Third of Four Summer Sermons-“Daring Faith”
The projected four-part summer sermon series at Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church, Atlanta is now 75% completed. What was intended to be a climactic presentation by peripatetic guest speaker Roger Hernandez, a native of Cuba, was delivered on Sabbath, 7/16/2016 to a full house. An impromptu, but essential sermon by Lead Pastor Russell was interposed into the sermon series, resulting in a shuffling of the dates of his three projected contributions to the series. The date for Pastor Hernandez’s appearance was inflexible, however, as it was linked to rally that had been scheduled well in advance.
Pastor Hernandez is comfortable preaching and writing books in two languages, which is twice as many as most of us can preach and write in. Here, as usual, is a link to the ENTIRE SERVICE . The sermon begins at time marker 1:49:18, and ends at time marker 2:37:30. Pastor Hernandez was one of the driving forces behind the rally that would be held later that afternoon, a component of a denomination-wide campaign against abuse and exploitation known as enditnow (lowercase).
Pastor Hernandez not only supplied much of the brains and the oratory for this event (one which attracted around 1,000 participants to Berean SDA Church), but he also supplied a lot of the brawn as well. Over 10,000 bottles of drinking water were hefted from a rented trailer into the large Berean Outreach Community Services refrigerated truck by Pastor Hernandez himself, with the assistance of a few volunteers. He even picked out a nice used car that would be presented to a selected abuse survivor at the end of the day’s program.
His morning sermon tied neatly into the theme of the four sermon series, “Daring Faith.” It will be inadequately described in the following summary (not a transcription, but rather an impression), so in order for anyone to be able to comprehend precisely why the speaker’s remarks were so well received by the congregation and visitors to Berean on this Sabbath, one is obliged to watch the YouTube video. The Hispanic reserve and stoicism that marked Pastor Hernandez as he was laboring on Friday to prepare for the crowded agenda of this busy Sabbath disappeared once he ascended the platform to preach. Dr. Jekyll transformed himself into Mr. Hyde (but in the best way imaginable, of course, and all for the glory of God).
Here is a paraphrase of Pastor Roger Hernandez’s opening statement: “Turn to your neighbor, and in 10 seconds or less, tell him the last time you took a risk about something.”
If the short dialogue between my neighbor and myself is any indication of the status of the rest of the Bereans, we are not the most intrepid group of people on the planet. Pastor Hernandez would spend most of the next 48 minutes trying to remedy this corporate aversion to risk-taking.
Pastor Hernandez’s scripture for this sermon was Mark 2:1-12. He said that he was using the New Living Translation, as it contained “English I can understand.” Below the image of Desi Arnaz are some extracted phrases from this extended citation.
…Jesus returned to Capernaum… news spread quickly… the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door… four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat… They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” Jesus… asked them, “Why do you question this… ? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out… (NLT)
POINT ONE: “GOD HONORS GOD HONORING RISK”
“As I look around the landscape of Adventism, I don’t see a lot of risk-taking.” As one of the leaders of the Southern Union Conference, Pastor Hernandez is in a good position to see “the landscape of Adventism.” Recent recommendations to provide supplemental Sunday morning worship for non-Sabbathkeepers was mentioned. Whether this represented a positive “risk” that would perhaps entice first-day worshippers in the direction of Seventh-day propriety, or was, rather, an unacceptable violation of not only Adventist dogma, but the fourth commandment as well, was not clearly specified by the pastor. The summarizer's editorial opinion is that church services should (even if it is only in an abbreviated form) be made available every day of the week. Sabbath can be the flagship, and the other six days could compose the fleet.
“We can not minister to a future generation with the things of the past!”
Thus states the head of Ministerial and Evangelism for the Southern Union (but many will doubtless assert that, despite his impeccable credentials, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about). Those with long memories and broad experience might refer to the following event at this point, a reference that may be poisonous to many Adventist ears, but nevertheless a case study in how to avoid becoming marginalized, and also relevant with concern as to how one can stave off (for the moment, at least) mass extinction (always excepting that enduring remnant, of course): “Vatican II.”
