Proposal for a new Fundamental Belief

I. Introduction

In the Adventist church the formulation of a fundamental belief is not something that happens in a particular office under the leadership of a group of individuals, but rather something that is the result of a consensus created by the Holy Spirit in the community of believers. In other words, it should be an expression of the thinking of the Spirit through the church grounded in the Scripture. We bring this proposed new Fundamental Belief to you because only the General Conference in Session can make additions or modifications to the Statement of Fundamental Beliefs. We will share with you a brief history of our Fundamental Beliefs, the need for the new statement, the process followed in the preparation of the proposed statement, the content of the new statement, and the statement itself.

II. Brief History of the Fundamental Beliefs

The Fundamental Beliefs play a vital role in the life and mission of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church. They establish our doctrinal identity and help to keep us united. As currently stated, the Fundamental Beliefs date from the 1980 General Conference Session held in Dallas, Texas. However, the statement of Fundamental Beliefs voted on that occasion was not intended to be the last word on the matter. The Fundamental Beliefs are a living document, not a creed.

The preamble to the 1980 Fundamental Beliefs states:

"Seventh-day Adventists accept the Bible as their only creed and hold certain

fundamental beliefs to be the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. These beliefs, as set forth

here, constitute the church's understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture.

Revision of these statements may be expected at a General Conference session when the

church is led by the Holy Spirit to a fuller understanding of Bible truth or finds better

language in which to express the teachings of God's Holy Word."

This view of the living character of the Fundamental Beliefs really stems from the conviction of the pioneers that we are a people of "present truth" (2 Peter 1:12) who seek always to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit into deeper understanding of truth.

The history of development of doctrine in our church shows growth in understanding and formulation. The earliest list of doctrines appeared in the masthead of the Sabbath Review and Advent Herald from August 15-December 19, 1854. Five "leading doctrines" were just five: The Bible alone, the law of God, the Second Coming, the new earth, and immortality alone through Christ.

In 1872 Uriah Smith listed 25 doctrines, while the list published in the 1889 Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook contained 28 articles. In 1894 the Battle Creek Church issued a statement of faith with 31 elements. In 1931 F. M. Wilcox prepared a statement of faith authorized by action of the General Conference Committee. It had 22 articles. This statement remained in place (with slight changes) up until the new formulation in Dallas in 1980. The General Conference Session of 1946 voted that no revision of the Fundamental Beliefs shall be made at any time except by approval of a General Conference Session.

Seventh-day Adventists throughout our history have formulated our doctrines without giving emphasis to a particular number. The number has varied from 5 to 31. In considering the new articles added in 1980, not one represented a new departure in doctrine. Each simply articulated beliefs already held and practiced by Seventh-day Adventists.

The time has come again when the needs of our global mission should cause us to revisit the Fundamental Beliefs. The entire church will benefit from the addition.

III. Need for a New Statement

At the core of this proposal is a genuine concern for the mission of the church. Adventism originated in western culture with deep roots in the Reformation. Bible study and prayer as a way of understanding God's greatness and accessing His power were so fundamental that much has been assumed through a verbal understanding. Since the beginning of the church, mission has been seen as a primary responsibility. Over the past 120 years the Three Angels Message has spread to almost every country in the world and certainly to most major people groups.

Over the past 10 years a wide gospel appeal has been made by national workers in many of the 10/40 window countries. The big view of finishing the work and the conversion of Animists, Buddhists, Communists, Hindus, Muslims and Jews has challenged traditional methods of evangelism. In reaching non-Christian religions we confront two main closely related challenges, namely eastern mystical transcendental meditation, and the power of spiritual beings that often appear as enlightened spiritual guides in New Age movements.

Eastern mystical meditation is a search for contact with spiritual powers in order to enrich the individual. In place of that spiritualistic practice we offer them contact with God through prayer, Bible study, service, and meditation on the Word of God and His providential leadings. At various times since 1980 some members have expressed surprise that the Fundamental Beliefs contain no reference to prayer, devotional life, and service. This deficiency has been pointed out by church members from different parts of the world and not only from those working in the 10/40 window.

More than 70% of the world's population lives in fear of evil powers. Often, the first question asked front-line workers is, "How does your religion deal with the evil spirits in my life?" More than 70% of the world's population regards evil powers as the answer of choice when considering the metaphysical and epistemological question.

