I've finally realized why . . .

[Jim]

I was lying awake thinking last night, and it finally hit me.

The purpose of the SDA church has always been to expedite the 2nd coming, which is being held back by the fact that the whole world must hear about Jesus before this can happen.

In other words, our goal is to spread the story of Jesus worldwide, as fast as possible, which may or may not result in the people who have been informed of the opportunity for salvatoin actually choosing it.

But regardless of whether they choose to follow Jesus, we can check off that part of the world on our list of places where Jesus needs to be shared before the 2nd coming can occur.

Because pretty much everyone in the US has already heard of Jesus, or at least had the opportunity to hear about him, the US is not a significant issue.

Am I way off, or am I so on that it's uncomfortable?

[cricket]

While this hit you on the head last night, I was watching the film Super Size Me. One of the most striking things in the film is when the narrator of the story asks some young people to identify who is in a picture he is holding. These young people could easily identify Ronald McDonald, but of the four of them, none recognized a picture with a rendering of our Lord.

Quote:

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Because pretty much everyone in the US has already heard of Jesus, or at least had the opportunity to hear about him, the US is not a significant issue.

---

There are still many, many people in the United States who need to hear of our Savior.

Are you aware that the majority of people alive on this earth are under the age of 18? The need for these children to hear the message of our salvation is just as pressing as those adults in other countries.

[Jim]

I completely agree with you Christine!

But as I've watched what the "CHURCH" does as an organization, I would have to say they are blissfully unaware or . . . yeah.

This is in no way to discount what individuals are doing, which is perhaps the most effective way anyway.

[LynnDel]

Only those who are churched in the USA really know about Jesus. The main contact others may have is through hearing profanity. My second year teaching I had an aide, a young man, who told me, "I really don't understand Christianity. I've never gone to church. I've never touched a Bible. Who was Jesus?" Many of my students know nothing about Him at all. The ACLU and others are doing their best to keep them in that state of ignorance.

The people in the USA have the opportunity to learn about Jesus, but the secular world pulls the secular mind away from choices that would help them gain a knowledge of Him. Some approaches to evangelism (flashy TV type with the bottom line of "send money", for one example) do more to prevent the spread of God's love than to help it.

LD

[darlene]

In one of my Sabbath School workshops I included something from the Teen Mission Quarterly for 2nd Quarter 2005 and I want to include it here.

"The SDA Church was born and nurtured in the cradle

of North America. Supported by the prayers and

sacrificial gifts of believers "back home," Adventist

missionaries fanned out across Africa, the Americas,

Asia, Australia, Europe, and Scandinavia; the church

took root and grew where it was planted. Today the

church ministers in at least 204 countries around the

world.

But the growth in members in North America slowed, and

today five of the 13 world divisions have surpassed N

America in membership. While the church rightly

focusses attention on such growing ministry areas as the

10/40 window, millions living in cities and towns across

N. America have never heard the Adventist message.

These people are a distinct Global Mission field."

So, my question is, "If there are those in N America who haven't heard the Adventist message, is just hearing and believing about God/Jesus enough for all to be saved or do we all need to hear the whole message?"

[Amelia]

There is alot of work to be done before our Lord Jesus returns. Light the fires people!

[Yong T Tay]

Quote Darlene:

“So, my question is, "If there are those in N America who haven't heard the Adventist message, is just hearing and believing about God/Jesus enough for all to be saved or do we all need to hear the whole message?"

No, one does not need to hear the Adventist message in order to be saved, although it help to strengthen his faith if he had heard of it. Believing and accepting Jesus as his savior is enough for one to be saved. When Jesus died and resurrected, God had already saved all men (including women) in Christ. But God does not force salvation on any one, only those who believe and accept by faith in Jesus will be saved.

yongttay