The pastor related a story about the courtship of his wife: “Not my wife yet; just someone I really liked,” he added. She made a bold statement to her future husband: “If I kissed you, you would see stars!” He had an instant reply :””Let’s get married!” A decision this precipitous is not the result of caution, or an extended period of quiet reflection. He took a risk. At this point, the pastor made a bold statement of his own, and one not likely to endear him to the prudish (I have to admit that I am one of these): “Many Adventist men are looking for a woman with the spirituality of Ellen White, and the body of Jennifer Lopez.”
“We eat. We watch a movie.”
“We eat. We watch a movie.”
“We eat. We watch a movie.”
“We eat. We watch a movie.”
“Every now and then, for the sake of variety, we do something different.”
“We watch a movie. Then we eat.” [laughter]
The pastor recommended that we go online, or read the newspapers in order to get creative. “I did not get married in order that I might have a mediocre marriage,” Pastor Hernandez swore. “God did not call you to live on the cutting edge of mediocrity,” he added.
“Jesus honors ‘God honoring risks,'” The Pharisees that were present during the healing at Capernaum questioned Jesus’ ability to forgive sins. This act required a lot of ritual, and trips to the sanctuary, It was complicated and expensive. They beheld the effortless statement Jesus made to the healed paralytic, “My child, your sins are forgiven,” and declared “This is not how sins are forgiven!” Pastor Hernandez summed up point one of his three principle points with the following statement: “But forgiveness is simple, available, and free. I am thankful I don’t have to go to anybody to get forgiveness. Not to Mary. Not to angels. I can go straight to God.” The time had arrived for the introduction of the second point regarding he nature of boldly taking what Kierkegaard undoubtedly would have termed a “leap of faith,” and Neil Armstrong would have called a “giant leap.” The Chinese Communists might have called it a “Great Leap Forward.” Thomas Kuhn would have referred to it as a “Paradigm shift,” and Shakespeare poetically rendered this notion as a “Sea change” (“Enough of that!” my cat informs me).
Someone had remarked to the pastor about the level of racial tension in this country at present. Pastor Hernandez replied that the problem is not racial tension. The problem is racism. Racial tension is merely symptomatic. The root of the problem is racism (Pastor Russell said a mouthful about this topic in the course of presenting this recent SERMON at Berean). “The Adventist Church needs to address this issue” (crusty and mildly controversial guest pastor Nevilon Meadows recently confided to the Men of Berean that the Civil Rights track record of the Adventist denomination was less than stellar during the golden age of this “paradigm shifting” movement. This is my opportunity to link to an exception to this generalization: E.E. Cleveland ). Pastor Hernandez revealed that he had “gotten into trouble” [sometimes just a euphemism for being criticized by people whose ability to speak transcends their ability to think] for “proclaiming this week that Black Lives Matter.” He amended this revelation by proclaiming that other lives matter, too. A little anaphora (my 2016 “link of the year”) was redeployed at this juncture. Pastor Hernandez strongly urged upon the church and the nation our desperate need to deal with the truths about racism:
“We need to deal with racism in Adventism.”
“We need to deal with racism in the justice system.”
“We need to deal with racism in worship styles.” [a sideshow, really]
“We need to deal with a system that shoots first, and asks questions later.” A reference to the pastor’s BLOG, some reasonable assertions that he placed there, and some the moronic backlash this provoked was made [my adjective “moronic,” and not the speaker’s]. Pastor Hernandez further revealed that some black Adventists had recently held a march in Washington, then subsequently had the temerity (more ironic juxtaposition, as in “cutting edge of mediocrity”) to write about it on Facebook. A white commentator opined that “blacks had been privileged to be enslaved, as this made then more 'spiritual.'" The pastor, perhaps less of a cynic than myself, affected to be surprised by this. “These were Adventists!” he said, exasperated by the whole sad tale. A similar (perhaps even identical, in some cases, to the previously noted “white commentator”) source of exasperation came under attack by the pastor, those ubiquitous “church people.” Adventism’s resident population of Pharisees and scribes would again come under scrutiny, a bit later in the sermon. This is the demographic most responsible for the lackluster growth rate of the denomination in the United States. In the rest of the world, this group has got to be less influential, less voluble, less judgmental, and much less meddlesome.
