Journal notes #1

I think that liberalism and conservatism could be problems in any part of the world.

Bible warns us against both of these extremes. Church, in general, had a bigger fear of

liberalism than conservatism but fell into the trap of false assurance of fundamentalism. Is

harder to work with lax liberals because they tend to be more post-modernistic and did not

have definite rules to play the rational arguing game than creedal conservatives. Post-

modernism (liberalism) is an external problem (not too much in the church), and conservatism

(fundamentalism) is a bigger problem inside our denomination at least.

Is interesting that moral philosophy helps us understand how the SDA theology was

formed. Is very important to study the historical background of our theology development,

and what E. White stands for, to be a study area. White was pretty clear in STC about the

balance between liberalism and conservatism, and also about the study of areas outside the

Bible, without renouncing the Sola Scriptura principle.

Journal notes #2
Fundamentalism had a great influence over Adventism in the 20’. Although the church

officially fought against it, it residually remained in the general consciousness of the church.

Historical Adventistm also think that they returned to the original Adventist faith, but they are

fundamentalists, which is a 1915 – forward ideology.

The moral government theory of atonement of Hugo Grotius was a God way to

explain the Great Controversy theme. For me is no problem that it is not White’s original

idea. But we know that the Great Controversy theme developed within Adventism like

nowhere else. Barnes commentaries are best for E.White because she believed the truth can be

found in multiple sources based on the Sola Scriptura principle.

It is interesting to see the theory of creation as being the link for the other SDA

doctrines, as being not based on literalism or EGW writings. If you take one down the

biblical-theological flow is lost.

1
 Journal notes #3
The natural law understood by E. White should be a supplement for the eager student

of the truth. However, we should have in mind the same Protestant Legal Model that she had.

As a moral philosophy, the natural law only accompanies the third angel’s message but is not

the Gospel/Special revelation itself.

White advocated for Moral Philosophy-Bible-And Physical training. SDA in general

lacks the first and a big part of the third one. Even in the Bible natural (law) revelation is

present as J. Budziszewski asserts in Written on the Heart. But the natural theology doesn't

use the full range of Bible natural revelation emphasizing only the Designer idea, the rationale

being, and the design describing a purpose, avoiding the law of conscience and the order of

causality.

It's astonishing how the Sabbath and Family as the two institutions are linked to the

three angels' messages. We as Adventists think often only about the fourth commandment and

forget about the fifth (transition from the first table (4) to the second table (6) – duty to God

and fellowmen) explained by the chiastic structure.

Journal notes #4
The Sunday laws application can be understood from two perspectives: liberal and

fundamental. Both of them had issues, but what we have to do is to understand the principle

behind it. Also is a great risk to fall into the zone of conspiracy theories. Some things may be

true by we should not forget the nature of the real true grand conspiracy theory – supernatural.

Another important aspect I learned today is the four approaches to Bible study and

interpretation. Here extremes are very easy to reach, and for that, we should be aware of what

biblical realism is about.

Women's ordination is again a hot topic. As it is on Bible study is also here on

ordination, extremes are very easy to be found. SDA is struggling with extremes in many

areas, and opposite views consider the other camp as being extreme and vice versa. A

moderate view accompanied by an eager Bible study can give the solution to this problem.
2
But more than that on this moderate view the guiding principles are essential: Biblical

Faithfulness, A Desire for Humility and Submission, Religious Liberty, and A Harmony of

Unity and Diversity.

Journal notes #5
One important idea of today's class is the importance of being involved as ministers,

and also as a church in events with other denominations. We should note that the universal

invisible church is in some respect an ecumenical movement. We are too afraid to associate

with Babylon, but shouldn’t forget that are in there people that need to find the truth. As E.

White did, we must do our duty in our relationship with other Christian denominations.

Last Generation Theology is not a wrong concept, but a good one perverted with

wrong ideas. Perfection in White’s writings is applied not in her context, which leads to a

legalistic and perfectionistic theology regarding man’s salvation. Many applied their

fundamentalist background approach of perfection as being White’s background instead of

recognizing her protestant background. White had three elements as her protestant

background of perfection: emphasis on theodicy rather than salvation, on love rather than

external legality, and an external, other focus, rather than self-focus. That being said her

statements could be understood in their real context. When perfection is not pressured by

attainment, love can freely flow. Perfection is a relational principle that is not self-centered.