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The Seventh-day Adventist church is a prophetic movement which God raised up for the furtherance of the gospel after centuries of apostasy by His church. This makes us special in terms of responsibility. We’re not special because of any intrinsic value that we have, but we have a special message and we are a called people.
The primary purpose of the Seventh-day Adventist church is to proclaim the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ, which includes a remembrance of the Sabbath as God’s holy day, and a focus on the ministerial work of Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary. The everlasting gospel reminds us that God is Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer.
While there are many other people willing to preach about the gospel — at least some aspect of it — many of them are missing components, or are willing to suggest that vital sections of the scriptures have been done away with. Whatever their intent and sincerity, they are missing critical pieces of the full, everlasting gospel.
Yes, just as occurred with Israel of old, we could look at our calling as something that makes us better than others, or take our calling to mean that being a Seventh-day Adventist means that we are automatically saved. It would seem that because of this risk of pride and elitism, many have taken to downplaying our message. Or, maybe I should say, “the special message that God has given us to present to a dying world.”
Revelation 14:6-12 is not some random message given by some random people. It is our entire reason for existence at this time, and by taking a stance that essentially has us blending in with the world (or, with the rest of Christendom), we (however you choose to define “we”) fight against the purpose that God has designed for us. Sitting on the message that God has given us will get us in the trouble described in Ezekiel 3.
We don’t need to pretend that we are anyone other than who God has called us to be: Seventh-day Adventist Christians.
We don’t need to be ashamed of who God has called us to be, nor should we pretend that bearing the name Seventh-day Adventist will automatically result in our salvation. Our salvation comes only in Jesus and His sacrifice, and that is the essence of the message we need to share.
While it is true that many will enter heaven who were never called by that name, and that many who are now called by that name will eventually fall away, that does not mean that bearing the name doesn’t matter. It does. Being a Jew did not automatically result in salvation either, but Jesus did point out that salvation was of the Jews (because they had the message of Jesus which should have *led* to salvation, and it was because the Redeemer would come by way of the Jewish nation).
We have been given a great responsibility, and the message we have been given has power as it is prophetically mandated by the God who is the source of all salvation.
As a church, we have been given so much material — so much!!! — that we should not have to worry about whether or not there will be another prophet. Between the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, my family and I can’t even find enough time to get through all the key manuscripts, even with us using some for personal devotions as well as others for family worship.
The first Christians embraced the name they were given, even though it separated them from everyone else. We need not go out of our way to be different just to be different, but it is inevitable that the more we behold God we will look and act like Him, which will make us contrast more and more with those who are following a different leader.
That doesn’t make us better than anyone else, mind you. It just makes us different by the power of God.
And we should not be ashamed of that kind of difference at all…
(0)10 comment(s) for this post:
Curlin Teelucksingh:
29 Aug 2011 Absolutely beautiful. I always wondered about this much quoted statement, "We are a special people." Along with this statement, at least in the church that I attend, normally comes, "We should be proud of what we have." But I have realised that we focus more on being and acting proud rather than doing what is required of us as a special people, with a special message. Thus, we have become stumbling blocks to those with whom we are commissioned to share God's message.Damien T Burrs:
29 Aug 2011 Wow. This is the first time I read this. it is excellent writing and description of us. may God continue to bless us all as we march towards Zion and it be our goal to influence and woo as many as we can by God's grace.Tyler:
29 Aug 2011 I think that in your article you stated what really needed to be said and gives us a correct perspective on who we are. While I like what you said I also wonder if much of what we do is done because we feel we have to rather than truly wanting to do it. The works we do reminds me of what Jesus said in Mat 7:22 but then concludes, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (Mat 7:23 NKJV)h.Swearine:
31 Aug 2011 I think this was beautifully said. I needed to hear that because I found myself likening the SDA church to the Pharisees of antiquity. We ARE special in name, but MORE special in function. It's an awesome thing to be particularly chosen by God for a unique purpose. It doesn't make us in any way better or exclusive to salvation, it simply makes us, well, chosen. As soon as we realize this, then it wouldn't be us doing because we feel like we have to, but because we want to. May the Lord continue to inspire you Andrew s. Baker and the Christian movement that follows His explicit commands, including the Seventh-day Adventist church.Anston Roberts Brooklyn NY:
31 Aug 2011 I have alway wonder what has made us as Seventh Day Adventist special in a world where there are so many Christians. Your article "a special people" answered this question to me. It validates that our claim is not self imposed, but its is biblically base, and our mission is one of restoration and not condemnation, because it is not who we are, but whose we are.Vickie:
31 Aug 2011 Well written and very plain article. May God continue to use you in His service.seth.maqetuka:
01 Sep 2011 Good to hear that with being special as Seventh Day Adventists comes the spiritual and scriptural responsiblity to spread the Gospel.This reminds me of my reading this morning of Luke 6:46 . which Jesus says if we call Him our Lord , we must then do what he says - going out there to spread Gospel to all nations as He instructed.God bless !!Lawrence Menns:
02 Sep 2011 Good article...part of the reason why we don't think we are special is because some sda's have allowed people or society to make them feel bad for trying to separate ourselves by our message. The word for this modern age is compromise and that word will lead us right into the devils camp without us knowing it. We need to be reminded from our pulpits weekly, monthly, what our commission is, that this earth is not our home, and we are not to get comfortable in the "enemy's camp." Talking about loving our neighbor is great, but if we don't understand that loving them means doing all we can to save them by telling them the message God has given us, are we truly showing love? Food for thought, thanks again for the article. God blesswonder aaron:
09 Dec 2011 Adventists are special because of their observance of the Sabbath, which is a sign between them and God. A sign that points to our last days when worship is clearly defined by our recognition of God (who created, blessed and sanctified the Sabbath) and the reason of our being (fearing God and worshiping Him). Its a matter of how one responds to God's call. If the Bible reveals to us God's character and will, then our relationship with Him as defined by the Word (Christ - the Word that became flesh) is critical. One is only special when in Christ and having understood the purpose of his/her being and sharing the messages of the Sabbath, salvation and the soon coming Saviour.Nathu:
11 Jan 2012 I don't agree with the fact that Adventist are special because of their observance of the Sabbath alone as much as "Remembering to keep the sabbath day Holy" is one of the commandments but the sabbath alone doesn't make one special and neither does it prove that one will be saved. I would like to agree with the author of the atricle who clearly stresses the point that we have a special message which we have been given to proclaim the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. May God help us to seek and know him better so we can proclaim his Name to his glory.
Curlin Teelucksingh:
Damien T Burrs:
Tyler:
h.Swearine:
Anston Roberts Brooklyn NY:
Vickie:
seth.maqetuka:
Lawrence Menns:
wonder aaron:
Nathu:
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