What a great disappointment. To say that Adventism has neutered itself by attenuating its eschatology. While all the time, Adventism has been debating its soteriology. What in the world is eschatology without a firm understanding of the Gospel--only a fearful looking forward to "judgment"! At least E.G. White had a reformational soteriology when she first heard Wm. Miller. With a failure of the Millerite movement came a doubting of one's soteriology. So began a piling on of self-righteous behavioralisms. The neutering of Adventism has been the muting of its soteriology not its eschatology. Boy do we ever preach the Judgment and the end-time, burning flesh and all! When did you last hear the Gospel? To the typical SDA Evangelist the Gospel is the Sabbath, or abstinence from pork, shell fish, wine, the paying of an honest tithe and shine your shoes before sundown Friday. Giving up your job and trusting in the Lord. Yet not a peep on challenging the leadership on any issue, let alone the IJ. It seems that Professor Knight misses the smell of burning flesh of the good old days. Tom

On the neutering of Adventism I'd say, Consider the innocence
of children. Heaven must be neuter though I have not seen it so in the greek. Northwestearned is advancing that way. You know. From east to west Greece and westearned thought is better than to have stayed east and terrible to have gone east early on and made those religio-politico Inca and mayan gone cities. They are designated neuter in new testament greek; the children, Jesus, angels and Holy Spirit. Terrible the Old testament has no neuter gender.
Also angels and John the baptist and Jesus the Christ and don't forget the Holy Spirit. The Jehovah witnesses have it right this time before we SDAs.

I beleive I hear the gospel every week at church and I think many other SDAs do so as well.

Also, quite a few SDA scholars are making impressive contributions in the area of apocalyptic studies. I think of Jon Paulien, Sigve Tonstad, Leslie Pollard and Kendra Haloviak, and in different ways Roy Branson and Charles Teel, Jr., on the two SDA campuses with which I am most familiar. I'm sure there are others apocalypticists on other SDA campuses too.

Are they simply repeating what our theological fore fathers and mothers said? No, and they wouldn't be doing their job if they were.

They are joinng the conversation and making their contributions in ways that are both true to our heritage and pertinent to current conversations in the Society of Biblical Literature, American Academy of Religion and similar associations. They are also sharing the fruit of their research with non-scholars.

One good place to start is Sigve Tonstad's book, which is Volume 337 in the Library of New Testament Studies, an ecumenical venture, titled "Saving God's Reputation: The Meaning of 'Pistis Iesou' [faith of Jesus] in the Cosmic Narratives of Revelation." It was published by the Continuum International Publishing group, a highly regarded scholarly press, in 2007. 256 pages. $126.00.

David:

When I was at Loma Linda, I heard the Gospel often as well. The last time I heard it in a SDA Church in Georgia was by Smuts. What a thrill. Now, I have to read it, as you suggest. John R. W. Stott, Philip Yancey, Fred Craddock, Leslie Holmes, Tapes by Graham Maxwell.

What did you hear in that conversation about George's book?
Wasn't there a muted consensus that the balance was uneven at best? Also there was a strong inference on "getting ready" and "being ready". As if the bride bought her own wedding gown and didn't wear the one provided by the Groom.

Above the Chapel exist doors at E.M.C. were the words: "The Gospel into All the World in this Generation". It didn't say, if you want to hear the gospel come to Loma Linda or if you want to read the Gospel buy a $126.00 book.

Now we either drive a 120 miles or go 15 blocks to the Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church. We used to be able to drive just 6 blocks to First Baptist Church, but they made the head pastor President of a Baptist College 600 miles away. They brought in a "builder" now the Church has half the members--the only time it is full is when the local Symphany has a concert. Tom

Tom,

Smuts was a student at SMC when I was there in the early 60's. He used to sing gospel songs on Sabbath in front of the old Ad/chapel building with a growing number of students. About the most exciting thing to ever happen at SMC among students in those days. He was thought of as a nice, cheerful guy with a great accent.(versus most religion students that self-appointedly appeared to have the need of an acute case of Hemorrhoids in those days as they were "marching upward" towards perfection)

He and Des stayed at my home in the early 80's in Atlanta after Glacier view and had a weekend series. Both have been a blessing to me in my twisting journey...and I am sure to many,many others.

I appreciated Smuts "prodigal son" talk of the early 80's that had the father placing the returning son "on probation" to see if he was good enough to stay or perhaps "safe to save" from his old life...nuff said.

I wonder how Smuts is today? Last I heard he had a church in Calif.

regards,
pat

Yes Bill: Blame the messenger--The last time I was in an SDA Church for Sabbath Worship was three weeks ago. The Sabbath right afte Good Friday. The Sermon was on The Sin Of Adam and Eve. 45 minutes. During the closing hymn, two deacons carried in a Wooden Cross--The benediction did give thanks to Jesus.

Unless the name was in the hyman no other mention of Jesus was made in either the children's sermon or the main event.

I have been at least as many evangelistic services in the past two years as you have. Yes Jesus Christ was referred to frequently--as in Rev. 19: 13-20.

That there are Gospel preaching pastors and evangelists in the SDA church, I have no doubt. I cherish a number personally. I was addressing Dr. Knight's book. I think he got it backwards, if the review was accurate. The neutering was the cutting out of the Gospel not the end-time. The Testosterone remains--the love is gone. They took the heart out not the gonads. Tom

Yes Pat, Smuts was guest in our home when ever he visited Augusta. What a great Christian gentleman. I also recall his take on the prodigal son. Also his sermon out of Romans 1 and 2. Do you recall his story about 'bringing the ocean back with him?"

Bill

I should have added, that when the evangelist would visit in our home, and several times while I was hospitalized--he was the most kind, gospel oriented, young man one could meet. But pin a roving mic on him, turn the lights down low and swtich on the power point and --He's marching to Zion big time, sword in hand, and the head of the Pope on a spike.

Maybe you had fallen asleep by that time. huh? Tom