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Why I Don’t Want to Be a “Historic” Adventist — 58 Comments

  1. AMEN!!! Well said. I think that a church that refuses to adapt to the times and situations we are living in, while still maintaining the Biblical truths, has difficulties surviving and loses people that are surviving in today’s world, especially young people. Wake up churches!

    (20)
  2. Well said Marcos, I totally disagree with your perception. Sabbath worship time should not be based on historic events but should be Biblical. In the book of Genesis, after creation God sanctified the seventh day- 24 hours.Therefore the whole day is dedicated for worship not man to choose. Why would man want to fix his own time while God Himself gave direction by resting on sabbath?

    How do you go to work on sabbath.This is from your example, "there are more people working night shift today than ever before which means there are millions who are not even awake at 11 AM on Sabbath because they only got to bed at 6 or 7 AM that very morning".

    (26)
    • I think you are missing the point of what's being said. He's not talking about changing the Sabbath, he's talking about changing the time for corporate worship. The Sabbath lasts all day long, not just in the morning. And yes, there are people who work on Friday nights for various reasons: some are nurses or doctors who must be on call for their patients. And some don't even know about the Sabbath yet, but are interested in coming to church and are halted by their work schedule. It's just a different way to provide an opportunity for everyone to fellowship and worship God together.

      (42)
      • "And some don't even know about the Sabbath yet, but are interested in coming to church and are halted by their work schedule." So what do I do when I really want to worship on the Sabbath, but my work time does not allow this (not a nurse or doctor or any other essential services job)? Work is not easy to get for Seventh-day Adventist(in my neck of the woods). What to do I have seen many people committing to church but leave because work is hard to get. Pray for us, that our faith in God is strengthened as to choose the right thing.

        (1)
        • You are not the first nor the last to have your faith tested like that. At times like this, we need to ask ourselves the question, "Will I trust God to look after me when I serve Him according to His will, or do I trust my own abilities to make a living."
          Remember the story of the 3 Hebrews who had a choice to bow down to a golden image or be thrown into a fiery furnace heated 7x hotter than before? What happened to them? If you lack faith and courage, please re-read Daniel 3 - the whole chapter.
          Note how the Son of God Himself came down to walk with them in the fiery furnace. If they had bowed down to the image, they would have missed the company of the Son of God at the very least, and this compromise could have led to their losing eternal life.
          Do you believe that God is just as able to deliver today as He was in the days of Shadrach, Mesach and Abednego?

          (4)
  3. How do you work on Sabbath how do you only arrive from early hours of sabbath morning. I mean how to you publish this article. Remember the Sabbath please. Change is good but it should never be for your selfish reasons

    (4)
      • Thats the idea 🙂 And may I add its just an example of how innovation and tradition are always in conflict. We need to be careful to not worship what God has done in the past while forgetting to worship God himself

        (6)
    • Natalie and Pamela, those who work the night shift create new sleeping patterns and routines. They don’t change on weekends and then go back to the routine during the week. So there are Sabbath keepers who work night shifts. They may not work Friday evenings, but are already in the habit of going to bed in the early morning and waking up later in the day. I have family members in healthcare that work these shifts. Wouldn’t it be nice to provide options for them that better met their schedules? If we looked at it from the inverse perspective, church would start at 11pm at night. If that we’re te case, I doubt many, regardless of their convictions, would make it a regular habit to attend.

      (4)
  4. "[W]e have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history."--"Life Sketches," p. 196.

    History is one way that we come to know God and His love and concern for humanity, His hatred of sin and its results, His way of showing mercy to thousands who love Him and keep His commandments, but who in nowise excuse sin.

    We are counseled to rehearse our past history so that we never forget the purpose for which the Lord raised up this remnant church, so that we never forget "our position and work" before God and before the world.

