The One True God

Sherl · Seventh-day Adventist Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 2

I have read the messages on this board with interest, but was very surprised to read that the subject of the identity of God has been considered to be only of “minor importance.”

Even the Roman Catholic Church admits that the church's understanding of God, determines that ALL other doctrines of the church are based on the identity and character of that God. This is only logical and the same principle applies to any religion. The doctrine of the One True God is, in my opinion, THE most important doctrine that we can study.

On page 11 of the book, Handbook for Today’s Catholic, we read,
“The mystery of the Trinity is the central doctrine of the Catholic Faith. Upon it are based all the other teachings of the Church…
“The Church studied this mystery with great care and, after four centuries of clarification, decided to state the doctrine in this way: in the unity of the Godhead there are three Persons,—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit…”

Ellen White states that it is a backsliding church which lessens the distance between itself and Rome. Is the SDA organisation now preparing to worship the god of the Roman Catholic church? It does appear so.

For instance, the Catholic church insists that God has no physical body.

Catholic Catechism Abridged by the Rt. Rev. John Dubois, Bishop of New York. Page 5.
"Ques. Where is God?
Ans. God is everywhere.
Q. Does God see and know all things?
A. Yes, he does know and see all things.
Q. Has God any body?
A. No; God has no body, he is a pure Spirit.
Q. Are there more Gods than one?
A. No; there is but one God.
Q. Are there more persons than one in God?
A. Yes; in God there are three persons.
Q. Which are they? A. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost.
Q. Are there not three Gods?
A. No; the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, are all but one and the same God." http://historyinfo.net/webdocs/churchteachings.html

Apparently the 'modern' SDA leadership in Greater Sydney Conference in Australia agree with the Catholic doctrine, that God has no physical body, but is only spirit. This belief is not tritheism (which the SDA church officially accepts), but it is a Roman Orthodox doctrine.

Late last year (Oct-Dec 2005) Bible studies on the doctrine of the trinity were conducted by the Greater Sydney SDA conference leaders with the non-trinitarian group Restitution Ministries. The notes taken at the meetings demonstrate that the SDA church's position on the doctrine of the trinity has altered again - away from tritheism and toward embracing the orthodox (Roman Catholic) doctrine of the trinity. Read the complete notes from the meetings and all correspondence at www.themeofthebible.com select articles, then select “The Full Story. ”

Meanwhile, the Greater Sydney Conference's official position (in several points on the trinity) is seen to be different to that reached by the Adventist Theological Society in March/April 2006. Some contrasts are given in the “Full Story.” www.themeofthebible.com

Sherl

Dzien Dobry · Seventh-day Adventist Joined: 26 May 2002 Posts: 71

Hi Sherl,

Seventh-day Adventists believe that the books of Daniel and Revelation and the teachings of Jesus are the most important subjects for our time, for several reasons. That comes from Ellen White. I recall Ellen White writing somewhere saying to the effect that the only reason for Adventists to exist is to preach the "third angel's message."

Your reasoning seems weak. Quoting Catholics on the importance of anything isn't very impressive.

The Adventist Church has embraced the Roman Catholic formulation of the trinity ages ago and has been part of our official list of fundamental beliefs since about 1980, if I remember correctly.

I also recall Ellen White writing something to the effect that seemed to minimize the importance of doctrines on the Holy Spirit. So I can see why topics on the nature of the Godhead are categorized at this location with a lesser rank.

Sherl · Seventh-day Adventist Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 2

Hi Dzien,

Thanks for your reply. I appreciate your feedback.

You wrote: I recall Ellen White writing somewhere saying to the effect that the only reason for Adventists to exist is to preach the "third angel's message."

