INTERNATIONAL

JOURNAL FOR PASTORS

MARCH 2012

The Authority of theWord Andrews University Press Presents Norman R. Gulley’s Systematic Theology

What is systematic theology? How does it impact our study of the character of God? Norman Gulley attests that Scripture is the sole foundation of authentic evangelical Christian faith and explores the fullness of the gospel within the context of the cosmic con- troversy. The theological needs of our time are addressed by his unfolding system as other volumes will be added to the series.

New!

Systematic Theology (Vol. 1) ISBN: 978-1-883925-37-6 $49.99

“This systematic theology is an impressive under- taking. Deeply rooted in the witness of Holy Scrip- ture, it is richly textured by dialogue with current trends and contemporary thinkers. Norman Gulley writes as a theologian of the church and I commend his work to all God’s people everywhere.” –Timothy George, Dean and Professor of Divinity, Samford University

Sample Themes from the Systematic Theology (Vol. 2) First Two Volumes of the Series ISBN: 978-1-883925-69-7 • Philosophy and theology $49.99 • Theological method • Revelation and inspiration Norman R. Gulley (Ph.D. in Systematic Theology, University • Biblical hermeneutics of Edinburgh, Scotland), Research Professor at Southern Adventist University, has taught at collegiate and seminary • Trinity levels both in the United States and the Far East. His long • The nature of God career has also included pastoring, writing for publication, • Old and new covenants and traveling worldwide as a visiting lecturer. • Predestination

To Purchase: • Call toll-free 800.467.6369 • Order online at universitypress.andrews.edu

Revised Systematic Theology Ad.indd 1 1/18/2012 3:20:56 PM CONTENTS

04 LETTERS Who authored the Bible? While the Bible was written by numerous individuals, modern 05 EDITORIAL 06 scholarship has questioned its authenticity. So, who really wrote the Scriptures? REVIVAL AND REFORMATION Richard M. Davidson 16&24

Who decided which books should be 28 DATELINE 09 included in the Bible? How we address this question determines whether we believe 30 THE PASTOR AND HEALTH that the Bible, as we have it, came into being as a result of the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the early church. Kwabena Donkor

Revived by His Word Revived by His Word is designed especially to strengthen the 13 Ministry® International Editors spiritual experience of those who know Christ deeply and International Journal for Pastors Chinese-Robert Wong -Edwin T. Pandjaitan motivate those who are struggling to know Him better. 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Indonesian Japanese-Yukio Ebihara Spring, MD 20904-6600 U.S.A. Revival and Reformation Committee Korean-Sung Sun Hong www.ministrymagazine.org Portuguese (South America)- [email protected] Zinaldo Santos A personal devotional journey Editor Russian-Ilie Leahu Read how the author traveled from conversion to ministry, from Derek J. Morris Spanish (South America)- 15 Marcos Blanco Associate Editor sermon preparation to motivation and to seeking to know his Lord Spanish (Inter-America)-Pablo Perla Willie E. Hucks II better and better. International Advisors Jack Blanco Consultants to Editor Mario Brito, Mikhael Kaminsky, John Fowler, Clifford Goldstein, Janos Kovacs-Biro, L. Chansanga Myrna Tetz Colney, Armando Miranda, Rudatinya M. Mwangachuchu, Archaeology and the authority of the Editorial Specialist Daniel Opoku-Boateng, Jongimpi Bible Sheryl Beck 18 Papu, Bruno Raso, Ángel M. This essay includes a review of some of the most important Finance and Technology Rodríguez, Hector Sanchez, finds made during the last 25 years by archaeologists working in Manager Houtman Sinaga, David Tasker, Ivan John Feezer IV L. Williams, Ted N. C. Wilson the Middle East. Michael G. Hasel Advertising Subscriptions Cheri Gatton 12 issues: United States US$32.99; [email protected] Canada and overseas US$47.00. The grand story +1 208-965-0157 To order: send name, address, and payment to Ministry® Subscriptions, Have we yet explored the hermeneutical potential of permitting Subscriptions/renewals/ 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver 21 address changes Spring, MD 20904-6600 U.S.A. the Bible to speak to us with its own narrative power? [email protected] ministrymagazine.org/subscribe Jan Barna +1 301-680-6515 To Writers +1 301-680-6502 (fax) We welcome unsolicited manu- Cover illustration scripts. Before submitting, review Watch your priorities 316 Creative the writers’ guidelines at www.ministrymagazine.org. Please Should you be considering leaving the ministry—read this Layout send manuscripts via email to 25 article before you make that decision! 316 Creative [email protected]. Larry Yeagley

Correction: In the January 2012 issue of Ministry, Ángel Director Anthony Kent | [email protected] | +1 301-680-6516 Rodríguez’s article (“Issues in the Interpretation of the Seven ® Ministry® has been published Printer Pacific Press Pub. Assn., Trumpets of Revelation”) includes an error. Page 7 ends with, monthly since 1928 by the Minis- 1350 N. Kings Rd., Nampa, ID 83687 terial Association, General Confer- “[T]he mention of the seal of God in the sixth trumpet (Rev. 9:4).” It ence of Seventh-day Adventists®. Standard mail postage paid at Nampa, should be the fifth trumpet. We apologize for the error. Ministry is a peer-reviewed journal. Idaho. (ISSN 0026-5314) SECRETARY Jerry N. Page Member of Associated Church Press. Associate Secretaries Adventist®, Seventh-day Adventist®, Jonas Arrais, Robert Costa, and Ministry® are the registered Bible credits Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Willie E. Hucks II, Anthony Kent, trademarks of the General Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Scriptures quoted from NKJV are from The New King James Version, Derek Morris, Janet Page Conference Corporation of copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers. Scripture taken from The New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, ® 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scriptures quoted from RSV are from the Revised Ministerial Resource Center Seventh-day Adventists . Coordinator Cathy Payne Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in Vol. 84 Number 3 © 2012 the U.S.A. Used by permission. 888-771-0738, +1 301-680-6508 www.ministerialassociation.com PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. LETTERS

Interpreting the seven symbolism of prophetic outline [to] the historical events that fulfilled the trumpets the messy details of real history. Yet, various trumpets but who, he says, hank you for your thoughtful I think that this is an important part all follow the historicist method. Tand very helpful overview of of keeping prophecy grounded in the I find it interesting that two of the history and current state of the actual flow of history. Indeed, this the seven interpreters that Rodríguez interpretation of the seven trumpets concern with prophetic time con- cites do not follow that method. of Revelation (January 2012). You nected with history occurs so much Uriah Smith and Alberto Treiyer both make a signal contribution in not in Daniel, for example, the 70 weeks, identify the first trumpet as the attack trying to referee the question of the the 1,260 days, the 2,300 days, of the Visigoths against Rome under correct details of each trumpet, but that one could consider making the Alaric. However, Alaric was king of in sketching the parameters of the attachment of prophetic periods the Visigoths from a.d. 395 to 410, proper playing field. I think your to real, historical time, as almost which was 300 years after John five principles are judicious, well another principle to add to the five wrote Revelation. That’s hardly the thought out, and most important, you have in your article. time of the prophet! Bible based. Following them should I am concerned that once we —Marvin Moore, Caldwell, Idaho, United States help prevent many of the gross decide that the time periods in the errors that crop up in the handling fifth and sixth trumpets are symbolic he informative essay by Ángel of the trumpets. and have no meaningful connection TM. Rodríguez allows for differing I share your openness to a with real history, that this approach interpretations of the seven trumpets greater role of the rise of secular/ will expand to the 1,260 days (which as long as the historicist method is atheism of our prophetic outlook in some have already suggested) as not put in question. In doing so, he the West. But still, I find the almost well as to other periods. It is a short makes several significant admis- complete replacement of Islam by step from here to a completely sions: (1) SDA historicist interpreters secularism (fifth trumpet) as car- idealized, spiritualized reading of differ widely in their interpretation ried out by Paulien, LaRondelle, and prophecy that, in my view, will empty and application of the seven trum- Stefanovic (PLS) to suffer a bit from our prophetic message of much pets. (2) Recent Adventist writings a “presentist” approach to prophecy. of its urgency and power. I do not reveal “a major departure from the Because secularism has dominated believe that this is what our friends traditional [historicist] approach.” (3) the West for the last 200 years or so, PLS intend, but I think it is where Some apocalyptic time prophecies are we going to forget the conflict their handling of the time periods (e.g., Rev. 9:5) may be understood between Christendom and Islam that in the trumpets is tending, and will theologically rather than chrono- dominated the West for the last 1,000 be taken even further that way by logically, that is, without the year-day years, especially in light of the recent others. principle. (4) Ellen White’s full and resurgence of this conflict? Also, I Thank you for your careful work explicit support of Litch’s view does agree with you that finding some on this topic. not settle the question; SDA scholars role for secularism in the trumpets is —Nick Miller, Berrien Springs, Michigan, United may still reexamine the biblical text not necessarily moving to an idealist/ States in search for more accurate answers. spiritualist approach, but that it can (5) “Dogmatic interpretations” be consistent with historicism. n his article on the seven trumpets should be ruled out in interpret - But I am concerned that PLS are I(January 2012), Ángel Rodríguez ing the apocalypse (except when tending towards an idealist position says that the historicist method is a it comes to the historicist method in their handling of the time periods, nonnegotiable hermeneutical prin- itself?). (6) The “seal of God” in that is, the five months and the hour, ciple of apocalyptic interpretation. Revelation 9:4 does not fit well with day, month, and year. To empty these “Apocalyptic prophecy,” he says, the classical historicist approach. periods of chronological significance “covers the whole span of history Clearly, recent Adventist scholars of some sort tends to unmoor the from the time of the prophet to the (Paulien, LaRondelle, Stefanovic, trumpets from actual historical peri- very history.” Rodríguez provides Doukhan, etc.) have been stretching ods. As a historian myself, I know a chart of seven major Adventist the limits of historicism beyond what the difficulties presented at times students of prophecy who vary this method traditionally entails, by trying to attach the often sparse significantly in their understanding of Continued on page 29

MINISTRY 4 MARCH 2012 EDITORIAL | Derek J. Morris Give them something to eat

large crowd had gathered on prayerfully through the Word of God will be a lamp to our feet and a light the eastern shore of the Sea of together, lives are blessed. Marriages to our paths (see Ps. 119:105). The AGalilee. For many hours, they are blessed. Families are blessed. entrance of His words will give light; had listened attentively to the words Communities are blessed. they will provide understanding to of Jesus. Now, as the sun began I am excited about a new Bible the simple (see v. 130). to set, the disciples urged Jesus to reading initiative introduced in this dismiss the crowd so they could go issue of Ministry: Revived by His into the surrounding villages and buy Word. This initiative encourages some food. The response of Jesus members of your church family As a spiritual startled them. “ ‘They do not need to to join together with other believ- go away. You give them something to ers around the world in a journey leader in your eat’ ” (Matt. 14:16, NKJV). through God’s Word—just one chap- We face that challenge on ter per day. Church members can be a weekly basis. Our hearers are encouraged to read the chapter, have community, I spiritually hungry, perhaps even someone read it in a group setting, malnourished. Our assignment is or listen to an audio Bible. The goal is encourage you to clear: give them something to eat. to spend quality time with the Word We realize that our resources are of God, take time to reflect on the lead by example. meager. Our only hope consists in Scriptures, and share what has been pointing our hearers to Jesus who is learned with others. the Bread of Life. We can point them In one of my favorite devotional to the Word of God that testifies books, Steps to Christ, we find Many articles in this issue of about the Living Bread that came this counsel regarding reading the Ministry emphasize the importance down from heaven (see John 6:51). Scriptures: and centrality of the Word of God. I invite you to take an inventory Glean insights that will help you as of your preaching and teaching [T]here is but little benefit derived you preach and teach the Word, in ministry. How would your hearers from a hasty reading of the Scrip- and out of season. describe the focus of your public tures. One may read the whole As a spiritual leader in your presentations and personal interac- Bible through and yet fail to see community, I encourage you to lead tions? Are you giving them more its beauty or comprehend its by example. Make sure that you are substantial nourishment than the deep and hidden meaning. One saturating your life and ministry with junk food of this present age? Are passage studied until its signifi- the Word of God. Like the apostles, you encouraging them to search the cance is clear to the mind and its devote yourself to the ministry of Scriptures that they might know Him relation to the plan of salvation is the Word, both personally and in who is life eternal? evident, is of more value than the your ministry activities (Acts 6:4). In a previous editorial, I shared perusal of many chapters with no When you visit families in your about the Scottish cleric Robert definite purpose in view and no community, follow the instructions Murray M’Cheyne, who lived and positive instruction gained. Keep of Jesus and give them something served in the early part of the nine- your Bible with you. As you have to eat. Speak more about the teenth century.1 Though his public opportunity, read it; fix the texts Scriptures rather than television ministry lasted only a few years in your memory. Even while you programs or sports events, and before his untimely death, M’Cheyne are walking the streets you may encourage others to join with you left a lasting legacy. He encouraged read a passage and meditate on this journey through the Bible. his parishioners to read through the upon it, thus fixing it in the mind.2 This will result in a bountiful harvest Bible each year and share what they for the kingdom of heaven. were learning in family worship and As we engage in this journey in interactions with neighbors and together through the Bible, we will 1 Derek J. Morris “Daily Bread,” Ministry 83, no. 5 (May 2011): 5. 2 Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ (Mountain View, CA: Pacific friends. Whenever families journey be revived and refreshed. His Word Press Pub. Assn., 1892), 90.

