Is ecumenism bane or bane for Adventist mission?

2. Ecumenism:
Its Impact on Adventist Mission
Cristopher V. Luaya, MA.R.
Faculty, Northern Luzon Adventist College
Pastor, NLAC Church

3. • ECUMENISM is penetrating
contemporary Christianity.
• It aims unity among the world’s
Christian and non-Christian churches.
• Adventism has been unwilling to join
with it though a red-carpeted welcome
has been prepared if only Adventists
join with the socio-politically concerned
ecumenical movement.
ECUMENISM

4. • What is the mission of Adventism
why it opts not to join with the
contemporary ecumenical
movement?
• Are there issues that do not
coincide with our mission?
• Has it having some impacts on
the mission of the Adventism?
ECUMENISM

5. PROTESTANT
ECUMENISM

6. • Ecumenism, like Adventism,
is a missionary movement.
• Edinburgh 1910 was
occupied by the emphasis of
mission.
ECUMENISM

7. • was attended and participated by the
Adventist Church.
• Delegates: Ludwig. R. Conradi
(European Division president), W. J.
Fitsgerald (British Union Conference
president), and William A. Spicer ( GC
secretary and Foreign Mission Board
member), which represented an
Adventist membership of about 90,000.
EDINBURGH 1910

8. “Without this refusal it is unlikely that
Seventh-day Adventists would become the
most widespread Protestant denomination
in the world, with more than 17 million
members in than 200 countries, running the
most widespread Protestant educational
and medical systems in the world.” Nicholas P.
Miller, “Adventists and Ecumenism,” Ministry, April 2013,
19.
Nicholas P. Miller, PhD,
JD

9. • It was ecumenism’s landmark as
well as its key as a whole.
• The result of the increasing
consciousness of the necessity for
greater unity among Christians if the
worldwide mission should be
accomplish.
• Advocated much greater unity
among the various strands of
Christian witness.
EDINBURGH 1910

10. • Prophetic toward the union of
churches.
• Reminded churches that they
received the good news and theirs
was the responsibility to share;
emphasized mission, devoted to
peace, and social justice; and
sought unity believing that the
church is basically one.
EDINBURGH 1910

11. • Envisioned a permanent
international organization for
mission.
• The IMC meetings that followed
Edinburgh 1910 (i.e., 1928, 1938,
1947, 1952, and 1961)
considerably contributed to the
field of mission (i.e., social
redemption) rather than
evangelism.
EDINBURGH
1910

12. • devoted to plan for a better
social order and churches’
practical cooperation in the
social domain so that church
leaders should cooperate in
practical ways to minister to
their fellow men.
LIFE AND WORK
MOVEMENT

13. • concerns the theological and
polity issues.
• does not only emphasize
theology but also the social
functions of the church
• not only promoted saintliness but
also Christian citizenship.
Faith and Order
Commission

14. • IMC (concerns for mission), FOC
(concerns about faith and order), and
LWM (concerns about service)
converged in the founding of the WCC.
• LWM’s meeting in 1937 approved the
formal organization of the “ecumenical
council of churches,” which turned to
be the WCC later.
• First WCC’s assembly was held in
Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 1948.
World Council of
Churches

15. • basically a gathering of Christians from
diverse groups, denominations, and
theological persuasions to be reconciled in
the Triune God as far as Protestantism is
concerned.
• Thus, dialogue is important to promote
understanding and cooperation.
• Though diverse in liturgies and practices,
Christians still have many things in common
in which they can work cooperatively.
• Common ground should always be
considered and should start there.
Ecumenism

16. CATHOLIC ECUMENISM

17. • It has been impacting RCC—“Johnny-
come-latelies” in the ecumenical
scene.
• It shifted into a more profound turning
point through John XXIII (1881-1963)
and through Vatican II’s Unitatis
Redintegratio (1964).
• Unitatis emphasizes a shift from
“return” into a “restoration” of unity,
which exhorts all Catholics to
participate in the work.
Ecumenism

18. The decree “indicated that
Catholicism was moving toward
a different way of viewing other
churches and Christian
communities.”—Thomas E.
FitzGerald, The Ecumenical Movement: An
Introductory History (Westport, CT: Greenwood,
2004), 135
Unitatis Redintegratio

19. • Since and after Vatican II, RCC has
been driving the ecumenical wheel.
• With the WCC and RCC’s so much
emphasis of social action in the
ecumenical scene, as my respondents
indicated, the latter advances the
dominance in ecumenism.
• RCC’s strong advocacy for social
issues may serve as a good example
and encouragement for Christian and
non-Christians.

