Are Some Pastors Selfish?

Many pastors, ministers, and preachers seem to be long-winded. Even to the point of bragging about it. And congregations are, for the most part, to sit and listen as long as it keeps going. Some speakers can't seem to stop on time, if there is such a thing as, "on time."

However, is this the Christian attitude one should take? That a congregation or a listening audience owes the speaker as much time as they want to speak. That a congregation is somehow broken if it has a time limit. That Christians of all people, should just sit still and listen as long as a preacher wants to go on.

And some pastors demand this. They demand the podium as long as they have something to say. That you are not a good person if you think the pastor's time is limited. How dare you have the nerve to stop them? Many demand a captive audience until doomsday, come hell or high water! That if you are in church, you are obligated to listen as long as it takes. That any invited speaker should keep going like the energizer bunny. And you cannot leave!

We would argue that a speaker never has an unlimited amount of time. That they can just ramble on until they are finished. And demand that. Is not a pastor supposed to be humble? Should not a pastor put his/her congregation first? A pastor is leading a flock. Not a dictator. No pastor should be selfish with the time in church.

Many speakers put a guilt trip on the audience.

Oh, you watch TV for hours....you should watch me!

You go to a ballgame for two hours, I deserve the same!

If I have a message, you need to hear it all!

Sorry friends. It just does not work that way. You cannot put your congregation in a guilt trip by demanding that they it needs to sit and listen for what seems forever.

Because someone can preach for hours does not mean they should.

The human body is not made to sit in one place for an unreasonable amount of time.

Making one feel guilty is not Christian.

Abusing your time and audience, and being demanding...is not Christian either.

There should be respect on both sides. Pastors should expect a reasonable amount of time to give a sermon. Congregations should also be given a time limit that all members can handle.

The normal time, it seems, for a human to sit through a sermon, is 30-60 minutes. And we say that as to what seems to be normal.

Remember, we have all walks of life in a church. We have sick people. We have old people. We have young people. We have hungry people. We have medical problems. Our brains just get tired.

How effective do you think a sermon is going to be, when one reaches the wall? Anything said after that is just painful and not getting to everyone anyway. So why antagonize your audience?

There's the rub. Should a pastor be a dictator and antagonize an audience? In Christian terms, probably not.

Pastors, know your sheep. Do not demand from them anything unreasonable. In fact, when you start demanding anything....you are not humbling yourself as a Christian.

Prepare your congregation. Nurture your congregation. Teach your congregation. Lead your congregation.

You won't be successful if you think everyone should just love hearing you speak ad nauseum.

There will not be a mass of people turning to Christ and churches as the last days approach.

Many people think they will. They think somehow churches, like the Adventist Church, will be a haven for people and they will come running.

The Bible makes no such prediction. In fact, just the opposite. People will leave churches. They will turn their backs on God. They will destroy and battle over anything and everything religious that goes against modern thinking.

They will call what we believe and how we act, a perversion.  They will not do business with us, and we can't do business with them.

The world will take away your Bibles, as they go against the world views. They will be hell-bent (pun intended) on making you go away. You will be banned. Shunned. Buried. Exiled. banished. All traces of what is right in God's sight will vanish from the face of the Earth.

Don't be deceived by others who think the church will still be a church in the last days.

Impossible. You can't buy or sell. How can you have a deed to the land your church is on?

As groups of people get more and more hostile, watch out as your church buildings begin to be attacked and demolished as houses of hate.

Don't think your neighbors will frantically be asking you how to be saved. They will be turning you in. You will be perceived as the root cause of all the problems in the world.

And people who think they are safe "in the church," will fall away. They won't stand the pressure. They will be mocked and bullied so badly, even some devout Christians will turn.

Very, very few, will stand to the end. Revelation states that only 144,000 (which may be just a symbolic number) will stand.....out of over seven billion people in the world today. That's nothing. That's a very minute number.

How do we know this is true? It's what The Bible says. Let's look at a few key verses, then you decide.


Matthew 24:37-39 King James Version (KJV)
"37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
*Note: Nobody came on the ark except Noah and his family. Masses of people were NOT saved.

Matthew 24:24 KJV
"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."
*Note: Don't be deceived by modern day false prophets.