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MINISTRY 5 MARCH 2012 LEAD ARTICLE | Richard M. Davidson

Richard M. Davidson, PhD, serves as the J. N. Andrews Professor of Old Testament Interpretation and chair of the Old Testament Department, at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States.

Who authored the Bible?

ccording to the Bible conclusions regarding the identity 32, 44, 45; Rom. 1:2; 3:2; 2 Pet. 1:21; writers’ own claims, and of the Bible writers, solid support for etc.). But for Paul, it also includes in harmony with the tra- the traditional understanding may be the New Testament sacred writ - Aditional understanding found in conservative commentar- ings as well. Paul’s use of the word held by ancient interpreters and ies and surveys of Old Testament scripture (graphe, “writing”) in his most biblical scholars until the rise introductions.7 first epistle to Timothy (5:18) points of historical criticism during the While the Bible was written by in this direction. He introduces two Enlightenment, approximately 35 numerous individuals, the ques- quotations with the words Scripture individuals wrote the Bible over a tion remains, Who really authored says—one from Deuteronomy 25:4 period of 1,500 years. Old Testa- the Bible? By many and various in the Old Testament, and one from ment writers include Moses (the means the Bible makes clear that the words of Jesus recorded in Luke Pentateuch, Job,1 and Psalm 90), the ultimate Author of Scripture is 10:7. The word scripture thus is used Joshua (the book of Joshua), God Himself. simultaneously and synonymously to Samuel (Judges; Ruth; 1 Samuel refer to both the Old Testament and 1–24),2 possibly Nathan and Gad Scripture is the Gospel accounts in the technical (1 Samuel 25–2 Samuel 24),3 David “God-breathed” sense of “inspired, sacred, authorita- (the majority of the book of Psalms), Timothy summarized the self- tive writings.” Asaph (Psalms 50; 73–83), the sons testimony of Scripture regarding Numerous passages in the of Korah (Psalms 42–49; 84–88), its ultimate divine authorship in Gospels assert their truthfulness Heman (Psalm 88), Ethan (Psalm 89), 2 Timothy 3:16, 17: “All scripture is and authority on the same level as Solomon (Psalms 72; 127; Proverbs; inspired by God and profitable for the Old Testament Scriptures (e.g., Ecclesiastes; Song of Solomon), teaching, for reproof, for correction, John 1:1–3 paralleling Gen. 1:1; Agur (Proverbs 30), Lemuel (Prov- and for training in righteousness, that John 14:26; 16:13; 19:35; 21:24; erbs 31), the four Major Prophets, the man of God may be complete, Luke 1:2–4; Matt. 1 paralleling Gen. and 12 Minor Prophets (whose equipped for every good work.” 8 5; Matt. 23:34). Peter’s use of the books are named after them, plus Scripture is “inspired by God” (theo- term scriptures for Paul’s writings Jeremiah wrote also Lamentations; pneustos, literally “God-breathed”). supports this conclusion (2 Pet. 3:15, 1 and 2 Kings4), and Ezra (Ezra; The picture here involves that of the 16): by comparing Paul’s letters to Nehemiah; 1 and 2 Chronicles).5 Divine “Wind” or Spirit coming upon the “other Scriptures” (v. 16), Peter New Testament writers include Mat- the prophet, so that Scripture is a implies that Paul’s correspondence thew and Mark (the Gospels named product of the Divine creative Breath. is part of Scripture. after them), Luke (Luke and Acts), Thus, it is fully authoritative: profit- The New Testament, as a whole, John (the Gospel of John; 1–3 John; able for doctrine, reproof, correction, is the apostolic witness to Jesus and and Revelation), Paul (the 14 epistles and instruction in righteousness. His fulfillment of the Old Testament attributed to him),6 Peter (1 and 2 All Scripture—not just part— types and prophecies. Jesus prom- Peter), James, and Jude (the epistles is “God-breathed.” This certainly ised to send the Holy Spirit to the named after them). Although modern includes the whole Old Testament 12 apostles to bring to their remem- critical scholarship has questioned and the canonical Scriptures of the brance the things He had said (John the authenticity of many of these apostolic church (see Luke 24:17, 14:26). Paul states that “the mystery

MINISTRY 6 MARCH 2012 of Christ” was “revealed to his holy prophecy is not a matter of the apostles and prophets by the Spirit” prophet’s own interpretation; that (Eph. 3:4, 5). The apostles held a is, the prophet does not intrude with unique, unrepeatable position in his- his own interpretation. Verse 21 tory (Eph. 2:20) as bearing witness of elaborates on this point: prophecy direct contact with the humanity of does not come by the thelema—the Christ (Luke 1:2; Gal. 1:11–17; 2 Pet. initiative, the impulse, the will—of the 1:16; 1 John 1:1–4). This certainly human agents; the prophets are not validates the apostolic writings by communicating on their own. Rather, The the apostles such as Peter, John, the Bible writers were prophets who Bible equals, and Matthew. Paul also was called to spoke as they were moved, carried not just contains, be an apostle (see Rom. 1:1; 1 Cor. along, even driven (the force of the the Word of God 1:1; and the greetings in the other Greek phero) by the Holy Spirit. The self-testimony of Scripture Pauline epistles), and he indicates This Petrine passage makes clear is overwhelming and unequivocal: that his writings are given under the that the Scriptures did not come it not only contains, but equals the leadership of the Holy Spirit and have directly from heaven, but rather God Word of God. In the Old Testament, full apostolic authority (1 Cor. 7:40; utilized human instrumentalities. there are about 1,600 occurrences of 12:13; 14:37; 2 Cor. 3:5, 6; 4:13; An inductive look at the biblical four Hebrew words (in four different Gal. 1:11, 12; 1 Thess. 5:27; 2 Thess. writings confirms that the Holy Spirit phrases with slight variations) that 3:6–15). Thus, the New Testament did not abridge the freedom of the explicitly indicates that God has embodies the witness of the apostles biblical writers, did not suppress spoken: (1) “the utterance [ne’um] either directly or indirectly through their unique personalities, and did of Yahweh,” 361 times; (2) “Thus their close associates Mark, Luke, not destroy their individuality. Their says [’amar] the Lord,” 423 times; James, and Jude (see Luke 1:1–3; writings sometimes involved human (3) “And God spoke [dibber],” 422 Acts 12:12, 25; 15:37; Col. 4:10, research (Luke 1:1–3); they some- times; and (4) the “word [dabar] of 14; 2 Tim. 4:11; Philem. 24). All times gave their own experiences the Lord,” 394 times. The equiva- Scripture, both Old Testament and (Moses in Deuteronomy, Luke in lency between a prophet’s message New, is of divine origin, “inspired Acts, the psalmists); they presented and a divine message are recorded by God”—literally, “God-breathed.” differences in style (contrast Isaiah numerous times: the prophet speaks and Ezekiel, John and Paul); they for God (Exod. 7:1, 2; cf. 4:15, 16); The relationship between offered different perspectives on the God puts His words in the prophet’s the Divine Author and same truth or event (e.g., the four mouth (Deut. 18:18; Jer. 1:9); the human writers Gospels). And yet, through all of this hand of the Lord is strong upon the A key biblical passage that clari- thought inspiration, the Holy Spirit prophet (Isa. 8:11; Jer. 15:17; Ezek. fies the ultimate divine authorship carried along the biblical writers, 1:3; 3:22; 37:1); or the word of the of Scripture in relation to the human guiding their minds in selecting what Lord comes to the prophet (Hos. 1:1; dimensions of the biblical writers is to speak and write, so that what Joel 1:1; Mic. 1:1; etc.). Jeremiah 2 Peter 1:19–21: “And we have the they presented are not merely their rebukes his audience for not listening word of the prophets made more own interpretations, but the utterly to the prophets (25:4), which then certain, and you will do well to pay reliable Word of God, the prophetic equates with not listening to the Lord attention to it, as to a light shining in word made more certain. The Holy (v. 7), and further equated with His a dark place, until the day dawns and Spirit imbued human instruments words (v. 8). the morning star rises in your hearts. with divine truth in thoughts and so Summarizing the prophetic Above all, you must understand that assisted them in writing that they messages sent to Israel, 2 Kings no prophecy of Scripture came about faithfully committed to apt words 21:10 records, “And the Lord said by the prophet’s own interpretation. the things divinely revealed to them by his servants the prophets,” and For prophecy never had its origin (1 Cor. 2:10–13). 2 Chronicles 36:15, 16 adds, “The in the will [thele ma] of man, but The human and divine elements Lord, the God of their fathers, sent men spoke from God as they were in Scripture, the Written Word of persistently to them by his mes- carried along [phero] by the Holy God (Heb. 4:12), are inextricably sengers . . . but they kept mocking Spirit” (NIV). bound together, just as in Jesus, the messengers of God, despis - Several related points are devel- the incarnate “Word of God” (Rev. ing his words, and scoffing at his oped in these verses. Verse 19 19:13). Just as Jesus, the incarnate prophets.” The prophets’ messages underscores the trustworthiness of Word of God was fully God and fully are God’s messages. For this reason, Scripture: it is “the prophetic word man (John 1:1–3, 14), so the Written the prophets often naturally switch made more sure.” In verse 20, we Word is an inseparable union of the from the third person reference to learn why this is so: because the human and the divine. God (He) to the first person direct

MINISTRY 7 MARCH 2012 LEAD ARTICLE | Richard M. Davidson divine address (I) without any “thus theological argument upon a crucial Christian Theology in a Postmodern saith the Lord” (see Isa. 3:4; 5:3–6; word or even grammatical form World. Lanham, MD: University 10:5–11; 27:3; Jer. 5:7; 16:21; Hos. in the Old Testament. So, in John Press of America, 2001. 6:4–10; Joel 2:25; Amos 5:21–23; 10:34, Jesus appeals to Psalm 82:6 Davidson, Jo Ann. “Word Zech. 9:7). The Old Testament proph- and the specific word gods to sub- Made Flesh: The Inspiration ets were sure that their message was stantiate His divinity. Accompanying of Scripture.” Journal of the in verity the message of God! His usage is the telling remark: Adventist Theological Society 15, Numerous times in the New “ ‘And scripture cannot be broken no. 1 (Spring 2004): 21–33. Testament the phrase “it is writ - [luo]’ ” (v. 35). It cannot be luo— Davidson, Richard M. “Biblical ten” equates to “God says.” For loosed, broken, repealed, annulled, Interpretation.” In Handbook of example, in Hebrews 1:5–13, seven or abolished—even to the specific Seventh-day Adventist Theology. Old Testament citations from vari- words. In Matthew 22:41–46, Jesus Edited by Raoul Dederen, ous different genres are said to be grounds His final, unanswerable 58–104. Vol. 12 of The Seventh- spoken by God, even though the argument to the Pharisees upon day Adventist Bible Commentary Old Testament passages cited do not the reliability of the single word Reference Series. Hagerstown, always specifically ascribe the state- Lord in Psalm 110:1. In Galatians MD: Review and Herald Pub. ment directly to God (see Pss. 104:4; 3:16, the apostle Paul likewise bases Assn., 2000. 45:6, 7; 102:25–27). Again Romans his Messianic argument upon the Van Bemmelen, Peter M. 9:17 and Galatians 3:8 (citing Exod. singular number of the word seed in “Revelation and Inspiration.” In 9:16 and Gen. 22:18 respectively) Genesis 22:17, 18.9 Jesus shows His Handbook of Seventh-day reveal a strict identification between ultimate respect for the full authority Adventist Theology. Edited by Scripture and the Word of God: the of the Old Testament, including the Raoul Dederen, 22–57. Vol. 12 of New Testament passages introduce individual words, when He affirms its The Seventh-day Adventist Bible the citations with “Scripture says,” totality: “ ‘For truly, I say unto you, Commentary Reference Series. while the Old Testament passages till heaven and earth pass away, not Hagerstown, MD: Review and have God as the Speaker. an iota, not a dot, will pass from Herald Pub. Assn., 2000. The Old Testament Scriptures are the law until all is accomplished’ ” viewed as the “oracles of God” (Rom. (Matt. 5:18). 1 See the Babylonian Talmud, Baba Bathra, 14b; “The long years spent amid desert solitudes were not lost. Not only 3:2), trustworthy and of divine origin Though the Bible was not ver- was Moses gaining a preparation for the great work before even to the level of the words and bally dictated by God so as to bypass him, but during this time, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote the book of Genesis and also the book of phrases employed. A number of New the individuality of the human writer, Job, which would be read with the deepest interest by the Testament references illustrate this. and thus the specific words are people of God until the close of time.” Ellen G. White, Signs of the Times, February 19, 1880, 1. Jesus says, quoting Deuteronomy the words chosen by the human 2 See the Babylonian Talmud, Baba Bathra, 14b. 8:3, “ ‘ “Man shall not live by bread instrumentality, yet the human and 3 See the Babylonian Talmud, Baba Bathra, 15a; cf. 1 Chron. 29:29. alone, but by every word [Greek divine elements are so inseparable— 4 See the Babylonian Talmud, Baba Bathra, 15a. 5 Note that the books of Ezra and Nehemiah were originally hrema, translating Hebrew qol, the human messenger so divinely a single continuous work in the Hebrew Bible, and note “everything”] that proceeds from guided in the selection of apt words further that the conclusion of Chronicles is identical with the beginning of Ezra (2 Chr. 36:22, 23; Ezra 1:1, 2). the mouth of God” ’ ” (Matt. 4:4). to express the divine thoughts—that 6 I include here the epistle to the Hebrews; see the Paul says of his own inspired mes- the words of the prophet are called introduction of Hebrews in The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary (Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Pub. sage: “And we impart this in words the Word of God. The individual Assn., 1980) for evidence supporting Pauline authorship of not taught by human wisdom but words of Scripture, as well as the this epistle. Compare the many references in Ellen White’s writings to Paul as the one who wrote the Epistle to the taught by the Spirit, interpreting overall message, are regarded as Hebrews (e.g., The Great Controversy [Mountain View, CA: spiritual truths to those who possess trustworthy, accurately setting forth Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1950], 347, 411, 413, 418, 421; the Spirit” (1 Cor. 2:13). Again Paul the Divine Word. Pariarchs and Prophets [Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1913], 294, 357). writes, “And we also thank God While the Bible had many human 7 See especially the introduction to each book of the Bible constantly for this, that when you writers, this book has only one ulti- in The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary; Gleason L. Archer, A Survey of Old Testament Introduction, 3rd received the word of God which you mate Author: God Himself! ed. (Chicago: Moody Press, 2007); and Donald Guthrie, heard from us, you accepted it not as New Testament Introduction, 4th ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1990). the word of men but as what it really For further study 8 All scripture quotations in this article, except as otherwise is, the word of God, which is at work Archer, Gleason L. A Survey of Old stated, are from the Revised Standard Version. in you believers” (1 Thess. 2:13). Testament Introduction. 3rd edition. 9 Paul here is recognizing the precise Messianic terminology of Genesis 22:17, 18, as it moves from a collective plural What the writers of the Bible state Chicago: Moody Press, 2007. seed (with plural modifying pronouns) to a singular Seed explicitly in the New Testament is Canale, Fernando L. Back to (with a singular modifying pronoun). See Richard M. Davidson, “New Testament Use of the Old Testament,” also indicated by the instances when Revelation-Inspiration: Searching Journal of the Adventist Theological Society 5, no. 1 (1994): Jesus and the apostles base an entire for the Cognitive Foundation of 30, 31.

