Toward Missional Church... How challenging is your discipleship? Do you declare your faith in the public square?

This past Wednesday night I had a unique opportunity to participate in a meeting with 15 representatives of faith communities of our city discussing the new policy of Accommodation for faith based practices at the Thames Valley District School Board. A female Jewish orthodox rabbi, a Muslim imam from the Oxford mosque, First Nation leaders, Baptist, Pentecostal – all spoke about their concerns for the public educational system.

I had a chance to speak on matters of belief in creation not being discriminated against by evolutionary teaching, about students right to ask for a substitute literature readings if assigned books include witchcraft, or other materials contradicting to Christian value system. An interesting discussion was facilitated toward the end of the meeting on the definition of faith – people from different religious groups do not like to hear words “faith” or “creed” used as a binding legalistic system of rules to be followed as obligations. Even the word “religion” is not welcomed. But all agree that faith is a “way of life,” and “spiritual relationships.” The dialogue will continue, until the new policy is in place, due this summer.

And as I reflected and shared my experience with some I heard different comments. From “will never happen” to “Great! About time.” Is this another gambit by the Provincial Board of education before the election to get faith communities distracted from demanding funding for church schools in the province where only Roman Catholic education is sponsored, along with the Anglican system which has became “public”? Should we seriously look forward to secular venues becoming more open for Christian witness? Or should we continue developing an alternative system for educating our children in order to preserve our values, and instruct the next generation?

This week we also met with the task force of volunteers from all three Adventist congregations in London considering the opportunity of purchasing the 77 Tecumseh West property of 2.2 acres with 25,000 sq.ft. building. We prayed, talked and listened. One thing emerging positively - the vision for a Multipurpose Community centre for outreach, a place through which we would impact community. The school is only one of “branches” for the evangelistic work of serving community needs. As Day-Care for children was mentioned, so was the idea for a day-care for seniors. A Kindergarten, Christian bookstore with a unique selection of books, music, and other media, health-education centre, a community integration centre for new immigrants....the meeting carried beyond the allotted time as people were sharing their dreams for a Missional Church.

You may not be familiar with this term – it is an emerging term for churches that exist for Mission, that are not self-serving and go out of their comfort zones to transform the community with Christ.

2011 is the year of Revival for Mission. This means much more than learning about mission work at our monthly seminars. It is becoming missional. It is about making our faith seen, felt, present, reachable, incarnate in the community. The world is changing, and God is present where change is. Are we, the church, being present too? I challenge you to pray specifically for one thing for the remainder of this year – for God to give you a personal involvement in mission.

May 21st...and you are still here? What are you going to do on May 22nd?

If you are reading this, that means you missed the “rapture” of believers! That’s what is promised by the billboards and websites promoting the beginning of five months long Judgment (Revelation 9:5) after which God is supposed to destroy the world on October 21 this year, 2011. This “date setting” preaching has built up a significant interest around the world. The movement is led by Harold Camping (born 1921) who was a Christian radio broadcaster and president of Family Radio, based in California. Originally a Calvinist he left the Christian Reformed Church in 1988, and since then is teaching that all churches are apostate and must be abandoned.

The people behind this movement are aware of the Biblical verse that “no man knows the day or the hour” but they argue that it was relevant during the time of the church. And since God has withdrawn the light from the church in general, those who exit the church, every church and join the movement do know! In fact one of the sites is entitled www.wecanknow.com

The movement claims about 200 million followers to be raptured (that’s 3% of world’s population)! And, of course, more are ready to be raptured from the impoverished countries than from North America. This teaching is not new. Back in 1970 Camping published his Calendar of the world, dating the flood in 4990 B.C. Some are asking if “Camping will be stoned on May 22^nd?” by people who invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into billboards?

There is also another preacher, Ronald Weinland, who is saying the date is wrong, it will actually be next year, May 27^th on the Pentecost 2012 (www.the-end.com). People who are preaching this are also “adventists” as they are anticipating the Advent of Christ. They are sincere. But, are they sincerely wrong? Many of them had invested all they had into this movement of warning the world. I would compare their feelings to those of the Millerite movement expecting Christ’s coming in 1844, yet misunderstanding prophecies.

Doug Batchelor and Amazing Facts had produced a website dedicated to this topic, www.aftermay21.com asking the simple question “Will the Judgment begin on May 21^st? It does not offer much explanation or answers but offers brochures and books produced over the past decades on various Biblical subjects. I guess, every sensational event makes a good venue for literature distribution.

Some Adventist churches are even getting baptismal requests in a hurry because of this date-setting. Yet in the long run all these failed expectations just lead to more disappointements, and create more ex-christians. It becomes more difficult to reach people with the message of Christ’s return, as they become more jaded, sceptical and cynical.

There are various reactions to this. Wikipedia informs that the group Seattle Atheists formed the Rapture Relief Fund which they will use "to help survivors of any Armageddon-sized disaster in the Puget Sound area" if the rapture fails to come as predicted, the money will fund a camp that teaches children about critical thinking. The group American Atheists has sponsored billboards in several American cities declaring the Rapture to be "nonsense", and are holding a party during the period of the predicted rapture.

It is sad that such speculations only bring more embarrassment to faith, point out to “what’s wrong with religion,” and make believers and churches even more passive toward proclamation of the repentance for the end times.

How should we react to all this? Should we stop looking for the blessed hope of Jesus returning? Never! We remain to be Adventists, anticipating the Soon Return of Christ. How must we hasten the day? Not by looking for schedules and calendar dates, but by being current in relationship with God and inviting people into the same. Know your Bible, and do not forget that God’s prophetic movement has certain identifiable characteristics, seventh-day Sabbath and respect to God’s ordinances for holy living are among them. No matter how sincere some prophets may sound – their disobedience and ignorance of the WHOLE Bible makes them false.

