Hi Tanya, please reference EVERYTHING you post , whether it be scripture or SOP. I believe you’re referring to the following text?

“Although we do not know the exact day of Christ’s birth, we would honor the sacred event. May the Lord forbid that any one should be so narrow-minded as to over-look the event because there is an uncertainty in regard to the exact time. Let us do what we can to fasten the minds of the children upon those things which are precious to every one who loves Jesus. Let us teach them how Jesus came into the world to bring hope, comfort, peace, and happiness to all. The angels explained the reason of their great joy, saying, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Then, children and youth, as you celebrate the coming Christmas, will you not count up the many things for which you are to be grateful, and will you not present a gratitude offering to Christ, and so reveal that you do appreciate the heavenly Gift?” RH December 17, 1889, par. 7

Praise the Lord! I agree Elder! We need to follow Christ’s example. He established relationship with people and shared truth based on the circumstances. Christ did not tell the disciples some things because it was not the right time for them. Read the gospels and you will see that. Let’s show people Jesus Christ and from that vantage point we can present other truths. Let’s not slander ministry that is reaching people!

I invite you to view the one minute promotional video produced by the Southwest Region Conference of SDA which brother Andy Roman included in the article. Much can be learned by seeing what the SDA leadership highlighted in that short clip.

What is the first thing to assault your senses? It’s a mesmerizing hip-hop beat, which is nothing short of a modernized version of voo-doo rhythms used put participants in their demonic services in a state of mind where demon possession may occur. What’s the second, or rather, concurrent thing that they present in their own promotional video? A christmas tree being decked with all the trimmings by a loving family. Is there anything in these first fifteen seconds that announces the conference’s intent to share a significant and meaningful message at this event? Was there even anything in the opening scenes to reveal that this is an SDA event with an SDA message? Nothing. Only the same thing that every worlding does upon the celebration of this un-holi-day. The mother assisting her child to trim the tree wears earrings – granted, for many in the SDA church today, this is nothing, but for those who have looked into where this movement came from, it isn’t insignificant that our conference now advertises the wearing of jewelry in it’s christmas program commercial. Where are we informed that our heavenly Father takes delight in watching his children cut a tree from the forest, then fastened it down in their living room and deck it with silver and gold (literally, these are the colors that are shown in the opening scenes of the video)?

Jeremiah 10:1-4  Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:  (2)  Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.  (3)  For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.  (4)  They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

Regardless of whether Jeremiah was speaking of a christmas tree or not, we, as an SDA culture, have indisputably learned the ways of the heathen and now proudly advertise it.

As the hip-hop beat continues to drop in the promotional video, we are taken to the proud announcement of the musical guests which will appear in this program. The two head-liners are both gospel singers. Neither are Adventist. Both are evangelicals. The Southwestern University orchestra and singers are also identified as participating in the program. I believe that makes it an ecumenical event by definition. Clearly, this is not what we were instructed to do. At approximately minute marker 0:40, you will see song leaders dancing to their musical selection. I believe that this is closer to mimicking the bedlam of noise that sister White forewarned would invade the churches just prior to the end, and not anything of virtuous intent.

I’m sorry Elder Cox, but I must disagree with your assessment of the situation regarding this program – regardless of whether or not it was aired. What you have recounted of your experience sound like evangelism to me. That’s not what we’re seeing here. The church is advertising loud and clear that it has already fully aligned itself with the mainstream methods, customs and topics of discussion, in this particular case relating to christmas – these traditions are not God’s, they are men’s traditions and therefore can correctly be attributed to Satan. I can’t help but think of Elijah on mount Carmel. He actually set up a program where the worshipers of Baal, or Satan, were invited. Did he participate with them by joining in a celebratory song with the School of the Prophets Barbershop quartet while the prophets of Baal danced around their alter? Of course not. Elijah did not participate in an ecumenical meeting because he only spoke on behalf of God and had no part or intermingling with the traditions of the pagans or their worship style. He never intimated that his intent was to participate with them, but rather from the very start he clearly stood apart from them.

I believe the time has come once again for Elijah to take a stand against this idolatry in the Israel of today. Who do you think should be on his invitation list from the prophets of Baal?

We can enjoy the day in the same way that we enjoy February the 5th, or the third Wednesday of every other month. What would be Scripturally incorrect would be to partake of the customs of the world practiced upon the day.

I tried to find the quote doing keyword searches on the EGW website and couldn’t. Can you provide a reference?

Tanya could you please reference this quote from Sis. White. I can’t find it. thanks

It’s like the communion without the catholic Eucharist beliefs!