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MINISTRY 8 MARCH 2012 Kwabena Donkor

Kwabena Donkor, PhD, is an associate director, Biblical Research Institute, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.

Who decided which books should be included in the Bible?

any Christians find The Old Testament canon ‘All that the Lord has spoken we will great value in reading Who decided which books should do, and we will be obedient!’ ” (Exod. the Bible because they be included in the Old Testament? 24:7, NASB). Centuries later, after the Mbelieve that this Book The question cannot be answered Babylonian exile, Ezra read from the was given by the inspiration of God. definitively due to a lack of historical “book of the law of Moses” and the But have you ever wondered who sources. The same applies to the people adopted it as the constitution decided which books should be question regarding what time the of their restored commonwealth (Neh. included in the collection that we decision was made. Historical-critical 8:1, NASB). The reverence shown refer to as the “Bible”? Canoniza- scholars believe the Bible gained its by the Jews to the books of Moses, tion, the term given to the process authority progressively. They suggest variously called “the Law of Moses” by which books were included or that the 39 books of the Hebrew Bible, (v. 1, NKJV), “the Book of the Law” (v. excluded from the Bible, is a word arranged in three major divisions (the 3, NKJV), and “the Law of God” (v. 8, derived from the Greek kanon whose Law, the Prophets, and the Writings), NKJV), points to the honored status basic meaning is that of a “rule.” indicate a three-step development in of the books of Moses. Sometimes the books included in our the canonization process. According We do not have the details of Bible are, therefore, called canonical to this view, the Law—meaning the how these books were brought books, although canonization deals books of Moses, also called the together. It is conceivable that Ezra with more than a mere list of books. Pentateuch—was canonized by about and Nehemiah may have been Consider canonization as a 400 b.c., the Prophets during the first involved with the collection of the question about why certain books century b.c., and then the Writings books composing the Old Testament came to be regarded as sacred and during the first centurya .d.1 canon. However, neither one per- authoritative in the early Christian A conservative perspective. The son, or even several, decided which communities. How we address this story is quite different when viewed books should be included in the Old question determines whether we from a conservative perspective. Testament because there were indi- believe that the Bible, as we have Quite clearly the book of the Law (the viduals throughout Israel’s history it, came into being as a result of the Pentateuch) was regarded as the Word who were recognized as prophets guidance of the Holy Spirit in the of God from its earliest existence. A of God, and what these people early church or whether political number of biblical passages point to said and wrote was considered the forces in the time of Constantine the self-authenticating authority of the Word of God. The writers did not were responsible, as some people Law from the very beginning. Moses have to wait for their work to pass claim. Since the Bible consists of the at the foot of Mount Sinai “took the the test of time for their authority to Old and New Testaments, the ques- book of the covenant and read it in the be acknowledged. Their work was tion will be answered in two parts. hearing of the people; and they said, received as Scripture because what

MINISTRY 9 MARCH 2012 Kwabena Donkor

they said and wrote was believed to Josephus clearly implies that resurrection of Jesus, the apostles be from God. the Prophets were in place as a came to occupy a unique position in When did the Hebrew canon body of writings by the time of spreading and bearing witness to the come into being? Jewish tradition Ezra and Nehemiah and regarded words of Jesus. Indeed, Christ had informs us that the greater part of the as Scripture. He notes, “It is true, said of them that because they had Hebrew canon came into being with our history hath been written since been with Him from the beginning Ezra and Nehemiah. The noncanoni- Artaxerxes very particularly, but they would be His witnesses (John cal book of 2 Maccabees refers to hath not been esteemed of the like 15:27). As the church grew, and the records and memoirs of Nehemiah authority with the former by our apostles became conscious of the as well as to his library with books forefathers, because there hath not prospect of their own deaths, the about the kings, prophets, and the been an exact succession of proph- need arose for the words of Jesus ets since that time.”4 No doubt, the to be recorded (2 Pet. 1:12–15). prophetic books, like the Pentateuch, None were keener to preserve and were considered authoritative from communicate authoritatively what the moment they were written. had happened than the apostles Apart from the testimony of his- who were witnesses of the salvation Historical- torians, there is evidence in the Bible of God in Jesus Christ. Thus, the itself to indicate that by the time of stage was set for the development Daniel and Zechariah, the Law and the of books that, under the guidance critical scholars earlier prophets (Joshua–Kings) were of the Holy Spirit, would in time regarded as Scripture. For example, become the New Testament canon. Zechariah 7:12 (ca. 518 b.c.) men- For about two decades after the believe the tions the hardness of the hearts of Cross, the message of Jesus was the people “ ‘so that they could not proclaimed orally. Then, from the hear the law and the words which mid–first century on, Paul’s letters Bible gained the Lord of hosts had sent by His began to appear. Somewhat later, the Spirit through the former prophets’ ” three synoptic Gospels and the book (NASB). And Daniel considered the of Acts were written; by the end of its authority book of Jeremiah as well as the Law of the first century, when John wrote the Moses as authoritative (Dan. 9:2, 11). book of Revelation, all the books of The third division of the Hebrew the New Testament were completed. progressively. Bible, the Writings, as a complete Throughout the New Testament, the collection, dates somewhat later than focus is on what God had done in the Prophets. The prologue to the Christ (1 Cor. 15:1–3; Luke 1:1–3). Greek translation of Ecclesiasticus The New Testament books (an apocryphal book from the second acknowledged as Scripture. As was century b.c.) refers repeatedly to the the case with the books of the Old writings of David (2 Macc. 2:13). The three sections of the Old Testament, Testament prophets, the writings Jewish historian Flavius Josephus indicating that the third section of the of Paul and the other apostles were argues that unlike the Greeks, who Old Testament was already recog- immediately accepted as authori- had an innumerable multitude of nized as canonical at that time. tative because the authors were books, the Hebrews had only 22 known to be authentic spokesmen books;2 he noted that these books The New Testament for God. The writers themselves “contain the records of all the past canon were conscious of the fact that times; which are justly believed to The early Christian church fol- they were proclaiming God’s mes- be divine; and of them, five belong lowed the practice of Jesus and sage, not merely their own opinions. to Moses, which contain his laws regarded the Old Testament as Paul, in 1 Timothy 5:18, follows and the traditions of the origin of authoritative (Matt. 5:17–19; 21:42; up the formula “Scripture says” mankind till his death. . . . But as to 22:29; Mark 10:6–9; 12:29–31). with a quote from Deuteronomy the time from the death of Moses Along with the Old Testament, the 25:4 and Luke 10:7, thereby placing till the reign of Artaxerxes, king of church revered the words of Jesus the Old Testament Scriptures and Persia, . . . the prophets, who were with equal authority (1 Cor. 9:14; the New Testament Gospels on after Moses, wrote down what was 1 Thess. 4:15). It could not have the same level of authority; and, done in their times in thirteen books. been otherwise since Jesus was in 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Paul com- The remaining four books contain perceived not only as a prophet mends the Christians in Thessalonica hymns to God, and precepts for the but also as the Messiah, the Son for accepting his words as “the word conduct of human life.”3 of God. Following the death and of God” (NKJV). Peter in 2 Peter 3:15,

MINISTRY 10 MARCH 2012 16 also considered Paul’s writings as Gnosticism. The Gnostics stressed decree adopted at this gathering Scripture. salvation through secret knowledge merely recognizes the fact that there During the second century, (Greek gnosis). A number of “infancy” are already in existence certain books, most churches came to possess gospels supplied details from the hid- generally recognized as suitable to and acknowledge a collection of den years of Christ’s life. Numerous be read in the public worship of the inspired books that included the apocryphal books of Acts related the churches, which are known as the four Gospels, the book of Acts, 13 deeds of Peter, Paul, John, and most ‘canonical’ books.”6 of Paul’s letters, 1 Peter, and 1 John. of the other apostles, and several The other seven books (Hebrews, apocalypses described accounts of Conclusion James, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, Jude, personally conducted tours of heaven Who decided which books and Revelation) took longer to win and hell by the apostles. Today, these should be included in the Bible? general acceptance. The early church writings are known collectively as the Our brief discussion has shown that fathers—for example, Clement of New Testament apocrypha. for both Testaments the books that Rome (flourished ca. 100), Polycarp This period also saw the publica- came to be part of the biblical canon (ca. 70–155), and Ignatius (died ca. tion of lists of books known to have had their own self-authenticating 115)—quoted from most of the New been written by the apostles or their authority. The Old Testament books Testament books (only Mark, 2 and associates. Among these lists were carried their own authoritative cre- 3 John, and 2 Peter are not attested) the Muratorian Canon, dated towards dentials by virtue of the writers in a manner indicating that they the end of the second century, the who unequivocally declared that accepted these books as authorita- list of Eusebius of Caesarea from the what they said and wrote was from tive. In this process, however, the early part of the fourth century, and God. The New Testament books had authority that the books of the New the list of Athanasius of Alexandria immediate authority as faithfully Testament had was not subsequently from the middle of the fourth century. witnessing to the events and mean- attributed to them but inherently The first two lists were still incom- ing of God’s action through Christ. present in them from the beginning. plete, containing only about 20 of The Old Testament canon was, Reasons for the New Testament the 27 New Testament books. The for the most part, settled within canon. Over a period of about four complete New Testament canon is Judaism by the second century b.c., centuries when the New Testament set out in detail in Athanasius’s Easter though discussions concerning it canon took shape (specifically defin- letter of 367, which contains the 27 continued for several centuries. From ing the list of books), a number of New Testament books to the exclu- history we know that the final shape factors played a significant role. While sion of all others. During the fourth of the New Testament canon existed the primary reason for the inclusion century, several church synods, such by the fourth century a.d. Although of the New Testament books in the as the Councils of Rome (382), Hippo heretical movements and church canon was the self-authenticating (393), and Carthage (397), accepted councils played a role in the actual nature of the books (i.e., their inspira- all 27 books of the New Testament formation of the New Testament tion), other issues contributed to it. as canonical. canon, the church did not decide One key motivating factor for While heretical movements and which books should be included in establishing the New Testament church councils played a certain role the canon. The church recognized canon was that during the second in the formation of the canon, the and acknowledged the inspiration century several heretical movements desire to preserve faithfully the events and self-authenticating authority of developed in Christianity. Marcion, of what God had done through Christ, the 27 New Testament books and a prominent heretic, broke with the already evident in the New Testament, limited the canon to these books. church around a.d. 140, and drew means that the driving force behind up his own list of Christian books the history of the New Testament 1 James A. Sanders, “Canon,” in The Anchor Bible Dictionary, ed. David Noel Freedman (New York: Doubleday, 1992), that would provide a canon for faith canon was the faith of the church. 1:843. and worship. Marcion accepted only In fact, “much of what became the 2 Among the Jews, the 12 Minor Prophets were counted as one book, as were 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, Ezra- a modified version of Luke’s Gospel core of the New Testament canon Nehemiah, and 1 and 2 Chronicles. Josephus may have and ten of the Pauline epistles as . . . had already been unofficially and counted Ruth as part of Judges and Lamentations as part of Jeremiah, but we do not really know how Josephus divided inspired. At the same time, a grow- generally recognized as Scripture as or grouped the books of the Old Testament to arrive at 22. ing number of Christian writings the church began to consider making 3 Josephus, Against Apion 1.8. appeared that claimed to relate and approving a list that would set 4 Ibid. 5 Steven M. Sheeley, “From ‘Scripture’ to ‘Canon’: The 5 unknown details about Christ and the the limits of Christian Scripture.” Development of the New Testament Canon,” Review & apostles. Many of these books were In reference to the New Testament Expositor 95 (Fall 1998): 518. 6 Bruce M. Metzger, The Canon of the New Testament: Its written by individuals who belonged canon, Bruce M. Metzger correctly Origin, Development, and Significance (Oxford: Oxford to a heretical movement called says of the Synod of Laodicea: “The University Press, 1997), 210.

