Reminding ourselves our Vision

Last week’s Sabbath School lesson posed the question of Unity, and in our class discussion an issue of ecumenism came up.  The question was posed regarding how we should relate to those outside of the Seventh-day Adventist fellowship.  It is common in today’s conservative circles to flung accusations of ecumenism toward pastors who encourage working together with other churches.

On my trip to Oshkosh I picked up two new books from Remnant Publications, going as far as suggesting that anyone who reads non-Adventist authors is a heretic, and attending a non-Adventist institution of higher learning, especially for leadership or theological experience makes one a suspect of peddling a “Jesuit agenda.”  There are fears of ecumenism on the basis of compromising doctrines.  Others say outright that other churches are Babylon and we should not fellowship with them at all.  Some allude that it is the “omega apostasy” to teach spiritual disciplines, to call for cooperation with other churches in the work of social justice.  Major attacks are made on the One Project movement as the “emergent infiltration” into Adventism.  On my way to Oshkosh I got an email from a concerned leader about the main speaker for Pathfinders Camporee, Sam Leonor, being a member of One Project.

As I reflect on current trends, there is strong tendency to promote points on which we differ, to emphasize our uniqueness, to push for greater separation from the main-stream Christianity.  A question I would like to pose to all my readers is this: what makes our Adventist identity, what makes you or your family Adventist?  There are some who do not attend the church, do not support its mission, do not live the lifestyle advocated for in our 28 statements of beliefs, yet who claim to be Adventist, the right ones, with correct views.

Let me make clear where I stand – hating Catholics does not make one Adventist, being suspicious of other Christian denominations and name-calling does not validate our church identity.  Living in a panic mode, buying into every latest conspiracy theorist preaching on setting the next schedule for Christ coming does not make us Adventist Christians.

Biblically there is only one proof and identity maker that we are Christians, that we are Adventist, expecting Jesus to come - the way we love one-another.  Not even how busy we are trying to do community service, but how we treat each other, within the family. (John 13:35)  In fact a family that is at odds with one another, even if it tries to make a community a better place, would eventually cause pain and embarrassment.  Before we consider how we relate to those without, to those outside we must examine our attitudes toward one another, how we love those within, the members of church family.

And once we are loving, habitually tenderhearted toward each other, our purpose is to connect with other Christians!  In the words of inspired writings from Ellen White “we should not build up unnecessary barriers between us and other denominations” (Evangelism, 573); and “Our ministers should seek to come near to the ministers of other denominations. Pray for and with these men, for whom Christ is interceding” (Testimonies 6:78).  On June 13, 1912 in the Review she wrote "let the ministers. . . call the attention of the people to the truths of God’s Word. There are many of these which are dear to all Christians. Here is common ground, upon which we can meet people of other denominations; and in becoming acquainted with them we should dwell mostly upon topics in which all feel an interest, and which will not lead directly and pointedly to the subjects of disagreement”

 The goal and mission of our church is loving people into relationship with God.

Renewing our Vision

Last Sabbath I shared a few of the Teamwork Laws in my sermon and I must emphasize again the importance of sharing common vision as a family, as a church, as a team.  Until all members see the Big Picture of why we are here, there will be no motivation to collaborate together.  When the Big Picture, the Vision of preferred future, the ideal dream is shared, then people team up, work together for that common purpose.

The church ideal is being the Theater of God’s Grace, where every member is a loving servant.  When God’s Grace transforms our nature, our characters to be Christlike, it would be habitual, customary, normal for all believers to minister to each other, to serve one another according to the gifts we receive. God’s Grace blesses us to be a blessing to others. Our bulletin carries the new vision statement as a reminder for all what we are here for.

Over the past few months I had interacted with people from different groups who had left the church for some reasons.  The common factor is that the church was not good enough and they looked for a better place elsewhere.  They either got involved with schismatic groups, or started their own independent house gathering, or just disconnected from the organized church.  Most of the time conversations in such groups circle around seeking for the pure truth, discovering unadulterated gospel, dissecting doctrines to avoid possibility of errors.

Recently I got an email from one person, and I will quote here just some sections, to preserve anonymity and confidentiality.  The individual writes “…Among this movement there have also been a lot of schisms; each accusing the other of not preaching the truth; or of preaching heresy on some point. The desire to have the truth exactly as the pioneers had it has consumed them so that this is all that is talked about. But is there more love amongst them because of it? Is there more preaching the gospel to the poor or reaching out to the lost? No! They reach out mainly to SDAs and create discontent and criticism within the church. So, instead of the church uniting together to preach to people who are hungry for the gospel; hungry for meaning and purpose in life; hungry for unconditional love, they are divided and contentious…”

Truth is not mere prepositional statements, but the Person, Jesus.  The Truth we are to offer people has to be a good news for them.  Theoretical understanding of prophetic charts is not the gospel, but Loving Presence of God in Christ offering us redemption (Romans 5:8) and God’s Love poured and our lives through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5) changing our nature, behavior, conduct and producing the Spiritual Fruit of Love in us (Galatians 5;22-23) – this is the Gospel that the world needs.  Live this Love toward one another!