At the recent Bible Explorations Passover/Unleavened Bread campmeeting in Terra Bella California, there were few talks on the Feasts and Statutes of the Lord, but someone gave a quote by Ellen White that struck me hard, and should put this matter to rest:
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Advent Review and Sabbath Herald (6RH), 10-24-1899, Our Example

Christ passed through all the experiences of his childhood, youth, and manhood without the observance of ceremonial temple worship
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In other places, we have Jesus’ direct example that he DID keep the feasts. (Matt. 26:17 etc.)

C-

This is a very timely book, as the subject of keeping the feasts has become fairly “hot” in the past few years among Seventh-day Adventists. Br. du Preez kindly sent me this book free after i contacted him with some questions after watching his 2-hour program on this topic on 3abn (on youtube). He has treated me nicer than any other “scholar” i’ve contacted among offical SDA employees, and if for that reason alone, i have a reason to want to like the book even before opening it. However the plethora of letters after his real name send up a slightly yellow caution flag before i flip the first page. In my brief life, i’ve found that the more letters there are behind someone’s name nearly always equals more arrogance and worldly thinking. And yes, that impression is mostly reinforced by this book. There are many instances where the “opposition” is called “ignorant” and their tool of choice – Strong’s Concordance – is savaged. Many “great scholars” of the world are quoted (which means nothing to me) and their suppositions are quoted as fact. To be fair, there is a lot of digging into the meanings of the words in the Bible, and he does believe in the entire Bible, unlike many of our “top theologians” who pick and choose which parts of the Bible they wish to believe.

The final analysis? He believes that the feasts are part of the ceremonial law, and that law is done away, so we know the feasts are done away also. However, there is no inspired proof given for that position. There are several errors of logic where he quotes some Babylonian author, and then accepts that as fact. He does a good service by showing that some of the Bible and SOP quotes used by feast-keepers to support their position are taken out of context or just false. He comes up with a new interpretation of Colossians 2:16, saying it is referring to pilgrimage, new moon and non-pilgrimage feasts. He shows that he will not accept any evidence in favor of feast-keeping, even dissing Ellen White in one instance. He strives mightily (and in vain) to link the feasts with animal sacrifices. He says to keep the feasts is to deny the atonement, then at the end of the book says it is OK for Jews to observe the feasts “merely as part of their cultural heritage”. This type of cut-and-paste theology is exactly what he accuses the feast-keepers of doing. My final impression is that he wants everyone to toe the official SDA position, whether that position is correct or not – just don’t rock the boat.

I sent him a email giving my “first impressions” on Dec. 26, 2011. After waiting more than a month for a reply, i sent him another email asking if he received my Dec. 26 email, and he replied that he had, and that he had sent a response. Sadly, i did not receive that response, and he did not offer to resend it. He asked me to read the book in detail and then reply again which i did, up to page 185, and sent him a reply to which there has not been a reply for almost 1 month now, so it looks like there will not be more communication between us.

Following are my notes (shown as “my”), things that struck me as either good or bad, but in some way important. Most of the following are actual quotes from the book, but not all. I have not capitalized most of them, as they are quotes taken from parts of sentences.
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There are 2 full pages just listing various translations used.
Br. du Preez has written a whole book to explain the sabbath in Colossians 2:16.
p.13 The Holy Spirit inspired … in their own words
“my”I believe the Holy Spirit dictated it, just as written in chapter 30 of the 1858 Great Controversy, and Testimonies volume26: “The scribes of God wrote as they were dictated by the Holy Spirit, having no control of the work themselves.”

p.22 Br. du Preez writes that we must follow Biblical methods

p.25 one could “mark” (the feasts) without observing them
“my”This starts a very troublesome assertion made several times in this book, one without any biblical support at all. That is – that while we can do something with the feasts to learn from them, we MUST NOT keep them. I fail to see any precedent for this in the inspired writings either.

