Sheep, Goats and Perfection
In regards to [Martin Weber’s Perspective, “Adventists: Sheep or Goats,” February 2016], there is so much truth (salt-of-the-earth type stuff), but do I detect a bit of pepper? You said, "Thus any doctrine that does not support the spiritual discipline of community with Christ and one another is false teaching.” (AMEN) “And any scenario of final events that enshrines personal perfectionism is spiritually bankrupt as well as useless in the public square." This last sentence seems to cast aspersions, but perhaps I just do not understand your intent. What do you mean by "personal perfectionism"? Does your theology of perfection have something different than what I have read today in Maranatha (Feb. 19)? I will provide it here ... .
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” This is the work before you. ... You must experience a death to self, and must live unto God. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” Self is not to be consulted. Pride, self-love, selfishness, avarice, covetousness, love of the world, hatred, suspicion, jealousy, evil surmisings, must all be subdued and sacrificed forever. When Christ shall appear, it will not be to correct these evils and then give a moral fitness for His coming. This preparation must all be made before He comes. It should be a subject of thought, of study, and earnest inquiry, What shall we do to be saved? What shall be our conduct that we may show ourselves approved of God? … Only the faultless will be there. None will be translated to heaven while their hearts are filled with the rubbish of earth. Every defect in the moral character must first be remedied, every stain removed by the cleansing blood of Christ, and all the unlovely, unlovable traits of character overcome."
Carl Sullivan, online at GleanerNow.com
Mission to the Cities
Thank you for the timely and honest article [Let’s Talk, “Missionary,” February 2016]. On the Internet was a report that the most atheistic city in the U.S. is our own Portland, Ore. Seattle and San Francisco were tied for second. If this report is true, then our Northwest cities are more needy than New York or L.A., spiritually speaking. … God doesn’t ask us to save the cities but to warn the cities and invite them to the gospel feast. … One of the greatest mission fields is at our doorstep, and we are still failing to see it as such.
Linda Kinne, Estacada, Ore.
