International Journal for Clergy December 1987 Letters

More on moonlighting subsidies (for travel, telephone, equip pressed at this time" ? How many souls are being lost be- ment, entertainment) to those responsi Finally, it was assumed that ordina cause the minister is engaged in non- ble for large churches. tion of women to the ministry has been ministerial money-making activities? 3. Churches could be encouraged to such a burning issue among Adventist Are we ordained to the ministry till give their pastors a monthly subsidy (for religion teachers that they have all stud retirement or for life? If we are fit travel, telephone, equipment, enter ied the matter thoroughly and objec enough after retirement to make money tainment) to supplement their salaries. tively. Why not include questions ask ing each respondent about the depth of in a secular business, then why not use The amount of the subsidy would vary study given and the degree of impor our fitness to volunteer for the Lord©s depending on the membership and in come of the church. H. L. Thomp tance assigned the matter? Ken Blake, work in the saving of souls? son, Compton, California. Durham, New Hampshire. If we accept the ministry as our di vine calling, then we also accept the Survey of teachers valid? A number of questions arise about the Lord©s remuneration for that calling. The teacher who wrote " ©I think statistical methodology of Dr. Dudley©s The Lord is a good paymaster if we serve your survey is strongly biased to favor study and the conclusions inferred Him well. J. T. Knopper, women©s ordination© " ("Religion therefrom. Wahroonga, New South Wales, Teachers© Opinions on the Role of 1. A 72 percent response rate from Australia. Women," August 1987), was correct on North American colleges is certainly several counts. not bad for a "one-time mailing," but Adventist ministers face another large First, many of the items were so why just a one-time mailing? In "hot" problem related to those of moonlight worded as to elicit a response favorable issues, there is the distinct prospect that ing and economic hardship, and that is to increased involvement of women in those most likely to respond are the the problem of the absence of a true traditionally male roles. For example, if persons pressing hardest for change, pastoral career that offers the possibility number 3, "There are many jobs in whereas it may be difficult to extract a of upward mobility in the pastorate. It is which men should be given preference response from those satisfied with the true that pastors who are successful are over women in being hired or pro status quo. The failure to follow up in given progressively greater responsibili moted," had been worded, "Men are troduces the very real possibility of non- ties and larger congregations. But the more suited for some jobs than women response bias. increased responsibility should also be and vice versa," there would have been 2. The casual acceptance of the poor accompanied by a progressive increase more affirmative answers. response from outside North America is of salary. Similarly, the item on which the sur disturbing. And I find absolutely mind- Church administrators have the op vey centers, number 15, "It is appropri boggling that those outside North portunity for this kind of a progressive ate for women who have demonstrated America "had to supply their own air career. One can go from the local con their calling to the ministry to be or mail postage." Please say that©s a ference to the union conference and on dained as gospel ministers," assumes as misprint. to the General Conference and receive true that which has yet to be settled If "languages and cultures" play a role progressive remuneration. But pastoral that God is calling women to the minis in reducing response, how can it be ra remuneration is fixed, regardless of re try. "Proficiency for" would have been tionalized that this entitles the sponsibility, and therefore the pastorate better than "calling to." researcher to offhandedly gloss it over becomes stagnant. There is less motiva The leading nature of the survey as a with a sentence? Such difficulties sim tion and more frequent burnout. whole also discredits the finding for the ply demand the investment of more I have three suggestions: 1. There crucial number 15. Every colporteur, time, more effort, more money what could be three or four pastoral salary evangelist, pastor, and teacher knows ever it takes to get the data (within rea levels, based perhaps on the member that the best way to elicit a positive son, certainly; but the researcher offers ship and the annual tithe of the church. response to a critical question is to pre no reasons). And a 50 percent response This would provide for pastoral progres pare the way with questions or state rate with the strong possibility that sion and stimulate church growth and ments that make a negative response nonresponse bias may be a factor among evangelism. A pastor could then qualify incongruent or untenable. And where these teachers as well as among those in for the next salary level without chang was the follow-up item that should have North America makes publication diffi ing churches. As the membership and been number 16: "If the ordination of cult to justify. tithe of his church reached the next women, even if theologically accept 3. Who are the "outside North level, so would his salary. able, would likely result in division America" interviewees? All we know is 2. Since there are more expenses and within the church and diversion of her that they are religion teachers in Ad demands in pastoring larger churches, attention and energy from more vital ventist senior colleges outside North the conference could provide additional concerns, the matter ought not to be (Continued on page 28)

2 MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 First Glance MINISTRY is the international journal of the Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial Association. ASSOCIATION SECRETARY: Floyd Bresee EDITOR: J. Robert Spangler EXECUTIVE EDITOR: J. David Newman The photographs of those who have written for this issue will ASSISTANT EDITORS: David C. James reveal more variety than we usually have. White, Black, Hispanic, Kenneth R. Wade and female faces peer out at us. And you will notice that we have SEMINAR DIRECTOR: several authors from outside of North America. Rex D.Edwards CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: This variety reflects the goal we have for MINISTRY. While the Carlos Aeschlimann Ellen Bresee term international in our logo does not always represent our practice, Raoul Dederen Ariel Roth it does represent our intent. Unfortunately, we receive few manu Gary Swanson scripts from ethnic groups and even fewer from overseas. Those of N. C. Wilson you who are members of these groups, please consider this a chal CONSULTING EDITORS: Galen Bosley lenge to write for MINISTRY. C. E. Bradford P. Gerard Damsteegt You will not want to miss our lead article in which George Rice Roland R. Hegstad Frank Holbrook explains the context and meaning of the Ellen White statement "I Kenneth]. Mittleider could no longer regard the voice of the General Conference, repre Marie Spangler Richard Tibbits sented by these few men, as the voice of God ." Leo R. Van Dolson EDITORIAL SECRETARIES: Short articles often have more punch than longer ones. Do not Ella Rydzewski miss "Our new baptismal manual," which describes a complete re Mary Louise McDowell writing of the baptismal manual. It is our prayer that this manual ART DIRECTOR: will be the means of introducing millions to the unique message of Byron Steele DESIGNER: our church. G. W. Busch MARKETING: Keep your eyes open for the February 1988 issue. This double- Tom Kapusta sized special will focus on 1888 and righteousness by faith. What ADVERTISING SALES: really happened in 1888? Can we really understand righteousness by Orval Driskell faith? What happened to Jones, Waggoner, Smith, and Butler? SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Larry Burtnett What is the real meaning of our sanctuary doctrine? Has the Lord©s INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENTS: coming been delayed? What are the nonnegotiables? What must we Africa-Indian Ocean, John W. Fowler Eastern Africa,______agree on and where can we differ? These are just a few of the articles Euro-Africa, Johannes Mager that issue will contain. Far East, James H. Zachary Inter-America, Salim Japas One hundred years have passed since the Lord sent the precious North America, William C. Scales, Jr. Trans-Europe, MarkFinley message on Christ©s righteousness, and we are still in this old world. South America, Amasias Justiniano South Pacific, A.D.C. Currie The great event that this remnant church was raised up to proclaim Southern Asia, Ronald N. Baird has not occurred. The year 1988 should be one of deep penitence MINISTRY, (ISSN 0026-5314), the interna and reflection. Let us not just proclaim but practice the remedy tional journal of the Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial Association 1987, is published given to the church of Laodicea. monthly by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and printed by the Review and Herald Publishing Association, 55 This remedy love and faith, Christ©s righteousness, and the West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740, U.S.A. Subscriptions: US$19.95 for transforming influence of the Holy Spirit must be at the center of 12 issues inU.S., US$22.95 for 12 issues else our preaching, our practice, and even our policies. Our church and where. Single copy: US$2.00. Member Asso ciated Church Press. Second-class postage conference budgets should reflect that priority. It will not be easy paid at Hagerstown, Maryland. This publica tion is available in microfilm from University but the prize is eternal life with our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Microfilms International. Call toll-free 800- 521-3044- Or mail inquiry to: University Mi crofilms International, 300 North Zeeb Road, It is our prayer that our February issue will play a part in prepar Ann Arbor, Ml 48106. ing a people for the coming of the Lord. Postmaster: Send address changes to MINIS TRY, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740. Editorial Office: 6840 Eastern Avenue NW., Washington, D.C. 20012. Stamped, self-addressed envelope should accompany unsolicited manuscripts.

VOLUME 60 NUMBER 12

MJNISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 The church: voice of God?

eriodically through would become Babylon if they should or George E. Rice out our history indi ganize; but those in central New York viduals have risen have been perfect Babylon, claiming that the confusion." l She warned, "Unless the P Seventh-day Ad- churches are so organized that they can ventist Church has carry out and enforce order, they have apostatized. Moving nothing to hope for in the future; they Spirit of Prophecy statements from their must scatter into fragments." What did Ellen White context, they produce "evidence" that In 1901, as Ellen White looked back at the church has become Babylon, and these early years, she wrote: "As our mean when she that the voice of God can no longer be numbers increased, it was evident that declared that the heard in the decisions of the General without some form of organization there Conference. would be great confusion, and the work General Conference Because these charges are resurfacing would not be carried forward success today, it seems appropriate to review his fully. To provide for the support of the was no longer the torical events that led to the first cries of ministry, for carrying the work in new "Babylon come out of her my people." fields, for protecting both the churches voice of God on Following 1844, what little organiza and the ministry from unworthy mem tion existed in Adventist churches was bers, for holding church property, for the earth? congregational in nature. Each church publication of the truth through the and emerging company was a law unto press, and for many other objects, orga itself. Belief in the Second Advent, the nization was indispensable." Sabbath, the high priestly work of Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary, and the Spirit Voice of God of Prophecy held these scattered entities After the organization of the General together in reasonable unity. However, Conference in 1863, Ellen White spoke in order to accomplish their world mis of the authority of the church as being sion, the Advent believers needed better the voice of God. In 1875 she published a organization. letter written to a brother who prided In the early 1850s God made known himself in his independence: "God has His will concerning the organization of invested His church with special author :. Rice, Ph. D., is an the growing movement. But as James and ity and power which no one can be justi associate secretory of the Ellen Ellen White spoke of the merits of orga fied in disregarding and despising, for in _, G. White Estate. nizing and urged the brethren toward it, so doing he despises the voice of God." fears were expressed that if the Advent In another letter she said: "I have been believers entered into formal church or shown that no man©s judgment should be ganization, they would become part of surrendered to the judgment of any one Babylon. Ellen White pointed out in man. But when the judgment of the Gen 1861 that even without a formal organi eral Conference, which is the highest au zation, these fears had already been real thority that God has upon earth, is exer ized: "August 3, 1861, I was shown that cised, private independence and private some have feared that our churches judgment must not be maintained, but

4 MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 be surrendered. Your error was in persis the highest authority the Lord has upon tently maintaining your private judg the earth," less than 20 years later her ment of your duty against the voice of the attitude was quite different. Ellen White said, highest authority the Lord has upon the Taking into consideration all of the earth." 5 abuses that existed at the center of the "Many of the positions Following the 1888 General Confer work, Ellen White was forced to say: ence session there was a decided change "This is the reason I was obliged to take taken, going forth as in Ellen White©s attitude toward the the position that there was not the voice voice, of the General Conference. Un of God in the General Conference man the voice of the derstanding the dynamics of what hap agement and decisions. Method and General Conference, pened during the 1890s and the circum plans would be devised that God did not stances under which Ellen White wrote sanction, and yet Elder Olsen made it have been the voice of can help eliminate the confusion that appear that the decisions of the General exists today. Conference were as the voice of God. one, two, or three men Many of the positions taken, going forth Abuse of power as the voice of the General Conference, who were misleading At the 1888 General Conference, have been the voice of one, two, or where A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner three men who were misleading the the conference." presented their messages on righteous conference." 12 ness by faith, O. A. Olsen was elected It is not clear in the 1875 statement president. The opposition to these mes (Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 492) whether El hast given to them righteousness and sages on the part of certain key individu len White is speaking of the General peace; and Thy joy, that their joy may be als is well known. Olsen chose two men Conference in session, or whether she is full.©. . . from among those who were not in sym referring to the daily and weekly deci "How could [Stanton] come from that pathy with these messages and made sions that were necessary for the ad meeting where the power of God was re them his key advisers A. R. Henry and vancement of the work. Her statements vealed in so marked a manner [the 1893 Harmon Lindsay. Because of their vari after 1888 about the decisions of the General Conference session], and pro ous responsibilities in the General Con General Conference not being the voice claim that the loud cry was that the ference and Review office, and because of God seem to reflect the daily and commandment-keeping people were of their strong personalities, they were weekly decisions that were made. It is in Babylon?. . . able to sway the various boards and com this context that Elders Henry and Lind "I have no such message to give; but mittees to follow their line of thinking. say would have had the greatest influ one of an entirely different character.... Repeatedly Ellen White wrote to Ol ence. As noted above, Ellen White said "Beware of those who arise with a great sen, warning him against the counsel of in 1891, "Many of the positions taken, burden to denounce the church. The these men. They were not only sweeping going forth as the voice of the General chosen ones who are standing and breast Olsen along with them, but they were Conference, have been the voice of one, ing the storm of opposition from the influencing others to make wrong deci two, or three men who were misleading world, and are uplifting the downtrod sions. The following problems were iso the conference." 13 den commandments of God to exalt lated by Ellen White during Olsen©s ten But does this mean that God has re them as honorable and holy, are indeed ure: (1) decisions voted by boards were jected His people, and that the Seventh- the light of the world. deliberately not carried out by those who day Adventist Church is no longer His "How dare mortal man pass his judg had the responsibility for their representative on earth? Not at all. ment upon them, and call the church a implementation; (2) Olsen treated harlot, Babylon, a den of thieves ?. . . Henryand Lindsay as representative men Babylon "When anyone is drawing apart and sent them throughout the field to During the early 1890s, at the very from the organized body of God©s give counsel, men "to whom the people time Ellen White was saying that the commandment-keeping people, when shall listen and show respect as the voice voice of the General Conference was no he begins to weigh the church in his hu of God in the conference"; 7 (3) these longer to be considered the voice of God, man scales, and begins to pronounce men exercised their authority as "kingly A. W. Stanton published the tract judgment against them, then you may power"; 8 (4) while connected with the "The Loud Cry! Babylon Fallen!" Stan know that God is not leading him. He is Review, these men dealt in an ton proclaimed the Seventh-day Ad on the wrong track." 14 un-Christlike way with those who were ventist Church as Babylon, and said the to receive royalties for their writings; 9 loud cry of Revelation was to God©s true After 1901 (5) Henry and Lindsay refused to be people to come out of her. As the church gathered for the Gen worked by the Holy Spirit and turned Upon reading Stanton©s tract, Ellen eral Conference session of 1901, Ellen away from obeying God©s word; 10 (6) de White picked up her pen and wrote: "I White stressed the urgency of reorganiza cisions for the whole work were made by feel deep sorrow of heart that [Stanton] tion: "That these men should stand in a a handful of people under the influence did not plead with God, ©Bless me, O sacred place, to be as the voice of God to of these men. 11 God, bless now I see my error. Thou art the people, as we once believed the Gen Although in 1875 Ellen White consid communicating to Thy people the rich eral Conference to be that is past. ered the General Conference and the de est truths ever committed to mortals. What we want now is a reorganization. cisions made by this body as "the voice of These people are not Babylon; for Thou We want to begin at the foundation, and

MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 5 to build upon a different principle." 15 "The course of action which before In this reorganization she saw the pros the conference might have been a neces pects of breaking the power of those she sity is no longer necessary; for the Lord "The course of action considered to be unfaithful stewards. Her Himself interposed to set things in order. hopes were realized. The General Con He has given His Holy Spirit. I am con which before the con ference Committee was enlarged to in fident that He will set in order the mat clude representation from the world ters that seem to be moving wrong." 18 ference might have field. Elder A. G. Daniells was elected From 1901 on, Ellen White spoke pos president. Independent entities were itively regarding the future of the been a necessity is no brought under the leadership of the Gen Seventh-day Adventist Church. longer necessary; eral Conference, and departments were In 1905 she wrote: "We cannot now established to guide the work of these step off the foundation that God has es for the Lord Himself entities, including the medical work. tablished. We cannot now enter into any Union conferences were established, and new organization; for this would mean interposed." the day-to-day decisions of running a apostasy from the truth." 19 world work were given to the local and In 1908: "I am instructed to say to union conferences. Seventh-day Adventists the world over, tion to so fully apostatize that there Looking back at this historic session, God has called us a people to be a pecu would be the coming out of another Ellen White wrote, "Every time I think liar treasure unto Himself. He has ap church." 23 of that meeting, a sweet solemnity comes pointed that His church on earth shall Three points emerge from our study: 1. over me, and sends a glow of gratitude to stand perfectly united in the Spirit and When two or three men dominated the my soul." 16 counsel of the Lord of hosts to the end of time." 20 decision-making process of the General However, some months later God re Conference in the 1890s, Ellen White vealed to her that He had intended to do In 1909 she spoke again about the au could not consider the voice of the Gen much more at the 1901 General Confer thority of the General Conference when eral Conference as the voice of God. 2. ence session. The realization that the in session: "At times, when a small group Precisely at this time (in the 1890s) she of men entrusted with the general man people of God had not fully attained defended the church against those who what God desired brought grief to her agement of the work have, in the name of would destroy it by calling it Babylon and heart. She describes what God had re the General Conference, sought to carry urging God©s people to forsake it. 3. God vealed to her and the agony of disap out unwise plans and to restrict God©s pointment she felt in "What Might Have work, I have said that I could no longer will not allow the Seventh-day Advent Been." 17 regard the voice of the General Confer ist Church to so fully apostatize "that Be that as it may, the organizational ence, represented by these few men, as there would be the coming out of flaws that had allowed certain men to the voice of God. But this is not saying another church." Rather, this church operate in such a way that led Ellen that the decisions of a General Confer will go through to the end. White to say that she could no longer ence composed of an assembly of duly 1 Ellen O. White, Testimonies /or the Church consider the decisions of the General appointed, representative men from all (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., Conference as the voice of God had been parts of the field should not be respected. 1948), vol. 1, p. 270. corrected. God has ordained that the representa 2 Ibid. 3______, Testimonies to Ministers (Boise, Ida Ellen White©s son Edson, smarting un tives of His church from all parts of the ho: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1962), p. 26. der some unjust dealings he had endured earth, when assembled in a General 4 _____, Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 417. 5 Ibid., p. 492. at the hands of the Review prior to 1901, Conference, shall have authority. The 6 Ellen G. White manuscript 33, 1891. sought compensation. To him his error that some are in danger of commit 7 Ellen G. White letter 2, 1894. mother wrote: "I am again much bur ting is in giving to the mind and judg 8 Ellen G. White manuscript 43, 1901. 9 Ellen G. White letter 7, 1896. dened as I see you selecting words from ment of one man, or of a small group of 10 Ellen G. White letter 4, 1896. 11 Ellen G. White manuscript 33, 1891. writings that I have sent you, and using men, the full measure of authority and 12 Ibid. them to force decisions that the brethren influence that God has vested in His 13 Ibid. do not regard with clearness. . . . church in the judgment and voice of the 14 Ellen G. White manuscript 21, 1893. "Your course would have been the General Conference assembled to plan 15 Ellen G. White, in General Conference Bulle tin,"©16 Apr. _ 3, 1901. course to be pursued if no change had for the prosperity and advancement of _, inReview and Herald, Nov. 26, been made in the General Conference. His work. "^ 1901. But a change has been made, and many In 1913 she wrote: "I am encouraged _____, Testimonies, vol. 8, pp. 104-106. 18 Ellen G. White letter 54, 1901; also in A. V. more changes will be made and great de and blessed as I realize that the God of Olson, Thirteen Crisis Years: 1888-1901 (Washing velopments will be seen. . . . Israel is still guiding His people, and that ton, D.C.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1981), "It hurts me to think that you are using He will continue to be with them, even pp. 199, 200. 19 Ellen G. White, Selected Messages (Washing words which I wrote prior to the confer to the end." 22 ton, D.C.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1958), ence. Since the conference great Just prior to Ellen White©s death W. book 2, p. 390. 20 Mi., p. 397. changes have been made. . . . C. White said: "During our conversa 21 _____, Testimonies, vol. 9 , pp. 260, 261. "A terribly unjust course has been pur tion, I told her [Lida Scott] how Mother 22 _____, Life Sketches (Mountain View, Ca sued in the past. A want of principle has regarded the experience of the remnant lif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1943), pp. 437, 438. 23 Arthur L. White, Ellen G. White: The Later been revealed. But in pity to His people church, and of her positive teaching that Elmshaven Years (Washington, D.C.: Review and God has brought about changes. . . . God would not permit this denomina- Herald Pub. Assn., 1982), vol. 6, p. 428.

6 MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 Baptism: pastoral perplexities

& a pastor in the last can makes it doubly hard to maintain Rex D. Edwards half of the twentieth sensitivity and integrity in relation to po century, I have tential converts. grown accustomed to In the depths of their spirits, ministers the companionship know that Paul was right when he wrote of perplexity. In ev to the Corinthians: "For Christ did not ery significant area of send me to baptize but to preach the gos my ministry integrity of ideals and actu pel" (1 Cor. 1:17, RSV). Immersing as How should we ality of practice collide mercilessly. This many people as one can any way, any is certainly true as regards baptism. The how is a tragic distortion of the high handle rebaptism, very mention of the word brings to mind calling of God. Keeping the practice of children who want to at least five perplexities that vary in in baptism in its true focus poses a painful tensity but are nonetheless real. dilemma before many pastors because it be baptized, and those means going against the stream of de I. Baptism as the criterion of pastoral nominational expectation and staking who want to join our effectiveness one©s own respect for persons over The baptizing of converts is indeed an against the accusation of not having a church but who have important function of the pastor, yet it passion for souls. has assumed an inordinate role in the been baptized by lives of Seventh-day Adventist minis 2. The age of the baptized ters. It has tended to become the criterion The age at which a person may be bap modes other than of evaluating their overall effectiveness. tized is particularly problematic. With immersion? Pastors© "baptismal records" which children many important factors need to refers not to the quality of their handling be heeded. of this sensitive area, but simply to the On the one hand, I take very seriously number of people they have managed to the desires and impulses of the individual immerse are often the foremost points and the fact that the Christian life is a of reference in determining their compe perennial process in which one never tence. From this one fact inferences are fully "arrives." Therefore, when a small drawn that encompass their whole be child approaches me with a strong wish ings their orthodoxy, their gifts, their to become a Christian, and I sense that Rex D. Edwards is an spirit, their attitude toward people, and this is not motivated externally by parent assistant secretary of so forth. or peer pressure, the desire to eat the the General Confer- ence ©Ministerial Asso This scale of religious values poses to Lord©s Supper, or some other secondary ciation, and directs the Adventist pastors the temptation to use reason, I am cautious about quenching association©s PREACH baptism to meet their own professional this flame of interest and saying, in ef seminars and Continu needs rather than the spiritual needs of fect: "You cannot trust what you are feel ing Education program. the people they serve. Knowing that they ing now. You are not old enough to un will be lauded by their fellow pastors and derstand yet; go and wait." denominational superiors and become I am uneasy about such a response, for more attractive to other conferences sim if the spiritual life is process, does it not ply by baptizing as many people as they have to start somewhere and will not the

MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 7 is it a vehicle of expressing commitment I feel a great need to deepen its signif to Christ and thus meaningful at various icance and meaning for both the candi Should a person be stages along the way? dates and the church, and to make more of baptism in the sense of a joyful celebra rebaptized in light of 4- Baptized but not immersed tion. So I find myself asking, "How can I The fourth perplexity I face arises interpret this rite, prepare people for it, what is felt to be a when members of other churches who execute it, and follow through in such a have not been immersed as believers seek way that it catches up the feelings of more authentic to become members of the Seventh-day wonder and ecstasy that one associates experience or Adventist Church. Here one confronts with a birthday or a first Communion or a the dilemma of how to speak the truth of bar mitzvah?" commitment? his convictions in love; how not to make too much or too little of this distinctive Baptism©s meaning diminishes rite. perplexities I find achieving the right balance here These are the most central of the per to be very difficult. I do not want to be so plexities I face in relation to baptism. beginning point no matter at what dogmatic that I make the mode and How do we minister with integrity in age leave much yet to be learned? And meaning of baptism appear to be the cen light of these pressures? Let me begin a if an earnest little child is told that his tral aspect of Christianity. Nor do I want constructive rationale by attempting to deep feelings are not to be trusted, will he to state our position in such a way that all define the core understanding of baptism begin to distrust all spiritual impulses and other forms and practices are emptied of out of which I work, and in reference to thus fail to recognize those that will come meaning and made to appear totally in which I try to cope with all the perplexi later? For these reasons, I cannot easily valid. Yet the truth in believer©s baptism ties that arise. give a categorical answer that no chil by immersion is worth standing for and I look on baptism as a person©s public dren under the age of such and such (10 emphasizing. declaration that he has been confronted or 12 or 18) should ever be baptized. The problem lies in conveying this by God in Christ and is responding to the On the other hand, I find myself ask uniqueness in a positive and not an arro gracious invitation to follow Him in obe ing: "Is baptism the way to acknowledge gant way. We Seventh-day Adventists dience and commitment. I think this rite incipient religious interest?" Perhaps we have often left the impression that "we should stand at the beginning of such a should have another rite for this stage in are right and all the rest of you are conscious relationship, and is in essence a child©s pilgrimage, and reserve baptism wrong." For many non-Adventists, to be a symbol of entrance or birth into a for that moment when a mature person immersed after having been sprinkled unique dimension of experience. knows the alternatives and the full power and confirmed represents a humiliating The mode of baptism is a derivative of sin, and then commits his existence to capitulation the tacit admission that concern of mine. Given the meaning I Christ in a way no child is capable of the churches from which they came and have just described, the immersion of a doing. all their past spiritual experiences were believer is in my judgment the best me unauthentic. I have known many people dium of expression. It depicts in dramatic 3. Rebaptism to use this interpretation to avoid serious form both the Christ-event and the sav My third question is akin to the sec religious commitment. ing event in the life of the believer (Rom. ond: Should a person be rebaptized in I hate to see baptism become the key 6:1-3). As no other mode, immersion light of what is felt to be a more authentic factor in keeping a person out of a fellow conveys the essence of how the process of experience or commitment? I am often ship, and yet I am not willing to jettison salvation begins. However, the meaning confronted with this question and feel all conviction to gain one member. The is the primary reality, and the mode pressures from both sides. No person can solution to the dilemma lies in finding a should always be the second item of con ever fully know the depths of another©s way of relating believer©s baptism by im cern and grow out of this primal category. subjectivity. Thus, what happened years mersion to other religious practices so With this definition as a working cen before and what is happening now are that it becomes a positive addition to ter, consistency leads me toward solu forever secrets of individuality that the one©s experience and not a humiliating tions to the various problems I have men experiencer alone can evaluate. If re- deprecation. tioned. baptism would express and reinforce a significant milestone in the soul©s jour 5. Dull ceremony versus joyful 1. Baptism with integrity ney, who am I as a helper of souls to deny celebration For example, I try studiously to keep such a benefit? This fifth perplexity is the very practi my own professional needs from affecting However, the question that intrudes cal matter of how to make the act of my handling of baptism. I try to allow it again on such a line of reasoning is the baptism more meaningful. A Jewish bar to be the authentic work of God-the- question of meaning. Is this the nature mitzvah is accompanied by a great deal Initiator and man-the-answerer, and not and purpose of baptism ? After all, a life in more fanfare than a baptism in a a mechanical process of enlarging the the process of becoming will experience Seventh-day Adventist church. Because church rolls and my reputation. Because many new plateaus of meaning and of our repeated emphasis on baptism©s baptism stands for "a happening" in growth. And should the rite of baptism nonsacramental and "merely symbolic" which I am at best a spiritual midwife and accompany each one of these? Is baptism nature, we tend to regard the rite itself not the causist, I do not coercively pres a sign of birth, and thus unrepeatable, or rather lightly. sure the potential believer for an imme-

8 MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 diate decision. Rather, I wait for God to of himself to all that he knows of God in bring forth the growth of a seed of wit Christ. ness. Some argue with urgency that baptism I am careful to affirm should be reserved for this more adult 2. Baptizing the young moment, and I sense great validity in what I consider to be My definition of baptism has resulted this. However, there is a need for some in several guidelines as to when it should public, active Christian commitment the positive values take place. The twelfth year has become earlier than this. It seems to me that a in the practices of a pivotal age in my understanding. This 12-year-old©s earnest acceptance of was the age when a Jewish child began to Christ as Lord and of his Christian tradi infant baptism and participate as an adult in the cultic life of tion is an authentic beginning for his pil grimage. Baptism should mark the con Israel and when Jesus made His first pil sprinkling. scious beginning of existence under the grimage to Jerusalem. From a psycholog lordship of Christ, and I believe this can ical standpoint as well, this is a signifi be actualized at 12 providing that life as cant transitional age. process and growth and change is stead I make it a practice never to take the fastly taught. and cleansed when he first came to Jesus, initiative and approach a child directly so now the blood of Christ cleanses him about a decision for baptism before the 3. Rebaptism anew from these additional sins. This twelfth year, although I try to give gen In regard to the problem of some peo lesser cleansing is symbolized by the ordi eral encouragement and instruction up ple©s desire for rebaptism because of a nance of feet washing." l to this period. If a child, on his own, more mature spiritual experience, I try to The foot-washing experience, then, expresses an authentic desire to be bap use as a criterion the concept of baptism can be an occasion when baptismal vows tized, I take him very seriously and in as the sign of spiritual birth. If the person are renewed. Only if rebaptism really is consultation with his parents often en really had not entered into spiritual life at an entrance or birth experience do I courage his decision. I do this out of re the time of a previous baptism and has think it is appropriate. spect for the mystery of individuality and now, I might consider rebaptism. But as the desire not to routinize the ways of the divorce precedes remarriage, so disfel- 4. Baptising Christians Spirit. The crucial factor under the age of lowshipment would logically precede a As to the problem of interpreting bap 12, however, is that of initiative. I re rebaptism. To avoid this process would tism to those coming from a different spond to the child©s wishes rather than be to make rebaptism merely a reconse- background, I find that the crucial factor asking the child to respond to my appeal. cration. is attitude. When the mode of immersion During the child©s twelfth year, and In the great majority of cases, how is explained in positive and nonexclusive usually in a small group situation, I for ever, I find there is a defective under terms, I find that the emotional barriers the first time try to convey to him my standing of the process nature of spiritual often can be overcome. feeling that the time has come to con life and therefore a confusion of the I always attempt to interpret the im sider this momentous decision. I try to brand-new and new-as-growth. In his mersion of a believer as a positive contri increase the level of instruction and con Small Catechism, Martin Luther asks, bution to the faith that one brings to a cern expressed through the youth classes, "What does baptism mean for daily liv Seventh-day Adventist church. I am and by the time of that person©s sixteenth ing?" His answer: "It means that our sin careful to affirm what I consider to be the year, to have done everything humanly ful self with all its evil deeds and desires positive values in the practice of infant possible to lay the claims of Christ before should be drowned through daily repen baptism (acknowledgment of one©s birth him. tance; and that day after day a new self into a Christian family) and sprinkling (a In these latter years the full impact of should arise to live with God in righ symbol of the outpouring of the Spirit), sin has become apparent. If the child was teousness and purity forever." and show how believer©s baptism can baptized before the turbulence of adoles Most often I suggest other forms of complement and enlarge the Christian cence, I try to direct his attention to the declaration than baptism for the new pla understanding rather than contradict it. reality of life as process. Some rededi- teaus that people reach. In this respect, I In doing this, I do not attempt to soften cation experience is often necessary if he reinforce the importance of the ordi the Adventist distinctiveness, but simply is to continue to bring all that he knows nance of foot washing that precedes the put it in the form of a positive sharing celebration of the Lord©s Supper. Wil rather than an argumentative debate. liam H. Branson wrote, "Following con I believe that this approach is more version and baptism, sins may accumu valid than that of a completely late in the life of a follower of Jesus. . . . "open membership" that merely prefers The crucial factor He does not require a complete reconver believer©s baptism by immersion, but ac sion and cleansing. But he does require cepts any form of baptism. I believe there under the age of 12, the lesser cleansing. Day by day he must is tremendous truth in a person©s re however, is that of come to God through Christ, confessing sponding for himself to the claims of his failures, his pride, his selfishness, and Christ and tremendous power in immer initiative* his fallings into sin through the tempt- sion as a witness to this response. ings of Satan. He must exercise faith that I deplore the fact that some people just as all his past sinful life was forgiven allow the issue of reimmersion to cut

MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 9 them off from the ministry of a church, but my experience has indicated that this rarely happens if the act is interpreted tactfully. Often an objection at this point is a way of avoiding significant re When it©s ligious commitment. Although this is certainly not the primary purpose of the rite, it does in such cases serve to separate religious seriousness from superficiality. 5. Meaningful baptismal services time to My attempts at making the act itself more meaningful start with interpreta tion and careful preparation, and then the linking of the act of baptism with the person©s ordination to a life of ministry move on (see my article "Baptism as Ordination," MINISTRY, August 1983). I deplore the practice of reducing baptism to a liturgi cal interruption. Ellen White says, "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, ichard Dobbins, a powers infinite and omnipotent, receive Freddie Russell family therapist, those who truly enter into covenant rela said, "People do not tion with God. They are present at every change until the pain baptism." 2 Since the Godhead is of staying the same is present, with what dignity and care greater than the pain should this service be planned? of change." Change I encourage the families of the con is never an easy thing to accept. Yet ev verts to have some kind of celebration Most parish ministers ery organization eventually needs to either right before or right after the bap make changes. Hopefully, whatever tism to underline their interest and joy. in our church move changes occur are in response to needs. The whole worship service should be frequently. Should The Seventh-day Adventist Church given to and revolve around the baptism. has experienced many changes in the It should be planned as a high day in the administrative past few years, some positive and others life of the church, and climax with the less so. It has become evident to many ordination of these candidates to a life of personnel follow their that the church has reached the point ministry in the Master©s service at the where change in one particular area is frontier of their vocational worlds. example? much needed. I speak of the present prac In my opinion, we Seventh-day Ad- tice of not limiting the number of terms ventists have much to learn from other that an elected church official can serve groups in terms of how to point up the in a position. Because the number of mountain peaks of the soul©s journey. terms is not limited, problems have Our Puritan background has left us im arisen that might have been avoided if poverished in the art of "celebrating this practice had been discarded. I have through the created order." Baptism of noted three key problems. fers a golden opportunity to develop ritu 1. Stagnation. When one brand of als that will convey both intellectual and thinking predominates over a prolonged emotional meaning to others. period of time, the development of new By no means do I sense having arrived ideas and fresh approaches to meeting in this area of ministry. I think that the the challenges of the work is stifled. In meaning baptism embodies lies at the such cases, statistics (e.g., baptisms, very heart of Christianity, and that room Freddie Russell pas tithe gains) that suggest that a confer tors the Cleveland ence is moving forward may be mislead remains for the further development of Heights Seventh©day nonverbal and dramatic forms of com Adventist Church, ing. (In our more reflective moments, municating that meaning. So I look for Cleveland Heights, most of us would agree that statistics do the practice of baptism to continue to be Ohio. not always accurately reveal the overall a creative aspect of organized Christian health of a field.) life. 2. Misuse of power. When one person remains in power for a prolonged period, 1 William H. Branson, Drama of the Ages (Nash an environment for misuses and abuses of ville: Southern Pub. Assn., 1950), pp. 183, 184. 2 The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, power is more likely to be created. Ellen G. White Comments, vol. 6, p. 1075. Deposed presidents Duvalier of Haiti

