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January 07, 2011

An Appeal to Former Adventists



Now that God has called you out of Seventh-day Adventism for purely theological reasons, it is important to remember that He didn't leave you where He found you. We serve an awesome, prayer-answering, sovereign God. As former Adventists, we should be foremost in giving God all the honor, glory, and praise for our regeneration (not just partially or mostly but totally). Unfortunately, Seventh-day Adventism has not prepared us to decipher the complicated religious landscape in our world today. Satan doesn't mind if we leave a particular cult or sect as long as we join yet another one or create our own. Two wrongs never make a right. Having formerly embraced a false gospel, we are highly vulnerable to becoming deceived yet again. It is a common and serious overreaction to the spiritual abuse we have suffered for many years to thereby seek freedom from all of God's righteous standards. However, since all exhortations in the Bible are a form of law, it is pointless to be radically antinomian (anti-law) in our approach to godly living. Of course, the inherent flaw of legalism is that it is never consistent nor reliable—thereby diminishing or eroding sound doctrine.

It is most noteworthy that "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law" (Gal. 3:13) and not from our duty to obey His divine will for our lives (click here for more details). The Apostle Paul clearly informs us that in this life we have new direction, not full perfection (see Phil. 1:6). After all, God isn't finished with us yet. As born-again believers, our glorification awaits us when Christ returns, but our sanctification (Spirit-led life) is designed to make us more and more like Jesus during this brief, transitory segment of time. Additionally, as former Adventists, we have a lot to learn and a lot to unlearn. Learning from experience alone makes us prime candidates for a very confusing and difficult life. Since most of what we learn in life we learn from others, it is advantageous to seek counsel from those who have already journeyed the same path we are embarking upon. Certainly, as we have already learned, the sincerity of one's belief system is no substitute for Biblical truth. Many sincere, wonderful people are sincerely wrong about a lot of things, not excluding their stance on the teaching of God's Word.

Getting the Gospel right should be our highest priority. Are we going to continue the same Christological and soteriological views that we held as devout members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church? Think about it! Is our view of God and Scripture any different from that of Adventism? For example, a former who becomes charismatic and speaks in gibberish tonalities and/or falls to the floor in utter ecstasy is no different from an Adventist who upholds the extra-biblical revelations and reveries of Ellen White. Likewise, former Adventists who embrace Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy are largely following the same soteriological stance that they held while in Adventism. He or she may have changed labels but not in doctrinal content. The adherence to "sound doctrine" is a Biblical  mandate (Titus 1:9; 2:1).  All true believers seek and highly value doctrinal purity. The battle cry of the Protestant Reformation ("sola scriptura") will always serve us well in not being deceived yet again.

Still other former Adventists initially look for a group that teaches the extinction/re-creation view like their former church does. Unfortunately, this path only leads to yet another cult, false gospel, or liberal religionist. Changing church labels doesn't necessarily result in sound doctrine. The truth is that not even God can resurrect someone who doesn't exist. Moreover, the very New Testament word "resurrection" denotes raising of the deceased physical body  to a glorified eternal  state whose soul (spirit) has actively and anxiously awaited the call of the Lifegiver (Rev. 6:9-11) to reunite their body and soul—not a re-creation, transmigration, or cloning process. Jesus' excellent metaphor of "sleep" for physical death clearly reminds us that human beings are not nonexistent nor unconscious during any phase of real sleep. How we understand the natures of God, man, and salvation will largely determine how accurate our view is of biblical Christianity. If we don't get Genesis right, it will cloud our entire view of Scripture. In other words, we should seek to discover the essential truths of the Christian faith. Without any doubt, the SDA view of death and the afterlife is their most deceptive teaching.

