Community Strong

by Daniel da Silva, August 16, 2015: A month ago, the city of Chattanooga was in deep shock and commotion over what happened the morning of July 16. A man opened fire on a military recruitment office before driving a few miles away and killing four Marines and a Navy sailor at a military training facility.
The Chattanooga area came together as a community to mourn the loss of those five men. Vigils were organized. Prayer meetings were held at area churches. Volunteers worked together to support the victims. Fundraisers were organized. Businesses, local institutions and churches united to help the city cope with this tragedy. People were hanging flags and signs across the city with the slogan, “Chattanooga Strong.” News media carried stories of local people who were trying to help others at this difficult time.
At the funeral services, the whole community was involved with the procession. Local pastors, law enforcement officers and the Boys Scout of America lined the roads to the cemetery to show support for the families.
I live in Collegedale, a suburb of Chattanooga which is considered by some people to be “an Adventist ghetto.” I observed that we were not involved in showing support for our local community during this tragic time. I did not see our Pathfinder Club out waving flags, or our churches opened to host community prayer meetings, or any of our local institutions with a tent pitched near the memorial sites distributing water or something that the community needed in that moment. My take is that we as a faith group failed when it came to being involved with our local communities both here in Chattanooga and across the United States.
This was a perfect opportunity for us to show compassion and help others during a difficult time. We needed to have a tent with volunteers providing water and snacks for the media, law enforcement officials and members of the general public who were at the site of the shootings. This was not a time to hand out pamphlets with the beasts of Revelation or doctrinal concepts; it was a time to love people and show sympathy for their needs.
When Jesus was on earth, His first concern in pursuing His mission was to mingle with people and meet their needs, leaving it until later to gain their respect and share spiritual ideas. We Adventists need to be less self-centered and more focused on our neighbors. Unfortunately, the way I see it, our church has a big lack in being a part of our local communities.
It’s time to change this and make a real difference, if we want to live what the Lord says. We need to be more involved with our local community and be aware of their basic needs and give them something special that expresses God’s love.
Jesus says in Mathew 5:13 that we are to be “the salt of the earth.” In order for us to make a difference in this world we need to mingle with our neighbors outside of the walls of our churches. We need to start showing the love of the Father in our lives and doing something concrete for our neighbors. We may not necessarily agree with what has happened or how things were handled, but to be present and stand with our neighbors in a time of need is the greatest testimony to our belief in Christ.
Daniel da Silva is a senior theology student at Southern Adventist University. He already has a BA in international relations. Born in Brazil from a Portuguese Sephardic Jewish background, he is now a resident of Washington State in the northwest U.S. He has a passion for evangelism, reaching out to local communities across America, and humanitarian causes. In his spare time, he loves Legos and camping. He is married to Wendy K. da Silva.
“Unfortunately, the way I see it, our church has a big lack in being a part of our local communities.”
The Sabbath has always tended to keep us separate. More so in the past, than now. Face it; a Sabbath Keeper is a social cripple. It keeps us from fully participating in sporting events, social events, service work; You name it. Its why we operate the largest protestant parochial school system in the United States (probably in the world). To provide an environment where students can feel like they belong. A place to help them resist the temptations of the world.
The Jews have dealt with the same issues for thousands of years.
The solution is for Adventists individually and collectively to do the best they can as one-legge3d runners in a race. It is our inclination and habit to sit the race out. We don’t really fit in. Instead we have to serve our fellow man where we find him. There is no better place to serve him than where he too is serving.
Blaming it on Sabbath keeping is a crutch because there are a host of ways we can be involved in our communities even on the Sabbath. Read Isaiah, chapter 58. Verse 13 isn’t some disconnected thought thrown-in at the last part, it ties the whole chapter together because it is talking about what good we should be doing on the Sabbath.
No, we’ve adopted an attitude of separation from the community and avoiding whatever helps us be seen as separate while hoping people will notice and be drawn to our teachings when they ask why. But the reality is that by being separate we’re just making sure we go unnoticed and make certain we are unimportant. We need to each answer the question “Have I had such an impact on my community for God that if I died today they would mourn with my family and want to pick-up and continue what I was doing?” If we’re not involved in our communities the answer is an obvious “NO!”
I think blaming the Sabbath is indeed a crutch.
