<\ MAGAZINE FOR CLERGY JULY 1979
COMMON ROOTS? see page 4 LETTERS
Joy in diversity attempts to do, we must come to terms God©s infallible Word. Therefore, I re Coining from the more liberal wing of with the theological issues. (2) But we joice when that same Lord Jesus opens my denomination, I find articles in MIN must also pay attention to the civil issues my vision to meet new brothers and new ISTRY with which I do not agree, but so the cults present us. Failure to be vigi stimuli that enrich my thinking. Both are what? Your magazine is always interest lant may well deprive us of the freedom very important today when the church ing whether I agree with it or not. One of to do the theological task at all. continues to splinter so badly on issues the joys of Christian faith, as I have Catholic priest that concern men but not the Lord. I am experienced it over the years, is living New Mexico grateful that Jesus© prayer (that they may and working with people who do not be one) was heard once again when MrN- always agree with me in theology and No neutrality on sin ISTRY was delivered to my mailbox. liturgy, but who find plenty of room Two questions came to my mind as I Christian Reformed minister within Christianity to live out the call of read "Counseling the Family in Crisis," Michigan Christ in fellowship and love. As I have by Clifford Achord (March, 1979). Can a read MINISTRY, that is exactly the spirit it counselor who is genuinely convinced of I admit to being somewhat shocked to is furthering. the truth of scriptural standards of right read that some of our brothers are burn Baptist minister and wrong be "neutral"? It is one thing ing your magazine with contempt and New York to be an open-minded fact gatherer, but feel offended to receive it. This attitude neutrality in the face of admitted sinful- goes back to the Dark Ages. While I do Cults must be accountable ness is another matter. The author sug not always agree with the contents of I find MINISTRY thought-provoking and gests that the counselor be "supportive, MINISTRY, I truly appreciate it and find it appreciate receiving it. However, I must not critical." Why can©t one be both? interesting and thought-provoking. I take exception to a theme that appeared Words such as judgment and critical even clip articles to send my district in the March, 1979, editorial. I agree have unfortunately assumed negative, superintendent. I am an evangelical who with the general notion that an unaware- harsh qualities, but the Bible seems clear considers himself to be fundamental, but ness of the transcendence of God does in insisting that men live the right kind of not closed-minded to what others have weaken the fiber of our society, but to lives. We may need to learn better how to say. assign the atrocities of Jonestown to a to speak the truth in love, but please, United Methodist minister decline in creationist theology is sim let©s not confuse people by suggesting New Jersey plistic and naive at best. I quite agree that counseling a person to turn from that men such as Jones and other cult wrong living is somehow not a loving 1 am embarrassed by some of the let leaders are capitalizing on the disinte concern. Only right living pleases God. ters you have received. I have not ripped gration to be found in contemporary so Christian Church minister nor burned any copies of your excellent ciety. But I suggest that it is not enough Illinois magazine. In fact, I have clipped and for us to look only to the theological filed some of the material I find there. I problem; we must also call upon legal Saddened and embarrassed do not agree with all I find in MINISTRY, authority to investigate the deception I think MINISTRY is delightful and very but I do appreciate receiving it. Some occurring in these groups and to cause useful in my own ministry and theologi how, I just do not feel intimidated by them to be accountable to society in the cal thinking. But I am sad when I read studying scholarly material with which I same way that we, as accepted, re that some have ripped or burned the may not agree! What a pity that these spected religious practitioners, are ac magazine. I don©t understand that. It "trumpeteers of truth" have failed to countable. Indeed, we must call for ap seems these brothers ought to take an allow the spirit of Christ to influence propriate legislation so that bona fide other look at Luke 9:49, 50 and consider their attitudes toward those with whom fund raising and recruiting (such as is whether their zeal is indeed for the fur they disagree. done by both our respective denomina therance of the Lord©s kingdom. I am Independent Christian minister tions) may be conducted with public not a Seventh-day Adventist, but Chris Michigan trust and confidence. First Amendment tian Reformed. However, first of all I am provisions, of course, must be given full a member of the church of Jesus Christ We don©t print negative letters to em consideration. Thus, our task concerning and a citizen of God©s kingdom. Jesus is barrass or sadden anyone, but to provide the cults is twofold: (1) As your article my Lord and Saviour and the Bible is (LETTERS continued on page 28.)
