Dear Pacific Union Member:

An article by conservative columnist David Brooks of the New York Times, published Dec. 31, 2003, makes several observations about the impact of American culture and politics on our religious thinking.

• We are quite tolerant of religious differences. Since there is no national creed, we are all free to go our own way.

• Our faith tends to be more experiential than intellectual. Doctrines don’t matter.

• We have trouble sustaining the idea one can be progressive and hold to rigid views of the Bible at the same time.

The outcome of these three religious concepts is a paradox. Brooks observes: “These days political parties grow more orthodox, while religions grow more fluid. In the political sphere, there is conflict and rigid partisanship. In the religious sphere, there is mobility, ecumenical understanding and blurry boundaries.”

No Reason to Exist

From time to time, Adventist voices call for a changed definition of our Church and its mission. “Don’t be too rigid or precise in defining who we are and where we should set the boundaries,” they say. “Play down our doctrines, and be mainstream; don’t emphasize our differences with other churches.”

The outcome of this thinking is a faith that has little urgency to be shared and little to say if it is shared. It undermines the heart of who we are—a people called to announce God’s truth and to change the world. Ecumenical understanding and blurry boundaries are common in most churches today. It must never be so with Adventists, or we have no reason to exist.

If doctrine doesn’t matter and experience is everything, then we will have the situation Brooks describes: “Churches compete for congregants. To fill the pews, they often emphasize the upbeat and the encouraging, and play down the business about God’s wrath. In churches today, the music is modern, the language is therapeutic, the dress is casual. These churches are seeker-sensitive, not authoritarian.”

Just Give Me the Key

This is a time when many people prefer a Christian faith that lets them bring the world along while giving them the free key to the kingdom called salvation. But James 4:4 says: “You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with this world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again, that if your aim is to enjoy this world, you can’t be a friend of God” (NLT).

“Real friendship with God will frequently create a sense of alienation from the world. But we are not here as consumers, users, or pleasure-mad tourists. We are ambassadors, agents representing the King. ... People who choose friendship with the world also choose to become God’s enemies—no one can serve two masters” (Matt. 6:24, The Life Application Commentary Series).

Remember, God has called us to change the world into His image, not to be changed by the world into its image.

“Many are saying by their course of action, that the line of demarcation between Christians and the world must not be too distinct. They conform to the customs and unite in the pursuits of the lovers of pleasure, in order to retain their friendship, and exert an influence to win them to the truth. The plea is not new. The same work has been often attempted since the opposing forces of good and evil first existed in the world. The result has ever been the same. Conformity to worldly customs converts the church to the world. It never converts the world to Christ. ... How can the loyal subjects of the Great King be in harmony with His bitterest foe?” (Ellen White, Review and Herald, June 20, 1882).

Has this thinking invaded your life or church?

Tom Mostert, Jr. President

P.O. Box 5005

Westlake Village, CA 91361

tmpm3@attglobal.net