Dear Friends

Responses to the Financial Crisis – Standing “from a distance” or standing “firm”

Over the past few days of financial crisis, the words of two 1st century Biblical writers seem to have a 21st century application –
James 5:1-8  Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.  2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.  3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.  4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.  5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.  6 You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.  7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.  8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

James’ words echo Revelation 18’s with its tormented cries during the collapse of the financial empire of Babylon.
A number of lessons are writ large for our attention:
o    The insecurity of riches – Rev 15:17 how rapidly the financial world collapses. “In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!” [Rev 18:17 NIB]
o    The exploitative basis of riches – the merchants of wealth have been living in [to use Revelation’s phrase – 18:7 & 9] luxury [NIB] deliciously [KJV] – while more than a billion live in abject poverty – how the cries of the ‘ripped off’ must sound in the ears of the Lord [James 5:4].
o    The corruption that accompany riches – our wealthy western world has become not only the home of “demons” [Rev 18:2] but the primary exporter of immorality – so that “…all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries” [Rev 18:3].
And not least,
o    The response of the Lord – He hears the cry of the oppressed that begs his intervening wrath [James 3:4 & 5; Rev 18:20].
In all this I find myself wondering if, like the merchants who had participated and enjoyed the system’s luxury [‘The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing’ Revelation 18:15], I am now standing at a distance pointing the finger and fearful of my losses….

Or grabbing the opportunity to rethink my response to things like:

o    The basis of my security
o    The cry of the naked, the hungry and the poor
o    The moral corruption that I casually and occasionally indulge in
o    And … the patience of the saints in the certainty of the coming of the Lord [James 5:7,8; Rev 1:9; 3:10; 13:10; 14:12]
May I remind our church family that this crisis is the world’s not our Kingdom’s crisis and that we are to listen to James’ instruction and stand firm [5:8].

Llewellyn Edwards

Dear Friends

A Response to Sunshine – watch yourselves and pray!

Karin and I have just returned from an enjoyable break, by the sun drenched shores of Lake Balaton, Hungary. One afternoon as we walked among the hundreds of walrus-like tourists thronging the lake shore, I was struck by an anomaly – these myriad sun seekers were doing all they could to NOT look at the sun. Dark glasses, umbrellas, towels, – anything to avoid that fierce light.

I asked myself, “Is it possible that I who seek the Sun of Righteousness and the fierce light of His glorious appearing will on that day be unable to look at His face?” Then we will stand stripped of all covering and face the ultimate test of our honesty in the face of absolute truth and love. How difficult it is to discern our honesty!

Jesus’ instruction to those who wait His coming is “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.” A paraphrase could read “As you wait for that glorious day keep taking a good look at yourselves and pray! And don’t be tempted, by the evil one, to excuse yourselves.”

Testimonies Vol. 6 p.410 comments on Jesus’ instructions thus: ‘Watch against the stealthy approach of the enemy, watch against old habits and natural inclinations, lest they assert themselves; force them back, and watch. Watch the thoughts, watch the plans, lest they become self-centred. Watch over the souls whom Christ has purchased with His own blood. Watch for opportunities to do them good.’

Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, puts it this way: ‘We have to live in the light of the end – not gloomily and fearfully, but trying to bring ourselves relentlessly out of the shadows where we hide from God and ourselves and each other.’ [Tokens of Trust p99]
May God bless us as we enjoy the Sunshine here in wet Scotland.

Llewellyn Edwards

Dear Friends

….and they lived happily ever after

Once upon a time … is the way every good story starts. And as soon as you begin a story like that everyone knows how it will end – whether the story is about Frodo Baggins, the 3 little pigs, Snow White, or the dark knight Batman – and they lived happily ever after. There is happiness for the heroine or hero and comeuppance for the villains. If it didn’t, the story would have no point and whoever heard of a story with no point. Boring! It is the satisfaction of the ending …and they lived happily ever after, that makes a story worth listening too.

