesus"]. This verse teaches obedience to the
law of God through the enabling grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the
identifying mark of Gods true people in the last days. It is the definition
by which we can identify those who are in the "remnant." And how do
we identify the "remnant"? The definition is given in Revelation
12:17: "And the dragon was wroth with
the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the
commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Obedience to the law of God through
the grace of Christ. This is a cooperative act. It requires divine power
combined with human decision and effort. Without that combination, no man can
be saved; for God saves no man apart from his decision to repent of his sins
and, with divine help, put them away. The Bible Sabbath is a key issue in
these last days. Seventh-day Adventists do a lot of compromising with the
Sabbath truth: in the way they keep it and what they say about it. Not only do many of our people hardly
keep it properly, but they are now being taught that it does not matter much
whether they keep it or not. "Only believe, and you are saved," is
the cry of apostasy in Protestantism and liberal Adventism. At the present time, it appears that
there is hardly a historic truth, principle, or standard, given us as a
people, which we have not gutted. Talk about the "patience of the
saints," how much further shall we try the patience of God? To see where the trail ends, we need
only ask ourselves What does the Spirit of Prophecy say about
"Babylon" and those who will receive the "mark of the
beast"? Checking into the matter, we find that
a crucial issue is Sunday morning worship services. Do not underestimate
this; it is important. When any of our
people begin worshiping God on Sunday morning, the people doing it have
clearly identified themselves with the beast power. (See the references at
the end of this study.) Someone will say that the Spirit of
Prophecy speaks in favor of holding meetings on Sunday. Yes, but those meetings are clearly evangelistic
meetings, not worship services. There
is a big difference. And, historically,
we have held our Sunday evangelistic meetings on Sunday night, not Sunday
morning. and we do not give the audience the impression that they are
Sunday church services! We are told that it is all right to go
out and pass out papers, look for Bible study interests, give Bible studies,
and hold evangelistic meetings on Sunday. But we are not to hold worship
services on Sunday, never! Not once are we told in the Spirit of Prophecy
that we should even hold branch "Sabbath" schools on Sunday.
Nothing giving the appearance of a worship service is to be held by our
people on Sunday. While we are on this, it should be
mentioned that we are also told that we are not to regularly attend Sunday
church services in Protestant churches. Someone may attend a service once
with a friend, in order to get him to attend ours on Sabbath. But we are
distinctly told not to regularly attend Sunday worship services. This is not
to be done. This point is one of the very, very
few which is in the 1884 edition of Great Controversy, and not in the
later editions. The reason it was omitted in the later ones is that, like
the Satan monologue at the front of the Snares chapter, it dealt with an
issue of concern to Advent believers. The
1888 edition was written for the world; whereas the 1884 was for our own
people. Both editions are fully inspired (as is the 1911 revision),
but different purposes were fulfilled in their writing. Here is the statement, taken directly
from our 1884 edition of Great
Controversy, page 155: "In the seventeenth century there
were several Sabbatarian churches in England, while
there were hundreds of Sabbath-keepers scattered throughout the country.
Through their labors this truth was planted in America at an early date. Less
than half a century after the landing of the pilgrims at Plymouth, the
Sabbath-keepers of London sent one of their number to raise the standard of
Sabbath reform in the new world. This missionary held that the ten
commandments as they were delivered from Mount Sinai are moral and immutable,
and that it was the antichristian power which thought to change times and
laws, that had changed the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day. In
Newport, R.I., several church-members embraced these views, yet continued for
some years in the church with which they had previously been connected.