    True, we should be as Paul who said of himself that he had become all things to all men that by any means he may save some. He was adaptable in the sight of the Lord, being true to God, first, but being relatable to the people, secondly. However, we should not forget his undying regard and love for his own people (cultural, religious, historical). He was to his death a "Hebrew of the Hebrews" being true its historical, religious, and cultural heritage, while making it clear in his teachings that those things that belonged to the old covenant (rites and methods - established of God - that were a "shadow of things to come") were passing away. Yet, in his last journey to Jerusalem, it is clear that he still observed the feast of Passover, even the rites of purification.

    Although our methods may/should be adaptable to the people and culture to whom we minister, we should never abandon our core values, our culture, and especially our religious teachings.

    (20)
  5. How can it be that a Friday nightsift can be ok even to the point of moving Sabbath school and devine service to the afternoon. This disturbs me.I am disturbed at the thought that the borders of the Sabbath are no longer observed.

    (14)
    • I'm sure Marcos will explain himself, but I don't see that he wrote that Friday night shift is "ok" for Seventh-day Adventists. On the other hand some church members, such as nurses, do have to perform necessary services 24/7, including Friday nights. Consider what it would mean for patients if no doctors or nurses looked after them on the Sabbath.

      (29)
    • It's always been interesting to me that we have the Jewish people who have continued the worship from it's inception. We simply moved the time on Sunday to Saturday. It doesn't make it sacred time. What ever happened to Friday night services. I served in the military and attended many Shabbat's on Friday night.

      (2)
  6. ..."For example, there are more people working night shift today than ever before which means there are millions who are not even awake at 11 AM on Sabbath because they only got to bed at 6 or 7 AM that very morning...."
    Is this advocating allowing for people working on Sabbath?

    (4)
    • I don't thinks it's advocating anything other than having a church service that those people could come to. However, I'm sure we all know Adventists who work in the medical field.

      (18)
      • I am a Nurse and I have to work nigh shifts. It does bother me a lot that, after working Friday night, leaving work at 7 on Sabbath morning I cannot attend service, because I would only sleep throughout the service. Yes, I have the option of attending Bible Class and AY, but it is not the same. One church I attended previously, held Sunday meetings at 6a.m. two Sundays of each month because persons would not come out, after doing back to school/work preparations all day. Needless to say, those Sunday morning worship services were well supported and very spiritual. We have to look at the whole picture here. Mr. Torres is not suggesting that worship time on Sabbaths be changed to allow people to work on Sabbaths. Seventh-Day Adventists who work in essential services already work on Sabbaths. Would you sit more comfortably to have those persons miss out on worship services then?

        (17)
        • Setting a time for worship is always difficult because in our day no time is right for everyone. So the worship hour to me is less an old tradition but necessary for the majority. Especially with children who have a school routine during the week. So I would not put the issue of worship time as an antiquated ritual, but if there are laymen, elders or deacons who have the burden, they can begin a worship for those with odd hours. Pastors have families too and I believe we layman can help. (I am not a part of the paid church, just a convert too). I feel for the sacrifice of medical people but we cannot set worship time for them for the corporate body. Yes, a special time for those few. There are many churches now with afternoon hours but for most the attendance is dismal because families with children find it difficult. I thank all medical people and other first responders for their service because it is a sacrifice.

          (13)
  7. "Faith of our fathers, living still
    In spite of dungeon, fire and sword,
    How sweet will be their children's fate, if they like them should die for Thee"

    As we reflect on the faith of Abraham and the other Patriarchs and Prophets, as we continue to delve on the mysteries of God's power and revelation in Sister White's "Great Controversy" (we are reading this book every Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting-London Edmonton SDA Church), we know that there is enough tradition to fill our spiritual tummies and with that Holy Spirit-inspired satiation and energy, we can just unite as children (there is a child amongst us as we study "The Great Controversy") as youth, as young adults and as older adults and move forward with innovative ideas, keeping in focus, God's aim for His people: " The Gospel Message to all the world in this generation"
    Let us instead of holding on to church tradition, remember how He has led His church in the past-the Patriarch's and Prophets, the first century Christians, the brothers and sisters in 1844 and onwards and say with Sister Ellen G.White, " we are overwhelmed that this God, Who has led us in the past will continue to work in and through us both to do and to will of His good pleasure until He bursts the clouds of heaven to take us home.
    There is enough to focus on in the (1)Bible, and to remember as we read the (2)holy inspired writings of Sister White (Steps to Christ, Patriarchs and Prophets, Great Controversy, etc... etc) so that we have time only to plan new ways (as the Holy Spirit leads) to continue with this mission mandate. He is good and He will complete what He has started.
    Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus, Come.
    Thank you my brother for your article-I can only humbly say that it was inspired by the Holy Spirit Himself.

