I had never realized the immense cultural differences within the congregation. I silently wondered whether such a diverse group had always been commonplace at Patterson Avenue? I was pleased to see their union under one roof while embracing a universal goal: To praise God.
As I walked through the church doors, several smiling faces welcomed me with a "Happy Sabbath" as they shook my hand and pointed me toward the area of worship.
It is a beautiful brick church. Fairly large inside and you can tell it's very well cared for. The alter is colored in a deep saturated red with a well-defined area where their enthusiastic new Pastor Jack Calkins would give his light-hearted sermon.
Pastor Jack is a jovial looking fellow from Piscataway, New Jersey where he had pastored for 8 years. Pastor Jack recently joined Patterson Avenue where he serves as a solid replacement for the previous Pastor Robert Banks who has moved up in the church's organizational ranks now overseeing different church communities on a regional level.
The new pastor and other members of the congregation led the service. They read from several different areas of the Bible and encouraged our participation as they asked us to follow along in our own Bibles. The service was joyful and Christ-centered. As always, they had all the children come up to the front to listen to a children's story with an underlying Christian theme. I highly enjoy this part of the service. It's a time to acknowledge the beauty that lies in the innocent nature of children as they ask the funniest questions proving their naturally curious and carefree nature. The adults in the congregation also get an opportunity to enjoy a less serious side of God where complex theological questions take a back seat to a simplistic view of a God that loves us individually and wholeheartedly. This simple God doesn't shower his Love upon us because of deep understanding of convoluted scriptural study, or our ability to conduct an in-depth analysis of the struggles of self but plainly because "we're special and our Father always Loves us"
Everyone seemed to be dressed fairly conservatively and there was certainly no coffee or cake...well until afterwards of course. Every Sabbath Patterson Avenue holds a brunch for the entire congregation so they can enjoy a meal together after the service and continue their communion. The brunch usually consists of healthy vegetarian fare.
As the service ended I started toward the door but not before thanking the new Pastor for the moving sermon. With a colossal smile Pastor Jack embraced me as he said, "so, did it all make sense to you?" I agreed that it did. He delivered a compliment regarding my own smile and we happily parted ways so he could visit with the woman behind me.
Before leaving, a pamphlet in the lobby caught my eye. It had a picture of a Bible on the front covered in cobwebs. The words "WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOUR CHURCH?" boldly dressed the cover. I was incredibly curious about who the pamphlet was geared towards so I brought it home with me. I was quickly brought back to a place I was many years before when I had attended the Adventists church. Completely confused on how such a loving, embracing and warm community of people could produce such matter-of-fact literature regarding other church's, in particular the Catholic church.
It takes every bit of "goodness" that I have (which I'm learning isn't all that much) to not criticize the Adventist church for claiming Catholicism is the anti-Christ but then I'm gently reminded, this criticism makes me no less guilty!
I wish I could just upload the entire pamphlet here so you could read it yourself but here is a brief overview of it's basic content. You can make your own discernment regarding the information being taught.
They propose the following questions and give these exact answers:
Question:
1. Can we identify the harlot church that is called "Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots" in Revelation Chapter 17?
Answer:
"It is widely known that there is only one church which claims to be the mother church - the great Roman Catholic Church. A prominent Catholic priest O'brien said: "The observance remains a reminder of the Mother Church from which the non-Catholic sects broke away."
The points used in Rev. 17 to describe the mother Babylon and the beast she rides clearly fit the papacy.
a. She persecuted the saints
b. She was dressed in purple and scarlet
c. The seven heads of the beast where the woman is seated are 7 mountains. It is well known that Rome, the world headquarters of the papacy, is built upon seven hills or mountains.
d. The beast is guilty of blasphemy. A point that clearly fits the papacy.
e. She ruled "over the kings of the earth." Alexander Flick says that by the 13th century, the pope was "at least in theory and claim...the ruler of the whole world in temporal and spiritual affairs." This point could fit no other earthly kingdom or government. The papacy is described in Rev. 17 too clearly for doubt."
Question:
2. What are the false teachings contained in Babylon's wine that make people spiritually drunk?
Answer:
"Amazingly, some of the most prominent doctrines of Protestantism today are not found in the Bible at all. They have been brought into the Protestant churches by the mother church of Rome, who received them from paganism. A few of the false teachings are as follows:
A. The law of God has been amended or repealed.
b. The soul is immortal
c. Sinners burn eternally in hell
d. Baptism by immersion is not necessary."
3. Who will be on the Lord's side in the battle of Armageddon?
Answer:
"In the final battle, the angels of heaven (Hebrews 1:13, 14; Mathew 13:41, 42) and God's people--the remnant (Rev 12:17) will be allied with Jesus, who leads the armies of heaven against Satan and it's supporters. God's remnant is composed of those who refuse the falsehoods of Babylon. They are known for their love of Jesus, their loyalty to and faith in Him, and their firm obedience to His Word and commandments."
The Adventist church use this literature to educate people on what they believe to be the false teachings of the Catholic church. They claim the "Anti-christ" or "beast" represented in the Book of Revelation is a combination of the Catholic church (the harlot) and the state and they work as separate, though related entities to fulfill the prophecy of Armageddon.
The beast (the papacy who will rule over church and state), then forms an alliance with the dragon of Revelation (Non-Christian religions such as Taoism, Buddhism, Shintoism, New Age, etc) and the False Prophet of Revelations (apostate Protestantism centered in America) together, the 3 will wage the final prophetic war against God, His law, and His loyal followers. This coalition is called "Babylon the great" by Jesus in Rev. 18:2.
Finally, Adventist do make note that Jesus has children who currently live in Babylon. They believe that Christ has promised His people in Babylon that they will hear his voice and follow and they will come out in safety. They claim "There are millions of sincere Christians in Babylon who have not yet heard THIS urgent warning message." It is the ones who hear the message, and hear His voice and do not deny the mark of the beast (and keep the Sunday as the Sabbath by choice) that will experience His judgment because they did not keep His commandments.
My initial reaction is to judge the above accusations as ridiculously false. Like the Mormon's ideas regarding their high seat in the Celestial Kingdom, I'm uncomfortable with any church's claim that they, and they alone, know the "one Truth path." However, I can't claim to know the Truth regarding future events. I can say that if this all comes down to whether or not we went to church on Saturday as opposed to Sunday, I'll be greatly disappointed. I was hoping there was a better ending than that.
