Seventh-day Adventists should not seek isolation, but rather should let themselves be "drawn into the lives" of people in their communities, said Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the Adventist world church, speaking Nov. 9 at Sahmyook University, near Seo
Seventh-day Adventists should not seek isolation, but rather should let themselves be “drawn into the lives” of people in their communities, said Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the Adventist world church, speaking Nov. 9 at Sahmyook University, near Seoul, Korea.
As Christians—followers of Christ—Adventists must have more than just an intellectual grasp of their faith, Paulsen told the more than 3,000 people gathered for a special Sabbath, or Saturday, celebration. “It is not enough that we understand—that our minds are filled with knowledge and information. The important question is ‘How does our knowledge impact and shape the lives we live?’”
Paulsen urged church members to resist the pull of secular values, which reflect individualism and “selfish ambition.” “Living a life that looks primarily after ‘self’ is a wasted life,” he said. “Christ says: ‘Learn to live as I did—for others.’”
“We are Adventists—people who live in the expectation of the second coming of Christ,” he added. “We must ask ourselves the question: How am I living my life in awareness of that expectation?
“We are called on to examine how we live our lives day by day,” he said. “For it is in our everyday life, and our everyday decisions, that our faith is revealed.
“So living in these last days, what does the Lord expect of us—we who are so wise in information, and details, and knowledge? What does God expect?” asked Paulsen. He suggested three responses. First, to live a life that “expresses and models the values that God has given us.” Second, to be “sober and alert,” and keep an eye on the signs of Christ’s return. And finally, “in the words of the prophet, to ‘act justly and to love mercy and walk humbly with your God.’”
Paulsen’s address at Sahmyook University came mid-point during his six-day visit to South Korea to meet with church leaders and members. Sahmyook is one of the largest educational institutions owned and operated by the Adventist Church. A combined total of some 5,500 students are enrolled at the university, graduate school, and college, located on an extensive campus near Seoul. Paulsen travels next to Hong Kong, where he will participate in celebrations marking the 100-year anniversary of the start of Adventist work in China.
