Seventh-day Adventists are a special people; I have come to know this from being a part of this vibrant faith community. At times Adventists can be taken by fundamentalism and literalism, but most Adventists, at least such is the case with my friends, live a more practical Christianity. My generation of Adventism is more progressive than previous ones. We do not accept the traditions of the church, but rather test all things and hold fast to that which is good. It is our position that, as is the case in Adventist heritage, in particular, and the Christian movement in general, we should always be progressing forward to a better understanding of God and His role in our lives.
This generation is not focused on church dogma, manmade doctrines, or conference traditions, but seeks to hearken back to a more tangible, genuine Christianity spoken of by Christ. He is our great moral teacher and our focus is on a relationship with Him and the Father. Our Christianity is not exclusive, but inclusive for all peoples, regardless of anything that might separate believers.
Too often have oppression and exclusion been represented through acts of hate in Christendom. Whether this is through acts of intolerance, bigotry, racisms, sexism, homophobia, exclusionist theology, close-mindedness, brash conservatism, ignorance, or any of their various deviants – we aim for a higher goal, a more nobler goal, one that seeks Christ and His church, not that of man. Man has limitations in his church; his church is based on control, indoctrination, and built upon the intolerance of mankind’s feeble minds. This generation refuses to join previous generations who have so often been on the wrong side of history. Science is not an enemy of the church, faith, or truth, but another means at reaching ultimate truth and understanding; as science improves on understanding the world that we live in, so too must Christianity reflect those Divine insights and Spirit-lead discoveries.
I love being a part of a faith community that incorporates a strong sense of family and closeness, but I refuse to be a religious exclusionist. I proclaim to Gospel of Christ to all peoples. My church is one centered on love, not doctrines; Christ is the test of our faith and our relationship with God, not our adherence to the doctrines of the church. Doctrines will change as the education of believers improves as time progresses, but Christ is always and forever; our doctrines may fail, our traditions may change, leaders may come and go and their plans and initiatives with them, but Christ will always remain. He must be central to our spiritual experience. Exclusive religion continues to promote division and inaction in the Body of Christ. Too often do our battles over dress policies, women’s ordination, the God-given dignity of GLBTI Christians, worship styles, or other wasteful issues to fight over take center stage.
Christ loves us no matter what we wear; individualism need not be suppressed, men and women are beautiful creatures and are fully capable of dress that reflects their conformability with the beautiful body that God has given them. Women are just as able and willing to serve as are men, God directs the blessing, who are we to put limitations on what means he uses? GLBTI Christians are Christian and loved and saved by the same Savior that died for you and me; they deserve nothing less than our deepest love and acceptance into the fold of God. Worship styles reflect cultures, ages, spiritual heritage, and traditions not holiness or righteousness. These are not issues focused on Christ, these are issues focused on mankind, our rules, our traditions, what we believe is acceptable. God doesn’t see things like we do, He is accepting, He is loving, He is inclusive, He is worshiped in many ways, let Him lead. We must humble ourselves and let God take over.
These are some thoughts I have about the church that I have grown up in and loved for so many years. This is the church that I care about and seek nothing more than a continual improvement in the ability to affect positive change is the lives of our fellow humans through Jesus Christ – that is our mission, that is the Gospel, LOVE. One word, LOVE. May we live LOVE. May we practice LOVE. May we preach LOVE. May we be a church of LOVE.
This generation is not focused on church dogma, manmade doctrines, or conference traditions, but seeks to hearken back to a more tangible, genuine Christianity spoken of by Christ. He is our great moral teacher and our focus is on a relationship with Him and the Father. Our Christianity is not exclusive, but inclusive for all peoples, regardless of anything that might separate believers.
Too often have oppression and exclusion been represented through acts of hate in Christendom. Whether this is through acts of intolerance, bigotry, racisms, sexism, homophobia, exclusionist theology, close-mindedness, brash conservatism, ignorance, or any of their various deviants – we aim for a higher goal, a more nobler goal, one that seeks Christ and His church, not that of man. Man has limitations in his church; his church is based on control, indoctrination, and built upon the intolerance of mankind’s feeble minds. This generation refuses to join previous generations who have so often been on the wrong side of history. Science is not an enemy of the church, faith, or truth, but another means at reaching ultimate truth and understanding; as science improves on understanding the world that we live in, so too must Christianity reflect those Divine insights and Spirit-lead discoveries.
I love being a part of a faith community that incorporates a strong sense of family and closeness, but I refuse to be a religious exclusionist. I proclaim to Gospel of Christ to all peoples. My church is one centered on love, not doctrines; Christ is the test of our faith and our relationship with God, not our adherence to the doctrines of the church. Doctrines will change as the education of believers improves as time progresses, but Christ is always and forever; our doctrines may fail, our traditions may change, leaders may come and go and their plans and initiatives with them, but Christ will always remain. He must be central to our spiritual experience. Exclusive religion continues to promote division and inaction in the Body of Christ. Too often do our battles over dress policies, women’s ordination, the God-given dignity of GLBTI Christians, worship styles, or other wasteful issues to fight over take center stage.
Christ loves us no matter what we wear; individualism need not be suppressed, men and women are beautiful creatures and are fully capable of dress that reflects their conformability with the beautiful body that God has given them. Women are just as able and willing to serve as are men, God directs the blessing, who are we to put limitations on what means he uses? GLBTI Christians are Christian and loved and saved by the same Savior that died for you and me; they deserve nothing less than our deepest love and acceptance into the fold of God. Worship styles reflect cultures, ages, spiritual heritage, and traditions not holiness or righteousness. These are not issues focused on Christ, these are issues focused on mankind, our rules, our traditions, what we believe is acceptable. God doesn’t see things like we do, He is accepting, He is loving, He is inclusive, He is worshiped in many ways, let Him lead. We must humble ourselves and let God take over.
These are some thoughts I have about the church that I have grown up in and loved for so many years. This is the church that I care about and seek nothing more than a continual improvement in the ability to affect positive change is the lives of our fellow humans through Jesus Christ – that is our mission, that is the Gospel, LOVE. One word, LOVE. May we live LOVE. May we practice LOVE. May we preach LOVE. May we be a church of LOVE.
2 comments:
Good stuff, Ray, if you don't mind, I'd like to add you to my blogroll over at the Nomad Chronicles.
Thank you, your article is thought provoking. As a Christian in a church involved in the anti-gay marriage I'm challenged bc I have family that are homosexual and I use my church as an evangelizing tool. I'm at a loss to invite my gay friends and family. But God loved me while I was in sin and I didn't leave a lousy lifestyle till after I came to Christ so how do they expect gay peopel to find Christ.
Post a Comment