Finally there arose difficulty between the Sabbatarians
and the Sunday observers, and the former were compelled to withdraw from the
church, that they might peaceably keep Gods holy day. Soon after, they
entered into an organization, thus forming the first Sabbath-keeping church
in America. These Sabbath-keepers had
flattered themselves that they could obey the fourth commandment and yet
remain connected with Sunday observers. It was a blessing to them and to
after-generations that such a union could not exist; for had it continued, it
would eventually have caused the light of Gods holy Sabbath to go out in
darkness. "Some years later, a church was
formed in New Jersey. A zealous observer of Sunday, having reproved a person for
laboring on that day, was asked for his authority from the Scriptures. On
searching for this he found, instead, the divine command for keeping the
seventh day, and he began at once to observe it. Through his labors a Sabbatarian church was
raised up." Do
you see? If the Sabbathkeepers in the early American colonies had continued
to attend church on Sunday morning, they would soon have abandoned the
Sabbath truth entirely! We are not to honor the "child of the
papacy." To do so is to prepare ourselves to receive the mark of the
beast. Someone will say, "Oh, it is all
right; for even though we hold worship services on Sunday, we still believe
in the Sabbath truth." But where is the mark placed? "In their
right hand, or in their foreheads" (Revelation 13:16). If you regularly worship on Sunday, you
will receive the mark when it is applied, whether or not you mentally believe
in Sundaykeeping. I have waited for years to see if our
people would begin holding worship services on Sunday morning. Others also
realize the significance of the act. Friends have inquired of me whether it
has started yet. Well, a variant of it is now
beginning. Does this mean that the entire denomination is doing it? No, it
does not. But this is still a very
significant step downward! Do not underestimate its importance! Indeed,
what is more? Our largest union paper boldly published and praised the fact
that one of our local congregations is doing it! This adds greatly to the
significance! Some of our high-placed
church leaders do not see anything wrong with our holding Sunday morning
worship services! I have tried to figure out what is it
that we are specifically NOT to do when the National Sunday Law is enacted!
We are advised not to work openly. We are advised to use the day to do
door-to-door missionary work. But
there is one special prohibition: We are not to attend Sunday morning worship
services! Read the
Spirit of Prophecy writings. Locate everything you can on the subject. It is attendance at Sunday morning
worship services which when the mark is applied will place it on men and
women. Will
Seventh-day Adventists who have so little regard about the matter that they
now attend such services, encourage other Advent believers to do so, and try
to get non-Adventists to come to them be likely to later receive the mark? Of
course they will, when the "threat of imprisonment and death" is
made, requiring that attendance; they will quickly capitulate. Sunday worship
services is a matter which they are already in accord with. For those who may not be clear on this
point: The mark of the beast will not begin to be applied to Sunday
worshipers until the U.S. National Sunday Law is enacted, and the worshipers
understand the issues involved (7 Bible Commentary, 976-980). This Pacific Union Recorder article is
extremely significant and in nine ways: We are told of at least one local
Adventist congregation which is now beginning to hold Sunday morning worship
services. We
are told that it is being done at Andrews University, to train our young
ministers to do it when they go out into the field. We are told that it is a good thing to
do, since other churches in Las Vegas are also doing it. Adventists are inviting non-Adventists
to attend their Sunday services(!), thinking that is a good thing to do. What
a way to "teach the truth"! Our largest union paper has published
an article on it, praising the activity and recommending it to other local
congregations in Pacific Union Conference territory (seven conferences in five
states, plus several western Pacific islands) as something good for them to
also begin doing. This Sundaykeeping
congregation has repudiated the name, "Seventh-day Adventist." On
their church sign, they call themselves the "Higher Ground Community Church." They declare that attending regular
church services is like "a sentence to prison." They divide the worship service
between a song service with drums and mike-amplified guitars, followed by a
sermon. This strange "Adventist Sunday
Church" is another sampler of the "church planting program,"
which our North American Division is urging our people to conduct in every
conference in America. The credo of that "planting program" is
"anything goes," as long as it brings outsiders into our churches. We
live at a time when far too much is going: our standards, beliefs, and even
the Bible Sabbath. (See our book, The Truth about Church Planting, 44 pp. 8 x
11, $3.50 + $1.50.) We have here an apostate time, an
apostate name, and an apostate program. Yes, hold evangelistic meetings on
Sunday, but do not call them church services. Here are several Spirit of
Prophecy passages to look up with your family or group. Do you want to become
knowledgeable about this matter, regarding Sunday observance? We are told: It is a virtual recognition of the
fundamental principles of Romanism (5 Testimonies 712). The papacy will receive honor in the
homage paid in doing it (Great Controversy, 579). Revelation 13:11-16 will be fulfilled
