Category: Pastor’s Updates

Please be sure to read (or at least scroll) all the way down to see important prayer requests and announcements, such as a small-group seminar weekend at our sister church in Orange, and a change to Sunday morning’s hiking destination.

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

March 8th, 2023

“I put my hand over my mouth.” Job 40:4

There’s a movie from the 90’s that opens with a cacophony of noise as the camera pans across the arc of the earth’s surface. The ruckus is made-up from an assembly of broadcasts all being heard simultaneously. You hear everything from popular songs to radio jingles, news snippets, etc. As the camera zooms out to the rest of our solar system and then milky-way galaxy, the broadcasts get quieter and quieter until the viewer is left with silence as the camera continues to pan outward past various galaxies.

That scene highlights the fact that we are a very noisy planet! I’m sure I needn’t tell you, we’ve got countless radio frequencies, broadcast TV networks, Cable TV stations, Sattelite channels, etc. all going on simultaneously. And many of those technologies are on the way out! Internet radio, streaming channels, and cell-phone conversations and videos are all constantly contributing to the “noise” of our planet.

We’ve always been a noisy species when we get together: even before the invention of electricity a roomful of people would be loud with conversation, and music would be loudly played as people sang and/or danced.

But I’m sure the Bible writers had no idea just how “loud” we would become as a species in the last days. Most if not all of the methods I mentioned a couple paragraphs up would’ve been unimaginable for them!

But I think that makes the “silence” verses all the more important. There are several verses that advocate actual or near silence in God’s presence.

A famous one, of course, is “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). I surely hope we as Christians take the time to intentionally do that a bit, but the broader world I fear is getting worse at both halves of those commands!*

Another is the one that describes God communicating in the “still, small voice” to Elijah, after the sources of loud ruckus have passed by (1 Kings 19:12). Many pastors preach (rightly so) that we need to intentionally put away modern-day’s sound clutter in order to have a hope to be sensitive to God’s impressions and leading!

And the highlight verse above impresses me so, because Job & his “friends” have, at this point, spent about 34 chapters talking and talking and going around in circles about suffering and God’s justice and who’s to blame, etc. But when God suddenly shows-up in the whirlwind, saying “Just who are you, Job, to question God?” Job’s words fail him. The larger passage says:

“Behold, I am vile;
What shall I answer You?
I lay my hand over my mouth.

Once I have spoken, but I will not answer;
Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

And I think that’s a proper place for us to be much of the time before God. Yes, he invites us to speak to him (Praise the Lord! What an invitation!), but human talk, chatter, noise can only happen when we are not in awe. So I pray that sometime this week, you will take the time to do just that: to “Be still and know”, to give time and space for God to talk/give impression via the “still, small voice”, should He choose to. And we all should know that the proper stance before God is mouth-open awe for His beauty, splendor, grandeur, holiness, all of it.

Scripture speaks of a day in which all humanity will stand before God, no matter their station in life, no matter when in history they’ve lived. It’s found in Revelation 20, and is called the “White Throne Judgment”.**

If you would: Get yourself in a quiet, reverent spot, and consider this scene (which we will all experience together in the future, whether good or wicked).

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

This is the last time a portion of humanity will ever stand before God (or do anything), but for the rest of us, we will have an eternity to do so, under much happier circumstances! Actually, its placement in Revelation is after the 1,000-year “millennium” in which the righteous will have already gone to heaven, so should will already be well-familiar with standing before God by then! (I was going to say “used to”, but I don’t think we’ll ever get accustomed to being before God, like it’s not something marvelously special).

So, let’s take advantage now, given that it is such a blessing to know & be able to interact with our loving & magnificent heavenly Father already. What a shame that so many will “be silent” in terror! Contrasted to their awe, may ours be filled with wonder and love.

May God bless you and your families the remainder of this week and beyond.

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

*not that we should be surprised, the Bible predicted increased “running to and fro” in the last days in Daniel 12:4

** the picture at the top of this devotional is from Zion National Park, and is called “The Great White Throne”, in that the explorers who first explored the canyon saw this were awe-struck & reminded of that Biblical scene when they saw it!

