Joshua J. Daigle said:
I'm not too sure if I fall into this category. I grew up Adventist, and I love the Adventist church, but sometimes they make me so angry. For awhile, I left the church and have only recently started to have the urge to return. I guess my biggest problem is that, at times, I feel that the church is just blind.
I wouldn't agree that the SDA church is blind, but certain members in it most certainly are.
There have been experiences in my past that have just made me want to flat out quit. I have had Adventists call my faith into question because I work on Saturdays to support my family.
It is important to discern the difference between men calling your faith into question, as opposed to God using them as a means to accomplish this end for your own good. In other words, God often speaks through people to reach people.
Here is the way I see it: If what they are saying can be supported by the Bible, then they really aren't calling your faith into question; rather, God is; and if this is the case, then it would be according to your best interest to take heed to what is being said.
Don't get me wrong, I would love my Saturdays off for worship, but I have a responsibility as a husband and father to provide for my family. And I have not had much luck with management at my work being sympathetic towards my spiritual growth.
1. Where there is a will there is a way. God knows what you and your family need. Would He not be faithful in meeting such needs if you were to do what He says?
It's a matter of faith and trust in God. The more we place our implicit trust in Him, the more aware we'll become of His presence in our lives; and the more aware we become of His presence in our lives, the less we will worry about what we need. For, by faith we will foster the assurance that God has everything covered.
2. There are laws to protect the religious rights of people these days, thus enabling them to practice them without suffering the threat of employment termination.
Things can always be worked out. Have your pastor talk to your employer, to explain things to him. If it is possible, make an offer to work on Sunday's instead of Saturday's. There is always a solution.
If it doesn't work out, then perhaps you should take it as a sign that God wants you to find someone else to work for; or maybe He would rather have you work for yourself. Have you ever considered starting your own business? It's not as difficult as people seem to think. You just have to find something that you enjoy doing, and use it to make money. And if you do it to God's glory, He will see to it that you get the funds you need to operate it.
Sometimes I feel that the church thinks that being a good Adventist is more important than being a good Christian. How is this right?
What we infer and what is intended are two different things. Thus we often misinterpret the intentions of others.
Yet, at the same time, some people are as you describe. We just need to be patient with such people however, as Jesus is patient with us.
Moreover, we need to be careful that we don't assume they mean something that they really never meant. Actions, and even words for that matter, can be deceiving. This is why it is best to approach such people and ask them what they really mean when it seems like they are saying something that just doesn't feel right to you.
And if they tell you that they really didn't mean what you thought they meant, then accept that. Some people will insist that such people meant something other than what they said they meant. In fact, I just had a problem with someone like this in one of the threads that I started. It is quite annoying when people do this. They just won't listen to the facts.
And Ellen White whether she is or isn't a prophet is a whole other issue that I won't get into right now. All I will say is this...when I go to a church and hear a Pastor give a sermon, and everything he is preaching is, "Ellen White said this and Ellen White said that." and I don't hear one single reference to the Holy Bible, I feel that something is wrong. I worship in the House of God...not Ellen.
If this is really what you are experiencing, then I suggest you report it to your local SDA conference, because this pastor should not be doing this. Yet, before you do this, be sure that it's not an exaggeration on your part that the pastor is using the writings of Ellen White in place of the Holy Scriptures.
Nevertheless, if it is true that he is doing this, and nothing is done about it, then perhaps you ought to find another SDA church to attend.
I feel that I am alone in this experience. Is there anyone, ANYONE, who understands what I'm going through? Or am I just crazy?
Jesus understands. He will never let you down. Cast your cares on Him, knowing that He cares for you.
Things will work out for the best as long as you maintain your faith and loyalty to God.
