Beyond Belief?

You may have watched Nightline or the Primetime Nightline special Beyone Belief. If not take a moment and watch some of the clips now if you can.



Essentially it was about the reported apparitions of Mary the mother of Jesus. To be fair and honest this is nothing new ever since I could remember I've heard of them especially growing up in Los Angeles.

During it's primetime show Nightline used social media, meaning they added what is called a hashtag (for those who may not know what it is) on Twitter so that people who are watching and wanted to tweet about it could see what others were saying. You can go on Twitter of course even today and do a search #beyondbelief (that's the hashtag) and see what everyone was saying.

The social media dynamic really adds a different twist being able to see instantly what so many people are thinking about the topic of whether one believes in the apparitions of the Virgin Mary. There were lots of tweets coming in as I was watching the show many believed, several Christians called on people to simply believe in Jesus, and of course you had your all out skeptics.

I tweeted:

#beyondbelief the dead know nothing: Eccl. 9:5 Mary is dead and they know nothing...less than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet ReplyJavier Diaz
javid21

I did get a response from what seemed to be a devout Catholic.

I have written here at Bathos about some of the foundational truth's that we as Seventh-day Adventist believe in. Before I continue I just want to say that I have respect for those who may believe in apparitions of the Virgin Mary in the same way I respect those who say they have no belief in anything spiritual except science.

With that said though, it is clear, at least to me that people (or at least the great majority of them) continue to believe that the dead are not actually dead but their spirit/soul lives on. Whether it's the Virgin Mary, uncle John who's in heaven or evil uncle Johnny who's haunting the family (please these are all generic names:-).

This belief that the dead are not really dead is the bottom line foundation to all of this. The Word of God, the  Bible says other wise. (Click HERE)

It is important I would say now more than ever that this 'truth' that the dead know nothing be heavily proclaimed with love and sincerity. NOT that it wasn't in the past. Yet as one believes that the nearness of Jesus is closer everyday and more news, movies and or t.v. shows come out with the foundation that the dead are conscious in someway, we must proclaim the truth of the bible as it is in Jesus.

Surely Mary the mother of Jesus was blessed and as she stated in Luke 1:48 "...generations will call me blessed." Mary was blessed for she would give birth to the Savior of the world. The Savior that eventually would say, "For I have come down from heaven, no to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. this is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raie him up at the last day." (John 6:38-40 NKJV).

Javi

Adventism: The Message & Mission

Yes, I know, it's been over two months since my last post. Sometimes it's ok to take a break, as I've always stated I don't blog for money. Simply as a way to outlet my thoughts, experiences and journey with Jesus.

Enough about that for now...on to the actual reason of my post today....

 Why are you a Seventh-day Adventist Christian? If you are not, then why not?

Perhaps I'm being to upfront? Loaded question? I would say so...

I just finished this Sabbath a series entitled: Adventism: The  Message and Mission. In the series I essentially spoke on the Three Angels message and The Remnant, how we came to believe what we believe regarding those unique messages found in Revelation and what it means for us today.

For Adventist  'three angels message' and 'the remnant' are phrases that we have heard for some time. Many have grown up hearing these words maybe not fully understanding their meaning.

This post is not about explaining what those phrases mean but to simply ask to the readers of this post: Do you know what it means?

In my personal study for these messages there was one conviction that stood out. It's not necessarily a new one but a foundational one. For Seventh-day Adventist Christians (really for all Christians) our mission is derived from our message. Our message is one that is so deep yet so simple that it empowers (or should I believe) enables, and invigorates us to mission.

Maybe...just maybe one of the main reasons that Adventism is not seeing the growth in North America that it would like is because we haven't really comprehended this incredible message that fuels us for mission.

The message is what feeds the mission...

So I guess the logical question in order to fuel the mission would be: What's the message?


Javi