Ted Wilson, new President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, preaches, perhaps, the most talked about seven minutes of his now infamous inaugural sermon, "Go Forward," on July 3, 2010.
While those who know me would consider me a "contemporary" or "progressive" pastor, I found many, if not most, of the points in Elder Wilson's sermon points I can agree on. While we may have differing views on the issues of worship styles, and music, the point about allowing the Holy Spirit to bring us to conviction is spot on.
There are many who would give the election of Elder Wilson a big "fail". No matter if you agree with the election of Elder Wilson, or not, we must believe that God has appointed Elder Wilson as the president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for this time. In that vein, we should support him, pray for him, and speak affirmatively to all who ask our thoughts. If any of us have a point of objection to Elder Wilson, he/she should exercise the Matthew 18 principle and speak to him directly to clarify where he stands on the particular issue or point you disagree with him.
As a pastor for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, I know well the pain that those who disagree with me can cause. Had they only come to speak to me as Christian brothers and sisters, rather than stand back and throw bricks, they could have found out my heart, and why I have advocated points and positions as I have. If I desire that for myself, isn't it only right to believe the leader of our church is accorded the same respect.
May we all pray for Elder Wilson to have wisdom as he guides the church, and finds the balance between the various positions and opinions within the church. We are a diverse group, but serve one Lord!
I apprecaite the good will in your comments and hope that people will pray for Ted and the church.
But, I am bewildered by some of your advice. It sounds like you expect people to sacrifice their principles in the name of good will. I'm not sure what would make you ask for that.
What do you mean when you say we have to accept that God appointed Ted and we should support him? Are you suggesting that God will always make sure the right person is elected as the GC president? Can one oppose his agenda for the church and still be considered a supporter?
He deserves some time to demonstrate what he really intends to do in his position of leadership. But, I cannot in good conscience support a couple of the agenda items that he started promoting within hours of his election. Furthermore, it strikes me as arrogant to feel the cumpulsion to immediely signal your intention to promote one side of a divisive issue in your very first official communications as te GC president.
The two agenda items I cannot support are: 1) His desire to see Ellen White used in a way that for all practical purposes puts her on the same plane as the scriptures. 2) He condones or promotes an Adventist identity that in my opinion encourages Adventist to disrpect other Christians and to succumb to spiritual pride.
I definitely would not encourage anyone to be disrespectful or hostile, but neither would I tell them they need to support Ted simply because he was elected by the GC consituents. Apparently the Sanhedrin voted to have Jesus crucified. Apparently God does not always guarantee a leader we can in good conscience support.
Seems dangerous to me to suppose that everything that happens in this world is according to God's will. Even claiming that a church follows God's will is dangerous. Even saying that a church that prays about a matter is following God's will is dangerous. Look around and at history and see how many times this claim was made by nefarious preachers, churches and governments.
Satan tempted Jesus with power to rule over the kings and nations of earth. Jesus turned Satan down. Why would He be any more eager to claim control over all the evil in the world today?
Moving forward from your position, God's hand is not shortened by the election of any GC President, to say nothing of your life or mine.
There will be no person missing Heaven, so to speak, by reason of the election or actions of any GC President, to say nothing of your life or mine.
The converse, also being true, of course.
Having said that, the same is true for www.deanwaterman.com which I found to be linked to your Facebook page, paid for with an ad boldly advertising 'Hooters swimsuite pagent,' suitably illustrated, which I'm thinking fits into that class of evangelism trends Wilson called for the church to reject.
Of course, Jesus would have skipped Hooters and been found at the straight up bars, or so the claim was recorded in the Gospels.
So, steady as she goes there, Dean, which I sense is your call, too.
Seems we are in full agreement. We come at it from different perspectives perhaps, but meet in the middle, which is what we should be doing. Whether labeled a "conservative" or a "liberal", being like Christ is the label that really matters for all sides.
