The hostile clashing of worldviews and seemingly constant shapeshifting of reality is not unfamiliar to those of us who’ve left Adventism for Jesus. As we walk through these mystifying days of unrest and endless voices I’m reminded of the battle for my mind and my loyalty as I left Adventism. In those early days of leaving I remember wondering who and what I could trust. Surrounded by the Christian-sounding pleas (which occasionally turned into various shades of shame) from those who were seeking to contain me inside Adventism, as well as the convincing pleas from those who sought to show me that God’s word was not compatible with it, I remember wondering for a time if perhaps there was no single reliable reality that existed!
It was Scripture that put that battle to bed. My awakening from the “enticing” slumber of deception was an act of God! He drew me to Himself by giving me the desire to actively study and submit to His Word while also opening my eyes to truth and changing my heart. Scripture dismantled the deceptive facade of Adventism, and it shed light on the numerous ways Adventism took right-sounding phrases, words, and causes and filled them up with hidden meaning and purposes entirely contrary to the Word of God. This method of hiding darkness inside “light” was brilliant because it carried a message of which even its messengers were not fully aware! It allowed people to feel as though they were serving God while propagating heresy. I came to see first-hand how evil disguises itself as an angel of light, and I realize now that I was being prepared for the call of every Christian to a life of discernment.
It was in this time period of orienting to truth where I understood that the only thing I could put the full weight of my trust upon was Scripture read in context. Through the pages of Scripture my dead spirit emerged out of the deceptive illusions of the ruler of this age, and I came to life in Christ and was planted firmly into His Kingdom. I knew I was finally at home and safe in truth and reality, and I was uniquely prepared, as most of us formers are, to discern certain forms of evil which mimicked the deception in Adventism. I became familiar with some of the specific methods used by evil to disguise itself as good and to deceive its victims. I see these same methods played out in so many different sectors of the world today. Even so, just as God pulled us out of Adventism and into truth, He will sustain us in truth to the end.
Biblical Discernment and God Given Direction
As hard as climbing out of false religion was, I believe that the Lord showed us how to use discernment rooted in Scripture alone, and that is a priceless gift! He taught us to be Bereans, but not simply for the purpose of taking us out of Adventism. This gift is to walk us through all of life. I believe we must return to this method of careful Bible reading as we walk through this life after Adventism. We must not ease into the comfort of “discerning” according to our own emotion or biases—which can easily be swayed and deceived. We might feel suspicious of someone’s statements, but our suspicion is not evidence that something is good or evil. We need to look at observable facts and compare what we see with God’s word. Suspicion may rightly lead us to investigate matters, but God’s word, not our emotional reactions, must be the definer of good and evil.
During these disorienting times, I believe we must be prayerful and careful about how we respond to the issues confronting us. I believe that we must draw even closer to the pages of Scripture to find guidance in how we are to love our fellow man. Satan is the author of confusion, and I believe that where there is an abundance of confusion, as we see in our world now, we must tread carefully, prayerfully, and under the light of Scripture alone.
This same Scripture that brought us to life in Christ now sustains us in all aspects of life. Scripture is where we go for truth even when the world around us decries its message—the same world which is chaotically spinning and swaying in its own clashing narratives! Scripture is where we receive our “marching orders” from our Father, Whose Son we are charged with representing here in this place. It’s where we rest and where we learn that it’s OK—and even wise—for us to be slow to speak even when society tries to shame us into voicing our thoughts.
When we do speak, Scripture is where we learn to speak wisely, and Scripture teaches us that we cannot trust the moralism of the world. We must weigh all truth statements, causes, and ideas on the just balance of Scripture alone (Pr. 11:1).
A Kingdom of False Peace and False Morality
Brothers and sisters, this world is not our home. It would be good for us to awaken every morning and remind ourselves of this fact. We are pilgrims here awaiting a different land and a different kingdom, and we represent a different King whose name we bear into this dark world. I believe we must function with this reality in our thinking‚ especially while the world competes for space in our thought life and compels us to see reality as it does.
As a former Adventist I know all too well that when the world promotes moral-sounding viewpoints, it’s always wise to dig beneath the surface to know how words are being defined, what action is being promoted, how the alternate view is being represented, and what methods of “convincing” are being used. Satan is the author of lies, and he knows how to craft deception in ways that look admirable, noble, and convincing by surrounding it with truth and “light”.
Our society is crying out for justice and reality. Humanity is rightly crying out for peace, but unless humanity looks to the only One who can provide it, they will seek in vain to construct “peace” through their depraved minds and efforts.
