Letters to the Churches: A Revelation Proclamation to the Advent Christian Movement
Introduction: A Fellow Laborer’s Appeal to the Churches
I write this not as a prophet, but as a pastor. Not as one who has mastered the message, but as one who has been convicted by it. These words were first preached to my own heart. They are not declarations from on high—they are cries from within. Cries born out of prayer, reflection, and a deep longing to see our churches awaken to the urgency of the hour.
We are part of a movement that once shook a nation. A movement born out of the longing for Christ’s return. A movement that dared to proclaim, “Jesus is coming soon.” But somewhere along the way, we lost our prophetic confidence. We grew cautious. We grew comfortable. We grew quiet.
These four letters are not meant to condemn—they are meant to call. To call us back to the mission. To call us to reclaim our voice. To call us to awaken from spiritual ease. And to call us to prepare the way for the arrival of the King.
I offer them to you as a fellow laborer in the gospel. As one who believes the time is short. As one who longs to see our churches not just survive—but roar with heaven’s urgency.
Letter 1: To the Church That Forgot the Mission
(True North: Christ’s Righteousness in a World Obsessed with Being Right)
Introduction: When the Compass Spins
In a world of shifting ideologies and theological turf wars, the church is often tempted to navigate by the wrong compass point. We chart our course by political leanings, denominational distinctives, or cultural relevance — all while drifting from the one true orientation: the righteousness of Christ. And like many in our Reformed circles, we’ve mastered systems but may have lost our hunger for the Savior. We’ve built doctrinal walls and unintentionally neglected resurrection fire.
Paul’s words in Philippians 3 are not academic — they are urgent. He writes from prison, stripped of every earthly credential, and says: Philippians 3:7–12 (NASB 1995) 7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
This is not theological nuance. It’s spiritual survival. It’s not a matter of fine-tuning our doctrinal statements — it’s a matter of reorienting our entire compass.
Pastors, this is about whether our churches are truly centered on Christ or subtly drifting toward a righteousness that requires no effort on our part. It’s about whether our pulpits proclaim the power of the cross or merely the precision of our theology. This is not a debate over theological categories — it’s a call to return to the living Person of Jesus, the only foundation that will stand when the shaking comes.
Scriptural Foundations: Righteousness That Cannot Be Earned
Paul dismantles every credential — religious, cultural, intellectual — and calls it rubbish compared to knowing Christ. In his Jewish context, righteousness was measured by Torah observance, ritual purity, and national identity. In ours, it’s often measured by doctrinal precision, denominational loyalty, and cultural positioning.
But Paul’s cry is clear: “That I may know Him.” Not just know about Him. Not just defend Him. Know Him. And not just know Him in comfort — but in suffering, in death, and in resurrection power. Current Realities: The Church’s GPS Is Off Course
Let’s be honest. Many churches today are navigating by:
Political alignment: Red or blue, conservative or progressive
Theological tribalism: Reformed, charismatic, dispensational
Cultural positioning: Relevant, inclusive, traditional
These markers aren’t inherently wrong. But when they become our destination, we’ve lost the map. Christ is not a waypoint — He is the Way. Luke 18:9 warns us of those “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt.” That’s not just a Pharisee problem — it’s a pulpit problem. (I confess my sin here and now)
Practical Steps: Resetting the Compass
Step 1: Preach Christ’s Righteousness Not Ours, can we let the pulpit thunder with grace and let our sermons exalt the cross, and not our bona-fides. Philippians 3:9 must be more than a verse — it must be our True North.
Step 2: Disciple for Resurrection Living, will we teach believers to point their walk towards resurrection power, not just theological awareness. Philippians 3:10 is a call to transformation, not just information.
Step 3: Lead with Humility and Hunger, Paul says, “Not that I have already obtained it…” — and neither have we. Let’s point our compass directly at a hunger for Christ, not a mastery of systems.
Step 4: Call the Church to Press On, Verse 12 is a rally cry: “I press on…” should we be championing the call to our churches to pursue Christ with urgency, and never settle for theological comfort.
Conclusion: True North Is a Person, Not a Position
The storm is already here. The shaking has begun. And only those focused on Christ will endure. Let us be found oriented on Him — not having a righteousness of our own, not boasting in our theological precision or political purity, but clothed in the righteousness that comes by faith.
Pastors, reset the compass. Churches, recalibrate the map.
Because when the final trumpet sounds, only those aligned with Christ — not culture, not systems — will stand.
Let us preach with urgency. Let us lead with humility. Let us live with resurrection power.
Because Christ is not just our destination — He is our direction.