The Seventh-day Adventist Dilemma

Created: 08 Dec 2013 / Modified: 26 Dec 2013

Increasingly, we see clashes within our church over our approach to many things, but especially Leadership, Worship, Doctrine and Evangelism. In fact, it has gotten to the point that almost any focus or emphasis on the Law of God, the Sabbath, or the Judgment is seen as being pharisaical or judgmental. These key elements of the gospel, which have historically been recognized as intrinsic to who we are as a denomination, are now seen by many of our brethren as negative needing to be softened, muted or downplayed in some way. The typical statement of concern which is expressed is that we need to preach more about the love of Jesus, and not be so concerned with judging people or focusing on their externals. Certainly, it is possible to preach about the Law, the Sabbath and/or the Judgment without any emphasis on Jesus or His love for us, and unfortunately, there are too many examples of this in our churches today. However, the true and complete message of the gospel is one that combines both love and law; both justice and mercy. We are not preaching the true gospel if all we do is talk about the love of Jesus, without talking about the law of God. Even more importantly, we need to live out both the love and the law of God, just as Jesus lived out His love and His law. Here is the essence of what God is calling us to do as a church: Warn the world about the impending (and ongoing) judgment Show by lifestyle that God's power is greater than Satan's

Bringing the Wrong Offering

Cain found himself outside the will of God because he brought to God the offering that he felt that God would be pleased with, but not the offering that God had instructed him to bring. The folks that Jesus is speaking to in Matthew 7:21 have done many awesome things in the name of Jesus (v22), but He suggests that they haven't done what He wanted them to do (v21) and are thus classified as wicked workers of iniquity (v23).

The 3 Angels' Messages & the Medical Missionary Work

Our mission as a people of God at this time in earth's history is to proclaim that the judgment is in progress. It is not coming it is here. The high points of Revelation 14:6-12 are as follows: The time of Gods judgment has come Worship the Creator God Babylon is fallen, and Gods people need to come out of her Gods wrath will be poured out upon Babylon and those who receive her mark

Revelation 14 is about what we should preach and teach. Another key message for us can be found in Isaiah 58. This message is about what we should do, and can be summarized as follows: Warn Gods people of their condition Show the love of God through active health ministry to others Show the love of God through active care of the sick, hungry, naked and oppressed Restore the knowledge of all the elements of the gospel truth to the world Keep the Sabbath holy

This is blueprint of what we have been called to say and to do. For us to argue that there are better, more effective ways for us to conduct evangelism is to blatantly suggest that God doesnt know what He is doing, as it is He that has entrusted us with this great commission.

The Seventh-day Adventist Dilemma v3 by Andrew S. Baker

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We need not be ashamed of what we have been called to do, for it has been divinely appointed to us. The combined message of the three angels of Revelation 14 is one of both love and of judgment. We should be happy to proclaim that message, not because we are better than anyone else, or are trying to condemn anyone else, but because that is the work that God has seen fit to give to us. If I am aware that a building is on fire, and I refuse to urgently run to that building and call out the occupants from that building, then I am not showing them love. The people in that situation don't need soft, kind words they need a direct, urgent message.

Our Distinctive Doctrines

The gospel is not just about forgiveness, but about restoration. Not only does Jesus declare us righteous (Justification) as we put our faith in Him, but He gives us the power to actually become righteous (Sanctification). Yes, it is true that many of the doctrines that are at the foundation of Adventism were not all invented or discovered by Seventh-day Adventists. Some of the truths of Gods word were rightly understood by believers of other denominations. After all, we received the truth of the Sabbath from Seventh-day Baptists! But it is also true and apparently not widely known that at the beginning of this great prophetic movement, God's remnant people diligently and earnestly studied the Bible to establish their understanding of the doctrines they would hold. This process took about 2 years, during which the brethren gathered together in prayer and Bible study to rightly understand the things that they believed. Thus, even the doctrines that we "inherited" were thoroughly studied and understood through the agency of the Holy Spirit. We did not just take or accept doctrines because others had done so, but, like the Bereans, we studied for ourselves to see whether or not those things were so. Unfortunately, the level of study that I see in the church today does not match the level of study that I saw as I was growing up. Biblical subject matter that I could reasonably learn from 5 out of 10 people in my church growing up, are only understood by 1 or 2 of every 10 people today. There are lots of reasons for this, and I'm not looking to identify or address all of them here, but the point is that even with more resources available to each person today, there is less study and even less understanding of spiritual things. Consequently, there is even less desire to do what we have been called to do to the extent that our mission is even properly/fully understood any longer.

Where We Are Now...

