Friday Night Message: Spiritual Pioneers - Part VI
March 22, 2024

Good evening brethren,
We are continuing the series about “spiritual pioneers” this evening …Below are some bullet
points listing the concepts we have already considered:
   • The Pioneering Spirit and the Promise of a Better Future
      • Leaving It All Behind … for a New Life
→ 1. The frontier began when you found yourself separated from the “old world”.
→ 2. Americans began to exhibit some very distinctive characteristics, after initially trying
to transplant European culture.
   • The Pioneer’s Work Ethic
      • The Pioneer’s Adaptability

To begin tonight’s message about pioneers, here are two more character traits to
consider…the two sides of a coin.
 

• The Pioneer’s Independence and Co-dependence

   Here is another interesting observation about the pioneer that I made after some amount of
study. The pioneer had to be able to, in one sense, stand on his/her own. Yet on the other
hand, the pioneers were often quite dependent upon one another for their mutual well-
being.

   The early Americans had to spend much time and effort working alone, that is
… independently accomplishing much on their own. But at other times the circumstances
called for a cooperative effort, in order to do something that none of them could do on their
own, or at least couldn’t do as effectively as a group … such as hunting parties, house/barn
raisings, food preparation, quilting bees, etc. Those were group activities…many
participated, for their mutual benefit or well-being.

   Yes the pioneers were a unique mix … rugged individualists, seemingly self-reliant – but
also very willing to help each other when necessary. And so it is with spiritual pioneers:

Rom. 14:10, 12 – …why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your
brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. So then each of us shall
give account of himself to God.

Phil. 2:12 – Therefore my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but
now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

We stand as individuals before the judgment seat. We will be judged based on our
individual lives, independent of others and their behaviors, their attitudes, their
accomplishments, etc. Yet at the same time, some of that judgment has to do with how well
and how often we supported our fellow pioneers. Notice –

Gal. 6:2 – Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Jam. 5:19-20 – Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns
him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul
from death and cover a multitude of sins.

In Paul’s first epistle to the church at Corinth chapter 12 discusses spiritual gifts at length…
urging all of us are to use our talents for the benefit of the body of believers.

Finally, next Friday night we will analyze how the pioneers played such a critical role in the
settling of America. All things considered, what was their primary contribution?

Have an enriching Sabbath,
Fred