I always see calls to service etc. I’m not convinced that the general membership works with a genuine love for others and a genuine desire for service.
Too often service is just another in a long line of gimmicks used to get to the real agenda–some sort of evangelism: so there’s no real heart in it and thus no consistency.
Service has to be a part of the individual members’ lives–a personal value.
We have to care about people just because they are people first.
This builds relationships–genuine ones, not evangelistic ones.
Daniel, the good news is that it is not too late. As a Volunteer Chaplain for the Red Cross, I have learned that nothing can replace individual action and resolve in helping others after a disaster. As a matter of fact your efforts NOW can still make a difference in the lives of these families that were impacted by this tragedy. Here are a few ideas:
1. Write a letter to victim’s families expressing your support and appreciation for their loss and sacrifice.
2. If you are able donate some amount of money to established memorial funds. Newspapers, USO, Red Cross can help you.
3. Do something tangible as a special tribute/memorial to remember the victims. Plant a tree, sponsor a neighborhood project in victim’s names. Let the families know of this…
4. Share your desire and concerns about doing more with local friends and fellow-church members. You might be surprised with the help, ideas and support that is out there.
5. Most importantly, DO NOT WAIT FOR THE CHURCH OR ANY GROUP TO DO ANYTHING THAT REPLACES YOUR INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE.
You are going to be disappointed many more times in your lifetime at the lack of concerted action/response of your church, government, and others. Remember, you are individually called to respond. Most times it is because of the individuals like you who take the initiative that churches and other organizations do respond, eventually. Your heart is in the right place.
Sam,
I am glad to see some specifics about your involvement. I particularly appreciate and endorse your point #5 because getting others involved requires that they have an example to follow. Someone has to step-out and be “out there” being touched by the need and touching back with God’s love in practical ways.
I help people with home-related challenges and often the greatest impact that I see God making is not with the problem that we resolve but on their hearts because someone came to help them. This past Sabbath a man took me aside to tell me about a problem at the house where he lives with his parents. Dead tree limbs were over the electric service line coming into the house and he was afraid a summer thunderstorm might bring them down and break the wires. So, yesterday morning I went over to see what I could do. No, I didn’t completely resolve the problem, but I significantly reduced it. As he and I worked together I could see that he was soaking-up the attention and for a time we just stopped to talk together about things that were of common interest. He was surprised that I would come so promptly and in our chat he was open to me about issues on his heart that he might not share with others.
Let’s keep sharing God’s love following the opportunities He gives us!
Great response! What you did Brother Noel was in the best tradition of Jesus! Thank you for sharing. Our faith is alive when it is practical.
Another thing that worries me is the institutionalization of care.
Yes, care should be individual but it should most times not make the news.
Teaching the neighbor kid to read is far more accessible than waiting for the next tragedy or donating old clothes (never new) to the shelter.
This is a challenge in the west where people live such isolated and segregated (living around and knowing only people who are just like yourself) lives.
Also we have to delink “care” from “poverty”.
This excludes a large class of people from our automatic consideration.
I don’t think that “excludes a large class of people from our automatic consideration.” Rather, it requires we evaluate each situation individually rather than considering the racial and social definitions promoted by liberal socialism. We have to look at each situation by itself and personally, both in terms of what the individual needs and what I can do to help them.
I was thinking even more basic than that. I believe that reaching out to others to be something that is automatic. And that if this is so it means that will help a lot more people. In other words we won’t only be reaching out to people who are lower than us socio-economically but to our neighbors etc.
Daniel,
You have raised an important issue to which we would all do well to pay heed.
I would like to suggest that you give serious study to Isaiah, chapter 58 to see what ideas and concepts it gives you for how the church can be more involved in the community, in particular on the Sabbath. Instead of withdrawing from the world on the Sabbath, why shouldn’t we be more involved than on any other day of the week? If we can “labor for God” by passing-out literature or things to merely tell people about God’s love, why can’t we do other things to actually demonstrate God’s love for them and improve their lives? After all, that’s what Jesus did by performing miracles. Maybe you won’t be healing the sick or raising the dead, but there are plenty of other ways God can use us to touch others with His love and draw their hearts to Him.