*** Man, coincidence or divine appointment? As I’m finishing-up this devotional, a contemporary version of the hymn “Before the Throne of God Above” came on! Here’s a link to the version I was listening to, if you’re interested. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX-YH8qBbc0

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

March 1st, 2023

“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” James 4:6

I may have referenced this illustration in a previous mid-week update, but it has stuck with me, and I keep chewing on it: I was in a strip-mall Mexican food place some months back, and saw a man wearing a black t-shirt that said, in gray letters: “The Lord is not my shepherd, I am not a sheep”, and of course my brain flashed to “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” Psalm 23:1, and “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep, and am known by my own” John 10:14, and the kids’ song I enjoy leading: “I just wanna be a sheep, baa, baa, baa, baa”.

And I was reminded, of course, that in the secular world, the connotation of people as “sheep”, while not broadly or frequently used, is a negative one. For example, aggressive bloggers or commentators will often exclaim “Wake up, sheeple!”

And I was just thinking about the mindframe behind whoever manufactured and sold such a shirt, and then the thought process for this man who purchased, kept, and intentionally wore this shirt in public: “I don’t follow anyone, I make my own decisions! Others who obey (either religiously or just societally) are insufferable saps! I’ll show them my superiority by proclaiming this message, displaying it on myself!”

And then I can’t help but think of Satan’s insinuations in the conversation with Eve in the garden of Eden in Genesis 3: “God doesn’t want you rising as high as he is. Don’t submit to him, be your own leader! Chart your own path!” but of course, oh how terrible and full of suffering earth’s history has been since then.

I’ve heard it said that the Great Controversy between Christ and Satan plays out not only on a grand, universal scale, but within each human heart. I’ve also heard the metaphor said: “Each human heart has two things in it: a throne and a cross. And each person decides whether we sit on the throne and put Jesus on the cross, or give Jesus our heart-throne and ourselves get on the cross.”*

I know that, to the secular world’s estimation, to be humble, meek and submissive is not commendable at all: it is a repugnant prospect! But I just find continual delight in bowing myself to the one who is “gentle and lowly in heart”, whose “yoke is easy”, whose “burden is light” and who promises to give us rest for our souls (Matthew 11:29).

To be humble and teachable before God is a beautiful place to be! He who “gave his life for the church” and who “gives his life for his sheep” (Ephesians 5:25, John 10:11). And truly, God gives us a relatively simple task, with incredible rewards promised, when he instructs us to simply “Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God” Micah 6:8.

So I just, I don’t know, I see no glory, no benefit in being puffed-up, self-centered, saying “I make my own way in life!” Do such people not realize that (even excluding religion and what’s prophesied to happen to the wicked) death is going to have the final say? That all ambition and wealth- and power-gathering is ultimately futile? (see Ecclesiastes 1-2).

Clearly, the Bible instructs us in many places to be humble, here are just a few examples: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” Matthew 5:5. “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but be willing to associate with people of low position” Romans 12:16, and “have the mind of Christ Jesus… who made himself nothing, being found in the form of a servant.” Philippians 2:5,7

And of course, the promises to the humble are many and grand! “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” Matthew 5:5 “Well done, my good and faithful servant, you have been faithful with little, I will put you in charge of much.” Matthew 25:21, 23, and “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” 1 Peter 5:6

But to the proud, this is what scripture says: “…The pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world.” 1st John 2:16 Haughty eyes and a proud heart…produce sin.” Proverbs 21:4, and “The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 16:5.

I think it’s so foolish to be prideful as well! Think about it: we come into the world naked, weak, vulnerable, and crying. Everything we ever had for years as we grew and developed is only because others gave it to us (not to mention our marvelously engineered bodies, which come from God). We are so small and fragile, a rogue comet or sunburst could end us and all our empires in a moment. (Apart from God), we are nothing but ants on a speck of brightness in the dark universe. All our imaginings of power, security, etc. are but illusions able to be kept in place because of the stability of the universe God created.