    (13)
    • With such a heavy heart on this article I do not think it is relevant to our area of study by any stretch. The same Great Controversy warns us against diluted doctrine and clever men of this world who come up with all sorts of ideology so test every spirit. One last point is there is a danger that God departed from among us cause hence Ichabod and we simply become a bunch of hilarious church attendees. So let's be guarded and consult not the individuals but the holy scriptures till the end. At times this is why I find myself no longer interested in attending services cause things have changed to the extent that it's all meaningless and by the time I walk out of the church I am asking myself why I have been there in the first place so. Let's be careful with what we recommend. My apologies of I have been too disconcerting.

      (2)
        • I can see no dilution of doctrine, I see us as having been blessed with 24hrs to come together and collectively praise and worship, edifying one-another with testimony and heartfelt gratitude directed corporately to Christ and thereby our Heavenly Father.

          That corporate worship time can be scheduled and agreed upon to occur at any reasonable time during the 24hr Sabbath to address the needs of the group missing the regularly scheduled worship time.

          (1)
  8. Marcos please clarify on the issue above. You have left most of us in suspense as you can see from the above questions

    (2)
    • What needs clarifying? Some people work nights and it would be good if there were services that were accessible for them.

      This inability to think even slightly out of the box is exactly why the article is needed.

      (30)
  9. Thank you for all your comments everyone! It is good to see that you all are reading and wrestling with the article.

    As the author of the article I would like to offer some clarifications. However, let me start by saying that I am surprised any clarification is needed as the article itself was clear enough but allow me to explain anyhow.

    1) The first objection that I am seeing is people suggesting that I said it is OK to work on the Sabbath. If you read through the article, you will find that I never said such a thing. The point that I made is that more people (in general/ in western society) are working night shift than ever before. I never said Adventists should work on Sabbath or anything of the sort. Honestly, I am so surprised by these comments I am having a hard time formulating a response. The point is that as night shift workers increase it may be a good idea to create a gathering that enables the church to connect with them at a time when they are awake. For example, one of my churches recently held a "Visitors Day" where the members invited their friends and coworkers to a special service on Sabbath. However, they were only able to invite those friends who had not worked a night shift the night before. Anyone who had was left out. Creating a worship gathering that can connect with people who work night shifts is an important conversation to have.

    2) I never said we should change the Sabbath worship service either. The 11 AM service works for many people and there is no sense in changing it and it is not what I was advocating for either. What I was saying is that it may be a good idea to start something new for people who cant connect with what we have always done.

    An afternoon Sabbath service may be a blessing to Adventists in the medical field who worked the night before, but the main point is that it can be a blessing for people who are not Adventist at all. When reading comments opposing this I almost wonder if the commenters believe church is only for those who are already saved. The church is there to reach the lost and that means that its not designed for our comfort its designed for their salvation. Remember, Jesus did not come for the healthy or the righteous but to call sinners to repentance.

    3) The other objection I am seeing is the idea that we should always look to our past to guide our future. But this is not an objection at all. Its exactly what I said in the article. We can learn from our past. It can guide us. But we must never revere what God has done in the past to the point that we worship "it" instead of "Him". God is here today and he is doing a new thing and we need to be open to His Spirits leading. Gaining wisdom from our past is important. Worshiping it like the Israelites worshiped the bronze serpent is a sin. Here are some quotes from Ellen White that may be of help.