An outstretched hand If you are receiving MINISTRY bimonthly without having faiths, and believe that we have much in common with the paid for a subscription (perhaps this is your first copy), it is entire Christian community. We want to share with you, not a mistake. therefore, our aspirations and faith in a way that we trust will We believe the time has come for Christians everywhere to provide inspiration and help for you, too. experience a resurgence of faith in the authority of Scripture We hope you will accept this journal as our outstretched and in the great truths that reveal the gospel of our salvation hand to you. We©d like to send you, without charge, a number by grace, through faith alone in Jesus Christ. Since 1928 of issues on a bimonthly basis. Look over our shoulders, take MINISTRY has been tailored to meet the needs of Seventh-day what you want and find helpful, and discard what you cannot Adventist church professionals. We now realize that we have use. If you have ministerial colleagues who you feel would been remiss in not becoming more involved with clergy of all also enjoy this outreach, we are prepared to include them. CONTENTS
18
COVER BY GARY HUFF 4 Do the Chinese and Hebrews Have Common Spiritual tion is needed today among wealthy, technological socie Roots? Ethel R. Nelson. Although widely separated geo ties, says Thomas W. Klewin, and the church has an obli graphically, ancient Chinese monotheists and the theo gation to carry it as it has carried to underdeveloped cratic Hebrew nation demonstrate near identical religious cultures the first medical revolution. similarities. 22 The Bible and the Black Obelisk. William H. Shea 6 Looking Unto Jesus. Theodore Monod. We learn who He 25 Does the Ice Age Disprove the Bible? Doug Johnson. is, what He has done, what He gives, and what He requires only by looking to Him. 26 The Prayer of a Minister©s Wife. Jane T. Howell. 8 The Lord©s Day Alliance Hears Sabbath Scholar. Samuele Bacchiocchi. 13 Consumerism Penetrates the Pulpit. Margie Schutte. 18 From the Editor Consumerism, riding the crest of the wave in American society, has washed over the rock of the church and bids 20 Health and Religion fair to carry out to sea the pastor who ignores "account 22 Biblical Archeology ability." 25 Science and Religion 14 The Judgment. Desmond Ford completes his series on the sanctuary services by examining the significance of the Day 26 Shepherdess of Atonement imagery for contemporary Christians. 29 World View 16 The Shroud of Turin. Ralph Blodgett. 30 Word Power 18 Salvation and the Cults 4. J. R. Spangler. 31 Shop Talk 20 Who Are the Disadvantaged? A second medical revolu 32 Recommended Reading
Editorial Director: Editors-at-large: Circulation Manager: MINISTRY, the international journal of the N. Reginald Dower Herald Habenicht, M D Edmund M Peterson Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial Mervyn Hardinge, M D Association © 1979 is printed monthly by Editor: Special Contributors: the Review and Herald Publishing William C- Scales. Jr Association, 6856 Eastern Avenue NW , J Robert Spangler Arturo E Schmidt Robert H Brown. Science and Washington, DC, 20012, U.S.A Religion Subscription price, US$11.50 a year, Executive Editors: Assistant Editor: J. Lynn Martel, Shop Talk single-copy price, US$1.SO. Price may vary Orley M Berg. Marta Milliard Kay Dower. Shepherdess where national currencies are different. For B Russell Holt Lawrence T Geraty, Biblical each subscription going to a foreign Shirley Welch Editorial Secretaries: Archeology country or Canada, add US$1.25 postage MINISTRY is a member of the Associated Dorothy Emmerson Roland R. Hegstad, World View Associate Editors: Dorothy Montgomery Church Press and is indexed in the Raoul Dederen Seventh-day Adventist Periodical index International Correspondents: J Wayne McFarland, M D Art Director: Second-class postage paid at Washington, Leo R Van Dolson Far East, Harold K. West D C Editorial office. 6840 Eastern Avenue Byron Steele Inter-America. Carlos Aeschlimann NW.. Washington. D.C 20012. Editorial Associate and No. Europe-West Africa, David E Unsolicited manuscripts are welcomed Design and Layout: Lawson and will be returned only if accompanied Field Representative: Dennis Crews by a stamped self-addressed envelope W. B Quigley South America, Salim Japas So. Europe, Heinz Vogal (ISSN 0026-5314) Vol. 52, No. 7. j, PI
Ministry, July/1979 Do Chinese and Hebrews have common roots? by Ethel R. Nelson
he very idea of common roots no end." 2 Again Legge declared, abstract idea. The term "ideograph" for Chinese religions and the "Do the Chinese know the true is applied to such combined charac T ancient Hebrew rituals seems God? . . . The evidence supplied by ters. quite preposterous on the surface. Chinese literature and history ap Now let©s examine
29:39, R.S.V.). These two daily of God would be able to rule the Em the early patriarchs the same ferings, of course, typified the time pire as easily as he could look on the source from which the later Hebrew when the Lamb of God would be palm of his own hand." 7 people gathered their religious hung on the cross at the third hour, Thus the Chinese failed to retain a forms. In fact, could the Chinese or 9:00 A.M., the time of the morning knowledge of the promised Messiah who faithfully practiced the rituals sacrifice (see Mark 15:25) and would as given in these symbolic animal of the early patriarchs, howbeit with expire at the ninth hour when the offerings that had come down to gradual loss of understanding, even evening sacrifice was being offered them locked into their written lan be Shemites also? at 3:00 P.M. (see Mark 15:34). guage, along with a complete The last Chinese emperor of the In the National Palace