October 2nd, 2009 What is a “Blog”; Which Gospel to all the World?
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
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Greetings Pastor Larry. This seems a good idea: Is there any limit to the size of our reply?
Thanks for the information on what a blog is. I have often wondered why it is called so.
You have made a very pertinent point about being associated with other denominations. In my opinion we should keep ourselves entirely distinct from them. If we covet being in the good books of other denominations it will eventually lead to compromising our doctrines
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:40 pm
I am a firm believer that when God says “come out of her my people and be ye separate” Rev 18:4 that he means exactly what he says. That we are to be separate from fallen Babyalon. We are to be a distinct people. That would mean that we are not to mimic them in any way. If we mimic them, can we say that we have in fact come out of Babyalon? No, we simply are lusting after the flesh pots of Egypt!
October 3rd, 2009 at 6:57 pm
What would you say, folks, to the ad on page 42 of the Columbia Union Visitor? See: http://tinyurl.com/yfxbd35
The program takes place next week.
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Dear G.M.,
Ohio conference isn’t exactly in our section of the woods. If there is a problem with a program, that would need to be addressed at the level of the sponsoring conference. If an issue cannot be rectified satisfactorily at the level of your local conference leadership, you still have opportunity at your local church to model the best in Adventism. If we model the best we can influence others who might otherwise feel that we are just being negative.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:12 pm
I must say Pr Larry, this is a most thought provoking question.
“Fractured testimonies”equal confusion. The testimony of the Three Angels Message is simple and straight forward. There is no ambiguity there at all.
The effect on our “credibility” is good. It sets us apart quite distinctly. The proof of the power of this “Gospel” will be manifest in the lives of those who receive it and allow it to transform them in such a way as to be distinct from all other so called christians.
October 5th, 2009 at 7:25 am
Christian faiths number in the hundreds not counting the many well known denominations. Of the well known, a person could pick and choose about any brand of lifestyle and behavior one wishes. To the non-Christian onlooker this “fractured testimony” is confusing at best and a turnoff at worst. Is it any wonder the worldling is disinterested? Then one is forced to ask the question, “Is Christendom credible?”. The answer is an obvious resounding no!
Now if we Adventists were to be identified alongside another Christian group, which one would we choose? Who would be given the authority to decide? Just how would this choice be made? And, when the final choice was made how many would be content with it? Within our midst it would fracture us further, not to mention the onlooker’s puzzlement. “What do those Adventists believe anyway?” Oh my, that’s what we have been doing! Perhaps this is why we might not have more joining us?
October 6th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
“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?”
LK, I believe my post was on target in view of the above as this is not just for the Ohio Conference, is my understanding. N.B. “The 2008 conference attracted guests from Canada, Europe, and Australia. The nearly 200 participants included lay leaders, educators, pastors, healthcare administrators, business entrepreneurs,and college and university students.”
I fully realize that Idaho is not in the Columbia Union; however, this might be one of those examples of “fractured testimony.”
If the blog is unreasonably restricted as to content I was not aware of it.
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:49 am
Since this is a site for local church, here is my “two-cents” worth. And maybe this isn’t even the right place for my comments based on the above article but here it is. I pray that I won’t offend anyone with this message.
I must admit that I have some mixed feelings regarding this subject. I understand the need to remain separate by the way we live, based on our beliefs. However, I also feel that we, as a church, need to reach out more, not only to the community, but other churches in our community.
Some people in the community know we are around because of our outreach through the Community Thrift Store, but I feel there is a need to serve and reach out more to our community and other local churches.
Why not invite them to some of the events we have (i.e. cooking classes, health seminars, money mgt classes, or when we have a special guest speaker on a particular critical subject)? (This may have been done in the past but not in the 4 years I have been a member of BFSDA.)
We can and should associate with other denominations, still setting ourselves apart, by providing information and services not offered by any other denomination.
If we are to preach the gospel throughout the world, that should include the whole community and what better way to do that!
March 8th, 2010 at 10:23 am
We should try to be on good terms with others around us. Shared beliefs in every detail are not necessary; there is much that we can agree on. Still, we should not forget that heaven has given to us a very distinct message. By all means let others be invited to events that we hold. We are excluding no one that I know of. But perhaps you are looking for us to be more intentional in the inviting of others. I think it would be good. We will have to work on this, compile a list of those we wish to communicate upcoming events to. Also, we need to establish our credibility with others–something they may or may not concur about. The theological divide is often significant and this is not going to change. The chief variable is our moral witness in the community. By God’s grace, that can change. As we reform our own ways, and become kinder, more morally upstanding people, others will become more inclined to be interested in our faith.