20. • Catholicism does not necessarily
make Protestants be converted to
RCC as it spearheads the ecumenical
movement.
• As long as Protestantism is with
Catholicism in social action, the latter
advances to lead Christendom.
• Today’s ecumenical dictum is
togetherness but not necessary the
same.

21. • Protestantism, Catholicism,
and non-Christian religions
are going into one ecumenical
direction—toward ecumenical
unity.
• Frances I has been taking
advantages of the ecumenical
spirit of these people.

22. THE MISSION OF
ADVENTISM

23. • SDA Church exists to bring a
final and full restoration of the
gospel truth.
• God’s answer to the devastating
satanic deception that strikes
the world prior to the Second
Coming.
Adventist Mission in
Restoration

24. • is characterized by Adventist’s
undivided respect to God’s Word.
• In this post-modern era, Adventists
stick to the Bible as the supreme
standard of faith and practice.
• Its unending biblical principle is “Your
Word is truth” (John 17:17).
Mission of Restoration

25. “All human wisdom must be subject to
the authority of Scripture. The Bible
truths are the norm by which all other
ideas must be tested. Judging the
Word of God by finite human standards
is like trying to measure the stars with a
yardstick.
The Bible in Adventist Mission

26. The Bible must not be subjected to
human norms. It is superior to all human
wisdom and literature. Rather than our
judging the Bible, all will be judged by it,
for it is the standard of character and test
of all experience and thought.” FB, 20.
The Bible in Adventist Mission

27. “In His word, God has committed to men
the knowledge necessary for salvation.
The Holy Scriptures are to be accepted
as an authoritative, infallible revelation of
His will. They are the standard of
character, the revealer of doctrines, and
the test of experience.” Ellen G. White, The
Faith I Live By (1958; repr., Washington, D.C.: Review &
Herald, 1973), 13.
The Bible in Adventist Mission

28. ISSUES WITH
ECUMENICAL
MOVEMENT

29. • Commendable things are taking place in
the ecumenical movement.
• Its advocacy on poverty, climate change,
human rights, peace and justice issues,
and other basically human development
issues are all praiseworthy and
admirable.
• There are gray areas also that Adventism
cannot go along with ecumenical
churches.
ISSUES WITH ECUMENICAL
MOVEMENT

30. #1: Scripture

31. #1: Scripture
• Contemporary ecumenism over-emphasizes
on loving others (social) and de-emphasized
on loving God (spiritual).
• It prioritizes the social dimensions while putting
down scriptural dimensions as secondary
matters.
• In the Bible, the pattern is always vertical-to-
horizontal directions—i.e., from God (spiritual)
to humanity (social).
• Social action is only the natural product of a
correct scriptural ground.

32. • Following the OT pattern, Jesus’ model of
service is always from spiritual to social.
• He teaches spiritual truths before meeting
the immediate need of the people (Luke 9:10;
13:10; 17:11-13).
• His concern is spiritual nourishment before
giving the physical food.
• His direction is always vertically doctrinal to
horizontally social.
• The baseline is Scripture and the result is
social action.
#1: Scripture

33. • John 17 is not concerning institutional
or organizational unity.
• It was a prayer about unity in the
“word” (vv. 6, 8, 14).
• His prayer was “Sanctify them by the
truth; your word is truth” (v. 17).
• True unity is rooted in the words of
Scriptures.
#1: Scripture

34. #2: Doctrines

35. #2: Doctrines
• Contemporary ecumenism talks more on
social reforms.
• Doctrinal differences do not give hindrance
to common engagement.
• Doctrinal issues appear to be secondary
matters.
• Doctrines are not the standard in every
ecumenical dialogue.
• The baseline is always the pressing need
of the moment—always the practical
solution of the existing social need.