I think part of why I’m reflecting on this recently is, as I shared in my sermon at Anaheim a couple of Sabbaths ago, I’ve been listening to a podcast about a megachurch network that self-destructed and imploded about a decade ago, in large part because the very talented pastor got full of himself, and progressively justified treating people horribly for the goal of continued growth and public image. It just leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth, and I feel great sorrow for how even churches can turn toxic if pride is allowed to seep in. I felt I kind of needed to “cleanse my pallet” by focusing on these verses that emphasize humility, helpfulness, and joyful cooperation in Christian community.

I guess a takeaway principle that I want to conclude with is this: we need to either learn to be humble, or be prepared to be humbled. As Luke 14:11 says “All those who exalt themselves will be humbled, but those who humble themselves will be exalted”

From those two options above, which destiny do you want? I think the choice is obvious. Let’s be God’s loving sheep. Yes, though they’re described as dumb, flighty, stubborn, etc., I admit I have all those traits. To be led by green pastures, still waters, and even through the shadow of death will be a delight and far-preferred, as long as our Good Shepherd is by our side, comforting us and guiding us along the way (see Psalm 23).

May God bless you and your families the rest of this week.

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

*If this illustration seems too harsh, keep in mind Matthew 16:24-25 “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

February 22nd, 2023

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, yet you were not willing” Matthew 23:37

I don’t know if you’re very able to make out the image above, but it’s a view of the Santa Ana River culvert that parallels the 91 Freeway Westbound in eastern Anaheim. It’s a view I regularly get while heading back toward the Anaheim church while doing food bank pickups from a couple of grocery stores in Anaheim Hills.

I’m posting it today to comment on, because I can’t help but see the irony that the riverbed is brown and scruffy, even as water is perpetually flowing by it, very closely!

In recent weeks I’ve been reflecting (and writing) on the beauty of the green- and flower-covered hills, and the snow-capped mountains (about to be totally covered in the approaching storm later this week!)

But, through it all, though water’s presence has been constant, this riverbed remains desolate and uninviting.

Why? I’m sure it has something to do with the soil content: the fact that the water isn’t soaking into the ground despite being very close. Obviously the plants were green and had a reachable water source at some point, but that has since passed.

Seeing and reflecting on this, I can’t help but wonder if this is how much of the world looks Spiritually to God, angels, and other heavenly intelligences. God, of course, faithfully sends his life-giving Spirit, equips us with tools like Scripture and prayer to fortify us, yet so many of us let those blessings slide right by without taking advantage of them. The end-result is that we look parched and thirsty, despite the fact that the blessings have been so near, within arms-reach.

Scripture, of course, uses the metaphor of nature’s desolation to reflect on Spiritual emptiness: from the fruitless fig tree to the illustration of the valley of dry bones, famine and desolation are frequent illustrators of religious emptiness (Jesus even used tombs as an example!)

But, praise the Lord, in contrast to those depressing representations, we also have lovely ones, like a lush tree planted by streams of water (Psalm 1), branches rooted in the vine producing lush grapes (John 15) streams flowing in the desert (Isaiah 43:19), and even Ezekiel’s valley of dry bones coming back to life! (ch. 37).

Let’s be resolute in our hearts to have the latter batch of illustrations refer to us, rather than the former! Just as the Santa Ana riverbed is such a waste in proximity with opportunity, let’s not lose our chance to bud and blossom for God, reflecting & sharing His beauty with others!

I pray a blessed week for you and your loved ones. May God’s providential care be evident in your life.

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

February 15th, 2023

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” 1st John 4:7

In the past few days, we’ve had the big two societal occurrences which were broadly recognized and celebrated: that of the Super Bowl and of Valentine’s day. Sometimes when things are going on in society, I like to step back and think, “If aliens were watching from afar, seeing how we’re behaving, what would they think of us?” This certainly would’ve been an interesting first half of the week to witness as an outside, impartial observer.

