David Gates “Converging Crises” (actual name is “Converging Crises”)
F
David Gates is one of my personal heroes of faith and action ever since i learned about him from the book “Mission Pilot” which i was handed to read in Cambodia in 2006. Many of his sermons have inspired me and strengthened my faith and prodded me to do more for my Master.
In August 2007 in Bangkok, he was a speaker at the ASI convention which i attended. His dynamism was contagious, and he really exemplified the pattern of Jesus – giving your all to save souls. He did make a few comments which concerned me – comments denigrating the leaders of the United States government, and a few odd conspiracy theories. I politely warned him about this in a couple of emails, to which there has never been a reply.
I hadn’t listened to any of his sermons for about half a year, when, in October i think, i noticed that there was some bruha on audioverse.org about the removal of his “Converging Crisis” audio. Reading the reasons given, and knowing Brother David’s conspiracy comments before, i sent a email encouraging the webmaster at audioverse. But actually, i should have carefully listened to the content first before doing that.
What has prompted this review, is that last week a strong SDA friend in India said two of his closest church Brothers had stopped attending church because of this sermon, saying that “Jesus is going to come back before 2031 anyway, so what need is there to go to church now”? Fortunately my friend did not follow them.
The above is the background on this review. I hope everyone reading this understands that i do love and respect Brother David Gates very much. I also hope everyone understands that we must point out error wherever it raises its ugly head – because no error can stand with the truth. I have graded it “F” because it is mixing truth and error. The spiritual message in this sermon is so very powerful and straight, that it deserves a A+++. But Bible-contradicting error is also included – including dissing our government leaders, and setting dates for when Jesus has to return by. The economic information given also is laughably wrong, thus turning away many intelligent minds from the spiritual truths that are contained.
What are in very large quote marks below is exactly what he says in the sermon, or is a summary of what he says. Everything else is my response.
All of the forecasts they make are totally unpredictable, because the future is unpredictable.
Brother David, your “forecast” about their “forecasts” is totally wrong, and you know it. In looking at the median economic growth forecast for example taken from a large sample of economists, you usually get something quite close to the actual figure, with a few of the forecasters hitting the nail on the head. Weather forecasts have been getting more and more accurate, and with the increase of knowledge and use of computers etc., the accuracy of economic forecasting has been improving as well. This accusation is just false.
Nobody is making long-term plans anymore.
This statement is completely false as a 2-second search on the internet will prove.
Things are changing so fast, that there is no way you can possibly know. So people are trying to figure out what to do just for today and tomorrow, they aren’t worried about ten years from now anymore. People used to make ten-year plans. Very few companies today will have a ten-year strategic plan, it is very difficult.
Flat out wrong David. Why are you making such outrageous claims? What are you reading or watching to get to this bent shape of mind?
It is totally impossible to make an accurate ten-year plan.
No it isn’t.
Now it’s my word against David’s. Who is right?
That’s one of the points i’m trying to make in this whole exercise of making a review of this sermon – there are many things that are quite ridiculous, that cannot be proven, and that have absolutely nothing to do with the Three Angels’ Messages. They are “scare” phrases often used by speakers to get the audience to believe that everything they have been taught is wrong.
This is not a good way to reach normal, thinking people. This is what is usually done to reach people who are interested in theories such as aliens/illuminati/zionists/George Bush etc. etc. being behind every bad thing that happens, and that these groups are trying to take over the world. These conspiracy theories are driving away the true-in-heart, and attracting dross to the Little Flock. Enough! Just preach the straight truth, and let the truth cut to the heart without all this falsehood being mixed in with it.
Sin entered the world after 31 years, because Jesus died exactly 4,000 years later.
Not supported by inspired writings Brother. You are guilty of reading something into the text that is NOT there.
2031 is the outside limit of the period allocated, the maximum period allocated for this world’s great controversy….. Jesus will not come back after 2031…. This is absolutely, positively the last generation.
David Gates – you have sinned with these words. God’s messenger says in CEV p.25: “The Lord has shown me that the message of the third angel must go, and be proclaimed to the scattered children of the Lord, and that it should not be hung on time; for time never will be a test again. I saw that some were getting a false excitement arising from preaching time; that the third angel’s message was stronger than time can be. I saw that this message can stand on its own foundation, and that it needs not time to strengthen it, and that it will go in mighty power, and do its work, and will be cut short in righteousness.”
No doubt you did not intend to lead anyone astray by making this statement, Brother David. But by this statement, i know of 2 Brothers in India prone to fanaticism, who have stopped attending church because of what you have said here. They see no reason to go to a sleeping church, because Jesus will come back so soon anyway. You see, by mixing in lies with truth, your whole message becomes a corrupt mass, leading to things that none of us could possibly imagine. Whereas if we stay on the path of truth alone, these people may fall off at some point anyway, but at least their blood is not on our hands. Now will you repent and not repeat this error again? Please David, don’t create a “false excitement” on time again.
If you really believed Jesus was coming back soon, you would spend your time and money differently.
AMEN!
…
David Gates “Converging Crisis” reviewRead More »
The following is a email from the man i’ve helped sponsor to work full-time spreading this 1858 Great Controversy book in the Philippines.