"I was invited to join a small group to study the Adventist book, just out
this year, entitled Spiritual Body Building. I had heard the president of the
Florida Conference speak on this theme in one of his talks on 3ABN. The concept
sounded familiar until I realized it was based on the same theories and ideas
found in Ignatius Loyola's Spiritual Exercises.
"The book continually drags God down to our level and devalues the sacred
meaning of His holy Word. Nothing is sacred, nothing left unscathed. Love rather
than holiness Is said to be God's fundamental attribute. Many quotes are from
secular and non-Adventist sources, including Christianity Today, Institute for
Motivational Living, and Rick Warren (Purpose Driven Life), David W. Johnson and
Frank B Johnson (Joining Together), and Charles Colson.
"We are going to Babylon for our personal and group Bible study, and most
don't even notice it. Unity in truth is the only true unity of God. This book
has no sound doctrine, although there are Spirit of Prophecy quotes sprinkled
throughout to keep people deceived and asleep.
"The author Is Kim Johnson, an SDA pastor and one who has a personal 'vision
for the remnant church. This book is full of false truth and wordy visions to
help us be Christians.
"Silly questions are proposed and worked into doctrine for us to follow, such
as: Is it more sacred for a pastor to preach a sermon or for a Christian plumber
to fix a leaky pipe? This particular sermon thought Includes having some of the
congregation participate by
'bringing their tools of the trade up to the communion table at the front of
the church. A special 'dedicatory ceremony' is then performed, and they are
asked to stay for a 'commissioning prayer.' The pastor then prays that all the
power of electricity, etc.. be transformed into a power for good.
"On subsequent Sabbaths, other tools are brought up. For example, barbers and
hairdressers lay their brushes and combs and wigs on the communion table so they
can be dedicated.
"Our people are being seriously side-tracked, so the Three Angels' Messages
will be forgotten and we will become like the other Protestant Churches.
"The glorifying of self, instead of pointing others to the Saviour, is the
way taught-but it is the way of death.
"Small group meetings are encouraged, so we can tell one another our special
needs, our hopes and disappointments. Group psychology is really group pressure
to conform and not think for one's self. A person regresses to a primitive
mental state. The atmosphere is not holy, sacred, solemn, and
soul-searching,-but rather emotional; and a person learns to be controlled and
directed by another mind.
"It is a ploy to convert SDA Christians to Jesuit spirituality, and we should
have nothing to do with it. We must stand on the fact that Jesus is our example
and the Spirit of Prophecy will help us understand the truths in the Bible. But
those who hold to such values are labeled in this book as disruptive church
members who hold extreme views. We have gone so far back to Egypt that we no
longer recognize the truth. If we study the ecumenical movement theology of love
and unity, the love gospel and the spiritualism which it teaches, we will be
training our conscience in Jesuit 'spiritual formation' principles that will
render us in total submission to Satan.
"Do NOT rest your trust in a familiar confidant or spiritual director' or
'soul friend.' Our only eternal soul friend is Jesus Christ! He alone can be
trusted with our minds and hearts. We must look to Jesus, not relationships, to
save us! People will let you down; Jesus never will! He will give you grace and
power to overcome sin! He wants us to be sinless and spotless and ready to meet
Him in the clouds of glory!
"The principles in this book are based on Roman Catholic natural law, which
is the natural inclination of the heart. The cry is, Achieve your full
potential! Contemporize! We can do it ourselves, and God will learn from us!'
But, instead, we must be humble, separate, and peculiar to the world. We must
worship God in spirit and in truth. We must be dedicated to the truth. We are
His witnesses; and as Christ is a faithful Witness, so we must be down here!
"We must be ready for every work that we can do for the Master, instead of
catching up every new and fanciful interpretation of the Scriptures. We must
cling to the messages in the Bible/Spirit of Prophecy, continue deep
soul-searching, and return to primitive godliness! We must be motivated by true
love for God and His truth, and not by 'the love gospel' or by coercion by
guilt.
"We can do this, dear brethren, by reading the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy
more than anything else! We have no time to lose; the enemy is in the camp and
is in great disguise-and we are not detecting it! The foundation is being
undermined by the termites of error and sedition. We must be watchmen and warn
the sleeping saints!"-Florida. December 2004.