“The rally is a risk. I invited the media. At the end of the rally, we are going to give a car to a victim of domestic violence. It has 300,000 miles on it, a gift from the Adventists of Atlanta.” Some admonishments followed this placid and hopeful introductory material. “I have believed for a long time that, as a church, we have had a big mouth and a small hand.” In other words, too much talk, and not enough action, The focus of the sermon had been intermittently directed at the Adventist denomination. For most of the course of point number three, the spotlight would be squarely directed at what might be considered to be purely “Adventist” affairs (but easily adaptable to a more inclusive audience).
Pastor Nevilon Meadows furnished, during the course of his recent week-long visit to Berean, a lot of intra-denominational criticism too. It is a sensitive operation, and it is one that is usually undertaken by relative “outsiders.” Hernandez, not being semi-permanently confined to the immediate environs of Berean, is therefore not subject to the omnipresent wrath of those whose feathers he may have managed to ruffle. Note: all of this internecine debate renders many of the sermons by guest pastors relatively ineffective for the purposes of evangelizing non-Adventists. It was personally gratifying, therefore, to hear Pastor Hernandez later refer to the Adventist message as a “perfect” one. Self-criticism is necessary and productive, and may be the means whereby we can form “a more perfect union” (from the preamble to the U.S. Constitution, and a linguistic absurdity, in the manner of “a little bit pregnant”). But despite its man-made faults, Adventism is still a pretty clean house. I am not at all ashamed to show it to strangers. [My room is particularly tidy, but mainly because there is not much junk in there. Don’t go looking in the dumpster, though!]
The third point was now primed for introduction, having been prefaced by an overture composed of intra-denominational criticisms. There would be more to come. The final point would address some of the limitations of a group that is often referred to as “the body of Christ,” but this body is not always composed of uniformly Christ-like elements. One of the greatest impediments to our willingness to take risks is…
POINT THREE: “OTHER FAITHLESS CHRISTIANS”
Pastor Roger Hernandez was about to extract a very creative and unexpected analogy from the story in Mark, chapter 2, the lowering of the paralytic down to Jesus through a hole his friends had fashioned in the roof. “What was the reason that the men [who were carrying their afflicted friend] could not get [through] to Jesus? Church Folk!” They were blocking access to Jesus. You may be doing the same thing!
“I’m not talking about this church,” Pastor Hernandez was quick to reassure us. “I’m talking about those other churches like West End,” & etc. This mention of “the competition” (some other Atlanta area Adventist assemblies) provoked an amused reaction. But Atlanta Adventist enjoy access to a range of SDA churches, and many are known to “make the rounds” when it comes to Sabbath worship. They are not wedded to just one assembly. They are “Adventists at large.”
The pastor noted that “one of the best ways to be effective is to align your anger with that of God. God is angry with injustice. Take that out of the Bible, and you have little left.” But Adventists are not as outraged by injustice as God has plainly revealed that He Himself is. Instead, Pastor Hernandez noted that Adventists tend to zero in on peripheral issues like vegetarianism, jewelry, Sabbath School attendance, and makeup. God is not concerned with petty discussion over issues like cheese and chocolate (This would be a good time to retrieve a passage from an old post that described some remarks made by South Atlantic Conference president William Winston in the course of a sermon delivered at Berean, his home church).
Elder Winston said we should show people what it is to be an Adventist by our good example. We must always “keep Jesus central.” Don’t harp on your hobbyhorses: not veganism, not blue laws, not the Pope, not women’s ordination. What we must make known to the world is this salient feature of our faith: we are children of God! Elder Winston now made a statement that may have come as news to two or three people in the congregation, “Jesus died for the Pope, too.”