Museum at knowledge of the Genesis stories, as Manchu dynasty still sacrificed a Taipei, Taiwan, I had the opportu we shall see in a later article. bull in burnt offering to ShangTi at nity to view many ancient bronze The Chinese reverence of the the ancient border ritual in 1911.9 ceremonial vessels, the oldest of eldest son is shown by the character The Republic of China, established which date to the Shang dynasty Xj, which literally indicates his in 1912, ended the venerable serv (1766-1122 B.C.). My initial interest important position in the family as a ices. How incredible to think that was the inscriptions on most of spokesman ("mouth," \3 , and this sacrificial ceremony to the them a demonstration of the most "man," )L/ ). The Hebrews also heavenly Ruler, ShangTi, actually ancient forms of the written lan placed special emphasis on the eldest survived more than 4,000 years, in guage. I suddenly became aware, son. In the Hebrew economy, he all likelihood as a tangible link be however, of animal forms faithfully inherited the priestly duties of tween the twentieth century and the reproduced on nearly every one of directing the family to God. Ap original rites decreed by God at these vessels. The most ancient of parently this was also the case in the Eden in anticipation of salvation these shapes could easily be identi old Chinese culture, since the char through the sacrifice of the Lamb of fied either as a bovine creature or a acter "to pray to" or "to invoke," God on Calvary! M ram by the characteristic shape of ^L, contains the symbol for the (To be continued.) the horns. On vessels of the later "eldest son," Xj , as well as the 1 James Legge, The Notions of the Chinese Con Chou and Ch©in dynasties (1122-209 radical for "God," ^ . cerning God and Spirits (Hong Kong: Hong Kong Register office, 1852), p. 50. B.C.), these animal figures became Religious similarities between an 2 Ibid., p. 32. 3 Ibid., p. 7. more geometric, transforming grad cient Chinese monotheists and the 4 This interesting association came out of a con versation with Dr. William Shea, Department of Old ually into serpentine or dragon theocratic Hebrew nation, which al Testament Studies, Andrews University, Michigan. forms, still retaining, however, though widely separated geograph 5 John Ross, The Original Religion of China (London: Oliphant, Anderson and Ferrier, 1909), enough features of the original an ically were the only two monotheis pp. 19, 20. 6 Legge, op. cit., p. 50. imals that the transfigured creatures tic cultures in an ancient world 7 Ross, op. cit., p. 296. could be recognized. imbued with polytheism, are re 8 Edward Reese and Frank R. Klassen, The Chronological Bible (Nashville: Regal Publishers, This experience was a pictorial markable. Since the venerable writ Inc., 1977), p. 17 (2218 B.C.). See also Robert Young, Analytical Concordance to the Bible (Grand Rapids: demonstration to me of how the ten records of China, beginning with William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1973), p. 737, under Peleg (2222 B.C.). See also "The Chronology original meaning of the lamb and the first dynasty in 2205 B.C., coin of Early Bible History," The SDA Bible Commen bullock sacrifices was gradually lost. cide closely with the date for the tary, vol. 1 (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Assn., 1953), pp. 174-196 (2201 B.C.). Even in the time of Confucius (c. dispersion of races from the tower s W. A. P. Martin, The Lore of Cathay (London: 500 B.C.) the border sacrifices were of Babel (as calculated from the Oliphant, Anderson and Ferrier, 1901), p. 167. thought of as mere "ancient cus strict genealogical chronologies of Ethel Nelson, M.D., is serving as a relief tom." Confucius himself was at a Genesis 5, 10, and 11),8 it is tempting physician at the Bangkok Adventist Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Dr. Nelson and C. H. loss to explain the origin of these to speculate that the Chinese mi Rang have coauthored a book, The Discov important rituals, although he spent grated eastward at this time. If so, ery of Genesis, How the Truths of Genesis much time researching their mean they would have been carrying with Were Found Hidden in the Chinese Language. Published by the Concordia Publishing ing. He even declared that "the man them an accurate historical knowl House, St. Louis, Missouri, it will be avail who could explain the sacrifice to edge received by oral tradition from able in August, 1979. Ministry, July/1979 "Looking unto Jesus" A reading must! Only three words, but they contain the secret of life. by Theodore Monod
This precious and inspiring appeal always. teach us to look unto Him who is the appeared as No. 1 of the Apples of "Looking unto Jesus" as revealed to Author and Object of our faith, that He Gold Library—a series of small us by the Holy Spirit, to find in constant may keep us in that faith of which He is pamphlets published in the 1890's by communion with Him, the cleansing of also the Finisher. the Pacific Press Publishing Associ our sin-stained hearts, the illumination "Looking unto Jesus" and to no of our darkened minds, the transforma other, as our text expresses it in one ation, Mountain View, California. tion of our perverse wills, to the end that word which is untranslatable, and which The infinite importance of keeping we may triumph over the world and the enjoins us at one and the same time to fix our eyes fastened upon the Saviour is devil, resisting their violence through our eyes upon Him, and to turn away as valid today as it was at the close Jesus our strength, bringing their devices from all besides. of the last century (if not more so). to naught through Jesus our wisdom, "Looking unto Jesus" and not to The editors of MINISTRY and the Re upheld by the sympathy of Jesus who ourselves, our thoughts, our wishes, our view are sending it forth simultan was Himself tempted in all points, and plans; unto Jesus, and not unto the eously in their respective journals as by the help of Jesus, who resisted and world, its allurements, its examples, its a joint plea to make Jesus first, last, conquered. maxims, its opinions; unto Jesus, and and best in our daily experience. We "Looking unto Jesus" that we may not unto Satan, whether he tries to af receive from Him the work and the cross fright us with his rage or to seduce us urge our readers to study carefully of each day, with grace which is suffi with his flatteries. Oh, how many useless this document.