Adventism suffers from a well deserved inferiority complex. It is a reluctant participant at public events because it has nothing to offer and it isn’t attractive. Who in their right minds wants to quit shopping on Saturday, start missing Friday night HS football games, and quit having a few beers with gals and buddies?
Back when I was a young SDA I saw my church and myself as oddballs. I tried not to mix with “outsiders” because I didn’t want to have to explain why I couldn’t go to movies or do Saturday stuff. And I sure didn’t want to say the words “Seventh-day Adventist” out loud for any reason. So I attended a miserable little oddball church school.
Why odd? Obviously because of strange doctrines. But more than that. Their affect on turning attention inward. Spending entire religious energy on self-flagellation, endless introspection, institutional self-aggrandizement, mindless doctrinal exegesis, spying on each other. Most of all, fear and wariness of participating in the real world.
Instead of the cowering enclave it is, think of what Adventism would be if it had a different Sabbath definition and other positive experiences. Something restful, enjoyable, peaceful to offer? Instead of what it has been for decades, a legal nightmare and divisive wall? Municipalities might even seek out the Sevenupers to bring their version of rest and peace to bless a troubled time and place. Adventism missed the boat. It isn’t too late to redo.
You said:
Their affect on turning attention inward. Spending entire religious energy on self-flagellation, endless introspection, institutional self-aggrandizement, mindless doctrinal exegesis, spying on each other. Most of all, fear and wariness of participating in the real world.
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My response:
This actually resonates with my experience growing up SDA.
It’s the looking inward and the fear that really was difficult for me.
I wanted a bigger frame of reference, a larger and more hopeful outlook.
You said:
Instead of the cowering enclave it is, think of what Adventism would be if it had a different Sabbath definition and other positive experiences. Something restful, enjoyable, peaceful to offer? Instead of what it has been for decades, a legal nightmare and divisive wall? Municipalities might even seek out the Sevenupers to bring their version of rest and peace to bless a troubled time and place. Adventism missed the boat. It isn’t too late to redo.
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My response:
My vision might not line up with yours exactly but I think you used the right words.
Adventism needs to move beyond being off in a corner acting oddly and hoping to be noticed or having esoteric and pedantic concerns that bring no hope or joy.
So Daniel,
I’m thinking that our role in the community is not to express God’s love, but to express our own love. Let’s let God speak for God; we are to speak for ourselves.
You rightly see church members challenged when it comes to community membership. Heck, we tend to have a hard enough time with church membership, even.
So … well … maybe … we get to be part of the community in the way that Jesus became part of the human community. He saw the image of Himself that he had created in every one of us, and thus loves us. This is how we love one another. We see in each one we meet our very selves and thus are drawn to each as Jesus is drawn to us.
This is a kind of permission that frees us in such a way that we self-commission ourselves to love. That is, we love because we are loved. By Jesus.
So, my sense is that the path to community does not begin with condemnation for failing to be part of community; the path to the community begins with the Gospel of Jesus pure and personal. When we really get it that Jesus loved us before he created the universe, we realize that there is no difference between our self and each person we meet. When we realize that God is one with each of us, we inescapably sense the reality of human community.
And this does not require that we be less than fully Seventh-day Adventist; it only requires that we realize that being a Seventh-day Adventist does not make us, in terms of the Gospel of Jesus, different from any…
If the “mind of Christ” is in us, why should there be any difference between our point of view and God’s? For the most part, SDA churches are disconnected from the communities around them because we’re so focused on calling people out that we’re afraid to go in and minister God’s love in ways that will make them want to come out.
Self-condemnation if good if it motivates us to fix the problem, which is disobeying God by not loving others the same as we love ourselves. It is far better that we condemn ourselves so we can learn to minister God’s love now than to hear God’s condemnation of us in the judgement.
I agree with the gist of your article, but there were a lot of Adventist doing things on their own as part of the community. No, it wasn’t organized by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but there were a lot of us who spent considerable time honoring the Chattanooga Five. I know that a group of people (organized by a couple of SDA’s) spent every evening on the Exit 9 overpass waving American Flags in their honor until the last one was buried….and then again this last Saturday evening after the memorial service in Chattanooga. I was out there with them and am happy to say that it was a mix of all kinds of people….several just saw what we were doing and stopped by and spent an hour or two with us. SGT David Wyatt’s mother stopped by and thanked us profusely for what we were doing. It was a blessing to those of us out there as much as to anyone else. So, even though the organized church didn’t have a presence, the SDA faith was well represented.