It is impossible to understand regeneration when one doesn't believe in the dual nature of man; specifically, body and soul (spirit). Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christadelphians, atheists, and secular evolutionists wholeheartedly agree with each other that man has no immaterial entity. They insist that what you can actually see with your own eyes is what you have and nothing more. Thus, it is no surprise that many people in our culture feel free to act and behave like animals. Far too many Seventh-day Adventists become utterly despondent in their legalistic pursuit of sinless perfection and end up embracing  a hedonistic lifestyle because the quick-fix of annihilation, at worst, is merely a momentary, transitory fate (like a slap on the wrist) for having lived a profane life. After all, with their unbiblical view of death and the afterlife, they have no hell to shun and no soul to save. Consequently and sadly, they become highly vulnerable to irrationally embark upon a sinful path due to seriously misunderstanding the holiness and justice of God.

Lastly, but certainly not least in importance, we should fully acquaint ourselves with salvational truths (i.e., justification, faith, sanctification, common grace versus saving grace, free grace, divine election, adoption, predestination, the extent of the fallenness of man, original sin condition, the preservation and perseverance of the saints, glorification, etc.). These salvific truths should keep our minds occupied for the rest of our lives. Remember, the Bible is God's voice speaking to us. The words of the Bible are the very words of God. Moreover, God's written revelation to humankind speaks with one voice in its diverse, sacred content. Know what you believe and why you believe it. Let us continue to delight in discovering God's will for our lives.

Interestingly, John Dehlin, while a graduate student in clinical and counseling psychology at Utah State University, conducted an online survey of 3000 Mormons who at one time believed their Church was true, but now no longer believe that. Almost half of the participants reported their current status as agnostic/atheist/humanist, while only 11% identified themselves as Christian (non-Mormon). Mormon leaders, like Adventist leaders, have never before faced the powerful challenge of this information age. The arrival of online religion is as consequential as when the printing presses brought the written word to medieval Europe. Studies have revealed that 25% of adult Internet users have gotten religious or spiritual information online at one  point or another.

Moreover, in another online survey, researchers at the nonprofit Open Stories Foundation found that 81% cited loss of faith in Mormon founder Joseph Smith as a moderate to strong factor in their no longer believing in the LDS Church. Likewise, in the SDA Church we can observe very similar statistics. For example, disbelief in the bizarre claims of Ellen White is a very common prelude to eventually leaving Seventh-day Adventism. Sadly, in both Adventism and Mormonism, former members are often so badly wounded from deception, disappointment, and legalism that they don't want to ever risk being burned again. Unfortunately,  they far too often wrongly associate biblical Christianity with their cultic background.

Religious cults, large or small, routinely lead their members to the brink of despair and nothingness (even after they have officially left) which too often results in a needless detour in their Christian journey. This is why my ministry is dedicated to expose the multi-faceted and subtle heresies of Seventh-day Adventism. This mission includes the proclamation of the awe-inspiring, transforming gospel of Jesus Christ to those who are struggling to recover from crippling monetary, psychological, and spiritual abuse. 

Dudley M. Canright (1840-1919), Adventism's most notable heretic, wisely stated: "To criticize, expose, and condemn others is not a pleasant task, but when religious teachers enthrone error, and mislead honest people, silence would be unkind and censurable." The greatest fortress against any heresy is to be thoroughly grounded in Scripture. Moreover, in sharp contrast to the SDA gloom and doom verdict reserved for their former members, my distinctive calling is to boldly affirm that there is an abundant, wonderful life beyond Adventism.  Soli Deo gloria!


In His power and for His glory,


Dennis Fischer, Web Chaplain
DENNIS FISCHER MINISTRIES

January 02, 2011

ANTINOMIANISM

Antinomianism, which means being "anti-law," is a name for several views that have denied that God's law in Scripture should directly control the Christian's life.

Dualistic antinomianism appears in the Gnostic heretics against whom Jude and Peter wrote (Jude 4-19; 2 Peter 2). This view sees salvation as for the soul only, and bodily behavior as irrelevant both to God's interest and to the soul's health, so one may behave riotously and it will not matter.

