I made the trip to Berrien Springs on Friday afternoon, aided by a tailwind and sunny skies. A pleasant converstion with Brad Mills (AFM President) as I traveled, helped pass the time.
Big shout out to SpringHill Suites for offering vegetarian sausage patties in their breakfast items. That’s a first for me, in three decades of traveling (I had four of them, for research purposes, of course).
On Sabbath, SDA attendees at the Berrien Springs Methodist church arrived early. We were graciously welcomed by Conrad Vine at 8:30 am.
Panel Discussion
There was a panel discussion, with Chris DiCiccio, Mrs. Dronen, and one of my favorite roofers, Charles Pate. The theme of the discusssion was Current Events, Christian Nationalism, etc. (Italics are my comments).
The panel brought up the upcoming May 17 Freedom 250 event. They said Adventists have been talking about eschatological events for over a century, and now they are here. We’ll see how it goes..
They said lay people are picking up the banner of religious liberty, in a climate where PARL bureaucrats are focused on more partisan interests. They said Christian Nationalists are pushing for Sunday laws. How does the book of Daniel overlay this? How do we get involved? They suggested passing out Great Controversy books, or White Horse Media’s tract Will God Save America?
Christian Nationalism. Doug Wilson is pushing towards legislation morality. Came out of or dominion theology. Uses OT law at times. Seven Mountain Mandate is bad. Project 2025 (kind of outdated, now) is worse. Doug Wilson is a Calvinist pastor from Idaho. He does have a following, albeit not universal.
Charles Pate “We are patriots. We are not bashing America. Our ultimate loyalty is to Jesus.” Amen.
Last six Commandments keep society from falling apart. We can’t legislate morality. We need laws to restrain evil. Only by the Holy Spirit can we change lives.
Doug Wilson is a leader. Joel Webbon is kind of a crackpot. Argues that civil law must reflect Christian faith. Video clip. The Trump cabinet has people who helped write the Heritage Foundation Project 2025.
The panel said the last great conflict is here. Not near, but here.
The panel agreed that society needs reformation. Can’t legislate it. God’s government runs on decisions, not coercion. Force does not produce genuine obedience. This is true; no one is being forced to keep the first four commandments yet. When that happens, we can say the last great conflict is here.
People in the time of Christ misunderstood his coming. This is a challenge for us today. Popular churches do not gravitate towards unpopular truth. Good point.
Egw quote GC 568
Society needs moral reform, so do we. But is it a mask for Sunday enforcement? One day, it will be. We don’t know exactly when.
Pete Hegseth prayer. Video. Military video. Freedom by force. Negate freedom through Christ.
We have hope in Christ. Video substituting our Father for war department. We should pray for our military. Charles Pate occasionally picks up tab for anonymous service members in restaurants at times. That is a kind gesture.
National Mall on May 17. There is a gathering commemorating the 250th anniversary of America. There is considerable apprehension among some Adventists regarding this meeting. Yesterday, a fellow Adventist sent me a news item about ‘America Reads the Bible’, a week long event where faith leaders, politicians, and public figures will read all the way through the Bible at the Museum of the Bible. The assumption of most Christians is that this is a good thing. The assumption among many Adventists is that this is a bad thing. Have we painted ourselves into a corner, where anything spiritually good must be regarded as bad? My perspective is, I don’t always know what people’s motives are for Bible study, but at least they are in the Word of God, where the Spirit of God can convict their heart — G.
Heritage foundation clip. There have been changes in families, marriages, technology, but commitment to God’s values never changes. Service. Faithfulness of God doesn’t change.
We are taught to be suspicious of people who use legislation to fix societal ills. Panel agrees with Heritage Foundation on the diagnosis. The question is how do we address cultural problems? I notice that there was no concern for the liberal think tank Center for American Progress, and their mandate for leadership. They are currently working hard to come back with a fury when they get the opportunity. The LGBTQ+ movement has taken some body shots in the last 15-months, but they are nowhere near defeated. They are quietly collecting their breath for a primal scream, and polyamory is the next frontier. The word of God will protect us from omnidirectional spears, if we seek its wisdom. - G
Little patience (Revelation 14:7), lot of fear. Lines are blurring between Bible and government.