I’m a bit skeptical about the value of flag waving as well.
Glad to see you and others were involved.
I squeezed the lemon of Adventism above. To make lemonade requires the sugar of a new mission. The old one is long dead. Prophecies failed, Christ didn’t return, mandate for legalistic Sabbath keeping isn’t valid. Wistful past attachment continues only depression, hopelessness.
Supposing the evangelistic budget at HQ was hijacked for the next five years for a massive public advertising campaign where Sabbath keeping and other Adventist enterprises were brought to public attention as the main selling point of Adventism. First, it would require some modification of rules of Sabbath observance. OK, it would take some serious redo of all of Adventism.
Advertise Saturday as family time, the church is at the forefront of saving the family, marriage. Show families doing things together. There are endless scenarios possible to promote for public consumption in the name of good Sabbath time together.
Show families attending Sunday morning football games at their favorite pro team.
Show local churches sponsoring fun community events (without hidden proselyting agendas).
Plaster the Seventh-day Adventist name everywhere with catchy phrases such as Boring No More, or A Church for the Unchurched! And then develop a system to live up to that.
Highlight Adventist universities and the research in biochemistry, physics and cosmology being encouraged and engaged.
Bright minds can add infinitely many more.
Adventism has the raw materials, does it have the will?
There is virtue in your suggestion; in part because it also appeals to staunch conservatives as a way to allay and delay the Time of Trouble over Sabbath issues.
Right now I am studying (discussing) with my Christian neighbor his search for a new church. He comes from a strict, doctrinaire childhood where he rebelled and left Christianity for a number of years, and repatriated to the faith via Pentecostalism. He’s now prepared to move on and is intrigued by the concept of Rest as illustrated and practiced in Sabbath-keeping. My only concern is that he may find in my local congregation a redux of his misadventures as a child in a repressive environment. I’m praying through the situation, even as a write here. Counsel?
The “lemon” grew as the church abandoned active dependance on the Holy Spirit and it is returning to the Holy Spirit that returns the sweetness to everything else.
“I squeezed the lemon of Adventism above. To make lemonade requires the sugar of a new mission. The old one is long dead. Prophecies failed, Christ didn’t return, mandate for legalistic Sabbath keeping isn’t valid. Wistful past attachment continues only depression, hopelessness.”
Bugs, you don’t have a clue of what you are talking about. You don’t know law and gospel in their biblical context than the man in the moon.
If you are going to attack and correct the SDA church, you need to know what you are talking about and quit ranting on and on, about issues beyond your present understanding.
EGW set forth a clear presentation of truth, both law and gospel. The church today has abandon both the bible and EGW and opted for some apostate Protestant view of law and gospel that negates both the bible and EGW. The errors in the book “Questions on Doctrine” were never corrected and the present spirituality of the church is a reflection of that fact.
Thanks Bill for the alert since clearly I don’t know what I am talking about in my critique of and advice for Adventism. Lucky for me I’m old enough to remember the forgotten tome “Questions on Doctrines,” full of errors, you reveal, never corrected. And since that disgusting papyrus probably is the unconscious source of my dark delusion, it is therefore most relevant. Is it still in print?
Since I don’t “have a clue” more than the “man in the moon” (I thought it was cheese there?) I am dire need of enlightenment which I am now satisfied you are qualified to give since you also see the Adventist church as fatally flawed, although in a different way than me.
Please offer your plan to spiff it up, activate it, energize it, to de-odballize it, make it attractive to people. And most of all, turn it into something people like me might like to attend.
The reason I know you don’t have a clue, Bugs, is because like many others you continually attack EGW, 1844 and the investigative judgment and equate all this to legalism.
So, for here is a “clue” for you and anyone else who wants to know.
The moral law is not a legal mandate nor a legal code. It was never given by God as a way to earn and/or merit heaven.
Adam and Eve in the garden were not earning or meriting the favor of God when they were doing His will.
God’s act of creation is an act of grace. And the moral beings who respond in respect and love and perfect loyalty to God’s will and authority, do so because of the grace of God.
