It is my belief that the greatest need in the church today is a resolute commitment to unity and love. This will be the true test of the church. As the Adventist world church grows at a rate of just over 1000 accessions (baptisms and professions of faith) a day with much of that growth taking place in Inter-America, South America, Africa and South East Asia unity by its stated beliefs is being challenged. The application of doctrines across a multiplicity of cultural contexts has begun to fragment the church as sides are taken and rigid stances are adopted. Neither side wins as relationships are fractured and issues remain unresolved. The call for consistency and uniformity across the church in all areas of behavior by administrators forces unity, but leaves schism brewing just below the surface.
I have come to appreciate the need to respond appropriately to critics of the church. It is possible to both intentionally and unintentionally alienate the voice of caution and counsel with poor communication. I also find that if I am off guard, unsure or entertaining proud thoughts I become defensive and consequently close down communication. I believe that starting from corporate leadership a genuine commitment to healthy models of conflict will move the church towards Biblical unity.
My hope for the church is that it will continue to transition from a primary posture of proclamation to one of genuine contextual engagement with wider society. The current Adventist world motto is to “Tell Them.” This call has been expressed by many Adventists across the globe as introducing Jesus with bold humility to unbelievers in relational environments.
I hope that Jesus and a relationship with him will take the highest place in the life of the church. This is where the Jesus of the Adventist messages of Sabbath, health and his second coming is centered on him.
The church is God’s creation for humankind to steward for the glory of God and the benefit of all people. This complex organism of Christ followers exists to worship God, serve each other and the world as they seek to become more like Jesus. As a part of the church, the body of Christ, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is in a position where it can contribute to the mission of the wider Church by elevating forward its emphasis on the three angel’s messages of Revelation 14:6-12 and in particular the first message Revelation 14:7, “Fear God,” he shouted. “Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water.”
The first angel’s message is a call to worship. It is a summons to behold God who is righteous and to honour him as the origin of all things. The traditional focus on belief in truth and right behavior when presented in the spirit of submission to God highlights the relational underpinning of Christianity. God is first. He is foremost. Everything begins with God. We are invited into relationship with God. Therefore before believing, behaving or belonging there is beholding.
Upon beholding God there follows believing in God. As a Christian church, Seventh-day Adventists are rooted in the beliefs described in Scriptures; this is their only creed. Scripture reveals who God is, his actions and his plans through his Son and by his Spirit. The interconnection between beholding and believing is revealed in Scripture and realized through the person Jesus Christ. It is to Jesus that we are invited to form a personal relationship.
The movement to Biblical community as represented by leaders like Richard Rice is integral to the unity that Jesus prays for in John 17. This movement is also vital to fostering relationships between members that extends beyond holding common beliefs. Genuine and deep community provides an environment for robust, mature and healthy conflict. It is also in community where the mistakes of progress are made.
I propose that after “beholding”, “believing” and “belonging” the church consider the idea of “becoming” as opposed to the term “behavior.” This will assist in the assimilation of the church’s newest fundamental belief entitled, “Growing in Christ” into the life of the church.
“Continually committed to Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, we are set free from the burden of our past deeds. No longer do we live in the darkness, fear of evil powers, ignorance, and meaninglessness of our former way of life. In this new freedom in Jesus, we are called to grow into the likeness of His character, communing with Him daily in prayer, feeding on His Word, meditating on it and on His providence, singing His praises, gathering together for worship, and participating in the mission of the Church.”
Beholding, Believing, Belonging, Becoming reflects a Biblical paradigm of the Christian experience that the Adventist church is moving towards. The experiences that these terms represent are intimately interrelated. They present several implications for the church that if considered can strengthen the contribution of the church to the mission of Jesus.
First, the primary role of the pastor can be re cast as the director of people’s focus to “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29) It is a prophetic role and one of leading leaders. The most common role of pastors in Adventist churches is to fulfill chaplaincy and priestly functions. A beholding pastoral role will move pastors from doing all the ministry to vision casting, teaching and training, mobilizing and mentoring.
Second is the commitment of the Adventist church membership to its beliefs that provides a unique strength which can be built upon with the insights of theological reflection. Much of the tensions that arise in the diversity of the church today relates to unidentified embedded theology. Coupled with the challenge of embedded theologies is the need to listen to what the culture is expressing. This facet of theological reflection will assist in navigating the complexities of the global church. Most importantly in the area of beliefs is the teaching of church members to theologically think and study Scripture, church heritage and culture.
Third is that beholding Jesus, believing in Jesus, belonging to Jesus and becoming more like Jesus is a paradigm that is Christ centered. This implication is crucial for the unity of the church because of its emphasis on the person Jesus and the relationship of the church with him.
