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  Richard Rice's anticipatory theory of divine foreknowledge : a critical evaluation

  (Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies, 2001-12) Kasay, Laurent Bisogho

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  The purpose of this disserLation is to describe and evaluate Richard Rice's anticipatory theory of divine foreknowledge. It seeks to answer the question whether this theory is acceptable within the theological framework of the Seventh-day Adventist church to which he belongs. Rice, a proponent of free will theism, rejects the concept of absolute divine foreknowledge because it jeopardizes human freedom, deprives God of interaction with his creatures, and makes Him responsible for evil. To avoid these problems Rice proposes that future events, especially those related to free human decisions and actions, must remain open or indefinite until they occur since they are indefinite, they do not exist and thus cannot be objects of divine foreknowledge. God can only anticipate perfectry from present factors. The evaluation of Rice's theory compares Rice's open view of God with the view of God by other Seventh-day Adventist writers. It reveals that the main difference between them is Rice's brelief in a "limited divine foreknowledgie" to which his concept of perfect divine perfection is tied. This limitatlon is rooted in philosophical presuppositions that confuse epistemological and ontological realms and in an inadequate biblical interpretation. Rice's anticipatory theory of divine foreknowledge relies on philosophy to the detriment of reliance upon scripture. It is highly speculative. Since Rice's concept of perfect anticipation is speculative and not biblically based, the study concludes that it is unacceptable within the Adventist theological framework.

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  A Health ministry approach to church planting in reaching the Minangkabaus in Central Sumatra Mission of Indonesia

  (Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies, 2003-01) Simbolon, Berson Richard

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  The church can evangelize the world in many ways. This project is to develop a strategy that can be implemented by planting churches through the health ministry approach to the Minangkabau people in Central Sumatra Mission of Indonesia. In order to accomplish this purpose, the biblical-theological foundations of the health ministry approach to chruch planting is examined. Based on the examination of the historical/ geographical, economic, cultural, religious dynamics, and the health conditions of the Minangkabau people, a workable chruch planting strategy through a health ministry approach is developed. A health ministry approach to church planting proposed in this project consists of seven steps. These steps are constructed in harmony with the local conditions. In order to make these steps workable, it is recommended that a health ministry committee be formed, and together trained church planters be committed to implementing the program. Generous support from institutions such as Central Sumatra Mission (CSM) and West Indonesia Union Mission (WIUM) are vitally needed. Some recommendations for Central Sumatra Mission and West Indonesia Union Mission are given to make the strategy more effective.

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