I never thought that I would be told what I could and could not study or do in my home.
Let me give you a little background. In 2009, I started a women’s Bible study group at my church with about a dozen ladies attending. When we began, we vowed to study only Adventist materials, nothing from other denominations. We have learned so much over the years from the books such as “Daniel & the Revelation” by Roy Anderson, “The Cross & Its Shadow” by Stephen Haskell, , “The Coming Oil Crisis” by Ivor Myers, study of biblical books, the Gospels, women of the Bible, etc., to name a few. Our last meeting together at the church was March 9, 2020, then COVID hit.
I had just distributed our next study book written by Floyd Sayler – “The Sanctuary, The Atonement, & The Fit Man” (SAF). I found information on F7 in the comments section and decided to order it for the Bible study ladies. We were excited to study it since our focus was on the sanctuary and the end times. Being unable to meet now in the church, we discontinued our study believing that the pandemic would end, and we would be able to continue again soon. It didn’t.
I began holding potlucks at our home each Sabbath to try and maintain some connection with these church ladies. We were each studying the book on our own and sharing the amazing things we were learning individually. In January 2021, with the New Year beginning and no end in sight of our church opening up to hold Bible studies, we agreed to begin the study in my home on Wednesday evenings, and are still meeting together as of August 2021.
Trouble Begins
The pastor of our church called me stating that he had heard concerns from several seasoned members that I was leading a study on the topic of Last Generation Theology (LGT). At this point, I knew very little about the term and its implications amongst our Conference leaders. He wanted to know the name of the book, so I told him. He sent me an email (along with copying all the church elders) stating:
“The leaders of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, both scholars and administrators, have distanced themselves from LGT, specifically because it teaches two paths to salvation. There have been several official responses to the LGT teaching, including the book, “God’s Character and the Last Generation,” a collection of 12 essays written by Adventist scholars and published by Pacific Press. I encourage you to read this.”
He went on to say that I should discontinue studying this LGT document and that I should not be using my influence as a church officer (Church Clerk) to introduce materials that are divisive or disloyal to the church.
In my email response, I asked him to provide me evidence or facts from Scripture or the SOP as to why he had come to this conclusion. I told him I disagreed with his assumption that most Adventist leaders had distanced themselves to LGT. (I did Google the book he wanted me to read and found that the writers were from Andrews University and I was not familiar with any of them.) I stated that many devoted, Godly Adventist speakers such as Stephen Bohr think that this subject is so relevant to our time that Secrets Unsealed Ministry (SUM) presented a LGT Symposium with 18 one-hour sessions and gave him the link on YouTube. I provided him with information that the SAF book is backed up with reference quotes from the Bible and the SOP. I also told him that I was deeply hurt and saddened that he would make the insinuation that I would “use my church office as a way to introduce materials that are divisive or disloyal to the church.” He was attacking my character, and I was appalled by its incriminating nature.
My last comment in the email stated that I was very concerned that the leaders of my church felt they had the right to tell me what I could/couldn’t study in my own home. We are truly coming to a sad time in church history when leaders feel the need to police their members and only permit them to study what they believe they should study.
The Bible study ladies decided to have me inform him that we would “lay the book aside” and study EG White’s “Last Day Events.” This decision was reached in part to calm any fears he may have that we were somehow “off track” in what we were studying. I believe the Lord gave me the words to “lay the book aside” because we definitely found value in it.
The Saga Continues
This was not the end of the saga. In my pastor’s response email, he again recommended that I read the God’s Character book. He said he could probably write many pages with texts and quotations if he had the time and that he had been through many presentations on LGT starting back in the 1980s. Again, he provided no proof of wrong from the Bible or the SOP. He also stated that Stephen Bohr is hardly a mainline SDA speaker or scholar, and numerous ideas he has championed are not supported by the church. (REALLY!!! I have learned so much from Secrets Unsealed Ministry.)
He made announcements to the Church Board and also to the congregation about Sayler’s book and how all should be wary of it and the teachings of LGT.
It didn’t end there. The head elder also sent an email stating a concern of the leaders that my husband and I may be holding studies and/or worship service in our home during the church’s worship hour. He implied that we were impressing upon others that the church’s worship hour was unimportant, or otherwise insignificant. (Most members watch on FaceBook since a mask mandate is still required at church.) I answered stating that I was dismayed that the leaders find it necessary once again to police actions that are done in our home. We were not holding any type of worship service on Sabbath mornings. But what would be wrong with that?
I am writing this article to shed light on the matter of the actions of our leaders. I believe that when they cannot come up with any Biblical support for their opinions, then they resort to criticism and demeaning of character. In an ideal Christian scenario wouldn’t a pastor come over to a member’s house and have an in-depth study in God’s Word to waylay any ideas of non-truth? Many of our leaders are not teaching the end-time message. They are petting the sheep, not feeding them. And they are so against any striving for purification. Asleep in their Laodicean condition, they believe that simply being an Adventist, especially an Adventist pastor, will save them.
Ellen White writes:
“God will accept nothing but purity and holiness; one spot, one wrinkle, one defect in the character, will forever debar them from heaven, with all its glories and treasures.”
“Ample provisions have been made for all who sincerely, earnestly, and thoughtfully set about the work of perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Strength, grace, and glory have been provided through Christ, to be brought by ministering angels to the heirs of salvation. None are so low, so corrupt, and vile that they cannot find in Jesus, who died for them, strength, purity and righteousness, if they will put away their sins, cease their course of iniquity, and turn with full purpose of heart to the living God.” 2T453-454
My simple concept of LGT is that we, as remnant people, are living in the last generation of earth’s history. I believe that we are responsible for studying God’s Word, to be spreading the Three Angels’ Messages, and to be warning others of what is to come so that they may be saved. We strive for perfection because of what Christ has done for us and of our love to Him in return. When convicted of sin, we are to go to our Savior and repent, repent, repent. We know that we are not saved by any of our own righteousness. We have none. No, we are saved by Christ’s righteousness alone. We first understood that long ago.
Ellen White writes that the faithful at the ends times would rather die than sin:
“One wrong trait of character, one sinful desire cherished, will eventually neutralize all the power of the gospel… The pains of duty and the pleasures of sin are the cords with which Satan binds men in his snares. Those who would rather die than perform a wrong act are the only ones who will be found faithful.” Testimonies for the Church 5:53
Conclusion
This was a very small taste for me of the persecution to come, even inside the church. I pray that we all remain Watchmen and be firmly rooted in the Truth of God’s Word. There will be more policing in the future, I’m sure of that.
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:13
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Karen M. Phillips is happily married to her husband, John, and enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren. She is a Human Resources Manager, an ASI Mid-America Officer, and a Bible teacher. Together they support their world-wide ministry – HeReturns. She writes from Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
