MINISTERING TO SDAs
Don Hawley
Jesus said he would make us fishers of men, but there's a big ocean out there. Where shall we fish? Since our own resources are limited, should we not fish where efforts will prove most productive? Is that not good stewardship? When the disciples picked their own fishing ground, they sometimes came home with empty nets. But when they fished where Jesus directed, they caught so many fish their nets threatened to break!
Because of our background, many of us are tempted to spend most of our time fishing for Seventh-day Adventists. Of course the very thought that they might need ministering to sets SDA teeth on edge. They are the ones who must minister to all others. But those of us who spent most of a lifetime in that denomination, and have been set free in the Gospel, know better.
Perhaps I should inject here that I believe if Christ were to return today most Adventists would be saved. However, they deserve to know there is a great and wonderful journey beyond salvation. And what they have now will not see them safely through the end-time crisis.
If you have lifelong friends and loved ones still locked into Adventism, you'll be sorely tempted to fish for their release. This being the case, may I suggest how you might fish productively? And this applies whether you are an individual, or an SDA congregation enjoying some freedom in the Lord.
There are two major pools in which you may fish. The first is stocked with those who are presently members of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. The second is made up of those who are former or non-attending Adventists. Let's begin with the first pool.
ADVENTIST MEMBERS
I can't recall how many denominational members are living in North America, where most of your Adventist friends and loved ones likely reside. I know it's a small number compared to worldwide membership. Since the latter is about 11 million, let's assume that the North American membership is about 1 million. That's a lot of people, but unfortunately very few of them are apt to take your bait.
According to 2 Corin. 3:14-18 those who are immersed in legalism, and according to the Adventist Review that includes between 80 and 90 percent of denominational membership, simply cannot respond to your overtures. They are wearing a veil that completely blinds them to even clear Biblical truth. Until that veil is removed you can fish all night and catch nothing. Many of us can attest to the truth of that statement.
The letter to the Corinthians explains that the veil can be removed only by an acceptance of the Gospel of salvation by faith alone. The blood plus nothing. Obedience yes, but only as an outgrowth of one's salvation. So if you are going to fish for those who presently hold membership in the Adventist denomination, concentrate your efforts on the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ. But expect your efforts largely to be unproductive. Most of your time and energy will be used up in a futile ministry. It's best to wait until you see that veil beginning to slip in the lives of specific individuals.
Perhaps I should add that even among that relatively small percentage of SDA's who truly understand the Gospel, there's still an obstacle that will keep many entrenched in the denomination. From the very beginning, they've been taught and retaught that Adventism is the only ark of safety. All who are saved at last must join the SDA ranks. So a little voice deep inside warns, "What if the claims are true? Dare you risk separation? Play it safe and hang in there, even if you don't agree with much anymore."
FORMER AND NON-ATTENDING SDA'S
Now let's examine the second pool. Estimates of the number of former and non-attending Adventists living in North America range from 2 million to 10 million. I rather believe the latter figure is more accurate, but let's settle for 5 million. Immediately you sense that ministering in the pool that contains five times as many fish might be more productive. And it is.
Although former and non-attending SDA's may not all have a clear understanding of the Gospel, they have by their actions shown a certain disenchantment with the denomination. This makes them more open to reason. Because many of them (I think most) still believe in Sabbath keeping, along with certain other significant doctrines held by SDA's, they haven't joined other groups. They're in unhappy limbo. I think there's a rich harvest here to be realized for the Lord, and those of us who've broken the shackles no doubt owe them our ministry.
But here I must inject a strong warning. If you're going to fish in the second pool, you need to use the right bait. Do not offer these individuals merely a modified form of Seventh-day Adventism! It's not a matter of "coming back to the fold." Make a clean break. They've already tried Adventism and found it wanting. Encourage them to hold fast to any doctrines from their past that are Biblically sound, but point up the need to remain completely apart from the organization itself. God tells us that trying to serve two masters is not only futile, but eventually fatal. Instead lead them into true praise such as they've never before experienced. Tell them about the renewal now sweeping around the world that cuts across all denominationalism. Remind them that salvation is in Christ alone, and set them free in him.
Listen carefully to the Master Fisherman; he will tell you where to let down your net.