Yes, I was failed to mention when disagreeing with Goldstein personally that I could agree with his article. Cliff has managed to water down significant doctrines in his Review column so he has to answer his own question when challenging those who do the same. But then, so do we all.
Back in 1999 at the campmeeting in Johannesburg, in the packed-out church/theatre of the SDA high school, Sedaven, the main speaker, Morris Venden, gave a list of contrasts between social and spiritual Adventists, drawn from his own observations. (I still have quiet reservations about the saved in sin concession implied by his relationship theology - a theology which is increasingly being promoted, globally). He had 2 lists of ten points, but I failed to take a copy from him afterwards.
About the only social point I recall is habitually not mentioning the name of Jesus in conversation. But socialites are socialites....On the spiritual list the name of Jesus was "mentioned".
What was really noticeable - which I have remembered, was that the tension in the air among the 500 odd Adventists present palpably built up from half way through the first list till the very end of the second list: everyone recognised him or herself as a socialite! The last item on the second list released the tension as an audible but momentary collective breathing out- that item was: they go to campmeeting.
From
my personal observations we members generally are lulled into being cultural Adventists by a lack of instruction in the spiritual truths of the fundamental beliefs from the pulpit or afternoon programmes, or prayer meetings or anything, unless our personal devotions help out enough. My spiritual awareness and experience has come by God providentially leading me to particular books which challenged laity and pastors alike to show the true size of God's grace and righteousness.
There are cultural Adventists, who truly give the church a bad image and don't deserve the name from our perspective, and there are default cultural Adventists who are such by accident and not knowing it. Both need intercessary prayer as a group.
[ December 20, 2005, 12:52 PM: Message edited by: Colin ]