While prayer, Bible study, service, meditation and God's great power over evil are not new truths, a large growing church amid people traditionally controlled by evil powers is a growing reality for which we have long prayed. What brings us to this agenda? Mission--that every person might come to know Jesus and claim His victory over evil powers.

We certainly need a new article on Christian growth that meets the challenges discussed above. But, do the Fundamental Beliefs as currently formulated already address this need, so that we do not need a new article?

IV. Content of the Proposed New Fundamental Belief

The proposed new fundamental belief has two main purposes. First it explicitly addresses Christian growth in order to exclude spiritualism and eastern mysticism as spiritual exercises that are incompatible with the Christian gospel. Second, it proclaims freedom through Christ from the fear of demonic powers in order to demonstrate that seeking help from them is incompatible with our growth in Jesus.

The present statement of Fundamental Beliefs does not explicitly address those doctrinal concerns. Some of the basic theological elements presupposed in the proposed new statement are briefly touched in some of the doctrinal statements, thus providing a link between this one and the rest of the body of beliefs. However, none of the statements can be edited to include the concerns of the proposed new one without distracting from their primary purpose and making them excessively large and cumbersome. Our Fundamental Beliefs are usually short, dealing with a particular issue in a very concise form, summarizing a significant biblical teaching in a clear way. We should preserve that format.

We need a new statement that will put the emphasis on a daily walk with the Lord characterized by freedom from the fear of evil powers and on a devotional life characterized by prayer, Bible study, meditation on God's Word and His providence in our lives, and participation in the gospel commission. This new statement will sharpen the Adventist understanding of the nature of a constant growth in Christ. This is indispensable at a time when some church members are more interested in theological discussion than in the spiritual impact of those doctrines in their daily lives. The new statement will raise to a new level of importance the issue of victory over evil powers at a time when spiritualism is rapidly engulfing the world.

V. Process (See Appendix)

Motivated by a concern for mission, the office of the President of the GC initiated in 2003 a process that attempted to supply the needs indicated above. Initially the intention was to determine whether adding some sentences to the present Fundamental Beliefs would be enough or whether a new article was necessary. At that point an ad hoc committee was appointed to examine both options. After careful analysis the committee concluded that it would be better to add a new article. The role of the committee was to formulate an initial draft for discussion, and to facilitate the dialogue throughout the world church.

The first draft accompanied by its rationale was discussed in the President's Council, which include all the Division's Presidents, and later on at ADCOM. The project was fully endorsed. All the suggestions given were carefully analyzed by the committee and appropriate changes and additions were made to the original draft. This draft was presented to the GC Leadership Council, and to a group of theologians and church leaders who met at the Headquarters of the Church.

During the Spring Council of 2004 the new proposed Fundamental Belief was discussed and approved for circulation throughout the world church for input and reactions. The letters, e-mails and telephone conversations received revealed overwhelming support for the proposed new Fundamental Belief. These communications came from church leaders, pastors, church members, and theologians from the world field, and were usually accompanied by comments and suggestions for changes to the draft. The Committee carefully studied them and submitted a report to the Annual Council 2004. All of the suggestions for changes to the published draft of the new proposed Fundamental Belief were evaluated using the following criteria:

1. Accept suggestions that deepened the statement without enlarging it too much or distracting from its primary purpose.

2. Accept important ideas not present in the statement that should be there.

3. Accept good suggestions to shorten the statement.

4. Reject elaboration of ideas already present in the document.

5. Screen out suggestions that were primarily promoting personal agendas and not the interest of the world church.

The Annual Council of 2004 voted to include the proposed new Fundamental Belief in the agenda for the GC Session. Since then, new suggestions for change were received and the ad hoc committee concluded that some further modifications were necessary. The suggested changes were taken to the GC Executive Committee on June 28, 2005 for discussion and approval. It is that final draft that is being brought to you for discussion.

VI. Comments on the Statement

The proposed statement combines two inseparable facts of the Christian experience, namely freedom from demonic powers through the death of Jesus, followed by empowerment through the Holy Spirit to grow in Christ. The reality of the first naturally leads into the other.