Of course, we don’t believe in aliens the way the secular world does: the fantasy of ‘little green men’ in spaceships. We of course believe that angels are traversing between earth and heaven, observing & helping (Genesis 28:1, John 1:51, Matthew 18:10, Hebrews 1:14), and that, farther off, unfallen worlds are watching earth as well to see what will happen with the Great Controversy (1st Corinthians 4:9, Job 1:6, 2:1).

Well, this week they would’ve seen the apex of our society’s competitiveness, and our compassion. Or at least simulated, 2-dimensional, versions thereof.

Firstly, sports (apexed in last Sunday’s Super Bowl) is definitely simulated competition. It is set up and funded intentionally so that spectators can observe and vicariously feel the thrill of rivalry: the pursuit of the goal, the rush of victory, or the agony of defeat. It gives people (athletes) a context in which they can strive and discipline themselves toward physical and strategic excellence, and also an arena in which they can get rich and famous. So it certainly ‘checks a lot of boxes’ for society’s felt needs. My dad once made a surprisingly fitting assertion that “sports is our simulated warfare during peacetime”, and since then, I have always thought of it as such. It explains so much! So much about our human hearts, as well.

And then yesterday we had Valentine’s day, the day dedicated to romantic love, of which imaginary observing aliens would definitely believe was constituted in chocolates and flowers and the color red: of fancy dinners, and sexy lingerie, and whatever goes on when the humans turn off the lights in their bedrooms.

Secular people certainly indulge in the thrills and pleasures of the 2-dimensional forms of both war and love outlined above. But we Christians of course contextualize and relate to these things in a much deeper form: we go to the 3rd dimension, understanding both war and love in the context of God, the devil, and us being somewhat caught between them.

First of all, we understand that all wars are but mere surface symptoms of the deeper Great Controversy going on in the universe between Christ and Satan. The first war broke out in heaven (see Revelation 12:7-9), and has since come to our planet (see v. 12). Similarly to how a persistent cough can be indicative of something much more severe and pressing, like bronchitis, tuberculosis, or esophageal cancer, we understand that the wars that we experience (in the current case of Russia and Ukraine, for example), are merely symptomatic of a deeper problem in the human heart: that of greed, covetousness, and ambition for power and wealth. Treating the symptoms is nice for the short-term, but the core cause must be addressed and rooted out for true resolution to occur. This is why we believe that, though we live in a largely peaceful world, we will never reach “Utopia”, we will always need Jesus to come and redeem the righteous to heaven and the earth made new.

And, as horrible as war is, I wonder if the two-dimensional treatment of love is all the more tragic, because it stands-in as a substitute for the true, substantive principle that exudes from God and is indeed His central characteristic. From ‘rom-com’ movies to Disney princesses to the lace & thong stores, I worry that people hit the “glass ceiling” of only ever conceiving of love as surface-level, as a “here’s what I want: if you can offer it to me, I’ll give you something you want” transactional mentality.*

But those of us who have drunk from the well of God’s draught (John 4:14, Revelation 22:7) of true Love have experienced something so much deeper and fuller and more meaningful, that to accredit 2-dimensional impersonators to love is like equating a stunning rainbow vista to a pack of Skittles, or a snow-capped mountain range to a tinfoil hat.

While we may enjoy participating in some of the societal trappings of both simulated war & love, let us never lose sight of the true significance and seriousness of both of them. We can truly find ourselves “playing with fire” if we

If both of these (the Super Bowl, and Valentine’s day) were to disappear, society would no doubt be less ‘fun’ at this time of year, but our fulfilledness as Christians would not be diminished in the least.

I pray a blessed remainder of the week for you and your families: May God richly lavish your lives with numerous evidences of His loving care (1st John 3:1).

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

* In reference to this, I can’t help but recall a shocking moment I had while doing my student-teaching. In a prep session with my master teacher for a Senior Religion class about Godly relationships, he said something so stunningly concise yet summarative of young, self-centered relationships, that it just about knocked me off my chair: “Guys give love to get sex, girls give sex to get love.” It spoke of a symbiotic, yet ultimately tragic, dichotomy, that it profoundly affected me. It has, similarly to how my dad summarized sports as simulated war for peacetime, shaped how I view the secular world.