Matthew 24:22 KJV
"And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."
*Note: Where does it say masses will come to be saved?

Modern day false prophets want people to think there is more time to be saved. Don't be deceived. Make your choice now. Be well rooted in The BIble...NOT what some people tell you is in The Bible. Read it. Study it. Don't be deceived.

The Myth of Creation

The myth of the creation story. No, it's not what you think.

There is a myth that is told over and over. It sounds good, so people keep repeating it. Problem is, when you actually read The Bible, it falls apart.

You are waiting for the myth...but wait. Does it matter? Yes. If you give a sermon, and parts are not true, it most assuredly matters. It means you yourself have not read The Bible. One should never take the pulpit or teach, without a full study of what The Bible actually says. So now, the myth.

That God spoke everything into existence, but man is special. He formed him with His bare hands out of the ground.

Yes, that is a myth. It's not there. It might come as a shock to many of you, but God did not speak things into existence and only form man.

Go back and read the entire first chapter of The Bible. We dare you. Very few instances are related where God calls things into existence. The chapter is full of words like, made and create.

In fact, think about it. What would a creator do? Buy a model of an airplane, or, build one? If you bought one pre-made, you would not be much of a creator, would you?

But we call God the "creator" of all things. We never say He's a magician that just speaks things into existence. Sure, He could. And we have no doubt he has. But creation is just that. Creation.

Do you think God just made the trees and plants appear? Have you read The Bible? There were no plants or trees until God watered the seed to produce.

Okay, you say. But we know God only formed man out of the ground...Nope. Sorry. Not true.

Genesis 2

 "
¹⁹ Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. ²⁰ So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals."

Wait! What was that? God actually formed the animals out of the ground as well? Yes, and birds, too!

Amazing how one can learn quite a bit by reading The Bible.

God breathed into man and made him a living soul. THAT makes us different than the animals.

Man was not the only living creature formed out the ground.

But think about this. Isn't there something special about certain animals? After all, they were sacrificed first for the sin of man. God obviously has a special relationship with animals.

Wouldn't it be fantastic if we saw new animals, and old ones, in Heaven, and we called them their original names?

It might surprise you also that God did not just call or create trees and plants into existence. Did you know that? God apparently, according to The Bible, created seeds. Yes, seeds. Then watered them and they sprung to life. No, this is not a fairy tale. This is in The Bible. Read it!

Makes you wonder about the old question, "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" Maybe the egg came first after all.

Seventh-day Adventist had better read their Bibles before making any statements. Make sure what you are saying is Biblical.


Related: Will your pet be in heaven?

Is Lying a Sin That Condemns You?

Of course it is! Unless it's not. The Ten Commandments state clearly, you shalt not lie.

Or does it?

Somehow we never say the Ninth Commandment in it's entirety. Maybe because we don't read The Bible. Maybe because we don't want to. Have YOU ever actually read the Ninth Commandment? Some people are so quick to tell people not to lie because, doggone it! They just know The Bible says thou shalt not lie.

Well, we at The UnderCover Adventist are here to tell you the truth.

Ex 20:16 "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor."

Did you actually read it? It points out one, yes, one lie. Not lies. One lie.

That's what The Bible says.

Now you are asking yourself, why are we even talking about this? Two reasons.

1. We of all people, should know The Bible.
2. Not all lies are condemning lies, and we need to know that.

Have you ever kept a secret? Something held back to not inform people at such and such a time? Letting them believe something for a while, then telling them the truth? You are a deceiver.

Do you tell your spouse they look beautiful? Even in the morning...even when they know they don't?

Do you ever tell a child who has drawn an unrecognizable picture for you....that it's great?

A child messes up at a piano recital. Are you going to tell the kid, "sorry...you did not do so great. Oh well, better luck next time!" Doubtful.

Your son hits another kid on purpose and makes them cry. Have you ever demanded the child immediately go and apologize, even though they are NOT sorry? Well, you have forced your kid to lie.

Kids are serious problems when it comes to lies. So is family. You have to pretend to get along. You have to act like you are glad to see them.

You smile at someone, even though it pains you.

Can you imagine a world where everyone tells everyone else how lousy they are? How ugly they are? How terrible they are? How you hate being here?

