The South American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, whose headquarters are located in Brazil, recently published an article on August 9, 2022, entitled: “Indigenous Communities in the Amazon Receive Support from Adventists to Maintain Their Traditions.” The article mentions how the “World Day of Indigenous Peoples” was established by the United Nations and how, on this day, “communities in the Amazon celebrate the achievements of being able to worship God according to their customs.” [1]
It would be one thing if they were discussing the preservation of distinctive foods, languages, and cultural modes of expression. However, they have much more in mind than just this. The article published by the South American Division describes preserving Amazonian “rituals,” keeping their “traditions of their dances, meetings, and dialects,” and the threat of the indigenous “culture” being “lost.” [1] The article also emphasizes how the native people express gratitude to “Tupã,” which is basically an acknowledgement of the Amazonian god who lives in the sun. [2] No attempt is made to correct this worship of a false god. The article also mentions how Seventh-day Adventists have churches throughout the Amazonian regions “who worship in their own language and customs.”
Whenever we adapt the gospel to the cultural practices of people around us, that is when the gospel becomes corrupted and polluted. The gospel is not ours, it is Christ’s. Furthermore, when we put too much effort into attempting to make the gospel culturally relevant, appealing, or enticing to non-Christians, we compromise our ability to effectively share the gospel.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12.
We don’t have to add or take anything away from the gospel. It is perfect just the way it is. However, when we merge the corrupt cultures of this world with the gospel of Christ, it loses its sharp, distinct edges. When we assimilate the gospel to the different traditions in this world, it ceases to be objectionable to certain practices that are against God’s will. Sin is no longer regarded as sin in some contexts where certain activities are encouraged by culture.
We must be aware that God created the human race along with a culture, and this heavenly culture has an effect on our worship, faith, and how we relate to God.
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:26-31
God made our first parents in the likeness and image of Himself. That is the culture of heaven. In addition, God gave Adam and Eve a place to live, a family, a way of life, and even a special diet. This is also a part of heaven’s culture. God wants all people, including indigenous people, to embrace His heavenly culture. In the great gospel commission (Matthew 28:19-20), we are to carry the Christian heavenly gospel and culture to “every nation, kindred, tongue, and people” (Revelation 14:6). This means we must reach every culture with God’s. The danger today for the church is that we run the risk of losing the gospel by trying to assimilate it so that its message is mixed in together with the influences of the world.
A love for all things worldly is the hallmark of multiculturalism and ecumenism. This will always lead us to compromise and apostasy. These popular sentiments are contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ because they teach that every faith tradition and culture has unique elements that can be used in the worship of the same God. This is the message of Pope Francis in Fratelli Tutti. It is a call to embrace all churches, all cultures, all practices, and all philosophies by merging them into one. This universal movement is leading the world to worship the multicultural god at the altar of multiculturalism. This does not lead to salvation because people are not fully turning away from sin or paganism.
We are living at a solemn time in earth’s history and we cannot afford to change or disregard even one word (Matthew 5:18) of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we do, then we rob lost souls of the opportunity to become true Christians whenever we attempt multicultural evangelism. With a watered down gospel that disobeys the great gospel commission, the people will never become Christian.
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:6-10.
Sources
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tup%C3%A3_(mythology)#cite_note-3
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KJV James 4:4
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
This is one of those extremely sad and disturbing situations wherein one gets the distinct impression that Higher ups in the General Conference often see Political correctness as being more important then Revelation 14.
We saw something similar to this when Elder Ted Wilson got Seventh Day Adventist Students Sabbath off (which was great),
But went out of his way to get Muslims their day off too,
Elder Wilson made a strange comment
3x that I know of:
“that any other day then The Seventh Day Sabbath was The Mark of the Beast”
a comment not supported by The SOP, which clearly states it’s “enforced Sunday Observance” and never any other day then The 7th Day
Which made His getting Muslim students their day off even stranger.
Does the South American Division encourage the indigenous to worship Tupã? Seriously.
“You must not follow the statutes of the nations I am driving out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.” Leviticus 20:30.
We cannot affirm people in their paganism.
The early Christian converts gave up their ancient pagan traditions. They were not encouraged to retain them. What a sad reversal by these modern compromised leaders.
“Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.” Acts 19:19.
They are fulfilling Fratelli Tutti and not Christ’s gospel commission.
Can we also help atheists and agnostics worship God according to their ancient traditions? Where does it end once you go down that road?
AMEN! It doesn’t end that’s why we have the Dwight Nelsons and Hyveth Williams who march in BLM protests and baptisms of homosexuals into the church, and transgender Elders…
soon enough we will like the Methodist church have homosexual pastors (we already do but they usually step down from their position once ‘outed’. Like the homosexual man in the Oregon conference or the bisexual lady pastor in the Arizona conference.). They need help to come out of sin and paganism.
Lord, be with YOUR FAITHFUL LEADERS and followers and right the ship before it breaks apart on the rocks of skepticism and error.
True Adventism is incompatible with indigenous religions. I’m not sure why anyone would attempt this.
So true. My understanding is most indigenous religions have mysticism, and spiritualism in them not to mention South America and Pacific Islanders had its human sacrifices.
Makes me think of how our illustrious PARL department has helped indigenous people here in the US to smoke their peyote… years ago…. and don’t forget how they are helping everyone except faithful SDAs who didn’t want to be jabbed…oh and we can also credit our fearless leader Ted Wilson. I am sure he wants to be remembered for his betrayal of those he leads and who pay his salary!
Thanks Andy for keeping us informed. Those who receive the seal of God are those who sigh and cry for all the abominations done within the midst of Jerusalem…
Ezekiel 9. May we be truly heart broken when we see and hear these things.
Also, does this mean that when the Amazonian indigenous people observe the ritual of human sacrifice the SDA Church will still be supportive of their ancient traditions? Hey maybe PARL can step forward to assist them….but wait! Maybe not…they might become the sacrifice……. we should never support or encourage error.
There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5