Sabbath helping us win the Victory

In Christ and His Righteousness, E. J. Waggoner presents the Sabbath as a help in visualizing the help that comes in the Christian life. Waggoner begins by seeing a connection between creation and redemption. He sees Creation and Redemption connected in Colossians 1:9-19. Jesus is the redeemer becuase he is the Creator. Waggoner quotes Hebrews 1:3 where it is stated that all things are held up by the Word.

Waggoner then quotes ISa 40:26 and notes that Christ's power is in fact the ability to create something out of nothing. Jesus brings strength out of weakness. Creation is an illustration of Christ being able to do this. And the Sabbath is a day to remember Christ as creator. So as the Sabbath reminds us of creation we are reminded of God's ability to take something from nothing. As we remember that our weakness and our infirmaties become less in light of the greatness of the Creator's power.

Finally Waggoner quotes Romans 1:16 where the Gospel is the power unto salvation. Waggoner states, "Therefore the Gospel simply reveals to us the power which was used to bring the worlds into existence, [is] now exerted for the salvation of men. It is the same power in each case."

Does the Sabbath remind us of God's creative power? Can such a Sabbath remind us that that same power that created the world is now seeking to work for us and through us? Often when we speak of the Sabbath it is within the context of God giving us a much needed physical rest, but what are the spiritual ramifications of the Sabbath? Can we be more practical in our presentation of it? Was Waggoner Practical enough? Many questions and so little time. We ill come back to some of these questions eventually.

E. J. Waggoner a Practical Theologian

The other day I was reading Christ and His Righteousness by E. J. Waggoner of 1888 fame. In it Dr. Waggoner states, "Every doctrine of the Bible is for our practical benefit, and should be studied for that purpose. I immediately thought of The Homiletical Plot by Eugene Lowery which encourages us to ask the question "What bind does a doctrine get us out of?" I like the question and have come back to it often in the past as can be shown in this post from the past.

I will also come back to the question in the future. Answering that question will force the sermon and teaching to be practical and has the added benefit of helping the congregation to understand what good is a doctrine for daily living.



After stating that we must look for the Practical benefit Dr. Waggoner then tries to tackle the Sabbath doctrine and seeks to point us to a practical basis for understanding the doctrine. In the next couple of posts we will look at this attempt.

Sabbath as Liberation

At the Baylor Christian Ethics Center there is a series of articles on the Sabbath. In the study guide Richard Lowery writes: ?By celebrating a hoped for world of abundance, self-restraint, and mutual care, the Bible?s sabbath traditions critiqued ancient royal-imperial systems that created scarcity, overwork, and gross economic inequality,?

The Bible Sabbath is a critique of the "always trying to get more" mindset of our world. It reminds us that our worth is not determined by what we do or how much we do, but simply by being created by a loving Creator.

While the faulty assumption behind much of this work is that Sunday takes on some of the meaning of the Sabbath for Christians, it is still interesting and profitable to see theological treatments of the Sabbath.

The Sabbath - Resting from the Thought of Labor

Exodus 20:8 states that humanity should complete all of its labor in 6 days. "Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work." In The Sabbath, Jewish rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel asks is it possible to do all ones work in 6 days? Heschel's interpretation is that we should rest as if all of our work is done. He goes further to state that we should rest from even the thought of labor.

Just think of the rest that one would get on the Sabbath if that one would rest from even the thought of labor. Just think of the energy one would bring to the world of work after such a rest. Just think of the spiritual heights one could reach by setting aside the thought of labor as one uses the time of the Sabbath solely for communion with God and others.

What a gift God has given to us. The Sabbath is truly not a drudgery. I Praise God for the Sabbath. I pray that God will help me to truly rest to fully enjoy the benefits of this great gift.

Sermon - Remember and Be Thankful

Move 1: Introduction

Thursday we celebrated Thanksgiving. This is the day where we contemplate how good God has been to us. During this time, my soul looked back on the goodness of God. I remember my mother, father, and brothers who I talk to sometimes daily. I thank the Lord for them. I thank the Lord for a good wife who loves me. I remember how that love is concretely expressed daily when I think about our times together. I can thank God because I remember these things. I am sure that you had your time of thanksgiving as well. Someone might say that they remember that God took care of their necessities when they didn't know how it would be done. All of this thanksgiving comes from our remembering what God has done.

