Gun Control and Seventh-day Adventists

Gun control has always been a highly volatile and politically charged topic in America, especially since the recent mass shooting events in Colorado and San Bernardino, California. Even before the victims bodies were taken to the morgue or many facts revealed the all too predictable calls for more gun control came from the liberal media pundits and the leadership of the democratic party. Which brings us ask the question, what has been the response of the Seventh-day Adventist (S.D.A.) Church to these tragic events beyond the expected calls for prayers and comforting the bereaved? The latest tragedy in San Bernardino came close to home for many SDA’s being about 3 miles from the Loma Linda Medical Center which took in several of the wounded victims. The President of The Seventh-day Adventist Church (S.D.A.) in North America, Daniel R. Jackson, issued the following statement on December 3, 2015 in response to the deadly shooting, of which we are highlighting two paragraphs for further comment:

“This type of senseless violence has no place in this country or in this world. It is tragic that once again we mourn the lives of 14 innocent people who did not need to die. This is the highest number of people killed in a mass shooting since the Sandy Hook massacre, which claimed the lives of 20 children and six adults. Both tragedies were carried out with assault weapons.

“Along with our heartfelt prayers, it is time that something is done to address the pandemic of gun violence. It is time that we say No to these tragic massacres that have become commonplace in the United States. It is time that we do something to find solutions to put an end to this pervasive problem.”

If one notices closely it is apparent that Elder Jackson has issued a carefully worded statement that it has a clear political call to action. So what solutions does Elder Jackson have in mind? The answer is obvious, the oft repeated mantra of the political left, “more gun control.” As a leader of God’s remnant church with a specific end time message this brings cause for serious concern. We will highlight these concerns in the following list.

1. Why is the leader of the S.D.A. church calling for political action on such a controversial topic?
2. Has gun control ever worked to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the past?
3. If we know from our end time prophetic prospective that one of the major steps in the United States forming an image to the beast will be to unite church and state powers which require tossing into the scrap heap the divinely inspired Constitution of the United State including the Bill of Rights then how does Elder Jackson’s call for action harmonize with our beliefs ?
4. The Bill of Rights is under total siege in every sector of our society as political correctness abounds and threatens freedom of speech. Gun control is being used to annihilate the 2nd amendment right for the citizens to keep and bear arms. When you call for something to be done about gun violence, which amounts to more irrational gun control legislation, then you are in reality pushing to dismantle the entire Bill of Rights (for analysis on how the latest gun control proposal by President Obama violates not only the 2nd Amendment but also the 4th and the 5th Amendments).
5. By calling for something to be done about gun violence is Elder Jackson actually pushing the church in the direction of forming an image with the beast of which we are warning to be wide awake and shun like a plague?
6. There are many reasons gun control will never work to prevent violence. Here are ten of them along with a 2007 Harvard study that shows that more guns in the hands of law abiding citizens leads to less criminal violence.
7. If Elder Jackson was really concerned about the death of innocent people in our society rather than political correctness they why doesn’t he address the reality that most of the leading causes of death in America are a result of chronic preventable lifestyle diseases.  In a tragic paradox the Adventist system of hospitals in the US which pretty much follow the pattern of western allopathic medicine are responsible for more deaths by prescription drugs and medical mistakes every day than all of the mass shootings in the past decade (Approximately 2,100 people die each day in the United States at the hands of the U.S. Medical System compared with about 30 deaths (murders) per day using guns. For a perspective on gun death statistics, please go here.

As you can see the debate about gun violence and gun control is highly controversial and politically charged which brings us to the question what should we as Seventh-day Adventists being doing in regard to this events. Some timely counsels from the pen of Ellen White are appropriate to consider.