The first, second and third angels' messages of Rev 14 state - worship the One True God; Babylon is fallen; so come out of Babylon – don't worship the beast - that you don't receive the plagues. The number one step given in Rev 14 is to identify the One True God and worship Him. It is the number one priority given by Jesus through John. Before being able to warn others to come out of Babylon, we need to be able to tell them how to identify what Babylon is. Babylon worships the 'wrong' impostor god - the beast. Recall that John warns that most of the earth's population will be worshipping the beast and even the elect would be deceived if they weren't grounded on truth. Satan is a practiced and skilful deceiver. For this reason, it is vital to know who God is - His nature and character and how to identify Him so that we aren't deceived into worshipping the beast when we believe it to be the One True God. It's not the Sabbath day that makes the difference - the Sabbath only marks our alleigance to either the beast or to the Creator. Can we worship the wrong god on the right day? Yes indeed. Jesus will have to say to them, "Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity."

You wrote:
Quoting Catholics on the importance of anything isn't very impressive.

I didn't say that because the Catholic church said it, I believe it, although I can understand why you might have thought that. What I tried to convey was that if EVEN the Catholic church recognises this bibical principle, surely Christians and SDARM and SDA's ought to pay attention to it also. The Biblical principle states that we are changed into the character of the God we worship. Psa 106:18-21; Rom.1.19-26; Acts 17:23. Sorry for not stating that clearly enough.

Ellen White also states repeatedly, “by beholding we become changed.” GC p 500. Scholarly investigation would require that we deal with the Biblical principle that all religious doctrines are based on the concept and identity of the God who is worshipped.

If we think God is a non-entity, or a wrathful angry being, or a three-in-one trinity or a one in three hypostases being, it is going to effect the way we worship Him and also, our characters will be changed to reflect that same image. This is a Biblical principle and it is very important. EGW affirms it.

You wrote:
The Adventist Church has embraced the Roman Catholic formulation of the trinity ages ago and has been part of our official list of fundamental beliefs since about 1980, if I remember correctly.

Regarding the introduction of the trinity doctrine into the SDA church, it was introduced by a 4 man committee in 1931 – 16 years after Ellen White died. It was not based on 'new' Biblical evidence. It appears to have been a public relations exercise and LeRoy Froom, SDA historian, was one of the major movers in the alteration of the beliefs. In Movement of Destiny, p 422, Froom admits to altering the pioneers material which he calls "certain standard works" and to changing "erroneous beliefs on the Godhead." The doctrine of tritheism (the SDA trinity) was not voted into acceptance by delegates from a General Conference in Session until 1980. It is assumed that EGW promoted trinitarianism, but that assumption simply does not stand up to investigation of her writings. EGW's "top ten trinitarian statements" are analysed at www.themeofthebible.com select articles then select "Identifying the Unknown God."

You wrote:
I also recall Ellen White writing something to the effect that seemed to minimize the importance of doctrines on the Holy Spirit.

Perhaps you are referring to the 'adjusted' heavily edited quote in Acts of the Apostles p 51, 52 where EGW is made to state:
“It is not essential for us to be able to define just what the Holy Spirit is. Christ tells us that the Spirit is the Comforter, ‘the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father.’ It is plainly declared regarding the Holy Spirit, that in His work of guiding men into all truth, He shall not speak of Himself.”.…“The nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery. Men cannot explain it, because the Lord has not revealed it to them. Men having fanciful views may bring together passages of Scripture and put a human construction on them; but the acceptance of these views will not strengthen the church. Regarding such mysteries, which are too deep for human understanding, silence is golden.” Acts of the Apostles” p, 51, 52. (11 June, 1891)

This quotation (A.A. 51,52) was originally written in 1891, 19 years after the church’s first denominated principles of faith were published. The letter was a personal rebuke to a Brother Chapman, who was teaching that the Holy Spirit was the angel Gabriel. Extracts from the unedited letter appear below. The entire letter is too lengthy to paste here, but if you request it, I'll post it next time.