My apologies for getting this update out a day late! The week has been over-full (of blessings!) so far.

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

February 9th, 2023

“Consider the [flowers] of the field, they neither toil nor spin. Yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his splendor was not arrayed as one of these!” Matthew 6:28

Blessings and greetings in Jesus’ name, dear church members & friends!

Though we had “groundhog day” last week (which occurs at the mid-point of winter), it seems like we’ve been having spring-like weather recently! I hope you’ve been enjoying it as much as I have. 🙂

I know I’ve mentioned the beauty of our surrounding hills and mountains recently, but as I’ve driven around this week (including down to the San Diego area a couple times) I’ve been spotting something new: strikingly bright orange and yellow patches of poppies here and there! They are like a giant ‘accent’ of neon brightness on the hills, as if God were marking the hills with a giant highlighter pen!

Analysts say that a “super-bloom” might be on its way, given the pattern of rain and then sun we’ve been having, and I for one would welcome it! I remember going with my family out to the hills north of Lake Elsinore a few years ago, and, despite the difficulty of navigating the bus system and the like to get there, we enjoyed ourselves greatly.

It is no wonder that, in the early 1900s, the state of California adopted the Eschscholzia californica as its state flower. It is such a bright and optimistic presence that blossoms up surprisingly! To me it really puts an ‘exclamation point’ on nature’s already beautiful display.

Our focus verse above reminds us that Jesus directs us to look at flowers (Lillies specifically) and consider God’s goodness toward us. While they didn’t have poppies there (I don’t think, hard to look up), they were familiar with nature surprising them with beauty. Given the right conditions, a scruffily-surrounded dirt road between towns that people might have traversed a thousand times, could for a time become a splendorous highway of artistic beauty!

Jesus gives this lesson in the context of advising us against peoples’ inclination to stress themselves out in making livelihoods for themselves. Jesus frankly tells us not to worry, but to trust the same God who arrays the fields and hills with splendor to provide for us as well. (see the full teaching in Matthew 6:25-34).

To me, it’s like Jesus is saying “look how God decorates so lavishly! He doles out beauty exuberantly! Better than a king in his elegance! Don’t you want to let Him lead your life too?”

I also like the idea that the small patches we’re currently seeing may be a mere “first-fruit” hint to a much larger “super-bloom” to come. That can also be true of us as Christians! We’re told that there will be a revival that encircles the world in the last days,* and perhaps we can be God’s “early-bloom” evidence, promising the greater, later bloom to come.

However you look at it, these current natural surroundings are a delight. A secularist can enjoy them on the surface, but we can appreciate it on a more profound level, acknowledging our benevolent creator. Even in a sinful world, evidences of God’s handiwork and care are around if you see them. Sometimes it takes intentionality! But there is no doubt they’re there.

I pray we would be, similarly, a significant part of God’s exuberant beauty in the world. May our homes, workplaces, schools, etc., be blessed by our presence in them.

May God bless you and your families the remainder of this week and beyond.

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

* I’m referring here to the “latter rain” of Joel 2:18-32, & Hosea 6:1-3, & James 5:7. Also see Revelation 18:1 for a symbolic description of it.

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

February 1st, 2023

“‘Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?’

‘No one, sir,’ she said.” John 8:10b-11a

I don’t know if you have ever faced accusations, but for me, the very prospect is intimidating. I’m afraid of being accused legally for something, financially for something, I even dread the thought that I might cause a fender-bender and face the wrath of an inconvenienced business-person or tattooed aggressor.

But of course people face accusations of much more serious degree: crimes, fraud, infidelity, etc. False accusations are bad enough to defend oneself against, but how much more terrible the ones that are true!

One of the characteristics of God (which probably doesn’t get enough recognition) is that of silencing accusers. The story quoted above shows Jesus doing just that in John 8: Jesus, calmly and succinctly, neutralizes a situation that could have caused a(n admittedly guilty) woman her life.

