Great Controversy Theme. The great controversy reveals the panoramic picture of God’s dealing with the sin problem. It is essentially Acts 7 expanded and written to the whole world as a philosophy of history. It reveals the vicious virulence of the sin problem. Like Acts 7, it demonstrates the goodness and kindness of God in His efforts to call together a people who will walk where He walks. It comforts the hurting by explaining that we are in a battle between good and evil. It reminds us that we have only one choice between two powers contending for our loyalty. We have a vote to cast, a heart to offer.
The Great Controversy theme reminds me that there is bigger business then getting myself saved. Is there anything more important than my salvation? Yes. The Glory of God, and other people’s salvation. If my primary purpose in being a Christian is to get myself saved, I may not be there. There is bigger business in this great plan of salvation, and the Great Controversy theme brings that out.
Sabbath School Study. I like the fact that wherever we travel around the nation and world, Adventists are studying the same Bible lesson. This is commendable.
Conditional Immortality. I like our understanding of the condition of man in death. It is comforting to people who have lost loved ones and God’s most merciful answer to the problem of death. Conditional immortality is biblical and makes perfect sense. It guards a person against spiritual deception. There is a lot of power in this world, and not all of it is from God. Conditional immortality protects us from being deceived by the enemy, or believing that Grandpa or someone that you loved, respected, or miss, can communicate with you from the afterlife. They can’t (Eccl. 9:5).
Annihilation. Evil had a beginning (Ezekiel 28:15). It will have a full and complete end (v. 19; John 3:16; Psalm 92:7). God does not torture unbelievers forever and ever, keeping them alive just to torture them longer. They will ultimately be destroyed on That Day. Destruction will be a welcome relief from living in the presence of God with a rebellious character that cannot change. The universe will be cleansed from every vestige of evil. And it will be safe forever.
Adventist Health Message. In the earlier years of my life, I had no clue about a healthy lifestyle that could enrich your quality of life. I had plenty of health and athletic ability and took it pretty much for granted. Yet deep down, I knew that I could do a lot better, and should be. In 1986-87, when I learned about the Adventist Health message, I was ready to be educated in the health principles. They do make a difference. I was raised on meat and potatoes, and still like potatoes, but I avoid eating meat. It makes you feel so much better. Your arteries will thank you. I also like that the Adventist Health Message discourages the use of caffeine. I would rather lick the rancid boot droppings of a thousand storm troopers than drink the vile brew.
The Second Coming. What is an Adventist? It is someone who gets out of bed in the morning with the assurance that Christ is coming back. When, we don’t know, but we know from His Word that He will come back and we live accordingly. An Adventist has one eye on the eastern sky, awaiting our premiere expectation. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ in its fullness spells the end of injustice and every cause and consequence of human sin. We have much work to do in this world, but true justice will be achieved only by the consummation of God’s purposes and the perfection of His own judgment on That Day. Consciousness of this reality keeps us from trying to build a utopia here on earth. I like that. The Adventist faith took shape around the central proposition the same Jesus who made us and saved us is coming back soon. We cannot quietly sideline a teaching so central to both our message and mission.
Potluck. Potluck is awesome. It is a place to meet people, try amazing food dishes, and have vibrant conversations.
Generosity. Adventists are generous with their resources, seeking out and contributing to worthy causes.
Arminian. I like that fact that we believe in free will. Adventists reject the awful notion that God created some people to be lost and others to be saved, and there’s nothing they can do about it. In order to magnify the will of God, Calvinism slays the will of man. That doctrine misrepresents our Father to many honest seekers of truth. We believe that Christ died for everyone, and The Great Controversy is the outworking of two great powers contending for the vote of every person. It is our free will to choose life or death in this great cosmic battle.
Humility. I like that the Adventist Message calls us to humble ourselves (James 4:10) before God. It’s necessary. For, only when we do that are we useful to God. The humble person has no ceiling, the proud exist in a box they will never climb out of. Humanity is flying into a box canyon, and the only people who come out alive are the humble. How do we know if we are humble? That’s a problem because pride has a built in blindness. It cannot detect itself. Illustration:
If I mention soteriology (how people are saved), some Adventists will fight (argue) for 72-hours, if not longer. This is usually caused by pride (Proverbs 13:10). In their pride, each believe that their opinions and theirs only—are true and righteous. This can be cured by humility. If we humble ourselves individually the Lord will lift us up out of the mud (James 4:10). Those who choose not to humble themselves have two other options—for the Lord to humble them, or be eternally lost and destroyed (Proverbs 15:25). If God humbles you, you won’t like it. You won’t like being lost and destroyed either, but on That Day, destruction will be a welcome relief from living in the presence of God, with a prideful character that cannot change. The way of life is to humble ourselves before Him. This is what a true Adventist does. They care more about the salvation of others (like Stephen) than they do about being right (Acts 7:60).
Jesus in the SOP. The writings of Ellen White are generally packed with scripture references, and they lift Jesus the Christ high as the only hope for humanity. They also call us to read the Bible and know it for ourselves (John 17:17; Psalm 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; RH 1-20-1903). Let us remain people of the Good Book.
I like that Adventists participate in foot washing. A couple times a year helps remind us of our calling to serve one another.
I like that the Adventist Message calls us to live a modest life, shunning jewelry and inappropriate clothing.
I like the fact that down through history, the torch of truth has been passed from various believers to others. From Abraham to Moses to Isaiah to Daniel to the Apostolic era believers, to John on Patmos, to the Waldensians to the Reformers and to the Advent believers of the Great Awakening. Our task is not to proclaim ourselves as the originator of truth, but rather the benefactors and stewards of it. We are standing on the shoulders of giants, through no particular virtue of our own. There are other Christian believers who have a depth of commitment to the Lord that sometimes exceeds our own. Consciousness of this reality should both humble and inspire us.
Finally, ours is a reforming movement. I like the fact that Adventism arose as a reforming movement in an era of profound ferment and demand for change. History teaches us that among Christians there is a persistent temper of reform that flows. The prevailing pattern sees a person or small group begin with a special emphasis on something in which they believe strongly. Such a movement is informal; highly person oriented, and convinced that the prevailing religion around them is missing that special element. At first despised and ridiculed, the group attracts a following until it acquires a sense of identity and moves to formal organization. It takes little imagination to see how closely the Advent Movement tracks this pattern.
True to our founding leaders, the Adventist Movement is still animated by reformation and stirred by an enduring commitment to liberty of conscience.
The same Jesus Who made us, redeemed us, and is coming back to receive us. I like that, and I am glad to be part of a movement who calls the world to be ready for this consummation.
There may be some things I missed. What are some positive things about the Advent Movement that you like?
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“Here is the patience of the saints . . .”
