Proclaiming Salvation by Grace Through Faith in Jesus Christ, 856-667-7110

An article in the blogosphere, written by Steve Parker, asks if we, Seventh-day Adventists, are the only members of the Remnant church, the elite group of individuals that God has chosen for the last days. In it, Parker offers a contemporary adaptation to the Bible story found in Luke 18: 9-14.

Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to church to pray. One was a Seventh-day Adventist, and the other was a non-Adventist Christian. The Seventh-day Adventist stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a Christian like everyone else. For I am part of the remnant that believes in the seventh-day Sabbath and has Ellen White as a prophet. I’m certainly not like that non-Adventist Christian. I keep the Sabbath, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

“But the non-Adventist Christian stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Seventh-day Adventist, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

One reader of the article responded by saying, in part, “…I sense need of caution here…If there is nothing special about our faith, what’s the point of even being a [Seventh-day Adventist]? What do we have to offer? I believe there is much to value about our message, yet struggle with how it is often delivered by ‘the faithful’.”

As an elder of this congregation, and a leader of one of our community outreach ministries, I also struggle at times with how our message is delivered. It’s the age old battle between the “liberals” and the “fundamentalists” that keeps this point of contention brewing in perpetuity. When frustrated by the argument, and/or the attacks from those that disagree with my efforts, and those of my local church to reach out to the community and share Him where they are, I remind myself of the words of Paul, in Romans 14:1 (NLT)

“Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.”

Pastor Shawn Brace, in his response to the article, offers an ideal conclusion.

“There is no room at all for denominational arrogance. Any type of grace that God bestows on us should be received with humility and love…I believe, [that as Seventh-day Adventists] God has blessed us with a tremendous opportunity to not only herald the fourth commandment and the three angel’s messages, but to be the epitome of love.”