"So what's different in Adventism?" She narrowed her eyes as she asked the question. I was having breakfast with the Norwegian guests. We spoke about the upcoming election, America and various other issues that Norwegians like to discuss with Americans. Then suddenly one lady popped up with the question.
"I've heard about the Sabbath, but what else do you believe that is different than Lutheranism?" I began sharing a few different things that we believe, praying all the time that I say the right things, pointing out the truth, yet not bulldozing her over with doctrine. Presently she stated "I think that the Old Testament is a bunch of junk" (she actually used some more pointed words, that I am not going to repeat). "The God of the Old Testament was vengeful, unforgiving, and killed everyone."
Wow, she brought in a whole new aspect, but I jumped at the chance to explain my God to her.
I have read through the Bible several times, and it seems that the more I read through it, the more I see that the God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New. I shared with her Bible verse after Bible verse in the Old Testament showing that God is a loving God. I explained that God had blessed the Israelites over and over again, but they would not heed God. They would prefer to go down their own course and disregard God's love for them. By straying away from Him, they would often fall into the hands of their enemies, but as soon as they cried to God, and turned away from sin, He would save them. I related the story of Hosea and Gomer, and how Hosea bought Gomer back to him, even though she had wronged him terribly. This is exactly the way that God loves His people. He was willing to die Himself that we could understand how much He loved us.
This is the real message of Seventh-day Adventists. God loves us tremendously, so much in fact that His Son was willing to die for us, that we might believe in Him and be saved. Praise the Lord for His goodness towards us, and that He shows us a true picture of Him in both Testaments, as a loving, forgiving God.
9 comments:
Wow, that's pretty exciting that you get to share with the people like that! Praise the Lord that you are able to talk to them. How did the lady respond? I am through with the fast now and very excited to be able to eat "real" food today! It was so delicious! I learned a lot during my fast, too. It was a good experience, but I wouldn't want to do it too often. :D We should for-sure hang out next year! We'll have to share pictures and experiences! Exciting. Love you, girl! God bless.
I think you are so right, that God never changes. His love endures forever. When we can count on nothing else in this world, we can count on Him! Praise the Lord that you have been able to share Him with others. Love you!
I'm a Christian. I'm curious; are you saying that you don't believe only a Seventh Day Adventist is a believer? That's not how many of various Protestant sects feel, but it appears you do. Just curious!
(Found your site due to the oboe reference.)
Oops ... just read my comment. It was garbled ... I'm asking if you are saying only Seventh Day Adventists are true believers. Sorry ... I'm just waking up!
Hey Martina! Thanks for sharing your experience. BTW, I'm sure your 13.1 miles will go splendidly!
Love you lots and miss you more! :)
That's pretty ironic since that's what I've been studying about in my Old Testament Studies class. I've got plenty more info, if you'd like, but it sounds like you answered wonderfully as it is. :D I'm just curious as to how she responded to it! Was that your inspiration for your sermon? or was it before?
Ahh! I like the story of Hosea and Gomer, I was reading it this morning. Very interesting. Keep up the work!
Patty: Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! It's always exciting to meet with a fellow oboe player! :)
As to your question, I believe that there are many great Christians that believe in the whole Bible. In fact, most Christian denominations believe in the Old and New Testaments. However, often when reading through the Bible, many churches cut out important truths that are found in the Bible, such as the fourth commandment: "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." -- Exodus 20:8-11
The Sabbath was made holy at creation (see Genesis 2:2-3), so that we can remember God as the Creator. God restates the importance of the Sabbath in many different places in the Bible (Leviticus 23:3; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Ezekiel 20:20; Isaiah 58:13-14). Jesus Himself kept the Sabbath (see Luke 4:16), as did Paul and early Christians, whether converted from Jewish or Gentle backgrounds (see Acts 13:42-49; Acts 15:21; Acts 18:4).
All through the Bible, there seems to be a special emphasis on the Sabbath. I believe that there are many sincere Christians that are following the Bible to the best of their knowledge, but unknowingly they are only keeping nine of the Ten Commandments. They do not keep the commandment that honors God as the Creator of the universe and giver of life. Instead they keep Sunday, which is a man made Sabbath that the Roman Catholic Church acknowledges to have established, by changing Sabbath to Sunday (see the Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine by Rev. Peter Geiermann C.SS.R. pages 50-51).
I believe that we need to prayerfully and humbly read the whole Bible and let the Lord lead us into His truth, and not just whatever a church or pastor states.
I would encourage you to keep up in the faith, and prayerfully read through the Bible to find precious gems God has given. God bless!
I believe that when Jesus came, he came bringing new commandments and that he reiterated some of the 10, but didn't reiterate all.
But I'm not here to argue with you. Just stating what I believe.
It must be very difficult for you, with so many concerts and rehearsals on Saturdays. (Or maybe you are like the former conductor of San Francisco, who managed to say that a concert is worshipful so it was okay. He still wouldn't rehearse then, of course, as that was work.)
Wishing you all the best. I've been in the music business since 1975 ... it sure isn't getting easier!
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