Blog Post: Is Your Faith Advancing or Stalling? A Wake-Up Call for God's People

Have you ever felt like your spiritual life, or maybe your entire church, is just… coasting? You’re not alone. There’s a natural, gravitational pull in all of us toward the comfortable, the convenient, and the carefree. Like water finding the lowest point, we tend to settle into a faith that demands little and, unfortunately, produces even less.

But what if that’s the exact opposite of what God intends?

I was recently struck by a powerful quote from Ellen White that cuts to the heart of this issue:

“The wheels of nature and providence are not appointed to roll backwards nor to stand still. We must have an advancing working faith.”

Let that sink in. God’s design—for nature, for our lives, and for His church—is forward motion. Stagnation is not an option. Complacency is a compromise.

So, how do we shift from a faith that is stalled to one that is truly advancing? The journey begins by confronting three critical areas where we’ve often lost our way.

1. Reclaiming the "Law of Service"

Somewhere along the line, we’ve subtly replaced the "law of service" with the "pursuit of success." Our Adventist institutions have done a phenomenal job producing capable doctors, engineers, and teachers. But the world happily gobbles them up with big salaries and prominent positions, often pulling them away from a life of intentional, missional service.

The true purpose of education and life, as stated in the book Education, is to prepare us for "service here and greater service above." When we lose this north star, we lose our altitude. Our faith becomes personal and private, rather than active and outward. The church’s collective sense of mission dims, and with it, our unity and impact.

2. Trusting God’s Covenant of Blessing (Yes, Still!)

It’s time to ask a daring question: Are the promises of Deuteronomy 28 and Joshua 1 just ancient history, or are they a blueprint for God’s people today?

Deuteronomy 28 lays out an incredible list of blessings for obedience: blessing in the city and country, on our families and our work, victory over enemies, and being made the "head and not the tail."

Joshua 1 promises success and prosperity to those who meditate on God’s law and carefully follow it.

Many of us read these and think, "That was for them, not for me." But what if God still desires to bless His covenant people in a tangible way? This isn't a "prosperity gospel"; it's a covenant relationship. Just as my wife and I have special privileges and responsibilities in our marriage covenant, God’s blessings are often linked to a faithful, obedient relationship with Him. Is our church experiencing the "head" blessing, or have we settled for being the "tail"?

3. Navigating the Tension: Grace and Truth in a "Meaningless Age"

We live in a culture that one writer aptly described as a "meaningless age." People are searching for purpose, and our world’s experiments with absolute license are leaving lives broken and empty. This is our greatest opportunity!

But to reach people, we must master the balance that Jesus did: full of grace and truth.

• Legalism is a disease of the why, not the what. God’s standards are not the problem; selfish, prideful motivations for keeping them are. Standards are meant to be guardrails that protect our relationship with God, not chains that bind us.

• Religion must be "caught before it's taught." The Bible says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8). We are not to arm-twist people into the kingdom, but to live such winsome, loving, and purpose-filled lives that others are magnetized to the Jesus they see in us.

I learned this through a patient, nine-month process of gently guiding a church’s music style. The goal wasn’t to be a critic, but a shepherd—leading people to higher ground with wisdom, love, and patience. Some left, but the church that remained was sweeter, more unified, and more focused on its mission.

The Time for Renewal is Now

The wheels of providence are rolling forward. God is not done with His church. The story of Elijah and Elisha teaches us that the work of reformation doesn't end with one generation; it continues.

It’s time to simplify our lives, re-center on God’s Word, and commit to being Deuteronomy 28, Joshua 1, and Psalm 1 people. Let’s stop using the Bible as a club and start using it as a guide to lead people, with great grace, to higher ground.

Pray for your pastors. Encourage your elders. Be that "lovable Christian" in your community. The world is desperate for a faith that actually works—an advancing, working faith.

The dawn is coming. Let’s be found advancing with it.

Let’s Pray Together:

Lord, we confess our tendency to seek comfort over the cross. Ignite in us an advancing, working faith. Help us to reclaim our mission of service, to trust in Your covenant promises, and to winsomely lead others to the sweet, beautiful truth of Jesus. Renew our hearts and our churches for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Questions for Reflection (Share your thoughts in the comments below!):

1. What is one area where you feel your faith has become "comfortable" or stagnant?

2. How can you practically live out the "law of service" in your community this week?

3. What does it mean to you to be a "Deuteronomy 28, Joshua 1, and Psalm 1" person in today's world?