    New methods must be introduced. God’s people must awake to the necessities of the time in which they are living. God has men whom He will call into His service,—men who will not carry forward the work in the lifeless way in which it has been carried forward in the past.... {Ev 70.1}

    Let us not forget that different methods are to be employed to save different ones. {Ev 106.2}

    Different methods of labor are really essential in sowing the seeds of truth and gathering in the harvest. {TM 251.1}

    Whatever may have been your former practice, it is not necessary to repeat it again and again in the same way. God would have new and untried methods followed. Break in upon the people—surprise them. {Ev 125.4}

    Some of the methods used in this work will be different from the methods used in the work in the past; but let no one, because of this, block the way by criticism. {Ev 105.2}

    I hope these clarifications help.

    Marcos

    (42)
    • Dear Brother Marcos,

      Thank you so much for allowing the Holy Spirit to inspire you to share this article and your responds to the comments. The article was very clear! As Adventist, I believe we don't realize that our Sabbath services can be a prime time for evangelism if services are held at times when people can attend! Why do we have to limit ourselves to morning services only? If a church can have a morning and afternoon service, if that works for that area, why not do it? And by the way, you may have a lot of Seventh-Day Adventist, who don't work the night shift, but who may appreciate the opportunity to spend Sabbath morning at home with their families before coming to church. Next week, our church is launching a monthly Sabbath afternoon Sabbath School Class (3:30pm), as an alternative to those who don't come to the Sabbath morning class.

      (9)
      • I think this a great idea and I am so happy that your church is taking a different approach and turning traditional ideas around to fit a non-traditional society. My church also does a Sabbath afternoon Sabbath School class. It is perfect for me because I teach the children in the morning and hardly ever get to study with my peers. It is not only for those who work or who’d like to be at home, although home with family sounds nice. As a group, we must remember that we are commissioned to go and tell. Telling involves reaching those who are unlike us. The only way to do that is to be open. Jesus challenged the traditions of His day, as a result we know to “Love {our} enemies and do good to those who curse {us}”. That was radical for the time period; so was much of what ‘historical Adventists’ are referencing as the “good old days”.

        It is important to ensure that whatever we do is done to glorify God and that our lives can exemplify Christ and draw others to Him.

        (1)
  10. I find this article very fascinating as it is relevant to the history of our church in Alexandria, Virginia, Community Praise Adventist Church. Over twenty years ago, our church suffered a catastrophic event when our pastor left the Adventist faith with half the congregation with him, leaving less than fifty of us to continue. Our new pastor, Pastor Henry Wright organized the church in such a way that we became a welcoming friendly church where both members and visitors feel at home, and today our membership is well over a thousand. Even after the popular Pastor Wright left, because our church is run like a family, it continues to thrive.

    Over the years, some have criticized us for our upbeat music, collecting tithe and offering at the end of the service, and spending time and money on extracurricular activities for our youth. However, instead of being deterrents, these moves have helped us to maintain a spirit-filled family oriented Bible based church which welcomes people from West Virginia, West Indies and West Africa in the same manner, knowing that in heaven, there will be diversity.

    (30)
  11. Peace to you brother Marcos,

    I believe there are very few truths to what you are saying in embracing new methods in reaching out and engaging our generation that they could be a good thing. Jesus Christ used the most revolutionary way of reaching out and using new method in reaching out the simple,noble not by compromising the established order in God's work but a better and more elevated spirituality without the help of theology but using God's Power and THe WORD OF GOD and the Holy Spirit of God the Father. What we are doing in our generation is contrary to what Jesus Christ have done if he was a man in the old times. He is alive better now than in his human nature close to all of us in a better way, through HIS HOLY SPIRIT.Our SDA church leadership is working direct opposition to God's work and contrary to God's word in its moda operandi. However, to compare the idolatry of the rebellious Israelites and our pioneers is a heresy. You may never have read their life and writings. As from my readings their life and writings they were the most blessed church even the Apostolic times despite their struggles of the enemy using men and women to destroy them as a people. You seem to be happy what the present leadership and its corporate apparatus doing to the mission and gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ Church-SDA Church.When the Present SDA Church is way far idolatrous than the Israelites you abohar in its beliefs and works. History of fallen churches is fulfilled to the our poor and blind church. I believe you deserve a warning and a rebuke because you are misleading and deceiving people unaware those who might think any new way or your examples are some how the best than the established or morning time. My point is all new ways are not right but there is a WAY that will and should not be changed. It is to be lead by the WORD OF GOD and HIS HOLY SPIRIT that will not contradict and confuse the mind of any sincere human who wants to believe the truth that we are given in the HOLY SCRIPTURES which are always in opposition to the carnal mind and the world.

