Green,

I also see some interesting points in your post, but I do detect some serious danger signals. When reading your post I see that you are reading Scripture the same way as I noticed Samuel Koranteng Pipim was doing when he started his writing, seemingly under the supervision of Sam Bacchiocchi.

All I want to say now is that this kind of interpretation seems to be in harmony with the fundamental protestant view of the Image of the Beast, and in opposition to the method used by Ellen G White..

This is, to me, a serious issue, and I appeal to you to examine seriously what you are doing, in earnest prayer for guidance of the Holy Spirit, which is essential to understanding Scripture.

You do use frequent quotation from Ellen White, but in my view you omit so much of her balanced view.

If I start looking for quotations to balance your view, it will only result in useless discussions, so you will just have to do it on your own.

Unfortunately Pipim's idea of verbal inspiration, where his Pentecostal view is combined with the ideas of Samuelle Bacchiocchi has achieved a great influence within modern liberal Adventism , so that most of its adherents do hot even notice it. There must be a reason why both the Michigan conference and the Lake Unikon Conference has warned the world church against his writings and work, and this warning is also given by Seminary teachers at Andrews University, something that could be verified.

One of the great dangers lies in the undermining of the influence of Ellen White in our church in the final days of history.

Johann,

I suppose you would like to think your views are more balanced than mine. Doesn't everyone think that he or she is in the more favorable position? It is human nature. We all judge ourselves better than others by default. This is an effect of sin. It is an exhibition of selfishness.

As leader of an institution, I chose to focus on balance. To me, that meant not enforcing my ideas upon the staff who were under me. While I encouraged, I did not micro-manage. Some of the staff thrived in this environment, for it gave them liberty to use their skills as they best knew how. Other staff lacked structure, and did very little, for no one was giving them a specific list of job duties.

Balance on this sinful planet is hard to find. Mrs. White said that even as many as a few persons on a committee represented a "kingly power." Kings are not balanced.

Balance is being able to hear all sides of a matter before passing judgment on it. Imbalance is the closure of the mind to others' viewpoints and focusing solely on what one wishes to think.

I have done my best to support my views upon the solid foundation of scripture. It is more balanced than I am. I notice, however, that many rely on public opinion, popular opinion, or their own ideas to define truth. This is dangerous, not just in my opinion, but in fact.

Furthermore, it is dangerous to form up an opinion based upon what someone else does or does not believe. If you choose to cast the burden of finding the truth on a matter upon someone else, you are shirking your own moral duty. If one is not able to support his or her beliefs from a "thus saith the Lord," it is their duty to study the Bible and to "be ready to give an answer to every man that asketh."

I have noticed, Johann, that your focus is often upon what I would call "truth by association." I would propose to you that truth should not be determined by who said it or for what reason. It should be determined by whether or not it agrees with the Word of God. Samuel Koranteng-Pipim and Samuel Bacchiocchi both spoke much truth. I have not always agreed with everything they have said. But truth is truth, regardless of its source, and in order to determine whether they have spoken truth, one must necessarily compare it to the standard of the Bible.

Remember, the 1888 message was truth, even though both Jones and Waggoner later apostatized. Truth remains truth even when its standard bearer fails or is deceased.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

If I refer to other persons it is not to discover truth or error by association. It is only to help others see my point of view, and to understand the history of certain developments within our beloved church.

Here is the link to this week's study to be discussed in our various Sabbath Schools on March 2nd.

http://www.ssnet.org/lessons/13a/less10.html

The topic is "Stewardship and the Environment."