Have You Decided Who Jesus Is? by David Achata

Have you decided who Jesus is?



That was the question I asked repeatedly to the students at the school where I was doing a week of spiritual emphasis a few weeks ago. I asked them the same question every day for five days. On the last day I spent some time with them in Mark 4 and 5. We looked at how the Pharisees labeled Jesus "The Prince of Demons" because he was casting out demons. Then we looked at how Jesus’ family came to take him away because, they said, "He is out of his mind." In other words, they thought he was crazy. Last, we looked at the bleeding, demon-possessed man living in the tombs who cried out, "I know who you are; you are the son of God! Have you come to torture us before the appointed time?"

My point was simple: Either Jesus is a demon, or he is crazy, or he is who he says he is. Have you decided who he is? Many of the students came forward and wept, confessing sins and testifying that they had never decided who Jesus is.

The more time I spend with people, the more I see that this is the heart of the issue. 

People's issues about heaven or hell, or suffering or injustice, or homosexuality or heterosexuality, or whatever all become secondary issues when one asks the question, "Have you decided who He is?"



The other day I was reading a quote by Lesslie Newbegin where he said that people like to have conversations about the idea of truth, but when truth walks into the room, all other conversations have to stop. I think this is how it is with a lot of the conversations I hear happening. While so much airtime is taken up debating this or that issue – I just wonder, if Jesus were to walk into the room, would that conversation even continue? I think that most of my conversations would cease, my jaw would drop to the floor, and I'd worship.



Today is Easter, the day we remember who Jesus is. He’s the one who passes through walls (John 20:19-31) yet can still eat food (Luke 24:41-43). He’s the one who appeared to over 500 people after his resurrection (1 Cor. 15:6) and let people touch him so they’d have no doubts (John 20:27, 1 John 1:1). He’s either got to be who he says he is (John 14:6) or else we have no hope (1 Cor. 15:17).

The next time you get into a debate with someone about some sort of subject pertaining to Christianity, just ask, "Have you decided who Jesus is?" I bet it will change everything.

David Achata

Weighing the 28 by Bill Crofton

I love being a chaplain at Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences, and one of the responsibilities I enjoy is teaching this class. Last semester there were 34 students, and 31 of them were not Seventh-day Adventist. Many had never even heard of the denomination until attending school here. And most of those who had some knowledge of the SDA church fell into that zone of “Oh yeah, you guys go to church on Saturday and don’t eat meat, right?”

I always introduce myself to a new class with, “Hi gang, I’m Bill, a Christian who practices his faith within the sub-culture of the SDA church.”

“So, Pastor Bill, where did they get all these 28 anyway?” That was a question posed by a student of mine in the class, “What Seventh-day Adventists Believe.”

Short answer, “Well, the Bible of course,” was my reply. However, if you are asking me how many of the “28” are relevant to salvation, that is another matter.

How about it? What do you want people to know about your church, what you believe, how you practice Christianity? Ooooh . . . how you practice Christianity. Isn’t that the larger question, the more important question?

Since coming to the college, I have been asked by people, Are you happy? Is it comfortable being in such an environment with so many “non-SDA’s?” First, I must tell you that about 65% of our student body is of other denominations and religions. Yes! Not only is it comfortable, but in my humble opinion, it’s healthy. My job is to join their journey - be it faculty, staff, or students - and walk beside them. I am doing more listening, and that is not a bad thing.

So what do I do with the 28 - the 28 doctrines/teachings on the back of most SDA baptismal vows? Well, I like how Dick Deurkson, a good friend of mine, summarizes them in 5 major statements of the SDA Church:

#1 God loves you, and His Word (Bible) is still relevant for today.

#2. God loves you, and Jesus Christ IS God’s Son who came, lived, and

died for our sins.

#3. God loves you and has a purpose for your life.

#4. God loves you and desires to spend TIME with you.

#5. God loves you and cares deeply about the QUALITY of your life.

That is the BIG FIVE! Actually, I tell my class that the MOST important teachings, principles, laws, are found in TWO. Do you know which two?

Bill Crofton
Chaplain
Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences

An Acquired Taste by John Monday

I like coffee. Well, that’s not really fair. I love coffee. I don’t like Starbucks or Seattle's Best, and I don’t like Mocha, Latte, French Vanilla, Santa’s Blend, Cappuccino or any of those frou-frou corruptions of coffee. I like coffee - plain, straight, black, bitter, Folgers coffee. But I’d have to admit it’s an acquired taste.

I can’t imagine that anyone who tastes straight black coffee for the first time likes it. Like many things in life - beer, cigarettes, whisky, broccoli, mushrooms, liver - if you want to enjoy coffee, you’ve got to commit to it. But once you’ve acquired the taste . . . Oh! How pleasant it is.

There’s a synagogue near our home that we pass on our way to church. As we passed it this weekend, the congregants entering in their traditional black coats and hats inspired my son to start telling me about traditional Jewish Sabbath restrictions. He explained to me that many of them even had to limit the number of steps they take on Sabbath. I agreed and further explained that some traditional Jews wouldn’t drive a car because that could be interpreted as a violation of the prohibition against building a fire on the Sabbath.

In an effort to help him understand that there are many cultures and that we should be careful about judging others, I started telling him that Jews aren’t the only ones that restrict some activities on their Holy day. In addition to spending time with God, “There are some Christians who hold that it’s okay to wade on the Holy day but not to swim. I explained that some will cross-country ski but not go sledding, while others would think it acceptable to walk but not to run.

As I was warming to the topic and trying to help him understand that we all may have some traditions that look odd to others, he stopped me. He appeared physically nauseated, looked straight at me and said, “That’s stupid. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” I realized in that moment that he hadn’t acquired the taste.

Legalism is bitter, and when first introduced to the pallet will rarely produce a positive reaction. But placed in the right environment, encouraged with cultural support, and endorsed by Elders in the community, the taste will be acquired. And once you’ve acquired the taste, you’ll be as committed to it as I am to coffee or the alcoholic is to his next bottle.

But there’s another way. A way that is sweet from the first bite. A way that doesn’t require any “acquired taste” because we’ve longed for it all our lives. A way that brings life and hope, joy and forgiveness. That way is Grace, and it belongs to Christ.

So, I think I’m content with my son’s reaction for the moment. While I want him to think generously about the traditions and observances of others, I hope that he chooses the sweet and not the bitter. I hope that he opts for the Grace that will give eternal satisfaction to his soul, rather than the conventions of men. I pray that he never acquires a taste for legalism.

John Monday

Facing the Unknown by Chad Hess

“And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me a light, that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way.’” -- Minnie Louise Haskins.

I first heard this quote several years ago in the midst of several major changes in my life. And now, many years later, it still really speaks to me. Of course, I’m again facing more changes and the uncertainty that can bring. I will graduate with a masters degree in May, and many people have asked me the inevitable question: what are you going to do now? The sad part is that I’m not really sure.

To put it bluntly, I’ve been pretty bad at guessing God’s will so far, so I’ve stopped trying. That’s not to say that I don’t plan for the future, but rather that I have learned to accept some degree of unknown. I could have never predicted the path that God has led me down, and I certainly could not have made a better path myself. If God had told me six years ago the path he would lead me down, I would not have believed it. And for that reason, I am okay with only seeing the step I am on (and maybe the step coming up). I can put my trust in the God who will never let me down and who has greater dreams for me than I can ever imagine!

Chad Hess