Challenging Articles

[Gregory Matthews]

Stan may set the standard as he produces the English and French editions of the CANADIAN ADVENTIST MESSENGER.  But, I will suggest that on a single issue basis the May, 2015, edition of THE OUTLOOK (the Mid-American Union) sets the standard in several of its articles.  All quotations listed below come from that edition.

From: “The Challenge—Evangelistically, Part 2, by Thomas Lemon, MID-American Union President:

Within my brief lifetime our culture has dramatically shifted from one in which biblical values were simply and rightly assumed to one in which Christian mores are regularly assaulted. . . Today the hedonistic values of the Roman world of the New Testament are clearly on the ascendancy. . . .So how does one evangelize a world that no longer speaks the language of faith? . . .First, it takes more than one method.  A study I read some years ago indicated that a prophecy-based evangelistic event appeals to about six percent of the population . . .

From “God Love Ya’ Mike,”  by Michael Temple, currently a SDA pastor in the Dakota Conference:

I grew up during a turbulent time period in the 1970s and was on the receiving end of emotional and spiritual manipulation by a number of well-meaning members. . . Eventually, I Left the church and God in disgust.

From “He Carries Me Through,” by Rachel Ashworth:

In nearly six years of attending the Adventist Church, Amanda Shaver has rarely had an enjoyable experience. . . . Amanda has suffered from sensory processing disorder, schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder every day since she was a young child.. . . Because a concerned member took the initiative to ask Amanda about her struggles, her church family learned that she had a server fear of men rooted deep in her history of familial abuse. . . .what made the most difference for her was acceptance. . . .It would be easy for Amanda to become angry with God, angry with her church, and quit attending.  So why does she wake up a 4 AM on Sabbaths to physically prepare for the day, practice praise music, and get herself to church week after week? “Because God expects it out of me,” she says.  He told me to.  I love Him and He told me to!”

NOTE: There is much more in the above.

[Bravus]

I'd love to have the ability to read the whole of that first article. Maybe, because I'm just seeing a short piece, it's a quote-mine, establishing a position he doesn't actually hold in order to critique it.

Taken at face value, this statement is deeply problematic: "Within my brief lifetime our culture has dramatically shifted from one in which biblical values were simply and rightly assumed to one in which Christian mores are regularly assaulted..."

Among other things, there's a lot of confusion between biblical values and cultural values.

Anyway, I'll go for a dig. And I do think the broader question of that paper is a valid and interesting one: how do we introduce people to the gospel when (a) they don't simply assume it and take it as read and just switch brands and (b) the gospel has been so egregiously misrepresented for so long?

[Bravus]

Ah, here 'tis: http://outlookmag.org/the-challenge-evangelistically/

I'm not sure there's a lot more there in terms of real, deep answers to the hard questions. Time and stealth seem to be the prescriptions... Realising that archaeology-based evangelistic campaigns are not the solution for everyone seems like a step forward.

I guess I'm partly the wrong audience anyway... because I'm not in the camp that believes SDA Christianity is the right choice for 100% of all human beings.

About 99% of all human beings seem to agree with me, but I guess we could all be wrong...

[Outta Here]

Loved reading the 3rd article. The elder mentioned in the original article is one of the most amazing women I've ever had the privilege to meet. So glad to see a spotlight on one of the many people she has shielded under her wings as they build a relationship with Christ and other Christians. Thanks for sharing!

[LifeHiscost]

 I'm not in the camp that believes SDA Christianity is the right choice for 100% of all human beings.

About 99% of all human beings seem to agree with me, but I guess we could all be wrong...

​According to precedence, not necessarily only 99%.

1Then the LORD said to Noah, "Enter the ark, you and all your household, for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time. ...Genesis 7

26"And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.…Luke 17

…21"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'...Matthew 7  Emphasis theirs'   LHC

OTOH;

16"I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.....John 10

God is Love!  Jesus saves!