The “Young Adults” emblem in the background is the official logo for Adventist Youth Ministry, General Conference. [1]
“God has not changed. He is as particular and exact in his requirements now as he was in the days of Moses. But in the sanctuaries of worship in our day, with the songs of praise, the prayers, and the teaching from the pulpit, there is not merely strange fire, but positive defilement” (Review and Herald, March 25, 1875).
We are witnessing a phenomenon in Adventist gatherings around the world. Strange fire is what is being introduced and/or tolerated by our pastors and youth leaders as they seek to copy the high-energy and entertainment style of worship that is prevalent in the Pentecostal movement. There is an effort to modernize our church services by introducing a worship system that emphasizes bands, drums, loud music, vocalists, jumping, shouting, raising hands, and preaching that lacks biblical substance. Along with imitating the worship styles of Sunday-keeping churches, we have also embraced their theology, which allows the world to come into the church. “Only believe” is all that matters, with no standards, no hard biblical truths, no dress codes, and no more of the old spiritual songs from the Adventist hymnal.
When you watch the video above of a Seventh-day Adventist youth gathering inside the church, you will notice the outrageously wild entertainment, dancing, and sensual dress code. How could anyone approve of this? Why can’t our leaders recognize the gravity of the situation and repudiate this abomination? This is a strange fire being offered to God. We have over 20,000 ordained pastors in the Seventh-day Adventist Church today [2], and how many of these pastors are going to do their duty and rebuke these sins? Hardly anyone, if at all. That’s the problem. We don’t realize that, while not everyone is engaged in this type of open apostasy, those who remain silent and do nothing are just as guilty as those who participate in it.
“The church as a whole is in a degree responsible for the wrongs of its individual members because they countenance the evil in not lifting up their voice against it.” (Testimonies, Vol. 4, p. 490).
“Those who have too little courage to reprove wrong, or who through indolence or lack of interest make no earnest effort to purify the family or the church of God, are held accountable for the evil that may result from their neglect of duty. We are just as responsible for evils that we might have checked in others by exercise of parental or pastoral authority as if the acts had been our own” (Patriarch and Prophets, p. 57).
If we remain silent, God will hold the entire body of believers accountable for this and other backslidings. Even those who do not agree with these worldly displays or do not participate in them will be held accountable if they do not speak up, because in God’s eyes, silence is acceptance. Those who say, “God will take care of this apostasy; we don’t have to worry about it,” are neglecting their pastoral responsibilities and inviting God’s displeasure:
“The plain, straight testimony must live in the church, or the curse of God will rest upon His people as surely as it did upon ancient Israel because of their sins. God holds His people, as a body, responsible for the sins existing in individuals among them. If the leaders of the church neglect to diligently search out the sins which bring the displeasure of God upon the body, they become responsible for these sins” (Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 269).
“Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” Ezekiel 3:17, 18.
Sources
[1] https://www.gcyouthministries.org/ministries/young-adults/
[2] https://www.adventist.org/statistics/
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Just wow!! This is unbelievable. May God have mercy on us as a church. It’s unfortunate that today we are labeled as holier than thou when we speak. Our truths are diluted. Shame.
Help us Lord as we apostasise! We have sinned against you Lord, we seek forgiveness, redress and help us repent!
As a church and as individuals we seek your Pardon. We are a shame to the Cross, oh Lord! Kindly revive us and restore us to our former glory, or more to your bidding and likeness,, send us the spirit of Elijah, we are rotting but there is still hope, we still believe in You alone Savior, malifactor and Redeemer!!
Embarrassing to say the least, which congregation is that??
It’s a youth event in Africa.
Which country in Africa? Africa is not a country please!!
Why? Why do you want Him to have mercy on the offering of strange fire?
No doubt about it now, we truly are at “just before the close of probation.”
This is an abomination that is being allowed by pastors in many SDA churches. These pastors should be called out, censored and dismissed. Where are the conference leaders? May God in His mercies be gracious to His erring children. The pastor of this church should be immediately removed.
God bless you my dear brother for your watchmanship. Your steadfastness have and will continue to rescue souls that otherwise would have been lost in Satan’s camp. Praise God for you and your efforts.
What is going on??! I know God is not pleased with this. Our church is going too far with allowing this behavior. I have no words. 🫣😠
So we are saying standards of our church does not allow us to raise hands be vocalists n use drums ???
God gave some of us those talents so what do you say about us . Are we demons are our talents demonic ??
Am heartbroken 💔
Drums, Dancing, and Noise
The things you have described as taking place in Indiana, [Note: Reference is here made to the “Holy Flesh” movement of 1900-1901. See Selected Messages 2:31-39.—White Trustees.] the Lord has shown me would take place just before the close of probation. Every uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit. NL 49.4
The Holy Spirit never reveals itself in such methods, in such a bedlam of noise. This is an invention of Satan to cover up his ingenious methods for making of none effect the pure, sincere, elevating, ennobling, sanctifying truth for this time…. A bedlam of noise shocks the senses and perverts that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. The powers of Satanic agencies blend with the din and noise, to have a carnival, and this is termed the Holy Spirit’s working…. Those participating in the supposed revival receive impressions which lead them adrift. They cannot tell what they formerly knew regarding Bible principles. NL 50.1
Bodies out of Control
No encouragement should be given to this kind of worship. The same kind of influence came in after the passing of the time in 1844. The same kind of representations were made. Men became excited, and were worked by a power thought to be the power of God. They turned their bodies over and over, like a carriage wheel, claiming that they could not do this except by supernatural power. There was a belief that the dead were raised and had ascended to heaven. The Lord gave me a message for this fanaticism; for the beautiful principles of Bible truth were being eclipsed. NL 50.2
Spot on.🙏
You have decided to pick one side of the coin.
