Holding Up a Mirror
by Loren Seibold, AT Executive Editor |
A while back I received a note from a concerned Adventist Today reader. “You raise too many questions,” he wrote. “If you really loved the Lord you would be loyal to the church. You would teach everything that Adventists have always taught, and support everything our church leaders tell us to do.”
Let’s be clear that we at AT want our church to succeed in preaching the gospel. We want our church to bring peace and truth to the world. We want to help our church help those who are suffering.
We don’t agree, though, that believers shouldn’t discuss, openly and candidly, what we believe and why we believe it. We don’t think that we should always remain deferential and silent.
We are loyal and we love our church—which is why we think the right thing to do is to hold up a mirror to our church, to help us see who we really are.
Yes, it would be easier to close our eyes tightly. To sit back and listen and sing the songs. To believe everything we hear. To do exactly what we’re told.
But that’s never been the way to make progress in any endeavor—and certainly not toward the kingdom of God. Throughout Scripture there were prophets and priests who held up the mirror—who said, “Let’s be honest. Let’s not become complacent. Let’s look closely at who we are, and who God wants us to be.”
That’s why we don’t mind asking you to help us with this ministry. This week we are asking you to join us for our summer fundraiser. Will you pitch in to help us to pay the expenses of this important ministry? In addition to our website and quarterly magazine we have the popular Adventist Today Sabbath Seminar, a YouTube channel featuring many contributors, a weekly email, and books and videos.
We love you, our readers and contributors. Help us to hold up a mirror to ourselves and our church!