The newly released Seventh-day Adventist biblical statement on racism was released this week. I give it a hearty Amen!
Read the full statement here.
Those who worked to keep this statement solidly upon the Bible, turning not aside to the right hand nor to the left (Deut. 5:32), deserve a big thanks.
Yes, Satan has worked masterfully on this issue. He invents racism, prejudice, violence and hate. He creates the problem; then he provides the contemporary 'solution' to racism - witchcraft, Marxism, atheism, anarchy, dismantling law and order, and disrupting the nuclear family.
He's run this play before. Create the problem (Dark Ages religious oppression)... and then provide the 'solution' - the atheistic French Revolution with the goddess of 'reason,' followed by the irrational and bloodthirsty reign of terror.
However, in this newly released statement the Adventist people stand against both the sin of racism AND the counterfeit solution - that oppressive, worldly ideology that has again begun to possess so much of society and even Christianity.
The critic will point to the timing of this statement as a virtue signal and a concession to the aggressive warriors of 'social justice.'
But even so, we can still assess the value of this statement on its own merits. We can see what it does say and what it — praise God! — avoids saying.
In this statement we shun Satan's violent, hateful, divisive, and openly anti-God 'solution' to the scourge of racism (which is a 'cure' worse than the disease) by presenting a unifying message of peace and unity as a human family.
As people of the Book, we lift up Bible truth and the Everlasting Gospel as 1) the real solution to the racist heart and 2) as an antidote to the false social gospel that is presently masquerading as an angel of light.
Here are some highlights from our new statement... Step aside social gospel - the real gospel has stood up. A refreshing read, indeed:
"We are all descended from Adam and Eve, our original ancestors, who make all humanity one family (Gen 3:20)."
"We recognize the ultimate solution to the sins of racism... is the transformation of individual lives and relationships through Christ and His saving power."
"Our commitment flows from our mission to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to 'every nation, tribe, tongue, and people' (Rev 14:6) in our troubled world as we recognize only Christ can change the human heart."
[The statement opposes - presumably in any direction...] "oppressive and dominating behavior" [and acts of] "aggression and prejudice."
"The moral duty of declaring biblical principles in the treatment of fellow human beings has become paramount as the world increasingly recognizes the lingering scourge of racial injustice, tribal conflicts, and caste system bigotry suffered by millions of persons in every society and world region."
"Seventh-day Adventists are members of a diverse, global Church and are committed to being agents of peace and reconciliation in society by modeling and advocating for the biblical truth about our shared ancestry."
[I noticed that the statement stops short of condemning nationhood/promoting globalism. That's also a major highlight.]
"God created each person unique, and His powerful influence in our lives results in a celebration of differences that respectfully values each person’s human heritage and culture."
"God invites everyone, everywhere to join the remnant Church described in Bible prophecy (Rev 12:17) in proclaiming the everlasting gospel which focuses on the righteousness of Jesus Christ encapsulated in the three angels’ messages (Rev 14:6-12). These messages are to be given to 'every nation, tribe, tongue, and people' culminating with Christ’s soon return (Rev 14:6, 14)."
“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9—10).
Scott Ritsema is the founder and director of Belt of Truth Ministries and Media on the Brain. He lives in Lakeview Michigan with his wife Cami and three amazing children!
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