A Good or True_______Christian? Pt.2

In my last post we began to ask the question what does it mean, or what constitutes a good or true Seventh-day Adventist Christian? (or if you of a different denomination insert your particular faith).

Now I can't speak for any other faith, denomination but let's be honest. This question perhaps asked in different ways is one that many have asked or are asking but few have given in answer. I say few, but maybe there are more than what I realize that have given an answer, ultimately you will decide that.

It's interesting to me that Jesus in the gospels never called anyone to be a good or true...anything. Jesus called people to Himself. A true follower of Jesus was one who essentially died. They had died to self and become a fully committed follower of Jesus.

You see it is possible to be a good Seventh-day Adventist Christian (again you can insert your particular faith) and be a terrible example of what it means to follow Jesus. Yet it's impossible to be a true follower of Jesus and be a bad example of what it means to be a Seventh-day Adventist.

I know what some may be thinking. But is it ok to wear jewelry?! Don't I have to be a vegetarian? You may also say...'but a good and true Seventh-day Adventist won't do________on the Sabbath! Right?

I believe that when we respond to the call of Jesus and embark on a life journey with Him. One's life will change, we will begin to evaluate certain things that we are doing, saying, and simply over all how we're living in the light of our relationship with Jesus. To often when we begin to ask specific and even some may say non-essential questions regarding salvation our focus is more about what we have to do in order to be more saved (which is impossible, either we're saved or not) than what should we do because we are saved as followers of Jesus.

An elder of a church I pastored told me many years ago that the only reason he was a Seventh-day Adventist was because it was the closes 'religion' that followed the teachings of Jesus that he knew of. I'll let you decide where you stand on that...but I believe he was on to something.

So I know what some may be asking now ...What does a true follower of Jesus look like? Hopefully like the person reading this post...

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matt. 16:24)


Javi

A Good or True...? Pt.1

I remember walking into the church and having a conversation with her. When I asked her, 'are you a Seventh-day Adventist?' She smiled at me, knowing why I had asked the question. She responded by stating that she was a Seventh-day Adventist even though she was wearing jewelry. I apologized, feeling that I had unintentionally stuck my foot in my mouth. She smiled again and really didn't seemed fazed by it, as if perhaps it had happened before. We had some small talk for a little longer and then went our separate ways.

This incident happened to me many years ago while in college. I honestly wasn't trying in any way to sound or be judgmental, it simply was one of those times that one wish we would've just said 'Hello how are you?' and moved on. I've been asked before (not always in so many words) 'What constitutes a good or true Seventh-day Adventist Christian? Is it that they (or most) don't wear jewelry? Don't smoke, drink (most don't), eat unclean foods? Many are vegetarians? They listen to the 'right' music (whatever that may be?) They keep the Sabbath? The ten commandments? We have the 'Three Angels message?' If they watch 3ABN, Amazing facts or the Hope Channel? All of the above? Or a combination of the above? For those who read this blog and are not Seventh-day Adventist Christians insert your particular denomination if appropriate. What makes a good Methodist Christian? Baptist Christian?..... Growing up Seventh-day Adventist I often heard phrases such as, "a member in good and regular standing", 'they are good Adventist", "they are faithful to the Adventist message" I can go on but will stop there, I think you understand. So let's dialogue, let's be honest, but lets be biblical. Are you a good or true Seventh-day Adventist Christian? Baptist? Methodist?...What does that mean? Javi

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