——Editors. cient to bear the cross and do the work; questions, uneasy scruples, dangerous patient through His patience; active by compromises with evil, distracted His activity; loving with His love; asking thoughts, vain dreams, bitter disap nly three words; but these three not "What can I do?" but, "What can pointments, painful struggles, and words contain the whole secret He not do?" relying upon His strength, backslidings could we not avoid by O of life. which is made perfect in weakness. looking unto Jesus, and following Him "Looking unto Jesus" in the Scrip "Looking unto Jesus" that the wherever He leads the way, careful not tures, to learn who He is, what He has brightness of His face may enlighten our even to cast a glance at any other way, done, what He gives, what He requires, darkness; that our joy may be holy, and lest we should lose sight of that in which to find in His character our pattern, in our grief subdued; that He may humble He leads us. His teachings our instructions, in His us to exalt us in due time; that He may "Looking unto Jesus" and not to our precepts our law, in His promises our afflict and then comfort us; that He may brethren; not even to the best and most stay, in His person and in His work a full strip us of our self-righteousness to beloved among them. If we follow a satisfaction offered to every want of our enrich us with His own; that He may man, we run the risk of losing our way; souls. teach us how to pray, and answer our but if we follow Jesus, we are certain we "Looking unto Jesus" crucified to prayers, so that while we are in the shall never go astray. Besides, by putting find in His blood poured out our ransom, world, we are not of the world, our life a man between Christ and us, it happens our pardon, our peace. being hid with Him in God, and our that the man imperceptibly grows in our "Looking unto Jesus" risen again, words bearing Him witness before men. eyes, while Christ becomes less; and to find in Him that righteousness which "Looking unto Jesus" who has re- soon we know not how to find Christ alone can justify us, and through which, ascended to His Father©s house to pre without finding the man, and if the latter unworthy though we are, we may draw pare a place for us, that this blessed hope fails us, all is lost. But if, on the con near, with full assurance in His name, may give us courage to live without trary, Jesus stands between us and our unto Him who is His Father and our murmuring, and to die without regret, dearest friends, our attachment to our Father, His God and our God. when the day shall come to meet the last friends will be less direct, and at the "Looking unto Jesus" glorified, to enemy whom He has conquered for same time more sweet; less passionate, find in Him our advocate with the Fa us whom we shall conquer through and purer; less necessary, but more use ther, making complete, through His in Him. ful the instrument of rich blessings in tercession, the merciful work of our sal "Looking unto Jesus" who gives re the hands of God when it shall please vation; appearing even now in the pentance as well as remission of sins, to Him to use it, and whose absence will presence of God for us, and supplying receive from Him a heart that feels its still prove a blessing when it shall please the imperfection of our prayers by the wants, and cries for mercy at His feet. Him to dispense with it. power of those which the Father heareth "Looking unto Jesus" that He may "Looking unto Jesus" and not to the obstacles we meet in our path. From the quence of our salvation than a part of the trial of our faith as soon as these emo moment that we stop to consider them, same, and like every other part is the gift tions have passed, we shall think that we they astonish and unnerve us and cast us of free grace. have lost our strength, and we shall give down, incapable as we are of compre "Looking unto Jesus" and not to way to hopeless discouragement, if not hending either the reason why they are what we are doing for Him. If we are too to shameful inactivity. Ah! let us rather permitted or the means by which we may much taken up with our work, we may remember that if the sweetness of reli overcome them. The apostle began to forget our Master we may have our gious emotions be sometimes wanting, sink as soon as he turned to look at the hands full and our hearts empty; but if faith and its power are left us; and that boisterous billows; but as long as he we are constantly looking unto Jesus, we we may be always abounding in the work continued looking unto Jesus, he walked cannot forget our work; if our hearts are of the Lord, let us be constantly looking, upon the billows as upon a rock. The filled with His love, our hands will also not to our wayward hearts, but unto harder our task and the heavier our be active in His service. Jesus, the same yesterday, today, and cross, the more it behooves us to look to "Looking unto Jesus" and not to the forever. Jesus only. apparent success of our efforts. Appar "Looking unto Jesus" and not to our "Looking unto Jesus" and not to the ent success is not always the measure of faith. The last artifice of Satan, when he temporal blessings which we enjoy. By real success, and besides, God has not cannot lead us out of the way, is to turn looking at these blessings first, we run enjoined success upon us, but only our eyes away from Jesus to look at our the risk of being so much captivated by labor; He will ask an account of our faith, and so to discourage us, if it is them that they even hide from our view labor, but not of our success. Why, then, weak; to puff us up, if it is strong; and in Him who gives them. When we look should we be too much concerned about either case to weaken it. For it is not our unto Jesus first, we receive all these it? We must sow the seed; God will faith which makes us strong, but it is blessings as from Him; they are chosen gather the fruit, if not today, it will be Jesus through faith. We are not by His wisdom, given by His love; a tomorrow; if not for us, it will be for strengthened by contemplating our faith, thousand times more precious because others. Even if success were to be but by looking unto Jesus. received at His hands, to be enjoyed in granted to us, it would always be dan "Looking unto Jesus" for it is from communion with Him, and used for His gerous to look complacently upon it. On Him and in Him that we should learn, glory. the one hand, we are tempted to claim not only without injury,\but for the good "Looking unto Jesus" and not to our for ourselves some of the glory; on the of our souls, as much as it is meet that strength; for with that we can only glo other, we are too prone to slacken our we should know of the world and of rify ourselves. To glorify God we need zeal when we see good results arising ourselves of our misery, our dangers, the strength of God. from it, and that is the very time when our resources, our victory; seeing all "Looking unto Jesus" and not to our we ought to put forth double energy. To these things in their true light, because weakness. Have we ever become look at our success is to walk by sight; to He shall show them to us at the very time stronger by lamenting our weakness? look unto Jesus and to persevere in fol and in the very measure when the But if we look unto Jesus, His strength lowing and in serving Him despite all knowledge shall be best calculated to shall fortify our hearts, and we shall discouragements, is to walk by faith. produce in us the fruit of humility and break forth into songs of praise. "Looking unto Jesus" and not to the wisdom, of gratitude and courage, of "Looking unto Jesus" and not to our gifts that we have received or are now watchfulness and prayer. All that is well sins. The contemplation of sin brings receiving from Him. As to the grace of for us to know Jesus will teach us. All only death; the contemplation of Jesus yesterday, it has been withdrawn with that He does not teach us, it is better for brings life. It was not by looking at their the work of yesterday; we can use it no us not to know. wounds, but by beholding the brazen longer; we ought not to dwell upon it any "Looking unto Jesus" during all the serpent, that the Israelites were healed. longer. As to the grace of to-day, given time which He has allotted us here "Looking unto Jesus" and not to the for the work of to-day, it is entrusted to below unto Jesus ever anew, without law. The law gives us its commands, but us, not to be contemplated, but to be allowing either the remembrance of the does not impart the strength necessary to used; not to be paraded, that we may past, which we know so little of, or the obey them. The law always condemns, it appear rich, but to be employed at once, cares of an unknown future to distract never pardons. To be under the law is to that we may in our poverty look unto our thoughts; unto Jesus now, if we have be out of the reach of grace. In the same Jesus. never looked unto Him; unto Jesus measure as we make our obedience the "Looking unto Jesus" and not to the again, if we have ceased to do so; unto means of our salvation, we shall lose our depths of sorrow we feel for our sins, or Jesus always, with a more fixed and peace, our strength, our joy, because we to the degree of humility they produce in steadfast gaze, "changed into the same forget that "Christ is the end of the law us. If they humble us, so that we no image from glory to glory" and thus for righteousness to everyone that be- longer delight in ourselves; if they cast waiting for the hour when He shall call lieveth" (Rom. 10:4). As soon as the law us down, so that we look to Jesus, that us to pass from earth to heaven, and has constrained us to seek salvation only He may deliver us from them, that is all from time to eternity, the promised, the in Christ, He alone can command obedi that He requires of us; and it is looking blessed hour, when at last we shall be ence, an obedience which asks no less unto Him which above everything else "like him, for we shall see him as he than our whole hearts and our most se shall cause our tears to flow and our is." Translated from the French. fil cret thoughts, but which is no longer an pride to fall. iron yoke and an intolerable burden an "Looking unto Jesus" and not to the obedience which He makes lovely while liveliness of our joy or the fervor of our Theodore Monod, born 1836, was a French it is also obligatory an obedience which love. Otherwise, if our love seems to Protestant clergyman and editor, who labored He not only enjoins, but inspires, and grow cold, and our joy is dim whether extensively in France and the United States, which, well understood, is less a conse on account of lukewarmness or for the during the nineteenth century.
