THINGS WE DON'T often TALK ABOUT... Trick or Treat?

After reading a positive note about Christmas, you may wonder “What about Halloween?”  Some families (I mean, Adventist members) send their kids out dressed up in costumes to get candies, some adults are going to a special costume party.  What do we say about October 31^st?  Many Christians advocate that there is nothing wrong with having fun on Halloween.

I would begin to answer with this: it depends what you think about devil.  Many so called Christians do not think devil exists too.

Father Gabriele Amorth, a Vatican-appointed exorcist in Rome, has said, "if English and American children like to dress up as witches and devils on one night of the year that is not a problem. If it is just a game, there is no harm in that."  (Gyles Brandreth, "The Devil is gaining ground" The Sunday Telegraph (London), March 11, 2000.)

The word Halloween first attested in the 16th century also has “Christian” roots, and represents a Scottish variant of the fuller All-Hallows-Even ("evening"), that is, the night before All Hallows (Saints) Day, which falls on November 1.  In the Roman Catholic Church Halloween is viewed as having a Christian connection, and Halloween celebrations are common in Catholic parochial schools throughout North America and in Ireland.

Let me ask you, do you derive the meaning of Christianity from the Roman Catholicism, or Anglican version of Protestantism? Or, perhaps, you begin to see that such practices are contrary to many other beliefs we hold from the Bible.

Ask yourself whom am I joining “having fun” on this day, known as the day of the dead?  It prompts the next question, what do you believe about the dead?  If the dead are resting until the resurrection it is one thing, but if the dead are abiding as either souls or spirits (uncertain by most Christians and other faiths), then this day invites to experience their treat.  Again the Biblical teaching on this is also clear – there are no spirits of the dead, such are demonic tricks.

Apostle Paul in his letter to Corinthians states that other religions are demonic: 1 Corinthians 10:20-21: "But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God..” Hence, things that have origin in such religions have clear association.

That is why this particular day and events associated with it open the door to the occult and can introduce forces into people's lives that they do not understand and often cannot combat. 

Study the issue, before you make a rush decision, or justify it by “other Christians” opinions.  Examine your own worldview, your faith, and know that Seventh-day Adventists are peculiar people, because we differ from the majority opinion as we seek the truth as it is in Jesus.

ADVENTIST IDENTITY – IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

I am reflecting on the message I preached last Sabbath, praying that the Holy Spirit would communicate where my words fall short.  As “adherents” of our denomination celebrate the 150^th anniversary of the Seventh-day Adventist name there is also a question “what relevance does it have today?”  From week to week I interact with people who consider themselves “adherents” to the name, and mark even on the census that they are “SDAs” yet they have nothing to do with core beliefs, mission, community or work of the Church that is called so.

“Seventh-day Adventist” name communicates faith in the miracle making God, creating the world in six days, and coming again to re-create and restore this sin-damaged world.  It is a sermon in itself rooted in the past work of Creator God and the future hope of the Redeeming God.  We know the great beginnings we have had, and we know the glorious promise we are anticipating! But, what about now, the present?

It is from the story of Moses that I shared with you the search for identity.  Exodus 33 records Moses dialogue with God.  Israel knew where they were coming from, they knew the promise given to Abraham and their fathers, and they knew the recent deliverance God worked miraculously for them to exit Egypt.  They also knew the future where they were going to – the Promised Land!  And, (here is the key!) Moses understood that past and future must be connected by the Present.  His plea with God was to walk with them, to have His Presence, His Face be with them, or without His Presence they would not move a mile!  Verse 16 tells us that what really made them (Israel) different from all other nations was not their skills, gifts, possessions, past or future, but God’s Presence in the Present.

The Seventh-day was special not only because God created, but because in that day God walked with people and people were in God’s direct presence.  The Advent of the New heaven and Earth is special not only because of peace and wonders it offers, but because God’s Presence will be experienced face-to-face again!  And it is during this “between” time, the present, that we need God’s Presence. What makes us really special is God’s Presence in our individual lives! Seventh-day Adventist identity is not in the monumental name or momentous hope, but in the present living real relationship with God, knowing His ways, knowing His will, having the Kingdom love among ourselves!

