Resources For SDAs Only SDA Ecumenism Take Gigantic, Unbelievable Leap
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2003
THE INCREDIBLE
BOOKLET! SDA ECUMENISM TAKE GIGANTIC, UNBELIEVABLE
LEAP
From www.calltorepent.com
The SDA
church is now definitely, without any doubt, in the avant
garde of ecumenicalism. After the 9-11 tragedy, SDA
leaders conceived an unbelievable idea—to print a little booklet that would
teach thousands of "Christian" ministers to help dying people of
all religions get to their heaven. Such heights of ecumenicalism even the most savy of WCC leaders would
never have dreamed of reaching. The General Conference is proving that
Adventists are serious, deadly serious, about ecumenism.
And so the
14-page "Emergency Ministry: Information and Resource for
Clergy" was born. The packet consists, first, of an opening
cover letter by James A Cress (GC Ministerial Association Secretary), on his
General Conference letterhead. The next 12 pages contain nearly 20 prayers,
readings, or incantations, acceptable to one or the other of seven large
world religions. The material is to be used in the last hours before death,
not to bring them to Christ, but to confirm them in their hope that their
pagan god will save them after they expire. The packet concludes with a page
explaining its source as the Seventh-day Adventist Church and offering
additional free copies.
In former
decades, SDA ministers tried to lead a dying person to Christ. Today the
General Conference leaders have exchanged Bible Adventism for universalism
(universal salvation).
Tragically,
this material was approved for distribution by our church headquarters for
widest circulation. Not only was it sent to SDA ministers, but also to
thousands of non-Adventist clergy. Distribution was paid for from the tithe
(the only source of income from the Yearly Budget for the General
Conference.)
Ecumenicalism
denies the first, second, and third Angels’ Messages of Revelation
14:6-12—what the SDA church was raised up to preach. This booklet violates
the first, second, third, and eighth commandments. We call for a quick and
public repentance.
Seventh-day
Adventist church members are partakers of this corporate sin. When
will they stop supporting leaders that are so anti-Adventist, so
anti-Protestant, so anti-Christian.
The Adventist
Review announcement of this Emergency Ministry pamphlet was overlooked by
most Adventists. It can be seen in the June 19, 2003 Adventist Review at
http://www.adventistreview.org/2003-1525/news.html, and reads seemingly so
innocently as follows:
Pocket-sized
Pamphlet Allows Emergency
Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries (ACM) has compiled an effective communication
tool for clergy of any denomination. Simply called Emergency Ministry, the
pocket-sized pamphlet is a collection of services and prayers from distinct
faith groups.
"The
information contained in this resource does not constitute a theological
endorsement of any kind," said Dick Stenbakken,
ACM director. "The aim of this tool is to enable people to minister from
their own religious perspective to people of various faiths." Emergency
Ministry was originally distributed to military chaplains to provide ministry
in extreme emergency cases.
"In many
cases, chaplains find themselves for the first time ministering to those of
different faiths in extreme situations such as death. This booklet can help
lead them through these difficult situations," said Stenbakken.
Copies have been sent to chaplains and troops in the United States military
who are stationed in Iraq.
Adventist
Chaplaincy Ministries endorses and works with the professional chaplains of
the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Currently, the Church has 45 chaplains
serving on active duty with another 50 in the various reserve forces in North
America.
The actual
pamphlet is given below:
EMERGENCY MINISTRY
INFORMATION AND
RESOURCE FOR CLERGY
A Collection of
Services and Prayers
From Distinctive
Faith Groups
INTRODUCTION
This
information is provided as an aid to clergy of various denominations because
they may be called upon to do emergency ministry. It does not constitute a
theological endorsement of any kind. We hope it will enable you to minister
more effectively from your religious perspective to individuals of various
faiths.
[Note: This
non-theological endorsement is like offering a chocolate ice cream cone to
someone, and saying, "Eat this, but this doesn’t mean that we recommend
that you eat it." The whole message of this pamphlet is to lead people
to feel good about error, and think that what they believe is the truth. That
is a terrible dis-service.]
PROTESTANT
EMERGENCY MINISTRATION
1.
The Lord’s Prayer. "Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be
done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And
forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is
the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
Amen."
2. The Apostles’
Creed. "I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and
earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived
by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius
Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to hell. The third
day He rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven, and is seated at the
right hand of God, the Father almighty. From there He will come to judge the
living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness
of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen."
