SDA Clergy and Sunday Services

[Gregory Matthews]

A lot of discussion has taken place in this forum that has been related to whether or not SDAs should be involved in having services on Sunday, especially in the morning.  I would like to place this issue in another perspective:

 

Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries (ACM) is a Department in the General Conference and is now leading toward the formation of a Department in the North American Division.  As such it supervises SDA Clergy who are serving as chaplains, some of which are in SDA institutions, but many are in governmental and private, non-SDA positions.  In the United States, all chaplains who work for the Federal government can only be hired with the permission of the endorsing denomination, which for us is ACM.  In addition, once hired, they can remain employed by the Federal government only as long as the endorsing denomination (ACM) agrees.  ACM, as required, only endorses SDA Clergy who are fully  qualified by the denomination to act as SDA clergy.  Presently, ACM, in the NAD, has female as well as male chaplains serving in Federal and other positions.  IOW, we have female military chaplains.   On the world-wide level, ACM currently endorses more than 500 SDA Clergy for service as chaplains.  In the 50 years of service that I have  given to the United States and to the SDA Church, during the 40 years or so that I have been a SDA Chaplain, my credentials have either come from the General Conference of from the North American Division.

 

How does this relate to the question of Sunday services?

 

To put it in a brief statement:  On any Sunday, probably several hundred SDA Chaplains are conducting a worship service, most of which will be in the morning.  They are doing this with the full knowledge and permission of the General Conference/NAD.

 

During the majority of the time that I was a U. S. Army Chaplain I conducted Sunday morning services either on a rotating basis with a couple of other chaplains, or on an every Sunday morning.  On Saturday mornings, when I had soldiers who were without their own transportation, I picked them up, took them to a SDA Church and brought them back to my home to spend a quiet Sabbath afternoon.

 

Did I preach distinctive SDA doctrines?  In every assignment, where I had a responsibility to preach, I spoke on the 3-angels messages of Revelation 14.

 

Once, in Seoul, Korea, my assignment was to a Protestant congregation.  That is all that I did.  As congregational members said to me after a sermon I preached on the 7th day of the week being the Biblical Sabbath,  You really challenged us today.  Don't tell me that one can not preach distinctive SDA doctrines in a Protestant congregation on Sunday morning.  I  have done it.  No, I could not in a congregational sermon tell the people that Protestants were going to go to hell because they worshiped on Sunday.  But, that is not the core of our message.  One can preach the truth of the Sabbath without telling other groups that they are going to hell.

 

Folks, the SDA Denomination does not object to its pastors conducting services on Sunday.  The Biblical position is a positive one for a 7th day Sabbath. 

 

There is nothing new in SDA Clergy conducting a Sunday service.  That in itself is not in violation of the Biblical position.

 

When I once preached, on Sunday morning, to a Methodist congregation, I preached on the primacy of the Word, the Bible and Christ's call  to submit ourselves to whatever the Bible said and wherever it and the Holy Spirit led.

 

I have been asked to  come to other congregations, of other denominations and speak to their members about the beliefs and practices of Seventh-day Adventists.

 

You can come here to CA and debate whether or not SDA Clergy should conduct services on Sunday.  But, be aware that this is already being done and with the approval of ACM in the General Conference.

[bonnie]

A lot of discussion has taken place in this forum that has been related to whether or not SDAs should be involved in having services on Sunday, especially in the morning.  I would like to place this issue in another perspective:

 

No,that is not correct. It is a regular church service similar to what is held on Sabbath.What your responsibilities were in the military is quite different. 

There should be a clear distinction between worshiping on Sabbath and worshiping on Sunday.Bible study,fellowship etc is great,that is not confused by the "unchurched " as Sunday can be a reasonable choice to make between Sabbath and Sunday

[TheCodeMonk]

 

No,that is not correct. It is a regular church service similar to what is held on Sabbath.What your responsibilities were in the military is quite different. 

There should be a clear distinction between worshiping on Sabbath and worshiping on Sunday.Bible study,fellowship etc is great,that is not confused by the "unchurched " as Sunday can be a reasonable choice to make between Sabbath and Sunday

Does this mean that God only wants to be worshipped on the Sabbath?

[Gail]

And what is different between worship on the two days?

[JoeMo]

"Does this mean that God only wants to be worshipped on the Sabbath?"  - TheCodeMonk 

 

"And what is different between worship on the two days?" - Gail

 

Great questions!

 

My personal answer to Gail is "Hopefully; nothing!"

 

By being as SDA, I don't feel like I "must" worship on Sabbath; or that I "must" take time off of my daily routine.  I am thankful that someone turned me on to the Sabbath; so now I "get to" worship on Sabbath; and "get to" take time off of my daily routine.  I am "encouraged" to kick back and enjoy life and love.

     
 

[LifeHiscost]

 

I have been asked to  come to other congregations, of other denominations and speak to their members about the beliefs and practices of Seventh-day Adventists.

 

You can come here to CA and debate whether or not SDA Clergy should conduct services on Sunday.  But, be aware that this is already being done and with the approval of ACM in the General Conference.

I would like to suggest we have Divine guidance that tells us when the edict comes down that there is no choice as to the day to worship except the first day of the week, there will be those who ask the question, "Why did you not tell us?"

 

In context I'm not sure if that was addressed to any group other than those that are aware now, of that reality to come?

 

In the visions of the night a very impressive scene passed before me. I saw an immense ball of fire fall among some beautiful mansions, causing their instant destruction. I heard some one say, “We knew that the judgments of God were coming upon the earth, but we did not know that they would come so soon.” Others, with agonized voices, said, “You knew! Why then did you not tell us? We did not know!” On every side I heard similar words of reproach spoken.{ChS 111.3} 

 

God is Love!  Jesus saves! 

[bonnie]

Does this mean that God only wants to be worshipped on the Sabbath?

If you have read the posts in this topic you already know the answer to that. Not one word has been said to indicate myself or the other Pharisee's among you here believe the Sabbath consists of 2 hours on Sabbath and then you are done till the following Sabbath.

God did sanctify and set aside one day out of the seven as a special day. He did not sanctify seven days or two days so take your pick. That tells me there is something different and unique about the seventh day. 

Among my friends that worship on Sunday there is little besides church attendance for a couple of hours that makes Sunday any different than any other day.Nor do most see any importance in one day over the other. 

As to does God want to be worshiped only on Sabbath? For me,if I were to substitute Sabbath worship and worship On Sunday I do not think He would be pleased as I know the seventh day is the day God commanded,not suggested as a nice idea 

[bonnie]

I have been asked to  come to other congregations, of other denominations and speak to their members about the beliefs and practices of Seventh-day Adventists.

 

You can come here to CA and debate whether or not SDA Clergy should conduct services on Sunday.  But, be aware that this is already being done and with the approval of ACM in the General Conference.

 

 

Being asked to go  to other congregations to preach is a whole lot different than the SDA church holding a weekly Sunday service that for all practical purposes mimics and easily takes the place for some for weekly worship.

There are many things being done in our churches that leave a lot to be desired. One close to us has a weekly Sabbath run to Starbucks so they can serve coffee with the doughnuts. I am quite sure in this case our local conference is well aware of that.

Church is not a entertainment ,it should be interesting and informative but it is not the social hour of the week.