By Felix A. Lorenz, Jr.
A Commentary on the Sabbath School Lesson for August 14–20, 2004
Human ego being what it is, we tend to be exclusive; we have trouble being inclusive. That is a lesson the Jews never learned. They were God’s "chosen people." Are we in danger of being exclusive? We believe we have "the truth" and that we are "chosen" to do a special mission for Jesus.
As a lifelong Adventist, I have never questioned that, which for a time made it difficult for me to fully grasp our official position: "We recognize those agencies that lift up Christ before men as a part of the divine plan for evangelization of the world, and we hold in high esteem Christian men and women in other communions who are engaged in winning souls to Christ" (General Conference Working Policy, 1999–2000, 494).
Why, then, should we seek to reach others with our beliefs?
When something exciting happens to you, what is your first impulse? Is it not to tell someone the good news? Have you ever known anyone with a new grandchild who did not tell everyone about it, or a son’s special achievement, a daughter’s making the dean’s list at college? A new Adventist can hardly wait to share the news with friends and relatives. It is important news, exciting news.
How, then, should we share our faith?
Jesus was explicit in the how. "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." Peter, who was a slow learner, understood the principle later, and made it clear to his fellow believers: "Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone" (2 Pet. 1:7).
We Adventists emphasize the Law of God, as we should. We often quote 1 John 3:4, that "sin is the transgression of the law." We need to remember Romans 12:10: "Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." So to fail to love is a transgression of the law! By obeying Jesus’ commandment to "Love each other. Just as I have loved you" we are proving to the world that we are followers of Jesus. We might call love proof-living rather than proof-texting.
If people see something desirable in our lifestyle, something that looks exciting and beautiful, they will want to share it. If they see in us a manifestation of unconditional love for them, they will likely want to respond. In a caring fellowship, questions will naturally arise. Our very name gives clues to what our mutual love fosters in us—"Seventh-day" identifies us as Sabbath observers: Sabbath, when we rest, worship and fellowship. "Adventists" identifies us as ardent believers in the Second Coming. Hope, which makes us optimistic and buoyant, marks us as the kind of people to whom other people are attracted. When our friends understand what those beliefs mean to us, and see those beliefs bathed in love … that is an "opening" for evangelism.
When we are tempted to think we are God’s only true believers, our arrogance needs to be humbled by a warning: "We have only the glimmerings of the rays of light that is yet to come to us" (Review and Herald, June 3, 1890).
If we have more truth to learn—obvious from that quote, and evident in that if we didn’t, we would have no need of the Holy Spirit—it seems we should feel more as fellow travelers with those of other faiths, and less as superiors.
Also humbling is this: "God has children, many of them, in the Protestant churches, and a large number in the Catholic churches, who are more true to obey the light and to do [to] the best of their knowledge than a large number among Sabbathkeeping Adventists who do not walk in the light" (Ellen White, Selected Messages, 3:386). Didn’t our Rabbi say, "Anyone who is not against us is for us"? (Mark 9:40).
Ministry is built on relationships; ministry is built through communication; ministry is built through presence. If we want to share our "distinctives"—which we do—we can expect others to receive and respond to them more readily if we are walking the path of spiritual life with them, than if we confront them from a we-are-right-you-are-wrong attitude. Any salesman knows that he/she first builds a positive relationship, then introduces the new product or service.
We have more in common with Christians of other communions than differences. And if you think about it, the beliefs we have in common are "the important things of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things" (Matt. 23:23). If we will work side by side with Christians of other persuasions on issues of justice, mercy, and faith, there will be opportunities to share the "distinctives."
There are many issues of social justice, not just religious liberty. If we cooperate with the others in working for better environmental and economic and health care mores, then maybe we can expect them to be more sympathetic about working with us on the issue of religious liberty. (That does not imply that we should have ulterior motives in our cooperation!)
We have theological insights that ought to thrill us—Sabbath observance, conditional immortality, faithful stewardship, for example—and if we are excited, really excited, about what we believe, and sensitive in sharing what we believe, what an impact we might have on fellow Christians, and on society!
Those of us Adventists who are vegetarians do not condemn nonvegetarian Adventists. Those who take literally Jesus’ "Don’t store up treasures here on earth" do not condemn those who have modest savings! When we attend a funeral and hear someone say, "Well, I know he’s in heaven now," that is not the time to give a Bible study on the state of the dead, or even to comment on the other Christian’s belief.
"Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds" (1 Pet. 3:8). That does not mean we will all wear blue suits and red ties, nor does it imply that we will all drive black Fords. It means we will dwell together in love, in unity with diversity, fulfilling the most ardent prayer of Jesus, in John 17. Even those who believe "I know he’s in heaven now" can be in our loving fellowship! And I will eat in peace with a brother who devours a steak!
Peace
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