Bonners Ferry SDA Church and School

Information is available for our 2010 Northern Idaho Regional Campmeeting!
Visit the Campmeeting website at http://campmeeting.bfsda.org

The Great Controversy between good and evil is a war between the way of life and the way of death. The way of life is an intentional transformation from self-centering to God-centering, that is, from seeing ourselves as the center of our world, to seeing kindness toward God and all of His people as the central feature. We move from existing as self-interested cartoon mercenaries, to other-interested servants of Christ. We become truly human, i.e., people as God designed and planned for people to be.

In contrast, the way of death keeps self at the center. It sees life and the world in terms of exploitable objects. All ministers to one’s own whims and preferences. It is a journey from potential humanity downward. We choose to reduce ourselves to object status. We become fully-realized cartoons.

So. The way of life, or the way of death—the way of humanity or the way of cartoonification—the way of divine image restored or divine image nullified; this is our journey. From wherever we are today, this moment, we choose our path toward the answer.

Either way there is a washing-out. One is a removal of purities, the other, the removal of impurities. One or the other will be washed out; today I am one step closer to the terminus. Opportunity is knocking and we are answering. Just which opportunity?

(This post is a follow-up to the previous blog post. Please note also that, while we welcome participation by others from the internet, one of the chief reasons for the existence of this blog is to encourage discussion in particular among our Bonners Ferry church members here in Idaho, few of which have so far posted.)

Hello again, everyone. Let us keep in mind that there are both legitimate and illegitimate aspects of Christianity held by believers and churches beside the Seventh-day Adventist. Baptists baptize by immersion, and so do we; it is the biblically-endorsed mode. As a denomination, we accept the immersion baptisms of non-Adventists and permit them to become members through profession of faith. Again, other groups share similar views to our own with regard to the principle of religious liberty and freedom of conscience. Seventh-Day Baptists share with us our convictions regarding the observance of the Sabbath. In some cases we hold views very close to the views of other churches with regard to particular points of salvation emphasis, the Second Coming, missions, or even church standards.

My point is that it is important for us to know that while God has charged us in particular to lead the charge with Present Truth, many of our neighbors are sincerely following the light they have so far had, or some aspects of it. There are places we can build mutual understanding and appreciation from, with Mennonites, Methodists, Mormons, and others. We can and should be living examples of kindness to these, even as we recognize that our own responsibility before God for living the distinct faith He has shown us is very great.

Can we practice both? Kindness and appreciation for the sincerity of others and the deep meaning their own religious faith has for them, and at the same time, a firm resolve to be living examples of Christlikeness and of living and giving the Third Angel’s Message? If so, where are the potential risks and pitfalls? And how can thoughtful behavior bring others to a place where they are more ready to consider that maybe we have something to offer them?

The ABC will be visiting us on this week, which brought up an interesting topic. Recipes!
For those wanting to move away from hamburger, etc., it helps to have great tasting recipes using vegetarian food.
So if you would be willing to share your favorite recipes, we thank you!
And perhaps a new section to the website can be created!
Share your thoughts and recipes…. Thank you!

Hi everyone!

What is a blog? It is a shortening of the word “weblog.” One dictionary says that a “blog” is “a website on which an individual or group of users produces an ongoing narrative.” To “blog” as a verb is to “update such a site publishing new material.” Thus, a blog can be somewhat like a sabbath school class with good interaction among the participants. To blog then, for us, will mean starting the train rolling with an initial post and then carrying that discussion on as far as we wish via each one posting his comments.

So. What shall we talk about? One way is to consider our twofold mission as a people. This has sometimes been summarized with two Bible passages. One is Matthew 24:14: And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” The other is Revelation 14:1-13: The three angel’s messages.

Most Christians have an idea about Matthew 24:14. The gospel must be preached throughout the world. Thus, we have an emphasis on missions. After the whole world has had the witness of the gospel, then and only then will the end come. But there are so many different ideas about what the gospel is that Christians are to give witness too. The Baptist sees it one way, the Methodist, the Charismatic, another. The world is subject to a wide ranging Baskin and Robbins variety of gospel flavors.

This is why the Revelation 14 passage becomes crucially important. It helps us toward more clarity concerning what this gospel is that is to go to all the world. I want to outline these more specific ideas in future blog posts. For now, I want to ask those who have read this the following question:

What effect do you think the fractured “testimony” of Christendom about what the gospel is has upon our credibility? Adventists have often made it a point to seek to be identified alongside other Christian groups. Could there also be an advantage in not being identified with other churches? Looking forward to your response.

Pr. Kirkpatrick

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