Read on Twitter
Bro I think I may have figured out where the SDA church is off base and why we got it wrong and it is kinda obvious. And also not that deep? Idk, just thinking aloud right now
Ok so these are the thoughts that kinda hit me in Bible study last night. And I want to preface it with that it’s noting about Like why young people are leaving the church (not solely an SDA thing) or the church’s poor stance on social issues, etc. it’s solely doctrinal
Ok so last night, we were studying the sanctuary. Cool stuff, and we got to a text about judgement happening and dude presenting was like, we should have no fear of judgement Cuz Jesus is our lawyer and if we have him we should just sit back and feel safe cuz he can’t lose
Basically analogizing the fact that at the cross, Jesus died for our sins completely and that the price for our salvation has been paid completely and we have nothing to worry about. And that is a very comforting message to me and one that hasn’t really been taught to me honestly
Also a caveat is that I’m from a very conservative background of Adventism, so that’s what im@kinda referring to
Anyway, we talk about that but then immediately after we talk about the parable of wheat and tares, and how there are 3 types of people, those who are for God, those who are against God and those who look and act like they are for God but aren’t. And they have to be weeded out.
And we have to look at peoples actions to know who is who. I just felt like that leads to “fruit watching”/judging peoples daily actions to see if they love God or not. And we also spoke about having to work out your salvation with fear and trembling to know which side youre on
And concept is something that I’ve heard for years, and was kinda mentioned in the study. And that concept “working out your own salvation” and seeing if you’re a wheat or tare through works, seemed like a contradiction between the “Jesus is your lawyer” so don’t worry message
And I was wondering why do you always feel the need to immediately jump into works any time we talk about salvation? And why are we so focused on judgement and making sure we are right for it and can prove it?
then it hit me from a historical context of the creation of the SDA church. The church came out of the 2nd Great Awakening in America from 1790-1840. During this time there were two messages that we mainly prevalent 1.Jesus is coming back immediately 2. Fire/Brimstone judgement
All the people in this movement were super focused on making sure their lives and hearts were in order for the imminent return of Christ that was physically coming in like 5 years. And was bringing fire and brimstone judgment on anyone with any sin in their lives.
We all know what happened in 1844, but those roots, of always judgement coming and fire/ brimstone are the roots of the church and that doctrine and reasoning has kept its roots in our teaching of the gospel and Christianity. When judgement is what you are preparing for
Your actions are always going to overshadow the cross. I think we have a radical view of salvation and a Christ filled life, cuz we started in a radical era where people were crazy with the imminent end of the world and we lost the power of the Gospel cuz we never understood it
And I think that effects us today in that we are still works focused. We mock the teaching of once saved always saved as a lazy doctrine because we have the fear that we are going to give people an excuse to live however they want to and still go to heaven, which is insane to us
So we are quick that every time we bring up the cross we immediately list out all the things you have to do and the commandment and the diet, and places you can’t go and just xyz. Cuz we are afraid of what people would do with their freedom
And that is so cruel to me, that we place this unnecessary burden on peoples shoulders and minimize the cross because we are scared about what preaching freedom will do. That’s insanity to me
And this is a new thing to me and something that might be common sense to others but is revolutionary to me, but Im getting to the place where I think simply believing in Christ’s sacrifice at the cross and accepting him as your savior, is enough for salvation. Thats all you need
And I think we focus so much on what happens after that acceptance and how you live, but I don’t think we give enough power to the fact that we are already saved and everything you do after that can’t get rid of that salvation. And that’s mind blowing to me
And that’s the first time I actually viewed the Gospel as Good News. Cuz that’s actually great news and I feel like a huge burden of my eternal salvation has been lifted off my shoulders for the first time in 26 years. It feels like freedom in Christ
And this is all new to me and Im still studying it. But to me in conservative Adventism, that message is lost and not taught. Its very similar to how the Jewish believer in Paul’s time tried to force circumcision and diet on the new believers cuz the idea of grace was too easy
Even in this thread I still have to urge to write about how faith without works is dead and how don’t use this freedom as liberty to sin, etc. cuz it’s so engrained in me to focus on my works, cuz that’s the foundation of our church.
And I think our teaching minimizes the cross where our salvation was decided if we choose to believe. That’s the Gospel. And I remember at AY Corey Johnson preached that one time and I was like this dude is a heretic! Lolol. I couldn’t understand that Sunday preaching. Lol
But that’s it. That’s the truth and where I think we got it wrong from the jump and what we don’t teach enough. The freedom of the gospel. I think we are more like the Jewish believers of the New Testament than actual followers of the Gospel.
But those are my thoughts. And I think this is much more of an issue in conservative churches and my personal experience in the church but that’s where I am and what I got. I’m currently on a journey to unlearn a lot of things I was taught and trying to read the Bible for itself