    (1)
    • Hi Zecharias, thank you for your reply. I think you have misunderstood the message of the article. You said, "to compare the idolatry of the rebellious Israelites and our pioneers is a heresy." Problem is, I never did that. Not once in the article did I say or even remotely insinuate that the historic work of our pioneers is akin to the idolatry of rebellious Israel. What I did say is that what the story of the bronze serpent teaches us is that it is possible to turn something God has done for us in the past into an idol and that today, if we cling to the things we have always done in the past simply because God has blessed them, that we are guilty of worshiping what God has done and not God himself and that is idolatry. And just so you know, I have read their life and writings and I too find our pioneers to be some of the most amazing heroes of the faith. But I never said anything against the pioneers.

      From that point you shared some other things which I struggled to understand your point. But overall, your statement that all new ways are not right is one I said myself in the article - so maybe you missed it? I explicitly stated that I don't believe the church should embrace every new thing. So we are in agreement. My point is that we should not cling to the past as though God is not here today doing a new thing because he is.

      (15)
  12. I like this article. Thank you Marcus. To those who question the statement about working on the Sabbath, might I also remind you that the Pharisees also accused Jesus of doing that said thing? I believe that our main counsel comes from the Word of God - the Bible, as we know it. Therein, we read where Jesus chastised those who criticized the act of rendering help to the needy because it was Sabbath. There are far too many examples of instances where that happened for us to still think that a doctor or a nurse should endeavour not to be at work during Sabbath hours. Not to be specific only to the medical profession, but if a psychiatrist gets a call from a patient 5 minutes before sunset on a Friday, should it not be answered the same way?

    (14)
    • Please don't confuse the issue. There is a huge difference between doing your business on Sabbath and caring for the sick - both physical and spiritual. There is a huge difference between evangelizing the community and caring for the fold. The days are gone were people go to large public evangelistic events. To have a church service in the hope to reach the unreached is futile unless the visitors are there through personal invetation

      (1)
  13. I reread Marcos’ article trying to figure out how people could read Sabbath breaking into it because it referenced shift workers. Medical services are not the only industry that require shift workers in our modern society. We thoughtlessly turn on the lights, heating and cooling appliances (e.g., furnaces and refrigerators), use water and flush toilets, not thinking that these essential services have to be provided on a 24 hour basis. Police and fire services, snow clearing can be added to the list, as well. I can think of many more, but I believe those listed make the point that there are many persons who work on shifts that are deprived of the benefit of assembling together with other believers in worship because of the hard and fast “rule” of morning worship services. I commend Marcos’ church for considering the needs of these persons.

    (17)
  14. I was so interested by this discussion. So many thought this was an article about changing the time of worship! I think it was about being willing to adapt in ways that are not forbidden in the Bible, to reach the lost. We could insert the issue of the guitar in worship, how some traditionalists whom I have heard say is sinful simply based on the fact that it wasn't done in the past. Rigid attitudes that label as sinful any harmless adaptation and/or necessary growth hurt the church.

