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Reason to Hope

"O my lovin' brother, when the world's on fire, don't you want God's bosom, to be your pillow. Hide me over in the Rock of Ages, Rock of Ages, cleft for me."

This old chorus seems to fit the mood of many hearts today. The world is an increasingly fragile place to live. This past week has seen thousands die in earthquakes and storms (China's 7.8 earthquake, Myanmar's devastating cyclone, and scores of tornadoes throughout the mid-west United States).

No, the sky isn't falling--yet. There are still beauties to behold and pockets of tranquility to enjoy. But economic and environmental changes are rapidly transforming our world. The prospects of global energy and food shortages are real.

More than ever, the world (our neighbors, friends and associates) need reasons to hope. We all do. We can hope that things will get better, and in specific ways do what we can to make them so. Through our involvement in local causes (food banks, Habitat or Humanity, community gardens, youth mentoring, etc) we can show others that we care--not because we are Adventist, or because we want them to join our church, but because Jesus reigns in our hearts and we are doing His bidding.

Regardless of our walk in life, many opportunities exists for us to be used by God. Mary Jo Lauderdale shares how God is using her to meet some of the needs of others.   

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Delusional Leaders

Jesus said that in the last days some would claim to be the Messiah and would try to get others to follow them.

“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand."

“Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it..."

Matthew 24:23-28 (NKJV)

Throughout my life I have heard of numerous incidents where charismatic leaders have made such claims. For me, the question that always begs to be answered is--how can someone be so naive to fall for such a claim?

Three Self-Proclaimed Messiahs

Here are three examples of individuals who have boldly proclaimed themselves to be either Jesus Christ, or a Messiah figure.

1. Jim Jones - Answers.com provides the following summary of his life and ministry.

"Jim Jones was the founder and leader of Jonestown, Guyana, a community of over 900 members of The People's Temple Full Gospel Church, an offshoot of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Jones had been an untrained preacher in Indiana and California before moving his congregation to Guyana to avoid government scrutiny. In November of 1978, U.S. Congressman Leo Ryan visited Jonestown to investigate allegations of human rights abuses. Ryan and his group were murdered at Jonestown, and on November 18, 1978 Jim Jones and 911 of his followers committed suicide or were murdered." --Answers.com | Watch YouTube (part 1) account

2. Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda - This Puerto Rican pastor claims to be Jesus Christ: CNN Article | Watch YouTube account

3. Wayne Bent - Recently we've heard about Warren Jeffs and his followers in Texas, and now we are hearing about another group in New Mexico whose leader, Wayne Bent (a.k.a. Michael Travesser), claims to be a Messiah. Evidently he used to be an Adventist minister (1970-1982) in southern California. According to church news sources, "He voluntarily terminated his employment with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1982. He has had no affiliation with the Seventh-day Adventist Church since then." You can read more about Bent and his claims on his website at StrongCity.Info | CNN Article

This is a good topic for discussion. Watch the video (part 1) and then respond to the questions that follow.

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Discussion Questions

1. Google the word "cult" in a dictionary and describe what it is.

2. With this definition in mind, would Jesus and His disciples have been classified as a cult by His contemporaries?

3. Are people who strongly embrace spiritual values and beliefs more susceptible to cultish deception?

4. Jesus said, "false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." What criteria should be used to establish personal faith? How can we be kept from this kind of deception? 

5. At what point should we walk away from a religious leader or group of people making spiritual claims?

Final Considerations

David said, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). Solomon said, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding..." (Proverbs 3:5-6).

We are cautioned, "Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety" (Proverbs 11:14).

Jesus said, "When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth..." (John 16:13).

As Seventh-day Adventist Christians, it is important for us to study God's Word, and to allow His Spirit to guide our steps.

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The Same Wavelength

When we say someone is not on the same "wavelength," we mean their thinking is different than ours. They do not share our ideas or opinions. Depending upon the nature of one's thoughts, the consequences of not being on the same wavelength can range anywhere from petty to serious. When I was 13 years-old, not being on the same wavelength with my teacher resulted in me being suspended from school on several occasions.

One of the challenges we face in trying to know God is our inability to understand His thoughts. Through Isaiah God says, 

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8, 9).

Fortunately, in this context, not being on the same wavelength is a positive thing. Though our views of God are often negative and restrictive, His continues to esteem us with hope.

^{" '}For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope' " (Jeremiah 29:11).

We can be thankful that God's thoughts are not ours and that He truly is on a different wavelength!

