Have you ever been proud of something? A child? A promotion at work? A huge accomplishment in your life? Being proud of something is never the problem. It's only when being proud of something makes you feel that you are better than someone else. The ten-dollar word is sanctimonious. It means to make a show of being morally superior to others. Surely this disease of perspective doesn't affect the Christian church . . . right? I wish that were true.
A sanctimonious perspective is not only harmful, it's dangerous. Why dangerous? Because it causes the believer to think that they are 100% right and everyone else (unless they believe exactly like them) is 100% wrong. This in turn creates in the heart of such a believer of this perspective a pride that leads to an inevitable fall. The Bible says, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." Prov. 16:18, KJV
Could the Seventh-day Adventist Church fall into this perspective trap? The trap of being sanctimonious? Of seeing themselves as morally superior than all other Christians? Well, the answer to this question is . . . we'll see in the sermon today. I am really attempting to help each member realize the gift we have as a member of the Adventist church. However, with all gifts, there is a balance that must be achieved to really utilize the gifts.
An unbalanced Adventist experience leads to the demise of the potential; a church has to make a significant impact on its surrounding society. Gone are the days when people see the Adventist church as a beacon of light, truth, and an I-must-go-to-that-church. Although those days may be gone, we can redeem the time by removing the stain of sanctimony from our lives and realizing the humility of . . . being . . . wrong!
Yeah, I said it! Being wrong! Not with the teachings, but with the practice of the teachings! This reality we will delve into today. May God help me as I articulate . . . The Remnant.
So, until the next time, this is Pastor Tello reminding you that thoughts do change lives!
Pastor Howard Tello