Unity and Two Prayers

Dear brothers and sisters

I would like to share also with you in our pursuit of unity. I humbly suggest that the thoughts impressed upon me are not my own. I hope I can express in a few words what touched my heart.

I am not going to talk about any theological point of view but rather challenge our identity or lack of identity with the SDA church. Now I must confess here that I have not attended my local church for nearly a year because of the events that happened due to the stand my wife and I made in rejecting the trinity doctrine. In spite of this our heavenly Father has spiritually fed and sustained us during this time but here is where the challenge is.

I am sure you can identify with the feelings of disappointment, frustration and even righteous anger when no one wants to listen to you. This is why independent ministries and home churches exist but deep down I feel that the lord is disappointed if in our hearts, we separate our identity with His remnant church. So when we talk about unity are we basing it on unity in whatever groups we have formed or our continued commitment to plead for our Seventh Day Adventist Church to accept the 1888 message.

Sometimes my feelings toward the church has been like this

Luke 9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we bid fire to come down from heaven, and consume them?

I am ashamed at my own hypocrisy.

Here is a very short personal testimony. At the age of 21 I left the church I was brought up in and lived the life of the prodigal son for ten years. In the darkness of a drug/alcoholic depression I prayed this prayer to God. Lord I have got myself into this mess. I know what I’m doing is wrong but you know in my heart I am not ready to stop yet. In spite of this Father I would like to ask you one favour. Please, NEVER let me go. The tears are welling up in my eyes as I type this. To this very moment He has NEVER let me go.

In our search for unity are we going to let go of our identity with God’s church? You may sense that I have read 1888 re-examined and you would be correct. As we continue as Israel of old wandering in the wilderness, I challenge us. Have we experienced the agape love of the Father and Son? Are we able to pray still, the prayer of Moses towards the leaders of the church?

Exodus 32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.