"Pastor, why don't you preach more clearly about the hot topics of our time? Midterm elections, national debt, rising living costs, Christian nationalism as a sign of the end times, the beast, the mark, and the Sabbath? Instead, you keep reminding us to maintain a personal devotional life and, annoyingly, to give Bible studies. Aren't these things common to all Christians, not just Adventists? Shouldn't we be more vocal about present truth?" Fair questions. We are a prophetic people with a prophetic message. We should know what we believe, why we believe it, and how to share it courageously. Our identity and mission matter, and the world is not getting any less complicated. But here is my concern: we can become experts at identifying the signs of the times while neglecting the signs of spiritual life in our own hearts. We can debate the mark of the beast while displaying the marks of bitterness, pride, and indifference. We can unmask the beast on a prophecy chart while failing to recognize the ugly attitudes we unleash on one another. We can defend the Sabbath while forgetting that the Lord of the Sabbath calls us to love our neighbors. Jesus warned that "the love of many will grow cold" (Mat. 24:12). Paul described (church) people having "a form of godliness but denying its power" (2 Tim. 3:5). The danger is not always abandoning religion; sometimes it is keeping its appearance while losing its transforming power. Before checking the temperature of the political climate, we should check the temperature of our love. My responsibility as a pastor is not merely to dispense religious information. Much of it is readily available in our books and official church websites. My calling is to guide people to encounter Christ, grow in their relationship with Him, and reach their full potential connected to Him. This is not a distraction from our prophetic mission. It is the essential part of its purpose. Yes, let's study prophecy, speak courageously about the state of our nation, and understand present truth. But let's also pray, give Bible studies (did I say this before? I hope so, because it's such a transformative experience for both teacher and student), forgive people, and love those who disagree with us. Prophecy should not merely help us recognize the approaching crisis; it should prepare us to remain faithful when it comes.

— Pastor Ovid Radulescu