Adventist Review has addressed this matter suggesting "survival kit" steps for believers today.

Judgment Day, Shaking, End times...or fear mongering

All around the world huge billboards warn people of the Judgment Day coming on May 21^st 2011. Here in our city three are at least 3 (that I’ve seen) large signs posted. Different signs. Some claim the return of Christ on that day. The end is "not yet" and it’s just the beginning of the 153 days, so the final end is supposed to hit on October 21^st. These are not some local weirdoes – it is all over the world, in every country, in every major city!

Among various Adventist churches there are voices asking questions about the shaking, has it began? Different denominations have different terminologies. The concern is similar: when will be the Return of Christ? Another popular Adventist missionary-preacher, David Gates, advocates the year 2031 as the boundary beyond which God will not wait, but he forewarns that the days “will be shortened for the sake of the elect,” hinting that Christ may come earlier.

How should an average believer react? In spite that the Bible says no man knows the nor the hour (Mark 13:32), some claim that enough evidence is given through Hebrew calendar and faithful will be warned. The “secrecy” is attractive, it has an appeal, like any Gnostic teachings – the special elite is privy to secrets that promise safety. Wouldn’t you want to know too?

Some of our church members are asking me also if we should pay close attention to the date and billboards. My answer is simple – TOTAL NONSENCE! There will be no rapture that day. The dead who ever lived and died in the past will not rise up on May 21^st 2011. We as a church as a remnant movement have had so much light regarding the end-time events that it is embarrassing to even be bothered by time-setters.

If you look at some of the reasoning, its falsity becomes obvious. For instance this date is based on the fact that it will be the 7000 years anniversary since the Flood of Noah, and 13,023 years from Creation. According to their calculations September 7, 1994 the 2300 days of tribulation ended and latter rain was poured. The list is long, ridiculous and bizarre. I did send an email to one of leaders from the www.familyradio.com responsible for all the advertisement, asking if they would have integrity to apologize to people after May 21^st and October 21^st when nothing happens. (By the way this “message” has scores of websites prepared covering all possible questions).

But I also wonder if in our zeal to hasten the Second Coming and to spur people into repentance we are not doing similar cajoling. Back in 1908 when the London congregation was dedicating its first building on October 11 the event speaker, newly elected Conference President Elder Eugene Leland preached a sermon entitled “the Eastern Question” causing a stir by the announcement that the Second Coming of Christ is at hand, and will occur when the Turkish Government is overthrown. The London Free press picked up on the announcement and it was quite a stir in the city, agitating people’s wonderings.

We know that these predictions are false, because they are not consistent with the Bible prophecies, the Message of the Book of Revelation and Biblical hermeneutics. But should we sit silent? Should we react at all? Should we just shrug our shoulders and not be bothered?

Considering the media stir of 2012, we must use every opportunity to call people to allow Christ into their lives, to point people we know to God’s Plan of salvation. We must boldly and publically teach people Biblical truth. We intend to offer a special two weekends message November 18-27 on Prophecies of the Bible. Any time setting only causes discouragement and more cynicism, as people grow more jaded toward any futuristic hope. Our message must be focused on our present state of being in Loving Relationship with God and each other. True readiness does not come from waiting for a date, or from calculating and puzzle solving obscure riddles, but from having Christ within by the Holy Spirit, from having love as the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)

The question you must ponder right now is this: What is my relationship with Jesus? Is the Holy Spirit in me? Am I fully surrendered to God? Are my friends safe? Seek Christ and rest assured in His promises that God never does anything without revealing it to his servants the prophets (Amos 3:7) who are the Commandment keeping people (Revelation 12:17; 19:10)

Don't miss the meaning of Mother's Day

My kids are asking me: how come the Mother’s Day is not a statutory holiday and a long weekend?! I wondered “Why?” and their reply was simple: we want mom to stay home with us an extra day! WOW!

Last year Dwight Nelson asked “how much is your mother worth?” in his blog. Other blogs on Mother’s day remind us that behind this celebrative occasion is a sad and tragic story.

The modern version of Mother’s Day began in the early 20^th century. It started as a memorial service on the second Sunday in May of 1907, held by Anna Jarvis for her mother Ann Marie Reeves, who passed in 1905, at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, VA. The mourners present received a white carnation, which had been Ann Marie’s favourite flower. Anna organized another one a year later, and this service is generally accepted as the first official Mother’s Day event (1908).

Ann Marie Reeves was a social activist, born in 1832 through the years of the Civil War, doing community service and fundraising for mothers with tuberculosis. Eight of her 12 offspring died before reaching adulthood. Despite her personal tragedies, she never stopped her community service.

Just a few years later, by 1912, Anna Jarvis was upset to see the Mother’s Day being exploited by the flower, stationary and candy industries. For it was not meant to be just a day of appreciation, but the day of helping mothers to change the community. Yet, the “creator” of this even herself missed the point. She became a “party crusher.” She wanted to claim the day as her intellectual and legal property, preventing others to do Mother’s Day events in 1920s in New York and Pennsylvania. She eventually was committed to an asylum where she died, penniless, without a family, never becoming a mother herself.

Some historians point back to 1600s where in England on the fourth Sunday of Lent was an annual “Mothering Sunday,” an opportunity for Christians to visit their hometown church. It slowly evolved, as children working far away as domestic servants came back home to spend time with their mothers and family.

So, don’t miss the meaning of the day – it is not about feministic assertion of women’s right and rule, it is not about flowers and trinkets. It is another opportunity to honour motherhood, co-creators of humanity with God, co-redeemers of mankind through the care of the Seed for the Saviour. It all goes back to Eve (Hava in Hebrew) – the mother of all living.