Is The Sanctuary Christ Centered
In the book The Andreasen File Compiled by LMN Publishing, M. L. Andreasen talks about a Sabbath School Quarter that promised to be one that presented “Christ-centered doctrines.” This is found on pages 100-103. Andreasen was surprised to find that the sanctuary doctrine, the mark of the beast, the 3 angels message, health reform, and other related doctrines were not discussed that quarter. Andreasen wonders if this was done because these are the very doctrines that cause our evangelical brothers and sisters to question our orthodoxy as Christians.
Christ or Adventism?
Over the last few years I have heard some clergy and laypeople calling for a movement away from an emphasis on such things as the Sanctuary or Prophecy to a more “Christ-centered emphasis.” While I certainly would have no problem with a Christ-centered approach, in that what else can we as Christians have at our center, I would strongly state that this idea places a false dichotomy. Is there necessarily a distinction between “Christ-centered” and “Adventist fundamental?” The reason why I am writing this is because I had another conversation with a preacher who is finding the present day relevance of the Sanctuary message. He is surprised to find that it is not irrelevant or boring, but a very relevant object lesson of how Salvation and the Great Controversy works. This is in stark contrast to the multiple preachers who think that their goal of preaching the gospel requires minimizing the teachings that make us who we are.
Sanctuary is Christ-Centered
For certainly it is difficult to argue that the sanctuary is not Christ centered. With Chirst being representing as at least the sacrifice, common and high priest, and even the various pieces of the tabernacle. Certainly with Salvation being illustrated in the services of the Sanctuary, it is difficult to make the argument that it is not Christ centered. One could argue that over time some have turned it into a mathematical calculation only, but as sister white reminds us “the sanctuary having a decided relation to the people of God.” is one of the landmarks of the movement.
The Real Problem
I think that it is not that these doctrines are less “christ-centered” but that they are more “precise and end-time focused.” The Sanctuary reminds us that Christ is doing a work to take care of sin. The Sanctuary reminds us what Christ is doing now. The Sanctuary reminds us that there is a judgment going on. The Sanctuary fits into our “Great Controversy” idea. And all of this is Christ-centered, but what Christ is it?
And here is the issue, you may not agree with the picture it paints of Christ, you may not believe that this picture of Christ is true, but please stop arguing that this doctrine does no have Christ at its center. Take Christ away from the Sanctuary and you have nothing but a shell. However, put Christ back into that heavenly sanctuary and you begin to catch a glimpse of the message that God has ordained that we preach in these final days.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Filed under: Teaching • sanctuary
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
I believe that Christ is the center of all there is in the Bible. All is worth studying and hearing about. I would like to know more about the Sanctuary service. It’s my opinion that when the church begins changing points of focus (especially the sanctuary service), that we are just aligning ourselves with the world to gain more souls. Jesus has always been the focus of the church, and we don’t need to change.
There needs to be a Christ-centered revival in the SDA church. Our church is very generational and many have no idea what it means to be a born again Christian, but have an excellent idea what it means to be Adventist. As a result many have a warped idea that salvation has more to do with getting your memberhip in the right denomination and intellectually believing all the right things. If we don’t get back to Calvary soon our usefulness to the Lord will be nil.
Is the Sancturay Christ Centered??? The Sanctuary message holds the plan of salvation and points to Calvary. At Calvary, we see Christ fulfilling and making an end of the earthly obligations of the Sanctuay and beginning the heavenly phase of His Sanctuary work.
To think that we can separate the scriptures into snippets of “the Sancturay”, “Christ Centered”, “3 Angels Message”, etc, I believe is a grave mistake. What is the point of all of these messages??? The redemption of man THRU JESUS CHRIST!!
Christ tells us in John 5:39 that the entire Bible testifies of Him so, in studying the Sancturay, we should see Christ. In the study of the 3 Angels message, we should see Christ. In every message of the Bible, we should see Christ!! Otherwise, what is the point??
Our leaders are there to lead but, we are to individually and prayfully search the Scriptures for ourselves.
I am here to learn. Teach me!!
Carmen…I am not sure what it is you wish for me to teach you…as you will note, what you wrote is very much in line with what I have written in this article…
Dr. Pickett…I could be wrong, but I doubt that there really are many who think that salvation is on the basis of being a member of having one’s name on the Adventist or any other church roll. Certainly we are often accused of thinking that mere membership is where we gain our salvation, but I think that this accusation is more hyperbole than reality…I can’t think of anyone I know who I have talked to on theological subjects that believes that…
Pamela…yes I agree, the point of the whole Bible is Christ. But one need not even look far to see clearly that Christ is in every aspect of the Sanctuary message.
The sanctuary message is indeed Christ centered. Paul in Hebrews chap. 8 speaks about our high Priest. Without the sanctuary message I would not be able to fully under the forgiveness of sins and the whole plan of salvation. Also as SDAs,we were admonish by Sis.White in the book Great Controversy to be sure to study the sanctuary and its services in these last days. I believe any attempt to down play the importance of the sanctuary and its Christ centredness is an attack of the enemy.
I have been studying the sanctuary for 25 years. It is fascinating. I’ve studied books on it by Hardinge, EGW, Uriah Smith, Roy Anderson, SDA Commentary, etc. The time element is important, but only because of what the sanctuary means. It is the story of Jesus and of salvation from beginning to end. I am constantly discovering some new significance in my study of it. It’s depth is inexhaustible. 20 years ago it was my sanctuary study that caused me to take out my earrings and leave them out. The inside of the sanctuary is glittering and glorious with all its gold. But the topmost covering of the tent was plain brown badger skin, representing the humility and meekness of Jesus on earth. He is our example. If He was plain brown on the outside, then that’s what I need to be. Not that I wear brown animal skins, but my dress is much more simple with no jewelry. There are thousands of other lessons and answers in the sanctuary—that was just one. With the Holy Spirit (who reveals Jesus) the things we can learn from the sanctuary just go on and on and on,.