July 2015 archive

Clean and unclean meat, part 1

Sow with piglet

The Bible says that certain animals are not clean, and may not be eaten. Many Christians innocently avoid food containing meat from these animals. Some denomination, like Adventism, make it part of their doctrine that these are unclean and should not be eaten. What is the context in the Bible, and does it apply to Christians?

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Ellen White centenary prayers (novena) – Conclusion

Novena ConclusionToday, 16 July 2015, is the centenary of the death of Ellen White, Adventist prophetess. This Novena has asked her and all the angels and saints to pray with us for the return of the Adventist faith to the original teachings of Christianity.

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Ellen White centenary prayers (novena) – Day 9

Today, on the centenary of Ellen White’s death, we pray for Adventism, that its members may share the faith of the Saints of the Church, and share in their glory in heaven with Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, the Apostles, the Patriarchs, and all the Saints of God. We pray, on the eve of Ellen White’s birthday, that her teachings diminish and the teachings of Christ through his Church increase. We ask Ellen, along with all the angels and saints, to pray with us for this blessing.

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Ellen White centenary prayers (novena) – Day 8

Today, leading up to the centenary of Ellen White’s death, we pray for Adventism, which condemns the Lord’s Supper as pagan and idolatrous, not able to recognise the Body of Christ in the Eucharist, not willing to recognise the biblical pattern of each action and phrase used, out of fear and suspicion. We pray that they come to see what Christians since the first century have seen, and believe what has been believed by Christians for nearly 2000 years.

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Ellen White centenary prayers (novena) – Day 7

Today, leading up to the centenary of Ellen White’s death, we pray for Adventism, who deny the spirit of man. Instead of believing in a heaven filled with saints praising God, to them, we are alone, with no living cloud of witnesses to pray for their fellow Christians on earth. We pray that they come to understand the biblical teaching that our fellow-believers have indeed become spirits made perfect, and that we praise God united with them.

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Ellen White centenary prayers (novena) – Day 6

Today, leading up to the centenary of Ellen White’s death, we pray for Adventism, which teaches its followers to try to live according to selected laws of the Old Covenant. There were many health-related laws under the Old Covenant, but these are not used by Adventism. Dietary laws were symbolic, and Peter was shown one aspect of the symbolism in vision. It is not our diet that God is pleased with, it is our heart. We pray that God reveal this to the followers of Adventism.

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Ellen White centenary prayers (novena) – Day 5

Today, leading up to the centenary of Ellen White’s death, we pray for Adventism, which has, several times, set dates for the return of Christ, and has followed a prophetess whose prophecies were not in harmony with the Bible, and turned out to be false prophecies. May the realisation of this fact bring them closer to the truth.

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Ellen White centenary prayers (novena) – Day 4

Today, leading up to the centenary of Ellen White’s death, we pray for Adventism, which teaches rest on the 7th day, and objects when we celebrate Christ’s resurrection on the 8th day. We pray that they may discover that their rest is in Christ, that we are not bound by days that were signs of the Old Covenant, that they may commemorate the new creation in Christ, instead of the old creation in Adam, and that they may celebrate our exodus from sin and not just Israel’s exodus from Egypt.

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Ellen White centenary prayers (novena) – Day 3

Today, leading up to the centenary of Ellen White’s death, we pray for Adventism, whose theology of the Sabbath leads them to feel persecuted by other faiths, which in turn leads them to fear and distance themselves from other Christians. We hope that they may find a sense of belonging and identity in the Christian community, the communion of saints, without having to find that sense of belonging and identity from a sense of persecution.

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Ellen White centenary prayers (novena) – Day 2

Today, leading up to the centenary of Ellen White’s death, we pray for Adventism, which teaches strange doctrines not known to the original Christian faith. Jesus was said to be returning in 1843, and later 1844, and when he failed, the doctrine of the Investigative Judgement was developed to cover up that error in predicting Jesus’ return. May God lead them to realise that many of their teachings are found neither in the Bible, nor in the original faith of the Apostles, and, in fact, contradict them.

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Ellen White centenary prayers (novena) – Day 1

Today, leading up to the centenary of Ellen White’s death, we pray for Adventism, that it might see the light and truth it rejects in the Catholic faith it despises. Many within their fold fear the Catholic faith, despise it, and speak against it, not fully comprehending its beauty and faithfulness to the truth contained in the Bible. May God soften their hearts so that they may see the love we share, and the glory we give God in our lives and in our worship.

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Ellen White centenary prayers (novena) – Introduction

Novena - Introduction

In the Nine Days leading up to the 100th anniversary of the death of Adventist prophetess Ellen White (16 July 2015), we will say a novena – a prayer continued for nine days – for those who follow her teachings today.

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