REFLECT THE MERCY OF GOD

C.S.Lewis was asked what is the most notable difference in Christianity – his answer was simple – God’s Grace.  God’s undeserved favour to us is at the centre of Christian experience.  Bible teaches “Freely receive freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)  God’s mercy expects those who have received grace and mercy to pass them on to others.  The only people to whom Jesus was not  merciful were those who did not show mercy to others.

This week I looked over an article published in Adventist Today magazine entitled “Why are they leaving?” where author interviewed people still in the church but about to leave, and those who have left, giving following responses: “The church has nothing for me anymore, the service is stodgy and impractical -- it doesn't help me get closer to a living God, it just feels like an appeasement to the gods of tradition."  Another exclaimed, "You go to church and you feel so silly! Why are we doing these things?! Our lives are falling apart, we are seeking God like starving people, and yet we line up in a place to be spectators and chant? Really?!" A comment came from a brave dedicated soul: "I love the SDA church. I am trying to stay in. But I am terribly bored and I'm also very alone. I don't know how long I can last." 

As I read through I wondered “Where is the Grace?”  Believers coming together, the Body of Christ being assembled corporately is to be about experiencing and giving the Grace into peoples lives.  Yet we constantly hear about how people feel being “judged” in the church.  I think pride leads people to conclude that others are more in need of judgment and criticism than we ourselves are.

Today Canadian society is readying for a long weekend – the Thanksgiving weekend.  It is a good reminder for us all to give thanks first to God for His mercy and favour on us, and to give thanks to people around us through whom God’s grace and favour was enacted.  And also – give grace to others, show favour, make people around you special.  If there is someone who you withheld your grace, forgiveness, mercy, favour from – change it today.  Make a difference, make our church experience on of Grace which is so much needed in this hurting world.

CELEBRATING OUR IDENTITY

150 years ago on October 1, 1860 pioneers of our church chose the name “Seventh-day Adventist.”  Today our church celebrates this anniversary world-wide.  Next Sabbath I will present a Biblical message on the significance and meaning of our Name and purpose of our Identity.

I invite you to look again at “what does it mean to be a Seventh-day Adventist in the twenty-first century?”  During this week our media, HopeTV, 3ABN, and other channels will provide multiple programs commemorating this anniversary, and I hope that it will help our members recover and enhance our Adventist identity as well as regain a healthy pride in being a Seventh-day Adventist.

I remember hearing a “criticism” in the past that Adventists are “more heavenly minded than earthly good,”  as people were more occupied with witnessing and sharing about God than about material things and pursuing worldly matters.  But I wonder if that pendulum swung in the opposite direction.  As I reflect on the mid-week prayer gatherings (which are growing, praise God!) I recall this paragraph written in 1871 “Some, fearing they will suffer loss of earthly treasure, neglect prayer and the assembling of themselves together for the worship of God, that they may have more time to devote to their farms or their business. They show by their works which world they place the highest estimate upon. They sacrifice religious privileges, which are essential to their spiritual advancement, for the things of this life and fail to obtain a knowledge of the divine will. They come short of perfecting Christian character and do not meet the measurement of God. They make their temporal, worldly interests first, and rob God of the time which they should devote to His service. Such persons God marks, and they will receive a curse rather than a blessing.” (Testimonies to the Church, Vol.2 p.654)

We are called to be heavenly minded and do God’s Will on earth.  What do people in our community know about Seventh-day Adventists?  Tomorrow Adventist churches across Ontario will go into community with different acts of service, from simply giving away water to people on the street to distributing literature, to raking leaves, to... you get the point – loving acts of kindness, with intent to introduce ourselves. 

What real difference are you as a Seventh-day Adventist making in the lives of your neighbours, your employees, your coworkers, customers, schoolmates, not-yet-Adventist relatives?

If our local church or school closed today would anyone in the community notice?  If not, what do we need to do to change that?  What more should our congregation do to share the good news of Christ’s soon return?

I invite you to think and pray this week about how could you as individual be more effective in inviting others to join the worldwide Adventist movement?  And how can we make our Seventh-day Adventist congregation more attractive and meaningful to the community.