We seem more concerned with minimizing the differences between ourselves and others who claim the name of Christ, perhaps in the hopes that this will allow us to better evangelize. We seem quite reluctant to emphasize that Jesus died to restore us, and not just to forgive us. We also seem reluctant to speak of Christian standards or being separate from the world as though these concepts represent a gospel of works rather than the perfecting of Christian character by the power of the Holy Spirit. We have been given a specific purpose by God to preach a distinctive message to the world. If we are going to sound like every other Christian denomination, then there is really no purpose for our existence. We complete the Great Reformation by bringing back the final element of the sanctuary message, from the final compartment of the sanctuary. No one else can give this message, because everyone else believes that Jesus finished all His work at the cross, and is just sitting around with the Father right now. They cannot emphasize the law or the Cleansing of the Sanctuary because they are not willing to enter within the veil. For us to recognize that no one else can give this message does not make us braggarts or special. It merely makes us responsible. It doesn't mean that we will be saved because we do things or understand things. It means that we will not be lost for failing to do the will of our Father which is in Heaven.

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Knowing & Doing

Knowledge has its place, and work has its place, but these things do not save us. It is Jesus that saves us. It is also Jesus that calls us to know and to do. Both the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy indicate that a lack of knowledge is dangerous, primarily because it can facilitate deception and this will certainly jeopardize our salvation. Thus, deep knowledge of the things of God is actually important, and is enjoined upon us repeatedly by Gods messengers:

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Colossians 2:8
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

2 Peter 3:17
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

Signs of the Times

Christ promises, He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The way is plain; the will of God is manifest. We are not to live in doubt and uncertainty, and to rest satisfied while groping our way without a guide. Jesus does not, after giving us general directions, leave us to guess the way amid by-paths and dangerous passes. He leads us in a straight path; and while we follow Him, our footsteps will not slide. It was Jesus that led ancient Israel, though the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night concealed Him from their view; and in this important period of the worlds history, He will as manifestly lead His people. The path is no uncertain one. The way is marked out, and every step is ordered of the Lord. {ST March 6, 1884, par. 1}

The Review and Herald

It is the first and highest duty of every rational being to learn from the Scriptures what is truth, and then to walk in the light, and encourage others to follow his example. We should day by day study the Bible diligently, weighing every thought, and comparing scripture with scripture. With divine help, we are to form our opinions for ourselves, as we are to answer for ourselves before God. {RH June 28, 1906, par. 7}

We often remember that ancient Israel got too full of itself and believed that it understood and possessed the only way to salvation but that is only a part of their problem. Another issue that they had, was that they spent a great deal of time trying to be just like all of their neighbors instead of being holy and set apart as God had established them to be. We are making the same two mistakes today either believing that we are already fine, OR believing that we need not be distinctive or have a distinctive message. Both extremes are deadly.

The Seventh-day Adventist Dilemma v3 by Andrew S. Baker

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Let us Hear the Conclusion of the Whole Matter...

God's will has been laid out for us in Isaiah 58, Revelation 14 and Revelation 18. I cannot see how we can improve upon God's plan in any way. In fact, the mere thought that God's plan is inadequate and can be improved upon, is what essentially started the Great Controversy in the first place. It would be unwise for us to pursue that path again... We say that we have trust in God, but we are afraid to deliver the message that God has given us, just as Jonah was. And yet, Jonah, with his message of obvious doom (40 days and Nineveh will be destroyed) was the most successful preacher recorded in scriptures. Could it be that the 3 angels' message, with all its supposed condemnation and gloom was designed to have the same effect? Could it be that the way to show real love to people is to be as steadfast as God has requested us to be, be as loving to them as He was to them (and as outlined in Isaiah 58), and show them that the transforming power of the gospel actually changes us? If we are trying to be like everyone else, then there is no reason for them to be like us. If we are busy doing the work God has called us to do, in the manner He has called us to do it, we will find that His power will attend our efforts. Speaking soft words when souls are in such great danger is not an example of love, but an example of negligence. John the Baptist was not called to speak a smooth message nor was Elijah. Our message (Revelation 14:6-12) is an Elijah Message (Malachi 4). Are you prepared to give it faithfully and with the correct sound? (Isaiah 58:1; Ezekiel 3:17; Ezekiel 33:7; 1 Corinthians 14:8)

Resources for Further Study

The following resources are made available to aid believers in their study of the scriptures:

The Key Principles of Effective Bible Study Addressing Biblical Challenges Properly

- http://bit.ly/17vs3LU - http://bit.ly/1dGELKx

The Seventh-day Adventist Dilemma v3 by Andrew S. Baker

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