But what happens if you forget what God has done? What happens to your thankfulness? What if you forgot what God has done for you? Being forgetful would remove our ability to be grateful. Perhaps this is one reason why God told Israel to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy (Exodus 20:8). Perhaps this is why God told Israel to remember the Exodus (see Deut 24:9).

Years before I knew her a member of my church had the unpleasant experience of being diagnosed with a brain tumor. At first she experienced headaches. As the disease progressed she lost her memories. She forgot her children. She forgot her husband. She continued to descend into this pit of forgetfulness until she experienced the most painful loss of all. She forgot who she was. There are few things worse than forgetting who you are. You cannot recall where you belong. You don't know where you are going. You don't know your past and you do not know your future.

As I think about this woman's story of forgetfulness, I see correlations to the position our church is in at this time. Sure we thank God for what God has done for us individually, but many of us have forgotten what God has done for this people called Seventh-day Adventist. Today many of us just don't know who we are and thus can not be thankful for who we are. One might ask a church member: "Why are you a Seventh-day Adventist?" In response, you may hear an answer that a Christian from any denomination could give like "I believe Jesus saves me from my sins." That is good to remember. Jesus does bring forgiveness to us, but if we stop there we end up with a lack of thanksgiving for being particularly a Seventh-day Adventist.

Perhaps you would hear another member answer that question by saying, "I believe the seventh day is the Sabbath." But is that enough? I remember one sister asking a church leader, "What is the difference between a Seventh Day Baptist and a Seventh-day Adventist?" Here the member was asking if the Sabbath was the full extent of our independent identity. She wanted to know what it was that distinguishes the Seventh-day Adventist church from God's people in other denominational bodies. It is good to talk about what we have in common with others, but we cannot forget what makes us unique, distinctive, and peculiar. We must hold what we have in common with the other bodies in tension with our unique teachings. If we do not, we will find ourselves just like that woman from the little church not knowing who we are and not able to provide thanksgiving for our full identity.

What is needed is a reminder of who we are. A reminder will allow us to be thankful for what God has done in and though this movement. In our scripture today God reminds us what makes us Adventist at the same time God reminds us of that which makes us Christian. Our Scripture is taken from the book of Hebrews 8:1-2:

Hebrews 8 Now the main point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister in the sanctuary and the true tenta that the Lord, and not any mortal, has set up.

Move 1: Such a High Priest

Our scripture begins by stating that we have finally reached the main point of all that was said before. The book of Hebrews has covered a lot of ground to this point. Hebrews begins teaching us that Jesus began as equal with God. In fact, the Father uses the term God to refer to the Son in 1:8. Hebrews continues by stating that the son became human. Hebrews 2:11 declares that this Son and humanity are of the same flesh. In fact Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters. Hebrews 2:17 says that it was necessary for the Son to become human so that he might be a faithful high priest. So the main point of Hebrews has something to do with one who is equal to the great God of heaven becoming human. Then Hebrews continues stating that the Son was greater than Moses (Hebrews 3), greater than Joshua (Hebrews 4:8), and is a King-Priest like Melchizedek (see Hebrews 5:6, 6:20, 7:1).

All of that was to remind us that we have a Human-Divine priest. We have such a high priest, one that walks with us like Joshua and Moses and yet is separate from us like Melchizedek. If we are truly to have the remembrance that brings thanksgiving we must emphasize both of these aspects of Jesus' nature. If we do not then we could easily fall into a trap of emphasizing one to the detriment of the other.