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MINISTRY 11 MARCH 2012 MINISTRY 12 MARCH 2012 Annual Council Action

October 2011 Revival and Reformation Committee

Revived by His Word “A Journey of Discovery Together Through the Bible”

hroughout its history the • “Having been born again, not of mighty work will be wrought” Seventh-day Adventist corruptible seed but incorrupt- (Evangelism, p. 456). Church has found the ible, through the word of God • “At every revival of God’s work Treason for its existence in which lives and abides forever” the prince of evil is aroused to the Bible. Adventists are a Bible- (1 Pet. 1:23). more intense activity; he is now based, Bible-believing, Bible-reading • “So now, brethren, I commend putting forth his utmost efforts people. Although millions of church you to God and to the word for a final struggle against Christ members worldwide have a mean- of His grace, which is able to and His followers. The last great ingful devotional life, recent research build you up and give you an delusion is soon to open before indicates that many do not. Revived inheritance among all those who us. Antichrist is to perform his by His Word is designed especially to are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). marvelous works in our sight. strengthen the spiritual experience of So closely will the counterfeit those who know Christ deeply, and Ellen White adds: resemble the true that it will motivate those who are struggling to be impossible to distinguish know Him better. Recently, we have • “There is nothing more calcu- between them except by the lifted up the importance of God’s lated to strengthen the intellect Holy Scriptures” (The Great Word through the “Follow the Bible” than the study of the Scriptures. Controversy, p. 593). initiative; now it is time to reflect No other book is so potent to carefully and listen to God speaking elevate the thoughts, to give The study of God’s Word accom- to our hearts personally as we are vigor to the faculties, as the plishes at least four major things in “revived by His Word.” broad, ennobling truths of the relationship to revival: Spiritual renewal arises from a Bible. If God’s word were stud- Christ-centered study of God’s Word. ied as it should be, men would 1. It provides a foundation for true Although prayer is the heartbeat of have a breadth of mind, a nobil- revival. revival, the Word of God is its foun- ity of character, and a stability 2. It stimulates, fosters, and sustains dation. The Bible writers repeatedly of purpose rarely seen in these true revival. link revival and new life in Christ to times” (Steps to Christ, p. 90). 3. It counteracts false revivals. God’s Word: • “A revival in Bible study is 4. It creates an understanding of and needed throughout the world. commitment to God’s mission. • “My soul clings to the dust; Attention is to be called, not to revive me according to Your the assertions of men, but to the Without a systematic study of word” (Ps. 119:25).* Word of God. As this is done, a God’s Word the current emphasis

MINISTRY 13 MARCH 2012 Annual Council Action

on revival and reformation will Plan will conclude by the end of the Blog. Authors will be chosen to die out quickly, degenerate into Session. represent cultural and age diversity. a sentimental slogan, or result in Members internationally will have a counterfeit spiritual experience. United by His Word an opportunity to contribute to The study of God’s Word leading Revived by His Word will become the discussion via the blog. An to a life-changing experience with much larger than reading or listening iPhone application will be especially Jesus is not optional in revival; it is to one chapter of the Bible each day. helpful in some countries to allow foundational. It will direct the attention of the entire members to download the Bible Nothing can possibly replace membership to the importance of chapter and commentary for the listening to God speak to us through knowing Jesus through His Word. It day. The Bible Blog will regularly His Word. Prayerfully meditating will encourage families to read the reference the weekly Sabbath School Bible completely through together. lesson to stimulate further study of In many cultures where the Bible is the lesson by members, and the not readily available, this initiative Sabbath School Bible Study Web will encourage elders to gather the page will reference the chapter-by- Spiritual church family to read the Bible aloud. chapter Bible Study Reading Plan. It will also stimulate members world- Imagine the possibilities of church wide to place priority on the Bible. It members sharing inspirational gems renewal arises is simple, practical, and affordable. with one another from the unique This plan envisions the General perspective of their cultural, gender, Conference president, along with the and age backgrounds. Each day a from a Christ- division presidents, reading Genesis few especially insightful spiritual 1 responsively at the opening meet- comments will be chosen to post on ing of Spring Council 2012, and the Web page. centered study concluding by reading Revelation 22 during the General Conference Sharing the Word Session in San Antonio, Texas. Another feature of the plan is of God’s Word. to challenge church membership Promotion and worldwide to provide funding to pur- sustainability chase Bibles for members who do To motivate successfully the not have them as well as Godpods on Scripture is a primary source of largest number of Seventh-day for members who are unable to spiritual strength. Although there are Adventists to read the Bible through read or who have difficulty read- many ways of reading God’s Word, together will necessitate coordina- ing. Church leadership can never the initiative outlined below has the tion with each of the church’s media rest satisfied until every member possibility of uniting the international outlets. Hope Channel, Ministry has access to God’s Word in their church around God’s Word. magazine, Adventist World/Adventist mother tongue, reads or listens to Review, and the Communication God’s Word daily, and shares its life- The initiative Department will cooperate in prepar- transforming message with others. summarized ing special programs and articles Revived by His Word can unite To encourage church members on the inspiration and life-changing the entire church around God’s Word worldwide to unite in reading or ability of God’s Word. A promotional and make a difference in millions of listening to one chapter of the Bible DVD will be produced as well as lives. It can be a catalyst for further each day, beginning April 17, 2012 a Revived by His Word brochure. regular, systematic Bible study. The (Spring Council), and concluding These promotional pieces will pre- goal of Revived by His Word is to at the General Conference Session cede and prepare for the launch of encourage every church member to in 2015. the program in April 2012. allow the Holy Spirit to transform their There are 1,171 days from Spring Beginning with Spring Council lives as they meditate and pray over Council 2012 to the beginning of the 2012, the Bible chapter for the day one chapter of the Bible a day. It is to General Conference Session July 2, with a Bible Blog will be featured on allow Jesus to speak to His people 2015. There are 1,189 chapters in the Ministerial Department’s Revival through His Word so they know Him the Bible. By reading one chapter and Reformation Web page. better, seek Him more deeply, and each day and two chapters during Each day a one- or two-paragraph share His love more fully. the General Conference Session in reflection on the Bible reading for San Antonio, Texas, the Bible Study the day will be written for the Bible * All Bible texts are taken from the New King James Version.

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MINISTRY 14 MARCH 2012 Jack Blanco Jack Blanco, DTh, is professor emeritus at Southern Adventist University, Collegedale, Tennessee, United States.

A personal devotional journey

he journey began with read- The search what I later discovered was a copy ing a most unusual “Bible” Home on furlough in Chicago, of Bible Readings for the Home Circle, while I was in the military I determined to buy a copy of this but for me it was the Bible. Tduring the Korean War. After question-and-answer Bible. I went Soon thereafter, I went to see accepting Christ as my personal from one bookstore to another, the military chaplain’s assistant, who Savior, I decided to change my looking for that Bible; but one clerk introduced me to the real Bible (the lifestyle and spend my free time, after another told me there was no Douay Version since I was a Catholic mostly weekends, in the base’s such Bible, and asked if I wanted then), and I read it avidly. Later, after library. One day, walking among a King James Version or a Douay being baptized into the Seventh-day the shelves looking for something Version. I had no idea what King Adventist Church, I felt a call to to read, I noticed a green-covered James or Douay had to do with the the ministry, attended college and book titled “Bible.” Never having Bible and I insisted that I had seen the seminary, and then served as a seen or read the Bible before, I a copy of a question-and-answer pastor and a missionary. pulled it off of the shelf, sat down edition and had read it. Finally, one at the reading table, and opened it. bookstore clerk suggested I go to a Sermon preparation The first thing I saw was a picture used bookstore on the north side of All of this leads to another part of of Jesus with outstretched arms; Chicago; he was sure the man there my journey, one that happened many surrounding Him were all kinds would have what I was desperately years later. During a ministerial meet- of people—old, young, mothers looking for. ing that I attended, the ministerial with babes in their arms, those on The store owner, an elderly director suggested that the best way crutches, and the sick. As I looked at gentleman, looked puzzled, then to prepare sermons is to combine the picture, I began to cry, wishing scratched his head, took a ladder, our devotional time with sermon I could be as near to the Savior as climbed to one of the top shelves preparation. I tried it for a while, but they were. Quickly wiping the tears in the back room, dusted off the there seemed to be something miss- away, I began to read. books, brought down one, and laid it ing. So I continued my devotional life This “Bible” was in question- on the table in front of me. It looked with a deep heart-to-heart relation- and-answer format and was different from the one I had seen in ship with Jesus, which had begun fascinating. My heart and soul the base’s library—thicker and older, in a military base library. became attached to it, and, after with a publishing date of 1888. But, And I learned that there is a dif- several trips to the library, I decided curious, I opened it and turned to ference between personal devotions I could not live without it, especially the same subjects I had read. To my and preparing a sermon. The former this particular copy. Because the delight, it said the same thing. My includes a personal conversation library had another copy, I decided joy knew no bounds. I had found with the Lord about strictly personal to keep this one, telling the librar- it. I thanked the old man and asked matters, while the latter focuses on ian I had lost it and then paid the him how much it cost. He looked at the needs of people, which may or five-dollar fine. But, having given me and said, “For you, soldier, two may not apply to you personally. The my heart to Christ, as I continued to dollars.” I could not believe it—a former includes surrender, acknowl- read, I felt guilty for being dishonest, treasure such as this for only two edgment of personal weaknesses, confessed to the librarian, and did dollars. With a spring in my step, I failings, and the hidden presence of not keep the book. left the store and carried with me pride (the “me” factor) that needs

MINISTRY 15 MARCH 2012 Jack Blanco

to be made evident by the Holy would say what He said. I seemed Spirit and, with His help, eradicated. to be walking by the Sea of Galilee, The latter involves reaching into sitting next to Him on a hillside, and the depths of Scripture for pulpit experiencing the joys and sorrows of ministry, using such study helps His ministry. as needed to make the sermon Every morning at 3:30 a.m., I applicable to the congregation, not was living in another world, the merely to share some biblical or world of biblical realities next to Seeking God before theological insight but to make the my Savior. This was the moment pursuing the agenda presentation practical with a spiritual in time to live for. Sermon or class depth that can be felt in the hearts preparation could come at another of people. Without question, the time. Reading, writing, and praying We were discussing a complex agenda item as I chaired the con- devotional life impacts the sermonic for clarity, I got to the point where ference’s executive committee. and vice versa, but they are distinct adherence to Scripture became a While many people contributed in pursuit and purpose. passion, not for the sake of hav - very good ideas regarding the Devotional methods vary from ing a devotional life but for a life issue, something was missing. Shouldn’t our committees have reading the Bible all the way through with Jesus Christ. Passages I had a greater focus on seeking God’s to journaling to simply spending paraphrased would often have to will instead of our own biased time in prayer. Whatever method is be reread; sentences scratched out thoughts? used, it can become routine, to the and rewritten. The hours would go After that realization, we began seeking God’s will in an detriment of the devotional experi- by so quickly while I was lost in the hour-long Bible study and prayer ence and personal relationship with presence of the Son of God guided at the beginning of each meeting. Christ. Therefore, it is important that by the Holy Spirit. Doing this was a spiritual blessing the method needs to be occasionally Selecting at random the various and made our time together much more productive. changed in order to stay fresh and books of the New Testament, I spent Our approach was simple. We vigorous. three years writing the Scriptures as went deeply into small portions I understood them. Then I continued of scripture. For several weeks, The mentor my devotions by transcribing the we immersed ourselves in the first two chapters of Acts. We When I gave my heart to Christ, written copy into the computer, pol- were inspired by the early church I decided to make Him my Mentor, ishing the sentences as I typed them. making prayer, unity, and mission and the Model to follow. To be like However, this process was more their priorities. That very diverse Him became my passion, with all of a professional exercise than a group was unified by a mutual love for Jesus, a longing for the the frailties that accompany human heart-to-heart devotional with Christ. Holy Spirit, and a shared mission. nature. At times when my devotional So I transcribed the New Testament As a result, thousands of lives life became little more than a habit, I and continued the personal heart-to- were transformed and the church would change my approach to read- heart time with the Lord in the Old advanced dramatically under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. ing or studying Scripture in order to Testament, which took seven years Our process also taught us keep the relationship fresh and new. to complete my transcription. Those the value of praying for the Holy During my devotional life years ten years brought a change in my life Spirit’s guidance before Bible ago, I was thinking how wonder- and spiritual growth beyond words study in order to more fully hear God’s messages to us personally. ful it would be if Jesus were here to describe. I’m forever grateful Scripture then guided the focus of today and I could walk and talk with for the Holy Spirit’s leading. Since our prayers. My own experience Him as the disciples did. As I was then, the process has continued, taught me that prayer, springing wondering what He would say to me always with Scripture and Jesus as from Scripture, tends to be less about me and more about aligning today, the thought struck me that He the center. with God’s will. would say the same thing He said Is it possible that this describes to the disciples as recorded in the Masterly deception what revival and reformation Scriptures. So the question was not A devotional life must be guarded would look like when applied to committees? Try it! It will make a what would He say, but how would so it does not degenerate into “righ- difference. He say what He said. teousness by devotions” or simply This insight led me to envision become a habit of Scripture journal- —Don Livesay serves as president Him speaking to me in the car, ing. We must always be distrustful of the Lake Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Berrien visiting with me in my office, going of self, and, as we search our own Springs, Michigan, United States. hiking with me, or meeting me in hearts, we must be willing to correct the grocery store. I decided to begin any self-serving tendencies as the revivalandreformation.org reading the Gospel of Mark with this Holy Spirit points them out to us. This in mind, and writing out how He is an individual matter, for there is no

