Authenticity
There are two trends in our denomination that has many
people puzzled. One is why our
evangelistic efforts are no longer effective; why is it that we cannot bring
more people in. The other trend is that
of losing so many people. In their quest
for an answer they blame others. Pastors
blame the laity; the laity blames the Pastors.
They say of each other, “they are not trying hard enough,” or “they are
not doing what they are supposed to be doing.
A few of them ask themselves, “why did we stop doing things the way we
se to do them? It used to work.” The
answer they get is, “it no longer works.” Some even blame the status of our
society. They are too busy for church or
God. People are more interested in
shopping and entertainment than they are in spiritual things. Could it be that the problem is what we
preach? Or could it be the way we
preach? How about the worship
service? Is it a matter of making it
interesting; of engaging people more?
So, many are tempted, as many other denominations have, to
use entertainment and marketing techniques to attract and retain people. They see these large church buildings that
can sit thousands of people. The Church
services are full. The church programs
are well attended. Participation is
high. But, in the end very few are truly satisfied. And, many remain worldly while calling
themselves Christians. So, what shall we
do? Rarely does any one of them look at
themselves and ask, “Am I the problem?”
Let’s take a step back and consider how Jesus worked. Jesus never tried to fill up a building. But, He did try to bring all to follow
Him. He was not effective in this. However, He was effective in bringing the
people to a decision. The decision was
many times a sowing of a seed that would germinate later. Christ never forced nor manipulated anyone to
make a choice. The apostles after
Pentecost also were effective in bringing people to a decision. Why were they effective? No one will deny that Jesus and the Apostles
were the real deal. They had authenticity. And, it showed. Are we authentic?
Jesus said He finished His work (John 17: 4). No doubt the Apostles did too. Since, Christ will not return until the Work
is done - the Gospel preached in the whole world (Matthew 24: 14), - it follows
that we have not finish our work. Considering
the points made above, are we doing the work at all? Are we truly preaching the Gospel? And, if we
are, are we preaching it the right way?
In
the book of Revelation it says that there will be a generation that will finish
the work. They are described in
Revelation 14: 4 – 5, 11. Let us read,
Revelation 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with
women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever
he goeth…
Revelation 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for
they are without fault before the throne of God.
Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are
they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
There
is another characteristic in Revelation 12: 11.
Let us read,
Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the
Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto
the death.
I
doubt that anyone of us can honestly say that this describes us perfectly. Yet, it is the kind of authenticity that it
will require to finish the work. It is not only a matter of preaching
doctrines. It is a matter of living
them. And, the only way that can happen
is that we let the Holy Spirit dwell in us and transform until Christ is
perfectly formed in us. Ellen White
concurs. She says,
Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation
oh Himself in His church. When the
character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, the He will
come to claim them as His own. (Christ’s
Object Lessons, p. 69)
It
could just be that this last generation is the one to preach the Gospel into
the whole world.
