SDA Issues - The Record Keeper Controversy

From AdVindicate......
"Many think "The Record Keeper" is great witnessing tool, a conversation starter and a means to get unbelievers interested in our message. This is an understandable position,....but I am not intending to criticize the production itself as much as I am trying to explain why the principle behind it is misguided. These are my concerns.

1. Imaginative retelling

The whole premise behind the great controversy story is outlined in scripture. Sure, it is fun and exciting to recreate the events we know are true, but the basis of creating such a project should be from inspiration. Films are too often loaded with artistic license from the story-teller to add to the dramatic effect and can become distracting in the least, and at worst, totally misconstruing facts. If it is truth we are dealing with here, it is probably better to err on the side of caution as even the slightest doctrinal error can lead to drastic theological disasters.
This is why the scriptures teach the principle of keeping leaven from the bread. This was a spiritual metaphor to show us that the leavening of worldly human interpolation can damage the propagation of spiritual truth.

2. Disregard for inspired counsel

One of our Fundamental Beliefs includes our belief in the gift of prophecy, which we believe was expressed in the ministry of Ellen White. While certainly not a given for everyone who calls themselves an Adventist, one would certainly be outside the confines of reality to deny that her prophetic gift has not influenced the church in a large way. Believe in her or not, White is an integral part of the church. I believe she was inspired by God, and I know many who support this project do as well, since, after all, she wrote the book which inspired the series. But if we were to believe she was inspired when she penned The Great Controversy why on earth would it be logical to think she was not inspired when she wrote:

I have a message for those in charge of our work. Do not encourage the men who are to engage in this work to think that they must proclaim the solemn, sacred message in a theatrical style. Not one jot or tittle of anything theatrical is to be brought into our work. God’s cause is to have a sacred, heavenly mold. Let everything connected with the giving of the message for this time bear the divine impress. Let nothing of a theatrical nature be permitted, for this would spoil the sacredness of the work.  I am instructed that we shall meet with all kinds of experiences and that men will try to bring strange performances into the work of God. We have met such things in many places. In my very first labors, the message was given that all theatrical performances in connection with the preaching of present truth were to be discouraged and forbidden. Men who thought they had a wonderful work to do sought to adopt a strange deportment and manifested oddities in bodily exercise. The light given me was, ‘Give this no sanction.’ These performances, which savored of the theatrical, were to have no place in the proclamation of the solemn messages entrusted to us.  The enemy will watch closely, and will take every advantage of circumstances to degrade the truth by the introduction of undignified demonstrations. None of these demonstrations are to be encouraged. The precious truths given us are to be spoken in all solemnity and with sacred awe. 19MR 125

Perhaps she was caught up in her own time, as some would suggest. But the message of this passage bears no chronological or cultural limitation; it is a principle that holds true even today.

3. The effects

I was bothered by the classification of the project as a Sci-Fi series. Perhaps “The Record Keeper” may attract a following similar to Star Wars or the Trekkies of Gene Rodenberry’s Sci-Fi series. Maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but let’s say that it did. Would it really bring people into the knowledge of the truth? How can a science fiction visual leave an impression on the mind of the viewer some spiritual truth?

4. Effective use of God’s money

 We could debate all day regarding the virtues of having spent the money a different way but the fact remains that this project should have been brought to a larger committee of church representatives from all persuasions and perspectives before it was initiated. The balancing effect would result in the best way of funneling our funds where it would make the most impact on evangelism. 
We could add to this list, but the bottom-line is, for Adventism to make an impact on the world, it should not be like the world." AdVindicate
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,
2 Corinthians 6:17