As for the Facebook Ads. That is one issue I have with Facebook, but what I have found is that if I go through and rate a few ads, then I weed out the ones that I don't find appropriate and are tailored to my taste. After about 10 likes / dislikes, it solves the issue.
As an Progressive Adventist someting tells me there won´t be easy to change the church when listening to Pastor Wilson. Might there be a similarity to the 1984 commercial of Mac?
Does he stand for The PC or the Mac kind of Christianity? Since 1984 Mac has not conquered the world and the PC-empire has stroke back. So does Traditional Adventism.
I´m still waiting for Mr Wilsons position on how the church should handle the needs for the Lost Billion - that is the real mission for the Church, according to to the gospel of Jesus.
My family saw nothing wrong with listening to acid rock before we came into the church, and we had only a casual regard for God. I will just say, coming from the "Younger generation," who supposedly wants "Progress," I did not come into the church for something that is simply a fake of the world! I do not want to listen to the same music, eat the same food, watch the same movies, dress the same, act the same, or just be the same. I could easily get much higher quality worldliness from the world, than from the church. I, for one, am glad that we have a GC President that is brave enough to uphold standards! If all the SDA church had to offer was a poor substitute for entertainment, etc., I would pull my membership. I seriously hope that we as SDA's will consider that we aren't "Just another church," but actually God's remnant, and it's OK to be different.
"I seriously hope that we as SDA's will consider that we aren't "Just another church," but actually God's remnant, and it's OK to be different."
Where is the Adventist church identified as the remant in the Bible?
Is there a problem in defining which ways to be different? Different in work, honesty, or dress, food, or what?
The few instructions to new Christians were these:
"abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood....[God] made no distinction between us and them...therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear. But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they are."
This was repeated again in the 15th chapter of Acts. We cannot add to what has already been given.
Comments
Re: Video: Ted Wilson Sermon "Go Forward"
While those who know me would consider me a "contemporary" or "progressive" pastor, I found many, if not most, of the points in Elder Wilson's sermon points I can agree on. While we may have differing views on the issues of worship styles, and music, the point about allowing the Holy Spirit to bring us to conviction is spot on.
There are many who would give the election of Elder Wilson a big "fail". No matter if you agree with the election of Elder Wilson, or not, we must believe that God has appointed Elder Wilson as the president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for this time. In that vein, we should support him, pray for him, and speak affirmatively to all who ask our thoughts. If any of us have a point of objection to Elder Wilson, he/she should exercise the Matthew 18 principle and speak to him directly to clarify where he stands on the particular issue or point you disagree with him.
As a pastor for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, I know well the pain that those who disagree with me can cause. Had they only come to speak to me as Christian brothers and sisters, rather than stand back and throw bricks, they could have found out my heart, and why I have advocated points and positions as I have. If I desire that for myself, isn't it only right to believe the leader of our church is accorded the same respect.
May we all pray for Elder Wilson to have wisdom as he guides the church, and finds the balance between the various positions and opinions within the church. We are a diverse group, but serve one Lord!
Dean Waterman
www.deanwaterman.com
Re: Video: Ted Wilson Sermon "Go Forward"
Dean,
I apprecaite the good will in your comments and hope that people will pray for Ted and the church.
But, I am bewildered by some of your advice. It sounds like you expect people to sacrifice their principles in the name of good will. I'm not sure what would make you ask for that.
What do you mean when you say we have to accept that God appointed Ted and we should support him? Are you suggesting that God will always make sure the right person is elected as the GC president? Can one oppose his agenda for the church and still be considered a supporter?
He deserves some time to demonstrate what he really intends to do in his position of leadership. But, I cannot in good conscience support a couple of the agenda items that he started promoting within hours of his election. Furthermore, it strikes me as arrogant to feel the cumpulsion to immediely signal your intention to promote one side of a divisive issue in your very first official communications as te GC president.
The two agenda items I cannot support are: 1) His desire to see Ellen White used in a way that for all practical purposes puts her on the same plane as the scriptures. 2) He condones or promotes an Adventist identity that in my opinion encourages Adventist to disrpect other Christians and to succumb to spiritual pride.
