https://youtu.be/L48kU9NPggw

     American history is peppered with nation-wide revivals, often called  “Great Awakenings.”  The first was in 1730. The  next started in 1800, and had an unusually powerful impact. Baptist, Methodist and other established churches still numerically small in the colonies, enjoyed substantial growth. The Second Great Awakening gave rise several movements. One would become  known as the Seventh-day Adventists church. 

     A Baptist preacher, William Miller planted the seeds of the SDA church by attempting to set the date of Christ’s second coming . He predicted, based on symbolic numbers in highly figurative Bible passages Jesus would come again October 22, 1844.  Crowds waited on a hill for Christ’s second advent. When  the Lord didn’t show, many returned  home humiliated.  October 22 became known as the  “Great Disappointment.”  Of course, the Bible plainly states no human can determine when Jesus will again appear. God’s son said in Matt. 24:36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” Adventism teaches other serious errors. Let’s consider a few.

  First, Adventism teaches Christians are subject to the ten commandments.  Yet the Bible says the commandments are not divine  directives for Christians. Jesus’ death replaced Moses’s law with “a  new and living way” (Heb. 10:20). ) Ephesians says, in 2:15 “he abolished… “the Law of commandments contained in ordinances.” 

     The Galatian church was seduced by false teachers who advocated  tenants of Christianity were secondary to Moses’ Law and Paul condemned them writing they were not only embracing false teaching but by it jeopardizing their souls.  Galatians 1:6-9 says:

     I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really  not another…But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed.

     No wonder their 19th century contemporaries  called Adventists “Galationists!” To make Moses’ laws greater than Christ’s is  to subject Jesus to Moses. Galatians 5:4 says, “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from Grace.” Christ is God’s final solution to the problem of sin, and to fail to accept that is to condemn one’s soul. According to 1 John 2:2, “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”

  Second, like the Biblical Galatians, SDAs don’t accept Moses’s law was only a schoolmaster to prepare Jews for Jesus. They instead adhere to certain  parts of the old law as though Moses’ words express God’s last will for humanity. Paul wrote in Galatians 3:24-26  “…The Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

  Third, Adventists follow non Biblical Dictates of Ellen G. White. After falling down stairs when still a child, White received a purported revelation exalting the Sabbath.  )White’s written works which SDAs follow contains  as many as 8,000 plagiarisms. Adventists counter White plagiarized only two times   Even if that is an accurate count, she twice stole the intellectual property of others and dishonestly claimed it was original to her. 

     No credible Bible student has accused the apostles and other inspired New Testament  authors of plagiarism. Even two intellectual property thefts the SDA church admits are red flags Of the man of sin, part of the great apostacy of the early church the Bible says “that is, the one whose  coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders… (2 Thess. 2:9). Pilfering is dishonest and bearing bad fruit. Matthew 12:33 say,  “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 2 Th. 2:9 “that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders…”

Conclusion

     The Bible condemns  Christians who attempt to merit, or earn,  salvation. Ephesians 2:8-10 poses a paradox-sounding statement: 

     For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not…of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God. Prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.  

     Christians do not earn  heaven by works, yet Ephesians 2:10 says the nature of the saved is to do to do good works. Considering James 2:20 and 26  in light of Ephesians  clears up misunderstandings: “But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?… For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”

     Humans cannot boast about working their way to heaven because it is impossible. The normal result of salvation is to do good through immense gratitude, love for Christ, and demonstrating our faith. Those motives clarify John 9:4: “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.”

     Foot washing preceded the first communion service. John 13:5-9 says Jesus:

…Poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, Lord, do You wash my feet? Jesus answered and said to him, What I do you do not realize now, but you shall understand  hereafter. Peter said to Him, Never shall You wash my feet! Jesus answered him,  If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me. Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head 

     Some denominations have at times washed feet. However, Seventh-day Adventists see foot washing as a permanent worship act and every  three months have a foot washing ceremony followed by communion. For three Bible reasons, foot washing has no place in Christian worship. Let’s pause for a moment. Please select subscribe, the thumbs up icon and the notification bell. Thank you for your support.

  First, washing feet was necessary in Bible times. Ancients walked on dirt; muddy when wet and dusty when dry. Feet cleansing make them comfortable indoors and kept them from soiling floors and rugs. When God’s son, and not a servant or the disciples themselves, washed their feet, he demonstrated no service, however humble,  is beneath any Christian. Jesus said  “The Son of Man did  not come to be served, but to serve…” (Matt 20:28). 

     Second, other Bible accounts  indicate feet were washed for both hospitality and practical reasons. Angels appeared like men  to Abraham. The patriarch said  “Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree” (Gen. 18:4). Lot told angels who appeared as men “…my Lords, please turn aside into your servant’s house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may…go on your way” (Gen. 19:2). Abraham sent his chief servant to find a wife for his son  Isaac.  Gen. 24:32 says, “…Then Laban…gave [the servant]…water to wash his feet and the feet of the men…with him.” Judg. 19 records a traveler and his concubine passing through Gibeah. An old man offered hospitality: “He….gave the donkeys fodder, and they washed their feet” (Judges 19:21). While Jesus dined in a Pharisee’s home, a woman washed his feet out of love and  and devotion. Luke 7:38 says, “…she….wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head…kissing His feet, and anointing them.” A poor widow could be supported by the church  “…if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work” (1 Tim. 5:10). 

     Third, not everything Jesus and his Apostles did established an act of worship. Paul instructed Christians in Rome and elsewhere to greet one another with a holy kiss. Even today in some parts of the world, men kiss men and women kiss women as a greeting, corresponding to handshaking in the Western world. 

     Early Christians worshipped in the temple. Acts 5:42 says,  “Every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” After Stephen’s death and the accompanying persecution, “….Those who had been scattered went about preaching the word”(Acts 8:4).  Dispersed Christians and their converts worshiped in upper rooms and homes of wealthy believers. Acts 20:8 says,  “There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together.” Paul saluted “…Our sister…and to the church in your house” (Philemon 2). That doesn’t mean we must in homes or upper rooms. 

CONCLUSION

     The Bible reveals Christians under the direction of inspired apostles engaged in  five acts of worship.  First, saints worshiped by taking communion. Acts 20:7-8 says, “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered  together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged his 1message until midnight. On the first day of the week, when we were gathered  together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to depart the next day…” Second, Christians sang. Eph. 5:19 says, “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.” Third, they read scriptures (which is sometimes accomplished in sermons). 1Tim. 4:13 commands, “…Give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.” Fourth, saints worshipped by giving. 1 Cor. 16:2 says, “On the first day of every week let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper.” Prayer was a fifth act of worship when the church met. 1Tim. 2:8 commands men to pray, “…lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.” Evidence is overwhelming that although the holy kiss, foot washing by God’s son no less, and assembling in homes of generous, wealthy Christians were wonderful actions. They did not make the cut as divinely ordained acts of worship.

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