Author: Andrew Kerbs
Uncertainty and doubt regarding the Advent message create division and lack of purpose. In essence, it creates an identity crisis. Today we are facing numerous distractions that are taking away our focus on the unique message we as Seventh-day Adventists were given as a church to take to the world. A messenger without a message is no messenger at all.
Much has been said lately about unity in the church. In light of the recent talk about homosexuality in the church and women’s ordination the talk of unity stands at the forefront of church discussion. As I’ve witnessed several conversations and engaged in a few debates regarding the topic, it raised a few questions in my mind. While I do not claim to have all the answers, what I found does shed some light on the subject of unity (or disunity, as the case may be) in the church.
I believe the church of today is facing some pivotal decisions in the near future—decisions that will have eternal implications. Given where we stand in Earth’s history, we cannot overstate the significance of these debates that are springing up within the church. In response, the General Conference has appealed for unity.
How important is unity? What emphasis does the Bible or the Spirit of Prophecy place upon it? Are we all just quibbling over minor theological points, or is this really as big of a deal as some seem to think?
Upon reading the Bible it does not take long for one to realize how important unity is to God. But we should also be aware that this unity is of conditional priority. When Christ prays to His Father He asks “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:21) Jesus prays that all may be one. The conditional aspect is that all are also one in Him. The principle one can glean from this is simple: if followers are not one in Christ, they will not be one with each other.
Amos poses a rhetorical question when he asks, “Can two walk together unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3) If two are not united with Christ, can they get along? Not likely.
A disconnect from Christ equals disunity in the church.
The difficulty and challenge arises when the line between the world and the church blurs and the two become indistinguishable. What I mean by this is when we have a church filled with unconverted members declaring Christ with their lips on Sabbath morning, but denying Him in their lives through their love affair with the world. It is not our place to determine who these may be, nor is it our prerogative to do anything about it. The parable of the tares and the wheat give us ample evidence of that.
Our task is to submit wholly to Christ so that He might change our hearts and count us with the wheat. It is never our task to determine who belongs to which group.
However, tares do exist, and it is with this understanding that I state that disunity is not the worst thing that can happen. Ellen White makes a poignant statement in the Great Controversy when she says, “If unity could be secured only by the compromise of truth and righteousness, then let there be difference, and even war.” (Great Controversy 43)
Unity is important, but the unity that should always take priority is unity with Christ, and subsequently an unflinching firmness in His Word. God desires unity. The whole sin problem revolves around separation—separation from God. Disunity (especially in the church) is always a symptom of sin.
When the day of Pentecost came, the apostles waited patiently in Jerusalem as Christ has instructed them. As promised, God mightily poured out the Holy Spirit and the powerful movement of Christianity began. Acts 2:1 says “they were all with one accord in one place.” Admittedly, different texts do not read “with one accord,” but say “together.” Either way, the emphasis remains. They stood united.
The movement that will receive the latter rain will not be a divided and fragmented group. Reading from the Old Testament, it seems quite evident that this movement will cause unity, not the opposite. “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers…” (Malachi 4:5, 6) [emphasis added]
The apostles primarily were concerned with the specific instructions that Christ gave them for their time. They acted accordingly. The same should hold true today. We have a specific set of instructions for our time, and if we act accordingly, we will be amazed with what power the Spirit of God will lift up our church and rejuvenate it with fervor and vitality.
The focus must be on an end-time saving message for a dying world. That is the message that came out of 1844 and it is the final message that is to be given in the power of Elijah to a world on the cusp of eternal ruin. But Satan seems to be doing everything in his power to distract and dilute the message so that the end result is a disoriented messenger unsure of his real priorities.
Ellen White remarked that, “It was not the proclamation of the second advent that caused fanaticism and division. These appeared in the summer of 1844, when Adventists were in a state of doubt and perplexity concerning their real position. The preaching of the “midnight cry” tended directly to repress fanaticism and dissension. Those who participated in these solemn movements were in harmony; their hearts were filled with love for one another and for Jesus, whom they expected soon to see. The one faith, the one blessed hope, lifted them above the control of any human influence, and proved a shield against the assaults of Satan.” (Great Controversy 398)
I am not attempting to debate theology, but to illustrate the overarching principles that I pray are the central guiding force in every Christian’s life. This principle is unalienable devotion to Christ and His will as set forth in His Word, the Holy Scriptures.