John Eldredge has written a superb little book – one of the best witnessing books I have ever read – how I wish it had been an Adventist author! – called Epic. Let me quote from a flier: “Life, for most of us, feels like a movie we’ve arrived at forty minutes too late. Sure, good things happen, sometimes beautiful things. But tragic things happen too. What does it mean? We find ourselves in the middle of a story that is sometimes wonderful, sometimes awful, usually a confusing mixture of both, and we haven’t a clue how to make sense of it all. No wonder we keep losing heart…. For when we were born, we were born into the midst of a great story begun before the dawn of time. A story of adventure, of risk and loss, of heroism…and of betrayal. A story where good is warring against evil, danger lurks around every corner, and glorious deeds wait to be done. Think of all those stories you’ve ever loved – there’s a reason they stirred your heart. They’ve been trying to tell you about the true Epic ever since you were young.”

Adventists in very name look to that happy ever after ending. So did all the heroes of the Bible. Hebrews 11 tell us they were longing for a better country–a heavenly one. We call it the great advent hope. It is sounded out in such passages as Gen 3 where the serpent is crushed; Psalm 23 and we will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever; Isaiah 35  where the saints enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy crowning their heads; John 14 where Jesus promises to come back and take us to be with Him; and of course, Rev 22 where God says He wipes every tear from our eyes and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. It just doesn’t get any happier ever after than that!

I officiated at a funeral this week in which none of the family or the deceased had a faith. As I met with them I longed for them to know that Christians believe that death is not the end of the story – in other words the story isn’t over! If it ends there it isn’t a happy ever after story. Rather we are part of a far far bigger epic. There is One who makes it so and says “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies” and “I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

I pray that my words to them gave a glimpse of this hope and that each of us remind ourselves each day that there is a larger story and we have a crucial role in it.

Llewellyn Edwards

Friends
Someone asked me recently “What are the big hot potatoes in the church at present?” I have mulled on the topic since and find it would be easy to say things like – the ordination of women, abortion, homosexuality, music etc. But on reflection I find myself thinking that the really ‘hot potato’ isn’t an issue like the ones I have mentioned – but rather the way we deal with them.

It seems to me that Satan would find his greatest joy in a divided church and doesn’t care what the topic of division is; and on the other hand Jesus would command us to – whatever the topic is – love one another. Thus the really hot potato in Christ’s and Satan’s view is unity. And it is when we deal with each other without the love, patience and respect that Christ enjoins, that Satan triumphs.

Once upon a time there was some sort of real clash between two church members. We don’t know what the issue was but they were both clearly influential, active and well known members of the church. One can imagine the church board’s heated discussions, the arguments being rehearsed by gossip, sides being taken, friendships spurned, anguished prayers, the poor old pastor being blamed, threats of resignation, accusations flying – all the elements of a really hot potato. How comical that must have looked to Satan – can you imagine the riotous laughter in his ranks and the quiet sad look in the Master’s eyes.

It all got so bad that it came to the attention of Paul – all the way from Philippi to Rome. [The story is referred to in the letter to the Philippians]. Oh, how today some involved in division in the church long for an authority who would write and confirm their side of the argument and sort the problem out. How easy it would be if there was a “Hot Potato’s Cooled” office at the GC or BUC!

But isn’t St Paul the inspired Apostle just the person to sort it out?

Yes he is – he does so by appealing to them to love each other. He doesn’t even tell us what the issue is and what the answer to the problem is! He knew that the real ‘hot potato’ is how we are prepared to treat each other.

The matter is so important to Paul that on another occasion he actually allows the false doctrine teachers to remain in the church that the loving unity of the church might remain intact.

Here is Ellen White’s comment on this – “Paul writes to the Galatians: “I would they were even cut off which trouble you. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

False teachers had brought to the Galatians doctrines that were opposed to the gospel of Christ. Paul sought to expose and correct these errors. He greatly desired that the false teachers might be separated from the church, but their influence had affected so many of the believers that it seemed hazardous to take action against them. There was danger of causing strife and division which would be ruinous to the spiritual interests of the church. He therefore sought to impress upon his brethren the importance of trying to help one another in love. He declared that all the requirements of the law setting forth our duty to our fellow men are fulfilled in love to one another. He warned them that if they indulged hatred and strife, dividing into parties, and like the brutes biting and devouring one another, they would bring upon themselves present unhappiness and future ruin. There was but one way to prevent these terrible evils and that was, as the apostle enjoined upon them, to “walk in the Spirit.” They must by constant prayer seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, which would lead them to love and unity.” [5T.243-244]

