There may well be adequate cause for Church discipline of Hope International and related groups, but I do not see it in the Review special report [August NAD issue]. Serious problems? Yes; but no more serious than the problems with very liberal Adventist groups displaying trends that are just as disturbing and harmful. Both groups are hurting our unified mission, but need to be dealt with in a more considerate way than the challenge given at the end of the report.
Tithe seems to be a major sore point, but consider this: A conservative Adventist will always label tithe as such, while a liberal Adventist may not consider the "tithe" label important and just donate that amount to a chosen organization. This is happening. So let's be careful how we deal with both the very conservative and the very liberal in our church.
Stan McCluskey
Naches, Washington
Personally I think it is about high time that something was done about this organization. To those who do ignore church authority I would have to ask, "Why bother being a Seventh-day Adventist when it is obvious that one does not accept the church as being of the authority of God?" Is it because of something they have read in the Bible or something they have read in Ellen G. White? If their insistence on remaining associated with the church is based on something from EG White as opposed to what the Bible teaches, then are they not then placing Ellen G. White above the authority of the Bible?
I suppose in some respects that I am also glad that the church has taken as long as it has to propose the kind of action that it has because this helps to demonstrate that the church is not hasty. Over the 150-odd years that our church has been in existence we have seen many an attack beat up on our church. The attacks and the people associated with them have gone. The church is still here. Only a church truly of God could take the pounding this one has and still survive.
I would challenge anyone reading this with this question: If you really do see this church as the church of God, then by what actions are you demonstrating that you believe this?
George Tasker
I read the Adventist Review report and tried to work my way through the rambling, verbose response by Hope International. . . . If they believe that the Seventh-day Adventist church is in apostasy then they need to leave and start their own church. That is what the protestants have historically done and they pride themselves on being historical. They are not happy with the Adventist church so it is illogical to try to remain here. I am surprised that it has taken this long for the church to take the steps needed. They are just as much of a hindrance to the Adventist church as flaming liberals. I am certain that HI would die on the vine if it ever separated from the church, that is why they don't want to leave. . .
Happily we have theologians (and prophets) such as [Louis] Venden who show that the true believer must "strive" to spend time daily learning to know and love Jesus to have any chance of obeying the law of God. To know Jesus is to love Him. To love Him is to want to obey Him and to be able to obtain the strength from Him to do so. There are many others who are leading the church in our quest for growth in present truth, to counter the errors as promulgated by HI and associates.
Allen Roy
GC 2000
What superb reporting about GC2000. Bravo! Well Done. We enjoyed being there and now reading the Review renews our spirit for what God is doing for His people.
Tom Francis
Broomall, Pennsylvania
ADVENTIST REVIEW ONLINE
Great web site! I appreciate deeply your work, including your postings to various forums with news and updates. I noticed today on the Online Review that the "Late Breaking News" section was taken off the main menu. While I did find it on the menus nested a few layers deep, I hope this feature is not being removed. I read it a lot, and more often than not find myself reading other articles afterwards. There are probably others who do so also. So please, don't take it away! I know you are offering the e-mail newsletter now also, but I just have an aversion to these kind of things--too much like spam.
As for the great service you are providing and the costs involved, I have a suggestion. There are probably many like myself who really don't care for the paper mag, but would like to support the online version. How difficult would it be to put up a secure donation area in the website? I'd donate!
Rich Higby
Thank you for your suggestion. It will receive serious consideration. –-Editors
