Wednesday: Scoffers—Past and Present

2 Peter 3: 3-7 alludes to evolutionism, but its implications are far more than geological, for it has penetrated the theological consciousness of Christianity as well. The result is allegorization and "fabalization" of scripture, a fact which the author of the Sabbath School quarterly himself has subconsciously subscribed to in his wording.

• Intro: "The stories that the Holy Spirit inspired Moses to write"
• Tue: "We don't need Bible stories to tell"
• "What story does God contrast this with"
• "what does it tell us that righteous Noah (Gen. 7:1) should be so heavily involved in this sordid tale?"

Thus, even the writer of the text is evidencing a subconscious influence in that direction. We are "taught" to disbelieve in our generation, and scarcely do we comprehend its influence over us.

The Catholic Church, in officially supporting the doctrine of evolution, has but joined itself to what has been developing as the prevailing view in the "Christian" schools, spotted in the Los Angeles Times on Sept 5, 1977.

In an article titled "Is God Dead?" a poll found that the teachers and substantial students in most seminaries and theological schools in America did not believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thus the historical antecedents of Israel and Christianity are allegorized and robbed of their power by the failure to understand that they are history, not fiction. We have seen the same in terms of the Sanctuary, in terms of the resurrection, in terms of the character of Christ, and in some quarters, even in terms of the law within the Adventist Church as well.

It is prophecy that not a few theologians and pastors espouse doctrines that are contradictory of the foundations of our faith. So we are cautioned that each of us must know and understand the Bible, as Ellen White noted,

"Error draws its life from the truth of God. The traditions of men, like floating germs, attach themselves to the truth of God, and men regard them as part of the truth. Through false doctrines Satan gains a foothold, and captivates the minds of men, causing them to hold theories that have no foundation in truth. Men boldly teach for doctrines the commandments of men." 5 BC 1094,1095.

As an example, the controversy about origins in which men gather to attempt to "reconcile" the Biblical record with scientific findings, exists only because men in their fallen condition have circumscribed the scriptural record in an effort to make it conform to man's knowledge.

• "Many will stand in our pulpits with the torch of false prophecy in their hands," TM 409.
• "Our only safeguard against the wiles of Satan is to study the Scriptures diligently, to have an intelligent understanding of the reasons of our faith, and faithfully to perform every known duty." 2 SM

That does not mean there is not more new light, for indeed Ellen seriously cautioned that there would be, but, all that is spoken or written about in the church should be tested "It is not enough to do what a man thinks is right or what the minister tells him is right. His soul's salvation is at stake, and he should search the Scriptures for himself." GC 598

Therefore as a body, we need to be solidly grounded in the scriptures, but not in the sense of narrow theological definitions, so much as in an expansive and ever seeking desire to know the will of God, and to be receptive to his revelations. But, this can only take place if we shed rationalistic doctrines, and ground our faith and our knowledge upon the Word of God alone, regardless of what pastor, scientist, or philosopher might say.

Thus, the learning of the world must be balanced with a perspective of what we know from God, and whatever knowledge we have must be conditioned by and subscribed by our awareness of our ignorance before the Almighty, of which the scriptures are his voice. For we are constrained and cautioned that whatever comes from the pulpit, whether it be in the church or out of the church, whether it come from the greatest learning of man or the deepest of his philosophies, that it must be tested word for word against the prophets and the voice of God.