My wife and I drove through rain for an hour yesterday, to attend the Hamilton SDA church. Arriving early, we got a good seat with some friends from the Dayton area. The reason for the trip is that Ron Kelly spoke there yesterday, and we wanted to hear what he had to say.
Ron was accompanied by his wife and their four children. It was nice to meet them. They are a dedicated family. We appreciate Colleen’s quick sense of humor and her genuine care for others. They make a good team.
Without tooting our own horn, Ron expressed his gratitude for Fulcrum7 getting the word out about the events going on in Michigan.
[I can say there was a time when such things were conducted behind a veil and hidden from the rest of the church. Committed Adventism had no place to go, they had lost their voice in the church. The internet and Fulcrum7 provided a way to address issues in the church, allowing sunlight to disinfect some of the hierarchical mismanagement of the church. “Hold your leaders accountable” Ted Wilson said on July 3, 2010. But how do you do that, when you have huge layers of cronyism that always protects itself? Many church administrators feel that their decisions and actions are unassailable, due to an assumed infallibility complex. As in the beginning of F7 (1-1-2016), our goal is still to encourage our people, and inform them of things happening in our church and world in a responsible manner. Certainly there are times when we may not have “gotten everything right” and we must be willing to confront our own words and spirit as well as those that we sometimes write about. But I can tell you that our motives are honest – to be upbeat, supportive of the Advent Movement, and most of all biblical.]
Things that Never Change
Ron’s sermon was taken from Mark 2:1-12 and titled Things that Never Change. There was no lamenting of the way he was treated in Michigan in the sermon. There was no bitterness for the past, just a quiet confidence that the Lord is leading them to a new chapter in life. Here’s my sermon highlights, I hope they make sense to you.
Truth can set you free if it doesn’t wrestle you down. The easiest part of the Adventist Message is the 28 Fundamental Beliefs. It’s not hard to give intellectual assent to these important beliefs. What is more important is how we treat other people.
Peer pressure affects adults as well as children.
Jesus caused some turbulence in the story of the paralytic man in Mark 2. He offended the Pharisees. This same Jesus the will cause turbulence in His people in the time of the end. Many people seek to avoid this conviction by blaming others but never blaming themselves.
In the SDA church there is a tendency to miss the point. Jesus came with grace and truth, not the other way around. The story of the paralytic man let down from the roof illustrates this. “Thy sins are forgiven thee.” We are condemned and there was no way out unless someone took the condemnation. Jesus took our condemnation on Himself (Romans 8:1). Things that never change.
It was common in those days to wonder “who sinned?” when someone had a physical ailment. In a spiritual sense, the human race brought its troubles on itself, but Jesus came here to take our condemnation and give us forgiveness.
Jesus goes to Caperneum. In Peter’s home. Paralytic man can’t get in. The crowd is too big.
SDA’s believes that there are two identifying marks of what we believe. Commandments of God and the spirit of prophecy. We attribute that gift to a young woman. That spirit is to be kept alive in others until the end. The Desire of Ages often brings color to stories, like you were there.
Peter’s house is full of people. Scribes are there. Pharisees are there. The paralytic man has lost hope. He brought sin on himself. The Pharisees said he had no hope. He was experiencing the judgment of God. Reap and sow is a reality we live with and it certainly is in this case.
Best way to help people is to listen to them. There is a big difference between being an accuser of brethren and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit offers a way out. Some things never change.
You can be the balm in Gilead. You can be the encourager. Are you carrying anybody to Jesus? Pray. He will give you opportunities.
Some things never change. We are living in an age of lawlessness. There is a tremendous appetite for evil in our world. Accusers of the brethren are a burden, not a burden bearer. The Holy Spirit brings hope.
The paralytic man is hanging in front of Jesus—from the roof. Jesus forgives his sins. His face comes alive. The burden of despair rolls from his soul. Everyone in that room needed to hear it. This was a Holy healing. The Pharisees heard Him too. They look at each other. Jesus brought grace and truth. If you preach truth and grace you may drive people away. The Pharisees withheld sympathy. Who can forgive sins, but God alone?, they grumbled.
Our church can cross over from sharing a boatload of beliefs and extend compassion to people. The world needs sympathy; grace and truth.
Take up your bed and walk. He stands up. He goes out a different way than he came in.
What is Needed?
I hope we get lifestyle programs in this church. We used to be the head, not the tail. Let us take the risk and go back to old methods. Separating medical missionaries from pastors was a great mistake in our church
We can offer ten day lifestyle programs to people (the Village Church was doing this). People’s lives are touched by this. The main reason the Village Church went through trauma is because we were on the cusp of a mighty medical missionary effort. The enemy seeks to spoil that effort.
The Adventist church has been dying, except for places where people are reaching out and loving the lost and bearing the cross. Some things never change.
The Adventist Movement was strong in the beginning of our movement. We have drifted since. What is the solution? Take the same beautiful gospel to the world today. It will come back. The church can be transformed by the marvelous grace of Jesus Christ.
That grace never changes. Our mission is still the same.”
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Pastor Ron Kelly has a new ministry coming. In it, he will offer encouragement, training, and leadership. A website is being developed. His YouTube channel will announce it, when it is ready. It should be less than 30 days. We will announce it on Fulcrum7 as well.
Many people have asked how they can donate to Ron Kelly. Until the new website is ready, donations can be sent to PO Box 227, Berrien Springs, MI 49103