Each and every time you go somewhere out of need or duty, and you do not want to be there, then pretend you are happy....you are a deceiver. And we certainly know you can think of many, many other examples.

How about Anne Frank's family and the other holocaust victims who were hid...due to deception?

Christians have risked their lives smuggling Bibles behind the iron curtain.

Do you know that people were rescued from East Berlin....

....all of these due to deceptions and lies?

We do not...and we need to reiterate this loud and clear,

We do not serve a loving and just God that would condemn anyone for doing the above acts.

Maybe, just maybe, that's why there is no version of the Ninth Commandment that says thou shalt not lie.

The sin in lying, lies with deceit for ill-gotten gain, to do harm to others, for hate and spitefulness. Not for acts of kindness.

Do you want more proof? Let's actually read The Bible.

God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Do we really believe God wanted Abraham to kill his son? Certainly not. We don't even teach that.

Jesus told the parable about the rich man and Lazarus. Was that the truth? According to Adventists, hardly any of that is true.

Elijah ran away and hid.

Many, many stories in The Bible are about deceit.

Paul heard about a plot to kill him in Jerusalem, and they helped him escape by lowering him in a basket.

Jael killed Sisera, the story of Deborah. She lured him in under a false sense of security....then drove a tent peg through his skull.

Joseph toyed with his brothers, even making them steal something.

But let's look at two very telling ones.

The first, is about a prophet who disguises himself. Read the account very, very carefully. He is being deceitful.

1 Kings 20:35-43

 35And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him. 36Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him. 37Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him. 38So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face. 39And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver. 40And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it. 41And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets. 42And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people. 43And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.

The account of Rahab
Joshua 2

 3And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country. 4And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: 5And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them. 6But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof. 7And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.

Rahab lied and deceived. What does The Bible say about it?

Look at James 2

 25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Not very condemning, is it?

In fact, let's look at what the Adventist Bible Commentary says about this.

Vol 7, page 523-524

"Rahab cast her lot with the people of God and demonstrated her faith in Israel's God by jeopardizing her life to save the spies. James implies that if she had professed faith in the God of Israel and yet had not hidden the spies, her faith would have been barren and dead."

Did you catch that? Her deception put her life in danger, but proved her faith.

Be very, very careful as you talk to people and call them sinners.

Be extra careful when talking about The Ten Commandments. If you don't know them, what will people say of you?

Bearing false witness against a neighbor, is a sin. Not telling the whole truth and deception, not always wrong.

The Religious Liberty Lie

At first glance, religious liberty sounds good. Live and let live. Worship and let worship.

But Adventists are being fooled by some of the slickest people on this planet. We have a complete religious liberty department, complete with lawyers and loud mouths. Declaring that they will make the United States cower under religious liberty. No matter who or what you are, we will defend your right to worship how you please.

And that, friends, is the crux of the problem.

For every new religious freedom given to false religions, it's one more religious freedom taken away.

We should have the right as Americans to display a cross where ever we please. For every cross taken down, that's one more score for false religions.

For every Ten Commandment display taken down, one more win for false religion.

Every time we stand up for the rights of muslims, hindus, taoists, whatever, we give them a boost up. For what? Religious liberty?

Sure, in some cases we don't have to remove a nativity scene, but we must allow a satanists display next to it.

Do you really, really want to live in a country that does that? And go to a church that supports that satanist's display?

Think long and hard when you answer that.

No man can serve two masters. You cannot support all religions. In fact, it is the duty of Christians to spread....(wait for it)....Christianity. It is not our job or responsibility to help other religions. Not in any way, shape, or form.

If you are a lawyer, and go to court to help a muslim have the right to wear a religious symbol covering your head....you are indeed helping to propagate a false religion.

Did Elijah support baal worshipers? Remember Paul and the idol makers in Athens? Did he commend them? Did he respect them? Did he support them? Hardly. In fact, they rioted at his deeds.

Anytime anyone in The Bible tried to serve God and man, it was a disaster.

You want to be nice? Be nice. You want to be polite? be polite. You want to respect them as a PERSON? Respect them as a person.

You want to respect their religion? Be very, very careful.

Any propping up, helping, aiding, abetting, their religious practice, and you are dancing where you shouldn't be.