I definitely would not encourage anyone to be disrespectful or hostile, but neither would I tell them they need to support Ted simply because he was elected by the GC consituents. Apparently the Sanhedrin voted to have Jesus crucified. Apparently God does not always guarantee a leader we can in good conscience support.
Re: Video: Ted Wilson Sermon "Go Forward"
Seems dangerous to me to suppose that everything that happens in this world is according to God's will. Even claiming that a church follows God's will is dangerous. Even saying that a church that prays about a matter is following God's will is dangerous. Look around and at history and see how many times this claim was made by nefarious preachers, churches and governments.
Satan tempted Jesus with power to rule over the kings and nations of earth. Jesus turned Satan down. Why would He be any more eager to claim control over all the evil in the world today?
Re: Video: Ted Wilson Sermon "Go Forward"
Dean,
Moving forward from your position, God's hand is not shortened by the election of any GC President, to say nothing of your life or mine.
There will be no person missing Heaven, so to speak, by reason of the election or actions of any GC President, to say nothing of your life or mine.
The converse, also being true, of course.
Having said that, the same is true for www.deanwaterman.com which I found to be linked to your Facebook page, paid for with an ad boldly advertising 'Hooters swimsuite pagent,' suitably illustrated, which I'm thinking fits into that class of evangelism trends Wilson called for the church to reject.
Of course, Jesus would have skipped Hooters and been found at the straight up bars, or so the claim was recorded in the Gospels.
So, steady as she goes there, Dean, which I sense is your call, too.
Re: Video: Ted Wilson Sermon "Go Forward"
Seems we are in full agreement. We come at it from different perspectives perhaps, but meet in the middle, which is what we should be doing. Whether labeled a "conservative" or a "liberal", being like Christ is the label that really matters for all sides.
As for the Facebook Ads. That is one issue I have with Facebook, but what I have found is that if I go through and rate a few ads, then I weed out the ones that I don't find appropriate and are tailored to my taste. After about 10 likes / dislikes, it solves the issue.
Re: Video: Ted Wilson Sermon "Go Forward"
As an Progressive Adventist someting tells me there won´t be easy to change the church when listening to Pastor Wilson. Might there be a similarity to the 1984 commercial of Mac?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYecfV3ubP8
Does he stand for The PC or the Mac kind of Christianity? Since 1984 Mac has not conquered the world and the PC-empire has stroke back. So does Traditional Adventism.
I´m still waiting for Mr Wilsons position on how the church should handle the needs for the Lost Billion - that is the real mission for the Church, according to to the gospel of Jesus.
Re: Video: Ted Wilson Sermon "Go Forward"
Interesting....
I am a 21 year old SDA convert.
My family saw nothing wrong with listening to acid rock before we came into the church, and we had only a casual regard for God. I will just say, coming from the "Younger generation," who supposedly wants "Progress," I did not come into the church for something that is simply a fake of the world! I do not want to listen to the same music, eat the same food, watch the same movies, dress the same, act the same, or just be the same. I could easily get much higher quality worldliness from the world, than from the church. I, for one, am glad that we have a GC President that is brave enough to uphold standards! If all the SDA church had to offer was a poor substitute for entertainment, etc., I would pull my membership. I seriously hope that we as SDA's will consider that we aren't "Just another church," but actually God's remnant, and it's OK to be different.
Re: Video: Ted Wilson Sermon "Go Forward"
"I seriously hope that we as SDA's will consider that we aren't "Just another church," but actually God's remnant, and it's OK to be different."
Where is the Adventist church identified as the remant in the Bible?
Is there a problem in defining which ways to be different? Different in work, honesty, or dress, food, or what?
The few instructions to new Christians were these:
"abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood....[God] made no distinction between us and them...therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear. But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they are."
This was repeated again in the 15th chapter of Acts. We cannot add to what has already been given.