It was the burden of the Saviour’s last prayer – not that our hot potatoes be all sorted – but that through the trials and struggles of life and its hot potatoes, we remain committed to loving one another; to personally getting alongside the erring and struggling with an attitude like the Saviour’s that would give his life for them; to finding paths to redemption – in fact to using hot potatoes to be occasions for unity.
Llewellyn Edwards

Dear Friends

Some seven or eight years ago there were less than 200 members of the Adventist Church in Scotland. At the commencement of this year we passed the 400 mark doubling our membership and surpassing the goal set by the last session for membership growth.

That is a reason for celebration and an outpouring of praise to God and for the ministry of the Lord Jesus through the Holy Spirit and the work of that same membership. But it is also a reason to pause and ask how did that happen? The easy answer is – the transfer of members from other lands to ours – and we could leave it there except that we should recognise that those transferring their membership need not have chosen to have done so and the good rise in baptisms over the same period tells us that we are doing something right.

The difficult questions now are – what are we doing right and can we do it better? Let me venture some answers.

I read some results of a recent survey of non-SDA churches in America. The survey covered a wide spectrum of churches – from conservative to liberal. One of the conclusions that struck me was the observation that the main reason why people join churches is the quality of the people already there. Let me describe them as ‘great’ people.

“What!” one might ask, “Wasn’t it the programmes they ran – the preaching, the outreach, the fellowship, the doctrines?” Well, yes and no. Apparently where the wonderful programmes took place, they did not all translate into membership growth unless they first translated into creating great members. These were members who are serious in their walk with Christ [their Bible study, their prayer life], enthusiastic about their church fellowship, and committed to sharing Christ with others outside their church. Programmes that simply resulted in entertained members or ego-stroked pastoral leadership went no-where no matter how good they apparently were.

It all sounds too simple but isn’t it that quality of faith in Christ that God is pleased with and honours – Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. It’s the kind of faith that personally stretches beyond our comfort zones and discovers the reality of a living God. It’s the faith that brought amazement and response from Jesus – Matthew 8:10 ‘When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” That centurion was a great person – because he had great faith’.

I believe that growing great people is what we are doing right. Can we do it better? – absolutely! So much so that I believe the next goal we should set is a membership of 1000. But to do it we will need to have pastors, elders, and individual members all striving through great churches to be great members. This will require much heart searching prayer, preparation of programmes and the courage to step out beyond our comfortable walk with Christ – to prove the power of the gospel and the reality of our supporting God.

May we all be open to the God who can take our 400 and make it a 1000.

Llewellyn Edwards

Dear Friends
The poor old lady, the rich young man and Jesus –

We are all familiar with the stories of the lady who had an ‘issue of blood’ that left her penniless, hopeless and friendless and the rich young ruler which surely made him popular and influential. They could not have been more opposite socially – she was unacceptable while he was very acceptable. On the surface they were opposite spiritually too. She was fearful and clearly ignorant of how to approach God – her religion was mixed with superstition. He was confident and knowledgeable about God and His expectations, from boyhood [Luke 18:21]. What they do have in common is that they both came to Jesus.

But they were both wrong. She mixed superstition with her faith in believing that the act of touching His garment would cause her healing; he mixed works with his faith believing that his life commended him to God.

The beauty of their stories is that though they were from opposite ends of the social spectrum and though they were both theologically wrong – Jesus loved them both. His heart spans the gap. He tells the lady that it is her faith, not her superstition that made her whole; He confronts the ruler with the inadequacy of his motives.

Result: she responds, he turns away. One response is joyful the other sad. But to both Jesus has extended His love – to the woman he gives her a sense of belonging by calling her daughter and even while he walks away He loved that young ruler.

She came – He loved; he left, He loved. She accepted Him – He loved; he rejected Him – He loved. How easy it is to care about people and respond to people on the basis of how they relate to us. We look after our favourites; we smile at those who smile at us; you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours; you are okay with me because we are in the same class or theology or status.