Historically, the Christian world has argued over whether Jesus Christ had a beginning. The Arians stated that Jesus was human and not divine. And even in our own Seventh-day Adventist church we have some who are teaching that in heaven Jesus had a beginning point. The other day I received some material by a group of Adventists who think that our church has apostatized because it teaches that Christ had no beginning. They argue that we have obtained this belief from the Roman Catholic Church. But we cannot give up anything just because someone else holds the belief. If we see it in the Bible we cannot set it aside because someone else held it first. If so then we would have to set aside Righteousness by Faith which we have learned from the Reformers like Luther. If we set things aside because others believe it we would have to give up Baptism by Immersion because we learned this from our Baptist friends. We would have to give up a special work of character cleansing because we learned that from our Methodist and Holiness brothers and sisters. If we set aside beliefs because other Christians hold it we would even have to set aside the Sabbath because we learned that doctrine from a Seventh-day Baptist lady named Rachel Oakes. While we disagree with the Roman Church on many issues, we cannot give up something just because they hold a belief, truth is truth whoever states it and Hebrews reminds us that we need a high priest who is God.

In addition, according to Hebrews that great God became human. Once again the Christian world has argued over this doctrine. Many wanted to say that Jesus really didn't become human. The Gnostics said that Jesus only looked human but was not human. And in our own church we are arguing today over this issue. But Hebrews reminds us that if Jesus didn't assume humanity then Jesus couldn't be a priest at all for the Bible says that it was necessary that he became human to be a priest ( Hebrews 2:17). Further, if Jesus wasn't human then he wouldn't be able to help me for Hebrews declares that he can help us in our temptation because he was tempted (Hebrews 2:18). Yes it is important to remember that our high priest was human if we are going to have the remembrance that brings thanksgiving.

When I am battling a temptation I like when I have friends who I can talk to, and it is good to take my burdens to the great God of heaven, but I want a bridge to heaven. Jesus is the bridge for he has one foot in heaven (his divinity) and one on the earth (his humanity). That is the kind of high priest we have. We have such a high priest so that when I am tempted he knows not just by omniscience, but by experience just how much grace is needed to overcome the temptation. We have such a high priest.

Move 2: Seated on the right hand of the throne in the heavens

The text continues by implying that this high priest has completed something. The Bible says that he is seated. But what does this mean? A few years ago I signed up for a ten mile walk-a-thon. I began the trip jogging. I then slowed to a power walk. As the fatigue began to rise I slowed to a slow walk. Finally I ended up walking in a kind of stop and go pace. The 10 miles were long and hard. But just about when I was about to give up, I saw the end of the road. I was at the finish line. After completing the walk I only wanted two things: a drink of water and a chair to sit in. I wanted to sit down because I was finished. Sitting down was a visual representation of the completion of the task. Sitting down demonstrated that the walk was completed.

In our text, Jesus had just had a long trip. He had begun the trip in glory. He walked on into a stable in Bethlehem. He went on to walk as we have to walk in our flesh. He walked on into Gethsemane and Calvary. Finally he arose and walked on into heaven and now after getting there, he sits down. Jesus had completed the mission to which he was called to do on earth. We can be thankful for that. This is important to remember. We can shout like any other Christian that Christ finished the objective on earth, we can shout like any other Christian that Christ arose on the third day and went to sit down in glory.

Move 3: Minister of the true sanctuary

But the text does not stop there. And because the text does not stop there, neither can we stop there. The Bible says that Jesus is a minister in the true sanctuary. We see a tension here. Jesus sits down signifying completion and yet he still ministers signifying continuing work. Jesus is done, but he isn't done. You see Adventists have recognized that even though Jesus is done with his work down here, he still has a work up there. And this work is an important component of salvation. That work is in the true sanctuary that the Lord pitched and not humanity (Hebrews 8:2). Yes Jesus is done down here, but Jesus is working up there.

And here is the basis of our mission, identity, and destiny. Most Christians believe that Christ is the high priest, but many emphasize the completed work of the cross and neglect the work after the cross. Many have ignored the present work of Jesus Christ and relegated it to a footnote. However, God began this movement with a look at the heavenly ministry of Jesus Christ. Our very identity is tied up with Christ's present special work of cleansing that has been identified as an antitypical Day of Atonement. Just as there was an earthly temple, there is a heavenly one (Hebrews 8:5). Just as the earthly temple was purified during the Day of Atonement ministry the heavenly things also have to be purified(Hebrews 9:23) Jesus' heavenly ministry was split up into two components just as the historical earthly temple ministry was split up into two components (daily and yearly) There was a time of intercession. Then there was the special time of repentance called Feast of Trumpets that ended in the Day of Atonement where cleansing was accomplished. There is still work for humanity to do during the Day of Atonement. There is still a work for Jesus to do during the Day of Atonement. Yes Jesus has completed his work on the earth, but there is a work today. Jesus is doing something right now. We cannot forget this if we are to hold on to who we are. We cannot forget this if we are to have the thankfulness that comes from remembrance.