    (5)
  15. Interesting article and comments. As a senior and longtime member, I admittedly struggle with some of the changes in the church. But, most of my struggle is because I LIKE the old ways which I find familiar, comforting and meaningful. However, church is not my personal possession designed for my own worship preference. I am still perfectly able to keep any of the traditions I love, "edges of the Sabbath", old hymns, etc. in my own home. To my contemporaries who complain, my response is usually, "Would you change worship time, or loud music or anything you don't like if it brought your child back to church, or mine?" As the young folks say- Crickets!!

    (5)
  16. I am ever so sorry that I shall comment when I wanted to be blessed. I simply ask authors and publishers to stop and think before you lead us astray. Since I am not an employee of the church I only come to seek my salvation my only comment is these kind of stories leave a lot to be desired when the bible itself says "to the law and the testimony of Jesus Christ", with which by academic explanation is now history in this generation. My point is simple. Jesus died many years ago but for our salvation today. Therefore do not try to simplify our salvation by making God a compromising buddy of ours. Never and I say never meddle around with the sacredness of this. Be serious and do not make us disagree instead of being blessed. This is why I find attending churches is now a waste of time since we are listening to diluted happy flappy kind of gospels . Please the printing press advise each other to write somethings edifying not causing agony and contention.

    (1)
    • In what way does my article lead anyone astray? I would love an explanation.

      The church is already going astray. We worship what God has done in the past instead of worshipping him here, and now. God is doing a new thing and we are stuck in our customs, teaching for doctrine the commandments and traditions of men.

      If anything, my article is calling us away from our stray ways and back onto the path of God dependence and Spirit leading. Would you prefer to stay in the comfort zone of our traditions? Or to be led by the Spirit and the Word?

      Ellen White was very clear,

      New methods must be introduced. God’s people must awake to the necessities of the time in which they are living. God has men whom He will call into His service,—men who will not carry forward the work in the lifeless way in which it has been carried forward in the past.... {Ev 70.1}

      Are we now to accuse Ellen White of leading us astray as well?

      Doing something new is not the same as being led astray. Innovation and deception are not synonymous. This allergy that we have to anything new is immature. Its time we grow up!

      (8)
  17. As Followers of Jesus, we are very blessed to have the Knowledge of the saving Gospel, and we should take every opportunity to share this to everyone that we can in every way that we can.It is a God given responsibility. The world is progressing at an enormous rate, I grieve when I hear Adventist Ministry making plans for a future,100 years ahead. The message is and should be the same as it has been. However long we may be given to remain on this earth before we are ready for Jesus to come, to each of us, we only have a brief moment to be ready and to fulfil the Divine commission. We cannot live in the past, any more than we can live in the future. Yes, the church has changed drastically, not always for the best, but it has been a gift from God for a blessing to the world. It is the direct object of warfare from the evil one. He will do everything he can to destroy God's purpose. The attacks come from him. Whatever mistakes we make, and we do, as from Adam we all have done, if we do all in the Love of God, and follow the leading of Holy Spirit, God's purpose will win.

    (1)
  18. Wow. I should have stopped at the article. I believe the gentleman was trying his hardest to indicate that it may be necessary for some to work on Friday evening in fact as an Adventist for most of the years I've been alive I have known medical professionals and Chaplains who may be on call during the hours between Sunset on Friday and Saturday.

    I stepped away from Adventism because of excessive veneration of tradition; and although I will not let this keep me from coming back, the comments here are full of attack for a perspective that I'm not sure could be put in any better way. We must be careful not to make idols of tradition. To those that are appalled by a person being asleep at 11 a.m. I ask if they have ever taken a nap after a Sabbath meal? What makes 11 a.m. more appropriate a time to worship than 3 p.m.? Are we not still in the holy Sabbath hours? I do not want to debate I have chosen to follow the Lord's command and remember the Sabbath Day but as a believer who has been carefully reading and seeking God I don't get how others could see such a measured presentation, written for consideration by the brethren of how we personally view our rituals and patterns, as an attack without pride making us determined to condemn the words and the writer. That is saddening to me. I hope to be able to have conversations in my own congregation that are more respectful and I have learned my lesson... never read the comments.