Prescription: Look up the word, "opinionated" in a dictionary and write down the definition. Is it OK to be opinionated? Can we have opinions without being offensive and critical of others?

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What Does It Mean to Be Holy?

My online dictionary defines a holy person as "one who is specially recognized as or declared sacred by religious use or authority; consecrated: holy ground. Additional definitions include:

- recognized as or declared sacred by religious use or authority; consecrated: holy ground. 
- dedicated or devoted to the service of God, the church, or religion: a holy man. 
- saintly; godly; pious; devout: a holy life. 
- having a spiritually pure quality: a holy love. 
- entitled to worship or veneration as or as if sacred: a holy relic. 
- religious: holy rites. 
- inspiring fear, awe, or grave distress: The director, when angry, is a holy terror. 
- a place of worship; sacred place; sanctuary.

Some of these sound to out of reach, like I would never be able to attain them. I have a hard time seeing myself as a "godly, pious saint." How can I be holy in my every-day life? How can I be the kind of person that God deems safe to save?

Eugene Peterson describes holiness in a way I can better relate to:

"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."

---Romans 12:1-2 (The Message)

I can only be holy if God makes me so. And I can only choose to let him do it if he blesses me with the gift of his grace and a desire to be made whole. It all comes from him. My choosing and following, and his doing.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." -- Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)

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In Christ Alone

I'm a lover of both ancient and modern hymns, and because of my love for guitar (which I keep trying to play) I have always felt close to David. I'm looking forward to learning some of the melodies to his psalms and playing with him in heaven.

"I will sing a new song to you, O God! I will sing your praises with a ten-stringed harp." --Psalm 144:9 (New Living Translation)

Every generation has the opportunity to write new songs of praise and encouragement for God's people to sing. Here's one by Stuart Townsend that has already become a favorite of many.

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I know there are song writers out there who have written hymns and spiritual songs that can be a real blessing to the church. If you are such a person, please consider sharing it with us all. Visit StoryHarvest's song page.

Scientology and Christianity

On the June 24, 2005 broadcast of NBC Today, movie star Tom Cruise told Matt Lauer, "Scientology is something that you don't understand. It's like you could be a Christian and be a Scientologist." Really? Is that a true statement?

According to Beliefnet.com, Scientologists espouse the following beliefs (I've summarized some to keep them short):¹

1. Belief in a Deity - Scientology considers the belief in a God or gods as something personal and therefore offers no specific dogma.

2. Incarnations - There are no particular human incarnations of God, as the universal life force (Theta) is inherent in all. All humans are immortal spiritual beings (thetans) capable of realizing a nearly godlike state through Scientology practices.

3. Origins of Universe and Life - All is manifestation of the universal spirit, which is all that actually exists.

4. After Death - Rebirths continue until one consciously confronts all pre-birth, current-life, and previous-life traumas and realizes one's true nature.

5. Why Evil? - Painful experiences and harmful acts in one's pre-birth, current, and past lives become imprinted in the reactive mind and lead to irrational behavior.

6. Salvation - Salvation is achieved through the practices and techniques of Scientology, the ultimate goal of which is to realize one's true nature as an immortal spirit, a thetan.

7. Undeserved Suffering - Suffering occurs as part of the spirit's entrapment here in the physical universe.

8. Contemporary Issues - Based on the belief that you cannot free yourself spiritually without working to free others, Scientology has founded and supports many organizations for social betterment, particularly in the areas of drug abuse, crime, psychiatric abuse, government abuse of law, human rights, religious freedom, education, and morality.

How Christianity Differs

Christianity draws its beliefs from the writings of Scripture, which it believes is the inspired Word of God. Regarding salvation, two New testament writers had the following to say:

Speaking of Jesus Peter said, "there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) NASB

Paul said, "For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 3:11) NASB.

Clearly, Christianity presents Christ as humanity's only hope.

According to Scripture, evil exists because Lucifer, a once an elevated angel of light in God's order, chose to rebel against God's authority and continues to wreck havoc in people's lives and throughout the world. Scripture refers to this being as Satan and the Devil--who "deceives the whole world." (Revelation 12:9) NASB

Our only hope of salvation is for us to accept Jesus' death and victory over sin. As we embrace the principles of His Kingdom (love, forgiveness, truthfulness and self-sacrifice), we become like Him. In time, Jesus will return to this earth to rescue His follower from sin and death. A Bible writer by the name of John was given a vision of this future deliverance:

"And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe." (Revelation 14:14-15) NASB

Reality Check - It doesn't take much effort to see there is a world of difference between Scientology and Christianity. It would be virtually impossible to merge these two systems of belief without compromising either one.