10 MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 and Marcos of the Philippines are classic deficiencies of another" (ibid., pp. 420, examples of this problem. They came to 421). believe that they owned their positions, "I have been shown and all too often punished those who as An issue in Black conferences pired or were perceived as aspiring to At this time the problem of men stay that ministers should their offices. ing too long in a single position, at least Their cases are, I hope, more extreme on the local conference level, seems not not be retained in the than what the church experiences, but to be as great an issue in the White con the principles are the same. The old ad ferences as it is in Black conferences. The same district year age "Absolute power corrupts absolute reasons behind this are worth our consid after year, nor should ly" is still true. eration. 3. Deterioration of respect. A deterio Of the 59 conferences in the North the same man long ration of respect for leadership can de American Division, only 9 are predomi velop when a leader stays past a reason nantly Black. Because of the limited preside over a able time. Unfortunately, when this number of positions in Black confer happens an environment of hostility can ences, Black ministers with administra conference," develop that can lead to forced changes tive or other specialized ministry gifts in leadership, a process that is sometimes have very few conference-level slots in chaotic. Regrettably, some conferences which to exercise their abilities, while have experienced these painful situa their White counterparts with the same tions. gifts have almost unlimited (compar Ellen White received direct counsel atively speaking) opportunities for min from the Lord regarding the need to make istry. This bottleneck gives Black leader periodic changes in leadership. She ship nowhere to go. Those in leadership wrote: "The question is asked me if it is positions stay as long as they can, realiz gifts/abilities necessary to meet these not a mistake to remove the president of ing that the church offers Blacks few such challenges? a state conference to a new field when positions. (Of course, this highlights an These considerations are even more many of the people under his present other problem that needs to be ad important regarding heads of organiza charge are unwilling to give him up. dressed.) Their staying overlong pro tions such as local conferences, unions, "The Lord has been pleased to give me duces the problems we have mentioned. divisions, and the General Conference. light on this question. I have been shown For Whites the problem of retaining Since organizational needs change every that ministers should not be retained in people too long in positions is more apt to few years, the church must continually the same district year after year, nor occur on the levels of the church above have new leadership, with new skills. should the same man long preside over a the local conference. The higher a per When challenges arise that are outside conference. A change of gifts is for the son goes in the organization, the easier it the realm of an individual©s particular good of our conferences and churches" is to "hide out" for years where there is abilities, this view that leadership is (Gospel Workers, pp. 419, 420). little accountability, because, like doc based on gifts makes it easier for that This counsel regarding periodic tors, we ministers don©t expose each individual to move on to another area changes is often followed in the case of other. where his or her talents fit the needs. the parish ministers, while it is fre How can we begin to limit the amount Then moves from administrative posi quently ignored when it comes to admin of time that an individual stays in office ? tions within the church back to parish istrators. But Ellen White made no dis The easiest way would be to stipulate in ministry could be made without the indi tinction between the two. the constitutions of our organizations a vidual©s feeling like a failure or being per The messenger pinpointed the dangers limit to the number of terms a person ceived as one. of retaining leaders in a position "year may serve. But that would be only a su In addition, we would begin to recog after year": "The churches become ac perficial solution. We need to adjust our nize the benefits to the organization of customed to the management of that one thinking on the whole subject of leader using the full spectrum of gifts that are man, and think they must look to him ship. The time has come when we must available in different individuals. And instead of to God. His ideas and plans seriously consider placing more emphasis last but not least, the aforementioned have a controlling power in the confer on the gifts of the Spirit, especially as problems engendered by a leader©s occu ence. . . . they relate to the selection process in pying a position too long would be "Many are strong in some points of filling positions in denominational lead greatly, if not completely, diminished. character, while they are weak and defi ership. I fully realize that this approach to cient in others. As the result, a want of Each of us brings gifts/abilities to each leadership is visionary; however, it is efficiency is manifest in some parts of the job that we take within ministry, biblical. Through careful and prayerful work. Should the same man continue as whether it be in the parish ministry or consideration, we must develop a spiri president of a conference year after year, denominational leadership. Before an tual process to make this a reality. What I his defects would be reproduced in the individual is placed in a position, his or am suggesting is simply that we make churches under his labors. But one la her gifts/abilities should be considered as practical application of the priesthood of borer may be strong where his brother is they relate to that position. The church all believers, which, in short, means that weak, and so by exchanging fields of la must ask What are the challenges of the every member of the body has something bor, one may, to some extent, supply the position? Does this individual have the to offer for the body©s upbuilding.

MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 11 MINISTRY Reports

Annual Council—1987 Floyd Bresee

hat would you con how she could find an Adventist minister for every 1,000 members. Today there sider to be the most to baptize them. Later the church heard are only 7 per 1,000. This is not necessar noteworthy events from her again. She had found a way ily bad if our laity are carrying more of the in the Adventist 250 had been baptized and she was cer burden. But in some parts of the world Church during tain there would be 140 more soon. pastors are so few that they cannot shep 1987? In his presi 4- Adventist Magazine in Russia. The herd their flocks. dent©s report at the Russian government allowed the Review At least three factors underlie this dra opening meeting of the 1987 Annual and Herald Publishing Association to matic change: the church is growing very Council, Neal Wilson included these print and distribute in Russia a magazine rapidly, a smaller percentage of members five: depicting Adventists who they are, may be tithing, and the number of inac 1. Unprecedented Growth. In June the what they believe, and how they live, tive members is increasing. Inter-American Division became the both in Russia and the United States. Harris Pine Looks Better. Late in 1986 first to number more than 1 million These magazines have become most pre the church faced an unusual financial members. In the same month member cious to our Russian members. crisis. Harris Pine Mills, which was ship for the world church passed the 5.2 Construction of our new seminary in owned by the church and provided work million mark. The Inter-American Divi Russia is well under way. It should be for students at many Adventist schools, sion alone now has more Adventists than ready in the summer of 1988. was hemorrhaging so badly it declared there were in the whole world in 1954 5. Legal Victories in U.S. Supreme bankruptcy. The church always intended just 33 years ago. Court. Recent decisions of the U.S. Su to see that all of Harris Pine©s debts were 2. Guam Radio on the Air. In January, preme Court have been significant to the paid. Bankruptcy was simply the method ribbons were cut at the new radio station church. Some of these decisions have in of stanching the financial bleeding. on Guam, and KSDA is now broadcast volved Adventists and have been argued When Harris Pine closed, it owned ing. We have already received responses before the Court by General Conference some $33 million worth of furniture parts from listeners in 55 countries. attorneys. One ruling established that scattered throughout its plants all over 3. Success in China. Daily KSDA people could not be denied unemploy the United States. Through assembly beams 12 hours of broadcast into the Peo ment benefits if fired because of the Sab and sales, this inventory has already been ple©s Republic of China. The Adventist bath. Another allows religious institu reduced to $9 million. The original in Development and Relief Agency tions the privilege of preferential debtedness of $46.5 million, as deter (ADRA) has signed a contract with offi hiring the church can insist on certain mined by the trustee, has been reduced cials of the Chinese government and is standards of belief and lifestyle among its to less than $20 million. opening an office in Beijing. ADRA will employees without being accused of The redwood division has been sold to lead out in such projects as helping make discrimination. a non-Adventist company. All redwood water available in remote villages. It is branches have been reopened except hoped that this program will demon Items of interest one, which hopes to open soon. These strate our practical interest in the people The routine but necessary business of branches are operating under Adventist of China. Annual Council sometimes seems to executives and are hiring students from When our work officially closed in drone on endlessly. However, as I sat the schools where they were established. China, we had some 20,000 members. trying to tune my ears to things of con Harris Pine©s furniture division includ We estimate our current membership cern to the typical Adventist minister, ing the plant at Pendleton and eight there to be between 40,000 and 50,000. many significant items emerged. branches is in the process of being sold. One member sent word that she had 350 More Members Per Evangelistic It is hoped that these will soon be operat people ready for baptism but didn©t know Worker. (By evangelistic worker we ing under similar arrangements as is the mean ministers and other noninstitu- redwood division. Floyd Bresee, Ph.D., is the secretary of the Ministerial Association of the General Confer tional church employees.) In 1920 the The temptation to sell off every asset ence of Seventh©day Adventists. church employed 38 evangelistic workers as quickly as possible has been resisted.

12 MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 By selling more judiciously, not only will print materials promoting things we and 38 percent had used tobacco. Signif all the other debts be paid, but it seems oppose? icantly less use occurred in students at likely that the General Conference will We have prayed for years that God tending Adventist schools than in those also receive payment for the funds it lent would open the way so we could get our attending public schools. Harris Pine. literature into the Soviet Union. Please The problem is not limited to North Tithe and Mission Funds Increase. Gen pray for our leaders as they seek God©s America. Studies show that very similar eral Conference tithe receipts for 1986 will in this problematic situation. problems exist in other parts of the world were $74-8 million an increase of 5.9 Adventist Media Center Studied. Frank field. Adventists who enter the church percent over 1985©s $70.6 million. Tithe Magid Associates, a consulting firm, was while addicted are seldom able to recover the General Conference received in commissioned to study the Adventist without help. Yet because of our church 1987 from outside North America shows Media Center and its five programs: standards, the member cannot easily ad an increase of approximately 14-6 per Breath of Life, Christian Lifestyle. Maga mit the problem, and the church is not cent over 1986. Part of this increase is a zine, It Is Written, La Voz De La Espe- well equipped to help solve it anyway. result of the weakening of the U.S. dollar ranza, and the Voice of Prophecy. They The church must have high standards. in the world market. took two surveys. The first, done by mail, But it also needs a redemptive attitude. As compared to tithe receipts, mission surveyed 300 Adventists half of them Dr. Winton Beaven, an assistant to giving has been declining for several laity and half denominational leaders. the General Conference president, has years. However, it is encouraging to note This survey found that not many were taken on the task of mobilizing the re that 1986 and 1987 saw a slight increase tuning in Adventist programs less than sources of our world divisions to combat in worldwide mission giving, and a defi 10 percent reported regularly watching chemical dependency in the church. nite increase in North American giving. Adventist programs available in their Shepherdess Regularized. Shepherdess Ministers May Again Choose Social Se area. Breath of Life, It Is Written, and International, a pilot program, begun at curity. Since 1968 all clergy subject to Voice of Prophecy were most interesting the General Conference to give support U.S. tax laws have been obligated to pay to members over 50 years of age. and training to ministers© wives, was au Social Security tax unless they opted out The second survey was a carefully con thorized by this Annual Council to be on grounds of conscience. The minister structed, random telephone sampling of come a permanent subentity of the Min choosing not to be covered must sign a 1,000 persons in the general U.S. popu isterial Association. The action will be statement that says in part, "I certify lation. It indicated that 9 percent of implemented January 1 if leadership is that, because of my religious principles, I Americans have heard of the Voice of able to fund the program by replacing an am conscientiously opposed to the ac Prophecy, 8 percent have heard of It Is existing salary somewhere in the General ceptance of the benefits of any public Written, and 7 percent know about Chris Conference complex. insurance ..." Some 1,000 Adventist tian Lifestyle Magazine. Some 47 percent Hardest 90 an Overwhelming Success. ministers have chosen this route. The have a favorable attitude toward Ad Our Harvest 90 world baptismal goal church respects the rights of individual ventists, and 29 percent an unfavorable through June 1987 was 620,000. The conscience, but the statement above attitude. Lord led us to baptize more than 841,000 clearly indicates that it would be dishon The most alarming statistic is that 51 by that date an average of more than est to opt out simply to save money. Not percent of those surveyed said they know 1,276 souls per day. only is such action unethical it is also nothing at all about Adventists. The Middle East Union, one of the illegal. Some 61 percent of the respondents most difficult places to work, is the first The Tax Reform Act of 1986 has said they looked to help outside them to surpass its goal for the quinquennium opened a window whereby clergy who selves in the area of health. They ex (1985-1990). They had baptized 1,225 previously opted out of Social Security pressed far more interest in health than as of Annual Council. Our Soviet breth may now, probably for the last time, en in any other area mentioned in the sur ren reported 1,700 baptisms for the year. ter the program. vey. Learning this, our consultants took Dr. Calvin Rock, one of the General Printing Plant in the V. S. S. R. Consid us to task. Despite our strong health mes Conference vice-presidents, has held ered. The Soviet government has offered sage and all the health-related institu two evangelistic series in the past year- to authorize the Adventist Church to op tions the church operates, we are doing one in London and the other in Nairobi. erate the only church printing establish next to nothing in the media to take ad The latter resulted in 1,200 baptisms and ment in the Soviet Union. This offer has vantage of the public©s interest in health. the starting of two new churches. grown out of friendly overtures made by Chemical Dependency in the Church. If a General Conference vice presi Neal Wilson and other Adventist lead The General Conference Study Com dent, in spite of all the committee "meet ers, as well as the visit of Soviet govern mission on Chemical Dependency in the ings and administrative work heaped ment officials to the Review and Herald Church, created at the 1985 Annual upon him, can hold two series in one Publishing Association and other Ad Council, presented a report of their find year, couldn©t every administrator hold ventist institutions. ings to this year©s meeting. at least one series every two years ? When Should we accept this offer? Doing so A national survey of the use of alcohol every pastor is holding meetings or semi would require a degree of cooperation and other drugs by North American Ad nars every year and every administrator is with the Soviet government. While we ventist youth was conducted in 1985. doing it at least occasionally, God can would not be required to print any polit Results indicate that 12 percent were use us to accomplish even more than we ical literature, we would have to print currently using alcohol and 8 percent have in the past. Let us unite hands and materials for other churches although were using tobacco. Some 58 percent hearts with one another and with our not under our name. Could we refuse to had used alcohol sometime in the past, Lord for a finished work.

MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 13 The^devil and the waiting Father

he spiritual life of the portrayal of repentance: "The repen David C. James flock either con tance of the lost son is therefore not gregation or fam something merely negative. In the last ily tends not to rise analysis it is not merely disgust; it is higher than that of above all homesickness; not just turning its leader. One of away from something, but turning back ______the most important home. Whenever the New Testament things you can do to strengthen your speaks of repentance, always the great Looking for ministry is to maintain a strong devo joy is in the background. It does not say, tional life. The Bible must be the founda ©Repent or hell will swallow you up,© but something to liven up tion of your devotions, but for variety, ©Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at and for personal application, the per hand.© your devotions? One spectives of others are helpful. "[The prodigal©s] disgust with himself of our editors offers The four books I describe below are could never help him. ... It was the among those that I have found particu father©s influence from afar, a byproduct samples from some of larly inspirational. They vary in style and of sudden realization of where he really approach, but are all characterized by a belonged [that brought him home]" (pp. his favorite devotional scriptural base; solid, careful thinking; 26, 27). and personal application. I believe you Notice how he speaks directly to our readings. would find them enriching. spiritual needs in his sermon on the par able of the sower. Of the seed that fell on The Waiting Father the path, he says: "A person who is only a During the 1950s Helmut Thielicke, path through which the daily traffic dean of the school of religion at the local passes, who is no more than a busy street university, regularly filled the largest where people go rushing by hour after church (capacity 4,000) in nonchurch- hour and where there is never a moment going Hamburg twice weekly with an au of rest, will hardly provide the soil in dience of men and women, sophisticated which the eternal seed can grow. People students and ordinary shopkeepers. who are always on the go are the most in Thielicke was a well-known German danger. theologian, widely respected for his "A person who can no longer be recep David C. James is one scholarship. But his great concern was to tive ©soil© for at least 15 minutes each day, of MINISTRY©S assistant convey the biblical messages to modern who never allows himself to be ©plowed© »_ editors. man in everyday life. and opened up, and never waits for what His book The Waiting Father (San God drops into his furrow, that person Francisco: Harper and Row, 1959) is has already lost the game at the crucial made up of 16 sermons based on parables point" (p. 54). Jesus told. Let me whet your appetite by In this same sermon he suggests that giving you a taste or two of the spiritual the birds in the parable represent feast he has spread. "thought forces" within us that seek to In his sermon on the parable of the dominate us: ambition, sexual fantasies, prodigal son, Thielicke gives a beautiful desire for recognition and prestige, wor-

