Intelligent quote of the day
I did benefit from the review. I believe your posts are good because they inform me on what evangelicals are saying now about the Sabbath. We have to put those books into their proper historical context, that the main Protestant American denominations went liberal during the 19th and 20th centuries, largely abandoning the Bible as an aspiring standard for believers. We have to be gracious in that these American seminaries did not totally jump ship as their European counterparts largely did during the same time frame.
Today, Europe is a mission field. There are believers there and a deeply rooted Catholic faith. How deep is for debate, and we often have trouble separting true faith from mere tradition. My point is that we don't see Europeans publishing the breadth or depth of theological books that Americans are. I view this interest in the Sabbath to be a new American journey into the Bible, as some Americans are regaining an interest in theology. In context, Armstrong was able to live basically unchallenged because those in America had shelved their own faith in exchange for the prosperity and immediate world problems which captivated believers of those generations. I argue that today, amidst serious problems in Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan, and North Korea, we should not stop investing in theology and biblical education. It is studying the Word which gives us a solid foundation in any times of war, famine, genocide, terrorism, pandemics, and natural disasters.
We can discuss the Sabbath without it turning into a "debate", but as with many things I admit our emotional selves which have often made investments, sometimes into false doctrinal idols. Hopefully, we can remove (or subdue) emotion from the study and approach these topics as the Holy Spirit teaches us, but also comforts our heart. He is both the Teacher and Comforter, and it's a complementary role to not only care for our minds (the Teacher) but also the heart (the Comforter).
---webmaster and founder of message board Jesus Loves Fellowship Mark Tabladillo thanking a fellow poster for benefiting a review and taking a concilliatory tone on the Sabbath question on a the continuous thread, "Are you tired of arguing about the Sabbath?"
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