MIKE, Alise, and Sue are members of an Adventist Collegiate Taskforce known by its initials, ACT. They do exactly that they act. They have worked in Tidewater Memorial Hospital, Virginia, to help their fellow men. They have conducted smoking and health clinics in the local high schools. The team has visited backslidden Adventist members. Several families have returned to the church be cause of their efforts. Every Friday night they were in a different Adventist home having sundown worship and prayer. On Sabbath afternoons they taught Negro children about Jesus. Evangelistic meetings were held three nights a week. The three members worked together with the team to make the program a success. Their accomplishments go on and on. These young people are a perfect example of a dynamic concept known as Adventist youth.
I think that we have the best church in the world, but the purpose of my sermon is to tell how I feel we can improve it. We, the youth, are tomorrow's church. With us, this church will either succeed or fail. You, the parents, are the builders of our destiny.
The teen-age years are years of change. We change mentally, physically, and spiritually. We question our very existence; we not only need answers, but we deserve answers. Henry Ford said that parents should look to a child's future. He said, "They are preparing to meet their future. Let us judge them not by our past, but by that future." We should believe in the past, but not be bound by the past. The basic principles that were true yesterday are still true today, but their application is different in many cases in today's complex society.
Ellen G. White explained the role of the parent well:
While we are not to indulge blind affection, neither are we to manifest undue severity. Children cannot be brought to the Lord by force. They can be led, but not driven. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me," Christ declares. He did not say, My sheep hear My voice and are forced into the path of obedience. In the government of children love must be shown. . . . Harshness drives souls into Satan's net. --The Adventist Home, pp. 307, 308.
We should be attracted, but not pushed, to Christ. The Christian parent is the best example for Christianity when children choose their course in life. If you show compassion to us, we will show compassion to you. If you are unreasonable with us, we may be unreasonable with you.
The fifth commandment in Exodus 20: 12 states, "Honour thy father and thy mother." This is a wise suggestion, not a threat. Youth must account for their immaturity. They must listen to the experienced voice of their parents, for they know where we can go right and where we can go wrong. Mark Twain knew this when he reflected, "When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have him around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years."
Mrs. White respected the worth of young people when she said:
In the home training of the youth the principle of co-operation is invaluable. From their earliest years children should be led to feel that they are a part of the home firm. Even the little ones should be trained to share in the daily work and should be made to feel that their help is needed and is appreciated. The older ones should be their parents' assistants, entering into their plans and sharing their responsibilities and burdens. Let fathers and mothers take time to teach their children, let them show that they value their help, desire their confidence, and enjoy their companionship, and the children will not be slow to respond. Not only will the parents' burden be lightened, and the children receive a practical training of inestimable worth, but there will be a strengthening of the home ties and a deepening of the very foundations of character. --Education, p. 285.
We all know the importance of Christian schools, but here is an example of how practical education plays an important part in a person's life. Let us develop our good motives; do not stifle our creativity. We have energy and can use it either for good or for evil. We should be independent enough to be creative, but restrained enough to be productive.
In James 1:26 we learn about the influence of words in a person's life. It says, "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." Let us have sweet words of praise for one another. Let there not be arguing and bickering between members of the family. Thus, a harmonious family will result.
Teach us the principles of this great land. Let us know what this "government of the people, by the people, for the people" is all about. In the last days, if we do not know our freedoms, we cannot properly defend them.
Let us get back to the family unit that held people together for so long. Let us not race around so much that we forget our responsibilities to our families and to the rest of mankind.
From our family strength we can find out what true love for marriage is, and we can face the rest of life with courage. Mrs. White explains:
Love is a precious gift, which we receive from Jesus. Pure and holy affection is not a feeling, but a principle. Those who are actuated by true love are neither unreasonable nor blind. Taught by the Holy Spirit, they love God supremely, and their neighbor as themselves. --Messages to Young People, p. 435.
It is hard to distinguish between love and lust in today's world. We must be cautious in deciding whom to pick as our mate. Some people may not fit into marriage. They may not be able to support a family financially or spiritually. Differing ideas on life, religion, and family are a sure sign that a marriage will not succeed.
As for a youth's lifework, I can say only this. He should do something that can be used for the furtherance of God's message. He should be led by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Let him do something that he can be enthusiastic about, and let him get a Christian education to make sure he does it right.
Crime is abounding in this country. J. Edgar Hoover says:
Consider these shocking facts: every four minutes that tick off on the clock, another human being is the victim of a murder, forcible rape or assault to kill. Every 46 seconds a burglary is committed, and each hour of the day and night 33 more automobiles are stolen from their owners. In the time it has taken you to reach the end of this paragraph about 20 seconds a serious crime of some kind has occurred in the United States.
What moral degradation! Men seem to be laws unto themselves.
Let us turn in our Bibles to 2 Timothy 3:1-5. In this passage we have a good description of what applies to America today. It reads:
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, in continent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Paul sounds like a modern-day preacher. He spoke quite eloquently of our situation here in the United States.
