Thursday, November 16, 2006
Future of Adventism
Adventism was raised up to announce the second of Jesus just as John the Baptist was raised up to announce the first coming of Jesus. John lived to see Jesus come. The first generation of Adventists did not. Why are we still here? Is our mission still the same as it was when we began? Could our mission have changed? What is the real mission of the Adventist church today? Is it just to make more Adventists so that in twenty years we can say "There are now fifty million Adventists world wide?"
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8 comments:
At least we would know that 50 million people had been given the message of Jesus soon return and those 50 million would know someone that they have shared the good news with, etc. etc.. We count numbers as we are building New Hope, those numbers add resources and talent and help in the measurement of how successful the efforts have been and where we need to direct resources.
Why are we asking that question? Is it wrong that there might be 50 million Adventists worldwide. Are we assuming that our New Hope version of the gospel is the only right one and that the rest of the church is wrong. If so, heaven is going to be mighty lonesome place. I personally think that the whole church is playing a vital role in the gospel commission and that different approaches will appeal to different people. There are obviosuly a lot of people that our brand does not reach either. I still believe that they also willl share in the rewards.
I think it's a valid question. In 1844 the Millerites predicted the second coming of christ. Because their prediction was of the kind that was either right or wrong and the event predicted was easy to verify or not, believers in Miller's predictions were left no choice but to admit they were wrong and to do some re-evaluation.
Unfortunately, SDA's founders ultimately settled on an explanation that rested on an event that could not be observed (the entering into the Most Holy Place in heaven by Jesus). So the ability to re-examine the basis for the faith has been difficult for the church as a whole to consider.
Nevertheless, the message of a soon coming Christ cannot be continued indefinitely or used as a denomination's reason to be as the years keep going by. It isn't credible to have preached both the soon second coming and the apostacy of other Christian churches if the events predicted by SDAism have simply not come true.
An interesting question is at what level should these questions be entertained? Is it appropriate for us at a local church level to begin disputing Adventism's mission and thereby it's message or should that only occur at the global or national level and by church officials? Should those of us who question aspects of the church's teaching simply depart?
I for one am used to and enjoy worshipping on Sabbath and whatever the theological basis for that day being determined as the correct day, it works for me. I also value the church's stance regarding the separation of church and state, so there is much in the SDA church to commend it. But where does a fair forum for debate on these or other issues take place?
Glenn
That is true Glenn but the apostles also preached the soon coming of Jesus in their time. It did not happen. Daniel foretold of the coming world kingdoms and it was not until many centurys later that we were able to validate the predictions he made. Not seeing the immediate evidence of an event does not make it any less correct or likely to happen yet the messages they all gave were and are still credible. Miller was not entirely wrong and there was some truth in his study results
The events predicted by SDAism are coming true. Virtually every event foretold leading up the return of Jesus are slowly but surely happening before our very eyes. Will you or I actually see it in our life time...I do not know, but I think so. Noah preached for many years, few believed him but the event still occurred. The birth of Jesus was told at the fall of man, nevertheless few took it seriously, but the event still happened. Neither Adam or Eve were able to see the event but they still waited with eager anticipation for the birth of their redeemer, and He did come.
The cleansing of the Sanctuary took place in heaven in 1844, I didn't see it, you didn't see it but we can believe that it still happened because the scriptures reveal it. Do we have a complete understanding of it now, probably not. Did Miller have the whole story at the time of his preaching - we now know that he did not. But, God seems to take His time in revealing truth, dishing it out to us on His time table and not ours. We get truth when we are able to deal with it. I kind of see a parallel between the disappointment in October 1844 and the story of Gideon in battle with the Midianites. God could not use those that were not committed to the battle, they were weeded out. I think the disappointment was designed by God to the same purpose in 1844. Those remaining did not just settle on the only remaining obvious solution to relieve their embarrassment, they went back to the scriptures seeking additional light and they received it. With that light they also understood more completely the commission that was to be their life work - the third angels message. That, I believe is still the commission of the SDA Church today and will be till the return of Jesus
It seems to me that the Church as a whole has in some ways forgotten its role of taking the message to the world. While the majority of SDA members are outside the US and growing, there is still too much complacency in developed countries regarding evangelism. People are too comfortable.
That's just my view coming from Togo where there are only 8,500 Adventists in a country of nearly six million.
Todd
Todd and Laura, great to hear from you. This year, for the first time, our Christmas Love Offering will be given for missions rather than retiring the mortgage or other building projects. We have set a goal of $100,000 that will be divided between International Projects, National Projects, and Local Projects. All these will be serving the community according to its needs. What are your needs in Togo?
There are so many. Something that just came to me this week from the local church. A request to help them finish building a school. There are no Adventist educational facilities. They have one that is only partially finished, but lack the local resources to finish it off. It would be great to help them do that. Just a thought at this point. There are many, many needs and we could easily cater a project to the interests of the church. Perhaps we should continue the discussion via email. Feel free to email me at our new email address: thetoddreeses@gmail.com.
Todd
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