Seventh-day Adventism’s bright future

Malcolm Bull and Keith Lockhart, two British researchers, not Adventists, published their research at the University of Indiana entitled “Seeking a Sanctuary” where they state “the Seventh-day Adventism is one of the best-kept secrets of American religion.” They go on to note that current trends suggest that by the mid-21^st century there would be over 100 million Adventists worldwide, and Adventist church will play more prominent role in international affairs. WOW!

Do you see the same picture from your pew in London, Ontario? Do you see the exciting bright future for your church? In spite of what we do here – the church moves forward everywhere in the world, attracting young people, attracting professionals, attracting sincere seekers to the simple Bible truths.

We are watching this week an exciting programming from Arlington, Texas with Mike Tucker. The people he brings on the stage in this NET07 are of such giftedness that even my 6 years old would not miss a night. Danny, was saying Wednesday evening “I cannot wait to see what he will show tonight!” The singers are outstanding, new variety of sound and style every night. Still there are some who complain about public evangelism unaware of blessings they are missing.

As I visit with people I am happy to see new dishes installed in some of our homes – the new Hope TV dishes, not the secular stuff. I am excited because through the satellite media more and more people are getting in touch with our Corporate Church, getting positive exposure to the colossal leaps of advancement we are making in faith development. I am excited because it is impossible for one pastor alone to bridge the gap that exists currently between some local congregations and the leading-edge Church.

Every congregation has an implicit theology – things we don’t talk about , but things that govern how we treat each other, how we see ourselves, how we treat our leaders. This implicit theology manifests itself in how the budget is allocated, and who has the power, and why certain patterns of relationships are present. Of course, there is the explicit theology – the official doctrines, easy to find vision and mission statements, liturgy and style of worship, sermons preached, and the rest of things we say.

When the explicit and implicit views are at odds – the tension builds and conflict boils up. Implicit theology guides congregation more surely than it’s mission statement, and reflect truths about the congregation no one wants to hear. For example – the Statement of Faith No.17 asserts that every believer has a gift and a ministry, sermons are preached, gift inventories are distributed, the Vision statement is published saying that this church is a place where every believer is a minister – but in reality the majority does not know it’s gifts, does not care to take a survey, is not interested in ministering, and gets upset within about being pressured into it against their will. We say we believe in Evangelism, and we agree that the Great Commission is relevant to every confessing Christian – to go, teach and baptize – yet we do no intentional effort to witness or to invite people when opportunities present themselves. The frustration builds up as the gap becomes more obvious.

The world around is watching as the Adventist Church grows preaching the explicit message of the Soon Coming of Christ, message of the Coming Kingdom of God. The world around is saying “WOW!” about our open and clear message. What about our local church in London? What image do we project? How wide is the gap between our implicit self and the world-wide explicit corporate Church? Do we dare to compare?

Turn on your Hope TV and see. Show up at church tonight and observe. And remember that this church is the one about which John the Revelator speaks in chapter 18: “having great authority, and the earth grew bright with its splendour.”

Listening as God Speaks

Moses stood before the people he led for the last time giving his Last Will and Testament speaking these words: “…watch out! Be very careful never to forget what you have seen the LORD do for you. Do not let these things escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.” (Deuteronomy 4:9)

It is impossible to tell the story of the birth of Israel nation without mentioning of Moses, its prophet. How would one explain the Exodus without Moses? Or Mount Sinai? Or why Israel had to wander in the wilderness for forty years?

In the same way it is impossible to tell the story of our identity as people, the Seventh-day Adventist movement without mentioning Ellen White's ministry in the affirmation of Biblical doctrine, in the building of a church organization strong enough to support a world church, and in the Moses-like messages of reproof and courage that helped to shape the character of the church. As one author said “without her today it is probable that the Adventist Church would be only a footnote in some history book of various religious groups in the nineteenth century" (Herbert E. Douglass, Messenger of the Lord, p. 538)

Early in the development of our movement Ellen White offered this call: "We have nothing to fear for the future except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history" (Life Sketches, p. 196; Testimonies to Ministers, p. 31).

What would have happened to the Seventh-day Adventist church without the guidance of Ellen G. White? It is safe to say that without her guidance as the messenger from the Lord to the remnant church, the Seventh-day Adventist church, as we know it now, would not exist.

Every year this time in October Adventist churches around the world remember our beginnings – October 22, 1844 – a mistake in understanding the Bible that led to an earnest search for understanding God’s purpose in preparing the world for the Second Coming of Jesus.

As we remember our pioneers, our beginning, we also recall our personal walk in the light of the Everlasting Gospel, our personal journey to the relationship with God. We recall our discovery of God’s Grace. Are we telling it to our children? Do they know how God has led us this far? Are we teaching our kids, the generation that is 163 years removed from the great Disappointment and the Great Discovery of the Sanctuary Truth, about what god has done and promised to do yet?