A.T. Robinson and the leading brethren at the time believed in the SDA church’s published, denominated principles of faith which declared that the Father, though a personal divine Being, was also everywhere present spiritually. The pioneers recognised that the term “the Holy Spirit” referred to the representative mind/thoughts of Christ Himself communicated by angels i.e. the means by which Divinity was present in all places at all times. The leading brethren taught that the Comforter was the spirit (mind, thoughts) of Christ Himself ministered to humanity through angels. Ellen White was pleading with Brother Chapman to accept this position held by the majority of the leading brethren at that time. In this letter she makes a definitive statement regarding her understanding of the Holy Spirit, calling the Comforter, “the omnipresence of the spirit of Christ.” Unfortunately, the editors who compiled Acts of the Apostles did not include these other statements, which make it clear “Who” the Holy Spirit is.

Her letter to Brother Chapman was quite different before it was edited. Extracts in context appear below:
Ellen White, in Petoskey, Michigan, to Brother Chapman on 11 June, 1891.
“Your ideas of the two subjects you mention do not harmonize with the light which God has given me. The nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery not clearly revealed, and you will never be able to explain it to others because the Lord has not revealed it to you. You may gather together Scriptures and put your construction upon them, but the application is not correct. The expositions by which you sustain your position are not sound. You may lead some to accept your explanations, but you do them no good, nor are they, through accepting your views, enabled to do others good. It is not essential for you to be able to define just what the Holy Spirit is. Christ tells us that the Holy Spirit is the Comforter, and the Comforter is the Holy Ghost, ‘the Spirit of truth, which the Father shall send in My name.’ ‘I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:16, 17). This refers to the omnipresence of the spirit of Christ, called the Comforter…. There are many mysteries, which I do not seek to understand or to explain; they are too high for me and too high for you. On some of these points silence is golden…I hope that you will seek to be in harmony with the body…you make the mistake that many others have made, of thinking that you have new light, when it is only a new phase of error. You need to come into harmony with your brethren.… It is your duty to come as near to the people as you can…. Now, my brother, it is truth that we want and must have, but do not introduce error as new truth.” MR 1107.
The fact that Ellen White's advice was given to a man who was out of harmony with the rest of the believers only supports the fact that she advocated the existing (first published in 1874) denominated principles of faith. The principles were the only ones published in EGW's lifetime and they remained unaltered throughout this time, unitl the 1931 alterations to embrace the trinity (unvoted).

Special Testimonies, Series B, no. 7, p57.
(4 December, 1905, Sanitarium California).
"One thing it is certain is soon to be realized, the great apostasy, which is developing and increasing and waxing stronger, and will continue to do so until the Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout. We are to hold fast the first principles of our denominated faith and go forward from strength to increased faith. Ever are we to keep the faith that has been substantiated by the Holy Spirit of God from the earlier events of our experience until the present time. We need now larger breadth, and deeper more earnest, unwavering faith in the leadings of the Holy Spirit.” “If we needed the manifest proof of the Holy Spirit's power to confirm truth in the beginning, after the passing of the time, we need today all the evidence in the confirmation of the truth, when souls are departing from the faith and giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. There must not be any languishing of soul now."

You wrote:
So I can see why topics on the nature of the Godhead are categorized at this location with a lesser rank.

Based on Biblical evidence and that given by Ellen White, I must still very respectfully disagree with your conclusion. The identity and character of the God we worship, is of primary importance – the central doctrine of our faith - though some suppose that it is more important to focus on the day of worship, rather than the character and identity of the God whom we worship. The day of worship is important as an identifying 'mark' to reveal that we give our allegiance to the One True God – the Creator. Some sincere people are worshipping the wrong god on the wrong day. But doesn't it seem possible to you that someone can also worship the wrong god on the 'right' day? According to the Bible, God's people will 'know their God' (Dan 11:32) and will worship the 'right' God (on the right day) keeping the commandments of God (Rev 18:1; Rev 12:17) and they will be filled with the spirit of Jesus Christ (Rom 8:9; Philipp 2:4; Col 1:27)

Thanks,
Sherl