[Note:
"He descended to hell"? "I believe in the holy catholic
church"? Adventists teaching people to lead people to the beast.]
3.
The Twenty-third Psalm. "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall
not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth
me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His
name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod
and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a
table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest
my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell
in the house of the Lord for ever."
In the event
of death, the following prayer may be said: "Depart, brother/sister, out
of this world in the name of the Father who created you, in the name of the
Son who redeemed you, and in the name of the Spirit who made you whole.
Amen."
[Note:
"Depart brother/sister"—this teaches the doctrine of the immortal
soul—the soul is leaving the body.]
Baptism: If a
dying person desires baptism and no clergy is within reach, any baptized
person may administer a baptism, according to the religious background of the
individual (such as pouring water three times on the brow, immersion, etc.)
and by stating: "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
[Note: Here
Adventist leaders are teaching Christian clergy and lay people that
sprinkling is meritorious for baptism, that if the person thinks its OK, it is OK. This tract is written for lay members
as well as for clergy.]
Report the
facts to an appropriate clergy-person as soon as possible.
CATHOLIC
EMERGENCY MINISTRATION
If a dying
person desires ministry, repeat with him/her the following:
1.
The Hail Mary. "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is
with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the
hour of our death. Amen."
[Note: Mary
is dead and resting in the grave. Prayer to her would be to an evil angel.
The worse thing you could do for a person is to ask
an evil angel, disguised as Mary, to pray for a person who is at the point of
death. You would be sealing his soul, and your own, to damnation.]
2.
The Act of Contrition. "O my God, I am heartily sorry for
having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because of Thy just
punishments, but most of all because they offended Thee, my God, who art
all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy
grace, to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen."
3. The Sign of
the Cross. "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen."
[Note:
Picture the Adventist clergy performing the genuflection on the person in
dire need.]
In the even of death the following prayer may be said:
"Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine
upon him/her. May his/her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed
through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen."
[Note: The
dying person is taught that if this prayer is said, then he is safe.]
Baptism: If a
dying person desires baptism, pour water three times on the brow, saying
his/her first name and this: "I baptize you in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
JEWISH
EMERGENCY MINISTRATION
If a dying
person desires ministry, repeat with him/her:
1.
The Shema. "Hear O Israel: the
Lord our God, the Lord is one."
2. The
Confession for the Critically Ill. "Lord my God, God of my fathers, before
Thee I confess that in Thy hand alone rests my healing or my death. If it be
Thy will, grant me a perfect healing. Yet if my death be fully determined by
Thee, I will in love accept it at Thy hand. Then may my death be an atonement for all sins, transgressions, and for all the
wrong which I have committed before Thee. Amen."
[Note: Could
a Christian minister teach that someone’s death could atone for his own
sins?]
3.
The Twenty-third Psalm. "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall
not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth
me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His
name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod
and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a
table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest
my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell
in the house of the Lord for ever."
[Note: Did he
choose the Lord as his Shepherd?]
In the event
of death the following prayer may be said: "Thy sun shall no more go
down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine
everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. Amen."
[Note: How
could any person say this prayer for someone else, and not put himself in the
place of God. This is the spirit of anti-christ.] ISLAMIC EMERGENCY MINISTRATION If a dying person desires religious ministry repeat with him/her the following: 1. The Allah Ekber. "There is not god but Allah, Muhammad is God's apostle." 2. The Al-Fatihad. "In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds; Most Gracious, Most Merciful; Master of the Day of Judgement; Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek. Show us the straight way, the way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy grace, those whose position is not wrath, and who go not astray." 3. The At-Tauhid. In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Say: He is God, the One! God, the eternally besought of all! He begetteth not nor was begoten. And there is none comparable unto Him. 4. The An-Nas. "In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, the King of mankind, the God of mankind, from the evil of th esneaking whisperer, who whispereth in the hearts of mankind, of the jinn, and of mankind."
Following the above passages from the Koran, the person's mouth is to be moistened with water. In the event of death an iman (a Muslim worship leader) must be sumoned to perform the ritual washings and wrappings to prepare the body for burial.
BUDDHIST
EMERGENCY MINISTRATION
If a dying
person desires religious ministrations, anyone may repeat with him the Ti-Sarana:
Buddham saranam gacchami
I take refuge
in the Buddha.
Dhammam saranam gacchami
I take refuge
in the Dhamma.
Sangham saranam gacchami.
I take refuge
in the Sangha.
