A Land of Many People Groups

[Gregory Matthews]

Quote:

It looks like volunteering at ADRA is more like applying for a job. They'll accept you if they want you. You can't just walk in off the street and go somewhere to help out.

That is true for many of the volunteer programs run by the SDA Church.

It is true that just about anyone may be able to go on a short-term volunteer trip that only lasts for a couple of weeks. But, it is much less true for volunteer programs that last for months. The reason is that many of the so called developing countries have much stricter visa requirements. They may require very specific educational and/or professional certification requirements before they will grant a visa. And, the education may be required to be from accredited schools.

In the old days, it did not have to be that way. But, those days have changed. Countries are not often much more selective as to who they allow in for extended periods of time.

[Tom Wetmore]

Then there is the responsibility that organizations, such as, ADRA, must take or have imposed upon them for the actions and well being of those volunteers. While that can include the negative, being held liable for the bad conduct of volunteers working on behalf of the organization, it also includes responsibility for their basic necessities and well being while serving. In many of the activities ADRA is involved with, there are substantial risks to the workers and volunteers and considerable expense to arrange the the logistics and support for those activities.

This brings up another point that seems to always come up in these discussions - individual responsibility vs. collective responsibility. Yes, it is clear from Scripture that individually we should care for the poor, etc. But it is also clear that God's commands to do so was directed to the people collectively, and yes as a nation. Why? Because the problems are far bigger and more complex than what individual effort and resources can solve or even have more than a negligible impact. It require coordinated effort and collective resources. And the problems are bigger than charities and churches can do.

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

scripture is irrelevant in these kind of discussions. Politics and culture trump scripture.

Does that pertain to winning the argument, or telling Truth? I have found the statement above to be very appropriate when applying it to the yoking of religious control and civil governmental control, which is well on its' way to being accomplished in the very near future from what can be seen in the news headlines and all are advised to be prepared for.

"And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's."Luke 20:25 KJV

By the decree of enforcing the institution of the Papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with Spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and Republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan, and that the end is near.—Testimonies for the Church 5:451.

them in setting aside the commandments of God for the precepts of men.{DD 32.1}

Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience. {DD 32.2}

God cares! Jesus saves!