Social justice, humanitarianism, education reform each has its place. But we stand in grave danger when any one of these begin to take center stage at the expense of the Christ-centered end-time message we were given. In our modern age of activism, equality, and liberalism (both political and religious) it is quite trendy and popular to fight for these things, thus, it is all the more necessary to be aware of the potential distraction that exists.
Whatever we strive for, I pray it is by the guidance of God’s Word. Emotional arguments can be the most compelling, as well as the most dangerous. I am wary when I hear a brother propose and defend a position based solely upon an emotional and cultural defense. We need the Word at the heart and soul of our church like never before. If we find our church fragmenting and drifting in different directions, perhaps it is because at some point we cut loose the Anchor!
As Sister White acknowledged, the disunity our church faces tends to result when there is an uncertainty of our message. These currently debated issues in our church are not unimportant, therefore I hesitate to call them distractions. However, they are not the focal point of our message, thus “distraction” is the best term available. We stand in the time of the end. Our church possesses a unique saving message for a fallen world meant to go out before the return of Christ. But we are not united on the giving of this message.
Call it what you will, it is my fervent prayer that all who read this regardless of their stance on these current issues dividing the church will take the time to prayerfully reevaluate where they stand in regards to God, His Word, and His end-time church.
Too much uncertainty swirls about the church today. Too many secondary debates are in danger of detracting from Christ and the end-time message He has entrusted to us. As I suggested earlier, we are facing an identity crisis. Who are we as a church? Who are we going to be? These are legitimate questions that need real answers as we move forward.
At this point in earth’s history, distractions are fatal. Though I am sympathetic to the concerns of those currently involved in these ongoing debates, it is my fervent prayer that we not let sideshows become the main event—and the main event is the return of Christ!
Unity is vitally important. Christ is more so. May we focus on Him and in the power of His Spirit finish this work together!
Source: http://awkerbs.wordpress.com/
Ron Welch
January 5, 2013
Important issues can be distractions from vital issues. The main issue that should absorb Adventist discourse is the Dan.8:14 cleansing of the sanctuary and how we can help God prepare a people to stand in His literal presence at the end of this age. The second coming hinges on it. Anything else is a distraction if it obscures this doctrine that is our only distinctive contribution to the Protestant Reformation.
Ken Lytle
January 5, 2013
If we breakdown “helping God prepare a people to stand in His literal presence at the end of this age,” it would be… 1.) helping people truly meet and know Jesus and 2.) teaching our men and young men how to be Godly leaders in the home and church. I personally believe that many of our churches are filled with people who are not truly converted or surrendered. As for our men… the reason many of our churches are dysfunctional is because many of the families that make-up our churches are dysfunctional. Healthy families = Healthy churches —> Healthy churches = Growing churches The Bible says the harvest is ripe, but the workers are few. ALL converted church members would be workers in the harvest. Let’s pray for a revival!!!
Ron Welch
January 5, 2013
We have been praying for revival for over a century. Sunday keeping Christians pray for it also, and revivals come…and then go. My contention is that there is an issue, THE issue, that will bring the kind of revival God has been waiting to bestow since 1844 that will be conclusive. Let me bring in the late Donald K. Short with an excerpt from his “Why the Delay” pp.3-5.
“That which was not understood in Daniel’s day has come to be a basic truth of Seventh-day Adventists. His prophecy sets forth a time, which when expired, would usher in an event unique in all history. The question before the church today is whether we believe what he said and if so, are we willing to face the issue.”