And now I
betake myself, Lord, to the Blessed One as my refuge, to the Truth, and to
the Order. May the Blessed One accept me as a disciple, as one who, from this
day forth, as long as life endures, has taken refuge in them.
[Note: This
leading someone to a false refuge.]
In the event
of death the following prayer may be said: "Studying the same doctrine,
under one master, You and I are friends. See yonder white mists floating in
the air on the way back to the peaks. This parting may be our last meeting in
this life. Not just in a dream, but in our deep thought, let us met often
hereafter."
[Note: This
is raw spiritualism.]
HINDU
EMERGENCY MINISTRATION
If a dying
person desires religious ministrations, anyone may encourage him/her to
recite "Narayana" (the name of the Lord
Vishnu). If he/she is not able to do so, then anyone may whisper the name of
the Lord in his/her ear. A spoonful of pure water is then placed in his/her
mouth.
The following
passage from the Bhagavad Gita
may be read to comfort the person: (Saith Lord Vishnu) "Arjuna, of this be sure: None
who pays Me worship of loyalty and love is ever lost. For whosoever makes Me
his haven, base-born though he may be, yes, women too, and artisans, even
serfs, theirs is to tread the highest Way. On Me thy mind, for Me thy loving
service, for Me thy sacrifice, and to Me thy prostrations: Let thine own self
be integrated, and then shalt thou come to Me, thy striving bent on Me."
After death,
the body is to be cleansed and dressed, and the mark of Vishnu placed on
his/her forehead. Then the body is to be cremated and three days later the
ashes are to be immersed in a river. It is believed that the soul will rest
with the ancestors of the person’s family at the feet of God in peace.
ORTHODOX
EMERGENCY MINISTRATION
If a dying
person desires religious ministry, repeat with him:
1.
The Trisagion. "Holy God, Holy
Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. Holy God,
Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. Holy
God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: now and ever and
unto ages of ages. Amen. All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us
from our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy God, visit and heal
our infirmities for Thy name’s sake. Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy;
Lord, have mercy. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Spirit: now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen."
2. Psalm 51.
(From Scripture.)
3. The Nicene
Creed. "I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Maker of heaven
and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord, Jesus
Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all
ages. Light of Light; true God of true God, begotten, not made; of one
essence with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for
our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and
the Virgin Mary, and became man. And he was crucified for us under Pontius
Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and the third day He rose again,
according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right
hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living
and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the
Lord, the Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father; who with the Father
and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
In one holy, catholic, and apostolic church, I acknowledge one baptism for
the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life
of the world to come. Amen."
4. The Lord’s
Prayer. "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy
kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is
in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we
forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and
the glory, for ever. Amen."
In the event
of death, the following prayer may be said: "O God of spirits and of all
flesh, who has trampled down death and destroyed the devil, and granted life
to Thy world: Do Thou, O Lord, give rest to the soul of Thy servant. (Name),
who is fallen asleep, in a place of brightness, a place of refreshment, a
place of repose, where all sickness, sorrow, and sighing have fled away.
Pardon every sin which he/she has committed, whether by word, deed, or
thought, for Thou art a good God and lovest
mankind: because there is no person who lives and does not sin. Thou alone
art without sin. Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy
law is truth. For Thou art the resurrection, and the Lord, and the repose of
Thy servant, (Name), who is fallen asleep, O Christ our God, and unto Thee do
we ascribe glory, together with Thy Father, who is from everlasting, and
Thine all-holy, and good and life-creating Spirit: now and ever and unto ages
of ages. Amen."
Baptism: If a
dying person has not been baptized and desires to be,
pour water three times on the brow, saying his or her first name and this:
"I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit. Amen."
GRIEF
MINISTRY
CARING FOR
THE DYING
Dying is a
process of predictable or random dynamics. Denial protests, "No,
it isn’t me!" Anger asks bitterly, "Why me?" Bargaining
post-pones with "Yes, it’s me, but…" Depression in discouragement
concludes, "Yes, it is me." Acceptance finally acknowledges
"Yes, it is me, and I can cope."
Needs of
dying persons include: a supportive environment; meeting spiritual
concerns; knowing life made a difference; finding meaning; feeling needed;
maintaining control as possible; completing developmental tasks; overcoming
loneliness; a "letting go" of life; dying with dignity and hope.
Ministry to
the dying includes: treat the dying with dignity; provide presence to
the end; encourage storytelling; listen with sensitivity; help with death
planning as invited; minister to felt needs; assist with family needs; model
appropriate behavior; employ religious ritual; use
spiritual resources to bring comfort and support.
