Dale Ratzlaff was a conservative, fourth generation Seventh-day Adventist (SDA). He received all his formal education in SDA schools, graduated from the Seventh-day Adventist seminary, pastored two Seventh-day Adventist churches, and taught Bible in a Seventh-day Adventist school for seven years. In the 1980s, while nearing the end of his doctoral program at Andrews University, he became convinced that the SDA doctrine of the investigative judgment and cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary could not be supported by Scripture, was contrary to clear biblical teaching and undermined the new covenant gospel of grace. His conference president told him he either had to promise to teach all of the Fundamental Beliefs of the SDA church or resign. Because he could not do this in clear conscience, Pastor Ratzlaff with his wife Carolyn, who was a denominationally employed Bible worker, left the SDA church. Since that time Pastor Ratzlaff has written four books dealing with Adventist issues.
In 2000 Dale and Carolyn Ratzlaff, working with Richard and Colleen Tinker, started Life Assurance Ministries, Inc., a non-profit corporation that publishes the bi-monthly journal, Proclamation!, which at this writing is sent free of charge to approximately 35,000 homes. This has been a faith ministry from its inception.
Truth Led Me Out
eBook
-
BN ID:
2940014977944
- Publisher: LAM Publications, LLC
- Publication date: 04/02/2012
- Sold by: Barnes & Noble
- Format: eBook
- Pages: 116
- File size: 2 MB
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Many people have asked me why a fourth-generation Seventh-day Adventist pastor would leave the Adventist denomination. For Adventists who see themselves as the “true remnant church of Bible prophecy”, the only answer that fits their theological paradigm is apostasy. This is why I am continually being accused of leaving because I wanted to live in open sin. When I respond that I left because of thorough Bible study and a desire to be true to my conscience, I am often met with a blank, questioning stare. For many this is simply incomprehensible. How can one leave “the truth” and not go into error? I have written this book for three main reasons.
First, Truth Led Me Out, is my life story—well, at least a good part of it. I know that after I am no longer here the Adventist church will—if it follows its historical pattern—try to rewrite my history. For this reason, I have included the events, discoveries, conversations, names and places that played a factor in my decision. By listing the actual names of people with whom I interacted in this journey, it is not my intent to assign blame or imply evil motive. Many acted out of their own understanding of truth or assigned administrative responsibility. Rather, I list these facts for the sake of history.
Second, because I have authored several other books and have written dozens of articles on Adventist issues, many people have asked me about the details of my exodus. Rather than answer the hundreds of emails and letters in a very cursory way, I felt writing out my experience would give these inquiries a more complete picture, and also save me a lot of time.
Third, there may be some who read this book in order to discover truth or discern error. Perhaps it will motivate them to do their own diligent study and to draw their own conclusions about Adventism and the simple, new covenant gospel of God’s grace in Christ. It is my settled conviction that truth needs no other foundation than honest investiga-tion under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and a willingness to follow truth when it is revealed. It is my prayer that the reader will be led to a closer relationship with the living Christ and be guided by the Holy Spirit in his/her own diligent Bible study in search for truth.
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