Move 4: Conclusion

You might be wondering about the woman with the brain tumor. The doctors skillfully removed the tumor from her brain. Slowly she started to remember experiences. Slowly she started remembering her friends and family. Slowly she started remembering who she was. And that remembrance brought excitement. That remembrance brought thanksgiving. And now she tells her testimony all the time. Today she remembers and now she can be thankful because of that remembrance.

Praise God for remembrance. I am thankful today because I remember that God became human in Jesus Christ. I am thankful today because I remember that God lived a life on earth. I am thankful today because I remember that Christ died and arose to show the power of God over death. I am thankful today because I remember that Christ went to heaven and sat down because he was finished. And I am thankful I am an Adventist, because I remember that Christ is working in heaven right now. I am thankful today because I remember that Christ is cleansing me today. I am thankful because I remember that "Christ walks with me and talks with me and he tells me I am his own." Finally, I am thankful because I remember that Christ is coming again. Don't forget! Remembering will let you know why you are Adventist. Remembering will let you know why you are Christian. Remembering will bring thanksgiving for who you are!

God bless you

Benefits of Reading Ellen White?

John Nix of the Ellen White Estate gives some interesting findings about the lifestyle blessings of regular study of Ellen White. While I have no idea of the methodology of the survey, the statistics are very intresting. for example of those members who read Ellen White daily 85% stated that they had a strong relationship with Jesus Christ while 59% of those who do not read her stated this. 82% of those who read Ellen White regularly also have daily Bible study while only 47% of those who do not read her had daily study.

What does this mean? Well, there are benefits to reading Ellen White regularly. It also might suggest that in practice a lack of Ellen White reading usually manifests itself in lack of Bible reading among Adventists...And vice versa...It also might illustrate that it is not "reading" Ellen White that necessarily contributes to the legalism that so many people think is rampant in the church at the present time.

The Disappearing Prophet

One Sabbath school teacher stated that: "We use Ellen G. White too much almost deifying her!" One might also hear: Or "Adventists must overcome their legalism!" I think it interesting that we accept these assumptions without critically looking at them. Such sentiments are often never challenged.

Some assume that one could go into your average Adventist church and get talked about for bringing cheese or meat to the pot-luck. It is assumed that you can go to your average Adventist church and hear people quote Ellen White more than the Bible. It is assumed that the average Adventist church consists of people with a notepad seeking to write down all the things that you have done wrong. But are these assumptions true?

Pot Lucks and Cheese

I find such statements interesting for a couple of reasons...First, I find that the seeker sensitive services do not necessarily end up with a more "loving" expereince. See my post on another blog. But also, I have attended many potlucks and have often seen cheese in them. Sometimes I see meat...But I have never seen anyone castigated for bringing cheese or meat. I have even seen a church related function have unclean meat in it....(but it was something that the pastor was not aware of and attempted to correct) I will acknowledge that my experiences are limited to my own case, I have not visited every church etc...But I can't help but wonder what if the assumed problem is really not the problem?

Legalism or Lawlessness?

What if our basic assumptions are wrong? What if lawlessness is at least as big a problem as legalism in the church today? What if it is not that we use Ellen White too much, but hardly at all? What if instead of "worshipping her" as we are charged with we ignore her?

I doubt you will go to many churches tomorrow and hear Ellen White quoted more than the Bible. In fact you might hear Billy Graham or Martin Luther quoted more than Ellen White. I think it interesting that some think that Ellen White is deified in the church while at the same time we hear her less. Is the prophet disappearing or have I just attended the few churches that seem to downplay her?

What do you think?