“His prophecy calls for a time when type meets antitype; when 4000 years of symbols in the tabernacle services and in heaven itself meet the culmination of the plan of salvation as sin is blotted out of the sanctuary and out of the human heart. In this agenda, after the year 1844, a new work is to be accomplished comparable to the ceremonial day-of-atonement in Old Testament times. No day was of greater significance to ancient Israel and in the light of Daniel’s prophecy no day will be of more importance to the remnant church. In this scenario, the second coming could not take place until the 2300 ‘days’ (years) were finished.”
“But at any time soon after 1844, when His people have permitted Him to prepare them, Christ could have returned.”
“This planet can only become progressively worse until there is a people who can stand in the glory of the Lord’s righteousness which is a consuming fire to sin(2 Thess. 2:8).”
I believe Satan understands well the overwhelming importance of this issue as described by Short, and is doing his best to sidetrack Seventh-day Adventists with a multitude of issues, viable as they may be, as long as we leave THIS issue alone.
Andrew Kerbs
January 5, 2013
“I believe Satan understands well the overwhelming importance of this issue as described by Short, and is doing his best to sidetrack Seventh-day Adventists with a multitude of issues, viable as they may be, as long as we leave THIS issue alone.”
I couldn’t agree more. Daniel 8:14 was the impetus that lead us to 1844 and the sanctuary and it is the messages of Revelation 14 that are our end-time message we ought to be focusing on. Rightly understood, Jesus is at the center of all of these.
Ron Welch
January 5, 2013
Books should be written on this topic, sermons preached, seminars given, courses offered, Bible studies studied, songs written and sung, websites developed, but instead we hear silence from places and persons who should be leading the way. It must happen eventually or else we have nothing to look forward to except more funerals including our own. I do not think I’m being pessimistic, just realistic. If you knew me, you would know that I am not a pessimistic person by nature.
This topic of the cleansing of the sanctuary and ancillary truths connected to the end have bugged me since my youth. I have asked pastors about it and have been shrugged off. I am now 59 and it’s more pressing than ever. Adventists need to wake up and realize this is the only reason we exist. Any other Christian organization can take up where we would leave off if we disappeared from the scene, such as the Sabbath, 2nd coming, state of the dead, health message, etc. But the Sanctuary message? It’s the very reason for our existence and we are ignoring it. Many no longer believe it. Probably the majority of youth in our church don’t even know what it is much less understand it.
By the way Andrew, your picture indicates you are young. That’s encouraging. May your tribe increase exponentially.
Ken Lytle
January 6, 2013
I agree that we need to focus more on the Sanctuary Message. I know Adventists who are embracing cheap grace over the Sanctuary Message. Many are quickly accepting the evangelical teaching that sin does not matter… Jesus finished His work at the cross.
Andrew Kerbs
January 6, 2013
Not to shamelessly promote myself, but that’s exactly what my latest published article in the Review was about. “The Incomplete Gospel,” Oct. 18, 2012. It is indeed a pressing issue.
Ron, I am currently 24.
Ron Welch
January 6, 2013
My wife and I just returned from a vespers at our church. We are having ongoing conversations among ourselves as a church about our future direction. We are currently without a pastor which, in my opinion, is not necessarily a disaster. But I did get a positive response from my fellow believers that we need to have a clear understanding of what the fundamental message is that we have to offer in this community that other Christian churches don’t have. They agreed. I mentioned the sanctuary message with it’s specific end time emphasis on cleansing. Again, they agreed. More conversations to come.
Ken, Adventists have been buying into the gospel of the evangelicals for the past 60 years and giving up our distinctive Advent understanding of a people cleansed and sealed for the literal/personal appearance of Christ. But somehow, the emphasis of that understanding must be brought back. I think Brinsmead tried to do it in the early 60s’ but somehow got off track. Oddly enough, the GC used Ford to help sidetrack him, and then they went after Ford because he took his evangelical understanding of the gospel to it’s logical conclusion that there is no sanctuary in heaven, etc. Today the church is in no-man’s land. We have not officially cast off the sanctuary/atonement/final cleansing understanding, but on the other hand we are simply ignoring it. In some quarters it is being openly ridiculed.
But somehow, somewhere, it must be resurrected.