Not so Jesus – Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor, rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief, Doctor, lawyer, Indian chief – He loved each one.
Llewellyn Edwards

Dear Friends

Changing Easter – Constant Gospel

You may have wondered why Easter fell so early this year – a friend sent me the following information on the changing date of Easter.

Have you realized how early Easter is this year? As you may have heard, Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20).

This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.

Based on the above, Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22) but that is pretty rare.

Here’s the interesting info. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our

population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above!). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier!

Here are the facts:

1) The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you’re 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!).

2) The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!

The good news is that, while Easter may keep changing – the Gospel remains constant – God’s from-the-foundation-of-the-world love paid the price for your sins and redeemed you for eternity.

Llewellyn Edwards

Dear Friends

The BIG and the small

Are you God? If you had to tick a box that asked that question, you’d obviously tick the ‘No’ box – otherwise you might be considered a candidate for an asylum. But how often, in fact, do we live our daily lives as if we are God. We expect the world, the people, and the circumstances around us to mould themselves to our wishes. We expect respect from everything as if it is our (divine) right.

The bumper sticker – ‘Actually I do own the road’ – brings a smile of recognition to most of us. Like the lion tamer who one day finds the lion roaring back or the disciples confronting the storm or Gadarean demoniac, we suddenly are rudely reminded that we are not God – not even in control.

The question confronts us with the issue of perspective and working out what is the Big and what is the small in life. In our recent Sabbath School lesson we read the story of the disciples seeing the transfigured glory of Christ then the next scene is one of their inability to cast out a demon. That was a lesson in perspective – who is Big and who is small.

There are many situations in life where this perspective needs to be understood. One is in regard to the church. Henry Cloud, a clinical
psychologist and author of ‘Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality’, tells the story of a wealthy and successful CEO who was in a church committee and was in full flow on the item under discussion when he stopped, and asked the committee’s forgiveness for his acting as if he was the CEO of the church rather than a disciple and servant of the Lord of the Church. Wow – here was a man who knew what is the Big and what is the small.

Is it possible for church leaders – presidents, elders, treasurers, Pastors, deacons etc., to slip into control (God) mode and think the
church and its members are for our purposes rather than His? Leaders can laud it over the church and think its members and funds are for their (good) purposes and control rather than the reality of being servants and good shepherds who will give their lives for the sheep (John10:11-12).

So what’s BIG and what’s small in your life?

Llewellyn Edwards

Dear Friends

In recent months the state of the nation’s health has featured in the news. In a government report part of its introduction reads as follows:

Also an article in the 15th November 2007 Daily Mail, under the title “Want to live longer?” suggested that one way to live longer was to be a Seventh-day Adventist! The article reads:

This information was among some of the discussion when the Mission Executive Committee met on 19th and 20th January 2008. We believe that the health needs of our nation correspond to the traditional lifestyle values and expertise of our Church.

The Committee therefore has taken the decision to adopt ‘Health Outreach’ as the major thrust being used by the Scottish Mission as a bridge to the general public of Scotland. This approach would embrace CHIP and other health development initiatives. To that end a steering committee is being set up to develop the strategy and resources for this exciting initiative.

I ask that each will pray that God will bless our efforts to share God’s interest in the wellbeing of all the peoples of this land.

Affinity fraud – check it out!

An article in the news over the past few weeks reports on how four church goers swindled over £3 million from more than 1000 fellow worshippers of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in England. The gang made promises of BIG returns and used the money for their own purposes, so the reports state.

The story is a classic example of what is known as ‘affinity fraud’ and comes as a warning to all both individually and church organizations.
Affinity fraud is nothing new – one story that illustrates it is found in 1 Kings 13:1-31. Note verse 18 and ask yourself what the true prophet should have done. Isn’t it so that he should have thoroughly checked out the story of the older prophet and not simply trusted him because of his ‘affiliation’? The Bereans did well in that even though the preacher was the Apostle Paul himself they examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true [Acts 17:11 NIV].