Spirit-led antimonianism puts such trust in the Holy Spirit's inward promptings as to deny any need to be taught by the law how to live. Freedom from the law as a way of salvation is assumed to bring with it freedom from the law as a guide to conduct. In the first 150 years of the Reformation era this kind of antinomianism often threatened, and Paul's insistence that a truly spiritual person acknowledges the authority of God's Word through Christ's apostles (1 Cor. 14:37; cf. 7:40) suggests that the Spirit-obsessed Corinthian church was in the grip of the same mindset.

Christ-centered antinomianism argues that God sees no sin in believers, because they are in Christ, who kept the law for them, and therefore what they actually do makes no difference, provided that they keep believing. But 1 John 1:8--2:1 (expounding 1:7) and 3:4-10 point in a different direction, showing that it is not possible to be in Christ and at the same time to embrace sin as a way of life.

Dispensational antinomianism holds that keeping the moral law is at no stage necessary for Christians, since we live under a dispensation of grace, not law. Romans 3:31 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 clearly show, however, that law-keeping is a continuing obligation for Christians. "I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law, " says Paul (1 Cor. 9:21).

Dialectical antinomianism, as in Barth and Brunner, denies that biblical law is God's direct command and affirms that the Bible's imperative statements trigger the Word of the Spirit, which when it comes may or may not correspond exactly to what is written. The inadequacy of the neo-orthodox view of biblical authority, which explains the inspiration of Scripture in terms of the Bible's instrumentality as a channel for God's present-day utterances to his people, is evident here.

Situational antinomianism says that a motive and intention of love is all that God now requires of Christians, and the commands of the Decalogue and other ethical parts of Scripture, for all that they are ascribed to God directly, are mere rules of thumb for loving, rules that love may at any time disregard. But Romans 13:8-10, to which this view appeals, teaches that without love as a motive these specific commands cannot be fulfilled. Once more an unacceptably weak view of Scripture surfaces.

It must be stressed that the moral law, as crystallized in the Decalogue and opened up in the ethical teaching of both Testaments, is one coherent law, given to be a code of practice for God's people in every age. In addition, repentance means resolving henceforth to seek God's help in keeping that law. The Spirit is given to empower law-keeping and make us more and more like Christ, the archetypal law-keeper (Matt. 5:17). This law-keeping is in fact the fulfilling of our human nature, and Scripture holds out no hope of salvation for any who, whatever their profession of faith, do not seek to turn from sin to righteousness (1 Cor. 6:9-11; Rev. 21:8).

CREDIT: J. I. Packer, PhD; Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs, pp. 178-180.




courtesy of

DENNIS FISCHER MINISTRIES
Worldwide Chaplaincy Services
E-mail:  dfministries@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dfministries

December 13, 2010

NOTES FROM DENNIS FISCHER: A hearty, warm welcome to all!


Most of what we learn in life we learn from others. This realization is the inherent capstone and philosophy of continuing education. Consequently, I highly value reading and sharing gems that one can truly believe in—notably quotes from respected Christian authors. It is my plan to share a wide variety of gems for your consideration in the weeks, months, and years ahead. I will begin by sharing some snackbars for the soul from the sermon archives of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the renowned "Prince of Preachers" as follows:  "The Lord must have loved me before I was born, or else he would not have seen anything in me to love afterwards."

Moreover, Spurgeon aptly declared that "The doctrine of justification itself, as preached by an Arminian, is nothing but the doctrine of salvation by works...There is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified; unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism, Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else." It is actually unfortunate that Calvinism (being more specific than Augustinianism) bears a person's name. In spite of some key differences, Augustine and Calvin basically taught the same soteriological view that the Apostles and Jesus upheld as well (notably on Christology, free will, human depravity, saving grace, justification, sanctification, glorification, nature of man, adoption, divine election, and predestination). Interestingly, Martin Luther wrote more about predestination (foreordination) than John Calvin did.