p.26 The New Testament says these are “Jewish” feasts
“my”The New Testament also says salvation is “of the Jews”. So are we supposed to reject salvation because it is Jewish?!

p.29 disses Strong’s Concordance, completely rejecting it
“my”Strong’s is so vehemently dissed, that i checked the book cover to make sure the subtitle wasn’t something like “and throw away your Strong’s Concordance as fast as you can!”

p.29 Genesis 1:14 Mo’ed here simply means “fixed/appointed time”. Mo’ed is translated “assembly” about 2/3 of the time, and “festival” around 1/4
“my”This is very true. So my question is, how are we really supposed to view it? Is it wrong to view ALL these instances as connected somehow?

p.39 Proof text method of study is not good
“my”Perhaps true, but this is how the Seventh-day Adventist church was born, so to diss it now is basically saying that our church is based on a false method of bible study.

p.42 Hebrews 11:28 should say Moses instituted the Passover
“my”Perhaps true, but this starts a pattern in the book of subtly saying that you ignorant laypeople cannot understand the scriptures for yourself – you must have someone with a degree to determine what it means for you. This is directly related to the hard attacks on Strong’s Concordance – a layman’s tool.

p.44 Passover not universal. Created for literal nation of Israel

p.45 Festivals to be celebrated only in Jerusalem
“my”This argument is very weak. Jesus specifically told the lady at the well where to worship God – John 4:21

p.50 Lot’s unleavened bread just means he made it quickly
“my”Good point. Like if someone hungry came to my house suddenly, i may open a can of soup quickly for them. That doesn’t mean i’m keeping some kind of soup festival!

p.51 strongly disses KJV

p.52 about Joseph keeping feasts – Ps 81:3-5 just means when Israel came out
“my”Good point. This text and the one about Lot with unleavened bread often used by feast-supporters are rightly shown not to have the meaning feast-supporters say they do.

p.58 distinctions are made between the 7th day Sabbath and the feasts
“my”Yes, there are distinctions, but it is also true that Leviticus 23 lists them all together, with the 7th day being the greatest one it seems.

p.60 Passover timing allowed to change by God, but not 7th day

p.69 no fire sacrifice on 7th day
“my”Interesting. But there were animal sacrifices specified especially for the 7th day too.

p.72 Mo’adim determined by humans not God because lunar
“my”Not sure about this one. It is interesting how God specifies the time to keep the 7th day very clearly, but not how to start a new year, or new month. But to say it is determined by humans is a bit over the top it seems.

p.74 7th day not a mo’ed
“my”I must study this one out more.

p.90 without actually participating in these literal animal sacrifices
“my”Br. du Preez has a completely different idea of this, because he believes that “ceremonial=festal”. But the Bible clearly states that the sacrifices and oblations were to cease in the middle of the week, without mentioning the feasts at all (Daniel 9:27).

p.94 to observe a feast day without a sacrifice is an illicit and illegitimate act
“my”Author’s interpretation, proved false by Daniel 9:27 and by the keeping of the feasts by our Lord, Jesus Christ, who never sacrificed any animals.

p.98 Isaiah 66:23 “new moon” should be “month”
“my”Perhaps true. The fact is that we will meet from month to month, and based on biblical precedent, the specific day would be the start of each new month.

p.103 Daniel 7:25 is not referring to appointed seasons
“my”Perhaps true. Covered more in p.245 review below.

p.105 Daniel 9:27 – terms “sacrifice” or “offering” refer to whole ceremonial system
“my”Somehow many of us SDAs equate sacrifices with ceremonial system, then lump the feasts in there somehow, and knowing that all sacrifices ceased at the cross, glibly throw out the feasts too, all based on a supposition. This verse says clearly what will cease in the middle of the week – sacrifices and oblations. Where is the word “feasts” or “festivals” or “statutes” used???

p.106 Jesus used hyperbole
“my”No. Jesus always spoke the truth.