14 MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 ries and cares, and so forth. The Word of the case so as to get the results they are God demands a time in each day when it seeking. The skewed point of view gives is our only companion. fresh insights on the war in which we are "I like bats much This book also contains Thielicke©s the battleground, the troops, and the sermon on the parable of the laborers. spoils. better than While every Christian is called to work Don©t miss Lewis©s preface. In it he for the Lord, and this parable is directed explains his concept of Satan©s realm: the bureaucrats* I live in to all, it seems especially to speak to devils he writes of are fallen angels con those of us who earn our living working sumed by selfishness. I love the explana the Managerial Age, for the Lord. tion he gives as to why he doesn©t portray in a world of As you will recall, in this parable those them as batlike creatures. He says it©s who worked only the last hour of the day because "I like bats much better than 'AdminA * * received the same wages as did those who bureaucrats. I live in the Managerial had labored through the whole day. Age, in a world of ©Admin.© The greatest Hence, • * * my symbol Thielicke makes two thought-provoking evil is not now done in those sordid ©dens points: First, when we are jealous of of crime© that Dickens loved to paint. It is for hell is something God©s grace to others, we cannot enjoy not done even in concentration camps His grace toward ourselves. And second, and labor camps. In those we see its final like . •«the offices of the difference in reward is not in the result. But it is conceived and ordered a thoroughly nasty wages received at the end of the day (moved, seconded, carried, and minut (eternal life) but in the privilege of labor ed) in clean, carpeted, warmed, and business concern," ing with the Master. Those who labored well-lighted offices, by quiet men with with Him for only the "evening hours" white collars and cut fingernails and will receive eternal life, but in the mean smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need time they have lived lives of meaning- to raise their voice. Hence, naturally lessness and frustration. Those who have enough, my symbol for hell is something labored with the Lord through the whole like the bureaucracy of a police state or day may have experienced difficult times the offices of a thoroughly nasty business young tempters, you are anxious to be and exhausting toil. But if they have concern" (p. x). able to report spectacular wickedness. learned to recognize and enjoy His pres In one of his letters, Screwtape tells But do remember, the only thing that ence, they have had a richer experi Wormwood that because humans are be matters is the extent to which you sepa ence and a better life in spite of it all. ings of flesh as well as spirit, their nearest rate the man from the Enemy. . . . Mur This book will enrich your own approach to constancy in the spiritual der is no better than cards if cards can do preaching on the parables. But more life is undulation, a series of troughs and the trick. Indeed, the safest road to hell is than that, it will feed your soul. peaks. "The dryness and dullness the gradual one the gentle slope, soft through which your patient is now going underfoot, without sudden turnings, The Screwtape Letters are not, as you fondly suppose, your without milestones, without signposts" For a change of pace in your devo workmanship; they are merely a natural (P- 56). tional reading, try C. S. Lewis©s Screw- phenomenon which will do us no good Usually we don©t benefit much from a tape Letters (New York: The Macmillan unless you make a good use of it. ... negative approach; Lewis himself con Company, 1961). A careful thinker, as "It may surprise you to learn that in fesses that he found looking at the spiri an adult Lewis turned from a de facto His efforts to get permanent possession of tual life from this diabolical perspective atheism to Christianity. His book Mere a soul, He [the Enemy God] relies on stifling after a while. But as a supplement Christianity is a classic of modern Chris the troughs even more than on the peaks; to our usual menu, a change of pace for tian apologetics I©ve found it very help some of His special favorites have gone our thinking, this book is worthwhile. ful personally. through longer and deeper troughs than The Screwtape Letters is made up of anyone else" (p. 37). Dynamic Discipleship short pieces focusing on the spiritual life This letter contains what, because of Another book I©d recommend for your of the individual. Here, as in Thielicke©s the encouragement it has afforded me at devotional reading is Kenneth C. King- book, you will find good spiritual content times, is one of my all-time favorite quo horn©s Dynamic Discipleship (Grand Rap applied in a practical way to life in the tations: "Do not be deceived, Worm ids: Baker Book House, 1973). Written twentieth-century world. wood. Our cause is never more in danger for novice Christians, this book leads But what adds special interest to this than when a human, no longer desiring, one step by step through the Christian book is its perspective. The book pur but still intending, to do our Enemy©s life. The author writes both of and from ports to be a series of letters from a senior will, looks round upon a universe from his personal experience and includes a devil, Screwtape, to his nephew, Worm which every trace of Him seems to have lot of illustrations. If you©re looking for wood, a junior executive in the devil©s vanished, and asks why he has been for sophisticated theology, this book will enterprise. saken, and still obeys" (p. 39). disappoint you. But I think a good, solid, Wormwood has been assigned a par Wormwood©s advice regarding small carefully and clearly done review of the ticular man to cultivate, and Screwtape sins serves us as a warning to be taken basics is helpful for us every once in a writes letters of advice as to what temp seriously: "You will say that these are while especially as part of our devo tations are effective and how to conduct very small sins; and doubtless, like all tional life. Reading this kind of work

MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 15 sinning, but in themselves they are in the Beatitudes," "The Spirituality of the category of infirmities" (p. 42). Law," "The True Motive in Service," Kinghorn describes Kinghorn continues, "The answer to "The Lord©s Prayer," and "Not Judging, damaged emotions and maladjusted but Doing." how personality complexes is not suppression. Rather, To those who recognize their spiritual the solution is God©s gracious work of poverty, Jesus offers the kingdom of maladjustments— healing" (p. 44). He believes that in heaven. "Whatever may have been your those Christians who cooperate with past experience, however discouraging scars and twists left in Him, the Holy Spirit works to uncover your present circumstances, if you will and remove these personality problems come to Jesus just as you are, weak, help our unconscious and bring emotional and spiritual whole less, and despairing, our compassionate minds by old hurts ness. And, characteristic of his approach Saviour will meet you a great way off, and throughout the book, he makes four spe will throw about you His arms of love and and resentments— cific suggestions as to how the Christian His robe of righteousness. He presents us may have this kind of healing. to the Father clothed in the white rai may cripple our In discussing the problem of self-will ment of His own character. He pleads in the Christian©s life, Kinghorn notes before God in our behalf, saying: I have spiritual experience. that the Bible speaks of salvation as taken the sinner©s place. Look not upon present and future processes as well as this wayward child, but look on Me" (p. past. "A number of my Christian friends 9). talked about having been saved. But I "When tribulation comes upon us, heard very little about the continuing how many of us are like Jacob! We think process of feeing saved" (pp. 71, 72). it the hand of an enemy; and in the dark He points out that spiritual transfor ness we wrestle blindly until our strength mation is a lifetime process and that it is spent, and we find no comfort or deliv involves a continual saying yes to God. erance" (p. 11). And he develops the process in terms of "If you have a sense of need in your confessing and forsaking sin and walking soul, if you hunger and thirst after righ helps us to check up on ourselves. in renewed obedience to Christ. teousness, this is an evidence that Christ Kinghom was converted after he had Later chapters contrast, in practical has wrought upon your heart, in order completed college. At the time he wrote terms, walking in the flesh with walking that He may be sought unto to do for you, this book, he was professor of church his in the Spirit; point out that mature through the endowment of the Holy tory at Asbury Theological Seminary. I Christian experience involves growing Spirit, those things which it is impossible particularly appreciate his thoroughly beyond what Hebrews calls "the elemen for you to do for yourself (p. 19). Arminian orientation, so in harmony tary teaching about Christ" (Heb. 6:1, "While the law is holy, the Jews could with historic Adventist thinking on sal Phillips); call us to Christian service, en not attain righteousness by their own ef vation and the spiritual life. (His book couraging us that taking on the yoke of forts to keep the law. . . . God offered Christ Can Make You Fully Human lays Christ frees us from "guilt, the burden of [Christ©s disciples], in His Son, the per out in simple, readable terms this orien the past, boredom, the burden of the fect righteousness of the law. If they tation. I©ve found the perspective it gives present, [and] fear, the burden of the fu would open their hearts fully to receive both interesting and helpful for under ture" (p. 138); and lay out our high des Christ, -then the very life of God, His standing our church©s discussion of tiny a destiny we may begin fulfilling love, would dwell in them, transforming righteousness by faith during the last now that of being cocreators with God. them into His own likeness; and thus decade.) through God©s free gift they would pos In his first chapter, Kinghorn covers Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing sess the righteousness which the law re what Christian discipleship is, and in the Of all that Ellen G. White wrote, my quires" (pp. 54, 55). second, the centrality of faith to main favorite books are Education, Steps to Fathers and mothers, "lead [your] chil taining a vibrant spiritual life. Christ, The Desire of Ages, and Thoughts dren to see in every pleasant and beauti The third chapter, "Excess Baggage," From the Mount of Blessing. The latter is ful thing an expression of God©s love for is particularly thought-provoking. Here not mentioned as frequently as the oth them. Recommend your religion to them Kinghorn describes how personality mal ers, so while I©m writing about devo by its pleasantness" (pp. 97, 98). adjustments scars and twists left in our tional books, I want to recommend it to "Every promise in the word of God unconscious minds by old hurts and re you. furnishes us with subject matter for sentments may cripple our spiritual ex Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing is prayer, presenting the pledged word of perience. "Conversion to Jesus Christ ideally- suited for devotional reading. Jehovah as our assurance" (p. 133). does not automatically heal the personal Taking selected verses from Christ©s ser These fellow travelers on the Chris ity wounds of the deep mind, any more mon on the mount, Ellen G. White adds tian pathway encourage us to keep mov than conversion cures a broken leg, or two- to four-page-long comments and ing along and help us find the right road the mumps, or a common cold. The rea applications. These meditations are col and avoid some of the detours and pot son? Emotional scars are not in them lected into five chapters that cover the holes that might cause us difficulty. I selves sinful. They may be the result of basic divisions of Christ©s sermon. The hope that you will find one of these books sin, and they may become the occasion for chapter titles reveal the contents: "The an encouragement.

16 MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 :^ * "© 'i;ng*||rps^^ • tfVarfe^qlie^hilSl-ite, ^ei^C*,^R4"rep»re<:ti0f)C:l,J •* IvtEglT^^ ';Ao;Bgtei23den.. •'*"%"«'*,.',"-.'•••"'/"r.,*-!' "v ""='"">'""*•• .:'•'•"'":'',: •,""ltir|eifusa|er*».r"--*t"; '..';'- ^ *• ^^ ; ove?'f he, i;: '.'"';•.,"",„•, '~" :;;-;; ii -<:-\: •'! ' '"""."»,',,,:' ":""" -GETHSfiMANE., ,:,v >" "•-. :' "-' ':'. .;..' -: ' "• A&A',:; whe!r€;,the,';Boman; army .ctaslied* the" • «!s,ii;th"e'--SHRlNE::OF-THE/,BOdK,'the" "'* "' resrstartceiv,, >'„-- '','?;,';"„''' "-"•- •„, ;: and ROCKEFELLER erfeMoses-feceivied'.thp.Ten":Gorn-",-•% :.m'an.'" «. ' • aimb'the'slopes'of.MOyNT'TABdR, see" -: > QUMRAN^where.the bead;S,eascrolls were•'•„• '•'" ,".' MOUNf.HERMON, and 1 walk "over MOUNT. " • discovered. """,.',„ •' -"*•'" . ' " ..;:,',, ., ••"•*; ">,- 1 -..CARMEL. "'•'% .' "::/:' "•"•-,:.,.'"•'... ':''.' LSHECHEM> to climb,the mounts of blessing 'and curses. '"••'• - '•'"'.'.,••, • • «-. " ::,':.,:,, • Visit the monument to :tfe .HOLOCAUST and , see CHAGALL'S staihed-gl.ass windows. ; ' » NAZARETH and GALILEE—spend the Sabbath : "there,.;, •'_"•• • ' '.'.' ,„, • ••"• '• - "..'•• ,, ••."•"., • See:all the co'astal regions ftorn ASHKELON in the south to ACCO in the north. , *.. .and much more!

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Actually live in the,, heart of Jerusaletti,, minutes from the [ ] YES, send me information/application for Ancient Wall and Gethsemarie—-comfortable accommoda 10-Day Ifinprary IR-Day Itinerary tions in the newly refurbished JERUSALEM CENTER Hostel- Name advantages of a small group with participants limited to 30, Address City/State/Zip Cost includes instruction, housing, meals, .excursions (fares , Send to: Biblical Research Institute, General Conference and entry fees),,and transfers. Excludes airfares in and out of 6840 Eastern Avenue NW., Washington, D.C. 2001 2 Israel. . ' • ,,, " • • •' •, '• '• • "' '•.-• or call: (202) 722-6790 1 Discrimination at the Lord's Supper

f all the Pauline worse. For, in the first place, when you Pedrito U. Epistles, 1 Corin assemble as a church, I hear that there Maynard-Reid thians speaks most are divisions among you; and I partly be directly to the prob lieve it, for there must be factions among lems and concerns of you in order that those who are genuine today's parish pastor. among you may be recognized."* ______One such problem is The Corinthians' problem, then, was that of practices surrounding participa not theological but sociological—if one tion in the Lord's Supper. It was one of can truly make such a distinction, for all the many problems that affected the biblical sociological problems are in es Paul was concerned unity of the first-century church in Cor sence theological. The factious spirit about one-upmanship inth. And it is one that has affected the among them when they came together unity of the entire Christian church over for the Lord's Supper made the meal not at the Lord's Supper. the centuries. really the Lord's Supper (verse 20). Be Particularly during the Reformation cause of the inequitable and divisive so Many have made there were intense discussions and differ cial situation, the Spirit of the Lord was ences between the various religious not present. what he wrote the groups and Reformers like Luther, Cal In verses 21 and 22 Paul clearly states vin, and Zwingli regarding the meaning the causes of disunity at the Communion basis for theological of the Supper. Even now such issues as service: "In eating, each one goes ahead transubstantiation, consubstantiation, with his own meal, and one is hungry and one-upmanship and and the symbolic meaning of the em another is drunk. What! Do you not have schism* blems continue to divide Christianity. houses to eat and drink in? Or do you But in 1 Corinthians 11, Paul was not despise the church of God and humiliate attempting to develop a complicated eu- those who have nothing? What shall I charistic theology, such as was debated say to you? Shall I commend you in this? during the Reformation. Throughout 1 No, I will not." Corinthians the theological issue is that These verses tell us a number of things of unity. All the doctrinal and ethical regarding the social situation of the problems had their roots in the divisive church in Corinth, which seemed to be spirit that had ingrained itself in the at the heart of the divisive spirit there. l Pedrito V. Maynard- church. Yet, ironically, the church has First, there were at least two groups at the Reid, Th.D., is direc made one of the very passages that Paul service. Second, the groups began eating tor of the Department of Theology at Antii- wrote to help unify the church the at different times. And third, the quality lian Adventist College, grounds of great disunity among the body and the quantity of the food differed Mayagiiez, Puerto of believers. among the groups. Let us look carefully at Rico. One simply needs to read 1 Corin each of these points. thians 11:17-19, which begins the dis cussion, to realize Paul's interest: "But in Shutting out the poor the following instructions I do not com 1. Who constituted the different mend you, because when you come to *AJ( quotations from Scripture in this article are from gether it is not for the better but for the the Revised Standard Version.