And what, May I ask Brother, is the other side?
If you think this is okay you need to go pray in your room and plead for eyesalve!
Use of worldly talents in the church (those that are an integral in night clubs and bars, as shown here) is like bringing Satan into your house. Not everything worldly should be appropriate in God’s house; there MUST be a distinct separation, talent or not. Any talent not used for the honor and glory of God should not be utilized in our life’s experience.
Which church is this???? Where on earth is this place???? Being rebellious right in front of God, our flags, Legion of honor, Our aim and motto… I wonder what has happened to the respect we used to give to that uniform… And all this is happening in church… Just as the Israelites did: worshipping other gods in God’s temple.. Worrisome indeed😓
We left the denomination (but not the message) in 2014 and have not missed it at all. This video was not really shocking so much as it was embarrassing. And I feel so sad that this congregation doesn’t even have the spiritual discernment to recognize the voice they are following is not God’s.
THIS IS A TERRIBLE THING TO SEE IN OUR FATHERS HOUSE, MAY THE LORD HAVE MERCY ON US ALL. IF THEY DO THIS IN THE CHURCH, WHAT MORE ABOMINATION DO THEY DO IN PRIVATE?
Judge not lest ye be judged . This is between them and God, what about all of us with our secret sins
This is an open sin. It deserves an open rebuke. May God help us to study more of His word.
Hogwash! Spare us that. Rebuking sin is not passing judgment.
You need to get rid of your secret sin or you’ll be lost with them!
I am not sure this is worship and this is Sabbath morning. Maybe that is another youth event another day. It is very sad anyway if they use drum (as we see in many places at church services also), loud music, strong dance movements, shouting at any events 🙁 Could be useful knowin
g which country, church and what kind of occasion it is.
By far, i humbly suggest that we all be very careful on the words we pick in the process. If we use our emotions in things that I strongly believe only God can judge we risk falling on the wrong side and that’s what the enemy wants.
Trust not your words and pick them wisely brethren, for they can be drawing people away from what you believe… hence a simple reference and guidance would have worked instead making such case this viral and destroying other sinners who might even be the ones saved and saving others in the end…
Why not invite all these entertainers to the Holding the Line meetings and have Ted Wilson, Doug Batchelor, and Clifford Goldstein join in with the dancing? Clowns
do belong in a circus, don’t they?
Há quem acha normal, mas porque não lê a filosofia adventista sobre a música. Há quem acha alegria. Qual é a diferença dos pentecostais? Só faltava caírem por demônios.
I have noticed a lot of things have changed when it comes to how SDA was when I was growing up pastors wives are even doing make up and nails coming to church wearing sleeve less / see through shoulder out dresses them as our shepardess are an example that’s why the congregation also copies and even choirs while singing some are shaking or snapping fingers that was not allowed back then
Weh saze safa inina!
If old hymnal songs and dress code is how we define worship, then it is we that have a problem. No one heard the message that was shared in this service, we just saw a 2 minute clip and we conclude that it is demonic.
we act as if we did not make mistakes as young adults. Let us not ostracize and criticize but rather go build and guide these kids. It will not happen from behind a screen. Take up the position and lead.
asi fuera solo 1 minuto basta saber todo el contenido,,no hace falta ver todo el video,,,es como una comida saludable basta unas gotas de veneno para saber que toda la comida esta mal
This is not shocking to me this is the way it suppose to be. If u look at them they look like a Sunday church. Their drunk with Babylonian wine. His help them
Ebe Babylonian wine nana!
The culture of Jesus is the same. The culture of adventism is the same worldwide. This principle of universal faith and worship style was established by our pioneers. Times have evolved but Jesus is the same, yesterday and forever more. As an African or a South African myself this behavior in church is appalling and lack a spirit filled service that we all expect as adventists around the world. Adventism trumps a culture that is hostile to biblical and spirit of prophecy principles. Lets not hide behind ‘culture’. All nations of this world have their own unique cultures but we must all subject ourselves to the denominational culture instilled by our pioneers to maintain unity and favorable worship styles around the world. This is a world church and we need to respect that.
Clearly the author of this post has got no clue nor understands cultural differences which informs different worship styles amongst the people in the SDA Church.
This is the church in Africa not in the West, these are Africans, rhythmic people who don’t sing passively .
If you going to interpret everything using western lenses and culture masquerading as the spirit of God you are going to have a problem.
You can irrelevantly quote the books and verses all you like but these people are genuinely happy to be in church. I know because I am one of them and I was there.
I am disappointed and disturbed by the appalling ignorance and misunderstanding of other cultures .
We cannot worship like you because worshiping and singing style is informed by ones culture.
It would help if people could educate themselves about other cultures and stop policing other people with that know all attitude.
You should have the culture of heaven, not this earth!
Infact there is nothing to correct here, these young people were genuinely happy to be in church away from every harmful influences of the world.
These are African people not westerners, they express their happiness and worship in those dance moves and high tempo songs and never sing passively .
The appalling ignorance about other cultures and superiority complex fused with know all attitude led to this post.
I know this because I was there on that day, this is Durban Central Seventh Day Adventist Church in South Africa .
Most of us are not “ignorant” of others’ cultures and/or the underlying origins of same, which could include paganism. African or not… those young “ladies” were dressed in very tight, promiscuous, revealing, provocative clothing. The cleavage one is showing is obscene even if she had been merely walking down the street somewhere. Why were all of them not in typical African clothing, which is normally loose & flowing. And yes, cultures operate in their own way, with preachers making allowances for it. We had a Bl**k church here separate into 2 because the members were from different parts of the Caribbean & had 2 very distinct styles of worship services (& didn’t particularly like each other in general due to their “cultures”). There won’t be all these cultures in the New Earth.