“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” is Jesus’ metric for justice, stated in verse 7. And then he bends down to do the simple act of writing on the ground and waits for their response.

Sister White in the Spirit of Prophecy says that Jesus was writing the accusers’ secret sins on the ground, intimating “there are things I could accuse you of as well”. This well accounts for how and why the accusers were shamed into silence and gradually drifted away.

Then Jesus, left alone with the woman and asking the question quoted above, then says “neither do I condemn you” (note: the one who indeed had no sin and therefore could’ve rightly thrown the first stone! But he chooses not to) “…Now go and sin no more” (v. 11b)

What a beautiful thing for the woman to be given her life back, with a clean slate, yet a charge to live up to God’s ideal will for her life!

Similarly, the accusers of the apostles were shamed into silence, seeing the undeniable miracles being wrought in Jesus’ name. You can read about 1 such example in Acts ch. 5

And we, too, face accusers, and Jesus knows it. Telling us both: ““Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12, and “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” John 15:18

All these religious accusations come from a source, the great “accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10, KJV), none other than Satan, who’s name in Hebrew (“Ha-Satahn”) literally means “the accuser”.

We see God much more aggressively silencing Satan’s accusations in the book of Job (Satan, whom after accusing both God and Job in chapters 1 and 2a, quickly disappears from the narrative after that), and even more vehemently in Zechariah chapter 3, where Joshua the high priest stands accused before the throne of God, but God responds “The Lord rebuke you, Satan!… Is this not a branch snatched from the fire?” (Zech 3:2).

And the truth is, we are all accused. We are accused externally by voices (of which Satan is behind many), and, perhaps even more toxically, internally by our own self-criticisms and put-downs.

But today I want to invite you to make the same Jesus who silenced the woman’s accusers, the same God who rebuked Satan in defense of Israel’s high priest, to be the silencer & rebuker of your inward accusations.

One of the things about a capitalistic, competition-based society, is that it gives out messages that you are never, in-and-of yourself, enough to be valued. Unless you are giving 110% to something (or many things) all the time, you are not worthy to be in the room.

This is how faith life (and hopefully church life) is supposed to be different! You are not valued for what you do, what you can produce, what you can offer someone else: you are precious and treasured simply for being a child of God! And no amount of either overachievement on one end of the spectrum, or laziness on the other end, can change that! No amount of beauty or ugliness changes your unique identity and belonging in the kingdom of God. No amount of riches or poverty, no brilliance or idiocy changes God’s opinion of you.

To put it succinctly: you are enough! Just as you are. Be confident in that. Tell the outward accusers and your own inward voices that you have an advocate who defends for you in holy places! (1st John 2:1) And that you choose that to be your foundational identity, rather than their claims.

I pray that Jesus’ work on your behalf will be efficacious, both in heaven’s sanctuary, and also within your own heart, to say: “I am beloved by the king of the universe! Stand back, criticisms, you’re about to be blasted away!”

May that truth ground us, root us, and propel us forward in confidence.

Many greetings, and God’s blessings to you and your loved ones this week and beyond!

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

January 25th, 2023

“Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even somust the Son of Man be lifted up,that whoeverbelieves in Him shouldnot perish buthave eternal life.” John 3:14-15

You may be aware that, in our mid-week prayer meeting sessions, a group of us is reading through the book Patriarchs and Prophets by Ellen White, and discussing a chapter each week. A couple weeks ago we were reading the chapter that had to do with Moses, at God’s direction, fashioning and raising a bronze serpent in the wilderness, to save the people from poisonous snakebites they were receiving. It’s a fascinating story, and an inspiring one, particularly if you consider the fulfillment Jesus gave it in the verse quoted above from John 3.

But a sad ending to the story is that, generations later, the bronze serpent became an idol in-and-of itself, and was used for false worship. Approximately 700 years later, it was destroyed amidst a broad period of positive reformation during king Hezekiah’s time. You can read that story in 2nd Kings 18.