I enjoy reading the New York Times. 1 think it is a good newspaper. But there is one thing I dislike that is the movie section. I took a typical page out of the paper (January 17, 1969; page 34) to see how advertisers tried to attract audiences. Here is Jim Brown in "Riot." Another film goes by the simple title "Flesh." Another one is entitled "Skamen," which in English means "shame." Notice what it has printed in the corner: "Restricted persons under 16 not admitted unless accompanied by parent or adult guardian." Some of the statements printed in here I would not even read to you. To look at it is literally repulsive to the senses. This is a good example of the immorality in this nation.
In 1 John 2:15-17, we receive some wise advice. It says:
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
In times like these we are going to need character--strong character. Matthew 5:48 says: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Our character should be molded like the character of the Father and- the Son. We all have our heroes: our Washingtons, Jeffersons, and Lincolns; but Christ should be the supreme Hero.
Jesus is our example. There are many who dwell with interest upon the period of His public ministry, while they pass unnoticed the teaching of His early years. But it is in His home life that He is the pattern for all children and youth. --The Desire of Ages, p. 74.
Not only are we not to have evil thoughts but we are also not to have trivial thoughts. The servant of the Lord says:
The Word of God presents the most potent means of education, as well as the most valuable source of knowledge, within the reach of man. The under standing adapts itself to the dimensions of the subjects with which it is required to deal. If occupied with trivial, commonplace matters only, never summoned to earnest effort to comprehend great and eternal truths, it becomes dwarfed and enfeebled.--That I May Know Him, p. 8.
Let us keep our minds uncluttered with the things of the world. We should not get so involved with life that we forget the Creator of all life.
We should be temperate in all that we do. In our physical life we should have a good balance of work, recreation, and rest. In our spiritual life we should have a balanced study of the Scriptures. We need to ask daily for God's help to lead us in our endeavors. We dare not be tied down to the common things of life. How many of us could get through a week without TV? Probably not too many.
The church should be the core of our lives. This is the hub of our religious observance and study. Church should not be merely a two-and-a-half-hour stimulation. I see the church on Sabbath as a preparation ground for our next week's work for Christ. The church should be vibrant and productive. We should expand our activities and goals, and we should not be stagnant in our work. With Christ at the helm, let us go full-throttle ahead and not look back. We should return to the "good old religion" because it is stable and good. Paul states that Jesus Christ is "the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" (Heb. 13:8).
We have all heard about the Apollo 8 space trip with Astronauts Lovell, Anders, and Borman. There is another space trip coming soon. It will not be in a spaceship and it will not have only three astronauts. The trip will be with Christ and the holy angels in the clouds of heaven. I think the world ought to hear about this fairly soon.
Dr. Blaiberg's heart transplant received much publicity, but what about what God said in Ezekiel 36:26: "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh"? Think of that a heart transplant without an operation. I hope the world hears about this soon.
There are 200 million non-Adventists in the United States; this ought to keep us busy for a while. What a glorious challenge we have. We read in Messages to Young People, page 199:
Upon the youth there rest grave responsibilities. God expects much from the young men who live in this generation of increased light and knowledge. He desires to use them in dispelling the error and superstition that cloud the minds of many. They are to discipline themselves by gathering up every jot and tittle of knowledge and experience. God holds them responsible for the opportunities given them. The work before them is waiting for their earnest efforts, that it may be carried forward from point to point as the time demands.
The job is ours and it must be well done. We cannot let this world stay ignorant of Christ's coming any longer.
After we have preached the gospel we will come down to the end of time. We are going to need strength for the last struggle, and Paul admonishes: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a work man that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). With the Bible as our armor, how can we go wrong? We will be able to win no matter who the foe. Adventists have a Ion? and distinguished record of Bible study. Several Adventists have won awards for outstanding knowledge of the Bible. It is a wonderful history.
Trust in God will also prepare us for the end. Christ summons us: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). We have to have the guts to pick ourselves up and to keep going. We must remain strong with Christ. Arthur S. Max well in his book Courage for the Crisis, pages 257, 258, sums up the matter well:
We must keep the bells ringing. The bells of hope, faith, virtue, righteousness, and peace. We must keep them ringing amid the darkness and desolation that may surround us. We must keep them ringing in the belfries of our witness to a doomed and dying world. This will require courage. Great courage. But we may have it. The Source is well known to us and the channels of supply are wide open. We may receive courage from God, courage from the Cross and courage from the Bible. We may receive courage from prayer, obedience, worship, and dedication. We may receive it, too, from the great certainties of faith that tell us God's victory is sure, right shall prevail, evil shall perish, Christ will return, and heaven is real.
I hope from what I have said you have caught the following ideas: parents and children should work together for a solid home; marriage should be approached cautiously; we should separate ourselves from the evil of this world; our character should be like Christ's; the church should be the core of our lives; we should tell all the world of Christ's return; and with Christ we can have courage for the final struggle. The Preacher summed up all of the principles of the religious man in Ecclesiastes 12:13, saying, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."
