As I have mentioned before, I belong to a yahoo group entitled "Defending Ellen G. White." Someone is about to say "why in the world do you belong to a SDA group?" I was invited and I did not refuse. But, I find something very sad in their understanding. As a Reformed Christian I believe that church is important. Many people will realize this, since I am studying to be a pastor. Well, someone on the SDA group sent an email out saying that they had not been in church in quite sometime. So, me being the crazy guy I am, sent an email saying how important it is to be a part of the corporate body and I get a response back that says this:
dear friend pastor Arnold says that returning to the fold (church) is not crucial to salvation, and in my dictonary one of the ways to define crucial is "decisive". i believe there is only One that is indeed crucial or desisive to my salvation and He is Jesus and Him crucified! yes of course the church of God is of vital imortance, however in this discussion i am seeking to see more clearly the priorities of the Good Shephard, and in this story it seems to me that a return to the fold is last on the list....here i believe i have, for myself, discoverd a process which i have previously failed to see.....there are, in my view, here at least three things that the good Shephard does in reclaiming the lost sheep to the flock (His church) (see Luke 15:3-7) 1:He seeks for the lost sheep untill He finds it. He does not first seek to fill the absence of one with many. now, though not yet returned to the fold, has not the lost sheep been found?2:He lifts up the found sheep. He does not first send it running back to the flock to recieve instruction and support from other sheep. can an immortal God/Jesus really trust any mortal human understanding to truely lift up the hearts of His Children? now, though not yet returned and in the context of being lifted up by a Savior, can this sheep still be truely seen as lost?3:He Himself carries the found, and lifted up, sheep back to the flock rejoicing. Who is it that does the carrying? Who is it that returns the found sheep to the fold? in the process of returning is the one who was lost, though seemingly missing from the chruch, still lost?in one of the companion parables of Luke 15 does the Father wait at the front door to greet His prodical son? He runs and meets him a great way off, throws His arms of Love around him and kisses him! Has the wandering one been accepted by the Father, and forgiven even before he reaches home (church)?where does Jesus say to condemn another for not attending church? He simply says to "Love one other"where does Jesus teach that anyone is lost based on what can be seen? He simply teaches "Love one another" and "judge not".where does Jesus instruct anyone to first seek the salvation of those, who by human standards, are perceieved as lost? He simply instructs each one to "Love one another", "Judge not", and "seek {{{ye}}} first the kingdom of God, and His (Jesus') rightiousness"only after these priorities have been meant does Jesus say "go ye into all the world and preach the gospel" i believe that, for the gospel to recieve the full power of the Spirit (the later rain) the priorities of Jesus must first be realized collectively within the hearts of ALL who would truely desire to see Him in His glory. therefore, it seems to me, that untill then everthing else is just practice. we are sort of like God's roadies setting up the equipment, testing it, and warming up the audiance before the main event which is the mighty outpouring of the Spirit of God upon all the earth.
