Author Topic: PUC Gets New President  (Read 3171 times)

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Richard Myers

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PUC Gets New President
« on: December 19, 2016, 08:54:55 AM »
During a special session on December 13, 2016, the Pacific Union College Board of Trustees elected a new president, Eric Anderson, a senior faculty member, to serve until June 30, 2017. Anderson’s six-month appointment begins January 9, 2017.  source
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

ejclark

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Re: PUC Gets New President
« Reply #1 on: December 22, 2016, 06:41:22 PM »
Interesting.....
Eric Anderson wrote a paper on Christian Mysticism for the Adventist Review when he was at Keene, TX.

Richard Myers

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Re: PUC Gets New President
« Reply #2 on: December 24, 2016, 01:47:54 AM »
What is a Mystic?

Elder Anderson's article is an interesting attempt to present to the reader our continual need of communion with Christ. We certainly need to not only do, but to understand this important practice. For this, we must commend this theological teacher. We, who have tasted of the loveliness of Jesus, spend our time in presenting the very same thought.

If we look around in the "theological circles" of academia we will notice there is a great importance placed on "spiritual disciplines." I suppose this may have had an influence on the then president of Southwestern Adventist University. If he had been exposed to the mystical teaching of spiritual formation, then to frame his teaching on this subject, around the word "mystic",  would make sense. On the other hand, it may not be beneficial, especially for the young who are not well grounded in Bible truth.

It is good for us to understand the various uses of different words. But, for what purpose would we attempt to make the common use of a "theological" word more acceptable? If we were concerned that many had misunderstood a religious teaching because they misunderstood the usage of a theological word, then if the teaching were important, it would be good, would it not?

Would I attempt to redefine the word mystic? I am sure some use the world in a proper manner for a good purpose. But, what if the majority of what we call "theologians" used the word mystic in its common understanding in such a manner as to lead young and older people away from the truth? What if "spiritual formation" was being used widely by Satan to cause a large number of professing Christians to depend upon unconverted false shepherds dressed in sheep's clothing? What if the word mystics has a common usage referring to those who had close relations with Satan rather than God?

There is a successful movement within "Evangelical" churches to bypass the Word of God and to rely on feelings for a religious experience. The same experience has been gained by "mystics" throughout the ages. They certainly do have a religious experience based upon their feelings, having been in close communion with a spirit. And, it has been the practice of "mystics" throughout the ages to pass on this experience to others through what theologians call "spiritual formation." The "teacher" is called a "guide." 

It is not my intent to explain "spiritual formation", but to share the need to better understand the danger in exalting "mystics" to our young people attending Seventh-day Adventist universities. What Elder Anderson has presented in his article contains much important truth, but to center the truth in the subject of mysticism is misleading.

The word mystic implies mysterious. There are many false teachers who would have their students believe they have received secret messages from God. They are granted knowledge through their mystical communion with the "heavenly." They then are empowered to be "spiritual guides" for the unlearned, those who have not had such blessed experiences with "god."

Elder Anderson writes "The fact that the potent words of our hymns come from both ancient Christians and modern ones, from Protestants as well as Catholics, is highly significant. If non-Adventist hymn writers can accurately articulate the promise of union with Christ, perhaps we can safely imitate at least a few of the practices they have used to prepare their hearts for transformation.

Over the past three decades American Christianity has been revolutionized by a renewed emphasis on holy living and spiritual disciplines."


This "revolution" of "spiritual formation" emanates from Roman Catholic mysticism. We do not want to encourage anyone to look to a mystic or a spiritual guide for their instruction. We spend much time in pointing our students to Christ and His Word. God has teachers, but the true teachers He sends do not point anyone to a mystic. Jesus tell us to feed upon Him, to drink His blood and to eat His flesh. He was the Word made flesh. Let us go to directly to Christ, not through a mystical guide.

     The truths most plainly revealed in the Bible have been involved in doubt and darkness by learned men, who, with a pretense of great wisdom, teach that the Scriptures have a mystical, a secret, spiritual meaning not apparent in the language employed. These men are false teachers. It was to such a class that Jesus declared: "Ye know not the Scriptures, neither the power of God." Mark 12:24. The language of the Bible should be explained according to its obvious meaning, unless a symbol or figure is employed. Christ has given the promise: "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine." John 7:17. If men would but take the Bible as it reads, if there were no false teachers to mislead and confuse their minds, a work would be accomplished that would make angels glad and that would bring into the fold of Christ thousands upon thousands who are now wandering in error…. DD 38.

Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

ejclark

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Re: PUC Gets New President
« Reply #3 on: January 15, 2017, 07:38:09 AM »
From Eric Anderson's article
Quote
Mystics believe that they are somehow in communication with transcendent reality; thus, a Hebrew prophet having a vision and a Christian believer communicating with God in prayer are both mystics in this general sense.

A “Christian mystic,” however, experiences God in ways consistent with the Christian revelation in Scripture.
Christian mystics, as Anderson promotes as well, believe that the Biblical prophets were mystics, and you can be a mystic too.
Christian mysticism is Satan's counterfeit to the Gift of Prophecy.

colporteur

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Re: PUC Gets New President
« Reply #4 on: January 15, 2017, 07:57:19 AM »
There can be little doubt that the gift given to true prophets had an element of the mystical. There was the mystical involved in the gift given Ellen White just as with all prophets. The problem is that the "mystic" realm that these Spiritual formation people today are trying to pass off as biblical is a counterfeit. It steps aside from the train and pattern laid down by former prophets. Isaiah 8:20 is left in the dust.  Many years ago Bill Loveless stated publically that EGW was a mystic. He then went on to say that her writings were pablem before claiming that Peter was the Rock. I have the video recording. This Jesuit should have been disfellowshipped immediately. No one at the meeting had the courage to rebuke him to his face.
It's easier to slow a fast horse down than to get a dead one going.

ejclark

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Re: PUC Gets New President
« Reply #5 on: January 15, 2017, 09:03:43 AM »
Something else the Christian mystics promote is the physical experience of the modern day mystic. And they rely upon the ignorance of people today who don't know what the Bible teaches about the physical attributes of the Biblical prophet. Biblical prophets while awake, would have a vision. And while in a trance, they didn't concentrate on and control their breathing. In fact, they didn't breath at all. Physically, they would fall down as if helpless and weak, but in actuality they had super human strength. When we read about the experiences of Mrs. White in vision, her strength was tested and was incredibly profound. Yet the modern day Christian mystic goes to a quiet place where they will not be interrupted and their physical state undisturbed. Also, it wasn't the prophet that initiated the encounter, it was God who initiated the encounter. With Christian mysticism, it's the person who initiates the encounter. As if we have that kind of control over God.