Ministry, July/1979 Lord©s Day Alliance hears Sabbath scholar* by Samuele Bacchiocchi
major reason for the existence university. In those days it was unthink of my church is to lead men and able for a separated brother to be ac A women into a deeper relation cepted at a Vatican university without ship with the Saviour through redis first recanting his faith. Therefore, to covery of the meaning and blessings of have seen my book on the origin of Sun Sabbathkeeping. Though we here today day observance rolling off a Vatican may differ on the day on which to rest press with a Catholic imprimatur, to and worship, we mutually agree on its have been the recipient not only of a gold vital function for the survival of Christi medal from Pope Paul VI but also of anity. hundreds of letters of appreciation from The essence of the Christian life is a scholars and religious leaders, and to be relationship with God a relationship invited to share with you some of the that grows and becomes more intimate highlights of my research all this sur especially through the experience of passes anything I dreamed of in my worship and service provided by the youth. Sabbath day. Consequently a proper ob servance of God©s holy day reflects a Experience at the Gregoriana healthy relationship with God, while How did I come to choose the Pontifi Dr. Bacchiocchi with Dr. James Wesberry, disregard for it bespeaks spiritual decline executive director of the Lord©s Day Alliance. cal Gregorian University for my doctoral or even death. James P. Wesberry, ex studies? Father Rovasio, a Catholic ecutive director of the Lord©s Day Alli priest whom I met in Ethiopia where I ance, states this truth emphatically in his My father, a devout Catholic, was in his was serving as a Bible teacher, first pro book When Hell Trembles. He says: early twenties when he met a Walden- posed the idea to me. One morning in the "The Sabbath ... is heaven©s milestone sian who offered him a Bible to read. As spring of 1969 I shared with him my along the highway of time . . . God has he studied the Word of God, he discov plans to return to the United States for never repealed this law and if we disre ered among other things that the seventh further education. Smilingly, Father Ro gard it, we will decay spiritually." day is the Sabbath established by God at vasio told me: "Sam, you are a Roman, Page 33. Creation and magnified by Christ during not a Yankee! You should go back to Seventh-day Adventists share your His earthly ministry. Since he could not Rome and study at the Gregoriana!" conviction that the Sabbath day is a most find any Christian church observing the "How can I?" I replied. "Surely the vital institution for the physical and seventh-day Sabbath, he decided to rest Gregoriana will not accept a heretic like spiritual renewal of our personal life and and worship God on this day privately at me!" Father Rovasio reassured me that of society. In fact, we believe that when home. This he did for about a year, until since Vatican II, I was no longer a here the tyranny of things enslaves our lives he met an elderly lady who introduced tic, but a separated brother and thus I we need the Sabbath day in order to be him to the Seventh-day Adventist stood a good chance of being accepted. liberated to enter into the peace of God Church. After some initial hesitation I decided to for which we were created. Our family has lived through many apply. Since the Gregoriana in its 428 Dr. Wesberry has suggested that I trying experiences in order to express years had never received an official ap share something of my background; our commitment to the Saviour by wor plication from a non-Catholic, it took some of the highlights of my experience shiping on His holy Sabbath. My class about six months to process my applica and research on the Lord©s day, which I mates ridiculed me and called me a Jew tion and to grant me special dispensa did at the Pontifical Gregorian Univer for missing school and for refusing to tions. sity in Rome; and finally that I outline play soccer with them on the Sabbath. What was it like studying with Catho areas where we can and should cooper Relatives and priests urged me to aban lic priests and professors from all over ate. don the "heretical" ideas of my parents. the world? Being the only layman in the As a result of such frequent confronta class, I must confess that at first I felt a Background tions, I began dreaming while I was still a bit awkward, especially when a class I was born a stone©s throw from the teen-ager that someday, by God©s grace, mate would ask to which religious order Vatican wall and under its shadow I I would investigate the Sabbath/Sunday I belonged. Sometimes jokingly I would spent the first twenty years of my life. questions and the meaning of God©s holy reply that I belonged to a new order the day for Christians today. As a teen-ager, Adventist order. Soon we established however, I could never have imagined warm and cordial relationships. * Adapted from an address delivered at the annual meeting of the Lord©s Day Alliance in Atlanta, that one day I would conduct such an The climate of cordiality and mutual Georgia, February 18, 1979. investigation in the prestigious Jesuit respect was exemplified especially in the
8 Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi, author of "From Sabbath to Sunday," outlines areas of cooperation between Sabbathkeepers and Sundaykeepers.