The story of the fraud in the papers has lessons for us, not least in our own financial investments but also in the way we handle and account for offerings and tithe collections in our churches. The principles of dealing with fraud also are important in the way we deal with gossip and hearsay or ideas propounded by the literature we read or DVDs we view; an idea propounded in a Sabbath School class and even theories set forward by the preachers in our pulpits. Paul warns that we hold to truth if even he [by affinity] or an angel tells us otherwise! See Gal. 1:8.
Here are a couple of websites worth visiting to read about how to avoid affinity fraud – check it out!

http://www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk/news/affinity_fraud.html
http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/affinity.htm

Llewellyn Edwards

Dear Friends

It has been a good year for our church family in Scotland.

Yes there have been setbacks, disappointments, illness and also the loss of loved ones but these have happened in the context of the knowledge of the God who works all things together for good and in the knowledge of the hope of the coming of Jesus. Nevertheless the church has grown in so many ways and my heart is greatly encouraged by the stories of faith, love and commitment from around our churches. Let me touch on a few examples.

In Edinburgh the contact and witness amongst the other churches particularly by the choir has been excellent, while in Dunfermline the stories of the warmth of caring fellowship and the decisions for the Lord of so many youth there is heart warming.

Dundee too has seen baptisms and sought to reach out to the community; also their vision for a larger house of worship is inspiring.

Aberdeen church is experiencing a ‘good problem’ with the challenge of the building being too small on many Sabbaths for the attendance – what an exciting challenge to go into the New Year with!

The Inverness group have worked hard all year in seeking to share their faith and we look with anticipation to the Lord to water the seed they have planted.

Crieff church has had its struggles this year but these are met by the growing strength of their community and excellent programmes such as the hosting of the Forgiveness Exhibition.

The loss of the health outreach of Roundelwood is a blow that must be met and redirected toward outreach at the local churches in programmes such as CHIP. I am encouraged by the enthusiasm and human resources that the Lord has placed in our midst for such ventures. I would ask that we all keep in mind those of our members who work at Roundelwood under a different ethos.

Irvine and East Kilbride continue to shine brightly and patiently sow their seeds of witness – through outreach and love for one another.

And what shall I say of Glasgow and their plant in Faifley – bursting at the seams, rousing praise and singing, dedicated and enthusiastic outreach, talented members and now the beginnings of a new vision for the church in the community.

Another indicator of growth is our membership. At the 2006 Mission Session we set a tentative target of a membership of 400 by the end of 2010 – as I write we are only a handful away from passing that mark. It seems the Lord would have us set our faith goals higher.

My thanks go to each of the elders and lay-leaders and individuals without office – who have stepped to the mark serving the Lord and their churches and in doing so have collectively lifted our work marvellously.

May God bless our people in their homes and work and in our church communities – to his honour and praise, and that world might see that we are His disciples because we love one another.

Llewellyn Edwards

Dear Friends

The Forgiveness Project exhibition at Crieff church closed two days ago and I cannot but comment on a couple of the powerful encounters and lessons I experienced.

Firstly – I joined Ginn Fourie and Letlapa Mphahlele on a visit to Glenochil Prison where we met with around eight inmates – some of them ‘lifers’. Ginn and Letlapa told their story and then invited discussion. All of the men were clearly moved with two struggling to hide their tears. I wondered what they were feeling. Was it anger toward Letlapa? [At one of the visits to a school some of the children had wanted him punished!]. Was it compassion toward Ginn? Ginn asked “How are you feeling?” Their eyes expressed awe of Ginn and envy of Letlapa. Then each individually responded in their own words – some were surprisingly articulate others stumbled – but each said they wished they could receive the gift of forgiveness. I asked myself – how deeply do I value the gift of forgiveness I have received?

Secondly – a conversation with a couple who came to see the exhibition. They had both been born into Catholic homes but hadn’t been to church for a very long time. Lapsed church-goers he described themselves as, and to have got them into church by this Forgiveness Exhibition was a feat in itself. [He wasn’t the only one who expressed this. One person told us that our having got her dad into our church was incredible.] We chatted for a little then he asked “So tell me in only one sentence – not more – what do Adventists believe?”