Pastor Hernandez validated his own Adventist credentials, but not in a sanctimonious manner: “I am a vegetarian. I believe that the 'Health Message' is a positive one.” But now the whole world has gone after the practices of veganism and vegetarianism. We have had the 'Health Message' for 140 years now. We are using it as a method, and not as a message.” [Berean’s own Elder/Doctor Tracey Wallace is one who combines method and message quite frequently as he speaks before area assemblies, describing the history of, and promoting the unquestioned benefits of the Adventist “Health Message.” Here is a short EXAMPLE.] “There is nothing wrong with chicken,” the pastor stated. “In fact, one of the best things you can do is go home and eat some chicken, because you are mad at those who do! [laughter] I am a healthy, happy vegetarian. How many happy vegetarians have you met?” [laughter]
Pastor Hernandez would now make a proclamation that most who are unfamiliar with Seventh-day Adventist beliefs may contemptuously dismiss as hyperbole. Scoffers are advised to take a closer look at Adventism, in order to determine whether the following assertion by the pastor is hype or not.
“Our doctrine is spotless.” One of the salient points of Adventism, the keeping of the Sabbath (no labor, excepting labor on the Lord’s behalf), was related to the current national focus upon the problems (symptoms) caused by racism (the disease). “The Sabbath is a doctrine of equality,” Pastor Hernandez revealed. During the week, some contribute more, and some contribute less. “But on the Sabbath, we are all the same.”
Pastor Hernandez had no issues at all with the Adventist message. Just issues with the messengers. The principal work of the church is to bring sinners to repentance. “How many times do we come to church, and miss Jesus? Often church is like a coronation without a king.”
One of the several points of the story of the healing of the paralytic from Mark chapter 2 is healing itself, so Pastor Hernandez offered some comments on this topic. A recent visit by the pastor to the Tampa, Florida area was described (as a Cuban-American, Pastor Hernandez may well have visited renown Ybor City, a district of Tampa where many non-Adventists congregate in order to eat pork sandwiches and smoke cigars). The pastor attended an “anointing” service. A lady who had been in an accident was unable to move the toes of her right leg. Anointed in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, she woke up the next morning to discover that her toes could be moved again. Perhaps not a major miracle, but a miracle nonetheless. She now has a testimony. The healing was a major miracle to the beneficiary of it, no doubt.
The pastor promised that whatever venture we may have been contemplating, but were not yet sufficiently motivated to embark upon (dissuaded by naysayers, perhaps), if it happens to be a “God honoring risk,” He will make it happen. “Even if it breaks a system, and a structure to get there. Even if all of the religious people say, ‘it’s impossible. You can’t do it.’ Even if the same people in your house are against you” [an audacious statement the pastor did not further elaborate upon, but his earlier criticisms of some traditional denominational attitudes came to mind].
Problems, however, are endemic to our nation, and have lately seemed to grow worse. Pastor Hernandez’s motivational sermon should not be allowed simply to serve to compel bashful people to work up the nerve to ask that special someone out on a date. It should even transcend the noble purpose of making Adventism more inviting. Relatively minor denominational issues should not deflect our attention from major societal ills like racism (the 800 pound gorilla in the room). The kind of risks that this sermon should ideally motivate us to take are big risks, ones that (if they succeed) will make the world a better place. But as Pastor Hernandez warned, action will provoke reaction and opposition. There will be many denominational, and societal eggs that will have to be broken in order that, ultimately, an outstanding omelet might be prepared. We all anticipate being able to taste this delicious omelet, yet most of the eggs required for its preparation remain snug in their little styrofoam container, unbroken.
The pastor’s prayer was preceded by a rendition of the song “Change” (link is to a scrappy, but lovable version. The Berean version begins at time marker 2:31:30. Here is a “risky” link to the late David Bowie’s similarly themed composition “Changes,” which is yet one more pop cooption of “Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major” ). The partial quotation below is excerpted from Pastor Hernandez’s prayer:
“…give us boldness to walk, despite our fears…”
These 8 indispensable words will serve well as a statement of the principal theme of our guest speaker’s informative, inspirational, and (I know I am not supposed to say this) entertaining 48 minute presentation.
Adios!
This sermon inspires me to look deeper at any story of the Bible in details and how it applies to our lives. That is, how we live our lives, how we aware of sins, how we align our doing with God, how negativity shape our lives to move forward in faith with confident in Christ.
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