Fourth is a radical commitment to “belonging” that transforms the typical Adventist church into a welcoming, forgiving and safe place that people can call home. Changing a class room church into a living room or family kitchen church is a movement towards unity and love. This will mean different ways of doing church that could include using structures and systems outside of accepted practice.
I have come to appreciate the need to respond appropriately to critics of the church. It is possible to both intentionally and unintentionally alienate the voice of caution and counsel with poor communication. I also find that if I am off guard, unsure or entertaining proud thoughts I become defensive and consequently close down communication. I believe that starting from corporate leadership a genuine commitment to healthy models of conflict will move the church towards Biblical unity.
My hope for the church is that it will continue to transition from a primary posture of proclamation to one of genuine contextual engagement with wider society. The current Adventist world motto is to “Tell Them.” This call has been expressed by many Adventists across the globe as introducing Jesus with bold humility to unbelievers in relational environments.
I hope that Jesus and a relationship with him will take the highest place in the life of the church. This is where the Jesus of the Adventist messages of Sabbath, health and his second coming is centered on him.
The church is God’s creation for humankind to steward for the glory of God and the benefit of all people. This complex organism of Christ followers exists to worship God, serve each other and the world as they seek to become more like Jesus. As a part of the church, the body of Christ, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is in a position where it can contribute to the mission of the wider Church by elevating forward its emphasis on the three angel’s messages of Revelation 14:6-12 and in particular the first message Revelation 14:7, “Fear God,” he shouted. “Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water.”
The first angel’s message is a call to worship. It is a summons to behold God who is righteous and to honour him as the origin of all things. The traditional focus on belief in truth and right behavior when presented in the spirit of submission to God highlights the relational underpinning of Christianity. God is first. He is foremost. Everything begins with God. We are invited into relationship with God. Therefore before believing, behaving or belonging there is beholding.
Upon beholding God there follows believing in God. As a Christian church, Seventh-day Adventists are rooted in the beliefs described in Scriptures; this is their only creed. Scripture reveals who God is, his actions and his plans through his Son and by his Spirit. The interconnection between beholding and believing is revealed in Scripture and realized through the person Jesus Christ. It is to Jesus that we are invited to form a personal relationship.
The movement to Biblical community as represented by leaders like Richard Rice is integral to the unity that Jesus prays for in John 17. This movement is also vital to fostering relationships between members that extends beyond holding common beliefs. Genuine and deep community provides an environment for robust, mature and healthy conflict. It is also in community where the mistakes of progress are made.
I propose that after “beholding”, “believing” and “belonging” the church consider the idea of “becoming” as opposed to the term “behavior.” This will assist in the assimilation of the church’s newest fundamental belief entitled, “Growing in Christ” into the life of the church.
“Continually committed to Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, we are set free from the burden of our past deeds. No longer do we live in the darkness, fear of evil powers, ignorance, and meaninglessness of our former way of life. In this new freedom in Jesus, we are called to grow into the likeness of His character, communing with Him daily in prayer, feeding on His Word, meditating on it and on His providence, singing His praises, gathering together for worship, and participating in the mission of the Church.”
Beholding, Believing, Belonging, Becoming reflects a Biblical paradigm of the Christian experience that the Adventist church is moving towards. The experiences that these terms represent are intimately interrelated. They present several implications for the church that if considered can strengthen the contribution of the church to the mission of Jesus.
First, the primary role of the pastor can be re cast as the director of people’s focus to “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29) It is a prophetic role and one of leading leaders. The most common role of pastors in Adventist churches is to fulfill chaplaincy and priestly functions. A beholding pastoral role will move pastors from doing all the ministry to vision casting, teaching and training, mobilizing and mentoring.
Second is the commitment of the Adventist church membership to its beliefs that provides a unique strength which can be built upon with the insights of theological reflection. Much of the tensions that arise in the diversity of the church today relates to unidentified embedded theology. Coupled with the challenge of embedded theologies is the need to listen to what the culture is expressing. This facet of theological reflection will assist in navigating the complexities of the global church. Most importantly in the area of beliefs is the teaching of church members to theologically think and study Scripture, church heritage and culture.
Third is that beholding Jesus, believing in Jesus, belonging to Jesus and becoming more like Jesus is a paradigm that is Christ centered. This implication is crucial for the unity of the church because of its emphasis on the person Jesus and the relationship of the church with him.
Fourth is a radical commitment to “belonging” that transforms the typical Adventist church into a welcoming, forgiving and safe place that people can call home. Changing a class room church into a living room or family kitchen church is a movement towards unity and love. This will mean different ways of doing church that could include using structures and systems outside of accepted practice.