I fumbled something about the return of Jesus and offered a tract on Adventists which he refused. Then he and his girlfriend and son were gone.

I wrestled with my one sentence answer to his question for some time afterwards. Was that it? Jesus is coming back – is that the core of Adventism? Should I have made the answer a paragraph long and got in the Sabbath, state of the dead, Sanctuary, and salvation doctrines as well? I have concluded that correct as the list of doctrines are they do not constitute the essential core of Adventism; nor are they what the heart of prisoners of sin long to hear. Rather it is grace – expressed as forgiveness, reconciliation, acceptance, unconditional love, etc – whatever terms one wishes to use.

So what would I answer given the question again? I would say “Adventists are a community wrestling with the implications of the discovery that the God of Heaven is a God of unconditional grace.”

Llewellyn Edwards

In recent weeks I have been working with Steve Logan to bring ‘The Forgiveness Exhibition’ to Crieff Church (See www.theforgivenessproject.com or www.crieffadventist.org.uk/fp) . During the process one cannot but read some of the stories of forgiveness. In doing so I am touched by the courage, honesty, transforming power and beauty of those who forgive.

Two of my favourites include the stories of: Tom Tate, who returns to the village in Germany where his comrades were illegally executed during WW2, to participate in a ceremony of forgiveness that lifts the townsfolk’s burden of guilt; and Ghazi Briegeith and Rami Elhanan, an Arab whose brother is shot at an Israeli checkpoint for responding to the Israeli soldier’s rudeness and an Israeli whose 14 year old daughter is killed in a suicide bombing. The two men meet and create hope by standing together as brothers through forgiveness.

Why do they touch me?

Firstly, carrying a burden of resentment, fear, guilt or anger simply crushes the bearer. It is destructive to his, her or their wellbeing. It creates a heaviness that hampers the ability to be optimistic and thus is destructive to personal relationships. Tom Tate despised the Germans and feared returning there, meanwhile the town lived with its shame and horror. Forgiveness met the need of both.

The same was true for Ghazi and Rami – but nothing is ever solved by hatred. The solution lay in the incredible act of forgiveness.

Secondly, the stories convince me that the gracious God revealed in Christ is alive and active in the world outside of church. I would argue that forgiveness has its source in the character and Spirit of our God. Steve Logan in a write-up about why we are hosting the exhibition explains:

Because the ability to forgive and love another person in spite of their actions is at the heart of our faith. It also has a resonance in our society – everybody has somebody or something for which they need to offer or to seek forgiveness. Forgiveness is universal, be you an Adventist or an atheist. By mounting this exhibition and offering these talks to our community we are stating very clearly that we, Crieff Adventist Church, want to be associated with a way of thinking and acting which is different from the usual ‘eye for an eye’. We, as Christians, have something to say on this subject. Follow the example of Christ.

Thirdly, their stories and acts of forgiveness are reminders and challenges to me of what God calls us to. If Ghazi and Rami can “stand together after paying the highest price possible, then anyone can”. And where better should forgiveness be on “exhibition” than in the community of the forgiven that we call church. Aren’t we the ones who pray “forgive us our debts AS we forgive our debtors”?

Llewellyn Edwards

Dear Friends,

Rev 14:12 – a definition of who an Adventist is.

Jan Barna, systematic theology lecturer at Newbold College, spoke over the weekend of 22-23 September at Crieff church. His subject was the origins of Adventist thought and included a survey of the issues at the 1888 Minneapolis conference. [The quotations below are taken from Jan Barna’s website – www.sdadevelopment.szm.com/descriptor/]

Of particular interest to me was his discussion on the meaning of the phrase in Rev 14:12 ‘the faith of Jesus’ [KJV]. James White, early Adventist Church leader, following the tenor of the preceding clause [‘keep the commandments’] interpreted the faith of Jesus to mean a reference to a group of people who hold a body of beliefs in such things as baptism, the Lord’s supper, washing the saints feet, and so on.