Last week statement by Patrick “No separation between church and state, in the Constitution” was discussed. This will be a significant theme today.
What is needed? Revival in our hearts and pews. Don’t use divisive language. Libbies, conservatives democrats republicans. Give ourselves to Christ daily. Good counsel.
Gerhard Erbes
Gerhard used plastic boxes to illustrate 2 different worldviews. Christianity and culture
We live in an accelerating culture. Who has the final word?
For the Christian, Scripture has the final word. This informs our understanding of origins, gender, marriage and the Sabbath rest
For others, external influences are the final word. They allow culture to inform them on issues of marriage, gender, and sacred day.
There is a Mixed group between Christianity and Culture. Episcopal, Sweden Lutherans etc.
Scripture, Sacred day, creation, commanded, moral law, lasts forever, covenant sign,
Catholic, church origin, church authority, church obligation, sabbath shifted (to first day), eighth day
Mixed, sacred day, early practice, Bible and tradition, sabbath principle, recast, resurrection
This is a fragile mix. One of the columns is fragile. Mixed column uses tradition. You can’t use Bible and tradition, it will eventually fall apart. Catholic Church claims the change. On two occasions, Roman Catholics have rubbed Protestant’s face in the fact that they are not honoring sola scriptura by keeping Sunday.
Johann Eck 1530. Admits that there is no authority for the Sunday, in scripture. Polemic against Luther.
In 1893 in Catholic Mirror, it says Protestants were inconsistent because they observe Sunday. Protestants should keep sabbath from sola scriptura, or follow the Catholic Church.
Mixed set must go. You cannot claim to follow Bible authority and follow Sunday. Only two options left. Bible and sabbath or Roman church and Sunday.
Of the two, the sabbath alone rests upon the Scriptures.
It was a masterful presentation, one that sticks in the memory.
Conrad Vine
Our journey together. Acts 5 was the first cancel culture. Arrested, prison, freed, and preached again. Gamalial. Wise words.
The disciples preached Jesus. Apostolic church, started in houses.
Thomas a Becket. Archbishop of Canterbury (ABoC). Born poor, father was a knight. He was a gofer for the ABoC, because he was trusted. King Henry II set up circuit judges. This was a good leadership move. Thomas became lord chancellor of realm for king Henry II. He was kind of a Joseph. Things prospered under his hand. Thomas was appointed as ABoC. Became champion of separation of church and state. He was murdered after the King griped about him.
John Smyth. Anglican preacher. About as English a name as you can get. Wanted free from papal influences. 1608. He was influenced by the european Anabaptist belief in Believer’s Baptism. This is the belief that only a believer can be baptised. Babies can’t, because there is no change of heart or decision for Christ. He was persecuted.
1638, Pilgrims. First Baptist church in providence Rhode Island. Justifications by faith, righteous living. National churches always leads to persecution. Baptists were persecuted by Anglicans. Virginia had a Union of church and state. 1650’s.
Disestablishmentarianism (great word). Disestablishmentarianism is the political position or movement advocating that a state church (specifically the Church of England historically) should be separated from the government, losing its official status, special rights, and state support. It signifies a formal split between church and state, primarily originating in 19th-century Britain. John Leland was a friend of Jefferson. He preached that we must be free to act on our conscience. 1750’s, drafted a Virginia statute for freedom of conscience and religion. Baptist preachers had an influence on the bill of rights.
Freedom of conscience is freedom to think. Compelled speed is an attack on freedom of speech and thought. Recently, an Ireland teacher (Enoch Burke) received indefinite imprisonment for not using a transgender student’s preferred pronouns.
What of today?
Puritans came to America. Their vision was a city on a hill with the eyes of the people upon us. Roger Williams rejected that. Two visions of America. Williams was for religious tolerance.
Spiritual darkness is descending upon the world. Social norms are breaking apart.