The command to obey is because God is king as well as a loving Father who “commands and demands” loyalty of all His children. The moral law is a family law of love that carries a moral imperative to “obey and live, disobey and die”.
Adam and Eve forfeited the favor of God when they disobeyed His law and like rebellious children in the world, were disinherited and cast out of the family.
Jesus only merited and payed the penalty of sin that gives us the option to accept Him as our only “legal right” to heaven. We come in His name. We are spiritually “married” to Christ.
So, obedience to the moral is rightly called a “fitness” for heaven. Jesus is our title and legal right. And the investigative judgment is to determine our fitness for heaven.
If you understand what I have written, you will abandon your…
incessant attack on the truth of 1844, EGW, and the investigative judgment.
All I ask now, Bill, is show me how there is “truth” left in the 1844 predictions that didn’t and can’t happen. Their time is up. In the light of that failure, how does the concept of “investigative judgment” matter?
And show how, when everyone of intelligence knows factually the world couldn’t possibly have happened in 7 days, a hand full of people insist it was, and solely to support Creator/Sabbath.
I have stated that Ellen White contributed much of value. Her elevation to virtual sainthood, I’m convinced, wasn’t her doing. She was human and enjoyed the ride to some degree, and because of her humanness, she erred, misspoke, quoted from sources without hesitation, but appeared to be mostly without guile.
The “truth of 1844” was never true from its beginning. That’s why it was known and still is as The Great Disappointment. “Corrections” made at that time multiplied the error by building on it. That isn’t an attack, just a statement of the obvious.
I do understand your anger and your interpretation of my statements as attacks. You are emotionally committed to a version of Adventism that is fading away and it is very painful to encounter. I recall my time where you are. I had a close encounter with a “nervous breakdown,” thought God had walked out on me, but eventually discovered a new spirituality and a persistent rapping on my heart door.
Adventism can and will have a very bright future. But probably not your version.
Since you have abandon the bible, Bugs, I would first have to convince you and some others as well, the biblical authority. That’s another topic.
Like the Jews who eventually murdered Christ, you hope you are right and get massive doses of affirmation for your position. Your error will not save you. Ignorance will not save you. Affirmation from others will not save you. But a proper knowledge of scripture applied in its context will.
Thankfully, none of us know if and when someone may commit the unpardonable sin. But we do know it is possible as the bible tells us it is. And like Paul, we would all do well to “fear, lest having shared with others, we ourselves should be cast away.”
1844 is an historical event that began the final judgment of the church in heaven. Like all salvation historical events, it not only communicates truth in the historical process, but becomes a dynamic motivation for all who believe the event and its meaning.
To deny the event will necessarily destroy the motivation inherent in the event itself. Thus, no one could be ready for Jesus to come who denies this event that could and would motivate to seek and know “What must I do to be saved?”
And we find this question is always relevant as we discover the purpose and meaning of this final judgment. This, in turn, motivates to correct errors and seek to know if and what other errors are accepted by the Christian community.
Now you know.
You’re missing his point. It doesn’t matter if you are right and he is wrong because the more important issue is you are so focused on condemning others for being wrong that you’re driving people away from God instead of drawing them to Him. You’re failing to see that he and a whole lot of others in the world don’t see things the way you do and your shouting is just noise-making that fails to communicate anything positive about God. All they find in your words is how convinced you are of your correctness and that how wrong everybody else is. That is the opposite of Jesus, who didn’t come into this world to condemn it, but to forgive and bring reconciliation so He could save all who come to Him.
It was continuous condemnation from people who speak as you do who once nearly destroyed my faith in God, but I praise Him for his incredible love that reached-through my darkness and touched me and drew me to Him.
Whoa, William! Please elaborate as to how I have condemned anyone! Who?
Oops! That response was intended for Mr. Sorensen, not you. I’m not sure what’s happening with this site but several times I’ve thought I was posting in response to one person but when it appeared it was at a different level.
Daniel, The Chattanooga 1st SDA Church heavily supported the victims of this senseless tragedy. Many from the church attended all of the rallys and encouraged the church to do so, as well. While I understand that you may not have seen a visible presence there, nonetheless, there were many Adventists there who sympathized, prayed with, and gave encouragement to many gatherers there.
