The Uncompromising Gospel (Galatians 2)
Every Christian denomination is in danger of compromising the gospel of Jesus — claiming that its own distinctive beliefs are a vital addition to it, and therefore vital for salvation. This isn’t a new temptation. Many Jewish Christians in the first-century church genuinely believed in Jesus as their Saviour, but they also believed that circumcision needed to be added for salvation.
Their formula ran:
- believe in Jesus your Saviour,
- keep the law as best you can — including circumcision —
- and then you will be saved.
Paul vehemently disagreed. What implication does this have for us as Adventists?
Pr Zeny Vidacak – BIO
Zeny Vidacak
Pr Zeny Vidacak grew up in Bosnia, and at just fifteen years old, left home to join an Adventist seminary in Marusevec, Croatia — spending seven wonderful years there in high school and theological training (1980–1987). From there he left what was then Yugoslavia to study at Newbold College in England (1988–1994), completing a double major in Theology and English Literature, followed by a Master’s degree in Old Testament studies.
While he was away, war broke out in his homeland (1991–1997), and the Yugoslavia he had grown up in fractured into six new nations amid the bloodshed of the Balkan conflict. Then, providentially, in 1995 God opened a door for him on the other side of the world: a pastoral position in Australia.
For the past 30 years, Pastor Zeny has served Brisbane churches — Springwood, Garden City, Summit, Salisbury, Eight Mile Plains, and Mt Gravatt. His longest tenure has been at Mt Gravatt, where he has now pastored for fifteen years.
Pr Zeny’s passion is Jesus and His amazing gospel, and his greatest joy is preaching and teaching it. He is married to Svetlana, the love of his life, and together they have three children — Benjamin, Samuel, and Heidi. Outside of ministry, he enjoys table tennis at the Brisbane Table Tennis Club and Sunday bike rides with fellow cycling enthusiasts.