If God spoke to you, would you listen? Real listening is more than just hearing the sounds. It is entering into a positive relationship, one of respect and love. Such a relationship with God leads to obedience as well, doing the things that will please and honour Him. So if God spoke to you, would you listen, really?

Ordering your private world.

Leo Tolstoy says “everybody thinks of changing humanity and nobody thinks of changing himself.”

How do we change? Is it even possible for us to change ourselves? Apostle Paul speaks in his letter to Romans on the issue of attaining righteousness, or becoming changed for better, and all thirty five statements assert that it is a gift from God. Quoting Paul “We receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness in life by one, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:17)

If the transformation we seek is God’s gift, can we do anything? Some fall into thinking that we do nothing.. But same apostle suggests that we should do certain things. In letter to Galatians (6:8) Paul says “he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Think of this analogy: farmer does not grow seeds. He plants, cultivates, nurtures, makes some conditions to assist growth, but growth is outside of his competency. God gives growth.

We are invited to sow to the Spirit. How do we do it? Godly people place themselves where God can grow us. This is what the Spiritual Disciplines are all about – placing self into an environment or situations where we become more aware of our need of change.

As we discover God through different revelations – Creator, Savior, Sustainer – we relate to God from our experience. Yet, it would be a heresy to cling to a single Revelation of God and to ignore the Trinitarian concept of God’s Plan of Salvation, by which God is our Father in Creation, God the Son is our Savior and brother in infirmities, and God the Holy Spirit is within us guiding our spirits to change. It also would be a heresy to pick and chose spiritual disciplines, focusing on some and ignoring others, as it would lead to an imbalanced life.

Before ministering, and worshipping – self must be ordered. Before we serve humanity as Christ our Lord taught us and before we come corporately in celebration of being guided by the Spirit, we need to know our Father, our Creator. We need to order our lives and align ourselves with God’s design for our lives. Inner Disciplines set us up to seek our Creator.

There are four basic disciplines that make people “God chasers” – fasting, meditation, prayer, and study. These inner disciplines are to alight our soul, heart, spirit and mind with God. We are familiar with the last two – prayer and study. What about the first two – fasting and meditation? These are the most common practices described in the Bible. Isaac meditated (Genesis 24:63). The Lord spoke to Joshua to meditate on the Law of God day and night. (Joshua 1:8) Psalmist David affirms such meditative life (Psalm 1:2). Fasting was practiced by every believer to break away from dependencies in life, and to seek God as only source of life. The Lawgiver Moses – fasted. King David fasted. Prophet Elijah, Queen Esther, prophet Daniel, apostle Paul - all fasted.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God incarnate – fasted, and told us “when you fast….” Note that he did not say “if,” but “when,” implying in his Sermon on the Mount that we would fast. (Matthew 6:16-18). Jesus also told his followers that they should fast while He is gone, until His return (Matthew 9:15)

Disciplines are interdependent. Prayer and Study are not adequate without Fasting and Meditation. So, what are you “sowing”? How much do you desire to be changed by god’s Grace? What are you willing to do about it?

Created to Serve, not bite….

I am writing this from an early morning class with Dr. Richard Davidson. He is sharing insights from the Old Testament on Servant leaders, and my heart is burning to share some with you.

Often certain words make us biased, because of past history, because of association we carry. For example the word “slave.” The brutal past will cause anyone to get upset if someone would call us so. We have done much to avoid the use of this word. Israel as a nation lived among nations that had brutal treatment of slaves. They themselves experienced cruel treatment in Egypt. Yet, as they were establishing themselves as a free nation God reminded them that they were His slaves – using very same word, with all its negative connotations. Why?

You find that we were created to “serve.” Genesis 2:15 uses this Hebrew root word “ABAD” which is translated as “to dress,” (KJV) “to work in” (NIV) Bottom line – human was in the Paradise to serve! When the Sanctuary service was instituted, and the Sanctuary was to represent the Paradise lost and hope for it’s restoration, all the priests were to do the same in it – serve! (Numbers 18:7)

God makes it plain to the Israelites that the service is our purpose. The difference is Who we serve. From being servants of pharaoh to becoming servants of God. From being servants of selfish lusts to becoming servants of God’s Kingdom.

The whole history of the Old Testament is filled with hundreds of examples of this attitude of servitude – voluntary, intentional, chosen.

People described themselves as servants/slaves to one another, like when Abigail spoke to David “Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” (1^st Samuel 25:41) Just take a look how many times she uses this wonderful word “servant”!

On the other hand, whenever someone refused to serve – their life went to smithereens, their efforts became failure. Consider Rehoboam: people came and asked him "If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever." (1^st Kings 12:7) Instead he replied “I will chastise you with scorpions.” (v.11). That was the end of his story…

As I listen to these Biblical examples I am prayerfully asking God to reveal me if I’ve been the example of servant to my flock here in London. I do not want to be a scorpion-leader. I want to be the servant.

What is your heart desire? Do you want to serve? Apostle Paul speaks to all Christians: by love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13).

Let this advise be our life motto: serving God, serving people!