When prophetic voice is silenced, evil sweeps the land. Jezebel drove the prophets underground. God took care of Elijah. There was no public review or restraint on evil in the leadership (Ahab and Jezebel). Without a voice of accountabilty or occasional rebuke there is just moral abyss. Cancel culture in the church. Corporate mentality, wealth, money managers. Woke administrators. Subjected the church to the United Nations. Voice of accountability is silenced. Ezekiel 22:30. Preachers are not allowed to rebuke sin in the church.
Without a voice, the people are lost. Young generations do not know right from wrong. Jonah 4:11. Last week, Spectrum Magazine celebrated an SDA homosexual pastor. Without a voice, you can’t speak against it in Michigan, or elsewhere. The SOP calls men to stand against wrong. Real men will.
Without a voice, God’s primary means of communication is silenced. Preaching changes lives. Preaching meets needs in times they live in. Jesus never fired a disciple. How are they to believe unless someone proclaims the good news (Romans 10). Preach the word of life. Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet. In ages past this work has been done for God. It is needed now. If we don’t, the next generation will be cut off from the core of our mission and message. They will be severed from objective biblical truth as their guide.
Without a voice, the preacher loses spiritual power. Jehoshaphat. Is there not a prophet of the lord here? Not someone on the payroll. Don’t preach to please the audience. Make people feel good about the Lord, not themselves. There is hope. Bring them to the foot of the cross. Some sermons feel like you will get the electric chair if you speak it. What will happen inside of you if you don’t speak? Please God rather than men. Preach faithfully. Will my sermon offend those with deep pockets in the church? Speak the truth and wash it down with love (5 T 300). Speak what the Lord lays upon your hearts. If not you will lose your spiritual power (PK 142). True love seeks the honor of God and the salvation of those He has entrusted you with. No longer be silent (1 Cor. 9:16). We all have a part to play. Don’t be silent. Be active for God. Bless you.
Ron Kelly
The President and the Pope. These two are currently having a public disagreement.
God’s Word warns of impending danger. Rome has a purpose (goal). Better for people to hate us now than be scrambling to figure it out later when it is too late. Speak the truth in love.
When security is taken away, people will look for the quickest way to get it back. We gave up liberty in the Patriot Act. When I was a kid, spiritualism wasn’t everywhere. Now it is. This is our time of trouble.
Jacob’s trouble. He wrestled through the night to get away. He hung on when he realized it was God. Say I will not let you go until you bless me. Trust God with your money and time.
Religious liberty report. April 13. Dan Patrick. Church and state comment.
Ron referenced Malachi Martin’s book Keys of this Blood. Talked about ties to Vatican by the US.
There was widespread aversion to Rome in the founding of America. These people had come out of RCC oppression in Europe.
In 2002, the Papacy was stumping for the United Nations against GW Bush war on Iraq. Papacy opposed Iraq war. The pope wanted to be the moral influence of the world. A cool reception in America made it harder. Papacy went along with America.
Culture is changing. Pope Leo says Trump has delusions of grandeur and is full of hubris. Trump responds. Pope Leo is weak on crime and weak on foreign policy.
Trump social media image offended people. Many felt it crossed the line and was inappropriate. Gloves are off now. Pope and the president. Chicago vs New York. Most news sites are left leaning and anti-Trump. Be wise in your exposure to media.
We should talk honestly about left and right. JD Vance joined in the discussion with a reference to Just War Theory, and criticizing the Pope. Pope Leo is from the Augustine order. Martin Luther was too. Twenty percent of American is Catholic.
The Pope says “I have no fear of Trump.” The Pope is posturing to not need America, and present himself as the moral authority of the world.
Where were the moral voices of the Protestants? Good question. Is Berthier’s deadly wound healed?
Closing exhortation: “Follow the Lamb wherever He goes.”
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I noticed that these people (attendees) genuinely enjoy being with each other. They are united by faith and a commitment to live life free from tryanny and spiritual abuse. The trials they have experienced have made them stronger and more resilient. They are connected to the Advent Message in a way that rises above lethargy or resentment. It is refreshing to be among them for a weekend.
Lunch was awesome, stay tuned for part two. ☺