Do you really believe that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has been teaching you the truth?  If you do, I ask you to pray about taking this simple Bible Challenge. 

Do you really want to learn what the Bible has to say? What it really means to you as a child of God, here and now? It is time for the Lord to teach you in His own special way exactly what He wants you to know about Him and what He expects of you. It is that simple. A lot of things changed at the cross and the SDA church (along with many others) makes some serious mistakes here. You have been misinformed. It is time for you to stop listening to them and everyone else, even me! It is time for you to learn from the Lord Himself! Do you know that the Holy Spirit is with us for just this purpose?  (Time to pause here for a moment and let it sink in. It is so awesome! We have our own private Teacher.)

First - Put away all of your SDA literature, all of Mrs. White's books, all of your sabbath school quarterlies, your Adventist Reviews; don't watch 3ABN or John Carter or It Is Written or Amazing Facts, etc. for 1 entire month. Can you do that?

Second - Read the New Testament every day for the next month.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you and teach you as you read about the New Covenant (versus the OLD covenant) that we have with God. This shouldn't really frighten you if the SDA church is truly bible-based. If it's not, then you will find out one way or the other. How does that sound?  Don't let this overwhelm you... it is not a marathon to be run, it is food for your soul that must be taken in a bite at a time.  Now begin to read and re-read the New Testament through for the next month with only the aide of the Holy Spirit.

To start, you may want to read your New Testament briskly through as if it were the newspaper. Then read it slowly and savor every word and thought. Get comfy when you read it. Read a passage then close your eyes and pretend you are on the shores of Galilee with a light, warm breeze blowing gently against you while Jesus is talking to you.  Be at the Sermon on the Mount.  Enjoy it.   It is the Living Word of God.

Next, take the Bible for what it says. For example, if it says "there is now no more condemnation for you who are in Christ Jesus", believe it because it is true! Never mind what else you may have been taught - take the Bible at it's word. If the NT says "all things are clean", believe it; it is true under the New Covenant. Take it for what it says, and if you don't understand something, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. Ask the Lord to help you understand (that is THE ONLY WAY to get true understanding), and as you keep reading, and feed your mind with more of the simple truth of God, you will understand that which you couldn't before. If you come to a confusing part, skip ahead a short ways until you come to a part you can easily understand. Don't try to memorize it right now. Each portion of the Bible has it's own flavor and texture. It is alive. Read it and re-read it. It is food so think of it as if it were food. You don't eat all of your daily food all at once, do you? Nibble on a few passages when you have a moment. Sit down for 10 or 20 minutes and feed yourself with a chapter or two. Stop and let your brain digest it. Always say your prayers before your feed your soul - a few simple words like "Dear Jesus, here I am again. Help me to understand your word. Protect me as I read."

Keep at it until you are happy and satisfied that you understand what the Lord wants from you. He doesn't give us a huge list of things to do and things not to do; He did that in the Old Testament to prove a point - a relationship with Him doesn't work that way. We only have 2 Commandments now (yes, this is where we have to take the Bible for what is says!). As Christians, the 2 Commandments Jesus wants us to follow are this:  1) Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.  2) Love your neighbor as yourself. Now read Acts 15 and see what the Apostle Paul has to say about it.

Third - Make sure you read the Authorized King James Version! None of the newer 'translations' can be trusted, and the New King James isn't what you were told it was. Stick with the KJV! Please stay away from The Clear Word Bible (Seventh-day Adventist) and the New World Translation (Jehovah's Witness) at all cost!!!

Does that sound too hard? If the SDA church is truly Christ-oriented, then what better way could you spend the next month but than by being totally immersed in the New Covenant of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?

I already know that some of you are going to write to me and say "We should read the WHOLE Bible, not just the New Testament".  This is absolutely true, but since the teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist Church are so deeply rooted in the Old Testament, they don't really teach from the New Testament.  This is not reading "the WHOLE Bible" either.  If you are a Christian, you need to know what Christ wants you to know about our New Covenant that we have with Him.  If that doesn't interest you, perhaps you are not really a Christian...............