The years are flying by and we are still lukewarm and stagnant. What would the Church look like if we implemented God’s clear instructions?
- Our local churches would be healthy, strong, and growing
- Our churches would be safe places for people to meet Jesus and grow in His amazing grace
- Our churches would be connected to community leaders and members
- Our churches would be missed if they closed their doors
- Our churches would have discipleship plans in place
- Our churches would have relevant and modern worship services that connect with most age groups
- Our churches would be visitor-friendly, family-focused, spiritually-balanced, and mission-driven
- Our churches would have 5-10 year plans for church growth, expansion, and church planting
- Our churches would have yearly friendship and traditional evangelism programs
- Our churches would have church boards that begin EVERY church board meeting with evangelism on the agenda
Here are some healthy activities every healthy and growing church would have in the works. Remember: Healthy churches don’t happen by accident. We must work hard to create healthy and safe church environments where people can meet Jesus and grow in His amazing grace.
If we don’t do it… who will?
GES - SDA
March 25, 2017
As a Christian, and as a SDA, I am impressed with two things about your blog. First: you have proven your integrity, and your loyalty. Second: you are standing by, waiting for something you envision ~ but have yet to find. Does that sound about right?
If this is a reasonable assumptions on my part, may I suggest a rather untraditional approach? But let me hasten to add that there’ve been a few other voices along the way that may help shed some light on this lonely journey. I pray the following antidotes may enlarge “the vision.”
“God designs that His people shall be a unit, that they shall see eye to eye and be of the same mind and of the same judgment. This cannot be accomplished without a clear, pointed, living testimony in the church.” 3T:362
Among the precious insights the Spirit has already granted are statements that give notice of vital truths that are yet to be revealed. And we’re told these truths will come from the lips of children if those who might have spoken them will not.
One example: “Those who eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God, will start into action forces that cannot be repressed. The lips of children will be opened to proclaim the mysteries that have been hidden from the minds of men.” TM:116.
Another example: “When God becomes the teacher, He will be acknowledged, His name will be magnified. The students will be as were the young men in the schools of the prophets, upon whom the Spirit of God came, and they prophesied.” CT:373.
One of our prominent educators presented this passage with these remarks: “Does this mean we expect our students to become prophets? – In the sense they know the truth, yes. But do you suppose Elijah expected all his students to become Seers? This testimony simply means we want our young people taught by Spirit-filled teachers.”
Indeed, it does! But this also demonstrates how we as Adventists assert jurisdiction over the prophetic office without even realizing what we are doing – at times even treating the gift as if it were a deadly disease. O for the spirit of Moses: “Would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!” (Num.11:29)
We’re often told there’s no need for more “prophesyings among us,” since our prophet has given us all the truth needed to carry us through… Is this why so many refer to the RED BOOKS as the living testimony? If we could only grasp the purpose of this gift, we would realize that it is still vital to the victory of the ADVENT MOVEMENT.
As a young boy, I often slipped next door to visit “Brother Starr” and listen to his experiences as one of Sister White’s secretaries in Australia. On my last visit he drew a beautiful mother of pearl watchcase from his pocket and said, “Here, I want you to keep this always as a reminder of our friendship, and all I’ve told you.” My heart thrilled to possess such a reminder. This saint was the first to tell me of Ellen White’s burden to see the prophetic office sustained in the remnant church, and from that day I’ve prayed for the restoration of this priceless gift.
In college I sat in Dr. Mary McReynolds’ classes and thrilled to hear this burden expressed again. She often called attention to the repeated warnings that if the “living testimony” were continually slighted it would be removed. Regrettably, such instructors don’t long survive the progressive element. But there was another that voiced such truths; that was Elder M. L. Andreasen.
A special bond developed between us as he sat down beside me in meeting one day. The visiting speaker had just noted the distinguishing marks of the remnant who “keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus” (Rev.12:17; 14:12), concluding that we have a Church that has the gift of prophecy. Elder Andreasen laid his hand on my arm and whispered, “Won’t our dear brother be surprised when the gift is restored?” I put my hand on his and whispered, I’m praying for that day! Tears came to his eyes as he breathed, “I do hope it is soon.” Elder Andreasen also endured censure and finally severance from the ministry for “the testimony of Jesus.”
THE RED BOOKS do speak – if we’ll listen. But just as there is no orchestra without live musicians to play the instruments, “the living testimony” requires live players. And just as the Testimonies foretell, irrepressible forces are yet to be set in motion in this world that will come not from our distinguished theologians and renowned evangelists, but “out of the mouth of babes” ~ from living, Spirit-filled young people.
From these considerations, and the passage from TESTIMONIES TO MINISTERS in particular, it seems we have some things to learn about “eat(ing) the flesh and drink(ing) the blood.” – That is, if we want to understand those “mysteries that have been hidden from the minds of men.”