When God revealed His Word to men of faith in the past, He ensured that the message from His mouth was consistent and had unquestionable authority. He manifested himself even more clearly with a spirit of love toward His children when He allowed us to have an extension of His divine will by sharing with us inspired counsel and messengers who constantly repeat to us His words contained in the Bible, which remains His word. We call this preaching.
It is true that in recent decades, a spirit of contradiction has arisen within the ranks of God's Church, a philosophical secularism that seeks to explain away what is already defined in God's Word. This modern syncretism has been silently taking over our educational and healthcare institutions, and in some cases the very heart of the Church. It advances like a spiritual cancer, undermining the truths of Christ and implanting a gospel of convenience in the minds of young and old. Fundamental and distinctive doctrines have been ignored to give way to the inclinations of hearts that constantly mix truth with lies, causing them to introduce practices into the faith that are not approved by God.
The enemy desires to keep God's people mired in discussions and projects that do not come from God's original plan. In times of global urgency, he delights in providing entertainment and promoting a gospel that is easy to follow. As aspirants to the eternal kingdom, we must open our spiritual eyes through prayer so that we may be anointed to walk in a deep relationship with Christ, doing as He desires us to do through the power of His transformation.
Enoch was not translated to heaven because he was very busy with a group of people whom he charmed while pleasing them with politically correct phrases. The Spirit of God filled him with such fullness when he completely separated himself in a personal surrender before the presence of God.
In these days of theological disorder and spiritual famine, God is calling servants who desire to hear His voice amidst the turbulent winds of destruction created by the enemy of souls and His most devoted followers.
God's call is not to leave the Adventist Church. Christ promised to cleanse His people and separate the wheat from the chaff, but for this to happen, the revival of a small group that obeys Him is necessary. This remnant is driven by the Holy Spirit, and focused on prayer. It will be harshly criticized and at times persecuted by the church leaders themselves. If you read the scriptures carefully, all of this was foretold thousands of years before, and now in our time, we have begun to see small glimpses of what will happen in the not-too-distant future.
"Come out of her, my people," does not mean that we should abandon the Adventist faith, nor does it mean that we should waste our strength criticizing those who constantly promote bad doctrine and go against the spirit.
What we have experienced so far should call us to unity of spirit, praying in homes and asking God to pour out His Spirit among those who are ready to preach the third angel's message. This is a simple process.
The apostle Paul mentions the list of men who lack the Spirit of God for the last time (2 Timothy 3:1-5). Then, in the last line of the description, he says, "Avoid such people." Again, there is a call not to give up on God's church, but to walk apart from them, to concentrate on praying and preaching a complete gospel for the time in which we live. For the past year, I have wept week after week as I read about the injustices and senseless ideas promoted in our church circles, and in the midst of so much chaos, a question came to mind. Is it time to debate or to preach? Oh, beloved in Christ, it is time to go to those who do not know about this wonderful God. Let us not dwell on policies and the words of men who only hold back the truth of God. This is what the enemy's plan is all about. It is time to invest our resources in parks and plazas. We must go to those who do not know about Christ and bring them His love and show them His will and transforming work. This is not the time to bring a light gospel to the world. Christ comes to bring a people who honor His name through His transforming spirit.
Let us not waste our time arguing with those who oppose God and His promises. It is time to preach the truths of His word to those who do not know them. Let us raise the torch of faith and prayer. It is almost time to go home.
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The author is a pastor and graduate of the Adventist University of Central America, with a master's degree in journalism and a doctorate in communication sciences from USC Anenberg, California. With more than 40 years of experience in media, he has worked for Adventist World Radio and the Hope Channel network. He is currently the director and speaker of The Word, a television and public evangelism ministry serving under the ASI chapter of the NAD.