Alsbach, Darmstadt [APD; CD EUDNews]. On January 18 at this year's satellite worship service, pastor Günther Machel (Ostfildern, near Stuttgart) President of the Seventh-day Adventist church in Southern Germany affirmed: "2014 is a year of remembrance". He spoke with Pastor Johannes Naether (Hannover), the president of the Adventist Church in northern and eastern Germany on the Church's motto for 2014, which is taken from the last book of the Bible, Revelation 22:21: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all". The service was transmitted from a major TV studio of the Adventist Media Centre "Voice of Hope" in Alsbach near Darmstadt to about 350 Adventist churches in Germany. It was also broadcasted live via ASTRA satellite on "Hope Channel" and was accessed by over 350 users on the Internet via live stream. Translation into sign language for the hearing impaired was displayed on the screen.
Pastor Machel recalled that WWI began one hundred years ago. On June 28, 1914 the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo. The ensuing war was "merciless" said Machel. "To the one assassination were added ten million and 20 million injured." Only 21 years later WWII followed with about 60 to 70 million deaths. People were mercilessly killed during the Nazi era on the battlefields and in concentration camps." 'Mercyless' means ruthless, cold and brutal. "As Christians, we cannot agree with the word 'merciless' " Machel emphasized. Therefore, the motto for the year, which is found in the final text of the Bible: "The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you all " "With you all" means that all people are included, not just Christians.
"Christians around the world often talk enough of grace, but do they live it?" asked Machel. Or is grace, mercy and peacefulness not mean for everyday life? It would still be possible to make changes without violence. Machel cited the example of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. "Christian support was fundamental in that unique event. We remember the Leipzig Monday demonstrations and prayers for peace with andles instead of weapons."
Walls could also fall without violence and war. Not only in politics but also in the professional and private sector. "We should teach this to our children." Machel challenged us that profit-driven software companies should not be given more space in our kids' lives with their violent computer games and their motto: "the more enemies are shot down on the screen, the more successful the user should feel." As long as there is strife, war and injuries among us, we should not and must never stop thinking about the grace of the Lord Jesus. "God's grace unites us and changes our lives," said Machel.
Pastor Johannes Naether reminded us of the information revealed by Edward Snowden about NSA last year. Whole societies are becoming more and more susceptible and vulnerable. Information is now used to trade just like valuable raw material, intermeddling is on everyday agenda, and among friends arises a nagging feeling of mistrust.
We are also overwhelmed with information. It shocks and disturbs us when hundreds of people drown miserably on our European coasts and we are faced with so much suffering. Yet, there is a vague fear for our own well-being, a fear that increases the morerefugees are accepted and given shelter. "Do we care about these people?" Asked Naether. Our society is increasingly closing into niche groups to live within themselves. A church could also retire into a niche.
"As humans, we live by the grace of God and receive His peace, because He has saved us through Jesus Christ," said Naether. The world watches and monitors with distrust and indifference, but Christians should resist by living with grace, peace and mercy.
picture: Günther Machel, President of the Seventh-day Adventist church in Southern Germany; President of the Adventist Church in northern and eastern Germany;