CARING FOR
THE BEREAVED
Grief is a
process of tasks, including: shock and numbness, with disbelief and
painful acceptance of reality; searching and yearning, and intense longing
for the deceased; disorganization, with great distress as full reality hits
home; reorganization, as later life again seems worth living and hope is
restored.
Ministry to
the bereaved helps create a healing environment as we: listen and encourage
telling of experiences and feelings; use word of faith and comfort; use
religious ritual; care for felt needs; interpret normal grief reactions;
never abandon during hard times; honor memory of deceased; assist with new
activities and relationships later on; help discover meaning and hope; use
prayer and scriptural resources, such as Psalm 23; 27;42;46:1-3; Isaiah
41:10; 61:3; John 14:1-3, 27; Romans 8:31-39; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 2
Corinthians 1:3-5; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Peter 1:6-9; Revelation 21:1-5.
(BACK PAGE)
Printing funded by:
Adventist HealthCare
1801 Research Boulevard, Suite 300
Rockville, MD 20850
301-315-3030
Compiled by:
Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries
Distributed by:
Ministry, International Journal for Pastors
Professional Growth Seminars
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904—6600, USA
301-680-6507; Fax: 301-680-6502
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www.ministerialassociation.com
©2002
All clergy are eligible to receive six free issues of Ministry
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write or contact us at one of the above numbers.
Single copies of this booklet may be obtained by sending a
SASE to Ministry.
If you wish to obtain quantities, please contact Ministry.
[Note: 1—The
Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries compiled this booklet. ACM includes Adventist
chaplains in the armed forces. How can an Adventist minister be part of the
Armed Forces of any country? They have to minister to soldiers of all
faiths. They cannot preach the Three Angel’s Messages. They cannot teach the
soldiers to keep the fourth and sixth commandments. They have to be
ecumenical. It is an abomination.
2—Who printed
this ecumenical booklet? Was it Review and Herald? Ellen White has counsel
for all those in the printing facility:
"In
these matters a responsibility rests not only upon the managers, but upon the
employees. I have a word to say to the workers in every publishing house
established among us: As you love and fear God, refuse to have anything to
do with the knowledge against which God warned Adam. Let typesetters
refuse to set a sentence of such matter. Let proofreaders refuse to read,
pressmen to print, and binders to bind it. If asked to handle such
matter, call for a meeting of the workers in the institution, that there may
be an understanding as to what such things mean. Those in charge of the
institution may urge that you are not responsible, that the managers must
arrange these matters. But you are responsible—responsible for the use
of your eyes, your hands, your mind. These are entrusted
to you by God to be used for Him, not for the service of Satan. Hits: 2100 Comments (1)
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"Jesus sends his people a message of warning to prepare them for his coming. To the prophet John was made known the closing work in the great plan of man's redemption. He beheld an angel flying "in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his Judgment is come; and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." [REV. 14:6, 7.]
The angel represented in prophecy as delivering this message, symbolizes a class of faithful men, who, obedient to the promptings of God's Spirit and the teachings of his word, proclaim this warning to the inhabitants of earth. This message was not to be committed to the religious leaders of the people. They had failed to preserve their connection with God, and had refused the light from Heaven; therefore they were not of the number described by the apostle Paul: "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night nor of darkness." [1 THESS. 5:4, 5.] The Great Controversy 1884 ed, page 199.
"A backsliding church closed their eyes to the signs of the times. God did not forsake them, or suffer his faithfulness to fail; but they departed from him, and separated themselves from his love. As they refused to comply with the conditions, his promises were not fulfilled to them.
Love for Christ and faith in his coming waxed cold. Such is the sure result of neglect to appreciate and improve the light and privileges which God bestows. Unless the church will follow on in his opening providence, accepting every ray of light, performing every duty which may be revealed, religion will inevitably degenerate into the observance of forms, and the spirit of vital godliness will disappear. This truth has been repeatedly illustrated in the history of the church. God requires of his people works of faith and obedience corresponding to the blessings and privileges bestowed. Obedience requires a sacrifice and involves a cross; and this is why so many of the professed followers of Christ refused to receive the light from Heaven, and, like the Jews of old, knew not the time of their visitation. [LUKE 19:44.] Because of their pride and unbelief, the Lord passed them by, and revealed his truth to men in humble life, who had given heed to all the light they had received." The Great Controversy 1884 ed, page 200.
In His love and service,
WLC Team.