Am I an Adventist?

Here are three questions in degree of importance: (1) Am I a Christian? (2) Am I a Protestant? (3) Am I an Adventist? It is possible to be an Adventist, without being a Christian. It is not possible to be a an Adventist without first being a Protestant. It is best to be an Christian first, then a Protestant and then an Adventist. Biblical History teaches us that the correct sequence of importance in a believer's life is to be a Christian first, Protestant second, and Adventist third. That said, how well do you measure up with key doctrines and beliefs that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has had since 1863? Take the simple test. How many of these beliefs do you hold dear and follow?

1. That Christ's second coming is imminent and will be literal, not metaphorical, seen by all the world
2. That the seventh day, Saturday, not Sunday, is God's Sabbath and the obligation to keep it is perpetual
3. That God does not eternally torment sinners, but rather that the dead "sleep" until the second coming and last judgment
4. That Christ ministers in the heavenly sanctuary, thereby mediating to us the benefits of His death on the cross, saving us by His righteousness, not our own deeds
5. That in the last days Christians will be tempted by apostasy, but will be called back to divine truth — the "third angel's message" of Revelation 14 — by a small "remnant" of faithful believers
6. That the remnant would be marked by a recurrence of the prophetic ministry

How did you score? Did you score 6/6, 5/6, 1/6 or 0/6? As a Christian, Protestant, and Adventist for the last 18 years, I have met people who struggle or have completely rejected some of the biblical and foundational beliefs of Adventism. Jehovah's Witnesses who reject the literal second coming of Christ, instead stating that He came spiritually to San Diego in 1914 or so. Countless Christians who reject the biblical sabbath as Saturday, and instead observe Sunday as the Lord's Day. Ministers and pastors who at funerals teach that the dead aren't really dead, but are in glory and Heaven already while the saints on earth mourn and weep. Desmond Ford, a good Christian and bible scholar, who taught in late 70s and early 80s that there is no Heavenly sanctuary, no significance to 1844, and that there is no investigative judgment at all leading a wave of countless church members out of the church in confusion and disbelief. Walter Rea who published "the White Lie" to discredit Ellen G. White as a inspired writer and prophetic voice charging Ellen White of plagiarism, only to have his accusations responded too in a rebuttal book called "The White Truth".  People like Dale Ratzlaf, Dirk Anderson, Christian Silva, Hugo Gambetta and others who have rejected the Adventist Church as the remnant church of Bible prophecy, and as a result have separated themselves from the Seventh-day Adventist movement to form or establish their own church. Each of the six historic and foundational beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which was  organized officially in may 1863, has been, is being, and will be attacked until Jesus returns. If personally, you don't believe and accept any of these six core beliefs of Adventism, why don't you? If you accept most or all of these six beliefs, why do you? Why be Adventist? Is it because you were born an Adventist or became one before you could become Pentecostal, Baptist, Catholic, etc.? You like the Adventist lifestyle on health, dress, etc.? Why be an Adventist at all?

For me, the answer is simple. "While there is no perfect church, the only church that stands in the light of Bible prophecy, and is preaching the message that the book of Revelation says the remnant church of Bible prophecy will be preaching is the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I wish more churches were preaching the three angel's messages. So, as a Christian and Protestant, I am an Adventist by conviction more than by conversion or by birth."

As the Seventh-day Adventist Church gets ready to celebrate on May 18, the 150th anniversary of it's organization and mission as a world-church, may you restudy, recommit, and rededicate yourself to being a Christian, Protestant, and Adventist. God bless you!

God's GPS for the Lost

If you live in a big city, you have seen the slogan or billboard as you drive. "Man Up", "Get Tested", "Protect Yourself." All of these slogans speak to the moral decay and lax attitude of modern society and culture towards sexuality in all of its forms. Our society has plunged head first into sinister vortex and black hole from where there is literally a small chance or return. We seem to have no moral compass or guide to help us along the way, due to the godless entertainment and Satanic voice that emanates through popular music, movies, tv shows, and popular literature. To stop here in our assessment and journey of society is superficial though. What good is it just to condemn the woes of our modern society and culture without taking an action or a stand for what is right? "Where shall we turn to? To Whom shall we go?" It isn't enough to curse to the darkness. We need to light a candle, or better yet be a candle and light in the midst of the darkness that prevails in our world. In the midst of darkness, there is hope. While many people, especially youth, have no moral compass or guide to help them make good decisions for their life and future, other youth are discovering and living according to God's GPS, God's Positioning System. Just like when your lost looking for an address and depend upon your GPS on your smart phone or vehicles, God has provided us with a GPS, God's Positioning System, to help us find our way in life and make the best decisions we can. When lost in your life and in need of directions, turn to God's GPS, the Holy Bible. Use it to help you live and make good decisions in your life.

What God's GPS teaches us:

1. Be Honest and Ethical: If you always tell the truth, you never have to worry about telling a lie to cover a previous lie.

"When you make a promise, say only “Yes” or “No.” Anything else comes from the devil." Matthew 5:37

2. Live a Sexually Moral and Upright life: Don't compromise. Remember, Beauty is skin deep, but ugliness is down to the bones!

"But I tell you that if you look at another woman and want her, you are already unfaithful in your thoughts.  If your right eye causes you to sin, poke it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body, than for your whole body to end up in hell. ³⁰ If your right hand causes you to sin, chop it off and throw it away! It is better to lose one part of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell." Matthew 5:28-29.

3. Care for you Body and Mind: Don't put alcohol, drugs, in your body. Keep your body and mind in the best shape possible. You only get one pair for the rest of your life.

 "All of you surely know that you are God’s temple and that his Spirit lives in you." 1 Corinthians 3:16

4. Respect Others: Respect means treating others with dignity and allowing others to have their own opinions and thoughts even if you disagree.

"Don’t condemn others, and God won’t condemn you.  God will be as hard on you as you are on others! He will treat you exactly as you treat them." Matthew 7:1, CEV. 

"Treat others as you want them to treat you. This is what the Law and the Prophets are all about" - Matthew 7:12

5. Have Tolerance towards others: Tolerance means people have the right to believe what they perceive as truth even it is morally wrong; Tolerance does not mean that you have to accept what someone else believes as truth if it is morally wrong. If something is morally wrong, just because someone chooses to believe it and live it does not make it right. It is still wrong.

"The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as much as you love yourself.” Matthew 22:39

6. Stand up for Truth:  Truth exists. There are some things that are right, and others that are wrong. Stand up for what is right. Defend what you believe. Don't sell truth at any cost. Love it, Live it, Share it.

John 17:17, "Your word is the truth."