Ken, I’m glad you are 24. I wish I was 24 again and knew what I know now.
I believe this church will ultimately fulfill the purpose God has always had for it. I just don’t want to be 100 years old and senile when it finally happens!
Ken Lytle
January 6, 2013
@ Ron – I wish I was still 24… I’m 37. 🙂
As for getting back on track as a Church, this statement from the Spirit of Prophecy gives us an idea of what needs to happen if we are going to see a revival take place… “I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen, and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this will cause a shaking among God’s people.” –1T 181 (1857).
When more and more church members stand up and speak up for Jesus in the Church, our (God’s) Church will begin to shake like never before. If we are grounded in Jesus and His truths, we will not be shaken out (including the Sanctuary Message).
Ron Welch
January 6, 2013
I meant Andrew. But I’m glad to hear you are both fairly young. This provides a sense of hope. The youth of today can start a revival, and I will be glad to help.
Yes, the straight testimony is needed. Let’s just be sure we understand what it is. I’ve seen some who think it’s a stern call for rigid legalism.
This website encourages me.
Engel Yoder
January 8, 2013
Great article, great comments, and I concur entirely with everything said. One question comes to mind that I will direct to all of you: “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Ron Welch
January 9, 2013
Engel, let me offer a partial answer to your question. Each individual can use his/her influence in our local church to kindle interest in these vital truths. If we have opportunities to preach, teach, or influence others in any way, take those opportunities and with much prayer and study, use them to help others catch the vision.
To the website administrator I would say, please provide more articles along these lines. I wish somebody would write a book review on this site covering “The Sanctuary Restored” by Peter C. Jarnes. A Google search will find resources for this out of print treasure.
Andrew Kerbs
January 9, 2013
I agree with you, Ron. As a contributor to this site, I’ll strive to continue to write on this topic as it certainly is the commission of the Seventh-day Adventist church I believe. I’m not familiar with Peter C. Jarnes’ book; I’ll need to look into it.
Engel Yoder
January 9, 2013
Ron, our individual influence at the local level is indeed invaluable, just as any Christian’s individual influence in spreading the gospel is invaluable. I’m grasping for ways a united effort to bring Adventism back to its roots can be launched, as I’m painfully aware of what seemingly insignificant influence I have individually. But past attempts at a united effort have not accomplished their objective. I will definitely check out your book recommendation.
Andrew, the commission of the SDA Church is indeed to proclaim the message of the sanctuary and its cleansing, and this must go well beyond the theory of it all to include the practical application. What effect does the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary have on me? Or better, what effect does my life have on the cleansing of the sanctuary? This is to ask, how does the cleansing of the sanctuary interface with God’s people on earth?
As I understand it, the Adventist church is not only commissioned to proclaim the sanctuary message, it is commissioned to lead the way by example and to model the sanctuary message (what better way to proclaim it?). And the fulfillment of this commission is in fact the principal prerequisite for the Second Coming. Yet here we are, to a great extent absorbed and nearly obsessed with ancillary issues. An identity crisis of cosmic proportions!
Andrew Kerbs
January 9, 2013
Ron and Engel:
It is encouraging to receive this feedback from both of you. One of the most helpful and practical things we can do right now is continue to speak out–AND live out the application of these great truths in our daily lives. This website, Advent Voice, needs to be known. I read articles in Spectrum and Adventist Today and I am wary of the direction our church is going. Thus, my interest in taking part in the ministry underway here on AV. Word of mouth is the most powerful resource we have at this point. The two of you have found and followed the articles on this website, but tell any other concerned Adventists you may know about it. There are many others out there who share the same concerns as we do–the key is to find them.
Ken Lytle
January 9, 2013
Good discussion going on here. As the founder of this website, I can say I have not covered this topic like I should. I will be adding a “Sanctuary Message” tag and subject title asap. I hope we can get enough support to take this website ministry global. The internet is a wonderful tool to reach Adventists all around the world. Lord willing, we will have the financial support to sponsor a booth at the next GC Session. This would give us a great opportunity to reach thousands of Adventists with this important message.
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