MINISTRY 16 MARCH 2012 greater subtlety of sin than spiritual Christ or we will end up preaching to change me. To be honest, my pride for what we have done or are ourselves instead of Christ. desire to be saved does not compare doing for the Savior. Submission and with my desire just to see His face; resignation must be proportionate to Motivation that would be enough. However, to God’s gift of His Son for our redemp- For me, the greatest inspira- be with Him forever is His wish for tion and must continue to deepen. tion for personal devotions was the me, so that is mine as well. God will not accept anything short of example of Christ Himself, who felt As I become more intimately this surrender. the need to be alone with His Father acquainted with Christ, I sense the There will always be distractions and visit with Him no matter how contrast between Him and me and that keep us from spending adequate tired He was, even if He had to do so realize my personal inadequacy to time in personal devotions, whether during the middle of the night after a reflect Him—His kindness, compas- from family or church members who very busy day of ministry. There have sion, benevolence, forgiveness, and call early in the morning. Some inter- been others whose commitment willingness to bear pain for the sake ruptions are legitimate; others are to personal Scripture study have of others, but not without being not. Also, there are administrative strengthened my own, but it has firm on principles no matter what matters that weave a web of concern always been the example of Christ the cost. This is not always easy, but around our hearts and minds, which that continues to create in me a it continues as the basis of what a need attention, making it hard to deep desire to commune with Him relationship with Him is all about. concentrate. Needs never end, but personally as He did with His Father. Thus, the journey that began whatever happens, guard against How has this affected the way I decades ago, in a military library, the thought, I’ll have my devotions pray? It has made me pray earnestly continues today as I seek to know later when I have more time or when for myself to be more like my Savior, my Lord better and better, awaiting I’m in a better mood. The battle for acknowledging my shortcomings as the time when, though seeing now devotions is a battle for our lives. Let husband, father, and pastor, and ask- “through a glass, darkly; but then us not value the pulpit more than ing Him to do whatever is necessary face to face” (1 Cor. 13:12).

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Education for Service

“The true subject of education is to fit men and Master of Divinity women for service by developing and bringing into Masters degrees in: • Pastoral Ministry active exercise all their faculties. The work of our • Youth and Young Adult colleges and training schools should be strength- Ministry • Religion ened year by year, for in them our youth are to be • Religious Education prepared to go forth to serve the Lord as efficient Doctoral degrees in: laborers. The Lord calls upon the youth to enter our • Ministry schools and quickly fit themselves for active work. • Religion • Religious Education Time is short. Workers for Christ are needed every- • Biblical Archaeology

where.” All programs are accredited by the As- sociation of Theological Schools

Ellen G. White, Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Stu- Contact Information dents, p. 493 Phone : 269-471-3537 Website: www.andrews.edu/sem

MINISTRY 17 MARCH 2012 Michael G. Hasel Michael G. Hasel, PhD, is director of the Institute of Archaeology and professor of Near Eastern studies and archaeology, Southern Adventist University, Collegedale, Tennessee, United States.

Archaeology and the authority of the Bible

n 1986, Professor Gabriel Barkay archaeology’s power to challenge documents have been found at the was introducing a new ground- current interpretations of the Bible. site itself so far, ranging from admin- breaking discovery made at Ketef Since the dawn of archaeological istrative letters to court records.4 The IHinnom, a burial site southwest research in the ancient Near East in most recent discovery of a law code of Jerusalem, where the oldest bibli- 1799, no other discipline has provided fragment was made in 2010 on the cal inscription was found. Along more new data and insights on the surface of the site. These records with hundreds of Old Testament nations, people, and events of the attest to the central and significant scholars, I sat spellbound at a meet- Bible. Discoveries in the nineteenth role Hazor played in the geopolitical ing of the International Organization century have been multiplied many climate of Bronze Age Canaan. for the Study of Old Testament in times during the last 150 years Philistia. The Philistine cities of Jerusalem’s Israel Museum. Two of archaeology in the land of the Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath tiny strips of silver, tightly wound and Bible, as artifacts, cities, and ancient have been excavated extensively, appearing like miniature scrolls, had records reveal the trustworthiness revealing a sophisticated culture of been carefully unrolled. They con- of Scripture.2 In this essay we will architecture, art, and technology.5 In tained etched inscriptions bearing review some of the most important 1996, an inscription was uncovered a shortened version of the Aaronic finds made during the last 25 years by at Ekron revealing a dynastic line blessing (Num. 6:24–26). Based on archaeologists working in the Middle of five kings including Achish, the the archaeological context and style East who have contributed greatly to son of Padi, who ruled over Ekron of script, Barkay dated the inscription the understanding of the Bible. until the destruction of the city by to the late seventh or early sixth Nebuchadnezzar.6 The decorated centuries b.c.—400 years older than Nations of the Bible Aegean-style pottery, elaborate archi- the Dead Sea Scrolls. The silence Canaan. The land of Canaan has tecture, and the technology of these was profound in the room as many been greatly illuminated in recent cities reveal that the Philistines were critical scholars, who dated this text years through excavations at major the elite in the ancient land of Canaan. in Numbers to the fourth century sites such as Hazor, the largest Judah. Even in an age of skepti- b.c., were suddenly confronted with Canaanite city in Israel (see Josh. cism toward some of the Bible’s new evidence. Recent photographic 11:10; Judg. 4:2). Not only have most famous kings, such as David techniques and new computer imag- modern excavations revealed a forti- and Solomon, new discoveries ing conclusively dated the amulets fied site of more than 200 acres, but call for caution among those who to before the fall of Jerusalem to textual sources indicate that it was claim that the Bible’s record of the Babylonians in 586 b.c. This the southwesternmost city in an the kingdom of Judah is mythical means that they dated at least 150 international trade system extending in proportion.7 New excavations years earlier than critical scholar- from Iran to the Mediterranean, since 2007 at Khirbet Qeiyafa by the ship had assumed for the origin of which included other centers such Hebrew University and Southern Numbers, making the Ketef Hinnom as Babylon, Mari, and Qatna. The Adventist University have revealed a inscription the earliest written biblical site is mentioned in omens and massively fortified city dating to the passage discovered to date.1 This geographical lists from Babylon3 and time of Saul and David. Surrounded was my dramatic introduction to in the Mari texts. Sixteen cuneiform by 200,000 tons of a doubly fortified

MINISTRY 18 MARCH 2012 walls, with evidence of city planning, detailed mosaics, frescoes, and this garrison town was situated on architectural elegance. At Masada, Andrews University the Elah Valley overlooking the area Herod’s desert fortress, the northern Seventh-day Adventist where the famous battle between three-tiered palace had a nearly Theological Seminary David and Goliath was fought 360-degree view overlooking the (1 Sam. 17). The city is a precursor Dead Sea. In 1996, I excavated with to later Judean cities with similar Ehud Netzer at Masada where we DOCTOR design elements. In 2009, a second uncovered an imported fragment OF MINISTRY gate was uncovered that now identi- of a wine amphora. On the frag- fies Khirbet Qeiyafa with the biblical ment was an inscription: regi Herodi city of Shaaraim, mentioned in the Iudaico “for Herod, king of Judaea.” narrative (v. 52).8 This has major It was the first mention of Herod implications for the early history of the Great’s title, outside of the New Judah and the establishment of the Testament and Josephus, found in united monarchy. an archaeological context.11 Nebu-sarsekim. In 2007, a People of the Bible researcher in the British Museum The existence of at least 70 bib- deciphered an inscription of a finan- lical characters, including kings, cial record of a donation made by servants, scribes, and courtiers, has a Babylonian official named Nebu- been confirmed over the last two sarsekim. The inscription dates to centuries of research. In the last the tenth year of the reign of the two decades, many more people Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, “CHANGING THE have been added to this list through about 595 b.c. (2 Kings 24:1–4; Dan. PEOPLE WHO CHANGE the discovery of seals, seal impres- 1:1; 2:1). This official Nebu-sarsekim THE WORLD” sions, ostraca, and monumental is also mentioned in Jeremiah 39:3, inscriptions. 11–14 where he appears in the Baalis. In 1984, at the site of Tall account of Nebuchadnezzar’s sec- al-Umeiri in Jordan, archaeologists ond campaign against Jerusalem Why Andrews is uncovered a clay seal impression in 597 b.c. In the biblical account your best choice: bearing the name “Milkom’ur . . . more than 10,000 captives are taken servant of Baalyasha,”9 undoubt- to Babylon, but Nebuchadnezzar • Transforming edly a reference to Baalis, the king orders Nebu-sarsekim with the task • Cohort-based of ancient Ammon, mentioned in of taking care of Jeremiah who is left Jeremiah 40:14. This obscure king behind in Jerusalem. This mention of • Focused ministry was said to have plotted against the same person in a financial record specialties the Judean king at the verge of the of Babylon indicates the importance • Discipleship, evangelism, Babylonian destruction. of continued research in translating leadership and mission in David. The excavations in 1993 thousands of discovered texts in the the Adventist perspective at the northernmost biblical city basement of museums that have of Tel Dan uncovered an inscrip- never been read or published.12 • Outstanding faculty teams tion by a student volunteer. 10 The • Interaction with top campaign account by an Aramean Writing the events of the thought leaders king mentioned for the first time the Bible • Quality without “house of Israel” and the “house of The Dead Sea Scrolls, found by a compromise David,” clearly a reference to the Bedouin shepherd boy in 1947, were southern kingdom of Judah and one of the most amazing discoveries Israel’s famous king. David not only that testified to the accuracy of the existed, but he was remembered Bible’s transmission over 1,000 years Phone: 1-888-717-6244 over a century later as the founder of history. In more recent years, Email: [email protected] of a great dynasty. scholars have raised questions about Herod. Archaeologists have the extent of literacy in ancient Israel. excavated Herod the Great’s luxuri- Some scholars question whether ous palaces at Caesarea Maritima, Hebrew writing extended back to Herodium, Masada, Jericho, and the tenth century b.c., while others other sites. Herod spared no expense go so far as to claim that Hebrew to decorate these buildings with was an invention of the Hellenistic