    (3)
      • Brother Marcos D. Torres, I commend you and your spouse of preaching and reaching others with different methodology but the same message. I believe we as a church today are losing members because we have lost relevance. We're too caught up preaching doctrine and missing out on meeting the needs of the churched and un-churched. Don't just give me rituals--give me righteousness. Don't just give me ceremony--give me Christ. Don't just give be laws--give me love. Don't just give me hymns--give me Him(Jesus). The Sabbath is a 24-hour period of time. Who said and commanded that Sabbath school starts at a certain time and that "divine worship service" is at 11:00? We must not forget that our mission is "saving those that are lost" and not so much as to "save our traditions.

        (1)
  19. I affirm your article. We have only to note the pattern of each protestant church as they succeeded their predecessors to see the inherent weakness of men clinging to their respective inspirations and revelations as the "last word" they should respect. Each of those denominations became stuck in their past focus rather than developing as one with all the progressive revelations. They had opportunity to grasp new light with open minds but could not see past their historic giant leaps.

    (1)
  20. Interrsting article and well thought through. May God himself continue to open your spiritual eyes in this spiritually hoodwinked world. God the Almighty shall continue to unlock for us the things that we may not appreciate today for later.

    Most of us use up water, sewage systems, electricity, traffic lights, health services etc. on sabbath. Who manages these essentials? Shift workers do. They attend essential services. Persons dealing with water supplies, electricity supplies, prisons security, normal police security, nurses, doctors etc.

    I believe Marcos' article is rich in scope and cuts across the sabbath worship paradigm. It's a thought worth exploring. As long as we live in this spoiled and lame world. It's imperative that our minds remain open to God's insights.

    The whole duty of man is to serve God, and God does secure for his children means to do so for his sake.

    (1)
  21. I am a "senior citizen" third generation adventist and grew up in a very rigid SDA environment. As changes in the church came I greeted them with caution but I realize that for me I had locked Christ in a rigid box of tradition and my spiritual life suffered greatly. Christ himself was accused of not keeping the law yet he demonstrated what laws and traditions were really about: love to God and man. I appreciate this article very much. My relationship with God is what's important and every tradition or change I embrace must enhance that relationship through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

    (3)
  22. First, Marcos thank you for being bold enough to think and act differently from the tradition.
    Sabbath is one of the busiest days in my life. I am wearing too many hats on that day. I can still remember the day when the churches were closed in our area because of snow. We stayed home and sang songs and prayed. I could never ever forget that Sabbath day.

    Leaders and Elders MUST be willing to accommodate the need of the people. Our tradition cannot supercede the need of the people. Seven times Jesus healed on the Sabbath day why? He was breaking a tradition that was man made.
    Personally, I prefer not to get up with the same rush as I go to work including the Sabbath day. Some may argue, Sabbath should be the day when we should be getting up early. Sabbath is also called the day of rest. When we sacrifice the rest for human tradition, we are violating the principle of the Sabbath.
    We cannot satisfy the need of all the people all the time. I believe we can have an open and honest discussion with our fellow parishioners to meet the need of the people.
    Let us agree to disagree.

    (0)
  23. I was richly blessed by the article. I thought you captured a PRINCIPLE and exposed a trap that many have fallen into. The article was not about sabbath worship per se, and yet the very thing I was thinking of even BEFORE you used the example of your suggestion was the SDAC treatment of the 4th commandment. Unlike the brazen serpent God's blessing is still upon the time we spend with Him every week BUT I am convinced that we have set up an altar around the 4th commandment to the neglect of the God of the 4th commandment.

    Then you came to your example and I smiled. THEN I read the comments and realised that the very reason many missed the PRINCIPLE had every thing to do with the altar that has been set up around the Sabbath.

    Marcos you are a blessing. I've just found your site and intend to keep reading, being blessed by your journey, His revelations to your heart and leaving a comment when felt led to.

    (0)
  24. We are living in the last days and many of the old evangelism efforts dont work. We need to move with the times.

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