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Colleen Tinker, Feature, Letters to the Editor

Studying Galatians

I’m working through the Galatians study posted on the website and am stumped by question 4 on the first week (Gal 1:1-10). It asks, “How can you tell whether or not your belief system is free of confusion and deceptive doctrine?” 

My gut response is to say we should refer to the Bible. But because of years spent having scripture twisted/cherry picked, it’s not that simple. The truth is, I’m stumped by this question. Any thoughts? 

Also, I’m listening to the second part of the recent podcast episode with Carma Naylor and getting so much out of it. I just ordered her book this weekend and am enjoying that as well. 

Thank you for the continued hard work you are doing at FAF. I will have a donation check to go out to you soon (or online payment? I have to see how I’ve done it in the past). 

P.S.: Are you still running the weekly Bible study? I think it was previously held on Friday nights? 

—VIA EMAIL

Response: The way we evaluate our belief systems is by submitting them to Scripture IN CONTEXT. I realize, though, how many nuances of interpretation there are within Adventism not to mention the counterfeit religions that mimic Christianity. 

The best answer I have is a bit more complex. First, I would say that it’s important to read the Bible using the grammatical-historical-literal hermeneutic, or believing that the words mean what they say, context is everything, and we have to read all of our “pet” texts in the full context of the passage. Over all of this is our need to be personally submitted to the Lord Jesus and to ask Him to teach us as we read. 

There are some “givens” that we have to admit: the actual words of Scripture are the words the Lord meant us to read. They are from Him, not from the personal interpretations of God’s having given ideas to people to write down as they understood them, like Adventism taught. 

The second thing is to believe and know the biblical covenants. God’s covenant with Israel, the Mosaic covenant, was conditional and an agreement between a nation and Yahweh. The terms of the Mosaic covenant were specifically for the covenant members: Israel. We can’t take the specific requirements from that covenant and apply them to the new covenant in Jesus’ blood defining God’s people in the present church age. In other words, the new covenant was inaugurated in Jesus’ blood after He fulfilled the old covenant shadows, and now we who trust Him are ushered into covenant relationship on the basis of Jesus’ blood. So, when Hebrews 7:12 says that a new priesthood demands a new law, we have to see that even though morality doesn’t change because God gives humanity the knowledge of His righteousness, we aren’t subject to the terms of the old covenant and its signs and symbols, such as the Sabbath and its death sentence—and so on.

So, in answer to question four, I would say submit everything to Scripture—but the context of Scripture is important and the way we understand the words also.

The rule of thumb that guides me is that God gave us His word, and He gave us exactly what we needed in order to know reality and truth. He is really faithful! He doesn’t always show us every single misunderstanding all at once, but He is faithful to reveal it. The more we read Scripture, the more those details jell and come together as a whole. 

And yes, we still are doing FAF Bible studies on Friday evenings at 7:00 PM Pacific Time. You would be so welcome to join if you want to! Just email FormerAdventist@gmail.com and request a link to the Bible study! 

Sabbath In Christ Led Me to the Truth

I just to say I’m very thankful for the way the Lord is using your ministry to guide our sisters and brothers to the truth of Jesus Christ. 

Short testimony: I was debating on joining the Adventist cult because a few good friends of mine are Adventist. I needed their support because I was going trough a difficult time.

The Lord guided me to research Adventism first, and when I started to research I found a lot of controversy. Then one day the Lord guided me through a YouTube video by the late Pastor Dale Ratzlaff in which he talked about about Sabbath In Christ. I quickly got the book and studied it carefully. After I had that encounter, the Lord guided me to the truth, and I was able to stand on the truth of the gospel.

I always feel a burden in my heart to have Sabbath In Christ in French and Haitian Creole so I can share it with others.

Grace and Peace of the Lord be with you.

—VIA EMAIL

Response: We praise the Lord for His leading you to Himself and away from the deception of Adventism. In case it’s helpful, here is a link to Sabbath In Christ online in English. https://lifeassuranceministries.org/sabbath-in-christ-2/

Write to: proclamation@gmail.com

Colleen Tinker
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