It’s in this environment that I would caution believers to only stand behind the cause of Christ. God’s people stand without a doubt against racism. They also support freedom and safety. These are important aspects of loving humanity according to Scripture! My caution for believers is to stand for these things on the basis of Scripture alone rather than aligning with the divisive socio-political constructs of the world.
Bereans: Doing What’s Right in God’s Eyes
Without a doubt we live in a time when everyone is doing what is “right” in their own eyes! Those who are left without the compass of God’s Word are left only to their own perceptions to determine what is truth. People can argue any position using moral-sounding words. Yet we who are born again are not left to such subjective measures, and we MUST resist using them! We are not our own authority, and for this I am profoundly grateful!
As God’s children, we have an anchor which holds us fast through life’s tumultuous and disorienting events. We have the words of life, and it’s only through them that we will emerge from the disorienting narratives and deceptive fogs of godless “moral humanity”. We need to resist the urge to stand with confidence on the narratives of mankind because Biblical history has taught us that no matter how right we may feel or how convincing humanity can sound, we are fully capable of being deceived. We are capable of suppressing truth by our own natural perceptions and loyalties.
The people of God are to be Bereans in all areas of life. They are to search out the Scriptures, test the spirits, and submit fully to God’s truth. While there are no letters written to the church in 2020 enduring a global pandemic, political unrest, racial tensions, and violence in the street, all Scripture is God breathed and useful for teaching. It is timeless, and now is NOT the time to neglect it.
The book of Proverbs tells us that when we seek wisdom from God, He gives it graciously, and He will guide us in just and righteous ways where we will not need to fear disaster (1:32-33, 2:1-15). It tells us that we are to set our gaze in front of us, not turning to the right or left—not being swayed by the world, putting aside the ways of wickedness and pondering carefully our own ways (4:23-27). Proverbs is full of admonition to ponder and consider our own behavior, our own ways—it is the “wisdom of the prudent ” (14:8). It tells us that a fool is only interested in expressing his own opinion and is not interested in gaining understanding (18:2). While we have many opportunities to evaluate the ways of those around us, and while we must do this to exercise discernment, we cannot neglect the important work of evaluating and pondering our own ways, too.
Proverbs 16:32 says, “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city,” and in 11:12 it says, “Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.” We are told in 15:1 that, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger,” and “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding,” (17:27). Proverbs 19:11 says, “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” Are our conversations with others marked by these attributes of wisdom and prudence? Are we speaking too quickly and then regretting our methods or words? Are we seeking to incite anger by berating and shaming others, or are we keeping our spirit cool and submitted to God’s word and seeking to be at peace with all men as long as it is up to us (Rom. 12:18)?
We also learn in Proverbs that, “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” and “the simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps,” (14:12 & 15). Are we dangerously walking in self-deception or prayerfully seeking to be grounded in truth? Are we being naive and acting on everything we hear, or are we examining claims and considering our responses?
In Proverbs 18:19 we read, “A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.” No one will come to a knowledge of truth through flesh driven arguments or reactive quarreling. If anything it will only make it harder to be heard. Pondering our ways means prayerfully considering if we are contributing to the quarreling rather than to the cause of Christ. Scripture says that it is “better to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry,” (James 1:19).
I am not writing this from a lofty tower of self-righteousness. I am guilty of futile arguments and a hot head! I am being convicted by God’s word as I write!
Proverbs 15:3 tells us, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” Nothing going on around us is a surprise to God. Nothing is beyond His scope of control or awareness. Proverbs 16:25 tells us that even when a man’s ways seem right to him, it is God who weighs the spirit of man. It is not our own estimation of our activities that matter but God’s! With that I cry out to God the prayer of David in Psalm 139: 23 & 24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
Sanctified in the Truth
As Christ followers we make it our aim to please God in everything (1 Cor 10:31). We go to the Word of God to know what is true (John 8:32, 2 Tim 3:16, John 17:17, Eph 4:11-16, Ps 119:160). It’s also where we learn how to love God, our fellow man, and the body of Christ. Scripture shows us how to live wisely in this dark age, how to understand what we see, and how to trust the God who has all things in His care working for His purposes. We have not been abandoned, we have not been left orphans, the Spirit Himself indwells us and uses Scripture to transform us.
As we fill our minds with the truths of God’s word His Spirit will apply them to our hearts and by His gracious wisdom we will begin to learn how to discern what is from Him and what is not. I pray, brothers and sisters, that we will all draw near to the words of Scripture and that we will be faithful as we bear the name of Christ into the world even during these dark and confusing times.
“I have stored up Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Ps 119:11)
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Nicole,
Thank you for this well written article. It is a reminder that I need more and more. I have been trying to follow this path but a timely reminder is valuable.
Thank you
Jeanie