Wrong Way – Pastor Erton Köhler

It can wound a church faster than outside pressure, so pay close attention: not long ago, a rumor started online and spread like wildfire. Before anyone checked the facts, relationships were broken, reputations damaged, and peace was lost. Many sincere believers watched from the sidelines while hurt grew deeper every hour. It is the situation when we feel we are defending what is right, but we choose a method that is not Christlike. Noble motives do not justify unwise methods. We can love truth and still harm people. We can want to protect the mission and still weaken it. Think of Peter in Gethsemane. When the crowd came to arrest Jesus, Peter acted fast. "Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear…" (John 18:10, NKJV). Peter's motive was understandable, but his method was wrong. Jesus stopped the escalation, healed the wound, and told him to put the sword away. Love without wisdom can still hurt. Social platforms reward speed, not discernment. Many people are not trying to destroy, they are trying to help. Yet the method becomes a weapon when we repeat what we have not checked. Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is stop the chain, pray, and go to the source with humility. The worldwide church is choosing better methods for a holy mission. At Annual Council last year, leaders gathered under the theme "Integrated for Mission," calling the church to move forward united. Hope Channel International has been training digital missionaries. Adventist World Radio has used podcasts and digital media campaigns to connect seekers in regions where public evangelism is difficult. During Global Youth Day, thousands of young Adventists mobilized online campaigns alongside community service. Before you react, pause. Before you forward, verify. Before you label, listen. Speak to people, not about people. It is possible to have the right motive and still choose the wrong method. Jesus is still healing what impulse cuts. About the series From the Heart is a weekly devotional series in which Pastor Köhler reflects on what it means to be grounded in the Bible and focused on the mission, collectively and individually. Each episode is grounded in the four pillars of the Seventh-day Adventist Church strategic plan: Communion with God, Identity in Christ, Unity through the Holy Spirit, and Mission for All. The series connects biblical faith to everyday life, sharing short reflections and glimpses of how God is at work through the Adventist Church around the world. Subscribe and join us each week as we live out our faith and prepare for Jesus's return. – The Seventh-day Adventist Church has been an established denomination since 1863. It is a global Christian family with over 23 million members who hold the Bible as the ultimate authority. We are believers committed to helping people understand the Bible to find freedom, healing, and hope in Jesus. Want to learn more about the Seventh-day Adventist Church? Visit our website at: https://www.adventist.org/ Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsvkV-3QHEE