I share the discomfort for the ceremonial/moral distinction. But I don't see a fulfilled/unfulfilled distinction as being helpful either. There are two reasons why I think the ceremonial/moral distinction is still advisable, even though I too have some problems with it.
Firstly, the Spirit of Prophecy definitely makes reference and use to the ceremonial/moral distinction. I've wasted a lot of time over the years quarreling with Ellen White, and then coming back to the same position anyway, on the basis of long and arduous Bible study, when I might have had it free as it were, if I had listened the first time.
God's people, whom He calls His peculiar treasure, were privileged with a twofold system of law; the moral and ceremonial. . . . {FLB 106.2}
From the creation the moral law was an essential part of God's divine plan, and was as unchangeable as Himself. The ceremonial law was to answer a particular purpose in Christ's plan for the salvation of the race. The typical system of sacrifices and offerings was established that through these services the sinner might discern the great offering, Christ. . . . The ceremonial law was glorious; it was the provision made by Jesus Christ in counsel with His Father, to aid in the salvation of the race. The whole arrangement of the typical system was founded on Christ. Adam saw Christ prefigured in the innocent beast suffering the penalty of his transgression of Jehovah's law. {FLB 106.3}
Secondly, to go to the fulfilled/unfulfilled principle with the assumption that "ceremonial" laws that are still unfulfilled types are still binding opens a can of worms. On that basis, for example, the feast of Tabernacles would be binding until we pass into the earth made new, and Yom Kippur would be binding until the judgement is completed.
There are some problems with that. One is practical. We simply do not have certainty about the proper time to observe these annual feasts. Those who do observe them eventually run into arguments and split about when they should be observed. Splits of that kind would be the destruction of Adventist unity. We do know that the Rabbinical calendar in use today is not that of Bible times, if only because it includes a system of postponements that was added well into the Christian era. The Karaim calendar is also post-Biblical in origin. The lunar Islamic calendar does not maintain the cycle of seasons, and the Biblical annual feasts are seasonal. We do not know how the Jubilees calendar adjusted to the solar year or even if it was in use long enough ever to need adjustment. The Church of God and Saints of Christ, if I understand correctly, gives Biblical names to the Gregorian months and observes the feasts on the days numbered in the Bible. Astounding and innocently naive as that may sound, in the end, it's just as good as any other solution.
But even if we knew the proper dates, there might well be theological ramifications that could cause endless debate. In fact, it does not appear that the matter was clearly understood during the first generation of Christians. The book of Acts certainly appears to indicate full participation in the temple service, sacrifices and all, for a couple of decades after the time of Christ and probably up until the destruction of the temple.
And that presents another issue for the observance of annual feasts. They ought to be observed in the place where God has placed his name. I suppose that would be Jerusalem, but then the Samaritans have some very good arguments in favour of Mt Gerizim. Do we really want to dispense with the Spirit of Prophecy ceremonial/moral distinction and find definitive solutions to the issues involved?
quote:
Originally posted by asygo:
I'm not comfortable with the ceremonial/moral distinction as the determining factor. I don't see why Christ's advent puts an end to ALL ceremonies.A better guiding principle would be fulfilled vs. unfulfilled types. The fulfilled ones are done, and the unfulfilled ones keep going. (Of course, moral laws are binding forever.)
Anyway, that's just my little tidbit for now. Busy preparing a sermon. Will be back for real next week.