36. • The unity sought by the ecumenical
movement supersedes doctrinal
disagreements.
• Doctrinal barriers must be set aside
especially when social issues are being
addressed—a seemingly wonderful way
of sharing Christ’s love across all kinds
of boundaries.
• Churches do not address doctrinal
differences but seek to create unity
between believers, foster good will, and
#2: Doctrines

37. • The Bible teaches about
doctrine.
• Paul urges Timothy to “stay there in
Ephesus so that you may command
certain men not to teach false
doctrines any longer” (1 Tim 1:3, NIV).
• Paul commanded him to “watch your
life and doctrine closely. Persevere in
them, because if you do, you will save
both yourself and your hearers” (1 Tim
#2: Doctrines

38. • “He must hold firmly to the trustworthy
message as it has been taught, so that
he can encourage others by sound
doctrine and refute those who oppose
it” (Titus 1:9, NIV).
• “You must teach what is in accord with
sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1, NIV).
• It is very impossible to be
biblically and doctrinally
#2: Doctrines

39. “Any deviation from
sound doctrine is not the
Gospel at all it’s a false
gospel.”
Jason Hines, “What Is the Gospel?” in
Spectrum, June 24, 2014, para. 1.
#2: Doctrines

40. #3: Society

41. #3: Society
• Present-day ecumenists are
working together on common
social issues.
• “Joint action brings people closer
together, and sets up the
relationship that enables
theological dialogue and
discussion.”—Justin Welby,
Archbishop of Canterburry.

42. • Ecumenists agree that Christian
leaders today are accommodating
the shifting landscape.
• It is about time the come together
irrespective of doctrinal differences
and “make a common cause to bring
Christian values to bear in our
society.” Davis Duggins, “Evangelicals and
Catholics: Across the Divide: How Can We Relate to
One Another in This Secular Age,” Moody Monthly,
November 1993, 12.
#3: Society

43. “When the barbarians are scaling the
walls, there is no time for pretty
quarrelling in the camp” because
Christians “have much to forgive, much
to relearn” and the RCC can “help us to
do both so we can band together
against the rising tides of secularism
which threaten to engulf us.” David Cloud,
“Chuck Colson’s Catholic Connections,” para. 4,
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com
/Wolves/chuck_colson.htm (accessed November 12,
2017).
#3: Society

44. • There is a paradigm shift to churches’
challenges in the 21st century.
• Today’s conflict is about how to
counter-attack secularism and
materialism that are attacking the
sanctity of the human person.
• Today, RCC does not anymore attack
the teachings of other churches as
long as they promote the sanctity of
man’s life.
#3: Society

45. • That ecumenical mindset is refuted by the
biblical command to contend for the faith.
• “Dear friends, although I was very eager to
write to you about the salvation we share, I
felt I had to write and urge you to contend for
the faith that was once for all entrusted to the
saints” (Jude 3, NIV).
• It is very unimaginable to be contending for
the Adventist faith and be ecumenical at the
same time.
• Contending for our faith ruins the jumbo
doctrinal collection of ecumenical churches.
#3: Society

46. #4: Gospel

47. #4: Gospel
“The church is God’s appointed
agency for the salvation of
men. It was organized for
service, and its mission is to
carry the gospel to the world.”
Ellen G. White, Acts of the Apostles
(Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press,
1911), 9.

48. The gospel is “the great
missionary charter of
Christ’s kingdom.” Ibid.,
28.
#4: Gospel

49. His “disciples were to work
earnestly for souls, giving to all
the invitation of mercy. They
were not to wait for the people
to come to them; they were to
go to the people with their
message.” Ibid.
#4: Gospel

50. • That gospel comprises the three angels’
message in Rev 14:6-12.
• It is universal and winning for souls—about
the individual’s response of the people to
God’s invitation of mercy.
• It is not about social salvation as has been
advocated by ecumenical churches.
• Salvation is always corporate (and not
individual)—emphasizing curses and
blessings intended to a people with or without
a relationship with their God.
#4: Gospel

51. • Modern ecumenism: Gospel is always
associated with society.
• Gospel is about saving the society (social
salvation).
• This was emphasized by a group of liberal
Protestant progressives (social gospellers)
who responded to the problems in society
by the rapid industrialization, urbanization,
and sky-rocketing immigration of the
Golden Age.
#4: Gospel

