In My Mailbox

First an apology to my email subscribers.  Trying out a new WordPress format and wouldn’t you know, when it says “Post a Photo” it means exactly that. But photos seem easier to upload, so here we go.  Pictures are what I want to share.  I received two things in the mail that really drew a contrast for me today.

Any former SDA who gets these knows exactly what they are and who they are from.  But no one else does.  As usual the church name, website, phone number, and pastor’s name can’t be found.  Inside it says, “Meet Our Speaker”.  There we find a picture of a girl who might be all of 16, who it claims became inspired for evangelism at an intensive Youth evangelistic program.  Internet searches showed her to turn up on a 3ABN show, and a couple of Youtube videos where it seems the child is extremely gifted for music.  Preaching a three week doctrinal series?  I suspect not.  The copy under the headliner refers to her as “a speaker”.. not “THE speaker”.

But even if they practiced total disclosure and honesty – the pictures, as usual, speak volumes more.  This exercise isn’t about picking on a group of people.  It’s about discernment and learning to spot the frauds and cons in life.  They are everywhere.  Ask yourself here what first impressions do these images give and what do you expect to hear?  What motivator are they playing on?  What’s the agenda?

This one lists all the major distinctive doctrines necessary to convert people to “the church”, which would include their beliefs on the Sabbath day, hell, what happens when you die (nothing), and the second coming, which is closely tied to the Sabbath and the Mark of the Beast (er.. keeping Sunday as the Sabbath).

Sorry next one is fuzzy.  Too late to re-take the photo.

Still I have to ask, what IS Life’s Greatest Battle?  This entire brochure implies extreme danger and fear.  You have to know about this battle and how to fight it or all might be lost.  This impression does accurately portray the belief system as a whole, in its historical form.

Then I opened my other mail, one of my favorites for years – a magazine dedicated to raising awareness for the persecuted Church, worldwide.  Do they have an agenda?  Most certainly. Matthew 25, Hebrews 13.  The cult flyer cloaked their identity and Jesus both.  He was a footnote.  When I look at these pictures, all I see is Jesus.

I think these believers must know, that “Life’s Greatest Battle” is already won.  Yet they are caught in the cross fire over and over in a world that hates the Victor.  Their testimony and witness continues to focus me and my priorities on a regular basis.  They tear away the facade and let the reality of who we are, and who Jesus is, shine out.  What a beautiful picture.

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Your Agenda is Showing

A simple statement by an SDA leader showing the main object and method of Seventh-day Adventist evangelism, in a commentary on SDA failure to evangelize Muslims:

“Adventists (like most Christians) have greatly misunderstood Islam,” says Jerry Whitehouse, director of The Global Center for Adventist Muslim Relations, currently located in Loma Linda, California. “Consequently, we have tried to evangelize Muslims the same way we evangelize non-Adventist Christians. We have taught them our Adventist doctrines and pointed out how they needed to change their lifestyles in order to live as Adventists. This approach has not worked.” Full Article

SDA Evangelism: Reaching non-Adventist Christians

Conversion:  Teaching SDA doctrines and lifestyle

I have never seen a more truthful description.  While there may be exceptions to this, I personally have not witnessed it – either in my years growing up in an SDA pastor’s family or in the churches I attended as an adult.

This is why those who have left find it so frustrating when mainstream Christianity repeatedly rejects our claim that the SDA denomination is not evangelical at all.  Does anyone know of a Christ-following church who has this goal – to reach people who already know Christ and teach them their own special way to live?

But the most disturbing aspect of this article shows SDAs are joining a growing movement trying to proclaim that Christianity and Islam worship the same God.

“I don’t believe Islam is either Satanic or inherently evil. Muslims worship the one true God, the God of Abraham, and they believe in a final judgment,” asserts Whitehouse.

While this statement was made several years ago, Whitehouse signed this document in 2008 along with many Christian leaders, proclaiming Christians and Muslims have one God.

The evangelical world doesn’t doubt just the testimony of former Adventists.  It seems they don’t believe former Muslims either.  Discernment and truth have been traded for patronizing and profit.

For those who would like to know the truth on this subject, I highly recommend this book:

Unveiling Islam

Many other great resources are available at the same website.

I don’t encourage hate in any direction, but only truth will stand in the end and I pray those I know, will find it.

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