E J Waggoner and A T Jones and, subsequently, E G White disagreed. They saw the phrase as referring to a righteousness given by faith in Jesus. [See versions or translations of the text such as the New Jerusalem, New Living and New American Bibles below]

While the establishment represented by such as Uriah Smith {Review & Herald Editor] and George Butler [GC President], as well as James White saw this quintessential text as describing a group who while patiently awaiting the coming of Jesus saw their duty as obediently keeping the commandments and being faithful to the truths Jesus held; the others understood the text to describe a group who while patiently waiting for the coming of Jesus sought to keep the commandments all the while placing their faith or trust in the Lord Jesus.

At first glance there may not seem a big difference until careful investigation of the stances separates the positions. Note the following quotations representing the two sides

Uriah Smith, writes (January 3 1888 in an editorial: Conditions of Everlasting Life) ‚In the question of the rich young ruler to Jesus: ‘Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’ The Bible answer, could be summed up in one proposition: ‘repent, believe, obey, and live’. That was Jesus’ answer. After all didn’t he say to young ruler -‘If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments?’”

Ellet J Waggoner is to reply as follows: “Human righteousness is of no worth after a man is justified than it was before” (Signs of the Times, February 24 1888, p. 119.) Back comes Smith – “Perfect obedience to the law will develop perfect righteousness and …. this is the only way one can attain to righteousness…. Our righteousness comes from being in harmony with the law of God. And our righteousness cannot in this case be filthy rags. There is a righteousness that is to be secured by doing and teaching the commandments.” (U Smith, R&H, June 11, 1889, p. 376) Along the line Ellen White is to get involved. In there fray she refers to those who think that Waggoner and Jones’ preoccupation with faith righteousness is extreme – She writes ”

…men will say, “You are too excited; you are making too much of this matter, and you do not think enough of the law; now, you must think more of the law; don’t be all the time reaching for this righteousness of Christ, but build up the law.” {1888 p. 557}

To them she replies – “Let the law take care of itself. We have been at work on the law until we get as dry as the hills of Gilboa, without dew or rain. Let us trust in the merits of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.” (ibid.)

She writes further “The Lord is not pleased to have man trusting in his own ability or good deeds or in a legal religion, but in God, the living God. The present message that God has made it the duty of His servants to give to the people is no new or novel thing. It is an old truth that has been lost sight of, just as Satan made his masterly efforts that it should be. The Lord has a work for every one of His loyal people to do to bring the faith of Jesus into the right place where it belongs–in the third angel’s message. The law has its important position but is powerless unless the righteousness of Christ is placed beside the law to give its glory to the whole royal standard of righteousness. (Rom. 7:12)”. {1888 375.2}

…A thorough and complete trust in Jesus will give the right quality to religious experience. Aside from this the experience is nothing. The service is like the offering of Cain–Christless.”

“The faith of Jesus.” It is talked of, but not understood. What constitutes the faith of Jesus, that belongs, to the third angel’s message? Jesus becoming our sin-bearer that He might become our sin-pardoning Saviour. He was treated as we deserve to be treated. He came to our world and took our sins that we might take His righteousness. Faith in the ability of Christ to save us amply and fully and entirely is the faith of Jesus.”

“The faith of Jesus has been overlooked and treated in an indifferent, careless manner. It has not occupied the prominent position in which it was revealed to John. Faith in Christ as the sinner’s only hope has been largely left out, not only of the discourses given but of the religious experience of very many who claim to believe the third angel’s message.”

Let us patiently await that glorious day, seeking to be obedient to the commandments of God while placing our full trust in the righteousness, mercy and beauty of our Lord Jesus.

NAB Revelation 14:12 Here is what sustains the holy ones who keep God’s commandments and their faith in Jesus.

NLT Revelation 14:12 Let this encourage God’s holy people to endure persecution patiently and remain firm to the end, obeying his commands and trusting in Jesus.”

NJB Revelation 14:12 This is why there must be perseverance in the saints who keep the commandments of God and faith in Jesus.

Llewellyn Edwards

In 1669, four years after the Great Plague of London, a Puritan by the name of Ralph Venning, wrote a book titled ‘The Plague of Plagues’. In it there is surprisingly hardly an allusion to the Great Plague apart from the title. Why? Because Venning identifies mankind’s greatest plague as that of sin. Today the book is published under the title ‘The Sinfulness of Sisn’.