For more on what Christianity teaches visit Biblebay.

¹Beliefenet.com. Link: http://www.beliefnet.com/story/80/story_8057_1.html

Too Much of a Good Thing

Is it possible to get too much of a good thing? Too much  good food? Too much water? Too much fun? Too much sun? Too much family? Too much of God?

When I was in college I remember the Campus Medical Center having to aid a young man who had spent too much time reading his Bible. For days he neglected sleeping, eating and taking care of other personal needs--to the point that he became sick. He pigged out on the Bible and spiritual things.

I once attended a religious meeting that featured an excellent speaker. His stories and illustrations flowed forth with clarity and humor. His lessons were exceptionally crafted and spirit-charged. He was a delight to listen to--for a while. He didn't know when to stop. He went on and on.

Everything he shared was wonderful, but there's only so much the human brain can absorb before it starts to shut down. At that point listening to him felt like trying to drink from a fire hose. It was too much! God gave us two legs to walk away from overload. If we don't we may end up like the mule who gorged himself to death on corn, simply because it was there.

One of the principles we must all learn from an early age is how to achieve balance in our lives. As individuals, parents, disciples, trainers, leaders--whoever we are. Solomon spoke well when he said, "to every thing there is a season."

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Accepting Others

"How readily do you accept other people?" This question recently haunted me as I had my morning devotions. Do I love and accept people for who they are, or do I only accept them if they measure up to my expectations?

In his book, Swimming Against the Current, Chris Blake says,  "Acceptance is not endorsing ideas or behavior. Acceptance is affirming the infinite worth of another person, no matter who she is or what he has done. Acceptance is keeping our feelings, our mind, and our hands open. Acceptance is simply listening without comment." p. 93

Ouch! I don't always do this so well. I tend to resist those who are narrow-minded, caustic or critical. I find them hard to accept. Too often I dole out my acceptance only to those who affirm what I believe and promote what I value. In other words I am selective.

I'm so thankful that Jesus does not offer His grace on a selective basis. I don't think I would qualify. But I've heard that I can become more like Him. That's my goal today.

If you want to read a book that will stretch your thinking, unsettle your complacency and inspire your faith, read Swimming Against the Current.

--Rich

Deliver Me From the "World"

Jesus said that His followers are to be "in the world, but not of it." What did He mean? What is "the world?" Surely it is not a single person, or country. Certainly He is referring to something other than this globe we inhabit. The Earth is somewhat innocuous, in and of itself.

Speaking of His followers, Jesus prayed. "They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world" (John 17:16-18 NLT).  Evidently, whatever the world is, it is the opposite of truth. And we know that God loves the world because He sent Jesus into the world to save it--evidently from lies.

I believe the world represents a collective mindset of God-avoidance. It has its own agenda; its own destination that excludes God at every turn. The world's answer to shared responsibility and community is individualism and isolation. Simon & Garfunkel's song, "I Am a Rock," depicts the ultimate destination of worldly thinking:

A winter's day
In a deep and dark December;
I am alone,
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

I've built walls,
A fortress deep and mighty,
That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain.
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

Don't talk of love,
But I've heard the words before;
It's sleeping in my memory.
I wont disturb the slumber of feelings that have died.
If I never loved I never would have cried.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

I have my books
And my poetry to protect me;
I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb.
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.

And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries.

Worldly thinking shuns individual responsibility, flaunts personal beauty, achievements, wealth and wisdom. It never views God or religion as a significant solution to any of its problems. Everything can be found within, or without, or from anywhere but God. This God-avoidance permeates every culture and race and is genetically passed from one generation to the next. Many are not consciously opposed or angry with God, they just don't feel any need for Him. God is irrelevant.

And so Jesus prayed, "I am in them and you [Father] are in me. May they [My followers] experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me" (John 17:22 NLT).

God longs for us [His followers] to need and trust each other; to love one another. To be different. This is such a significant departure from what the world does, when it happens, people stop, watch, and wonder.

"Dear God: Please deliver from the world."  --Rich DuBose

Photos by Stefan Hermans and Barun Patro

What Makes Us Adventist?

Do Adventist believers in Los Angeles have anything in common with Adventist believers in Sierra Leon (West Africa)? Is it important for the world church to be on the same page each Sabbath morning when it comes to what is studied during the Sabbath School time? Clifford Goldstein discusses what makes us Adventist--regardless of our culture and where we live.

Watch the video and discuss it in your small group or Sabbath School class.

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