p.106 give us our daily “bread” – accurately interpreted as “food”
“my”Here the author tries to show that “bread” is not just “bread”, but all food, so in the same vein “sacrifices and oblations” are not just that, but also the whole festal system. No inspired support is given tho. I disagree strongly with the assertion that this verse is best translated “food”. Perhaps i live in a culture where pig meat is the main article of food. So in my bible, Jesus’ prayer would be translated as “Give us this day our daily ham sandwich”!

p.115 6 of the 7 feast “sabbaths” are not called “shabbat” in the Hebrew
“my”This may be a big point against the feasts, but it is VERY interesting to note that ONE of the “festal” sabbaths (Day of Atonement) IS called “shabbat”!! That would mean that we must keep that day.

p.121 “forever” means until the Messiah
“my”Maybe, maybe not. There is no inspired evidence given.

p.125 RH 6-14-1898 Jewish ordinances
“my”Many times “ceremonial” is linked to the feasts without any, zero, inspired support. It is just assumed. This was my position on the feasts as late as summer 2011, as i had read other people’s works who ASSUMED that “ceremonial=feasts”, so dumped them all.

p.127 Jewish feasts are not Christian according to John.
“my”Please see comment above on p.26. To even think that a disciple of John would diss God’s statutes in any way really beggars belief. John would have instantly lost all influence over his countrymen, as they are specifically ordered in the bible to not accept anyone who breaks the law. This is why they hated Christ, because he kept the law perfectly in letter and in spirit. Perhaps the Holy Spirit chose to point these feasts out as “Jewish” in order to show that they were different from the pagan feasts? In Matt. 27 Jesus agrees that he is “King of the Jews”. By Br. du Preez’s logic here, we should reject Jesus, because he is not king of the Christians!

p.127-8 Bacchiocchi was a mess!
“my”Agreed! He wrote me once that parts of Psalms are not inspired!

p.137 Romans 12:1 says we are the sacrifice – this is dangerous cut and paste theology.
“my”We are a kingdom of priests, and as such, must have a sacrifice to offer. Of course we are the sacrifice. This is new light shining brightly on the sanctuary to open up its beauties

New Testament related
p.150 1Corinthians 5:7-8 admonition to keep the feast is obviously metaphorical
“my”Agreed. But that makes this all the more powerful, because the Holy Spirit is saying metaphorically that we are to keep the feast – this side of the cross!!

p.150 to keep the feasts is to deny Christ’s atonement (quote Kistemaker)
“my”Mr. Kistemaker is not Seventh-day Adventist, and obviously not inspired, yet his quote is used as fact. Why, Brother du Preez?

p.151 it’s good to research and commemerate the feasts but “it is to be rejected in terms of the actual observance of the set times”
“my”No inspired words are used to back this up. This is just conjecture on the author’s part.

p.158 Colossians 2:14-16 The Decalogue, health laws, and universal principles enumerated in the Torah were to continue – but the ceremonial law was done away with
“my”Again, no inspired proof.

p.159 The ceremonial law was against us
“my”What was given by God, and put in the side of the Ark of the Covenant was “against us”?! Of course, just like the 10 Commandments which were put inside the ark – if we break them, we are condemned as law-breakers.

p.160 ceremonial law “included all the rituals, festivals and feasts”
“my”Again, no inspired proof.

p.161 “these statutes” cannot be referring to the annual appointed seasons
“my”Again, no inspired proof.

p.161 there are three categories of laws – moral, civil, and ceremonial
“my”Maybe, maybe not. There is no inspired proof of this assertion.