“Gospel ministers are to keep their office free from all things secular or political, employing all their time and talents in lines of Christian effort.” — Testimonies Vol. 7, p. 252.1

“The government under which Jesus lived was corrupt and oppressive; on every hand were crying abuses,—extortion, intolerance, and grinding cruelty. Yet the Saviour attempted no civil reforms. He attacked no national abuses, nor condemned the national enemies. He did not interfere with the authority or administration of those in power. He who was our example kept aloof from earthly governments. Not because He was indifferent to the woes of men, but because the remedy did not lie in merely human and external measures. To be efficient, the cure must reach men individually, and must regenerate the heart.” — Desire of Ages, p. 509

“Because iniquity abounds, the love of many waxes cold. Why should their love wax cold? Because they have not humbled their hearts and fled to their refuge, Jesus Christ. They thought they knew so much that they became fools, and allowed themselves to become depraved. Thus many souls will be lost. Worldly plans and devisings and strange sentiments and principles will be put forth by the prince of the power of the air, which are directly opposed to the law of God. Here we should reserve all our influence to act in upholding the truth. The sentiments brought to the front by politicians will be voiced by some who claim to be Sabbath keepers. What angels attend these in the pulpit as they stand up to give the flock poison instead of pure wheat, thoroughly winnowed? Here is the working of satanic agencies to bring in confusion, to bewitch the minds of old and young. Those who have been walking humbly with God will not be engrossed in advocating either side of this question. They will place themselves under His guardianship, and reveal that they are learning lessons from the Great Teacher, who has said, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”” — Testimonies to Ministers, p. 334.1

“Those who have charge of our institutions and our schools should guard themselves diligently, lest by their words and sentiments they lead the students into false paths. Those who teach the Bible in our churches and our schools are not at liberty to unite in making apparent their prejudices for or against political men or measures, because by so doing they stir up the minds of others, leading each to advocate his favorite theory. There are among those professing to believe present truth, some who will thus be stirred up to express their sentiments and political preferences, so that division will be brought into the church.

The Lord would have His people bury political questions. On these themes silence is eloquence. Christ calls upon His followers to come into unity on the pure gospel principles which are plainly revealed in the word of God. We cannot with safety vote for political parties; for we do not know whom we are voting for. We cannot with safety take part in any political scheme. We cannot labor to please men who will use their influence to repress religious liberty, and to set in operation oppressive measures to lead or compel their fellow-men to keep Sunday as the Sabbath. The first day of the week is not a day to be reverenced. It is a spurious sabbath, and the members of the Lord’s family cannot participate with the men who exalt this day, and violate the law of God by trampling upon His Sabbath. The people of God are not to vote to place such men in office; for when they do this, they are partakers with them of the sins which they commit while in office.

We are not to compromise principle by yielding to the opinions and prejudices which we may have encouraged before we united with God’s commandment-keeping people. We have enlisted in the army of the Lord, and we are not to fight on the enemy’s side, but on the side of Christ, where we can be a united whole, in sentiment, in action, in spirit, in fellowship. Those who are Christians indeed will be branches of the true vine, and will bear the same fruit as the vine. They will act in harmony, in Christian fellowship. They will not wear political badges, but the badge of Christ.

What are we to do, then?–Let political questions alone. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” [2 Corinthians 6:14, 15.] What can there be in common between these parties? There can be no fellowship, no communion.” — Gospel Workers, p. 391, 392

In conclusion, we as Seventh-day Adventists should avoid the sentiments brought forth by politicians in dealing with gun violence in America today as they will lead to confusion and take the church into false paths and divert members from focusing on the message God would have His people to bear in this present day. Instead we should focus on giving the three angels messages which are to be repeated (Early Writings, p. 277) to the world heralding the soon coming judgment of the living. And this is the gaping hole in Adventist teaching that is missing and can only be found in the original Shepherd’s Rod message which has come in the spirit and power of Elijah to warn, first the church, then the world of the soon coming “great and dreadful day of the Lord” (Mal. 4:5). Please visit the “Studies” section of this website to begin a systematic investigation for yourself as the soul you save may be your own. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact use anytime. email: hosea21@gmail.com, ph: 860 798-3672

Tagged as: Dan Jackson, gun control, San Bernardino, Seventh-day Adventist church, shooting