MINISTRY 19 MARCH 2012 Michael G. Hasel period 700 years later.13 In the last six that writing was well-established McRay, Archaeology and the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2002); Clyde E. Fant and Mitchell G. Reddish, years, several discoveries have been in tenth-century Israel—certainly Lost Treasures of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, made that challenge this hypothesis. sufficiently so for many of the works 2008). A tenth-century abecedary. In later incorporated into the Hebrew 3 Wayne Horowitz, “Two Late Bronze Age Tablets From Hazor,” Israel Exploration Journal 50 (2000): 16–28. 2005, an ancient stone inscrip- Bible to have been composed at 4 Wayne Horowitz and Takayoshi Oshima, Cuneiform in tion was found at the site of Tel this time.”17 The existence of writing Canaan: Cuneiform Sources From the Land of Israel in Ancient Times (Jerusalem: Israel Exploration Society; Zayit, excavated by the Pittsburgh at such an early stage of the Iron Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 2006), 65–87. Theological Seminary. On it, an Age is significant because it implies 5 For further references, see Trude Dothan, The Philistines and Their Material Culture (New Haven, CT: Yale University abecedary, or alphabet with 18 let- that historical data could have been Press, 1982); Trude Dothan and Moshe Dothan, People of ters, was dated by the ceramic and documented and passed on from the the Sea: The Search for the Philistines (New York: Macmillan, 1992); Seymour Gitin, “Philistines in the Books of Kings,” archaeological evidence to the tenth early tenth century b.c. until the bibli- in The Books of Kings: Sources, Composition, Historiography century, the time of Solomon or cal narrative was finally formulated. and Reception, eds. André Lemaire and Baruch Halpern shortly thereafter. The building in This also indicates that the paucity (Leiden: Brill, 2010), 308, 309. 6 Seymour Gitin, Trude Dothan, and Joseph Naveh, “A Royal which it was found was destroyed of evidence for writing is less secure Dedicatory Inscription From Ekron,” Israel Exploration in a massive fire, leaving debris than previously thought. Journal 47 (1997): 9–16. 7 Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman, David and nearly one meter thick over the Solomon: In Search of the Bible’s Sacred Kings and the Roots area. Excavators have dated this Conclusion of the Western Tradition (New York: Free Press, 2006); and destruction to Shishak (1 Kings Archaeology remains one of the most recently John Van Seters, The Biblical Saga of King David (Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 2009). 14:25–28), or possibly someone else, most significant disciplines that 8 Yosef Garfinkel, Saar Ganor, and Michael G. Hasel, “The in 925 b.c. The Tel Zayit abecedary is provides new information for the Contribution of Khirbet Qeiyafa to Our Understanding of the Iron Age Period,” Strata: Bulletin of the Anglo-Israel one of the oldest attestations of the world of the Bible. It may be tempt- Archaeological Society 28 (2010), 39–54; Yosef Garfinkel, alphabet known. Since it was found ing for some to ask, What about this Saar Ganor, and Michael G. Hasel, “The Iron Age City of Khirbet Qeiyafa After Four Seasons of Excavation,” in The in a clear archaeological context person of the Bible? or Why do we Ancient Near East in the 12th-10th Centuries BCE: Culture that dates it to the tenth century not have evidence for this event yet? and History, ed. Gershon Galil (Münster, Germany: Ugarit- Verlag, forthcoming); Michael G. Hasel, “New Excavations b.c., the abecedary also provides We need to be reminded that at Khirbet Qeiyafa and the Early History of Judah,” in Do a distinct connection between the although more than 200 years have Historical Matters Matter to Faith? A Critical Analysis to development of language in ancient passed since this discipline was Modern and Postmodern Approaches to Scripture, eds. James K. Hoffmeier and Dennis R. Magary (Wheaton, IL: Israel and the growing archaeologi- established in the ancient Near East, Crossway, forthcoming). cal evidence of cities and buildings we have barely scratched the sur- 9 Randall W. Younker, “Israel, Judah, and Ammon and the 14 Motifs on the Baalis Seal From Tell el-‘Umeiri,” Biblical during the united monarchy. face. Only a fraction of biblical sites Archaeologist 48 (1985): 173–180. Oldest Hebrew inscription. During are known. Of those that are, only a 10 Avraham Biran and Joseph Naveh, “An Aramaic Stele the second season excavations in fraction have been excavated. Most Fragment From Tel Dan,” Israel Exploration Journal 43 (1993): 81–98; Fant and Reddish, Lost Treasures of the Bible, 2008 at Khirbet Qeiyafa, a site in the of those excavated have only had 5 103–106. Elah Valley already mentioned above, percent of the site uncovered; fewer 11 Michael G. Hasel, “He Missed the Opportunity of His Life,” Adventist Review (August 9, 2007), 15–17. a text was found written on a broken yet are fully published. Of those that 12 The official translation from Michael Jursa is forthcoming, piece of pottery. The ostracon con- have been published, not everything see provisionally Bob Becking, “The Identity of Nabu- sharrussu-ukin, the Chamberlain: An Epigraphic Note on sisted of five separated lines and began has a direct bearing on the Bible. For Jeremiah 39:3. With an Appendix on the Nebu(!) sarsekim with an injunction, “Do not do . . .” these reasons, we need to be cau- Tablet,” Biblische Notizen 140 (2009): 35–46. The initial phrase is only found in tious in negative assessments of 13 See Finkelstein and Silberman, David and Solomon, 142; Philip R. Davies, “In Search of ‘Ancient Israel,’ ” supplement, Hebrew and has led Haggai Misgav, events and history. One thing is Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 148 (1992). the epigrapher, to suggest that the certain, with the continued support 14 Ron E. Tappy et al., “An Abecedary of the Tenth Century B.C.E. From the Judaean Shephelah,” Bulletin of the 15 inscription is Hebrew. If this is true for archaeological research in this American Schools of Oriental Research 344 (2006): 5–46; it would the oldest Hebrew text ever part of the world, the next five or ten Ron E. Tappy and P. Kyle McCarter, eds., Literate Culture and Tenth-Century Canaan: The Tel Zayit Abecedary in Context found—800 years older than the years will reveal untold further dis- (Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 2008). Dead Sea Scrolls. Unfortunately, coveries that will illuminate, illustrate, 15 Haggai Misgav, Yosef Garfinkel, and Saar Ganor, “The much of the rest of the text is incom- and, in some dramatic cases, directly Khirbet Qeiyafa Ostracon,” in New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and Its Region, eds. D. Amit, G. plete with missing and obscure impact our understanding of the D. Stiebel, and O. Peleg-Barkat (Jerusalem: Hebrew, 2008), letters. One suggestion, although Bible. 111–123; Haggai Misgav, Yosef Garfinkel, and Saar Ganor, “The Ostracon,” in Khirbet Qeiyafa Vol. 1. Excavation Report highly speculative, is that this text 2007–2008, eds. Yosef Garfinkel and Saar Ganor (Jerusalem: was written as an injunction for the 1 G. Barkay et al., “The Amulets From Ketef Hinnom: A New Israel Exploration Society, 2009), 243–257. protection of widows and orphans.16 Edition and Evaluation,” Bulletin of the American Schools of 16 Gershon Galil, “The Hebrew Inscription From Khirbet Oriental Research 334 (2004): 41–71; G. Barkay, et al., “The Qeiyafa/Neta‘im: Script, Language, Literature and History,” As Gary A. Rendsburg has observed, Challenges of Ketef Hinnom: Using Advanced Technologies Ugarit Forschungen 41 (2009): 193–242. “Taken together, the Tel Zayit abece- to Reclaim the Earliest Biblical Texts and Their Context,” 17 Gary A. Rendsburg, review of Literate Culture and Tenth- Near Eastern Archaeology 66, no. 4 (2003): 162–171. Century Canaan, eds. Ron E. Tappy and P. Kyle McCarter, dary, the Khirbet Qeiyafa inscription, 2 For a general overview, see Al Hoerth, Archaeology and Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 359 and the Gezer calendar demonstrate the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1998); John (2010): 89.

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MINISTRY 20 MARCH 2012 Jan Barna Jan Barna, PhD, is lecturer in systematic and biblical theology at Newbold College, Bracknell, Berkshire, England.

The grand story

eading and preaching the extraordinary . . . overall storyline of look like? Here is one proposal that Bible as an overarching astonishing power and consistency. we have been developing in several story with its own plot, . . . [W]hat we have, from Genesis European countries. predicament, develop- to Revelation, is a massive narrative R 2 ment, and resolution remains a structure.” First principles powerful method to bring people to The task of allowing the Bible to First, the “piecing together” Christianity. Yet the Christian church, speak with its own narrative power begins with formulating the first including Protestant traditions, has should, therefore, start with the principles of the grand story. These read the Bible in a fragmented recognition that the diverse biblical are given at the beginning of the and dogmatic way. Early apostolic writings are much like pieces of a biblical canon, the first two chapters creeds, scholastic speculations, and puzzle that, together, make up one of Genesis. They proclaim that, in the Protestant orthodoxy have all docu- grand picture. One of the Adventist universe, there are only God and the mented this practice. The idea of the pioneers, Ellen G. White, wrote that creation, and that the creation, by the Bible as a grand story has been so reading the Bible requires more than way of being brought into existence, lost that many are surprised to hear just “searching out the various parts” is dependent on God (Gen. 1:1; 2:7). that the Bible presents a coherent but also “studying their relationship.” These first principles (God-creation- and powerful narrative. Furthermore, she implied that readers dependence) provide readers with Adventism, standing in the tra- need to make “the effort” to view the universal theistic worldview ori- dition of radical reformation, has individual parts “in their relation to entation, which in a particular way attempted to break away from the the grand central thought” of the shapes the developments, stories, traditional dogmatic and creedal Bible. Indeed, the study of the great and statements at every stage in formulations. But, in pursuing this whole of Scripture “is the highest the Bible’s big narrative. These first impressive and challenging task, study in which it is possible for man to principles inform us that humans are have we allowed the Bible to be engage. As no other study can, it will on a life-support system and that God what it fundamentally is—a grand quicken the mind and uplift the soul.”3 is the existential necessity who keeps narrative? Have we yet explored the The author’s suggestion seems the whole creation, including life on hermeneutical potential of permitting to point beyond the mere compare- earth, running.4 the Bible to speak to us with its own text-with-text methodology; rather, narrative power? Ellen G. White makes the radical The theme of evil suggestion that readers will get the Before we can discuss the indi- Narrative power best value out of their study when vidual stages, we need also to mention In the past few decades, biblical reading the Bible as a coherent the theme of human evil, which runs scholars have recognized that doc- great whole with a “grand central through the biblical story like a central trinal and fragmented Bible reading thought.” Such an approach, she thread and unites the individual stages. and preaching do not do justice to implies, will shape the minds of This central theme, that of human evil, Scripture’s overall narrative form.1 readers as nothing else can. does not stand alone, however; rather Even though the canon of Scripture If we, therefore, tried to follow it is intertwined with the two-way consists of many genres and top- what she and others say, what kind response of God’s blessing and curse. ics, the Bible is, as N. T. Wright of grand picture could we piece The interaction between the central observes, “[N]ot only . . . irreducibly together? What could reading and theme and the two motifs conse- narrative in form, but also displays an preaching the Bible as a grand story quently creates the grand narrative’s

MINISTRY 21 MARCH 2012 Jan Barna plotline, and it advances this plotline But then in the middle of the Fall poetic literature and the preexilic and through individual stages, to which story, a promise (the third stage) is postexilic prophets will look back we can now turn. given to Adam and Eve (v. 15) to with great anticipation to the promise undo the serpent’s lies and all he given to David about his seed and the Seven stages brought to the human experience. kingdom. And all Israel will be expect- The narrative-stages principle This promise will be fulfilled through ing the fulfillment of this kingdom. arises from the nature of the biblical one of their seed—or descendants. Then the grand narrative enters material itself; it can be divided into The genealogies in Genesis 5, 10, into its central stage (the fourth) in seven major stages. The stages and 11 parade descendants who are the New Testament Gospels. Jesus is themselves are discernible by major seen as part of the same family. With immediately presented as the prom- transitional events that advance the the appearance of Abraham (the first ised Descendant of Abraham and narrative. These are (1) Creation, substage), the story for the first time David (Matt. 1:1). His life, ministry, (2) the Fall, (3) the Promise and the “slows” and narrows down. Readers death, resurrection, and ascension People, (4) the Fulfillment in Jesus, can now see how God advances are all part of the “great exodus” from (5) the Fulfillment and the People, (6) the promise specifically through the the continuing exile in which human- the Day of the Lord, and (7) the New family of Abraham (Gen. 12; 15; 17). ity has been ever since the Fall (Luke Creation. Seeing these stages as When the nation of Israel enters 9:31; John 8:33–36). He deals with they proceed and gradually build up onto the scene in the book of more than one nation’s problems; He a much larger story enables readers Exodus, it is the collective seed of addresses the problems of all human- to hear the powerful symphony of Abraham. Faithful to the covenant ity. While we have not been part of Scripture. promise, God hears their cries and the first four stages of this great nar- The first stage, Creation (Gen. 1; redeems them from slavery and all rative, we nevertheless live with their 2), constitutes a “preamble” to the oppression (Exod. 3:20). The story preconditions and the consequences grand story. It tells about the good advances through the nation of of what happened at these stages. In creation God had made, one with no Israel, even though often it is not a Jesus, all of the previous promises, hint of evil or deficiency (Gen. 1:31). straightforward journey. mentioned at previous stages, come All was harmonious; the Sabbath With the appearance of David and to fulfillment and the readers can see rest of God and His creation is the his kingdom, the narrative narrows a decisive turn in the story. expression of this harmony. down once more. David receives an However, the narrative does not Then the narrative enters into extraordinary promise, which sits end with Jesus’ death, resurrection, a new stage, when the serpent firmly on all the previous promises, or even ascension. Immediately after deceived humanity by lying to them but also sets out a new agenda for His ascension, a new stage opens. about God and their dependency the kingdom theme (2 Sam. 7; cf. In this new phase, the people of upon Him (Gen. 3). Something went Gen. 17:6, 16). From now on, the God (the fifth stage) are once again horribly wrong. As a result of the idea of the kingdom and David as reestablished and Israel—now with Fall (the second stage), humanity is the king will become dominant in a new disposition of hearts towards exiled, excluded from participating in the story. The story of the kingdom God—is relaunched as a new com- the Creator’s immortality (vv. 22–24). will also take various turns, but the munity (Acts 2–4, 10; Rom. 3:28, The Grand Story of the Bible 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Creation Fall The Promise and the People The Fulfillment in Jesus The Fulfillment and the People Day of The New the Lord Creation Promise Reversal

God’s Blessing

HUMAN EVIL

God’s Curse

Seed - Abraham - Israel - David - Kingship - Exile ALREADY NOT YET

MINISTRY 22 MARCH 2012 Southern Adventist University your partner in ministry

JOIN US ON CAMPUS Archaeology Lecture, March 21 Daniel Master, Ph.D., will present “Transformations in the Twelfth Century B.C.” (Philistines come to Ashkelon) at 7:00 p.m. in Ackerman Auditorium. ______Pastoral Retreat, July 8-20 Recharge, an 11-day growth experience, provides a chance for pastors to enjoy time with family while strengthening preaching skills and gaining new insight into holistic living. For more information, contact Douglas Tilstra at 1.800.SOUTHERN or visit southern.edu/recharge. ______Graduate Studies, Summer 2012 The School of Religion offers two graduate degrees, the Master of Ministry and the Master of Arts. Classes are taught on campus during the summer and usually include a pre-session reading assignment and post-session research paper. The application deadline is April 1. For more information, contact Edwin Reynolds at 1.800.SOUTHERN or visit southern.edu/graduatestudies.