52. • Salvation is always an individual
decision.
• “Whosoever” in John 3:16 always
emphasizes individual choice.
• God “is patient . . . not wanting anyone
to perish, but everyone to come to
repentance” (1 Pet 3:9, NIV).
• Salvation is always spiritual for it is the
work of the Holy Spirit (1 Pet 1:12).
#4: Gospel

53. Ecumenism’s
Impacts on
Adventist Mission

54. • Undesirable but ecumenism
impacts Adventist mission in the
positive way.
• It is the place where Adventists
should work for ministers of other
churches that they may be
saved—praying for and with
them—with great cautions. See
Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church,
9 vols. (Mountain View: CA: Pacific Press,
Impacts on Adventist
Mission

55. #1: We Explore

56. #1: We Explore
• Adventism has been attending
ecumenical gatherings and enjoying a
non-membership status in the
ecumenical movement’s major meetings
and assemblies in spite of wild
speculations that it is a secret member
of the ecumenical movement.
• WCC keeps on reminding speculators
that the “Seventh-day Adventist Church
is not a member of the World Council of
Churches.”

57. • The reason of this is that
Adventists should explore what
ecumenism is—what are
ecumenists doing now?
• Gorden Doss: Adventist’s
involvement could “break down
prejudice and create openness to
Adventism that can only benefit
the mission of our church.”
#1: We Explore

58. Observe, explore, and learn
of the challenges of doing
mission in different context
and to how to effectively
approach them.
#1: We Explore

59. Adventists’ “attendance is not a
secret and articles are
published in the Adventist
Review which gives a report of
these meetings.” John Graz, “Is the
General Conference Involved in
Ecumenism?” 2.
#1: We Explore

60. “The wisest, firmest labor should be given
to those ministers who are not of our faith.
There are many who know no better than
to be misled by ministers of other
churches. Let faithful, God-fearing,
earnest workers, their life hid with Christ
in God, pray and work for honest
ministers who have been educated to
misinterpret the Word of Life.”—Ellen G.
White, Evangelism (Washington, DC: Review &
Herald, 1970), 562.
#1: We Explore

61. #2: We Preach

62. #2: We Preach
• In ecumenical gatherings, you will be
amazed by the converging of justifications
on their nature of mission.
• The previous century was characterized
by so many conflicts on the relationship of
social action and evangelism in mission,
which people taking extreme opposing
positions.
• Now, liberal Protestants, including others,
are already going into one direction—the
more socially-inclined ecumenism.

63. • By attending ecumenical meetings, we
preach to them Jesus and we express
to them our conviction that Jesus is
our model in doing mission—that
Jesus speaks human needs and then
calls for conversion.
• We are always satisfied that our
holistic view of mission is now the
view of these one-sided-missionary
churches.
#2: We Preach

64. #3: We Practice

65. #3: We Practice
• Before: Ecumenism was on the conversion of
non-Christians to Christianity.
• Today’s ecumenism is to break down every wall
of caste, race, color, class, tribe, and nations.
• The whole gospel is not only proclamation of
Christ but working for justice and peace,
including political action.
• It does not only reconcile individuals with God
but structures them in their work, including the
social and political domains.
• Its evangelistic proclamation denounced
injustices in order to make proclamation both
credible and trustworthy.

66. • Social action is not doing mission— it
is its consequence, a bridge to, and it
accompanies mission (or evangelism).
• Though it is not bad to associate with
ministers and leaders of other faiths,
encounters with them should be done
with great cautions.
• Association but not contamination is
the best ethical dictum for such
encounters.
#3: We Practice

67. Conclusion

68. Conclusion
• Adventists believe that the
everlasting gospel is to call God’s
people out of the ecumenically-
concerned churches in the end-
time, to restore His true worship
on earth, and to prepare them of
Jesus’ return.

69. • How can Adventists best
succeed in fulfilling the
prophetic mandate?
Conclusion

70. Adventism can best accomplish
her divine mandate by the grace of
God— by keeping her own
identify, by being inspired of her
own motivation, by embracing her
own feeling of urgency, and by
preserving her own working
methods.
Conclusion