S.S. Letter Ritchie Way June 2009

THE HINGE OF GOD’S GRACE
Dear Editors
I have just finished reading the March 2009 letter from S.W. entitled ‘Investigative Judgement Reworked?’ and my predominant feeling is one of sadness and shock.
As a twenty-five-year-old young person of Adventist heritage I would like to present my view. I did not grow up in the Glacier View era, however, I have read and studied the Investigative Judgement.
S.W., you state that many people, particularly young people, have left the church (I assume you mean the Adventist church) because of Des’ teachings. As a young person, I can inform you with relative accuracy that the young people today are leaving, not because of Des’ theology, but because they can no longer endure being part of an organisation that does not emphasise the Grace of God.
S.W. claims that ‘when you remove the Investigative Judgement the whole plan of salvation falls apart and you have nothing to build on’. On the contrary, Romans 10:9 states very clearly ‘If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from death, you will be saved’. That is salvation. Salvation has always been simple—it is humans and religious organisations that have made salvation complicated by dumping a whole lot of extra bits on top, claiming that this is what makes a person saved.
I encourage the Adventist Church to heed the warning: when grace is preached, the people will stay. Jesus is Grace, which is why people followed him wherever he went. And they will pursue him still today, wherever Grace is to be found.
S. S
.
Dear S
You write beautifully and cogently. Thank you. May God help us in our ministry to young people.
Grace and peace to you
Ritchie.