In 1974 an Adventist singing group named Take 3 penned these words:
My troubles are many and my pleasures are few
I guess life is always that way
But I don't complain cause I know I'll be free
If I can get to heaven somedayChorus
But tell me where am I now
Am I almost there
Is that heaven's bright glory I see?
Is that Jesus I hear calling out my name
Is the door standing open for me?
It was a lovely song with a message of hope and faith. However, if this song was written by a social justice warrior today, it would sound something like this:
My triggers are many there’s no justice for me
I guess snowflakes just are that way
But I’ll have my woke intersectionality
If I create utopia hereChorus
But tell me where am I now
I’m offended again
Is that my warm safe space that I see?
Social justice is here calling out my name
And antifa is waiting for me.
The Adventist 'church' is no ordinary body. It is a movement, called of God to prepare a dying world for the soon return of the Lord Jesus. It is a most solemn Message.
An understanding of the prophecies of Daniel & The Revelation by the Spirit of God, led to the formation of this last "message bearer" to Earth. The Advent Movement has an understanding of prophecy and the Bible that is far beyond anything I've ever seen. The Adventist people also possess a knowledge of Jesus and His Life & Ministry that is thrilling. Yet along with that insight comes a responsibility.
We have a responsibility to handle the truths of the Bible carefully, bringing them into our own lives before carrying them to the world (2 Timothy 2:15).
We have a responsibility to humble ourselves daily before the Almighty Ruler of all, allowing Him to lift us up (James 4:10).
We have a responsibility to protect the Advent Message from the distractions of the world, preserving its divine distinction from the corrosive influence of a pagan culture (1 Timothy 6:20).
We have a responsibility to not contaminate the Adventist Message by combining it with cultural-political social justice, or replacing it altogether. Both create a toxic stew, poisoning the faith of all who drink it. That’s what happened to Ryan Bell.
The Christian Post published an interview article on the self-promoting Bell this week. The trajectory of his faithless journey goes like this:
‘Conservative’ Christian
Got involved in social justice
Progressive Christian
Became a full-on social justice warrior
Democratic Socialist
Humanist
Atheist
Each of these progressive steps subsequent to conservative Christianity whittled on the stick of Bell’s faith until there was nothing left. Bell went from a steward and ambassador of the Adventist Message (as a member & pastor) to social justice warrior, to atheist, to exporting his unbelief to others—as an ambassador of the enemy (Matthew 12:30).
The biggest problem with adopting social justice as a worldview is where it comes from. Where did it come from? The short answer is Catholicism. The long answer is Jesuit scholar Luigi Taparelli D’Azeglio (ca 1827 AD). Because of this religio-political origin, Social Justice often finds itself in unusual blends of religion and politics.
Jeremiah Wright enthusiastically damned America for our lack of Social Justice in his yet-another-Liberation-Theology-sermon-that-our-previous-President-didn’t-hear. But we heard him. And we didn’t appreciate it.
Today the loud cry of the Advent Message is being replaced by loud cries for social justice, not only in the progressive wings of the church, but in the NAD leadership itself (redundant, I know). It is being taught in a growing number of circles that modern-day social justice is a Biblical imperative (Andrews University, La Sierra, etc..). Translation: God is a Democrat. Or at least He thinks like one.
I come from a family where my father devoted a majority of his life to helping people. I like that sort of thing. I also like the fact that Dad was thoroughly opposed to the Social Gospel (precursor to Social Justice). He saw it as an imbalance that elevated physical needs over spiritual needs. That is a problem when that happens.
First, it can give the impression that the goal of ministry is to get people to stop smoking so they can live seven more years in sin, or that waiting on tables is is preferable to preaching the gospel. Secondly, it can give the impression that humanitarian outreach is a convenient escape from any embarrassment you may feel for doctrine or preaching the gospel.
Or could it be that lukewarm is a convenient escape from hot? In Bell’s case, lukewarm was the air-conditioned path to cold.
Ryan Bell claims that he gave Christianity his best shot. No, Ryan, you gave social justice justice your best years, and like a parasite it ate away your heart of faith leaving you with nothing for God to write His law upon.
It led to socialism in skinny jeans. It led you to substitute human goodness for God's goodness, and utopian dystopia for God's New Earth. And ultimately it left you empty, with no hope in Christ.
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“Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty” (Zechariah 1:3).
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).