As I was reading the PP chapter a couple weeks ago to prepare for the discussion session, it struck me: this is the same thing much of Christianity has done with the cross! How have we gone from (metaphorically) looking to the true sacrifice God provided, to receive salvation by faith, to today having a proliferance of items of jewelry, tattoos, etc. that so many (including celebrities & sports stars) wear while disregarding God’s power and His principles.

And that’s not even to mention the proliferance of the crucifix among Catholics! I’m sure they’d say it’s a symbol reminder to point people to the true sacrifice, but it sure smacks of idolatry to me, if you read the text of the 2nd commandment: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image…you shall not bow down to them nor serve them….” (Exodus 20:4a-5, NKJV).

Just as in the wilderness with Moses was to the Israelites, our looking to the authentic sacrifice God gave in Jesus is salvific to us, and that is of course so beautiful! But lifting up the “object” while potentially diminishing or disregarding the real power behind it is to again idolize! And I think it ends people in a worse place than they began. Curses be upon the devil (and his agents) for twisting around things which God does for man’s salvation to be a source of perdition.

I was struck with how set-in-our-ways humanity is. God does something wonderful: we make an idol out of it. In Israel’s case, it had to be destroyed. In the modern-day cases of jewelry & crucifixes: they are so widely distributed that it’s impossible for a central source to destroy all of them. What’s more: in a land of religious and personal freedom (which are very good things), there is no central authority who even has the ability/authority to demand/ensure their destruction. Essentially, it is up to us as individuals to decide we must do away with them: indeed, with any impostor substituting for the actual power of God: even one that looks like it, or has been an authentic conveyer of His power before.

I have probably felt this over and over again some 50 times or more when reading the Bible: how, despite the fact that we live very different daily lives now than in Bible times (cars, cell-phones, credit cards and the like would stun and baffle old-worlders), its truths are timeless because our nature is the same as it’s always been.

But the good news, friends, is that the Lord we serve, the solution to the sin problem, is also the same. People feel like they’re always doing something new and different, but with years under our belts, and with the Bible as a perspective-giver, we find we agree with king Solomon: “There is nothing new under the sun” (see Ecclesiastes1:9).

I pray for you and your families, that your focus would only be on the true authentic source of salvation God has provided, and never to any imitators or impostors. May our faith be vibrant, our foundation sure, our zeal unquestioned in a world full of swampy indifference.

May God bless you and your families the remainder of this week.

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

Apologies for getting this out a day late! Be sure to read to the bottom to see important prayer requests and announcements.

Anaheim SDA Church

Mid-week Pastor’s Update

January 19th, 2022

“What is Man, that you are mindful of him?” Psalm 8:4

If you have an interest in following tech news, you may know that in recent months advancements in AI (artificial intelligence) have come “close to home” in activities that we frequently do.

Computer and robotic replacements for formerly human-performed tasks are nothing new: from the invention of the 4-function calculator to modern assembly lines at car plants, automation has replaced human efforts in many aspects. People of course have been concerned for decades about what this would mean for working class people: that they could, through no fault of their own, suddenly find themselves edged out of a job by automatons who can work tirelessly, endlessly, on nothing but an electricity supply and occasional maintenance. Indeed, workers have had to accommodate: up-training to jobs that, as of yet, haven’t been automatized. In short, it’s great for raising productivity and, in the long run, decreasing costs, but at cost to human sustenance and fulfillment.

But what seems to be occurring recently is different: AI is now able to make quite stunning works of visual art, which I was impressed with when I first saw it in late 2022 (indeed, the picture above I ‘commissioned’ to be generated by an AI ‘bot’*). I immediately worried, though: what will this do to human-made art? Will artists, who already have an increasingly hard time sustaining themselves financially, continue to be a viable part of society? Why would someone pay an artist thousands of dollars to create something that a bit of trial-and-error could create using AI? I suppose similar concerns were expressed 100+ years ago regarding portrait painters at the invention of the camera.

