22/04/2026
I sincerely hope I am wrong, but I have been deeply concerned about what seems like the rise of ceremonial Adventism among many of our young people in the church.
These days, you see the uniforms, the bands, the youth conventions, the student congresses, and all the outward expressions of church life. The activities are vibrant, the programs are full, and the ceremonies are beautiful.
But I cannot help but ask:
Do we still know why we are who we are?
Do we know why we eat what we eat?
Do we understand what we believe?
How many of our fundamental beliefs can we clearly explain?
More importantly, do we truly care?
Sometimes it feels like the ceremony is growing faster than conviction.
We know how to march.
We know how to sing.
We know how to wear the uniform.
But do we know Christ?
Do we understand the Sabbath beyond tradition?
Do we know the gospel beyond culture?
Do we carry our faith in our hearts, or only on our sleeves?
With the growing rise of marriages outside the fold and increasing indifference toward doctrine, I sometimes wonder whether we are raising disciples or merely preserving appearances.
This is not written as condemnation.
It is a sincere burden.
I honestly hope I am not just being a blind critic.
Perhaps I am wrong.
But if there is any truth in this, then maybe it is time for honest reflection.
Are we building identity around ceremony, or around Christ?