18 MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 groups? It seems that the Corinthian different quality of food from the lower church included a large group from the class. In his study of the social situation lower class, and a small segment from the of the Corinthian church, Gerd Theis- By their mistreatment upper stratum of society. This is clear sen cites a few examples to support this from chapter 1:26: "For consider your point. He notes, for instance, that Pliny, of the poor, the call, brethren; not many of you were wise a famous personality of that era, argued according to worldly standards, not that at a common meal a person of a wealthy Christians many were powerful, not many were of higher social status should adjust his eat noble birth." ing habits to match those of a lower sta were profaning the It would seem that during these an tus. cient Lord's Suppers—especially when And Theissen quotes Martial's com body and blood of the church was large, as the Corinthian plaint to his host, who is of a higher so Christ, church was—the members sat at several cial class, that he is treating him (Mar tables. It can be surmised that the tial) as if he still belongs to the lower wealthy would have the habit of physi class. At dinner the host eats fattened cally separating themselves from the oysters from Lucrine Lake, while Martial poor and partaking of the meal in their sucks mussels through a hole in the shell. own exclusive society. The latter eats hog fungi, while the Chapter 11:21, 22 shows that the former enjoys turbot. The rich host con and even humiliated? As Ron Sider asks small upper stratum was prosperous and sumes a turtledove "with its bloated in his book Rich Christians in an Age of well fed to the point of drunkenness. On rump" and golden with fat, while Martial Hunger, how dare we rest contented at the other hand, it shows that the larger is served a magpie that had died in its the Communion service "until the scan group, consisting of the poor, did not cage. 2 dal of starving Christians is removed"? 3 have enough to eat, went away hungry, It seems fair to conclude that some Today, true unity in the body of Christ and were humiliated. similar situation existed in the Corin cannot be achieved when there is such a 2. These groups began eating at dif thian church. The rich church members' great distinction between the rich and ferent times. Verses 21 and 33 indicate meals, consumed before the whole body the poor, between the sated and the emp that some started eating before the rest. of believers came together, probably in ty. Each participation at the Lord's Sup No doubt it was the upper class who were cluded some meat and fish delicacy (pos per should remind us of the Corinthian going ahead with their meal. But why sibly the food sacrificed to idols, with situation. We should hear Paul's voice would they begin first? which chapters 8-10 deal). After the anew. The poor, the hungry, are a part of It was an accepted practice for each to common meal, the rich were stuffed and the body of Christ. They deserve to be bring his or her own meal to a common drunk, while the poor went away hungry. treated as such. To ignore their plight is place and partake potluck-style in com not to discern the body of Christ. It is to munal fellowship (cf. Acts 2:42-46). But Profaning Christ's body bring judgment upon ourselves. the prosperous in the Corinthian church Paul unequivocally condemns this way When we prepare ourselves for the had lost the primitive sense of sharing of conducting the Lord's Supper (1 Cor. Supper, we must put away all of the sins and unity. They would start to eat before 11:22). In the same verse he states that that divide the body of Jesus Christ. Yes, the poor arrived so that there would be those who exhibit such selfish indiffer this means personal sins such as pride, no sharing of material goods with the less ence to the needs and feelings of the poor jealousy, covetousness, envy, major or fortunate. actually despise the church of God. minor misunderstandings, malice, ha But not only was the minority group In fact, he says that by their selfish tred, and falsehood. But at the same selfish; pride seems to have been in actions and mistreatment of the poor, time, we must not fail to put away the volved also. First Corinthians 11:22 in the wealthy Christians were profaning social sins, sins such as neglect of the dicates that their actions humiliated the the body and blood of Christ (verse 27). poor, hungry, and oppressed. It is only poor. The rich had no desire to associate Such actions intensified the schisms in when the church of Christ has rid itself of with the humble and lowly (see Rom. an already fragmented church. To eat these vices, at the individual and corpo 12:16). By eating alone in their exclusive and drink worthily is to recognize that in rate levels, that these words of Jesus in groups, the well-to-do were putting the fellowship of believers all should be His great prayer will be fulfilled: "That down their brothers and sisters in the equal. Some cannot be sated while oth they may all be one" (John 17:21). • community and causing them embarrass ers are hungry. To permit such a situation ment. They were, in effect, saying, We is to invite judgment—a judgment that 1 I am greatly dependent on Gerd Theissen's The Social Setting of Pauline Christianity (Philadelphia: are superior to yo'u. Paul links to the sickness of many and Fortress Press, 1982) for sociological insights on the 3. First Corinthians 11: 21 indicates death of some of the believers (verses 29, situation in Corinth. See also William F. Orr and 30). James Arthur Walther's comment on 1 Corin that at the supper some were hungry and thians 11:17-34 in The Anchor Bible: 1 Corinthians others were drunk—clearly implying One wonders whether Paul's message (GardenCity, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1976). that there were unequal portions of food is not intensely appropriate to Christians 2 Theissen, p. 157. 3 Ron J. Sider, Rich Christians in an Age of Hun and drink. But it also seems that the qual today. As we sit at the table for the Lord's ger: A Biblical Study (Downers Grove, 111.: Inter- ity of the meal of the rich was much supe Supper, do we profane the body of Varsity Press, 1977). Cf. WilliamJohnsson's edito rior to that of the poor. Christ? Do we participate contented rial "A Tale of Two Countries," Adventist Review, Nov. 6, 1986; and Barry L. Casey, "Needless Hun At a common meal it was Greek prac with our material comforts while fellow ger in a Bountiful World," Adventist Review, Nov. tice for the higher social class to have a believers in the Third World go hungry 6, 1986.

MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 19 Come on, ring those bells!

t was December and shoes, roll up my pant legs, and start Cathy McBride 1982. Christmas mopping. One thing's for sure, I never trees sparkled in had to worry about becoming too proud store windows and in here. Plenty of experiences helped me I residences—from remember that the pastor is just one of narrow row houses to the servants!" the brick shoe-box "You did look hilarious that morning. louses that are so familiar to Chicago. From the waist down you could have How to turn pizza, Children dreaming of brightly colored passed for Huck Finn wading in the Mis toys skipped excitedly through depart sissippi! And all those dried leaves and paper plates, a dark, ment stores, hanging onto the hands of sticks swimming around here. We never dank basement, and a hassled parents. The spirit of Christmas did figure out how they got in." seemed to have enlivened everyone. Ev "I wouldn't have been surprised to find sad farewell into a eryone but me. a few fish in here too!" LeBron added. "I can't believe this is happening," I "Say, maybe we should stick a few fish festival to remember. said as I walked through the dark old ing poles in the closet for the next pas church with my husband. "And why on tor!" Christmas Day? Great timing—some Our laughter lifted our spirits for a mo Christmas this will be!" ment. "Remember at last year's Christ We were moving to another pastorate. inas party when we gave Mrs. Grentz On Christmas, of all days, we would have that can of nonstop shaving cream from to say goodbye to the congregation we the trick shop?" I asked. "She was a had worked with for two and a half sight—yelling with excitement as it years—the first church of our ministry. spewed all over her!" We had watched these families grow, "We've had such beautiful times in seen them triumph over personal hard this church," LeBron mused. "I wish we ships and grow strong in Christ. Now we could make our last day together beauti must leave them. Though the familiar ful too. What can we do to change this words of "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Christmas from sad to glad?" Day" were running through my head, for "You're the optimist in the family," I me the bells were silent this Christmas. reminded him. "But there's no way to At the time this article The frail wooden staircase squeaked as make Christmas bells ring this year. I'm was written, Cathy though in sympathy with our pain as we too depressed to even try." McBride was living in Mouitrie, Georgia, made our way down to the basement. "What about your pictures ?" he asked. where her husband Like forgotten friends, memories called "Maybe we could find a way to use pastored a church. She to us from every corner of the building. them." does free-lance writing "Remember the rainy Sabbath morn I had taken many 35-mm. slides of and is active in the church community. ing when we got to church and found church members—some pictures serious, three inches of muddy water in the base others humorous. Many had captured ment?" I asked LeBron. the personalities of the individuals por "How could I forget? There was noth trayed. ing I could do but take off my coat, socks, There were action shots depicting

20 MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 church members participating in softball ters and gifts to remember them by. and horseshoe games. Tender moments The nostalgic slide presentation was between parent and child were captured, like dessert after a fine dinner. When it "What about pizza as well as portraits of children alone— was over, applause rippled through the making funny faces, carrying offering sanctuary. served on paper plates, or making messes of their meals "Those of you who do not have a place and themselves. to enjoy Christmas dinner are invited plates? There's no A bud of hope began to break through downstairs for pizza. Yes, you heard the hard ground of my depression. "You right," my husband assured the chuck way anyone could may have something, hon. Maybe we ling congregation, "Christmas, Italian- could arrange a slide presentation for style." forget pizza for Christmas." Many of the church members, espe Christmas dinner!" After I had spent countless hours of cially the younger ones, attended the arranging and rearranging slides and meal. One stranger who had walked into background music, the presentation was our church service off the street ate with ready. Beautiful memories lay scattered us. I was kept busy baking and cutting through the program, like rose petals pizzas. Their spicy aroma flooded the timent on an heirloom locket. This along a garden path. Viewing it, I began basement. The traditional turkey and memory will grow dearer with each pass to feel that maybe my holiday spirit could dressing couldn't have tasted better! A ing year." be resurrected after all. Maybe the bells decrepit cassette player serenaded our His words nudged my imagination, of Christmas would ring for me again! dinner with Christmas carols. It was a and then, from somewhere in the dis "I've got'another idea, hon," I said. happy time, filled with love, laughter, tance, I heard a familiar sound. I smiled "Why don't we invite the church to have and friendship. and let my imagination entertain me. Christmas dinner at our apartment? It Gradually the people said their Christmas bells! It was about time they would be the cherry on the chocolate goodbyes. Afterward LeBron and I sat for started to ring! sundae. The day would be complete." a long time, enjoying the sweetness of In my heart I knew the bells had been LeBron's first reaction was less than the day. Finally LeBron broke the si there all along. Buried beneath my dis enthusiastic. "You've got to be crazy! lence. "This is one of those times that couragement, waiting patiently for His You've forgotten one minor detail. The engraves itself onto your heart like a sen- touch. • moving men came last week and confis cated every dish, pan, and chair from our apartment. The refrigerator is as bare as Mother Hubbard's cupboard. You're tak ing a good thing too far. You'll have to There is a safer put your Christmas dinner idea on the back burner—and leave it there until it burns up!" way to learn while Since I was experiencing temporary mania, I refused to be discouraged by his practical attitude. "Well, we can have in locomotion. the dinner at the church then. There are tables and chairs there. True, we don't have dishes there either, but on Christ Try MINISTRY mas Day it's really the fellowship every one is looking for. Tape-of-the-Month— "What about pizza served on paper the only tape ministry sponsored by plates?" I continued. "We want the day to be memorable, and there's no way any the Ministerial Association of the General one could forget pizza for Christmas din Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. ner!" After a bit of persuasion, LeBron re luctantly consented. "Well, I guess fast for 24 food is better than none at all." When the big day arrived, the dark ninety-minute tapes. wooden pews of our church squeaked and crackled with the weight of friends com Mail check to: ing to tell us goodbye. LeBron tried un successfully to hold back the tears during MINISTRY Tape-of-the-Month his goodbye speech, and many others P. O. Box 3969 shared his tears. Friends sang songs, Hyattsville, MD 20787 spoke words of appreciation and encour agement to us, and presented us with let

MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 21 From the Editors

Open or shut door?

t was 9:10 a.m. Sab "What do you suppose is behind that morning—it had taken me longer to bath morning when door?" I asked my wife, a touch of mys drive there than I had anticipated. The my wife and I drove tery in my voice. "A pool of alligators, church was built in an L shape and had up to the front of maybe ?. . . I notice that no one who goes two exterior doors, one at the head of the I the little Adventist through it ever comes out again!" L, and the other at the foot. Feeling quite church. The sign in Of course I was only joking, but I was confident in my powers of discernment, I front clearly an trying to see the church from the view noted which door appeared more used nounced that Sabbath school would be point of a first-time visitor who might and made my way through it. gin at 9:15, so we were glad to have ar have watched an Adventist television I found myself inside a dimly lit corri rived on time. In fact, we were so on time program and decided to drive over and dor with several closed doors on either that we were the first ones there! visit his neighborhood church on a Sab side. I could hear singing, but wasn't sure "Oh, well, someone will be along bath morning. Would he be made to feel which room it was coming from. At the soon," I said as we pulled into the gravel welcome? Would he be invited in from end of the hall another corridor led to the parking lot at the side of the church. the parking lot? We resolved to sit in the right. At the end of that corridor stood a Since it was a bright, beautiful morning, car until someone invited us in, or until white door. we opened the car doors and let the 9:30, whichever came first. The side doors obviously led to Sab breeze blow through. And sure enough, I've visited a lot of churches in recent bath school rooms. But what about the soon someone did arrive. A man and his years—both Adventist and non- white door? Did I dare open it? Or might wife parked in front of the church, and he Adventist. Unfortunately, more often it lead directly into the sanctuary? Feel hurried toward the side door about 20 than not I've found myself sitting or ing adventurous, I approached the great feet in front of our car. As he walked he standing outside the church, wondering white door. As I grasped the knob and fumbled through a wad of keys in his just how to get in properly. began to turn it, I became aware of a hand. Halfway to the door he stopped There was the Adventist church, for certain amount of resistance that indi and shouted to his wife back at the car to instance, that I arrived at 9:35 one cated that the door was slightly sprung. find out if she had the keys. Finally, keys In other words, there would be no open in hand, he came on down to the door. I ing it silently. It would open with a pop. smiled at him as he approached. He man Pop! it went. And as I peered around aged a quick nod, then looked down at its edge I discovered to my horror that I his keys. Soon he had unlocked the door was at the very front of the sanctuary. and disappeared inside the church, clos Fortunately, I had had the good judg ing the door behind him. ment to arrive in the middle of Mission His wife was next. She managed a Spotlight, and a large projection screen weak smile in our direction before "What do you hid me from all but a few of the disappearing. congregation. One by one, cars pulled up and dis suppose is behind that Had I been a first-time visitor, I no gorged their passengers into the lot. doubt would have hightailed it out the Some people looked in our direction; door? ... I notice that door I'd come in through and never come others, like the lady who parked right back. But I had to preach there that day! next to us, made it a point not to. Ismiled no one who goes So I quickly made my way around to the at everyone I could make eye contact through it ever comes other door, showed myself in, and with, and some even said "Morning" as claimed a corner of a pew in the back. they nodded. But all soon disappeared out again!" Space won't allow me to regale you behind that side door and never appeared with more stories of untoward arrivals, again! but I do have quite a collection.

22 MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 May I suggest that one of the simplest in heaven. Enoch and Elijah were both We prefer to depend on credit cards, and least expensive evangelistic tools ev translated as mature adults. What child mortgages, pills, psychologists, recogni ery church can employ is an open door (or like qualities did they enjoy? tion, political savvy, devotional books, at least a glass door) with a friendly person Some might say that trust, faith, and cassette tapes, or even the church. There just waiting to go the extra mile to make innocence are the virtues of little chil is very little left to ask God for. If we are sure every potential visitor is invited in dren. However, all these characteristics short of money, we borrow, if we have an and helped in finding a seat. You may can also be possessed by adults. There emotional problem, we take Valium or need to hook up a special heater in the must be something else that children participate in a series of sessions with our vestibule to keep your greeters from freez have that adults lack. friendly counselor; if we have a spiritual ing during the winter, but it would be a The story following the blessing of the need, we can resort to overwork to worthwhile investment if it allowed you little children supplies the clue. The deaden our sense of emptiness. We don't to have the door open at least a crack. rich young ruler must have been just as really need God. Yet the essence of salva You may need to relieve your friendliest surprised as the disciples were by Jesus' tion is still dependency. member from other Sabbath school and statement. This may have been what Jesus showed us the way by coming to church duties, but it will be worth it if prompted his query: "What must I do to earth as a dependent baby some 2,000 you can get that person stationed where inherit eternal life?" (Luke 18:18). We his or her warmth can envelop visitors know Jesus' reply: "Keep the command and members as soon as—or preferably ments." The rich young ruler believed even before—they set foot in the church! that he had kept all the commandments, You're probably wondering whether but Jesus' words about receiving the we ever got invited into the first church. kingdom "like a little child" bothered J. David No. But I must say that after we were him. Newman inside, the people were very friendly— He desperately wanted eternal life, but especially when it came time to officially this idea about being a little child con greet visitors—and this is typical. It founded him. In answer to his further seems to me that what we need is well- question, Jesus told him to go and sell all qualified people whose official job it is to that he had and then come and follow make visitors feel welcome from the Him. If he did that, he would no longer parking lot right on in to the pew.— be self-sufficient. Now instead of de Kenneth R. Wade pending on his wealth, he would have to depend on Jesus. Dependence is the unique characteris years ago. He gave up His divine powers, tic of a little child. Give an adult survival His self-sufficiency, to become depen training and a pack of provisions. Put dent on a woman named Mary. We sel him alone in the middle of a wilderness at dom pause to think what it was like for Only zero degrees, and he will probably sur Jesus to give up the adoration of the vive. Take a 3-year-old child, give him heavenly hosts for the mockery of the the same training and the same pack of earthly rabble. He surrendered His omni children provisions. Put him alone in a wilderness science for the tutelage of a peasant at the same temperature, and he will not woman. In place of omnipotence He sub likely survive for even a day. stituted "Of myself I can do nothing." make it to An adult is self-sufficient; a child is His omnipresence gave way to the pres totally dependent upon another individ ence of the Holy Spirit.- Finally on Cal ual for survival. That is the unique char vary He became dependent on death— heaven acteristic of a little child, and that is what man's greatest enemy. What Christ gave Jesus meant when He said that unless we up is far beyond the feeble consciousness esus startled His disci become like little children we will never of man. ples with the state make it to heaven. The rich young ruler What do we give up to come to Christ? ment that "anyone went away sorrowing because he was un "A sin-polluted heart, for Jesus to purify, who will not receive willing to become dependent. to cleanse by His own blood, and to save the kingdom of God Dependency is the essence of righ by His matchless love. And yet men like a little child will teousness by faith. We use big words like think it hard to give up all!" (Steps to never enter it" (Luke justification, propitiation, expiation, so- Christ, p. 46). 18:17).* "How can a man be born when teriology, and election to describe salva Just as Jesus could not save man with he is old?" (John 3:4) questioned Nico- tion. Jesus used little words like nets, out first becoming a dependent child, so demus when Jesus told him the same coins, sheep, faith, children. We pride man cannot be saved until he becomes truth. ourselves on our self-sufficiency. "I can like a child, dependent on the child we Did Jesus really mean that no adults do it myself," we say. That is why it is so celebrate this Christmas time. —J. Da will make it to heaven ? Why are children hard for us to accept what Jesus says about vid Newman • so special? What unique characteristic of becoming dependent like a little child- children must adults possess if they are to dependent on His blood, His life, His *A11 texts in this editorial are from the New receive eternal life? Some adults will be grace. International Version.

MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 23 MINISTRY Reports

Our new baptismal manual

n His Steps, the new supplying texts for the student to look up MINISTRY: What are some of the different baptismal manual, on the point under consideration. We ways this baptismal guide can be used? written by MINISTRY used every text that is listed in the funda assistant editor Ken mental beliefs, and of course added many Wade: In preparing to write the manual, neth R. Wade, is now more as well. I sought the counsel of pastors and evan available through the After that factual portion comes a very gelists. The consensus of opinion was Ministerial Supply important addition. Each lesson has one that it should be supplied in loose-leaf Center at the General Conference. MINIS or more personal applications of the format with a plastic strip as a binder, just TRY interviews Wade about the manual. truths taught in the lesson. In writing like the old manual. This allows the one these, I tried very hard to make them doing the teaching to deal with lessons in any order that seems suitable. Evange MINISTRY: I know that a baptismal man practical and relevant to every be lists can use it in a baptismal class as a ual called In His Steps has been available liever—to help the student see that truth review, and can give out the lessons in from the Ministerial Association for many is not just abstract facts. the order of their own presentations. years. Can you give us a little background After the personal application, each on this, and why a revision was needed? Laypeople or pastors can use it in individ lesson calls for a specific commitment to ual homes, going through it in order. living the principles taught in the lesson. Wade: The old In His Steps, the one with We've really tried to make it as versatile The commitments called for are the green cover, was originally published as possible so that it can become what it is in 1971 as a basic summary of Seventh- relationship-oriented. In other words, intended to be—the standard tool for day Adventist teachings for use in pre they don't just call for the candidate to be helping candidates prepare for baptism paring candidates for baptism. In 1982 committed to believing something about into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. stock of that edition ran out, and the God. They call for him to be committed I think it could also provide a good study association decided to revise it before re to the God who has revealed the truth. guide for a series of prayer meetings. issuing it. In the meantime, to keep cus tomers supplied, Review and Herald MINISTRY: Which was the hardest doctrine MINISTRY: The Annual Council action published a slightly modified manual to write on and why? calls for this to be ' 'the official adult baptis with a goldenrod cover. I became in mal teaching guide for the Seventh-day Ad volved in the revision process in 1984- Wade: Number 23, "Christ's Ministry in ventist Church." Has provision been made Then the 1984 Annual Council took an the Heavenly Sanctuary," presented for it to be translated into other languages? action that made all our previous revi some special challenges because it is so sion work obsolete. The council re long. But the one that took the most time Wade: Yes. Each division has been sup quested us to produce a totally new man and discussion was number 21, "Chris plied with a copy, and is responsible for ual based directly on the 27 fundamental tian Behaviour." Finally the committee translating and publishing the manual in beliefs that were voted at the 1980 Gen came to the conclusion that this belief is the various languages in its territory. eral Conference session. "where the rubber meets the road" in Christian living, so we devoted two MINISTRY: How can an individual pur MINISTRY: So this manual is totally differ pages to it. In the end I think most people chase copies of In His Steps? ent from the old manual? were quite pleased with the way this came out because we handled it from a Wade: In North America, many ABCs Wade: Yes. It is divided into 27 lessons very positive perspective—emphasizing are stocking them, and in some confer rather than 12, and each lesson begins the importance of modeling our lives on ences the local ministerial association with the full text of one of the fundamen Christ and glorifying Him. The princi stocks them. Anyone with questions tal beliefs. The lessons then deal with the ples—rules if you must—are there, but should contact the local ministerial sec chief points of the beliefs individually, always based on the positive motivation. retary. •

24 MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 Is baptism all that "counts"? As a pastor you know that it is discipleship that makes the real difference in your members' lives. The all-new In His Steps will help you teach your baptismal candidates and church members to walk as Jesus walked.

Loose-leaf binding allows distribution of lessons in any sequence.

Each lesson calls for personal application and commitment.

What church leaders are saying: "The new In His Steps is concise enough to be used "I am certain our evangelists will find this an in a brief baptismal class, but contains enough invaluable tool in preparing candidates for thought-provoking material to keep an interested baptism." student digging and pondering for hours." —Kenneth /. Mittleider, Evangelist, General —Ned C. Wilson, Conference Vice President. General Conference President.

Contact your conference or mission Ministerial Association to order. Biblio File

Unmasking the New Age ment his thesis, and an appendix con during the Counter-Reformation, when Douglas R. Groothuis, Inter-Varsity Press, tains a list of names, concepts, and two Jesuit priests formulated Catholi Downers Grove, Illinois, 1 986, 175 pages, sources of further information. cism's attack on the historic method of $6.95, paper. Reviewed by Norman Yer- prophetic interpretation. He shows that gen, pastor, Kenai Sevent/i-aVry Adventist Tearing the Shroud From the Anti the Reformers, and even two rival popes, Church, Kenai, Alaska. christ originally taught that the papacy was the As Bible-believing Christians we usu Henry Feyerabend, ARTS International, antichrist. ally take the idea of the occult seriously. Ontario, Canada, 1986, 136 pages, The tragedy, as Feyerabend points We see spiritualism as a force in the final $5.95, paper. Reviewed by Norman Gul- out, is that this Jesuit cover-up entered events leading up to the Second Com ley, professor of systematic theology, South Protestantism in the nineteenth century ing. But when we think of the occult we ern College. and has, in the form of dispensational typically conjure up images of satanism, This is a well-written, well-organized, ism, permeated nearly every denomina human sacrifice, and seances. The occult lucid book. Written in popular style but tion and taken the focus of prophetic in is no longer limited to such obviously evil thoroughly documented, it exposes the terpretation away from the church age. manifestations. cover-up that dispensationalism partici In dispensationalist teaching, the church Groothuis shows how Satan is infil pates in. age is removed from the purview of the trating American culture in subtle ways Dispensationalists who have a literal- biblical prophets, and their writings are through the New Age movement. He istic hermeneutic interpret the 70 weeks made to focus on the last seven years shows how this purportedly new but ac of Daniel 9 in such a way that the seven before the Second Coming. This effec tually ancient philosophy is changing our tieth week is wrenched from its natural tively defuses the prophets' warnings medical practice, our counseling, our sci relationship to the other 69 weeks about the antichrist because it looks be ence, politics, education, and especially and is pushed into the future as a seven- yond the papacy to a mystery person yet our religious beliefs. year period beginning with a secret rap to come. The author traces the roots of the New ture and ending with the Second Com Today the eyes of the Christian world Age movement back to the countercul ing. are largely upon Israel and the Middle ture of the sixties. Yesterday's hippies Feyerabend gives six reasons for dis East instead of upon spiritual Israel— have become today's yuppies, but they agreeing with this interpretation: 1. It God's end-time church. Bible students have not changed their worldview. The skips over the period of the Christian focus on a gathering to Palestine instead New Age movement is led by many of the church and hence does not take the of on the gathering of the saved into the same people who led the counterculture church seriously. 2. Scripture states that church. They look to a future sanctuary movement. the antichrist had already begun to be on earth instead of to a present sanctuary Groothuis identifies six distinctive manifested in Paul's time. 3. It ampu ministry in heaven. characteristics of the New Age move tates the feet of the Daniel 2 image and Feyerabend shares eight biblical in ment: all is one; all is God; humanity is disconnects the horns of the Daniel 7 sights into the real origin of antichrist. God; a change in consciousness; all reli beast. 4- It rejects the teaching of Christ He points out that antichrist (1) arises gions are one; and cosmic evolutionary about the presence of the kingdom with out of the fourth beast of Daniel 7, (2) is optimism. And he goes on to show how His people during the Christian age. 5. It a religiopolitical power, (3) puts down these ideas are having an impact on every removes Christ's commission, to carry three kings, (4) speaks against God, (5) aspect of our lives. the gospel to all the world, from the persecutes God's followers, (6) changes After reading this book, you may dis church age and places it in the postrap- times and laws, (7) was allowed to rule cover that you have people in your ture era. 6. It posits a Protestant pur for 1260 years, (8) and has the number church who are in some way involved gatory, or second chance, for Christians 666. with the New Age philosophy. From not ready for the secret rapture. They can Most Christians today expect a future children watching movies such as The be saved after the rapture on the basis of Hitler-like dictator to be the antichrist. Dark Crystal to adults attending seminars how they treat the Jews, not on the basis Feyerabend's call back to historical Prot sponsored by their employer, many are of a relationship with Christ. estant understanding of prophecy is a being misled by this philosophy without Perhaps Feyerabend's greatest contri timely reminder. He does not call us to even realizing it. If you have a member bution in this book is to go beyond Dave dislike Catholics or to disdain Catholi talking about rebirthing or holistic MacPherson's The Incredible Cover-up, cism's many contributions to Chris health, you need to read this book right which gives credit to the visions Marga tianity, but only to realize that histori away! ret MacDonald had in 1830 as the well- cally the papacy has fulfilled the role Groothuis has done his research well, spring of dispensational thought in Prot prophesied for the antichrist, and that and has avoided sensationalism. Thir estantism. Feyerabend traces the the prophecies shed light on our age, not teen pages of footnotes thoroughly docu concept to its source 245 years earlier just a postrapture era.

26 MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 Your Home a Lighthouse than looking to non-Christian models Bob and Betty Jacks with Ron Wormser, for organization. ST., Navpress, Colorado Springs, 1986, While the authors take a strong stand 156 pages, $5.95, taper. Reviewed by against overcentralization and the devel AT THE Kenneth L. Scribner, pastor, Barre, Ver opment of "kingly power" within the ad FAMILY UFE mont. ministration, they also emphasize the This is a simple, practical, refreshing importance of all levels of administration WORKSHOPS guide to home Bible study. The study cooperating with the General Confer plan described is designed for laypeople ence. Units of the church should not at to use in their own homes. tempt to operate as independent entities The authors make it clear that their without regard to directions from the reason for writing this book was not to world headquarters. Some things that WE GO BY create another program for pastors to have happened over the past decade lend run, but rather to provide a self-help THE BOOK guide for lay people to use in reaching out credence to the Beaches' viewpoint. to neighbors and friends. The pastor One wonders whether a stronger form of might lead out in an initial study of the church leadership might not have helped principles and practices set forth in the us avoid some rather embarrassing situa book, but the practical application is tions. "for members only." The book is indeed very useful, and The ideas and principles presented are ought to be required reading for those designed to help laypeople overcome the involved in church administration, both fear of failure, fear of the unknown, of lay and clergy. rejection, and of questions. Success cap The General Conference sules are presented throughout the book Venturing Into a Teenager's World Department of Church to illustrate how others have used this Richard D. Dobbins, Fleming H. Revell, Ministries, in cooperation approach, and a practical plan is pre Old Tappan, New Jersey, 1986, 192 with Loma Linda University, sented that details what to teach and invites: pastors, educators, pages, $9.95, hardback. Reviewed by lay persons, and how to present the gospel in a positive Lester P. Merklin, Jr., pastor, Blue Moun manner. counselors to an tain Academy, Hamburg, Pennsylvania. outstanding workshop for The authors, who are laypersons, draw This is a very practical book for anyone on 20 years of experience in helping instruction and training in who wants to minister to teenagers or to family living and ministry. study groups see the relevance of God in their parents. It is not just another psy their lives. The authors' approach takes chology book telling what is going on the focus off of church and religion and inside of a teenager. As the title indi puts it where it should be, on God. cates, Dobbins endeavors to help adults Pattern for Progress become (or remain) an important part of W. R. Beach andB. B. Beach, Review and a teenager's life. This can be accom Herald, Hagerstown, Maryland, 1985, plished only through a relationship built 142 pages, $6.95, paper. Reviewed by upon respect and love, and Dobbins Charles B. Hirsch, retired General Confer shows how to build and maintain this f ence vice president. type of relationship. This is indeed a timely book. In these Topics covered include helping youth RESCUING THE FAMILY days of sporadic grass roots unrest, lean develop their personalities, self-control, February 2-8,1988 ings toward Congregationalism, and pres health, faith, and the ability to choose Family Life Workshop West sure for lay control of committees, a book friends and a mate. In each section Dob A caring hand extended to bring like this is needed to remind us of the bins pictures the teenage world for us, hope to families in challenging roots and reasons for our church's organi then gives suggestions of what to do (or times. zational structure. not to do) to venture into that area of TOPICS INCLUDE: The first several chapters give a histor their world. He cautions us against Dual-career marriage ical sketch of how the structure was de shooting gnats with cannons. "Don't Parent-teen relationships veloped. Although the authors' sketch panic, don't preach, don't nag, don't ab Grieving families Families with AIDS sometimes gets bogged down in too much dicate, "he urges. detail, the overview is important and The book is filled with good practical FOR MORE INFORMATION WRITE: leads to a deeper appreciation of Ellen suggestions of what to expect, when to Department of Social Relations White's guidance in the establishment of speak up, and when to stay back and the structure, and also shows the reasons Loma Linda University pray. • Loma Linda, CA 92350 behind what we see today. The authors continually appeal to us (Attendance at this workshop will partially fulfill Bible credits: Texts credited to RSV are from requirements for NCFR certification as family life to look to the Bible and Ellen White's the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, educator.) writings for the wisdom we need, rather copyrighted 1946,1952,1971,1973.

MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 27 they are freely proclaimed! —Jim A.D. 231." The fact is, he died in A.D. Pinkoski, Hagerstown, Maryland. 135. The revolt began in A.D. 132. Letters —Edward Niemann, Williamsburg, From page 2 "Satan's Consummate Kentucky. Deception" You are correct; the date should have Re "Satan's Consummate Deception" been A.D. 132 instead of 231. The au America. How many are of North (August 1987): there may be some justi thor had the right date in the original American origin? How many received fication for holding that the apparently manuscript. Somehow in retyping it the all their higher education in the North universal terms used by John in Revela numbers were transposed. —Editors. American educational system? How tion 13 and by Ellen White in various much dilution is there of the "outside places in her writings could be taken in North America" view by an importa a limited sense. Daniel wrote that the Announcing tion of American views? Are exported fourth beast would devour "the whole the software package Americans the ones most likely to re earth" (Dan. 7:23). However, Rome spond? It is conceivable that those who destined to be the only one did not control the whole world. Paul didn't respond could view the matter in you will ever need: much the opposite way from the claimed that the gospel had been respondents. preached to every creature "under In the light of an overall response heaven." But we know it was not. Nor rate of 58 percent, the researcher's con did "all the world" worship the great clusion appears to be, just perhaps, an goddess Artemis (Acts 19:27). indulgence of the tiniest bit of wishful While Revelation 13:12 states that BASED thinking. the lamblike beast causes all that dwell CHURCH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM,.* PS: Re the matter of publishing on on the earth to worship the first beast, controversial issues—my vote is pro yet Ellen White seems, in one place at -Word processing with spellchecker, along with all the (within reason, of course, as you are least, to limit the Sunday controversy to features you would expect with a full word processor, doing). You're doing a good job!—A. Christendom. In the chapter on the as well as being compatible with Volkswriter, Keith Anderson, Professor of Mathe time of trouble in The Great Controversy Easywriter, Wordstar, Multimate, and Peachtext, she wrote that after the world passes the along with an ASCII interface, matics (and Statistics), Pacific Union - a data base, with full indexing capabilities, and is College, Angwin, California. boundary of its probation, Satan has full dBase II, and dBase III compatible, control and plunges it into one great, -an excellent spreadsheet, that is Lotus 123 & Visicalc Myth of the open mind? final trouble (p. 614). But the reaction compatible, Re: "Can the Church Tolerate Open of the wicked against Sabbathkeepers is - superb three dimensional graphics by PERSPECTIVE, Minds?" (August 1987). One suspects apparently confined to "Romanism in - telecommunications for accessing various large that those who are dubbed narrow- the Old World and apostate Protestant network databases, minded would have no quibble with a ism in the New" (p. 616). Thus, though -church membership management, interest/prospects, genuinely open mind—if one could be in other places the terminology used -church school registration & billing, church and seems so strongly to suggest that the school budgeting, check writing, and over 70 other found. The integrity issue comes to play reports, Sunday law crisis is universal in scope, when so-called open minds claim neu - is completely menu driven, and fully integrated, trality and then pander their adamant it may involve only the "Christian - written by one who is a professional in both pastoral hidden personal agendas as they label world." and computer fields, an alternate opinion intellectually inde One upshot of this would be that the -with a dedication to both your needs and service, and fensible, shallow, or bigoted. The left coming of Christ may take place far support, becomes as entrenched as their cousins sooner than any of us dream, not having -and comes with 5 large, easy to read and follow on the right. (I'm afraid of both.) to await unanimity among all the non- manuals, 90 days free support & updates, -contributions and sermon illustrator are planned —John Lomtz, Brunswick, Maine. Christian nations in regard to the keep for the future. ing of Sunday. —Richard Hammond, Not an Adventist Chick Franktown, Colorado. For more information send a check tor $20 to: Yes, we knew that my cartoon-style ADV Systems, Inc. book (The Prophecies of Daniel and Rev • Could Brother Goldstein now write RD 5 Box 100 elation, Biblio File, August 1987) would an article using only the Bible to prove Queensbury, NY 12801 be compared to the Chick publications, that the Sabbath indeed will be an is but the two are as different as night and sue? His article was the best on the sub day. Whereas Chick's comics are ex ject I have ever read. Bible proof would Interactive Demo $50 5DA Pastors, ask about bonus software tremely anti-Catholic and have the give real credence to his speculation. and network membership when writing. look and feel of cheap tomics, my • H. D. Schmidt, Pleasant Hill, prophecies book is done in a much California. IM ENABLE is d product ot Tht* bot,w information on clearer illustrator's style and it includes Enable, call l-800-932-02iJ, or I -800- 5 i»-4b4fa iNrw York butt all the major aspects of Adventist doc • The highly interesting article "Satan's only) TM PERSPECTIVE is a registered trademark of Graphics, Inc. Three D. trine. Where a stern warning is to be Consummate Deception" says one thing TM The ENABLE BASED CHURCH MANAGEMENT SYTEM is a delivered, it's delivered, and where that is impossible: "Simeon Bar Kokba product of ADV Systems, Inc. God's love and grace are center stage, . . . led a revolt against the Romans in

