It seemed good to me also, having had a reasonably accurate understanding of most things from the very recent past, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Brother Gerry…
In this article, I will ask and attempt to answer the following questions:
Are there, in fact, two very clear paths that our people are walking these days?
If yes, how can they be accurately described?
Once they have been accurately described, which one should we follow?
How would we defend our position when we are questioned?
At the outset, I recognize that these matters have been addressed in one form or another by many other people in recent years. That said, it seems that there is room to provide a somewhat different approach to the description of the issues and potential remedies we may do well to consider.
The Two Paths
1. Path #1: Our goal is to maintain the Institution known as the Seventh-day Adventist Church
2. Path #2: Our goal is to fulfill the Gospel Commission Jesus gave us as articulated in Matthew 28:18-20
What would those two paths look like if we carefully considered the priorities we would set in our attempts to reach our goals?
Path #1: Maintaining the Institution
Institutions need specific things in order to grow and prosper
These things include, but are not limited to:
Funding
Societal Recognition
Favorable Relationships with Those in Power
A Recognizable Spirit of Cooperation with Other Players on the World Stage
Path #2: Fulfilling the Mission
Expenditures on Institutional Assets would be Measured based on “Kingdom Value”
How does the Investment we’re considering Facilitate the Fulfillment of the Mission?
If it doesn’t do so, we don’t do it!
Actions Taken would be Evaluated based on the same Criteria
How does this Action bring More Souls into God’s Kingdom?
Path #1: Hypothetical Specifics
We Might:
Invest in a Global System of Educational and Healthcare Entities
Create a Global Disaster Relief Agency
Establish a System of Governance that is Driven by Multiple Layers of Church Bureaucracy
Form Alliances with Governmental Agencies in the Interest of Obtaining Recognition, Funding, and ‘Influence’
In the words of Jacopo: “How is this a bad plan?”
Path #2: Hypothetical Specifics
We Should:
Invest in a System of Governance and Institutions only to the extent that They Facilitate the Fulfillment of the Mission!
Focus on our Core Calling: the Proclamation of the Three Angels Messages to a Lost and Dying World!
Maintain the Central Focus of this Work in and through the Local Body of Believers!
Practice an ‘End to End’ Process of Discipleship – From Education to Multiplication!
Supporting Evidence
Acts 15:1-7 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." (2) Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. (3) So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. (4) And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. (5) But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses." (6) Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. (7) And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.”
From there onward, they listened to the testimonies of:
Peter
Paul
Barnabas
Simon
The Product of this Discussion was a Letter Written back to the Brethren Who had Made the Inquiry
Simple, Straightforward, Efficient and Effective
How Do We Do It Today?
Layers of Institutional Bureaucratic Hierarchy
Local Church Board
Church in Business Session
Conference Constituency
Union Meetings
Division Meetings
General Conference Sessions
Top-Heavy, Inefficient, often Ineffective
Path #1: Real-World Specifics
We Have (in fact):
Pursued and Obtained Government Funding
Formed Alliances with ‘Babylonian’ Organizations
Increasingly Aligned our Official Statements with Theirs
Ignored the Voices coming from Significant Numbers of our Local Church Members (essentially ignoring the example set in Acts 15)
Etc, etc, etc…
This IS a bad plan!
Path #2: Concrete Specifics
We Should:
Learn to Operate Solely on What our Lord Provides
Sever Alliances with ‘Babylonian’ Organizations
Eliminate Official Statements Currently Published on our Website (they were sometimes authored by just 1 person)
Listen to the Voices coming from Significant Numbers of our Local Church Members
Etc, etc, etc…
This ISN’T a bad plan…
The Elephant in the Room
Should we leave the Organized Church in the Interest of Creating a New and Better One?
For That to Work, Two Things Would Have to Happen
1: Human Nature would have to be Completely Converted
2: We would have to Miraculously Avoid the Patterns that have Been Repeated since Time (as we know it) Began!
While Victory Over Sin is Required and Possible, we will have our Fallen Natures until Jesus Comes!
Conclusions
Are there, in fact, two very clear paths that our people are walking these days? Yes.
Can they be accurately described? Yes.
Once they have been accurately described, which one should we follow? Duh…
How would we defend our position if / when we are questioned? Preach the Word and Leave the Consequences to God!
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Kevin is a pastor in the Kentucky Tennessee Conference. Prior to that he worked for the Kentucky State Police.
