Walter Pearson

[ColporteurK]

 Yes, we are given explicit Inspired counsel that Jesus NEVER joked or said things in jest. That is almost foreign thinking to us fallen people who live in a constant atmosphere of humor. It is best not to form conclusions off of what Scripture does not say but rather what it does says.

Given the low standard level for those who come into the church in developed areas of the world (jewelry, perhaps smoking, not studied, not believing in the SOP, etc. etc. ) I think it is best not to consider soul winning simply someone who has been baptized. Many are being buried alive in the baptismal pool. The point is that some join the church out of mental assent and not because of conversion. I am not judging the salvation of any particular individuals but the condition of the church in NA ( for instance ) is evidence of such.

   Being baptized in our country is not in itself evidence of anything. The proof is in the following days after baptism. While we do not judge the salvation of another the Bible says that by their fruit ye shall know them. Some have said that we are even to be fruit inspectors however God's Word says that we are. In many cases  the fruit is being ignored.  We are indeed called to judge/evaluate methods and content of preaching as well as the fruit in the lives of those who may come into the church as a result of this.

 Let the Countenance Be Cheerful.--There is nothing gloomy in the religion of Jesus. While all lightness, trifling, and jesting, which the apostle says are not convenient, are to be studiously avoided, there is a sweet rest and peace in Jesus that will be expressed in the countenance. Christians will not be mournful, depressed, and despairing. They will be sober-minded, yet they will show to the world a cheerfulness which only grace can impart.  {CG 146.3} 

Isn't that a beautiful quote ? !

Not only should "lightness, trifling, and jesting" be avoided from the pulpit they should be avoided altogether. I too have failed and resorted to quips and such when talking to others even here on the forum. However, the pulpit in particular is a sacred place to stand and speak. It is not an entertainment center. Humor from the pulpit is the result of one or more of the following reasons. None are a good reason to cut up.

!. Fear to give a straight message and therefore joking is used to pad the edges and soften the message.
2. a form of venting one's anger
3. A desire to entertain, be liked, draw attention to oneself.

I remember a speaker on Sabbath once saying, " I'm sure that Jesus told jokes."
 
Is that right ? Based off of what ? 

[Carl]

Many good points in your post CP. However today seems  the opposite is more true. These are the reasons I mention troubling things going on in the worship service like certain attire, belly laughs, talking about the past week to name a few of many. It's done so often, it's become commonplace and the normal thing to do nowadays. (just as Satan would have it)

They do not feel the presence of God and act accordingly, the worship service has become the same as potluck and parking lot. Very bad example to those who are new and learning or want to keep God in mind. It's just one hour or so out of a whole week, they need to watch over the mouth and do only those things pleasing to God.

[ColporteurK]

Yes Carl, I think point number 3 best explains what you refer to. Many of our people want to be tickled and some are willing to do the tickling.

[Welcome43]

JOKING, ppr. Jesting; making merry with.
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. Proverbs 17:22

Are adventist being to legalistic. Legalism -strict adherence or the principle of strictadherence, to law or prescription, especially to the letter rather than the spirit. #legalism in the Church.

I don't have a problem with the spirit of prophecy I have problem with church ppl judging God's ministers. Every adventist pastor I know always pray before preparing a sermon. Just so, I tell you there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents. Luke 15:10. Lets agree to disagree. God is using Pastor Walter Pearson to win souls...if he is what you don't agree with "joking" if God didn't want pastor Pearson preaching he wouldn't be preaching. That fact of the matter is pastor Pearson baptized many ppl #God appoved.

[ColporteurK]

There are many things in Israel that God allows that he does not agree with. He allowed for apostasy in Israel and sometimes let it go for many decades. I think we all know what jesting and trifling mean. When one is standing behind the pulpit it is especially serious.

We must discern the difference between being happy/merry and being a joker. They are not the same.  Some do it (joke) once in  awhile. Some do it to draw a belly laugh and some invite laughter as a consistent habit.

I compare our early pioneers and what they said with much of what we hear today. No comparison.

" The success of a minister depends much upon his deportment out of the desk. When he ceases preaching and leaves the desk, his work is not finished; it is only commenced. He must then carry out what he has preached. He should not move heedlessly, but set a watch over himself, lest something that he may do and say be taken advantage of by the enemy, and a reproach be brought upon the cause of Christ. Ministers cannot be too guarded, especially before the young. They should use no lightness of speech, jesting or joking,
but should remember that they are in Christ's stead, that they must illustrate by example the life of Christ. "For we are laborers together with God." "We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain."  {1T 380.2}

 Regarding "what Jesus might have said "we do not form our beliefs off of what we think Jesus could have said but where there is not a shred of evidence. That would be like saying Jesus could have changed the Sabbath to Sunday. Well, He did not and if He would have it would have been recorded in Scripture.

The definition of legalism is not that of strict adherence per se. God is very particular in certain situations. Would it have been legalism for Adam and Eve not to eat a bite from the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil ?  That's being pretty particular.  Legalism is a much misused term. Legalism is an attempt to earn salvation by deeds. To assume that a person is trying to do that because he is apposed to joking/ jesting etc. is to judge motive. That too we are told is wrong.

[Welcome43]

Adventist people love to judge and point fingers sit church every sabbath and never put any work in instead point fingers. It is not your job to point fingers and judge people thats the Holy Spirit. This is one of the reason why the church is the way it is...no growth. Adventist people feel they are the only one's in the world that are going to heaven and they are closer to God than anyone else. Now there are adventist Christian who don't judge who is about God's business and spreading the good news that Jesus Christ is coming. Have you preached any sermons have you help win souls? Like I said there are Adventist people and there are Adventist christians which one are you?

[Tammy]

Adventist people feel they are the only one's in the world that are going to heaven and they are closer to God than anyone else.

That is a very general statement and absolutely not a true one.  Most Adventists are very well aware that God has many people in other churches right now.  We also know that Ellen White says that not 1 in 20 of us will be saved (I believe that is a pretty close quote).

Regarding judging, you are correct.  There is much of the wrong kind of judging that goes on.  But also, in this day and age, that word is thrown around a LOT in an unfair way.  If Mary and John are a couple living together without being married, I can say they are living in sin.  That is not judging.  That is discerning between right and wrong.  If I say they will never go to heaven, that is judging.