Ok i had initially wanted to post this as a comment on Faith's blog (yeah i keep referring to her blog i know..that's coz 1) i rarely surf other blogs and 2) there's not much issues to comment upon elswhere) but i thought that 1) my blog needs an update and 2) i don't want to spam her.
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Interesting experience you had with the doctor there. Honestly, the first few minutes after reading your account, i felt like hanging the doctor upside down because he was so flawed in his views. I cooled down later and read a couple of stuff that said that anti-trinitarianism was prevalent in the pioneers like James White, Uriah Smith and maybe even Ellen White as she had some statements that indicated so. It was not until the 1890s that Ellen White published clear Trinitarian statements. One thing to note was that the pioneers believed in "present truth" and they were willing to accept new light as it came. Not because there was new truth added to the bible. But because their understanding on those existent bible truths grew clearer. As a result, some of the pioneers like James White, Uriah Smith and Prescott changed their views, though not at similar times.
It is true that some Adventists once held anti-trinitarian views. But it was never the church position (as stated in the fundamental beliefs whether now or then as it was changed a few times) to hold to an anti-trinitarian view. In fact, the early statement of beliefs in 1872 and 1889 phrased the understanding of God in such a way that both Trinitarians and Anti-Trinitarians could agree. It was not until the 1931 amendment to the statement of beliefs added the Trinitarian position. So IOW, it was never the official church position that anti-trinitarianism was held.
It is interesting that the doctor thought we believed that Jesus was not the God although He was God. As Adventists, we do face many questions but such a question brought forth is rare (my first time hearing it) and i would bet on it that he got his facts confused with the Jehovah's Witnesses as most often is the case. The JWs believe that Jesus was a lesser God preceding from the Father.
Ok, i think now i feel like hanging the doctor upside down still as being an educated person (a doctor!), he should have got his facts right before forming a belief upon Adventists based on flawed ideas. I had a similar experience with my JC econs teacher who did the same "do you know Adventist doctrines are not right?" on me. For such people, i feel like telling them to study first before they talk! But if i were to hang everyone who didn't do so, then i'll have to hang myself upside down too. ;)
References:
-THE ADVENTIST TRINITY DEBATE
-THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY AMONG ADVENTISTS
-A Declaration of the Fundamental Principles Taught and Practiced by the Seventh-day Adventists, 1872
-The Arian or Anti-Trinitarian Views Presented in Seventh-day Adventist Literature and the Ellen G. White Answer
-THE FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS AND "GROWING IN CHRIST
1 comment:
haha, well, a couple of ppl have commented tt the Dr wasn't being very ethical in his professional state. And they're not Adventists, so it's good to know that we have friends in the faith, even if their convictions may differ from ours in some ways.
I like to think of the incident as a way that God opens doors to clear up doubts and myths. You never know what may have arisen from my encounter with that doctor. =)
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