Charles Spurgeon further adds, "If it was Christ's intention to save all men, how deplorable has He been disappointed, for we have His own testimony that there is a lake of fire which burneth with fire and brimstone, and into that pit of woe have been cast some of the very persons who, according to the theory of universal redemption, were bought with His blood. He has punished Christ, why should He punish twice for one offense? Christ has died for all His people's sins, and if thou art in the covenant, thou are one of Christ's people. Damned thou canst not be. Suffer for thy sins thou canst not. Until God can be unjust, and demand two payments for one debt, He cannot destroy the soul for whom He died." George Whitefield declared, "We are all born Arminians. It is grace that turns us into Calvinists."

The Apostle Paul concludes: "So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy...So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills" (Romans 9:16,18 ESV). These Pauline passages are the coup de grace to Arminianism and Semi-Pelagianism. This is the Word of God that requires all Christians to cease and desist from views of predestination that make the ultimate decision for salvation to rest in the fallen will of man. Salvation is a gift to be received, not a goal to be achieved. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. It's all about Him! Unfortunately, Francis Bacon was right when he wrote that "Man prefers to believe what he prefers to be true."


When you look at Romans 8:29-30, you don't have to be a grammarian or a linguist to see who does everything.  God foreknew; God predestined; God called; God justified; God glorified.  God is the subject of all these verbs.  God is the one who does it all. Jesus told His disciples, "You did not choose me, but I chose you" (John 15:16). This doesn't make us robots who don't make a choice. The truth is that every Christian really does choose Jesus, but any choice we make for the Lord flows out of God's choice of us. "For my salvation comes from the Lord alone" (Jonah 2:9 NLT).


If you know Jesus as your Savior, rejoice that God chose you.  It's exciting--but it's also humbling.  We might like to think that we choose God, but God's choice comes first.  And God doesn't base His choice on anything He sees in us.  If God has chosen to save you, it's not because He saw something impressive in you but only because of His love. The call in Romans 8 refers not only to that general call (common grace) but also to the inner, individual call (saving grace) by which God opens a person's stony heart so that each believer knows that God is calling personally. Jesus said that a shepherd "calls his own sheep by name and leads them out...his sheep follow him because they know his voice" (John 10:3-4 NIV).


When God calls you, eternity touches time. You realize God is calling you by name. You repent of your sin.  You trust in Jesus. And as you trust in Him, you discover that you have been loved with an everlasting love, that you were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world was laid. That's why those who are called can preach with such unshakable confidence. It's not your grip on God that keeps you safe but rather it's God's grip on you.  And no one can "snatch" you out of His firm hand (John 10:28-29).


Sound doctrine is taught here daily.  Stop by often!


His grace still amazes me,


Dennis Fischer
Web Chaplain
E-mail: dfministries@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dfministries

July 23, 2010

WELCOME TO THIS UNIQUE SEGMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN BLOGOSPHERE!

The TOPICAL INDEX for the "Blog Archive" is located at the end of this post!  There are currently more than 85 posts available for your research, inspiration, reading, and listening pleasure. Thanks for stopping by and please return when you find more time to read. This blog will have many new posts in the weeks, months, and years ahead. Some continued features will include direct links to various websites, uplifting gems, special music links, devotionals, extraordinary and/or historic sermons, special guest commentary, apologetics,  Google and Yahoo instant messaging, questions and answers (Ask the Chaplain), basic theological glossary, worldwide chaplaincy services, computer-generated phone calls around the world, phone consultations by appointment, book reviews, historical nuggets, devotionals, book reviews, current events, and religious news reports.  

This Christian cybergram, modeled after my initial evangelism newsletter in the late 1990s, is designed so that many people can find something helpful, inspirational, and relevant for their Christian journey. Collectively, my wife Sylvia and I have more than 100 years of active experience in Seventh-day Adventism. Therefore, many current and former Adventists, plus concerned and inquiring Christians from many persuasions, will find a wealth of factual information about SDA teachings within this blog. Moreover, various other "Christian" and non-Christian views are also carefully examined to expose their lack of biblical support and rational thought. Culturally and theologically, cults and/or sects typically have a lot in common with each other.