Tony,
I’m glad to see that. It is easy to be moved to action in dramatic circumstances so I wonder what other ways your church is regularly involved in ministering God’s love in the community.
we have a good rapport with local faith groups, including the next door Islamic mosque. We are currently ministering to the community in various ministries and public service work.
Daniel’s bio says he likes Legos…there’s a lesson here. Legos are all about connectivity. So, this is done piece by piece most effectively, not in chunks. Keep on connecting individually Daniel, do’t despair about the corporate structure called church.
One thing about this article which may have some viable observations on a given situation, is this. Everyone knows just exactly how everybody else ought to witness and are more than willing to tell them how to do it. And will then refer to some example of how Jesus may have “witnessed” on some particular situation. And then use this “example” as the absolute, one and only norm we must follow to be “effective” in witnessing.
In most cases, we could just as easily show how Jesus did the exact opposite in another given situation. I would suggest that when we discuss witnessing, our best way to tell others is that they should consider some “advice” we may have to give that might be helpful, instead of insinuating their method is all wrong, and we are the “final word” on just how to witness.
The problem is you’re focused on proving how right you are about everything and how wrong everybody else is. Please provide scriptural evidence providing the basis for your apparent belief that you have to be right and are supposed to accuse others of being wrong. All I’ve been able to find in the Bible is that we’re supposed to be so connected with God that we bring people to Him and let Him be the source of all truth and their teacher. Your approach turns God into an angry and uncaring being who is focused on facts more than a saving relationship, which is why Jesus came and why His teachings contrasted so greatly with the Pharisees.
What makes you think anyone is going to listen to your teaching if you’re not loving them first and foremost as Jesus did? There is a day-night difference between loving people into obeying God and demanding they obey Him and hope they learn to love Him.
Church growth in North America has stalled in other places has reversed because so many, like you, are so focused on beating people up with doctrines and accusing them of disobedience and embracing false doctrines instead of loving them as Jesus did. It was being beaten-up over doctrines and having Bible verses thrown at me to condemn me as you just did that nearly destroyed my faith years ago. But I praise God that His amazingly powerful and incredibly tender love touched me where I was hurting and healed my heart. By the way, it was non-Adventists who ministered that love to me because NONE of the SDAs around me knew it. When I met that love, I wanted to know Him better and learn everything I could about Him anew. When you love others first instead of throwing texts and accusing, you’ll be surprised by how many questions they start asking about God and how hungry they become to know Him.
If God could change Saul’s heart, He can teach you, too. But I’m not holding my breath because it looks like He’s got quite a challenge in changing your mindset.
Billions of Christians have studied the Bible faithfully, and thoroughly, and find nothing but speculation by a few people, who are called Seventh Day Adventist, in the tenet “INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT” of 1844. Sorry to say, the few of you who continue to shout this “so called truth” as Bible inspired, as well as other “commanding must beliefs”, will never woo a single soul into the church, but will sorely persuade many others to leave. The strident methodical style doesn’t work on 21st century folks. You are obsolete and need to take a course in salesmanship. Read Dale Carnegie book “HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE”.
“Believe on the beautiful LORD JESUS CHRIST”, and you’ll love and live, and follow in HIS care, and have everlasting life in His RIGHTEOUSNESS.
We already have that “salesman.” His name is Jesus and the message is His redeeming love that a lot of people know theology about but have not experienced.
At the center of the Adventist church is huge core of very fine Adventist people who are just purely Christian. They practice their role as being a Christian based on their experience of being a recipient of Christ and his love. They are loyal to their church for all kinds of reasons and they aren’t leaving. They are content to function as heartfelt emissaries of love, as part of the “invisible” body of Christ not seeking credit, foregoing any label, just acting in the spirit of Christ. They don’t seek publicity.
They are everywhere and they were operating privately in Chattanooga as we see here.
It would be “nice” if Adventism had a credible public face that engendered pride and hope wherever it was displayed so that its Christian operatives could openly contribute to its reputation of Christian love. But that isn’t likely any time soon. The official church shows no sign of divorce from its legalistic heritage and its embarrassing baggage of calendar and theology.
So the “real” church lives, thrives, individually. Maybe that is all there is or ever can be. Or ever should be. William Noel seems to have a pretty good handle on it.