freedom and guidance I received while slaves set at liberty. Jesus must have clarified its meaning and function. conducting my doctoral research into the astonished His congregation that Sab How then did Sunday originate? Was historical genesis of Sunday observance. bath morning when He affirmed briefly it by authority of the apostolic church of I recall the day when I asked my adviser, but emphatically: " ©Today this scripture Jerusalem? Available documents reveal Prof. Vincenzo Monachino, for permis has been fulfilled in your hearing©" conclusively that the Jerusalem church sion to investigate the genesis of Sunday (verse 21, R.S.V.). In other words, the until the second destruction of the city in observance for my doctoral dissertation. promises of liberation that the Sabbath A.D. 135, was composed of, and admin At first he was reluctant to grant such contained and proclaimed, now, Christ istered by, Jewish converts who were permission because he felt the question said, were finding richer fulfillment in loyal to Old Testament religious tradi had been amply investigated in several His saving ministry. tions such as Sabbathkeeping. Note, for dissertations. But I persisted, and re In His subsequent Sabbath ministry, example, existence in Jerusalem of the ceived his approval. His allowing me to Christ substantiated such a claim by circumcision party, apparently sup challenge a prevailing thesis must be re making the Sabbath a day of physical ported by James (Gal. 2:12); the undue garded as an indication of his intellectual and spiritual restoration. Let me cite one concern of the Jerusalem church leaders stature a genuine scholar encouraging example where the Saviour brings out for ritual defilement and food laws, free inquiry into truth rather than simply this dual dimension of the Sabbath the which even Gentiles were expected to defending a popular viewpoint. healing of the crippled woman. First, observe (Acts 15:20); and especially the Christ restored her physically, saying, proposal of "James; and all the elders" Synthesis of my research " ©Woman, you are freed from your in (Acts 21:18) that Paul should undergo a My objectives were to establish on the firmity© " (chap. 13:12, R.S.V.). He then rite of purification at the temple to prove one hand the attitude of Christ and of the defended His healing act against the that he also lived "in observance of the apostolic church toward the seventh-day charge of Sabbathbreaking by pointing law" (Acts 21:24, R.S.V.). Sabbath and on the other hand to ascer to the spiritual liberation He had of Later sources confirm the profound tain when, where, and why the change fered: "©Ought not this woman, a commitment of the Jerusalem church to was made from Saturday to Sunday. To daughter of Abraham whom Satan the observance of Old Testament reli ascertain the attitude of the Saviour bound for eighteen years, be loosed from gious customs such as Sabbathkeeping. toward the Sabbath, I examined the this bond on the sabbath day?©" (verse Epiphanius, a fourth-century Palestinian Sabbath material of the Gospels. I was 16, R.S.V.). For the Saviour the Sabbath historian, tells us that descendants of the impressed by the considerable coverage was the day of liberation the day to Jerusalem Christians who migrated north given to Christ©s Sabbath ministry no experience the blessings of physical and prior to the destruction of the city in A.D. less than seven Sabbath healing epi spiritual restoration that He provides to 70, still retained Sabbathkeeping as one sodes are reported, besides some signif our needy souls. of their chief characteristics in his day. icant discourses. This indeed reflects the The Sabbath marks not only the inau Since Jerusalem does not appear to be importance attributed to the Sabbath by guration but also the conclusion of the birthplace of Sunday observance, the apostolic church. Christ©s earthly ministry. On that his where then did the custom originate, and Christ inaugurated His public ministry toric Good Friday, as Jesus completed why? My thesis which I have con on a Sabbath day in the synagogue of His earthly mission, He said: " ©It is structed with circumstantial but, I be Nazareth by applying to Himself the finished©" (John 19:30, R.S.V.), and lieve, impressive evidence is that Sun sabbatical passage of Isaiah 61:1, 2. then He rested on the Sabbath in the day observance arose in the Church of Through the words of Isaiah, Jesus said tomb. In the light of the cross, then, the Rome during the reign of Emperor Ha that He had been "anointed," that is, Sabbath rest that remains for the people drian (A.D. 117-135), at a time when officially sent, " © to preach good news to of God (Heb. 4:9) is a time not only to Roman anti-Jewish repressive measures the poor. He has sent me to proclaim celebrate the completion of creation but encouraged deliberate differentiation release to the captives ... to set at also to experience the blessings of sal from Jewish customs. Resurgent Mes liberty those who are oppressed, to pro vation. By ceasing from our work on the sianic expectations among Jews at that claim the acceptable year of the Lord© " Sabbath, as Calvin says, "We allow God time exploded in violent uprising almost (Luke 4:18, 19, R.S.V.). Practically all to work in us" to bring to our lives the everywhere. To subdue the second Jew commentators agree that the "accept rest of His forgiveness and peace. This is ish, revolt in Palestine engaged Hadrian©s able year of the Lord" is the sabbatical, basically the meaning of the Sabbath I best legions for three years (A.D. 132- or jubilee, year. This was the time when have found in the New Testament. The 135). When Hadrian finally succeeded in the Sabbath became the liberator of the Sabbathkeeping of Christ as recorded in crushing the revolt, he adopted the most oppressed of the Hebrew society: the the Gospels reveals that in the thinking repressive measures against Jews, pro poor could freely gather the produce of of the apostolic communities the Saviour hibiting categorically the practice of the the land, the captives were released, the had not nullified the Sabbath, but rather Jewish religion, and especially Sabbath-
Ministry, July/1979 ©Christians may differ on the day in which to rest and worship, but they mutually agree on its vital function for the survival of Christianity."