p.164 the observance of festival, new moon, or sabbath

p.166 Strong’s must be jettisoned

p.168 Colossians 2:16 refers to pilgrimage festivals, new moons, and non-pilgrimage feasts
“my”Br. du Preez makes mighty efforts to distance the 7th day Sabbath from the “Sabbaths of the Lord”. Without doubt, he has done the most research on Colossians 2:16 of any of our denominationally-employed bible scholars today. I think this marking of 3 things listed in this bible verse into the 3 categories he does is unique to his research. I don’t believe that this text is using a common word “sabbaton” translated in the NT as “sabbath day” 37times, “sabbath” 22times, and “week” 7times suddenly allowed to be translated here as “non-pilgrimage feasts”. This interpretation will make us SDAs become even more of a laughing-stock among other Christians if we adopt this as our standard doctrine on this text. Why doesn’t the author show that the “no man” referred to in this verse is obviously talking about a wicked man? So we shouldn’t care what that wicked person says about our keeping of holy days, new moons, and sabbaths. To interpret Colossians 2:16 as doing away with any part of the law of God is taking it totally out of context.

p.175 Though it was not wrong for the Jew trained from his infancy in the law, for a period of transition, to observe some of these customs as mere customs… it was certainly wrong… to impose them upon the Gentiles
“my”Supposition by the author.

p.182 Paul went to Jerusalem not to actually observe the day
“my”Acts 18:21 says otherwise.

p.185 Ellen White wrote that Paul kept a feast – Thus, this event that she records will not change our Adventist beliefs, from a non-feast-keeping to a feast-keeping church
“my”This is incredible. What is the purpose of using her quotations at all then? Is it fair to just use her quotations that you believe support your position as “inspired”, and then reject her quotations that don’t support your view?

p.186 Feast-keepers are either ignorant….
“my”This word “ignorant” appears many times in this book. Probably it was used by the Pharisees to diss the disciples too – those “ignorant fishermen”.

p.187 We have already demonstrated that the inspired apostle Paul specifically stated that the ancient festal calendar as a “shadow” had met its fulfillment in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the substance to which all the ceremonial law pointed
“my”Not demonstrated. Some words from non-sda “scholars” were used to “demonstrate” this, not inspired words.

p.188 saints participate in marriage supper of the Lamb

p.193 To continue these rites [i.e., including observing these obsolete annual set seasons}
"my"Obsolete? Where is the proof? Just repeating what some other author has to write about the feasts as fact does not make it fact. Please Br. du Preez, give inspired words to give evidence for your position.

p.203 ...there are no triads in the entire Old Testament that include the weekly seventh-day Sabbath
"my"1Chronicles 23:31 And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts...

p.208 (there were) 6 "semi-rest" days and one ceremonial sabbath
"my"There are no inspired words anywhere that call the feasts "semi-rest" days, or that the Day of Atonement was a "ceremonial" sabbath.

p.217 The feasts are not statutes
"my"Outrageous comment by the author! Regarding the Feast of Tabernacles, Leviticus 23:41 says: And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. [It shall be] a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.

p.218 these statutes cannot be referring to the annual appointed seasons
“my”The author says only the statutes to govern everyday life are referred to. RH 5-6-1875: According to Ellen White the statutes (a) govern everyday life (b) specify the duty of man to his fellow men (c) are dealing with things such as marriage, inheritance, and strict justice. So how can anyone say for sure that the feasts don’t fit into one of these 3 categories that God had Ellen White write? It looks to me that the feasts sure DO govern everyday life and specify duty to fellow men and deal with strict justice also.

p.220 cannot be message of truth because it is divisive
“my”ALL messages of truth are divisive! This is an incredible statement from a “scholar” of the Seventh-day Adventist church, the most divisive church among all the Christian churches!!!

p.228 Br. du Preez tries to link Passover with ceremonial law

p.200-220 Many Ellen White quotes for feast-keeping debunked (mostly spot-on)

p.230-240 Ellen White quotes about no independent moves

p.244 festal calendar enthusiasts tend to accept one aberrant belief after another like – future prophecy, sacred names, lunar sabbaths, anti-trinity, and pictorial Hebrew characters
“my”Mostly a true observation. Many of the Millerites went into aberrant beliefs too, but did that make their main message wrong?

