Spectrum article on Graeme Bradford

[NightEternal]

A report from Sydney Australia.

Graeme Bradford has been hard at work touring, lecturing and speaking to both former and current pastors all over North America concerning the present EGW crisis.

The Gift Of Prophecy Revisited:

http://www.spectrummagazine.org/onlinecommunity/featuredcolumns/070621lloyd.html

A couple of portions that resonated with me:

"One former Adventist pastor told Bradford that the present situation is a battle for the very soul of Adventism. He reported that there were still folk in North America who would fight to the death to defend an infallible Ellen White. Bardford also commented that if we don't tell our people the truth about how EGW performed her ministry, then our opponents will do so-in a negative and destructive way-and this is already happening."

"Bradford expressed his concern for the worldwide church family-that thousands walking away from both Adventism and Christianity and that we need to get an indication of the true situation. He said that we need not be afraid to face the truth regarding EGW's ministry, because her role will meet every expectation of a true Biblical prophet. The problem with us as a church is that we have expected more from her than the Bible would intend."

Good article.

This thing is blowing wide open, moreso than ever before. At no other time in our denomination's history have we seen such a major loss of membership due to EGW issues, especially in North America. It is like a hemorrhaging wound we cannot seem to heal.

Elder Bradford, you are in my prayers as you fight to bring some sanity to this situation we are facing as a church. Don't concern yourself with the critics who attack you and claim you and your books are 'undermining' her authourity. God has raised you up for such a time as this.

 

[StormyOne]

thank you for sharing it....

 

[djconklin]

"

Bardford also commented that if we don't tell our people the truth about how EGW performed her ministry, than our opponents will do so-in a negative and destructive way-and this is already happening."

Right on! I run into the nonsense from the critics everyday. Most of them know less than they think they know and yet they think it's their perogative to try and lecture others.

 

[Telaquapacky]

What happens is that EGW’s critics, since the truth about her isn’t bad enough for them, some of them “take the ball and run with it.” They exaggerate EGW’s faults (and sprinkle in some lies). In reaction to both the truth about EGW and the exaggerations, the defenders of EGW take an equally exaggerated defensive position, giving her more authority than is warranted. As with law and grace, you have the drunken peasant falling off the horse on one side or the other.

If the church doesn’t do it, we have to educate ourselves about the true nature of prophecy and EGW’s gift, and educate those around us.

I recommend Graeme Bradford’s book, “More Than a Prophet,” available through Biblical Perspectives Books in Berrien Springs.

A shorter read, available on the internet is an article by Bruce Cameron:

http://www.sabbathschoollessons.com/egw.php

Thank you, Night, for keeping this issue in front of us. We need wisely considered, balanced and nuanced thinking, not “black and white,” knee-jerk extremism.

 

[djconklin]

What happens is that EGW’s critics, since the truth about her isn’t bad enough for them, some of them “take the ball and run with it.” They exaggerate EGW’s faults (and sprinkle in some lies).

Right on!

the defenders of EGW take an equally exaggerated defensive position, giving her more authority than is warranted.

Luckily, I haven't met any of them yet. What I have happen is that because I have expoosed the critics for lying about the plagiarism claim they ASSUME that I must be defnding Elen White--which I wasn't trying to do at all!

As with law and grace, you have the drunken peasant falling off the horse on one side or the other.

Good analogy!

I recommend Graeme Bradford’s book, “More Than a Prophet,” available through Biblical Perspectives Books in Berrien Springs.

Already done. Unfortunately, you'll find that most people won't read anything that might upset their cherished beliefs. And heaven forbid, that they should expand their knowledge base!

 

[JonMiller]

Many defenders of EGW put her on a higher standard then the prophets. We have no indication that everything that the prophets wrote was considered inspired, and strong indications that they were wrong/made mistakes/had wrong thoughts about their prophecies. But for EGW, her writings are all considered inspired (by many of her defenders) and her interpretations valid.

JM

 

[NightEternal]

Telaquapacky, that Bruce Cameron article was awesome!

He made some points I had not even considered before!

I have always struggled with the claim that EGW should have been killed for failing the test of an Old Testament prophet. The Scriptures clearly state that should be done to a prophet who's visions did not come to pass. It should be quite clear to anyone by now that EGW was wrong on some things and therefore would have fallen under the injunction of the death penalty by Old testament standards. It never even occurred to me that it might be faulty to apply the Old Testament test to a New Testament messenger.

His point about the fundamental belief's use of the word authouritative not having to mean 'always correct' but rather 'strongly reliable' was well taken. I have always maintained this and have taken a lot of heat for it in the past from both the venerators and the rejectors.

Man, there is just so much good stuff in that Cameron article, I had to print it off and go through it more thoroughly.

 

[JonMiller]

http://www.sabbathschoollessons.com/egw.php

I read that website often.

JM

 

[djconklin]

Many defenders of EGW put her on a higher standard then the prophets.

Could you name a few?

 

[djconklin]

It should be quite clear to anyone by now that EGW was wrong on some things and therefore would have fallen under the injunction of the death penalty by Old testament standards.

If you check real carefully you'll find that what is happening is some is using very simplistic and wooden reading of the texts to create false conclusions. Combine that with flawed definitions and you have a recipe for disaster.

It never even occurred to me that it might be faulty to apply the Old Testament test to a New Testament messenger.

Right on.