However, a far greater intent and purpose of this blog is to help meet the spiritual needs of many people without regard to their religious background or preferred label. After all, everyone has a religion of some sort. This quickly translates into reaching many countries and cultures around the world in more than 100 languages and dialects (powered by Google Translate technology). Your comments, questions, and suggestions are always welcome, simply send your e-mail message to: dfministries@gmail.com . Your comment or inquiry will be addressed in a timely manner (usually  within 24 hours). Best of all, my online chaplaincy services are entirely FREE to you and your family, and I never ask for money nor try to sell you anything. 

Occasionally, to further augment my chaplaincy services, I will recommend various resources (i.e.,  books, DVDs, MP3s, online links, charts, videos, and pamphlets) that best fit your interest and need that can be purchased through your favorite bookstore or directly from the publisher. Please be fully assured that I receive no commissions, fees, nor any royalties from my recommendations. Also, on the right-hand side of this page, under Blog Archive, you will find an informative and interesting assortment of  posts listed in chronological order of the published date since 2010. Likewise, for your added convenience, the TOPICAL INDEX below is in chronological order as well. Periodically, some older posts are updated and/or revised with new content. Happy reading and thanks for stopping by!


In awe of the guilt-removing, sin-atoning sacrifice of Jesus,



Dennis J. Fischer, Web Chaplain
DENNIS FISCHER MINISTRIES
Worldwide Chaplaincy Services
E-mail: dfministries@gmail.com
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/dfministries


UPDATE (July, 2017):  With an ever growing number of posts to read, study, and listen to in more than 100 languages and dialects (powered by Google Translate technology), the accumulative stats and responses reveal a steadily growing worldwide audience. For example, the blog stats from just the last month report readers from Russia, Latvia, Sweden, Ireland, St. Lucia, Philippines, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Romania, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, United Kingdom, Haiti, Canada, Poland, Ghana, France, Brazil, United States, China, Puerto Rico, Israel, and the Netherlands. This month marks the seventh anniversary of this blog. Check out your favorite topics in the listing provided below. Simply click on a hyberlinked post, under Blog Archive Topical Indexto access the article of your choice

Reader response by an e-mail message is always welcome. I try to respond to e-mail messages within a few hours. Due to the different time zones around the world, I can often be found working at unusual hours in my office.  Answers to probing, salvific questions cannot always wait for further rotations of this rebellious planet. Moreover, I have recently enabled a moderated comment feature to bring added encouragement to other readers. Please remember that your published comments can be read by the public around the world, and they should represent the highest ethical standards. As you would expect from a Christian blog, comments containing personal attacks, foul language, or rudeness will not be published. For your online safety, this blog is a secure (https) website.

Not surprisingly, I have noticed that visitors to this blog usually prefer sending me an e-mail message directly for a quick and confidential response. Due to the private nature of leaving and/or questioning a cult, I fully understand and respect the emailing preference. Sometimes personal identity could result in early termination of denominational employment, family discord, etc. Furthermore, emailing is generally more personal as well (although anonymity is respected). It is most amazing, yet humbling, that our awesome, sovereign God is using this imperfect blog for His glory in reaching as many as are called to eternal life and to bring them to maturity in Christ. Sound doctrine is taught here daily.  Stop by often!  To God alone belongs all the honor, glory, and praise! 