“It would be “nice” if Adventism had a credible public face that engendered pride and hope wherever it was displayed so that its Christian operatives could openly contribute to its reputation of Christian love.”
Larry, I’m happy to report that there is revival in a number of places and that is starting to happen. People are learning to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit and I’m happy to be part of it! Still, there is a long way to go. For example, a few months ago we dropped-in unannounced at a church near where our son lives and listened in Sabbath School as several of the saints scattered around the mostly empty church talked in platitudes about “doing God’s work” and similar. So I asked if anyone could tell me what they meant by “doing God’s work” and what they were doing for God. I could hardly believe the speed with which people took offense! Where the teacher had been struggling to get anyone to answer his questions, they were lining-up to argue my supposition that anyone could do anything for God and it was surprising how many supposed Ellen White quotes they came-up with to refute the thought! I doubt we’ll ever be back to that church again! I’ve also learned since that their membership has been in steady decline in recent years. I wonder what would be causing that? 😉
I’m trying to let Him do His job and work through me in the power of the Holy Spirit that He promised would be present in all who believe in Him. That’s why I’m seeing God’s love and power working through me to touch hearts and change lives. Working with Him is both the greatest source of joy and the driver of my biggest adventures. For me, ministering God’s love is the greatest source of fun in the world and seeing people fall in-love with Him and want to know Him better gives me plenty to celebrate. So I’m not “in his way” because I’m running to keep-up with Him!
If you’re not seeing the power of the Holy Spirit working through you then you’ve got pretty strong evidence you’re not a believer.
Sorry, Earl, you are using common sense talking to addicts who have to have their fix! Unless you can transport them to “heaven” and tour them around and show there isn’t a place of employment there for Jesus called the Sanctuary where he is working hard on a version of an FBI investigation, you won’t cure them of their fascination with holy tokes. Even then you would be accused of misdirection.
What are you calling “the ideology of individualism?” I have no idea what you’re talking about.
OK, I think I’ve figured-out what you’re accusing. However, even the verses you quoted contradict you.
Verse 8 “For to one”
Verses 9 and 10 “To another”
Verse 11 “dividing to every man severally as he will”
Verse 12 “hath many members”
Each of those is singular. Salvation is individual. The empowerment of the Holy Spirit is to individuals. Add the apostle Paul’s many statements in his epistles about how God led him and spoke to him and the things he did.
So, how could you think individualism is a failure, or somehow in error and contradictory to scripture?
In recent times a traditionalist Adventist congregation in my area “lost” a dozen or so members “out the front door” because these “Straight Truthers” had become strongly enamored of the proposition that our congregation was insufficiently studious on matters of the Nature of Christ, the dangerous, pagan inefficacy of the corporate logo as a device to represent the Last Remnant, and an alleged reduction in promotion of Ellen G. White content in sermons and articles.
In time these members (in my humble opinion) moved to an increasingly strident posture in regard to the rest of us sinners, and attending church for me and my family became a Time of Tribulation all its own. I have served since my childhood as a church pianist in various parts of the world, and I recognized as surely as the Truth exists, that at some point I would be singled out as being insufficiently Kosher in my selections and arrangements. Already there were complaints that in some cases in regard to children’s accompaniment, I was introducing the satanic element of syncopation.
I have concluded that the “Straight Truthers” as I refer to them are probably some of our most vulnerable members, Straight Truth be known. These members are often very fearful and submit to doctrines and lay leaders who present to them an engineered plan whereby they can merit salvation and a home in the better sections of heaven. Please, I am very serious here, and I am saddened by the loss sustained by this nearby…
I hear you and agree with you that those who are most vocal about correcting the perceived errors in others are the ones whose faith is the weakest and least able to withstnd trials. Typically, the more faults they claim to expose and correct in others is a measurement of the faults and weaknesses they are trying to cover-up and resolve on their own intead of allowing God to perform His wonderful work of transforming redemption in them.
“In time these members (in my humble opinion) moved to an increasingly strident posture in regard to the rest of us sinners,”'”
And, Ed, how did you relate to these members whom you so strongly condemn?
I like that individual SDA’s responded. An organized “official” response would seem to me like the church exploiting the situation for publicity or such. Jesus said it was better to do good without seeking credit.