Your dollars just might be aiding and abetting muslims.

One example: https://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/%E2%80%8Badventist-church-sides-with-muslim-in-religious-freedom-case

Jesus did not support other religions. He supported people.

In fact, He told them all to follow Him....not anything else.

Who are you telling people to follow? What religion are you supporting? All of them? Or the true one?

Jesus Was Not a Refugee

To justify more illegal immigrants coming to the USA, some people are pulling the Jesus-as-a-refugee card. Claiming His flight to Egypt gave Him refugee status. Not quite.

Now in the history of the Jews, they did settle in the land of Egypt. But they were invited there when Joseph was in charge. Then what happened? Within 400 years, they were slaves. None of this would ever make one a refugee.

After leaving, they plundered the Egyptians, raided the land of Canaan, and took it over as God promised. Nothing there would even remotely be refugee status. The aliens they allowed to live there, were required to embrace the Jewish culture and be ruled by God.

But people seem to think that Joseph and Mary fleeing to Egypt made them refugees when threatened by Herod. Not quite.

They simply moved from one region of the Roman Empire to another. The area we call Egypt was completely Roman. As a side note, the Romans named the capital city, Babylon.

So in reality, Jesus was not a refugee. No more than someone who is poor in Oklahoma, going to Texas to work in the oil fields. Or someone who does not like all the taxes and regulations in California, and moving a business or family to Arizona. Perhaps even a Mormon leaving NYC for more friendly confines of Utah. Or an Adventist moving to Loma Linda. You are NOT a refugee.

Too many people today are trying to use The Bible against a certain president and make political theater. From building walls, to aliens. But the arguments crumble under the weight of reality. The wall, for example.  The Jews were commanded to build a wall around Jerusalem. Lets' stop the insanity of using The Bible for or against our political foes.

Now Jesus being rejected by the Jews is a different matter altogether.

The Seventh Day Adventist Church has as Much Babylon as Other Churches.

Look at the Adventist church. There is enough Babylon to go around. We think we have the answers. We think we are safe because we, "belong" to the true church. The church of the end. Hardly. And people had better wake up to this lie. The Adventist church is no better than any other.

Oh sure, we toss around phrases like, "more truth," "best there is," closest to perfect," "best doctrines." Complete foolishness.

No matter how short a church is, it's still short. Way short.

After the William Miller debacle, (and yes it was a major error so where is our truth?), Ellen White and others got together. They thought they were not going to start a new church. But al true believers coming out of other churches and being the one true church. It did not happen.

When people claim Ellen G. White said something about how this church will stand until the end, she could not have been talking about the Adventist church as we know it. Not anywhere close.

First of all, this church has issues. As many issues as any other church we claim is weaker than us. So where is our perfection? Just sitting in a pew of an Adventist church doesn't do anything for anybody. Get a grip on reality.

The true church at the end will be a coming out of all churches. And once and for all, being a group that is indeed the faithful church at the end.

It might sound shocking to some, but the Adventist church will not even be around at the end. It can't be. It's an organization. It owns property. It pays bills. It employs people. It is a business, like it or not. You think that somehow you will sneak around the mark of the beast and own property? Pay people to work, like doctors and nurses? Little chance of that happening. The Adventist church will not own anything. They can't. To do so would be to take the mark of the beast.

Our colleges, hospitals, boarding schools are entirely wrapped up in finances, including the government. We have turned our colleges and hospitals over to government financing.

You think you can own property and not take the mark? You think schools and hospitals can pay for goods and services without buying and selling?

We own publishing houses, camps, academies, colleges, universities, conference buildings, and more. If you think we can just keep on doing business as usual during the last days, you are a fool.

How will you get electricity? Gas? Telephone service? Do banking? Every dime any Adventist church has in a bank or any financial institution, will be lost. Gone.

With the church's infrastructure gone, and the ability to buy supplies for these businesses, the whole organization will be obliterated.

Forget about being scared of the government tracking you on a cellphone. Those who choose to not take the mark will not even have them. You can't pay the monthly service charge. The ones here at the Undercover Adventist, will simply be tossed in the river.

Forget about being safe in an Adventist church. Your membership will be meaningless.

But God's true church will indeed stand. Where will you be?