But it begs the question: what is art? Is art something merely aesthetic that can be appreciated? Or does it have to do with intent of production on the part of the producer? Put another way, would an art gallery ever host a showing of purely AI creations? If so, would anybody go to such a showing? It seems kind of futile already to host art shows, since copious amounts of “art” can be made by going online*. But then we just find ourselves devaluing art! It’s no longer rare, it’s no longer tied to an artist who painstakingly made it… and that can’t be good, can it?

And then, a couple of weeks ago, I found something potentially even more alarming: I learned that AI ‘bots’ are able to produce written articles, essays, and the like! And analysts are saying these are quite good, approaching indistinguishability from those written by people! These exclamation points I’m using are more punctuations of surprised alarm than enthusiasm, because it begs the question: what will come of human production of written material? What will it mean for newspaper & journalism? For poets and authors? For pastors even, if a bot can do just as good a job?**

What I worry is that this will rob creative writers (and possibly speakers) of the motivation to create!

I remember reading a sci-fi book years ago where an alien species hovered their spaceships over the earth. They didn’t destroy anything, didn’t announce themselves, just hovered over the earth for a period of like 3 years. Humanity was at first shocked and alarmed, then accommodated (“got used to”) it, then gradually lost their motivation to do & achieve things, implicitly knowing that they were not the superior power of the universe, and that their destinies were more in the hands of these silent observers overhead than their own.

I worry that something similar is going to happen with AI! “Why strive to achieve? The AI bots & robots will soon be doing everything anyway.”

This certainly portends doom, and seems like a look into the abyss of despair.

But then I also consider: If humanity has, actually, made AI that can do things autonomously, it’s kind of a version of what God did when He made us. We’ve long known we’re created in the image of our maker; I believe the desire to create in our image (via kids and now via computers & AI) is an extension of that.

But the big difference is that God made us each *personal* sources of intelligence. Bound in a body, collected in a society of others, and given resources to work with, and others to interact with. These computer bots doing processes in the ‘cloud’ (really warehouses of servers in far-off, sparsely-populated places) is really soul-less! Like: this technology can totally outlive our generation, and will have a faultless memory going forward, but for what? It certainly begs an existential crisis both for us, and for it, if it ever gains the ability to consider its own existence.

This brings me back to the verse quoted above: “What is Man, that you are mindful of him?”

If we cease to be the superior source of intelligence in the universe, where does that leave us? Evolutionists might ponder that we have, in creating thinking computers, evolved ourselves out of usefulness.

But does our intelligence determine the value of our worth in the world/universe?

To be beloved by God: to be precious to Him, treasured by him, is where I have to turn to keep any sense of self-worth. I have to run into the arms of my “Abba – daddy” much as a toddler does to its loving parent.

Only God, and unconditional love from people which flows from God, can provide purpose outside of ‘being the greatest in the known universe’. We are not defined by our achievements – though we are invited to achieve by God, and look what we’ve accomplished!

But our best advancements are not unlike a 5-year old making works of finger paints for parents to magnetize to the refrigerator. We love the work because our beloved kids made them: they have no intrinsic value of their own. An elephant, or now an AI ‘bot’, can do better!

It has to go to the love: we have to focus on love. That is what will forever differentiate us from the cold brilliance we have created as a species. As Paul reflects on in 1st Corinthians, where so many other great things find their end, “love never fails” (v. 8).

I pray you will nestle into the love of God today, and that, grounded and couched in that unconditional love, that you’ll extend loving arms out to others. Invite them into the warm embrace as well. It alone is what will give us our sense of belonging and togetherness in the long-run.

Sincerely,

Pr. Mark Tatum

* https://www.fotor.com/features/ai-image-generator/ (I typed in “Biblical king David gazing up at starry sky”

** I watched a youtube video in which a Christian vlogger made a 3-minute devotional based on a Bible passage, and gave two AI bots from different apps/websites the same challenge, from the same passage, and read all three, challenging people to guess which one he had made himself. I had to admit, I didn’t know! Here’s the link to that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXdPaX8uCBU