Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2002 10:33 am Post subject: Was Kellogg's Pantheism the Alpha apostasy?
Ok, I have another question....
Was Kellogg's pantheism the 'Alpha Apostasy'? or were his ideas of pantheism just a part of it?
I believe that, while the idea of pantheism was involved with the 'Alpha Apostasy', that it was NOT the 'Alpha apostasy'.
I believe this Apostasy was instead 2 things:
First, it was a heresy (as such, pantheism was part of the alpha apostasy)
Second, it was a concerted undermining of the fundamental doctrines of the church by leaders in the church who were under the influence/ control of Kellogg.
Because of this, I think the 'Omega Apostasy' will be very much like it, and may even include some of the ideas of pantheism.
I believe the 'Omega Apostasy' has already started. It does two things:
First, it is a heresy
Second, it will work to undermine the fundamental doctrines of the church from within the leadership of the church, and make of naught the tetimonies.
What is the heresy, and what is being undermined?
Curently, there is a wide-spreading influence to bring Adventism into conformity to Evangelical Christianity who have mainly three things to dispute with Adventism:State of the dead, inspiration of EGW through the spirit of prophecy, and the Sanctuary Service (specifically the investigative Judgement)
Evangelical Adventists now are doing a few things right now to narrow this gulf.
1) Questioning the inspiration of EGWhite (which leads to 2)
2) If EGW was wrong, then perhaps she was wrong about the investigative judgment.
I have personally heard this preached from my church by a prominent pastor.
These ideas are 'gaining steam', so to speak, and I believe it will only be a short time before we see an open attack on our fundamental doctrines from within the church by some of the leaders of the church under the guise of Evangelical Adventism. This, I believe, is the 'Omega Apostasy'.
any comments would be appreciated
The alpha of deadly heresies is precisely Kellogg’s pantheism. The alpha apostasy is the alpha doctrine plus the aims, methods, and results of that movement.
For an exposition of the first, click here. For a good summary of the methods used, see Lewis R. Walton’s book OMEGA. (I don’t recommend that anyone read Walton’s OMEGA II). As for the aims of that movement and what the results might have been if not checked, consider this insight:
Ellen White wrote:
Few can discern the result of entertaining the sophistries advocated by some at this time. But the Lord has lifted the curtain, and has shown me the result that would follow. The spiritualistic theories regarding the personality of God, followed to their logical conclusion, sweep away the whole Christian economy. They estimate as nothing the light that Christ came from heaven to give John to give to His people. They teach that the scenes just before us are not of sufficient importance to be given special attention. They make of no effect the truth of heavenly origin, and rob the people of God of their past experience, giving them instead a false science.
In a vision of the night I was shown distinctly that these sentiments have been looked upon by some as the grand truths that are to be brought in and made prominent at the present time. I was shown a platform, braced by solid timbers—the truths of the Word of God. Some one high in responsibility in the medical work was directing this man and that man to loosen the timbers supporting this platform. Then I heard a voice saying, “Where are the watchmen that ought to be standing on the walls of Zion? Are they asleep? This foundation was built by the Master Worker, and will stand storm and tempest. Will they permit this man to present doctrines that deny the past experience of the people of God? The time has come to take decided action.”
The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure. —Selected Messages Book 1, page 203-205.
That passage was very succinct.
I think it shows exactly what I was saying......Dr Kellogg used His position to undermine fundamental doctrines (putting in place of these, his ideas of pantheism).
It seems to me the exact same thing is going to happen (is happening) again: The undermining of fundamental doctrines, and placing in its place a spurious doctrine (possibly including pantheism, but I can't say).
I can say with certainty, that I do believe the attempt to remove the distinctions between Adventism and Evangelical christianity is part of the process, and it has begun already under the guise of Evangelical Adventism.
These theories, followed to their logical conclusion, sweep away the whole Christian economy. They do away with the necessity for the atonement and make man his own savior. These theories regarding God make His word of no effect, and those who accept them are in great danger of being led finally to look upon the whole Bible as a fiction. Testimonies for the Church, Vol 8, p. 291.
The true parallel to Kellogg’s theology is the theology of A. Graham Maxwell and the New Age movement. See these threads and the links they contain:
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