There is a difference between living up to all that …

Comment on Defining Adventism: A poll by Terri Dale.

There is a difference between living up to all that you believe and actually not believing. I think it’s inherent in all of us that we often fail miserably to live up to our beliefs. Teachers and pastors are no exception. They are, however, held to a higher standard when it comes to what they teach and what they preach. The doctrines of our church are pretty straight forward and backed up by scripture. If one is struggling with their understanding of those beliefs or their acceptance of those beliefs, the classroom and the pulpit are not the place to work it out. A Bible study group or a wrestling with God in the garden is a better place. If you need a sounding board, utilize a peer group and the small group Bible study. Guard against heresy. We need to humble ourselves before God and remember that He holds us accountable for those we lead astray. It’s difficult to quantify how many (how much) one believes, but if they are teaching and preaching alternate doctrines, then they need to step down.