In our age when ‘sin’ is considered a trite thing, nothing more than mischievousness, until, of course, it is a really, really bad sin, Venning’s lengthy treatment of the topic is a vital read. Now and then when my own nature tempts me to belittle my sinfulness the book stands on my bookshelf as a reminder to me of my own sinfulness and even a short read of any section of the book shatters my seduction to being trite about sin.
Sin writes Venning is contrary to the very nature of God. It is virulently anti God and strives even against our best intentions to seduce and make us into the enemies of God [Rom 5:10]; to put us at enmity with Him [Rom 8:7]; in rebellion against God [Isa 1:2]; striving against Him [Isa 45:9]; despising God [Num 11:20]; haters of God [Rom 1:20]; blasphemers, revilers and lastly atheists [Psalm 14:1]. Its aim is to make us God murders or God killers.
There is no greater illustration of the truth of this than the story of Jesus. Mark’s gospel particularly tries to show its readers this truth. Sin, as is the nature of its originator [Gen 3:1] is so subtle, that even the people of Israel and their scrupulously pious leaders succumb to its wiles, accuse Jesus of being demonic [Mark 3:22], plan his murder [Mark 3:6] and place themselves in the place where forgiveness cannot reach them [Mark 3:29]. Oh how clever sin is and how foolish we are!

Against that horrific background of the sinfulness of sin it is amazing – even shocking – that Jesus states the wonderful words [found in Mark 3:28 RSV] ‚Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter;? Notice that he prefaces the statement with the word ‘Truly’ or ‘Amen’ [in the Greek] – this is equivalent to making an oath of honesty and certainty. What grace! The One being offended, reviled and blasphemed, being made an enemy of, offers to His enemy – forgiveness. What a welcome home to those who feel lost. What good news to those who feel the condemnation of their sins. And what a spur to turn from sin and hate its influence in our lives!
Unless of course our wily foe and his weapon called ‘sin’ seduces us to think that because Jesus offers forgiveness so easily sin cannot be that bad. Oh how clever sin is and how foolish we are!
May we hate sin as much as we love our Saviour, the Lord Jesus.

I had one of those encounters with someone this month that rattled my cage.

The young lady told me how sick she was of her church – her list of complaints included the Sabbath School teachers who think they know everything and feel God has sent them to be the font of knowledge and wisdom to the class; the members confessing love for the church family but who rush off after church to do their own thing; the ones who dutifully talk to you but you can tell they only want to tell you and when you speak their minds are elsewhere. “They are just hypocrites!” she blurted. “Why would I want to go to church?”

Over the years the compartment in my brain that stores these kinds of stories has saved a number of them.

Recently a pastor asked me to take a look at a letter sent by a young person who had left church and something she wrote. Before I quote from the letter let me tell you that it consisted of several pages of the usual reasons why coming to church was just not a worthwhile activity. She had little criticism of the church’s beliefs and held to her faith walk and hope in Christ’s return – she just didn’t need the hypocrisy of ‘church’.

But … in part of her letter she wrote something that really struck me. She wrote “…Compassion is not a word that is discussed or recognized among the general Adventist population…. Let me just say, though, that I think ADRA is the one thing Adventists are doing right—it’s not an organization out to “convert” the masses….it’s there to HELP people, individuals and I truly believe that they do it better than most. There’s an emphasis on sustainable economies, protecting the environment, helping women and children, etc…but as far as sitting in the pews each week, compassion is not a reality. At least not the pews I was sitting in.”

I think hers is such a powerful observation. It would appear that ADRA’s compassion ignores the thinking and activities of the person being served, while the Church’s compassion and serving is, in her mind, so often conditional. Are there two faces to church? Is it meant to be like that? ADRA’s philosophy is to help each person without regard to gender, age, ethnicity or political or religious association. What is your local church’s philosophy?

Can the two words and philosophies – ADRA and Church – be synonymous? What if Church could copy ADRA and serve people regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity or religious association and with no aim but to serve and be there for them simply because of the compassion of God?

Hmmm – the Seventh-day Adventist Development and Relief Agency Church.