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29; 9–11). People become part of God. Then even Jesus will hand over the new Israel, not through national the kingdom to God (1 Cor. 15:24–28). or blood connections with the seed But the earlier stages are not for- of Abraham anymore, but through gotten either; they are immortalized the faith connection with the Seed. through the names of the 12 tribes of In this stage, the newly constituted Israel and 12 apostles written on the community of believers now tells the foundations of the New Jerusalem story of the Creator God, humanity, as an everlasting reminder of God’s Revival for and the Fall. But now they add the infinite faithfulness to His creation. story of Jesus, and, by so doing, faithful Christians they announce that Jesus is now the The potential of Scripture promised Davidic King and in charge Reading the Scriptures through The word revival points out an of humanity (Rev. 5). But before He these seven stages—within the important Christian experience; will reign as the King in His escha- framework of its first principles and it actually means to recover the tological kingdom, He must serve as the curse-of-the-Fall theme with previous state of being fully alive the Priest in the heavenly sanctuary God’s double response of curse and as a Christian (Col. 2:13, 14). (Ps. 110; Heb. 8; 9) to mediate to blessing—has a great worldview Life has its origin in God Himself humanity the benefits of His past formation promise because a world- as testified to by King David when work so that as many as possible view is best captured in a narrative. he wrote, “For with You [God] may be part of His future work. Adventism and Protestantism con- is the fountain of life” (Ps. 36:9, According to the narrative, the fess that the Bible is God’s central NASB). Being alive in God also Day of the Lord and the New Creation means on how to inform, reform, includes the spiritual dimension phases are both in the future from and transform the minds and hearts from the One who is the Origin, our perspective. The Day of the Lord of people. Allowing the Bible to be Source, and Sustainer of life. stage (sixth) is a separating stage that read and preached consciously and David was sure of such a vital demonstration of spiritual life effectuates the final great exodus of methodically as a grand story could, when he wrote, “The law of the all humanity. The big questions are in a fresh and powerful way, shape Lord is perfect, reviving the soul” answered here. The Day of the Lord is our minds and lives. (Ps. 19:7, NIV). The Scriptures not only about the second coming of indicate clearly that such a Jesus; it includes pre-Advent, Advent, 1 For example, among the most prominent authors who published widely on the metanarrative potential of the Bible revival has its source in God and post-Advent judicial aspects are Walter Kaiser Jr. (The Promise-Plan of God; Recovering Himself and in His Word. too (Dan. 7–9, Rev. 20). Questions the Unity of the Bible: One Continuous Story, Plan, and Jesus said, “ ‘I am the light regarding God’s character and His Purpose), T. Desmond Alexander (From Eden to the New Jerusalem: An Introduction to Biblical Theology), Craig of the world. Whoever follows dealing with evil are of interest to the Bartholomew and Michael Goheen (The Drama of Scripture), me will never walk in darkness, whole universe and must be dealt Christopher J. H. Wright (The Mission of God: Unlocking the but will have the light of life’ ” with and answered on the basis of Bible’s Grand Narrative), Graeme Goldsworthy (Preaching the (John 8:12, NIV). Walking in Whole Bible as Christian Scripture), Tom Holland (Contours the evidence. Just as stage two mys- of Pauline Theology), and N. T. Wright (Scripture and the the light signifies a permanent teriously introduced a certain serpent Authority of God). and sufficient inner experience to 2 N. T. Wright, “Reading Paul, Thinking Scripture,” in who attacked the character of God continue shining for Christ. Such Scriptures’ Doctrine and Theology’s Bible: How the New and brought all of the evil to the world Testament Shapes Christian Dogmatics, eds. Markus a revival echoes Jesus’ promise of God’s creation, so stage six directly Bockmuehl and Alan J. Torrance (Grand Rapids, MI: and teaching for abundant life, Baker Academic, 2008), 60, 61. Tom Wright, being one “ ‘I have come that they may have corresponds with the second stage: it of the leading and most influential New Testament (NT) life and have it to the full’ ” (John addresses the evil by unmasking the scholars in this generation, has been greatly shaped by lies of the serpent, his character, and narrative framework of Scripture. The “new perspective” 10:10). Being a revived person in NT studies and Paul, of which Wright is one of the main in that context means walking consequently justifies God’s reign and proponents, fosters a distinctively narrative reading of the as a disciple of Jesus and being His people (Rev. 12–20). NT (and the Old Testament as well). See, for example, N. T. Wright, Paul: In Fresh Perspectives (London: SPCK, 2005), transformed daily by the Holy Only after this, the narrative finally especially 7–13; The New Testament and the People of God Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18) until we reach arrives at the last (seventh) stage, the (London: SPCK, 1992), especially chapters 3 and 5; and eternal glory (John 5:24). New Creation phase (Rev. 21; 22). Scripture and the Authority of God (London: SPCK, 2005), especially 89–95. (This book was published in the United This is where the curse ends, where States as The Last Word: Scripture and the Authority of God —Miguel Luna, PhD, serves as sin, death, and all evil are no more. [New York: HarperCollins, 2006].) dean of religious studies, Asia- Everything is created anew. With the 3 Ellen G. White, Education (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Pacific International University, Pub. Assn., 1952), 124–126. curse of the Fall reversed, humanity Saraburi, Thailand. 4 Exod. 20:11; Job 38:2–10; Pss. 8:3–9; 24:1–6; 90:1, 2; Isa. 42:5; continues its eternal journey with John 1:1–5; Acts 17:24–29; Col. 1:15–18; Heb. 1:2, 3; Rev. 14:7.

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MINISTRY 24 MARCH 2012 Larry Yeagley Larry Yeagley is a retired pastor living in Gentry, Arkansas, United States.

Watch your priorities

d seriously considered may even brag about their hard before they reach the processing leaving the ministry. He felt working pastor, but their concept of plant. As with the chicken illustra- pulled by church adminis- a pastor’s role is wrong. tion, the hurry syndrome is not Etrators, parishioners, family, Eugene H. Peterson found that conducive to good spiritual health for and his own unrealistic expectations. running the church can be hazardous the pastor and parishioners. Leaving seemed the only way to to the role of the pastor. When he Pastors are not, necessarily, ini- avoid burnout. told his church leaders he was think- tiators. Long before a pastor makes Fortunately, a veteran pastor ing of resigning, they came up with contact with a person, God has been sensed Ed’s predicament, met with a brilliant solution. They offered to touching him or her. Pastors thrill at him to explore the role of a pastor, and run the church while he focused on watching what God is doing. Then helped him rearrange his priorities. Ed being a pastor.* They had resources the pastor prays, “Lord, show me soon rediscovered the joys of ministry. for caring for the day-to-day opera- how I can fall in step with what You You may be thinking about leav- tions of the institutional church. He are doing.” Psalm 27:14 says twice, ing the ministry as well. Before you enjoyed praying for and with people, “Wait for the Lord” (NIV). make that decision, think about the encouraging, comforting, studying, If you are faithful in your role as following concepts that make for job preaching, and teaching. a pastor and trust the results with satisfaction. Understanding your role and God, you will be able to shed the preserving it at all costs will pre- pressures to finish the work. Wait Understand your role vent burnout and departure from a for the Lord and avoid the stress that Warren interviewed for a staff rewarding calling. can drive you from ministry. position in a large church. The senior pastor gave him a list of responsibili- Be patient Set your own priorities ties that would be his, should he be Some church leaders have Set your own priorities before chosen. The pastor left the room so adopted the world’s passion for get- someone else tries to set them for Warren could take his time examining ting things done in a hurry. They urge you. When meeting with a pastoral the list. When the pastor returned, he pastors to hurry and finish the work, search committee, be clear and said to the prospective associate, “As and conferences and workshops decisive in stating your priorities. If you may have gathered, I am looking are produced nonstop in an effort to church administrators offer you a for someone to care for the minutiae hasten the Lord’s coming. position, let them know what you of running the church.” Hurry, hurry, hurry remains as an believe to be your most important Running the church can be a enemy of a pastor’s role. You cannot ministry initiatives. Your interviewers great way to erode the pastor’s expect church members to rest in deserve to know your position on role of praying, studying, teaching, the Lord and wait patiently for Him if implementing programs generated discipling, encouraging, and preach- you are on a never-ending treadmill. by those who are unfamiliar with the ing. Church members may applaud I live in chicken country. nature of a particular church and the you for chairing all the committees, Thousands of chicks are fed growth community demographics. working out the budget, managing hormones so they can be butchered church maintenance, fund-raising, at seven weeks. As a result, their Keep your flame alive improving the church sign, and bodies grow faster than their hearts, A Methodist pastor gave me his eliminating the church debt. They and hundreds die and are incinerated secret for keeping his flame alive.

MINISTRY 25 MARCH 2012 Larry Yeagley

He scheduled time for recreation, wisely tutors them in preaching God’s failed to address. Loneliness in the reflection, and rejuvenation and Word. The youngest speaker often workplace is a reality in the church. took minivacations every month. He seeks a critique from the others. I presented a seminar on clergy followed a devotional time apart from Jesus was a Master Wordsmith. loneliness at a ministers’ retreat. I sermon preparation. Whenever he His parables were not meant to could not convince them to talk about learned about a seminar that could answer all the questions, but His their loneliness in the seminar time, deepen his relationship with God, he hearers went away processing what but in the evening some would seek attended. Running the church keeps they heard. They could not forget me out and talk about it. One pastor the wheels spinning, but it may not the thought-provoking pictures he told me he was lonely and knew of two fan the flames of the pastor’s friend- painted with words. He did not use ministers who had left because of the ship with Jesus. big words. Small words, like small lack of camaraderie. Clergy loneliness brushstrokes on a canvas, have filters down to clergy spouses. I know Be a wordsmith proved to be in demand for centuries. because I spent five days at a camp Pastors who practice the artistry meeting listening to heartbreaking of creating word pictures for their Love your family stories of spousal loneliness. members live for the joy of bringing When church members and I have spoken to church admin- the Bible alive. Turning words into activities gobble up most of the istrators about the solitary-ministry memorable sermons keeps them pastor’s time, his or her family suf- syndrome, but solo pastorates have looking forward to next week’s and fers, and home life is no longer a not decreased. Well-qualified pastors next month’s masterpieces. blessing. This can be a reason why are being lost to the denomination Since I retired, I have listened some pastors leave. Pastors who because the problem is not being to many preachers but very few build and enjoy happy families will addressed. wordsmiths. I walk out of church not be eager to leave the ministry. Here are a few ideas you can feeling that I was handed what was Their families will stand behind them implement to avoid loneliness. Join thrown together at the last minute. I as they set good priorities. the ministerial alliance in your area. feel cheated. I think such preachers In our family, we laughed about If you have more than one church, miss the real joy of ministry. To them, our weekly days away from church. join the alliance in both places. The preaching has become a chore they We went on excursions come rain pastors of other faiths are grateful to can easily do without. or shine. One day we took a picnic have a close friendship with clergy Since boyhood, I was an admirer lunch and badminton equipment of other faiths. Plan social times of H. M. S. Richards Sr., and I con- to Sleeping Giant State Park in with other pastors who live and/or sidered him a student and master Connecticut. The rain was coming work near you. Exchange pulpits and at word pictures. I attended the down in torrents, but we were under special programs. When we were Lectureship on Biblical Preaching a shelter. We were the only people in pastoring in Michigan, pastors and named in his honor in 1957. Pastor the park. A ranger could not believe their families in one area planned Richards upheld the role of the pas- we were serious about enjoying the several picnics every year. tor, and he told us that if we can day. He came to the shelter on the I developed a close friendship write it, we can preach it. Writing pretense of emptying the trash cans with a pastor of a denomination dif- requires thinking and research, although he really came to see this ferent from my own. He became as guards against slipshod preaching, silly family up close. close as a brother to me. We shared and creates a desire to preach the A pastor and his or her family are book titles, personal problems, and rest of your life. living sermons for the congregation. I conducted several seminars in his Once writing the sermon has The greatest mission of the pastor church. We swapped stories about been completed on paper, it needs centers around the mission of the church polity and congregational to be written on the heart of the home. Church members often live idiosyncrasies. It feels good to laugh preacher. A complete manuscript in upheaval, and therefore they together. A Catholic priest taught or notes taken to the pulpit will be a need to have a model. They need at a nursing school in Kalamazoo, guide for an organized presentation. to be invited to the pastor’s home Michigan. Because he invited me to Pastors gifted with an excellent to see lives lived in a Christian teach his class on death and dying, memory may preach without a man- environment. our relationship developed into a uscript or notes. This is admirable as rewarding relationship. long as the pastor does not ramble. Avoid solitary ministry Use your creativity to avoid the The church I attend shares a pas- syndrome solitary-ministry syndrome. If you tor with two other churches. When he Most Seventh-day Adventist pas- wait for church administrators to cannot be present, other members fill tors work alone unless they are part address the problem, you may find the pulpit. They have a natural ability of a multiple pastor staff. This cre- yourself leaving the ministry due to for public speaking, but the pastor ates a problem that the church has loneliness.