p.245 disses idea that Roman Catholic Church abolished set times
“my”This can be easily disproved with a few minutes with Wikipedia reading the article on the 325ad Council of Nicaea where one of the biggest problems to solve was “settling the calculation of the date of Easter”.

p.245 says feast-keeping imitates rabbis, not the Bible
“my”Jesus kept the feasts. Jesus was a rabbi

p.246 those of Jewish descent can enjoy these ancient festivals as merely part of their cultural heritage, as long as this does not detract from Jesus the Messiah, or the typological thrust of these set times

p.248 quotes book “SDAs Believe”, then basically says if you don’t believe it, you’re not an authentic SDA!
“my”Typical strong-arm tactics when the evidence for your position is weak. I never find inspired authors resorting to this tactic.

p.249 destroys basically his whole argument against the feasts by admitting that Ellen White never directly addressed the specific issue of the literal observance of the festal calendar

p.251 “ceremonial law, which includes the festal calendar”
“my”Br. du Preez gives no proof.

p.252-4 a very strange “interview” with Jesus

p.255 Br. du Preez compares the early church “allegedly” keeping the feasts with apostacy!

Important Facts of Faith, in Connection with the History of Holy Men of Old (SG3)

Before the flood there were immense forests. The trees were many times larger than any trees which we now see. They were of great durability. They would know nothing of decay for hundreds of years. At the time of the flood these forests were torn up or broken down and buried in the earth. In some places large quantities of these immense
trees were thrown together and covered with stones and earth by the commotions of the flood. They have since petrified and become coal, which accounts for the large coal beds which are now found. This coal has produced oil. God causes large quantities of coal and oil to ignite and burn. Rocks are intensely heated, limestone is burned, and iron ore melted. Water and fire under the surface of the earth meet. The action of water upon the limestone adds fury to the intense heat, and causes earthquakes, volcanoes and fiery issues. The action of fire and water upon the ledges of rocks and ore, causes loud explosions which sound like muffled thunder. These wonderful exhibitions will be more numerous and terrible just before the coming of Christ and the end of the world,
as signs of its speedy destruction.

Coal and oil are generally to be found where there are no burning mountains or fiery issues. When fire and water under the surface of the earth meet, the fiery issues cannot give sufficient vent to the heated elements beneath. The earth is convulsed–the ground trembles, heaves, and rises into swells or waves, and there are heavy sounds like thunder underground. The air is heated and suffocating. The earth quickly
opens, and I saw villages, cities and burning mountains carried down together into the earth.

“Nine yeas ago, in January 2003, while serving as a missionary in Beijing, China, Han began copying out these texts, a process he calls ‘transcriptions.’ As of October 2011 he had copied he text of the Bible seven times, as well as a series of the Conflict of the Ages books, and ‘Testimonies for the Church. Han said the hours he spends transcribing are the most joyful moments in his life.”

http://www.savethestorks.com/

If you wish to download the youtube video to your own computer, and cannot, please leave a comment and i will try to help you out.

The music was provided by youtube user DJMichaelOrtega: music by DJMichaelOrtega

Here is the text used in the video:
Seventh-day Adventist Church and Abortion

The Seventh-day adventist church has an official document called “Guidelines on Abortion”. This video is to protest the position my church has taken.
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My Seventh-day Adventist church prides itself on “keeping the commandments of God and having the faith of Jesus” – the 2 identifying marks of God’s church at the end time.