28 MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 INDEX for 1987

MINISTRY deeply appreciates the in Dudley, Roger L., and Mark Weir. Mis McBride, Cathy. Come on, ring those Second thoughts on tithe [E]. Ag dexing service provided by Ed Collins sion or moonlighting? Je 4-7 bells! D 20-21 22-23 at the Loma Linda University Library Dudley, Roger L., Bruce Wrenn, Sli- Should a minister's wife weep? O Staples, Russell. To ordain or not. Mr Indexing Service. His office, which men Saliba, and Kermit Nette- 20-21 14-17 publishes the annual Seventh-day Ad- McDowell, Lyndon K. Demons and de Sterndale, Elizabeth. Alcohol and the ventist Periodical Index, provided this in burg. Marketing our church. F 4-8 dex for us. The Periodical Index indexes Edwards, Rex D. Baptism: Pastoral per liverance. Ap 4-7 pregnant woman. Mr 25-26 articles from 36 Seventh-day Adventist plexities. D 7-9 McNeill, Robert. Discipline yourself. Jl Stevens, James L. From the evangelist's 4-5 periodicals including Union and Divi "A-bummin' . . . like a buzzard- viewpoint. Je 14-16 How I use my church computer. Ja 29 Swanson, Gary B. Smokeless tobacco: sion papers and the Adult Sabbath clock" [E]. O 22-23 School Lessons. Muller, Richard. Sabbatarian Anabap the ticking time bomb. Ja 23-25 Copies of the Periodical Index can be The minister: a perpetual student [E]. tists? Ja 15-17 Tennyson, Mack. Internal control. My ordered from Indexing Services, LLU Mr 23 Neil, Richard L. Preserving the vital 16-17 Webb Memorial Library, Loma Linda, Ellithorpe, James. Data base manage force. Je 24-25 Thomas, Jean. Loneliness in the par California 92350. The cost is $40.00 ment and church growth. Mr 27 Netteburg, Kermit, Bruce Wrenn, Sli- sonage. My 10-12 for academies and colleges, $15.00 for Elver, Anne. Handling drop-in visitors. other institutions and individuals. men Saliba, and Roger L.Dudley. Thompson, Garth D. Listening is more Ja 18-19 Marketing our church. F 4-8 than hearing. S 11-13 Firebaugh, Robert D. Whose funeral is Newman, J. David. Are you a kitchen Tibbits, Dick. When should you refer? it, anyway? S 18-19 leader? [E]. Je 22 My 20 Authors: Fleck, Alcyon Ruth. A shared ministry. Church institutions are not necessar Van Ens, Jack R. Visiting the Anderson, Eleanor P. Ministering Ag 19-20 ily Christian [E]. Ja 21 grief-stricken. S 17 through the gift of writing. Mr Florence, Jim, and Gunter Reiss. Medi Conflicting church conflict [E]. Mr Veninga, Robert L. When tragedy 21-22 tation for Christians? O 26-27 23-24 strikes the pastor. S 14-16 Barice, E. Joan interviewed by J. Robert Fuentes, Gerry, and Jose Fuentes. Un Only children make it to heaven [E]. Wade, Kenneth R. Can we harvest Spangler. Diet doctor weighs D23 where we have not sowed? [E]. Je Weimar. Ja 13-15 derstanding hospitalese. Ag9-ll Fuentes, Jose, and Gerry Fuentes. Un Status seekers in the church [E]. S 22-23 Bartram, Jerry E. CPA expresses opin 24-25 Cicadas, creation, and AIDS [E]. S derstanding hospitalese. Ag9-ll ion on tithe policy. Ap 19-20 Nuessle, Karen. Those PKs: clues to our 23 Fuentes, Jose A. Recognizing and han Bellina, Joan Marie. Modems and min kids. S 20-22 The danger of freedom [E]. Ja 22 istry. My 28 dling burnout. Jl 14-17 Rasco, Francine. Bulimics and an- Delight in the Lord [E]. O 23-24 Billingsley, Derrell L. Creative congre Gallimore, Linda M. Finding fulfill orexics—children of fear and an Fallen idols [E]. Jl 22 gational singing. [Reprinted in ment [Adapted from Homema- ger. Jl 24-26 Free software. Jl 27 part from The Church Musician, king:a Bibk study for women at Reid, George W. Daniel and Revela Freebies: My list. S 22 April, 1975]. My 14-15 home, published by Navpress, P. tion committee meets in Open or shut door? [E]. D22 Blitchington, Peter interviewed by O. Box 6000, Colorado Springs, Germany. Ag 24 Wade, Kenneth R., and Bob Maehre. CaroleKilcher. Are you shy? Jl 20- CO 80934]. My 8-9 Sola scriptura: a response. O 16 Computer concordances. N 20-21 21 Goldstein, Clifford. Satan's consum Reiss, Gunter. Chemically dependent Wade, Kenneth R. interviewed by Bosley, Galen C. Is Adventist health mate deception. Ag 6-8 families. My 26-28 MINISTRY. Our new baptismal reform scientific? Ap 26-28 Hadley, G. Gordon. Medical ministry Reiss, Gunter, and Jim Florence. Medi manual. D 24 Boyle, Peggy, pseud. Disposing of the misconceptions. Ag 25-27 tation for Christians? O 26-27 Wallenkampf, Arnold V. The reprieve defrocked. N 16-17 Hegstad, Roland R. Soviet sponsored Rice, George E. Adoption. Mr 13 of Martin Luther. O 8-11 Brand, Leonard R. Can science and re peace forum [E]. My 21-23 The church: voice of God? D 4-6 Wangai, Paul interviewed by Gary ligion work together? [Adapted Holbrook, Frank. For members only? F Within which veil? Je 20-21 Swanson. Health evangelism in from Origins 12, No. 2 (1985): 71- 12-14 Rice, Richard. Reconciling faith and the third world. F 23-25 88]. N 22-25 Holt, B. Russell. The small church ad reason. Mr 10-13 Weber, Martin interviewed by J. R. Bresee, Ellen. Successful counseling. vantage. Mr 18-20 Roper, David. Satisfaction. Ja 7-8 Spangler. Some call it heresy. Ap Ap 11-13 Horn, Siegfried H. The Old Testament Rosado, Caleb. The deceptive theology 8-10 Bresee, Floyd. The Ministerial Associa text in antiquity. N 4-8 of institutionalism. N 9-12 Weir, Mark, and Roger L. Dudley. Mis tion at 65. O4-7 Hunt, Angela E. Christian education: Russell, Freddie. When it's time to sion or moonlighting? Je 4-6 Rio in retrospect. F 18-22 too much ofagoodthing?Jl 18-19 move on. D 10-11 Weis, William L. Smoking and unem Bresee, Floyd interviewed by MINIS Irland, Nancy Beck. Stillborn: how the Saliba, Slimen, Kermit Netteburg, ployment. N 26-27 TRY. The minister's resource cen pastor can help. Ja 10-12 Bruce Wrenn, and Roger L. Dud Whitney, DeanH. A dream that started ter. F 9-11 James, David C. "Master of none?" [E]. ley. Marketing our church. F 4-8 as a nightmare. My 18-19 Burton, Judy. Special family worships Ja20 Seibold, Loren. Growth and the small Wilson, Neal C. Proposal for peace and for special kids. Ag 12-14 But no cheap novels. F 15-16 town church. Je 7-10 understanding [Paper presented to Carlson, Robert J. Battling sexual indis Confessions of a PK [E]. Je 23-24 Seventh-day Adventists. General Con General Secretary Mikhail Gorba cretion. Ja 4-6 The devil and the waiting Fathet. D ference. Annual Council. chev and to Konstantin Khar- Cerna, Miguel A. How I use small 14-16 Methods of Bible study. Ap 22-24 chev, chairman of the Council on groups in evangelism. O 17-19 Midnight calls [E].S 23-24 Seventh-day Adventists. North Ameri Church Affairs, at the February Christo, G. J. On being ordained. Je 17 Johnsson, Noelene. The call—her side can Division. Jewelry: a clarifica Soviet-sponsored International Colburn, Keith K. Understanding the of the story. My 4-8 tion and appeal. Ap 25 Forum for a Non-nuclear World arthritis patient. S 26-27 Juberg, Morten. NAD evangelism Use of tithe policy revision. Ap and the Survival of Humanity.]. Cook, Colin interviewed by J. Robert council. Ap 14-16 20-22 My 23-25 Spangler. Homosexual recov Kidder, Marion E. Bible instructors: key Smith, Dennis. Working with a guest Wrenn, Bruce, Kermit Netteburg, Sli ery—six years later. S 4-9 to personal ministry. Je 18-19 evangelist. Je 12-13 men Saliba, and Roger L.Dudley. Crosby, Tim. Is the hell of the Bible Kitsen, Mary Louise. Just being there. Jl Spangler, J. Robert. Are our tithe poli Marketing our church. F 4-8 unending? Jl 10-13 9 cies important? [E]. Ap 17-18 Why I don't believe in sola scriptura. Kuzma, Kay. Ten tips for raising PKs. N ASI—shaping the future of the 011-15 13-15 church. F 16-17 Doran, Eric. Search for success. S 10 Londis, James J. Can the church toler Christian pomp [E]. Jl 23 Drumm, Jack, pseud. Must I shepherd ate open minds? Ag 4-5 How's your service department ? [E] O Subjects: all the flock? Jl 6-8 Maehre, Bob and Kenneth R. Wade. 22 Adoption—Bible: Adoption. Rice, Dudley, Roger L. Religion teachers' Computer concordances. N 20-21 The prophets of profit [E]. N 18-19 George E. Mr 13 Adventist Laymen's Services and In opinions on the role of women. Ag Maynard-Reid, Pednto U. Discrimina Religion and Communism. Mr 4-9 14-18 tion at the Lord's Supper. D 18-19 dustries: ASI—shaping the future

MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 29 of the church. Spangler, J. Robert Forgiveness. Wade, Kenneth R. McLellan, Vem. Christians in the Po in the Christian Life. Lastine, Jerry. [E].F 16-17 Ag31 litical Arena. Goldstein, Clifford. My 30 Aged: Midnight calls [E]. James, David Dobbins, Richard A. Venturing into a Mr 28-29 Taulman, James E. Encouragers: the C. S 23-24 Teenager's World. Merklin, Lester Miller, Calvin. Fred V Erma. F 30 Sunday School Worker's Counseling AIDS: Cicadas, creation, and AIDS P., Jr. D 27 Moore, Marvin. When Religion Ministry. Bennett, Lester. O 29 [E]. Wade, Kenneth R.S 23 Evans, W. Glyn. Beloved Adversary. Doesn't Work. Rydzewski, Ella. Thaxton, C. B., Walter L. Bradley, Anabaptists: Sabbatarian Anabaptists? Elver, Anne. S 28 Ap29 and Roger L. Olsen. The Mystery Muller, Richard. Ja 15-17 Faulkner, Brooks R. Forced Termina Murphy, Judith K. Sharing Care, the of Life's Origin. Hare, P. E. N 29 Appetite disorders: Bulimics and an- tion. Boyle, Patrick. Mr 28 Christian Ministry of Respite Care. Vandeman, George R. The Rise and orexics—children of fear and an Faulstich, E. W. History, Harmony, McComas, Chad. Je 27 Fall of Antichrist. F 30 ger. Rasco, Francine. Jl 24-26 and the Hebrew Kings. Shea, Wil Murray, Andrew. The Blessings of Venden, Morris L. How Jesus Treated Arthritis: Understanding the arthritis liam H. F 28-29 Obedience. Guild, Lillian R. Ja patient. Colburn, Keith. S 26-27 Feyerabend, Henry. Tearing the 27-28 People. Ap 29 Authors: Ministering through the gift ShroudFromtheAntichrist. Gulley, Murray, Andrew. Confession: The Wagner, C. Peter. Church Growth: of writing. Anderson,Eleanor P. Norman. D 26 Rood to Forgiveness. Ja 28 the State of the Art. Bennett, Mr 21-22 Frankl, Razelle. Televangelism— the Murray, Andrew. How to Be Perfect. Lester. Ag31 Babylon: The church: voice of God? Marketing of Popular Religion. Ja 28-29 Wall, Ronald E. Sermons on Prayer. Rice, George E. D 4-6 Cooper, Victor. N 28-29 Murray, Andrew. How to Work for Ap29 Baptism: Baptism: Pastoral perplexi Friesen, Duane K. Christian Peace God. Ja 29 Walton, Lewis R. Advent, Bohr, Ste ties. Edwards, Rex D. D 7-9 making and International Conflict. Murray, Andrew. Humility. Ja 29 phen P. F 28 Our new baptismal manual. Ap29 Murray, Andrew. Like Christ. Ja 28 Watson, David. Fear No Evil Con- Wade, Kenneth R. interviewed by Gentry, Robert V. Creation's Tiny Nunez, Emilio A. Liberation Theol nell, Jerry. S 28 MINISTRY. D 24 Mystery. Humphrey, Russell. Jl ogy. Sepulveda, Giro. Je 26 Weisheit, Eldon. God's Word in a Belief and doubt: Some call it heresy. 28-29 Packer, J. I. Here We Stand: Justifica Child's World. Brigden, R. Bruce. Weber, Martin interviewed by ]. Groothuis, Douglas R. Unmasking tion by Faith Today. Boyle, My 31 R. Spangler. Ap 8-10 the New Age. Yergen, Norman. D Patrick. My 30 WKybrew, LyndonE. Minister, Wife, Bible instructors: Bible instructors: key 26 Paulson, Kevin D. Coming to Terms. and Church: Unlocking the Trian to personal ministry. Kidder, Hagner, Donald A. The Jewish Recla Merklin, Lester, Jr. F 28 gle. Bresee, Ellen. Ja 27 Marion E. Je 18-19 mation of Jesus: an Analysis and Peck, M. Scott. People of the Lie. Woodbridge, John D. Renewing Your Bible—Study: Methods of Bible study. Critique of the Modern Jewish Study Akers, George. Mr 29 Mind in a Secular World. Akers, Seventh-day Adventists. General of Jesus. Willey, Wayne. S30 Pinkoski, Jim. The Prophecies of George H. Je 27 Conference. Annual Council. Ap Heinz, Daniel. Ludwig Richard Con- Daniel and Revelation. Wade, Ken Wurmbrand, Richard. Marx and Sa 22-24 radi, Missionar de Siebenten-Tags neth R. Ag 30 tan. Goldstein, Clifford. Je 26 Bible. N.T. Revelation: Daniel and Adventisten. Kiesler, Herbert. Ap Pollock, Shirley. Building Teen Ex Yagel, Bobbie. Living with Yourself Revelation committee meets in 28 citement: a Youth Worker's Guide. and Other Imperfect People. Streib, Germany. Reid, George W. Ag 24 Hudnut, Robert K. This People, This Ap29 Sally. Ja 27 Bible. O.T. Daniel: Daniel and Revela Parish. Greer, David J. Mr 29 Postema, Don. Space for God: the Zehr, Paul M. Biblical Criticism in the tion committee meets in Ger Hunt, Dave. Beyond Seduction. Study and Practice of Prayer and Life of the Church. Blanco, Jack. O many. Reid, George W. Ag 24 Wade, Kenneth R.S 30 Spirituality. Randall, Jacquie Z. Ja 29 Bible. O.T.—Criticism, textual: The Iverson, John Orville. Air to the King 26 Burnout (Psychology): Recognizing Old Testament text in antiquity. dom. Cooper, Victor. F 29-30 Price, Nelson. Tenderness and 24 and handling burnout. Fuentes, Horn, Siegfried H. N 4-8 Jacks, Bob and Betty with Ron Other Ways to Make a Marriage Jose A. Jl 14-17 Book Reviews: Wormser Sr. Your Home a Light Work. Mazat, Alberta. Ap 29 Satisfaction. Roper, David. Ja 7-8 Alien, Joseph J. The Ministry of the house. Scribner, Kenneth L. D 27 Rice, Richard. When Bod Things Caring: How's your service depart Church—Image of Pastoral Care, Jeffrey, David L. Toward a Perfect Happen to God's People. Wharton, ment? [E]. Spangler, J. Robert.O Edwards, Rex D. N 28 Love: the Spiritual Counsel of Hedi. Ag31 22 Anderson, Geralding. Forty Devo Walter Hilton. Goodrich, Donna Richards, Larry. Personal Ministry Christian education: Christian educa tions That Work with Youth. Con- Clark. My 30-31 Handbook. Wright, Ed. S 29-30 tion: too much of a good thing? nell, Jerry. Ag 30 Jones, Lutile H. It's All Right to Cry. Richards, Larry. When It Hurts Too Hunt, Angela E.JU8-19 Bacchiocchi, Samuele. Women in the 029 Much to Wait. Seibold, Carmen. Church architecture: Open or shut Church. Holmes, C. Raymond Keller, W. P. Walking with God. Ja26 door? [E]. Wade, Kenneth R. D 22 and Daniel Augsberger.O 28-29 Wharton, Heidi. Ag31 Richardson, E. Alien. East Comes Church controversies: Can the church Beach, W. R. and B. B. Beach. Pat Killinger, John. The Tender Shep West. Ap 29 tolerate open minds? Londis, tern for Progress. Hirsch, Charles herd. Willsey, Steve. F 30 Ross, Bette M. Our Special Child. James J. Ag4-5 B. D27 Klotz, John W. Studies in Creation. Mauldin, Anita. Ja 27 Conflicting church conflict [E]. Becker, Arthur H. Ministry with Coffin, Harold G.Mr 28 Runk, Wesley T. On Jesus' Team: Newman, J. David. Mr 23-24 Older Persons: a Guide for Clergy Kopp, Ruth. When Someone You Children's Object Lessons. Church finance: Internal control. and Congregations. Ap 29 Love is Dying. Collins, William. S Brigden, Bruce. N 29 Tennyson, Mack. My 16-17 Belasic, David S. and Paul M. 28 Scott, Sharon. PPR—Peer Pressure Church growth: But no cheap novels Schmidt. The Penguin Princi Kvamme, Rodney A. Miracles To Reversal. Soper, Francis A. F 28 [E]. James, David C. F 15-16 ples. Merklin, Lester, Jr. My 31 day: Understanding How God Par Smedes, Lewis B. How Can It Be All Can we harvest where we have not Belli, Humberto. Breaking Faith: the ticipates in Our Lives. Rydzewski, Right When Everything Is AH sowed? [E]. Wade, Kenneth R. Je Sandinista Revolution and Its Impact Ella. S 29 Wrong? Bunker, David. S 28-29 22-23 on Freedom and the Christian Faith Lindars, Barnabas. Jesus Son of Man. Sproul, R. C. Lifeviews: Understand Growth and the small-town church. in Nicaragua. Sepulveda, Giro. N Lay, Michael J.Ag 30 ing the Ideas That Shape Society Seibold, Loren. Je 7-10 29 Linman, Gail. God's People, a Book Today. Willey, Wayne. Mr 29 Marketing our church. Netteburg, Berthelsen, Bobetta. 48 Attention- of Children's Sermons. Bridgen, Stafford, Kenneth. Handbook for Kermit, Bruce Wrenn, Slimen Sa- Getters. F 30 Bruce. Je 26 Helping Others. Scribner, Ken liba, and Roger Dudley. F 4-8 Bruce, F. F. Jesus: Lord and Savior. Lohne, Alf. Adventists in Russia. neth L. Je 27 Church management: The small Wheeler, Gerald. F 29 Pierson, Robert H. S 30 Stedman, Ray C. The Man of Faith. church advantage. Holt, B. Rus Buckingham, Jamie. A Way through Lovelace, Richard F. Renewal As a Rentfro, Dick. F 29 sell. Mr 18-20 the Wilderness. Mauldin, Anita. Ja Way of Life. Willey, Wayne. F 30 Stott, John R. W. The Cross of Church polity: The church: voice of 27 Lyall, Francis. Slaves, Citizens, Sons: Christ. Boyle, Patrick. S 29 God? Rice, George. D4-6 Butterworth, Bill. Peanut Butter Legal Metaphors in the Epistles. Stout, Martha. Without Child: a Cicadidae: Cicadas, creation, and Families Stick Together. Bucking Willey, Wayne. Ap 28-29 Compassionate Look at Infertility. AIDS [E]. Wade, Kenneth R. S 23 ham, Althea. Ja 27 MacDonald, Gordon. Ordering Your Seibold, Carmen. Ja 26 Clergy: "Master of none?" [E]. Calkins, Harold. Master Preachers. Private World. Seibold, Carmen. Strom, Kay Marshall. Helping James, David C. Ja 20 Fowler, John. N 28 Ja26. Women in Crisis. Lastine, Jerry. The minister's resource center. Coleman, Robert. Evangelism on the Maston, T. B. To Walk as He Ap28 Bresee, Floyd interviewed by MINIS Cutting Edge. Stevens, James L. Je Walked. Ag 31 Studzinski, Raymond. Spiritual Di TRY. F 9-11 26-27 McGavran, Donald A. Momentous rection and Midlife Development. Clergy—Appointment, call, and elec Cook, Jerry with Stanley C. Bald Decisions in Missions Today. Rydzewski, Ella M. My 30 tion: The call—her side of the win. Love, Acceptance, and Blanco, Jack. Ag 30-31 Swindoll, Charles R. Growing Deep story. Johnsson, Noelene. My 4-8