The phrase "evil forces" designates any of the particular expressions of spiritualism through occultism, spiritism, animism, and the spiritualism of the New Age. Our victory over those forces is grounded on Jesus victory over them. Throughout His ministry Christ was constantly confronting and subjugating evil spirits, but it was at the cross that He defeated them once and for all. Although they are still active in the world in which we live, through Christ we can be victorious over them. Freed from their enslaving power, the Holy Spirit now fills that spiritual vacuum and enables us to overcome them whenever they attempt to regain control over us. The indwelling of the Spirit excludes the need for the role of the internal voice of spiritual guides in human experience, as taught for instance in the New Age movement.

The second part of the statement emphasizes the fact that freedom from leads to freedom to. Believers are freed from the control of evil powers in order to grow in Christ. Instead of submission to demons and mystical meditation, the Bible offers prayer, Bible study, and a meditation whose content is the Scripture and God's providential leadings in our lives. Praising God through singing, worship, and involvement in the mission of the church is considered indispensable in Christian growth.

The Christian life is dynamic and does not require a constant withdrawal from the world and our daily activities. This is emphasized in the last sentence of the statement. Our spiritual growth in sanctity takes place not only in our collective and private devotions to God, but also in the working place, the school, the street, the shopping centers, etc., as we take Christ with us everywhere we go. Our awareness of the fact that God is always with us contributes to and makes possible the sanctification of all we do according to His will.

Appendix: Chronology of the Development

of the New Statement of Fundamental Belief

1. July, 2003: Elder Jan Paulsen appointed a Committee of three (Angel Manuel Rodriguez, William G. Johnsson, and Michael Ryan) to deal with issues related to the possible need of a new Fundamental Belief.

The Committee was informed about discussions in PREXAD related to proposals and suggestions coming from different sources. These sources were requesting that a study be made exploring the possibility of adding to the Fundamental Beliefs elements addressing the nature of the spiritual life and freedom from spiritual powers. These are not directly or explicitly addressed in the present Statement of Fundamental Beliefs. Some of the suggestions came from the Global Mission Issues Committee.

The Committee was to explore the possibility of adding new materials to the existing Statements or drawing up a new Fundamental Belief. The same month the Committee met and studied the two options. It concluded that it would be advisable to prepare a new Fundamental Belief, instead of adding to what was already available.

2. September, 2003: The Committee began to develop a rationale for the formulation of a new Fundamental Belief. A preliminary draft was prepared and carefully evaluated. It was rewritten several times.

3. January 9, 2004: The Committee's draft, accompanied by the rationale, was submitted to the President's Council for discussion. This Council includes all the Division Presidents. The project was endorsed by them and significant suggestions were made for changes in the draft of the new Fundamental Belief.

4. March 2004: The new revised draft was presented to ADCOM. The project was approved for discussion during the Spring Council. During March the draft was submitted for further discussion to the GCLC. The suggestions for improvement on the statement were studied by the Committee and changes were introduced in the document.

5. April 5, 2004: A group of Adventist theologians (mainly from the NAD), together with the Division Presidents and other administrators, met at the General Conference in Silver Spring to discuss the revised draft and its rationale. Changes were suggested and incorporated into the document. The draft was also discussed by other theologians in different parts of the world and by members of BRICOM.

That new revision was submitted to the Spring Council, April 2004. Suggestions for changes were discussed and added. It was also decided to submit the revised statement with its rationale to the world church for input. It was to be made available through the Adventist Review, Ministry, and the Internet. A revised draft was to be submitted to the Annual Council for final discussion before presenting it to the 2005 GC Session.

6. September, 2004: Many communications were received from the world church concerning the proposed new Fundamental Belief. The comments were sent by church leaders, pastors, church members, and theologians from the world field. The Committee studied the comments and submitted a report to the Annual Council. The letters, e-mails and telephone conversations revealed overwhelming support for the proposed new Fundamental Belief. Many suggestions were made for modifications and the Committee evaluated them very carefully. The revised draft was discussed during the Annual Council and it was voted to include it in the agenda for the GC Session 2005.

7. May, 2005: Since then some other suggestions for changes to the proposed new Fundamental Belief were received from the world field. After discussing them the Committee felt that some of them were valid and the draft was modified.

8. June 28, 2005: The revised draft was submitted to the GC Executive Committee for final approval before it was taken to the GC Session.

June, 2005

Document accompanying the Growing in Christ fundamental belief. 58