It might be different if the victims were SDAs or an SDA church was bombed or such. In that case, a direct, official role would be appropriate. But when there is no link between the victims and the official church, I think it makes more sense for responses to be individual and let the victim’s own churches take the lead (and limelight) on ‘official’ responses.
My 2 cents…
I don’t buy into an idea that whatever happens anywhere the SDA Church needs to step in. As one commentator said it is enough in many situations that individuals take a position when it is warranted.
Not *all* situations warrant even a personal appearance or intervention.
Thanks to people like you Interested Friend and RT1C, our church is going down hill and dying in many cities, people like you who are selfish and inner centerted who wants to live far away from other, people like you doesnt build anything positive for the cause of reaching a sinful world, its time to change t????
God as love never identifies itself with any organization, never seeks credit, never advertises. A person in grief will never ask or remember what church you belong to, but they will never forget your assuring, silent hug while the cried. God’s love is transmitted best without words. Churches aren’t necessary at all for Christianity to flourish.
You are so right! When I travel, I ask God to help me touch someone with His love and the ways He gives me to do that never cease to surprise me. They are all about being God’s hands sharing His love in whatever situation He leads me into. I may be an Adventist, but I’m a follower of Jesus first and foremost.
What did Jesus do when He met the man who had been blind from birth? Did He teach the man about why he had become that way? No! He healed the man because he needed to be able to see! But it was the Jewish leaders who were debating which parent’s sin had caused the blindness. Your order of things is exactly the same as the Pharisees and just as powerless.
Jesus loved people first and demonstrated His great love in the power of the miracles He performed. He loved the first and taught them last. Ministering God’s love first and foremost stimulates people to want to know Him, but what you’re describing is the exact reverse, that we have to know the law and other things before we can know and experience God’s love. The Law and Calvary are meaningless nonsense to a person who hasn’t first been touched and changed by His powerful love.
If you have not done it already, it sounds like you’re ready to discover the gifts the Holy Spirit has already placed in you so that you can minister God’s love in effective and powerful ways. I hope you will be doing that soon because there is plenty of hurting going on around us that needs to be touched by God’s love. Your ministry will inspire others in your church to get involved, too.
Thank you. You have given me a new appreciation for the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:11, Luke 21:12 and John 15:20.
“…people like you who are selfish and inner centerted(sic) who wants to live far away from other…”
And I thought that being judgmental was incompatible with both the liberal and the conservative concept of true Christianity.
Reality on August 22, 2015 at 1:39 pm said: Addressing Brother Noel’s comments:
“We do not care about your individual ideologies or pools of such. We do not care for vain teachings for doctrine the commandments of men; nor any of your other childish ideas you may wish to present.”
Reality you have crossed the line! Do you even have a line?
A younger person would say to you “Chill, man…CHILL, you need a time out.”
I believe you need boundaries in your life and responses. You are out of bounds, you need boundaries! Here is a gift from me to you on how to set boundaries in your life.
Setting Boundaries
1. Name your limits after consulting God.
2. Tune into your feelings.
3. Be direct.
4. Give yourself permission.
5. Practice self-awareness.
6. Consider your past and present.
7. Make spiritual self-care a priority.
8. Seek prayerful support.
9. Be courageously assertive.
10. Start small.
I hope you do this in the spirit of Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 37:5
I hope it’s not too late…
“I think that i shall never see, a poem as lovely as “a” tree. A tree that looks at GOD all day, and lifts its leafy arms to pray”. by Joyce Kilmer. Note her reference is to a single tree, not a forest. God, does not save us as a church. He searches the heart of each of us individually, as to our faith, and desire to be with him. He accepts each of us sinners, warts and all, if our heart is right. It isn’t necessary for us to become a Bible scholar, or even know scripture. Reality i have great concern for you, and sympathy. You come across as one shell shock, battle weary, as in a battle yet to win. Totally unable to hear the love coming your way, but so fixated in your belief that unless all come to your biased scriptural understanding, it is your responsibility to rebuke, rebuke, rebuke, with rancor, and recommending,if you don’t believe as he does, you should
leave his church. God bless you, and give you peace this Sabbath Day.
Wow, i am impressed with some of the comments, i liked most of them, still the purpose of the article was to show that we need to be more close to our neighbors and see that being part of the community is important for a Christian and also for the world.