But the sad fact is, we make no pretensions to keeping the 6th commandment. Somehow we think that standing up for the 4th commandment like no other denomination does will make up for the killing of little, innocent children inside their mother’s wombs.
———————-
Many of our church members don’t have any idea that this is going on. We trust our leaders to be guiding the ship in a safe manner, unaware that for the sake of money, we have sold our soul.
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This sad state of affairs started in earnest under the leadership of Neal Wilson in the 1970s, and every succeeding president of the church has condoned it. This is what he said while president of NAD in 1970: “Though we walk the fence, Adventists lean toward abortion rather than against it. Because we realize we are confronted by big problems of hunger and overpopulation, we do not oppose family planning and appropriate endeavors to control population.”
Ministry Magazine August 1991 Abortion: history of Adventist Guidelines

If that is not a Laodicean position, i don’t know what is.
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It has gotten so bad that those outside our church are questioning how we can claim to have the moral upper ground while we are actively breaking the 6th commandment:
Washington Post article Jan. 24, 2011
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According to this Ministry Magazine article in August 1991, the first article regarding abortion in Adventist literature was in 1867 titled “Fashionable Murder”. Then in 1869 with a title of “A Few Words Concerning a Great Sin” an article encouraged readers to read Psalm 139:16, and then stated: “They will see that even the unborn child is written in God’s book. And they may be well assured that God will not pass unnoticed the murder of such children”. In 1870 James White edited “A Solemn Appeal” to include a statement from a Dr. Miller castigating abortion as “nefarious business”, “worse than devilish practice”.
———————–
As to numbers, participants in the “Pastors’ Protest Against Abortion” supplied the figure of 1,494 abortions performed at Washington Adventist Hospital from 1975 through July 1982.

In 7 years, 1,494 murdered infants at just one of our hospitals. Where is the outrage, where is the cry for it to stop?
——————–wilson’s letter
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I wrote President Ted Wilson in 2011 asking him to repent corporately for this grevious sin. he sent a nice reply, but just gave the church’s official guidelines. He ended with a comment to pray for revival and reformation, but these cannot occur until we first repent.

The guidelines say in part: “Abortions for reasons of birth-control, gender selection, or convenience are not condoned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

There are, however exceptional circumstances when a woman may face serious moral or medical dilemmas such as threats to the pregnant mother’s life, severe congenital defects carefully diagnosed in the fetus, and pregnancy resulting from rape or incest.
Guidelines on Abortion
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So i made a little parody, showing the utter failure of the guidelines to adhere to the Bible: “Sabbath breaking for reasons of work, income, or convenience are not condoned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

“There are, however, exceptional circumstances when a person may face serious moral or medical dilemmas such as threats to the person’s life, severe beatings carefully diagnosed as necessary for “retraining”, and threats from family members or mobs resulting in possible rape or incest.

A longer parody, called “SDA Guidelines on Stealing” is available on the internet.
SDA Guidelines on Stealing
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In 2010 i went to the General Conference Session in Atlanta, GA. There was a drive going on to “End it Now”. Great, i thot, finally a concerted effort to end abortion among Seventh-day Adventists. But then i read the fine print: “Adventists say NO to violence against women”. Why is it only big women? Why not little women, those still inside their mommy’s bellies?
———————–
Some of my fellow Seventh-day Adventists say: “Ellen White never said anything about abortion, so it must be OK.” Is this statement true?
From the
Advent Review and Sabbath Herald Volume 6
07-18-1899
Disease and Its Causes

If the father would become acquainted with physical law, he would
better understand his obligations and his responsibilities. He would see that he had been guilty of almost murdering his children, by suffering so many burdens to come upon the mother, compelling her to labor beyond her strength before their birth, in order to obtain money to leave for them.
———————-
So we see that Ellen White talked about the father “almost murdering” his children “before their birth”, by forcing the mother to work too hard.
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How can a church known for human rights, standing tall to help the slaves, standing tall to make alcohol illegal, suddenly be as silent as a mouse when coming to a subject much more important? – the human right to be safe inside your mother?

