09AR14-09

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Apologia Report 14:9

March 5, 2009

Subject: SDA doctrine in flux -- and in evangelical bookstores

In this issue:

CHRISTOLOGY - Christian Century rejects Christ's substitutionary atonement

ROLLINS, PETER - reasons to track this popular "po-mo" thinker

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISM - the movement's doctrinal history and present-day conflicts regarding Trinitarianism + deceptive "Clear Word" Bible paraphrase penetrates mainstream Christian retail outlets

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CHRISTOLOGY

"God does not demand blood" by Daniel M. Bell Jr. -- an idea that continues to grow in popularity, i.e., the rejection of "redemptive violence" in favor of "divine charity." If you're unfamiliar with the subject, this essay offers a good introduction. (Note: There are a number of atonement theories, not all of which are heretical. In Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem lists five views, as does Millard Erickson in Christian Theology. Gordon Lewis and Bruce Demarest lists five or six views, depending on how they are counted, in Integrative Theology, volume 2, while in Systematic Theology, volume 3, Norman Geisler lists nine theories. The fact that there are many views of the atonement, however, does not mean the approach taken in Christian Century is beyond criticism. - RV)

Bell can't believe that a loving God would ever "demand or require blood to redeem us." He articulates a traditional substitutionary atonement view - only to reject it because the concept of such violence is too repulsive. The presentation comes across as an unconvincing "black is really white" message that's completely foreign to those who know and trust the Bible. Christian Century, Feb 10 '09, pp22-26.

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ROLLINS, PETER

The Orthodox Heretic: And Other Impossible Tales, by Peter Rollins [1] (foreward by Emerging Church movement leader Rob Bell) -- "Don't be fooled by the slender spine of this unusual book. Rollins, the Irish philosopher/po-mo theologian who has previously published How (Not) to Speak of God [2] and The Fidelity of Betrayal [3], upends some of Christians' most cherished platitudes about God in his newest outing. He cautions readers that the book is not to be read quickly, for acquiring information, but to be savored slowly for possible transformation. Mostly, the book lives up to this billing. Rollins recasts some of the most familiar parables of and stories about Jesus, sometimes subversively - as when he proposes a version of feeding the 5,000 that shows Jesus and his disciples pigging out on meager resources while the multitudes look on, starving. His point? That Christians are the body of Christ, and when we oppress the poor and hoard scarce resources, we are saying that represents the kind of God we serve. Although not all of the parables work equally well - some could use further illumination - Rollins is a tremendously talented writer and thinker whose challenges to Christianity-as-usual should be well-received by the emergent church crowd, if not beyond." Publisher's Weekly, Feb 9 '09, p45.

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SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISM

"The Trinity in Seventh-day Adventist History" by Merlin D. Burt -- begins with the significant admission that "The last decade has seen increased antitrinitarian activity within the Seventh-day Adventist Church." The "reasons" behind the concern are said to stem from 1) Internet disinformation; 2) "other Adventist groups that emerged from the Millerite movement [and] continue to hold to an antitrinitarian perspective. Examples would be the Church of God (Seventh Day), also known as the Marion Party; the previous view of [Herbert W. Armstrong’s] Worldwide Church of God; the Atlanta Church of God in Georgia (formerly of Oregon, Illinois, or the Age to Come Adventists), and Jehovah's Witnesses (that branched from the Advent Christian Church [which] embraced the trinitarian view);" 3) the impression that "the Trinity doctrine comes from Catholic theology and therefore must be false;" and 4) "Perhaps most significant, over the last few decades, some Seventh-day Adventists have thought to return to early historical Adventist faith, or what might be called neo-restorationism." Oddly, little is said about this last concern. In fact, the essay is essentially just an outline of SDA doctrinal history on the Trinity. The specific concerns above aren't addressed in a point/counterpoint fashion at all.

The one possible exception occurs in relation to item three above, in response to which Burt writes briefly: "Many have not realized that the Catholic doctrine of the Trinity has differences from the Seventh-day Adventist biblical doctrine of the Trinity. These include eternal generation of the Son and Divine impassibility, which are influenced by Greek philosophy." And that's the end of the discussion.

As the presentation of doctrinal history gets underway, Burt acknowledges that "Two of the principal founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Joseph Bates and James White ... rejected the doctrine of the Trinity." Contrary to those who say she promoted a confused and defective view of Christ, Burt portrays Ellen G. White as always having maintained orthodox views. The impression is given that the majority opinion outlived the objectors and by the mid-1900s trinitarianism finally won out.

"By about 1890, Adventists had come to a more-or-less harmonious position that viewed Jesus as the begotten or originated Divine Son of God. [And,] In 1957, the book Questions on Doctrine [4] anchored the doctrine of the Trinity or Godhead for Adventists. While the book produced theological conflict in other areas, there was virtually no dissent on the book's clear teaching of the Trinity." Ministry, Feb '09, pp5-8. <www.tinyurl.com/dfrnh3>

"Is This Word Clear?" by Stephen Pitcher -- a thorough analysis of The Clear Word [5], a Bible paraphrase by Jack J. Blanco widely promoted among Seventh-day Adventists. Pitcher notes that "Since its first printing in 1994, The Clear Word Bible has been reworked into no less than seven unique versions of the Scriptures." One of these is Savior: Four Gospels. One Story [6], published by an SDA imprint called Autumn House.

Pitcher details Blanco's troubling insertion of peculiar Adventist views (such as sabbatarianism, food laws, a denial of hell, and a distorted godhead) into the Bible text, which in The Clear Word becomes "replete with quotes and paraphrases from the writings of [SDA prophet] Ellen G. White." Even more unsettling is Pitcher's discovery: "I searched the top nine Christian booksellers which had Internet sites, including the two largest Christian bookstores in the USA. Of these nine sellers, seven of them carried The Clear Word; one, with stores in Southern California, actually had The Clear Word in the physical store on a shelf with other Bible translations."

On page 3 of the same issue, founding editor Dale Ratzlaff answers the question "Why Make an Issue of The Clear Word?" He explains that "The Clear Word is designed to deceive the reader into thinking this is an accurate rendering of God's word in modern English when actually it is a subtle attempt to make the unbiblical teachings of Adventism appear biblical. I can see no other reason for its existence." Cover story. Proclamation!, Jan/Feb '09, pp6-13, 20. <wwww.tinyurl.com/dj9nw2>

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Sources, Monographs:

1 - The Orthodox Heretic: And Other Impossible Tales, by Peter Rollins (Paraclete, 2009, hardcover, 208 pages) <www.tinyurl.com/avdduy>

2 - How (Not) to Speak of God, by Peter Rollins (Paraclete, 2006, paperback, 144 pages) <www.tinyurl.com/b6f3cj>

3 - The Fidelity of Betrayal: Towards a Church Beyond Belief, by Peter Rollins (Paraclete, 2008, paperback, 196 pages) <www.tinyurl.com/bfjx2j>

4 - Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine: Annotated Edition, George R. Knight, ed. (Andrews Univ Prs, 2003, hardcover, 619 pages) <www.tinyurl.com/cwzb5k>

5 - The Clear Word, by Jack J. Blanco (Review & Herald, 2004, hardcover, 1334 pages) <www.tinyurl.com/bfbbd5>

6 - Savior: Four Gospels. One Story: A Fresh Look at Jesus Christ, His Ministry, and His Teachings, by Jack J. Blanco (Autumn House, 2008, paperback, 154 pages) <www.tinyurl.com/avt8yj>

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