MINISTRY 26 MARCH 2012 Be prepared for some and personnel selection. If the church Master preachers do not shout difficult people wants to be serious about maintaining with angry voices and facial expres- I can remember a few times when the health of pastors and their families, sions. They do not spend precious I gave serious consideration to leav- professional people should be hired to time attempting to be humorous. As ing the ministry. A church deacon make that their exclusive responsibility. Jesus did, the preacher makes his grabbed me by the lapels and said, “I A professional shoulder to lean or her listeners think and also brings hate you.” I was shaking in my shoes. on would prevent highly qualified hope, comfort, and encouragement With time I became aware of factors pastors from leaving parish ministry to people. that led to his anger, but initially I for secular work or other branches of Samuel Chadwick, an English questioned whether being a pastor church-related endeavors. preacher, said that whenever the was worth the stress. Another church pastor steps into the pulpit he or she member backed me into a corner and Master your craft should speak as one broken to those angrily accused me of ruining the Pastors are ordained to preach who are broken. church. After he left, I spent a half just as Jesus came preaching. Once a Sermon preparation done prayer- hour gaining my composure. pastor masters the craft of preaching, fully and sermon delivery bathed in No church member should be he or she can rise above any negative the presence of the Spirit is exciting. allowed to drive pastors from the aspects of the calling by God’s grace. As you see God touching hearts week ministry. I believe the role of church My heart rejoices when I hear a pastor after week, you become addicted to administrators should include being say, “I love to preach.” When a pastor preaching. You want to do it in and advocates for pastors who are being spends half or more of each week in out of season. tormented. They should meet with study, research, writing, and memoriz- the church in question and spell out ing, preaching becomes the thrill that Conclusion their expectations of civil behavior. If keeps away thoughts of leaving the Ed discovered that he could not necessary, they should confront the ministry. pattern his style of ministry after a offender individually. Pastors need to Mastering the craft of preaching model promoted by his church admin- know they have advocates. requires the proper tools. Years ago, istration or some published successful Most churches are respectful and this required investing a small fortune minister. He, fortunately, realized that kind to pastors. One pastor of five on books. Access to tools has become pastoral ministry is different for every churches is welcomed like royalty cheaper in our age of technology. pastor. When he created his own when he comes to each church, and A preacher can be compared to style, thoughts of leaving ministry no the members provide lodging and a gourmet cook, insisting on fresh longer lurked in his mind. meals. Parents ask him to counsel their ingredients for sermons. One of my Our son asked me, “Daddy, what children about their schoolwork. Newly sources was my involvement with the would you think if I decided to become married couples report their progress community. I became involved with a minister?” and seek his help for difficult decisions. the ministerial association, hospice, I told him, “If you can be imagina- The members await his arrival for bap- food banks, health seminars, and tive, creative, innovative, and true to the tisms and baby dedications. His arrival lay counseling services. In addition person you are, I’d be happy with your composes a joyful homecoming. to sharing God’s love, I gained rich decision.” That has been my advice sermon material. My community to many young men and women Find a shoulder to lean on experience kept me from bookish contemplating ministry as a life work. I became acquainted with the pas- preaching, and this also set an exam- Unrewarding ministry compares tors of a megachurch in Texas. Their ple for church members. to moving into a house with the church board hires a counselor to meet Preaching means conveying kitchen too cramped, the bedrooms with the pastors individually on a regu- the good news that comes from too small, and the living room and lar basis. The counselor never reports to Scripture. Sermons should be full of dining areas not conducive to enter- the church board. This provides a safe Scripture, which results in congrega- taining guests. You never feel at home. haven for pastors who may need help tions bringing their Bibles to church. Designing your own house or in dealing with personal, personnel, or Bibles should be placed in pew racks totally renovating the house you congregational problems. for those who do not bring a Bible. bought results in a different story. You The Seventh-day Adventist Church Congregational reading of personalize the living spaces. You has traditionally elected ministerial Scripture during the sermon has been move into your house. You feel at directors. These men have not had made easier by projecting texts on a home. You want to stay. the exclusive role of supporting clergy screen—an excellent way of making for, in many cases, most of their time people in the pews participants in * Eugene H. Peterson, Subversive Spirituality (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1997), 217. involves evangelism coordination worship.

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MINISTRY 27 MARCH 2012 DATELINE

Student writing Grand Prize Daniel Xisto, Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States contest winners First Prize Philip Michael Forness, Princeton, New Jersey, United States Second Prize Vikram Panchal, Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States inistry recently conducted Mits third Ministerial Student Second Prize Warren Suya Simatele, Silang, Cavite, Philippines Writing Contest. We are pleased to Third Prize Andrew Abbott, Walla Walla, Washington, United States announce the winners. We thank all of the students Third Prize Peter Barnabas Pamula, Silang, Cavite, Philippines worldwide who submitted a manu- Third Prize Reed Richardi, Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States script for the Ministerial Student Third Prize Patrick Etoughé Anani, Silang, Cavite, Philippines Writing Contest. We appreciate your participation. Third Prize Jonny Moor, College Place, Washington, United States

Reintroduced law same law, effective January 1, said in Hungary is very complex, and Dwayne Leslie, the Adventist world there are several issues at play, from jeopardizes church’s legislative representative in economic to judicial and legisla- status of some Washington, D.C. tive—and in front of these issues, Hungary’s parliament claims religion. The government sees the churches in the law is necessary to weed out de-registration of churches as a Hungary businesses or individuals pos- response, in part, to the tremendous ing as churches just to gain the challenges the country is facing. ilver Spring, Maryland, accompanying rights and privileges. We must voice our concerns over SUnited States—The saga of Furthermore, the majority govern- the de-registration of churches, but securing official church status in ment maintains that the law does whatever we say about the situa- Hungary continues, despite what not infringe on religious liberty. It tion in Hungary must be prudent religious liberty advocates called does not “forbid” worship according and sensitive to the context and encouraging news late last year to any faith tradition, Hungary’s sovereignty of Hungary,” Diop said. when the constitutional court struck minister of state for government Many members of the interna- down the country’s controversial law communication, Zoltan Kovacs, tional religious liberty community of churches. wrote in a recent Wall Street Journal maintain that, regardless of the Prior to that ruling, more than opinion piece. Kovacs said the law country’s internal struggles, the 300 minority faiths—among them merely outlines how churches can law poses undue challenges for the Seventh-day Adventist Church— gain official recognition “if they legitimate religious organizations. were set to lose official legal status show themselves to be popular “Now we not only have an objec- in Hungary on January 1, after which enough.” One condition requires tive standard of what constitutes they would undergo a reapplication a church to prove a decades-long a church, but we also need a two- process. history in the country and count thirds vote of Parliament just to With the new year, those more than 1,000 members. become an official religion, and we churches are facing a similar situ- The Hungarian government is think that’s problematic,” Leslie said. ation. The country’s constitutional “making efforts to explain to the Currently, 82 of the some 300 court overturned the law of churches international community that this minority religions deregistered under purely on technical grounds; and on is not a human rights issue,” said the latest law have reapplied for official December 30, Hungary’s majority Ganoune Diop, the Adventist status, among them the Seventh-day conservative party “easily” reintro- world church’s representative to Adventist Church, denomination duced and passed essentially the the United Nations. “The situation officials in Hungary said.

MINISTRY 28 MARCH 2012 Religious liberty analysts said arrive at a decision by the end of by Parliament,” said Tamás Ócsai, provisions of the new law indicate February. Church leaders in Hungary president of the church’s Hungarian that those churches that have report that “communication with Union Conference. Churches to already applied for status will not the government” suggests that the which parliament does not grant experience a gap in official recogni- Seventh-day Adventist Church will official recognition will receive a tion. They will maintain previous regain official church status. “religious association” status, he recognition while a decision regard- “One positive improvement in the said. [Elizabeth Lechleitner/ANN] ing their ultimate status is pending new law is that it does not prohibit in parliament. Members of parlia- denominations to use the term (Editor’s Note : Update to follow in the Dateline ment have indicated that they will ‘church,’ even if they are not accepted section of the May 2012 issue.)

LETTERS

Continued from page 4 causing Rodríguez to argue at some and gathered all the people they judging between one and the other is length that their deviation actually could find, both good and bad, and not your business but God’s.” isn’t what it appears to be. It would the wedding hall was filled with When Turner quoted from the have been helpful to mention that guests’ ” (Matt. 22:10, NIV; emphasis parable at the beginning, I had to there exists still another alternative to added). reach for my own Bible and reread the historical approach of preterism, For me, this answers the age-old it myself. I had forgotten about it historicism, and futurism, on the one question, Does God send those who completely. I’m glad he helped hand, and the ahistorical approach have never heard of Christ to hell? me see God’s kingdom is indeed of idealism, on the other, namely, No. Truly, God desires every person indiscriminate. the salvation-historical method. The whom He has created to be with —Mike Hansen, Parker, Colorado, United States latter is gradually emerging from Him in heaven. However, whether the writings of the best Adventist persons are permitted to enter and Living in retirement scholars. What we may need, there- remain in heaven or not depends hank you for Reinder Bruinsma’s fore, is a new openness to a more on if they are wearing the wedding Tarticle “The Joys (and Chal- theological interpretation of the garments that symbolize their faith lenges) of Retirement” (January apocalypse, rather than declaring the in Christ—a faith that may have been 2012). He covered the subject very question of proper hermeneutics to theirs for decades, or that is brand- comprehensively. be nonnegotiable and closed. new, born at that heavenly moment I spent 47 richly fulfilling and —Rolf J. Pöhler, Friedensau, Germany of decision. exciting years in full-time denomi- —Dan Owen, Erie, Pennsylvania, United States national employment up to my Both good and bad retirement in 2007. It is so easy for people want to share my appreciation for those of us in our twilight years to really appreciated Laurence A. IDr. Turner’s article. It’s a message I talk about the “good, old days,” but ITurner’s article “All Kinds of Stuff” wish more congregations embraced: we must recognize that good things (January 2012). Another parable that Welcome all! Is there risk in doing are happening in today’s vastly dif- he could have cited is the parable so? Absolutely. But the most refresh- ferent world. We should never forget of the wedding feast in Matthew ing couple of sentences I read in this that God will lead us to even better 22:1–14. In it, Jesus says, “ ‘So the piece were, “The harvest has not days in the future. servants went out into the streets arrived yet. And even when it does, —John Arthur, Crieff, Scotland, United Kingdom

MINISTRY 29 MARCH 2012 THE PASTOR AND HEALTH | Fred Hardinge

Fred Hardinge, DrPH, RD, is associate director, Health Ministries Department, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States. Keeping those good resolutions

anuary, the time normally Sadly, there are no weeklong pro- • Know when it is freshest and reserved for making resolu- grams that magically change us strongest. Willpower is at its Jtions, was months ago. How for good. peak in the morning after a good are you doing? Are you still working Making a list of resolutions is night’s rest. on the resolutions, or have you easy, but it is far harder to put them • Spent it wisely. Prioritize what become discouraged like most of into practice. Sometimes we fall into you spend it on. Do not waste your members and just put that list, common resolution pitfalls, such as it on insignificant, worthless or some of the items, out of mind? the following: endeavors. Spend it to cultivate Perhaps your list included things right habits. such as the following: • Being vague about what we • Be aware of decision fatigue. want. The more specific the Few people are aware of this • This year, I’m going to relax and resolution, the easier it will be to phenomenon. Yet it affects all of not worry so much. accomplish. (For example, I will us. The more decisions you have • I will eat less and exercise more not snack between meals versus to make, the greater the risk of a so I can lose weight. I will eat less.) foolish one. • I will spend more time each • Not making a serious commit- • Set goals, but not too many at day in Bible study and sermon ment. (Sometime this year I one time. Working on too many preparation. will . . .) changes at one time usually leads • I’ll spend more quality time with • Becoming discouraged and turn- to discouragements and failure. my family. ing slipups into “give ups.” All of us blow it every once in a while. Too often we try to make our I had to ask myself a question Remember, we only fail when we resolutions a reality by ourselves. the other day: Why are some of my fail to try again. The help of family and friends can resolutions the same as last year be crucial to success. However, and the year before? The answer A book by the well-known psy- too often we overlook God in our is very disconcerting, especially chologist Dr. Roy F. Baumeister, process. when I recognize that my church entitled Willpower: Rediscovering Dr. Baumeister fails to mention members watch my example. the Greatest Human Strength,* pro- this in his book, but the Bible teaches vides some fascinating insights into that God is the Great Restorer of the How is the brain how our brains work to bring about will. Praying, studying the Bible, and involved in our changes in our lives. meditating on His love restores, does resolutions? To truly change requires will- not deplete, willpower. This exists Our brains have enormous power, known as a finite commodity as the one act of will that actually “plasticity.” That means we can that gets depleted as we use it. Yet replenishes it! create new cells and pathways in at the same time, we strengthen To be the example God calls the most remarkable ways. At the willpower by repetitive use. In many me to be, I need to rely more on same time, our brains create strong ways, this character trait resembles a Him. Fortunately, the apostle Paul tendencies to do the same things muscle. Doing a number of push-ups described it best when he pro- over and over and over again. These and then immediately jumping up to claimed, “I can do all things through pathways persist for a lifetime, see how much you can bench press Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. never completely going away. does not work. Over time, muscles 4:13, NKJV). Lasting change requires estab- can be built up, but in the short run As I look at my resolution history, lishing new pathways and that they get fatigued. I need that help. How about you? takes a lot of practice. Many brain Willpower should be recognized scientists tell us it takes six to nine as a precious commodity, so how do * Roy F. Baumeister and John Tierney, Willpower: months to create new pathways we best manage it? Dr. Baumeister Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength (New York: that are stronger than the old ones. suggests several ways: Penguin Press, 2011).

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