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March - April 2000 The Sabbath Sentinel

Editoral . . .

Cooperation --- Myth or Reality?
The Choice is Ours!

Royce Mitchell, Jr. Editor

When I look at the incredible diversity God has placed in His Church, I am amazed. We recently attended the BSA Conference in St. Louis, and it was encouraging to see the comraderie that existed between members of very different Sabbath keeping groups. Has the time come when we can put aside our small differences to work for the goal set before us by God, through His Son? It certainly appears that way!

Even within the pages of this issue, we have articles written by members of many different Sabbath keeping groups, yet it is likely that nobody could take exception to anything that any of the authors wrote within the articles. I know that God must be pleased when we demonstrate His attitudes of tolerance and love.

An interesting juxtaposition of manna with God's Sabbath is presented for our understanding by BSA's First Vice President this issue. Further, we see the relationship of faith, hope and charity placed for our consideration by John Conrod and Doby Petrovic.

Has anyone wondered exactly what the Gospel brought to us by Christ actually was? Was it the message of believing on Him? Was it acceptance "just as I am?" Was there a more significant point that Christ was trying to drive home? Why would we need to be "Reclaiming 'Gospel,'" anyway?

We give you a glimpse into a problem of faith that arose last century in Sabbath keeping congregations in Europe. What some of our brothers went through, at the hands of their brethren will astound you! Could this happen again? You might find it hard to believe that this happened in the first place.

What went through your mind on the day of your baptism? We find out the thoughts of a recently baptized sister in this issue. We also find from Darl Arbogast that we have common ground, despite our differences. This article is an encouraging look at how we are alike, rather than different.

As we are entering the Passover season, we are encouraged to take a look at how we can serve one another in the coming Conference of Sabbath Keeping Congregations. We are given a schedule as well as some background on this coming conference. God must certainly be pleased when He sees His children put aside differences to work together toward His goals, instead of their own agendas.

Cooperation is indeed an intriguing idea, and one whose time has certainly come amongst the various brethren who are Children of the Most High God. How did Christ feel about our cooperating with one another? In Matthew 18, we find Christ telling us that if even two of us could agree on what we ask for that the Father would give it to us. He also tells us that where two are gathered in His name that He would be there. How much more so would He desire to be among us when many of us put aside our differences and look to each other as brothers, and ask Him to be with us?

When His disciples saw others casting out demons in His name, what was His attitude toward them? Did He not tell them that those who are not against Him are for Him? Here we see that Jesus displayed an incredible attitude of cooperation. Is it within us to display such an attitude? I believe it is, and I am encouraged to see it coming to pass.

Does God cooperate? That is an interesting question that perhaps we have not thought about before. When Christ was praying in the Garden on the night before His death, He asked God to take the cup from Him. Why did Christ do that? Was it because He knew that the Father was easily entreated, and that He might be able to think of another way that His purpose could be fulfilled, short of the horrible death that awaited Christ? Could it be because our Father is cooperative? Such things make for interesting meditation and Bible Study.

There is coming an opportunity to demonstrate our unity in Christ this summer. We are asked as leaders in the Christian Sabbath keeping community to attend a conference in Tulsa Oklahoma in July. Encouraging news is that there have been many responses already, and it has only been advertised a few weeks! The Bible Sabbath Association already has several Board members committed to attending this event, including your editor. If you would like to attend, see the article on that event beginning on the back cover. As our front cover illustrates, we have a choice. We can choose life or death, and God allows us to do either.

TSS

March - April 2000 The Sabbath Sentinel