by it (GC 578-579). It will be the worship of the beast
and his image (Great Controversy, 449). Its enforcement [by a Sunday Law] will
be a sign that the end is near, and that Gods forbearance has been reached (5
Testimonies, 451). It is a plain contradiction of Gods
law, for those who do it after light has come (6 Testimonies, 193). It is a homage paid to Rome (Great
Controversy, 449). For those who do so, knowing they
should not do so, it is idolatry (Fundamentals of Education, 287). It is a recognition of the cornerstone
principles of Romanism (5 Testimonies 712). It is the mark of the authority of
Rome (Evangelism, 234). It honors the pope above God (Great
Controversy, 449). It is the Mark of the Beast (7 Bible Commentary,
976-980; Evangelism 234-235; Great Controversy, 449; 8 Testimonies 117;
Testimonies to Ministers, 133). It is allegiance to a power opposed to
God (Great Controversy, 605). It is the worship of the beast and his
image (Testimonies to Ministers, 133). It is an act of homage to the papacy
(Story of Redemption, 383). Men in responsible positions will urge
it upon the people (Christian Service, 155). Sun Worship THE 2000 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Whether
we like it or not, the U.S. presidential election affects all of us. Bill
Clinton has taken down the morals of America more than any president in its
history. A large number of us (who are historic
believers) do not vote. But, whether or not you do, here are some pertinent
facts. Alhough this is not a subject with which
many of us are much acquainted, including the present writer, yet, in regard
to moral issues, some comment is needed. (If anyone out there thinks I should
not comment on moral issues, he is wrong.) If a candidate will identify his
position, you can rather quickly know if he is a man of principle or a policy
man by where he stands on abortion. There are few today who will declare it
to be totally, always wrong. Abortion is baby-killing, plain and simple. It
is killing people. Nothing less, nothing else. Unfortunately, it is difficult to be
certain as to what George W. Bush and John McCain would do in regard to this
if either was elected. Bush’s father did not take a decided stand against
abortion, and, in the Senate, McCain has voted pro-choice at times. Both now claim to be anti-abortion. Allen Keyes is definitely
anti-abortion, but cannot possibly be elected. A crucial issue here, of course, is that
the next president could deeply affect the direction of the U.S. Supreme
Court. In some respects, that is his single, most powerful influence on the
nation. Both Al Gore and Bill Bradley have
come out boldly on the side of the abortionists. Pat Buchanan is definitely
anti-abortionist, but he presents problems. Bush could be classified as a
moderately conservative who is a strong policy man, when it comes to working
with big business and other interest groups. McCain has received the approval of
Gary Baur, which is impressive since Baur has high morals and is strongly against abortion
(and probably Sunday laws). But Baur’s close
friend, James Dobson who (despite what you may think of him) knows a lot
behind the scenes, says that Baur made a mistake.
Dobson charges that McCain has voted pro-choice in the past, and committed
adultery when he was married to his first wife. McCain is the only U.S. senator who is
strongly disliked by his peers, because he does not join in their corrupting
schemes. Although he is in Washington, he acts like an independent; something
he should be respected for. Allen Keyes would probably make an
excellent president. He combines a brilliant mind, excellent speaking
ability, with strong, worthwhile principles. But he has no chance of being
elected. The two Democratic candidates are
moral disasters. Both have solidly taken their stand with the homosexuals.
Both have told the gay/lesbian coalition they will fully continue Clintons
efforts to give homosexuals whatever they want for our children, our schools,
our legal system, and our government. The fire that fell on Sodom was so
strong, that it burnt a deep hole in the ground. The Dead Sea has the lowest
altitude of any continental location in the world. That is a fact worth
keeping in mind. In addition, both Gore and Bradley
stand solidly with the labor unions and the gambling lobby. Regarding anti-tobacco legislation,
McCain continued to vote against big tobacco, when fellow Republicans
succumbed to tobacco money a few years ago. Bush is likely to cooperate with
the tobacco interests, for, in Texas, he has consistently worked closely with
the big-money coalitions and businesses. Pat Buchanan is against abortion and
gambling. He is also a staunch Roman Catholic. We received a flyer for a
large Catholic rally held in Indianapolis about eight years ago. There was a
large picture of Buchanan, the featured speaker, on the sheet. It was
accompanied by quotations and captions indicating that his stated goal was to
further the interests of Rome. Interestingly enough, a vote for Pat
Buchanan is a vote for the Democratic pro-abortion, pro-gay candidate in
November. It was because of the Independent Party that Clinton won in 1992.
It siphoned off just enough votes from the Republicans that Bush’s father was
narrowly defeated. The Independent Party did it again in 1996, and put
Clinton back in office. So who should you vote for? Most of
the faithful will not be voting. Those who decide to vote will try to unravel
some of these issues. We here surely cannot say what their decision should be. A vote for some men is a vote for
extreme immorality. A vote for most is a vote for men who are regularly
bribed with big money. A vote for at least one is a direct path to a National
Sunday Law. |