ICHABOD !Solemn words from Editor of the Adventist Review more than 2 decades ago:“There is grave danger that the precious Adventist message will not be passed on to the next generation.” Adventist Review, March 7, 1991 This tragic potential loomed in the minds of concerned leadership well over 20 years ago.There are serious influences within our educational system that is raising concerns in the minds of faithful Adventist parents. The teaching of historic Bible-based beliefs to our children are being downplayed and outright rejected as legalistic and intolerant. Today’s leading educators within our church are not passing the faith on to the next generation at every level.
The crisis involves:
- Non practice of, or outright denial of biblical principles
- Lax moral Standards (youth and Adults)
- Deep spiritual apathy
The denial of the historic Seventh day Adventist, Bible based message has created a church that is hemorrhaging internally. The denomination is bleeding profusely and they are refusing to receive the “transfusion” of the Holy Spirit.God never intended our churches and educational institutions to function as social clubs, night clubs, or a religious theatre. They were established to “…build the old waste places…to raise up the foundations of many generations..to repair the breach in God’s Law…to restore paths in which to dwell” (Isa. 58:12)When a generation of believers dilutes the faith and weakens its principles, it will depart from the faith altogether in the next generation. It is clearly evident that this is what brings about rapid declension and apostasy in the church. The result is liberal and doubtful views concerning sound doctrine and standards. As this trend continues, the denomination, which once held to sound Biblical principles, can no longer be a Christian church. Like the Jewish nation of old, they will have left completely the congregation of faithful “Remnant” believers. The faithful who remain recognize that the glory of God’s guidance and direction have departed. The following statement from the Spirit of Prophecy is being realized in our midst as you read this article.1SM204 – “The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced…….Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement.”Something to consider: If God were to give visible evidence of His constant protection and abiding presence today as He did with ancient Israel, one could only wonder if the approving cloud by day and fire by night would cover the appointed Seventh-day Adventist organized denomination.“Ichabod” is a Hebrew word which means-“The Glory has departed from Israel”. Ichabod was the name given to the son of Phinehas, and he was born on the day that the Ark of the Covenant was taken into captivity by the Philistines. Hence the name “Ichabod”. The “Glory of God” had departed from Israel when the Ark was taken into captivity. We read about it in 1 Samuel 4:21-22:“And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. And she said, the glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.”GC 404 – “By introducing the belief that God’s law is not binding, he as effectually leads men to transgress as if they were wholly ignorant of its precepts. And now, as in former ages, he has worked through the church to further his designs.”These are the churches that the Seventh-day Adventist organization is attempting to emulate.The “Glory has departed”. The organization is reaping the consequences that have befallen other denominations by rejecting the very truths that God has designed to produce a pure and holy people. The tragic effects of the “New Theology” is clearly evident in our churches, schools, administration, and every other area of the organization.I pray that those of us who still hold to the true, Bible-based message of Adventism will be motivated, through the power of the Holy Spirit to stand as the “repairers of the breach, and win souls through the proclamation of these wonderful truths.