I mean, the slaves AT LEAST had a chance to breathe. Even that is not allowed the littlest, most helpless ones of society.
———————–
Recently there was a heart-warming story of a girl born at 24 weeks, who was determined well enough to leave the hospital after a few months.
World’s 3rd smallest baby
—————————
Madeline Mann was born at 26 weeks, just 9.9 ounces. She is now 23 years old. Her mother described her daughter in 2004 as “extraordinary, positive, and the light of my life and many lives”.
Madeline Mann
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Whose lives will these kids light up?
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There are a few fellow SDAs sighing and crying for this terrible sin. One man was kicked out of church for doing so. Nic Samojluk is probably the most scholarly SDA with a lot of material on this subject, and the Roesch family has some good articles on this too.

kicked out for anti-abortion
Nic Samojluk’s Adventlife site
The Narrow Way Ministries
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Does God’s word have any advice on this issue? – Plenty:
Luke 1:15, in talking about John the Baptist says: “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
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So we see that the Holy Spirit was in him from while he was still inside his mother’s womb. Aborting him would entail aborting the Holy Spirit, wouldn’t it?

Another very important point here, is that John the Baptist is called by name, even before coming out, showing clearly that what we call a “fetus” today (subhuman) is simply known as a “person” to God.
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Then in talking about the greatest conception and birth of all this world’s history – that of Jesus Christ, Luke 1:35 says: “And answering, the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, and so the Holy One being born will be called God’s Son.
————————–
In this instance, Mary was carrying the seed of the Holy Spirit in her womb for 9 months. No doubt she faced a “serious moral dilemma”, as witnessed by Joseph’s actions. Now according to our Seventh-day Adventist church’s guidelines, Mary is fully within her rights to murder Jesus after appropriate medical counsel aided by her religious beliefs and the guidance of the Holy Spirit! Sick!
—————————-

This is a quote from an article in The Weekly Standard titled “U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops: Obama’s Revised Contraception and Abortion Pill Mandate ‘Unacceptable’”:

First, he has decided to retain HHS’s nationwide mandate of insurance coverage of sterilization and contraception, including some abortifacients. This is both unsupported in the law and remains a grave moral concern. We cannot fail to reiterate this, even as so many would focus exclusively on the question of religious liberty.

It sickens and saddens me to see them getting all the spotlight on standing up against the latest government mandate to provide services to kill the unborn. Everybody with any moral character at all knows deep down that they are doing the right thing in this case. My question is where are our Seventh-day Adventist leaders and hospital administrators??? We should have been the ones to get the large free publicity in this situation, showing that we are standing firm for the word of God. But i hear nothing. In going to the ANN website, i see absolutely nothing regarding this even in communications to our own members, let alone to the world. If we do not stand up for the silent today, we deserve to be silenced in the future.

Isaiah 1:16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it].

So what did our founding fathers have to say about Christianity/religion?

For example: What was one of the first things George Washington did when he was elected president?

“Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789 – President George Washington
“WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

“Washington referred to himself frequently using the words “ardent,” “fervent,” “pious,” and “devout.” There are over one hundred different prayers composed and written by Washington in his own hand, with his own words, in his writings….Although he never once used the word “Deist” in his voluminous writings, he often mentioned religion, Christianity, and the Gospel”

“”The Commander in Chief directs that divine Service be performed every Sunday at 11 oClock in those Brigades to which there are Chaplains; those which have none to attend the places of worship nearest to them. It is expected that Officers of all Ranks will by their attendence set an Example to their men. While we are zealously performing the duties of good Citizens and soldiers we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of Religion. To the distinguished Character of Patriot, it should be our highest Glory to add the more distinguished Character of Christian. The signal Instances of providential Goodness which we have experienced and which have now almost crowned our labours with complete Success, demand from us in a peculiar manner the warmest returns of Gratitude and Piety to the Supreme Author of all Good.” –George Washington, General Orders, (May 2nd, 1778)”

“John Adams: The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God. … The Christian religion is, above all the religions that ever prevailed or existed in ancient or modern times, the religion of wisdom, virtue, equity and humanity.

