HOME / PROCLAMATION! MAGAZINE / 2008 / MAY/JUNE / EDITOR'S COMMENTS

MAY / JUNE 2008
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 3

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D E P A R T M E N T S

Editor's COMMENTS

You can be adopted too
Richard Tinker

 

I am adopted.

When you read those words, what do you feel? I hope that after reading this issue of Proclamation! your thoughts and feelings about adoption are changed. And maybe you will seek adoption if you haven't already been adopted.

I was born into a very conservative Adventist family. My parents made sure that our family practiced the "family altar" by having morning and evening worship every day. We read Ellen White in the mornings, and we studied the church's Sabbath School lessons in the evening. We seldom missed the mid-week prayer meeting, and as I got older, Junior Missionary Volunteer meetings on Sabbath afternoon and Pathfinders were added.

My natural family also practiced the church's health message by not eating meat or using stimulating condiments such as ketchup and black pepper. Homemade desserts had less than the called for sugar, and "free fats" such as butter and oil were replaced by ground nuts.

I would look around at my classmates and friends and notice that they weren't as good at keeping the Adventist rules as I was. I was proud of my family for being true to our church. I decided very early in my life that I would give my whole life to working for this church.

But another family was calling. As I studied my Bible, I found that much of my life was built on false security and unbiblical teachings. I also found a Savior who had forgiven all my sins—past, present, and future. And I discovered that He wanted to give me a new family identity, one that is more real than blood.

I now have a Father who is the Sovereign over all. I have a Brother named Jesus who died for me, and I have wonderful brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.

I once counted the number of generations my family was Adventist. I now depend on the finished work of Jesus on the cross. I once worried that a forgotten sin would send me to annihilation, but now I know I am part of God's family forever.

When my birth family is less than kind and sometimes angry that I betrayed their religion I can look to my new identity and family ties in Christ for my security. My identity is no longer "son of the Tinkers" but is son of God and joint heir with Christ. I no longer depend on my earthly family to show me who I am. I am now part of a family not dependent on biological ties. My new family is my family of faith.

My eyes filled with tears of happiness as my wife Colleen adopted my two sons in April. They now have new identities—even getting new birth certificates. And by law Colleen can never un-adopt them—much like our Father in heaven makes us part of His family forever.

Are you adopted?

 

In this issue Bill Ziprick tells his story of leaving Adventism and finding freedom in Jesus. He includes details of his experience as legal counsel for the Adventist health care system at Loma Linda. Next Rick Langer gives pointers on how to discern whether a church is abiding or departing from the faith passed down to us from Christ and the apostles. Colleen Tinker tells the story of adopting my sons and how, like adoption, our rebirth gives us a new identity, and Rodney Nelson writes on the topic of what is involved in being a member of the true church. Finally, Greg Taylor gives his many reasons to be grateful to God, and Roy Tinker lets us read his letter to the Bible study group he leads.

May you be blessed and called to follow Jesus no matter the cost. †

 

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