EAN NUGENT

I believe this is a powerful expression of what we desire this church to be. But unfortunately, I think we're failing. Wherever Adventists are known, we are likely to be described as Biblically literate, diet-conscious, educated Sabbatarians. But these, our most prominent positive descriptors, fail to encompass the kind of disciples our mission statement says we seek to make. While mostly applicable to Jesus' disciples, these were not prominent descriptors of them. Indeed, they were far more prominent descriptors of His murderers than of His disciples. And if this is the extent of what we are producing, I believe we are failing... Quickly, let me say that I know this failure personally. While I believe I am seeking to be a genuine, loving, gospel-proclaiming disciple of Jesus, I know that too many of my acquaintances would primarily describe me in terms that are more applicable to a Pharisee than Jesus. My intentions are good, but they do not diminish the reality of this failure. If..