Samuel Adams: I [rely] upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins. … I conceive we cannot better express ourselves than by humbly supplicating the Supreme Ruler of the world … bringing in the holy and happy period when the kingdoms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may be everywhere established, and the people willingly bow to the scepter of Him who is the Prince of Peace. … We may with one heart and voice humbly implore His gracious and free pardon through Jesus Christ, supplicating His Divine aid … [and] above all to cause the religion of Jesus Christ, in its true spirit, to spread far and wide till the whole earth shall be filled with His glory.

John Hancock: That the spiritual kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may be continually increasing until the whole earth shall be filled with His glory.

Patrick Henry: Being a Christian … is a character which I prize far above all this world has or can boast. … The Bible is a book worth more than all the other books that were ever printed. … This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one, which will make them rich indeed.

John Jay: Condescend, merciful Father! to grant as far as proper these imperfect petitions, to accept these inadequate thanksgivings, and to pardon whatever of sin hath mingled in them for the sake of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Savior; unto Whom, with Thee, and the blessed Spirit, ever one God, be rendered all honor and glory, now and forever. … The Bible is the best of all books, for it is the word of God and teaches us the way to be happy in this world and in the next. Continue therefore to read it and to regulate your life by its precepts. … Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation, to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.

Thomas Jefferson: I am a Christian in the only sense in which He wished anyone to be: sincerely attached to His doctrines in preference to all others. … I am a real Christian — that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus Christ.

James Madison: I have sometimes thought there could not be a stronger testimony in favor of religion or against temporal enjoyments, even the most rational and manly, than for men who occupy the most honorable and gainful departments and [who] are rising in reputation and wealth, publicly to declare their unsatisfactoriness by becoming fervent advocates in the cause of Christ.

“How many observe Christ’s birth-day! How few, his precepts! O! ’tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments.” –Benjamin Franklin (1743)”
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At his first inauguration, George Washington took the oath of office for the presidency on April 30, 1789. He was standing on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City with his hand on an open Bible. After he finished taking the oath, the audience in attendance gave a thunderous ovation and bells of the various churches began ringing in his honor. After his oath of office was completed, he went to deliver his inaugural address to Congress.

April 30, 1789
Such being the impressions under which I have, in obedience to the public summons, repaired to the present station, it would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this first official act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations and whose providential aide can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes; and may enable every instrument employed in its administration to execute with success, the functions allotted to his charge.

In tendering this homage to the Great Author of every public and private good, I assure myself that it expresses your sentiments not less than my own; nor those of my fellow-citizens at large, less than either. No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States.

Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency; and in the important revolution just accomplished in the system of their United government, the tranquil deliberations and voluntary consent of so many distinct communities, from which the event has resulted can not be compared with the means by which most governments have been established, without some return of pious gratitude, along with an humble anticipation of the future blessings which them past seem to presage.

These reflections, arising out of the present crisis, have forced themselves too strongly on my mind to be suppressed. You will join with me I trust in thinking, that there are none under the influence of which the proceedings of a new and free Government can more auspiciously commence.

We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained; and since the preservation of sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican model of government are justly considered as deeply, perhaps finally, staked of the experiment…

I shall take my present leave; but not without resorting once more to the Benign Parent of the Human Race, in humble supplication that, since He has been pleased to favor the American people with opportunities for deliberating in perfect tranquility, and dispositions for deciding with unparalleled unanimity on a form of government for the security of their union and the advancement of their happiness, so His divine blessings may be equally conspicuous in the enlarged views, the temperate consultations and the wise measures on which the success of this Government must depend.
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Our founding fathers own words make it plain that the leftist attempts at censorship on the expression of faith is not only totally anti-christian, which anyone with understanding can see, but it is also a slap in the face of America, and its founding principles. They want man to rule, not God. Of course most of those on the right too are not happy to have God rule over them, but at least they make some effort in that direction.