30 MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 Come on, ring those bells! McBride, anyway? Firebaugh, Robert D. S Soviet sponsored peace forum [E]. Direct mail evangelism available Cathy.D 20-21 18-19 Hegstad, Roland R. My 21-23 free. D 32 When it's time to move on. Russell, Gay liberation movement: Homosex Preaching: "A-bummin' . . . like a Establish your new members. Ap 30 Freddie. D 10-11 ual recovery—six years later. buzzard-clock" [E]. Edwards, Rex Evangelism and church growth man Clergy—Religious life: The devil and Cook, Colin interviewed by J. D.O 22-23 ual. D 32 the waiting Father. Jarnes, David Robert Spangler. S 4-9 Pregnant women—Alcohol use: Alco Free subscription to Adventist pas C. D14-16 Grief: Stillborn: how the pastor can hol and the pregnant tors. O 31 Clergy—Salaries, pensions, etc: Mis help. Irland, Nancy Beck. Ja woman. Sterndale, Elizabeth. Mr A gift for your givers. S 31 10-12 sion or moonlighting? Dudley, 25-26 Guest speaker insurance. F 31 Roger L., and Mark Weir. Je 4-7 Health: Preserving the vital force. Neil, Problem solving: Just being there. Health and Happiness. Mr 31 Clergy—Study and teaching (Con Richard L. Je 24-25 tinuing education): The minister: Health education: Is Adventist health Kitsen, Mary Louise. Jl 9 Hear the word of the Lord. Mr 31 a perpetual student [E]. Edwards, reform scientific? Bosley, Galen Religion and science: Can science and Help for the Adventist wedding. O Rex D. Mr 23 C. Ap 26-28 religion work together? [adapted 31 Clergy—Time management: Handling Health evangelism: Health evangelism from Origins 12, No. 2 (1985): 71- Increase the fellowship within your drop-in visitors. Elver, Anne. Ja in the third world. Wangai, Paul 88). Brand, Leonard R. N 22-25 church. Ja 31 18-19 interviewed by Gary Swanson. F Religious and ecclesiastical institu Make your invitation tangible. Je 31 Clergymen's families: Confessions of a 23-25 tions: Church institutions are not Missions Extension offering to two PK |EJ. Jarnes, David C. Je 23-24 Hell: Is the hell of the Bible unending? necessarily Christian [E]. New- divisions. Ag 32 Ten tips for raising PKs. Kuzma, Kay. Crosby, Tim. Jl 10-13 man, J. David. Ja21 Nominate a missionary. S 31 N 13-15 Jeremiah, the prophet: The deceptive Sabbath: Delight in the Lord [E]. Wade, Omega; Agape and Eros. Je 31 Those PKs: clues to our kids. theology of institutionalism. Ro- Kenneth R.O 23-24 Sample book free. Mr 31 Nuessle, Karen. S 20-22 sado, Caleb. N 9-12 Sabbath: Sabbatarian Anabaptists? Save someone's life. N 31 Clergymen's wives: Are you shy? Jewelry—Religious aspects: Jewelry: a Muller, Richard. Ja 15-17. Sermon resources. My 32 Blitchington, Peter interviewed clarification and appeal. Seventh- Sanctuary doctrine: Within which Social Security opening for those by Carole Kilcher. Jl 20-21 veil? Rice, George E. Je 20-21 day Adventists., North American who opted out. Ap 31 Disposing of the defrocked. Boyle, Division. Ap 25 Self-control: Discipline yourself. Mc- Strengthening our schools. Ap 30-31 Peggy, pseud. N 16-17 Listening: Listening is more than hear Neill, Robert. Jl 4-5 Try a Sabbath morning countdown. Loneliness in the parsonage. ing. Thompson, GarthD. S 11-13 Seventh-day Adventists. General Thomas, Jean. My 10-12 Lord's supper: For members only? Hoi- Conference. Annual Council: Je31 A shared ministry. Fleck, Alcyon brook, Frank. F 12-14 Rio in retrospect. Bresee, Floyd. F Watershed offering? F 31 Ruth. Ag 19-20 Lord's Supper: Discrimination at the 18-22 Singing: Creative congregational sing Should a minister's wife weep? Mc Lord's Supper. Maynard-Reid, Pe- Seventh-day Adventists. General ing [Reprinted in part from The Bride, Cathy. O 20-21 dritoU.D 18-19 Conference. Ministerial Associa Church Musician, April, 1975]. Communism and Christianity: Reli Loss (Psychology): When tragedy tion. The minister's resource cen Billingsley, DerrellL. My 14-15 gion and Communism. Spangler, strikes the pastor. Veninga, ter. Bresee, Floyd interviewed by Small groups: How I use small groups in J. Robert. Mr 4-9 Robert LSI 4-16 MINISTRY. F 9-11 evangelism. Cerna, Miguel A. O Computer Corner: Computer concor Luther, Martin: The reprieve of Martin Seventh-day Adventists. General 17-19 dances. Maehre, Bob and Ken Luther. Wallenkampf, Arnold V. Conference. Ministerial Associa Smoking: Smoking and unemploy neth R. Wade. N 20-21 O8-11 tion. Ministerial Association at ment. Weis, William L. N 26-27 Data base management and church Sola scripture: a response. Reid, 65. Bresee, Floyd. O 4-7 Snuff: Smokeless tobacco: the ticking growth. Ellithorpe, James. Mr 27 George W. O 16 Sex (Psychology): Battling sexual in time bomb. Swanson, Gary B. Ja Free software. Wade, Kenneth R. Jl Why I don't believe in sola scriptura. discretion. Carlson, Robert J. Ja 23-25 4-6 27 Crosby, Tim. O 11-15 Social status: Status seekers in the Freebies: My list. Wade, Kenneth R. Married people—Employment: Find Shop Talk: $10 for your ideas. My32, Jl church [E]. Newman, J. David. S S22 ing fulfillment [Adapted from- 31, Ag 32, O 31, "Reach out and How I use my church computer. Mc- "Homemaking: a Bible study for touch." N 31 24-25 Neill, Robert. Ja 29 women at home," published by Adventist church music workshop. Soviet Union—Description and Modems and ministry. Bellina, Joan Navpress, P. O. Box 6000, Colo Ag32 travel: Religion and communism. Marie. My 28 rado Springs, CO 80934]. Galli- Adventist Computer Association Spangler, J. Robert. Mr 4-9 Counseling: Successful counseling. more, Linda M. My 8-9 membership special. Ag32 Still-birth: Stillborn: how the pastor Bresee, Ellen. Ap 11-13 Medicine—Religious aspects: Medical Adventist Ideals. Ap 30 can help. Irland, Nancy Beck. Ja Death—Psychological aspects: Visit ministry misconceptions. Hadley, Alban Institute opens west coast of 10-12 ing the grief-stricken. Van Ens, G. Gordon. Ag 25-27 fice. My 32 Success: Search for success. Doran, JackR. S17 Meditation: Meditation for Christians? A Bible marking course for your Eric. S 10 Demon possession: Demons and deliv Reiss, Gunter, and Jim Florence. members and you. F 31 Sunday legislation: Satan's consum erance. McDowell, Lyndon K. Ap 026-27 Bible worker/evangelism training. mate deception. Goldstein.Clif- 4-7 MINISTRY (Periodical): They like D32 ford. Ag6-8 Dependency (Psychology): Only chil us, they like us not [E]. Wade, Calendar calling card. D 32 Supplementary employment: Mission dren make it to heaven [E]. New- Kenneth R. F 15 Call for papers on abortion. D 32 or moonlighting? Dudley, Roger man, J. David. D 23 Ordination: On being ordained. Catalog lists programs like NEW- L, and Mark Weir. Je 4-7 Diet: Diet doctor weighs Weimar. Christo, G. J.Jel7 START. Ja 31 Television in religion: The prophets of Barice, E. Joan interviewed by J. Ordination of women: Rekgion Church secretary's newsletter. F31 profit [E]. Spangler, J. Robert. N Robert Spangler. Ja 13-15 teachers' opinions on the role of Civil Air Patrol chaplaincies avail 18-19 Drug abuse: Chemically dependent women. Dudley, Roger L. Ag able. Mr 31 Tithes: Are our tithe policies impor families. Reiss, Gunter. My 26-28 14-18 Clinical pastoral education stipends tant? [E]. Spangler, J. Robert. Ap Evangelistic work: From the evange To ordain or not. Staples, Russell. offered. S 31, O 31 17-18 list's viewpoint. Stevens, James L. Mr 14-17 Computer information retrieval. Jl CPA expresses opinion on tithe pol Je 14-16 Pastoral counseling: A dream that 31 icy. Bartram, Jerry E. Ap 19-20 NAD evangelism council. Juberg, started as a nightmare.Whitney, Computer power for churches. N 31 Second thoughts on tithe [E]. Span Morten. Ap 14-16 Dean H. My 18-19 Continuing ministry to the grieving. gler, J. Robert. Ag 22-23 Working with a guest evangelist. When should you refer? Tibbits, J131 Use of tithe policy revision. Smith, Dennis. Je 12-13 Dick. My 20 Corrections. F 31 Seventh-day Adventists. North Faith and reason: Reconciling faith and Peace: Proposal for peace and under Could you use some help with In American Division. Ap 20-22 reason. Rice, Richard. Mr standing [Paper presented to gathering? O31 Visitation (church work): Must I shep 10-13 General Secretary Mikhail Gorba CPE stipends offered. F 31 herd all the flock? Drumm, Jack, Family—Religious life: Special family chev and to Konstantin Khar- Creation: The evidence from sci pseud. Jl 6-8 worships for special kids. Burton, chev, chairman of the Council on ence. My 32 Visiting the sick: Understanding Judy. Ag 12-14 Church Affairs, at the February Creation's Tiny Mastery. N 31 hospitalese. Fuentes, Jose, and Freedom (Theology): The danger of Soviet-sponsored International Crisis hotline available. Jl 31 Gerry Fuentes. Ag 9-11 freedom [E]. Wade, Kenneth R. Ja Forum for a Non-nuclear World Critique of New Age movement. D Weimar Institute (California): Barice, 22 and the Survival of Humanity.]. 32 E. Joan interviewed by J. Robert Funeral service: Whose funeral is it, Wilson, Neal C. My 23-25 Devotional book at a discount. Jl 31 Spangler. Ja 13-15

MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987 31 Shop Talk

Direct-mail evangelism what their denominational charge for this field school; New Age movement and an packet available free colleagues are thinking. however, students will be annotated bibliography for Many are finding that direc Larson says the center wants responsible for the cost of those who wish to do more mail can be a very effective to hear from all sectors of their room and board. To reading about it. part of a balanced program the Adventist Church— apply, contact: Field You may obtain New Age of church growth. You can conservative, moderate, School, 1217 Eberhart Ave Movement and Seventh-day obtain a packet of and liberal. nue, Columbus, Georgia Adventists for US$ 1 by or information about the use of The papers should be 31906. dering it from Biblical Re direct mail as an outreach approximately 30 pages in search Institute, General tool for the local church by length and documented in Critique of New Age Conference of Seventh-day sending US$ 1 to Direct the normal fashion. They movement Adventists, 6840 Eastern Mail Evangelism Packet, may be either descriptive or Housewives, shopping for Ave., NW., Washington, Monte Sahlin, Adult prescriptive. Descriptive groceries, hold pendulums D.C. 20012. Price includes Ministries Coordinator, papers should assess past over heads of lettuce to de postage. North American Division and present Adventist un termine their wholesome- Church Ministries derstanding and practice— ness. A practitioner places Evangelism and Church Department, 6840 Eastern around the world—with one hand on a patient's QroAdventism and abortion to 824-4956. twentieth-century Western Truth Bible Course series, convene in the fall of 1988. ers are superstitious and the Kindness Crusade, spiri David Larson, the center's Bible worker/evangelism gullible? Yes, but more than tual guardianship ministry, director, has issued a call for training that. These instances all hospitality ministry, and papers to be presented at The Uchee Pines Insti involved Seventh-day Ad special contact that conference and then tute is offering Bible worker ventists and demonstrate teams. published as a training and a six-month the intrusion of the New This volume is a tremen book. evangelism field school to Age movement into the dous resource for pastors, Larson says the confer run January 17 through June ranks of Adventism. church officers, evangelists, ence is not intended to de 4, 1988. The students will The General Conferen ministerial students, and cide the matter of abortion study door-to-door work, ce's Biblical Research Insti church members who are for Adventists, or even to Bible work, health seminars tute has prepared a 27-page interested in evangelism achieve a consensus. Rather in the home, home-based paper on the New Age and church growth. It costs, it is to provide an opportu Revelation seminars, get movement. It details some including postage, US$10. nity for Adventists to ting decisions, and litera of the beliefs common to You may order it by sending present their varying points ture evangelism. And, in those who are part of this a purchase order or check of view regarding abortion conjunction with churches movement, devotes a chap to: NAD Ministerial Asso in a setting of mutual sup belonging to four area con ter to psychometry and radi- ciation, General Confer port and analysis. The re ferences, the field school onics/radiaesthesia, an ence of Seventh-day Ad sulting book will enable offers participation in evan other to holistic health, and ventists, 6840 Eastern thoughtful individuals and gelistic campaigns to be yet another distinguishing Ave., NW., Washington, institutions to come to their conducted in Columbus, the Adventist approach to D.C. 20012. Please make own conclusions regarding Georgia, and Phenix City, health from that of this checks payable to the Gen the morality of abortion Alabama. movement. The paper offers eral Conference of Seventh- within the perspective of There is no tuition a biblical critique of the day Adventists. •

32 MINISTRY/DECEMBER/1987