I am not a loyal Seventh-day Adventist. Before you throw this magazine in the trash, let me explain. I love my church, I am a third generation Seventh-day Adventist, and I am glad to be one ... most of the time. At other times I feel like echoing Jesus' words, "How long must I put up with you?"

Recently, I had a rude awakening. I cannot even begin to describe how my heart was crushed. It was the morning after America demonstrated that it had indeed changed—that we as a nation had moved beyond judging a man by the color of his skin. My church's most silent response to this historical milepost was deafening. I concluded that while America had changed, my church had not—a great disappointment for me, but a source of real personal pain for a significant number of my church family.

So, what do I do? A loyal Seventh-day Adventist would just stick with the program. I cannot.

A discouraged and embittered Seventh-day Adventist would walk away. I cannot.

You see, it's a question of loyalty; not to my church, but to Christ—the One who stands in the midst of His people and holds the leadership of the church in His hand ... even leaders who disappoint me.

In John 10, Jesus describes His people as sheep who know His voice and follow His lead. John later describes the 144,000 as God's last-day people who follow the Lamb wherever He goes—loyal disciples!

I believe that Jesus is on the move—not to leave His church, but to lead His church, my church, to a new day. My loyalty is to Him.

Gary Burns is the communication director of the Lake Union Conference.