[Apologetics] Adventists Visit the Pope. . . for Other Reasons

[Stephen Korsman]

Hi

While not all literature put out by Adventists is approved by Adventism officially, most of the unapproved stuff is not coming from their equivalent of our SSPX or sede-vacantists; it's still from the mainstream part of the denomination.  Adventism doesn't officially teach that Catholics worship Mary, or dropped one of the 10 Commandments, etc, but that is the way the majority of Adventist clergy will explain it from their pulpits.

When one directs an attack against another denomination, it's essential to address what the denomination actually teaches; from our perspective anyway - straw men are perfect tools for anti-Catholics.  But when defending one's faith, knowing whether the tract or claim made has been approved by the Adventist magisterium or not is irrelevant - it needs a defence.  The common Adventist (magisterially approved or otherwise) arguments will be out in full force.

I took this blog post as a) a warning that there would be an increase, b) the type of things to expect [possibly camoflagued as something "Catholic"], and c) chiding of Adventists guilty of this to encourage them to do things honestly.

God bless,
Stephen

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Art Kelly 
  To: Apologetics Group 
  Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2008 8:55 PM
  Subject: Re: [Apologetics] Adventists Visit the Pope. . . for Other Reasons


  Stephen,

  Thanks for sending this.

  Just as the Catholic Church has ultra-traditionalists,
  some of whom are schismatic, I see that other
  religions have their fringe groups too.

  I'll be careful not to conclude that anti-Catholic
  literature from non-Catholic orgnizations is approved
  by the group in purports to represnt.

  Art

  --- Stephen Korsman <skorsman at theotokos.co.za> wrote:

  > Adventists Visit the Pope. . . for Other Reasons
  > via Seventh-day Adventist to Roman Catholic by Hugo
  > on 3/28/08
  > 
  > With mere weeks left until Pope Benedict XVI steps
  > foot on American soil, I expect a few zealous
  > Adventists will join the crowds to pass out
  > polemical literature. Typically, independent
  > Adventist ministries (not all of positive repute
  > within the mainstream church) lead the charge. 
  > 
  > Adventist Today catalogued the activities of many
  > Adventists in preparation for the 1993 Denver World
  > Youth Day.
  > 
  > During John Paul II's 1999 visit to St. Louis, 40
  > volunteers for Danny Vierra's Modern Manna
  > Ministries passed out 75,000 copies of what they
  > publicly and deceptively advertised as a "kosher
  > Mary book" with an inviting cover of a young girl
  > kissing a statue of the Virgin Mary (an hour-long
  > "testimony"is available here). The Catholic League
  > described the book in a 1998 report.
  > 
  > In July 2002, several Adventist ministries
  > (Hartland, Hope International, etc.) converged on
  > Toronto to distribute another booklet entitled,
  > "Beware of Protestant Teachings." Despite a title
  > reminiscent of Catholic apologist tracts, it
  > actually attacked doctrines shared by Catholics. I
  > remember seeing an advance copy of the booklet, and
  > being deeply disturbed by it. Its deceptive
  > packaging seemed to contradict the standards exalted
  > in the writings of Ellen White:
  > 
  > 
  >   False speaking in any matter, every attempt or
  > purpose to deceive our neighbor, is [condemned in
  > the ten commandments]. An intention to deceive is
  > what constitutes falsehood. By a glance of the eye,
  > a motion of the hand, an expression of the
  > countenance, a falsehood may be told as effectually
  > as by words. All intentional overstatement, every
  > hint or insinuation calculated to convey an
  > erroneous or exaggerated impression, even the
  > statement of facts in such a manner as to mislead,
  > is falsehood. (PP 309)
  > 
  > 
  > This statement is a terrible indictment of the
  > tracts passed out by Adventists in 1999 and 2002.
  > Still, in spite of my reservations, I almost
  > participated in this mission as a young, faithful
  > Adventist. At the time, I was assisting an
  > evangelistic seminar in New York City. I yearned to
  > go to Canada with many friends of mine, but
  > ultimately found the trip logistically unfeasible. I
  > was disappointed, recognizing what a great
  > opportunity World Youth Day presented to share "the
  > three angels' messages."
  > 
  > Catholics should be ready for these Adventist
  > initiatives where and when they will arise. I was
  > heartened to see Catholic Answers preparing for such
  > attacks; hopefully, the Catholic readers on this
  > blog will do their part as well to defend the
  > Catholic Church.
  > 


  ART KELLY, ATM-S
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