Dennis Fischer, Web Chaplain
Lincoln, Nebraska USA






BLOG ARCHIVE TOPICAL INDEX



Notes from Dennis Fischer (Dec. 13, 2010)

Antinomianism (Jan. 2, 2011)




Praying for Uncle Henry (Feb. 7, 2011)

Satan the Sin-bearer?  (Feb. 15, 2011)

Three Kinds of Death  (Feb. 15, 2011)


The Doctrines of Grace (Feb. 15, 2011)

The Five Solas (Feb. 15, 2011)




Wisdom from Here and There  (Feb. 25, 2011)

Ask the Chaplain (Feb. 27, 2011)

The Body of Moses (March 12, 2011)

Post-Pentecost  (April 6, 2011)

What about SDA Soteriology?  (April 16, 2011)




Trinitarian Heresies  (May 8, 2011)






Amyraldianism (Oct. 9, 2011)

The Great Hoax (Oct. 22, 2011)






Why the Law was Given (Nov. 17, 2011)

Christmas Wish List (Nov. 26, 2011)

Gems of Grace (Dec. 17, 2011)


The Urantia Book (Jan. 7, 2012)





The Original "Jerry Springer" Family (March 12, 2012)


Salvation is a Gift (April 16, 2012)


Some Thoughts on Matthew 16:18  (April 22, 2012)

WHAT WOULD I DO IF MY DAUGHTER TOLD ME SHE WAS GAY? (July, 2012)



What should you do when you ask Jesus to come into your heart but He doesn't stick around?  (August 2, 2012)


Divine Election (August 4, 2012)

How We Come to Know Sin (August 12, 2012)

THE CHALLENGE OF SAME-SEX UNIONS (August 18, 2012)

THE BIBLICAL DOCTRINE OF HELL (August 27, 2012)

Does the Doctrine of Unconditional Election make God a "respecter of persons"?  (September 15, 2012)

GOD ON THE MOUNTAIN (September 23, 2012)

HAVE THINE OWN WAY LORD (September 26, 2012)

THE TRUTH ABOUT TONGUES (October 15, 2012)

HAPPY REFORMATION DAY (October 31, 2012)

FREE GRACE OR FREE WILL (November 4, 2012)

THE EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL CALL (November 10, 2012)

The Salvation of the 'Little Ones': Do Infants who Die Go to Heaven?      (December 15, 2012)

How Could a Loving God Send Someone to Hell? (Dec. 30, 2012)

WHEN GOD TURNS OFF  THE LIGHTS (January 6, 2013)

BASIC THEOLOGICAL GLOSSARY (January 26, 2013)

THERE ARE ONLY TWO RELIGIONS IN THE WHOLE WORLD (April 28, 2013)

WHY I AM NOT AN ATHEIST (April 30, 2013)

WHY I NO LONGER ACCEPT THE PRE-MILLENNIAL INTERPRETATION OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST (May 16, 2013)

EFFECTUAL CALLING AND REGENERATION (May 28, 2013)

INSIGHTS ON IMPUTATION (June 12, 2013)

THE SUFFICIENCY OF FAITH (June 15, 2013)

HOW CAN GOD BE FAIR IF MAN HAS NO CHOICE? (June 19, 2013)

DOMA and the Rock  (July 12,2013)

IS THERE A BABY IN THE CHARISMATIC BATHWATER?  (November 23, 2013)

HUMAN INABILITY (December15, 2013)

BORN TO BELIEVE:  A Study of God's Initiative in Salvation (January 11, 2014)

INTRODUCTION: On Covenant Theology (March 19, 2014)

DOES MONERGISM ROB HUMANITY OF FREE WILL? (May 10, 2014)

LAW OR SPIRIT?  Galatians between legalism and antinomianism (June 5, 2014)

WHY WOULD GOD CHOOSE ME? (June 20, 2015)

What is the Eye of the Needle? (September 14, 2015)

Merry Christmas!  (December 19, 2015)

Do Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God? (January 7, 2016)

How do I know that I can trust the Bible? (March 21,2016)

When to Leave a Church (May 4, 2016)

Christ Fulfills the Law (June 20, 2016)

CAN FREE WILL EXPLAIN THE CONVERSION OF SINNERS? (November 5, 2016)

DOES DEFINITE ATONEMENT UNDERMINE OUR ZEAL FOR EVANGELISM? (February 11, 2017)



More posts coming soon!


Dennis Fischer
Web Chaplain























































































































































































































































































































































































































































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