keeping. These repressive measures Christ©s birth. bath is still Saturday, the seventh day. particularly felt in the capital city ap In the few moments remaining I wish But Christ nailed the law, including ©the parently encouraged the predominantly to outline three areas where seventh-day sabbath© to the cross (Col. 2:14-16)." Gentile membership of the Church of Sabbathkeepers and Sunday observers Where does the writer get this informa Rome to emphasize their distinction can and should cooperate. tion? Surely not from Colossians 2:14- from Judaism by changing the date and 16, since the term "law" (nomos) does manner of observance of the Sabbath Areas of cooperation not occur once in the whole Epistle. The and of such characteristic Jewish festi 1. Promotion of protective legislation cheirographon that was nailed to the vals as Passover. The Sabbath was that will enable all citizens to rest and cross, according to recent studies on the changed to Sunday and the Passover worship on the day of their choice. I contemporary usage of the word, is not date was changed from Nisan 14 to Eas commend the Lord©s Day Alliance for the law of Moses, but a record book of ter Sunday in order to avoid, as Con- defending the rights not only of Sunday sin (see From Sabbath to Sunday, pp. stantine later stated, "all participation in observers but also of seventh-day Sab 339-369). the perjured conduct of the Jews." bathkeepers. I am thinking, for instance, The implications of negating the Sab Why was Sunday chosen as the new of the support that the Lord©s Day Alli bath commandment for Christians can day of worship rather than another day? ance has given H.R. 8429 a bill that be seen in the dissertation of Willy Ror- I found a significant reason in the pre seeks to protect the right of all who for dorf, an authority on this subject. Pro vailing veneration of the sun cult. The religious reasons refuse to work on fessor Rordorf argues that the Sabbath day of the sun what we call Sunday Sunday, Saturday, or some other day. At commandment was "abolished" by initially was the second day of the week a time when some chain stores are push Christ and consequently Christians in the Roman world, following the day of ing for a seven-day shopping week, should "refrain as far as possible, from Saturn. However, as sun cults became without regard to the religious convic basing the hallowing of Sunday on the dominant in the empire, the day of the tions of their employees, we need to Sabbath commandment" (Sunday, p. sun was advanced from the second day work together to protect the right of all 298). Basically, his position is that the to the first day of the week. Did this people to rest and worship on their re Jewish Sabbath was a twenty-four-hour development influence Christians who spective holy days. day of rest; the Christian Sunday, to the had worshiped the sun prior to becoming 2. Affirmation of the Sabbath com contrary, is an hour of worship. Chris Christians to choose the sun©s day as mandment. There is, as you know, a tians therefore should feel free to engage their new day of worship? I found sig view that denies the binding obligation of in any legitimate activity during the rest nificant indirect and direct evidence sug the Sabbath for Christians. This view of the day. This view received support at gesting this possibility. For instance, the apparently began with Hadrian©s anti- the October, 1978, meeting of the Na symbology of the day of the sun was Judaic policy. At that time a group of tional Catholic Liturgical Commission. frequently used not only to represent writings "Against the Jews" Adversos In fact, the Catholic Church has al Christ in art and literature but also to Judeaos—attacked Jewish observances ready authorized moving the Sunday justify observance of Sunday. Eusebius such as Sabbathkeeping. (For a brief Mass to Saturday night to accommodate explains that Christians gather in the survey, see my book From Sabbath to those who wish to spend Sunday in un "day of light, first day and true day of the Sunday, pp. 178-185.) the "Christian" interrupted recreational activities. Such sun" because "it is on this day of the theology of contempt for the Jews that is the result of explaining away a divine creation of the world that God said: ©Let developed at that time emptied the Sab precept such as the Sabbath command there be light© and it is also on this day bath of all significance and reduced it, as ment. God©s holy day is reduced to an that the Sun of Justice has risen for our argued by Justin Martyr, to a temporary hour of worship which in turn is moved souls." institution, imposed solely on the Jews about to suit our pleasure-oriented soci The conclusion, then, that emerges as a trademark of their wickedness (see ety. from my investigation is that the change From Sabbath to Sunday, pp. 225-227). What can be done to educate and mo from Saturday to Sunday did not occur It is unfortunate that this negative tivate Christians to observe God©s holy in the Jerusalem church by apostolic au view of the Sabbath has survived to our day as not merely an hour of worship thority to commemorate Christ©s resur day, with minor alterations. The Janu but as a whole day of rest, worship, rection. Rather it occurred in the church ary-February, 1979, issue of Biblical fellowship, and service? Can this be of Rome early in the second century as a Archaeology Review provides an exam done through national legislation that result of an interplay of political, social, ple. Several religious leaders react to my would outlaw all activities not compati pagan-religious and Christian factors, article (Biblical Archaeology Review, ble with the spirit of Saturday or Sun similar somewhat to those which gave September-October, 1978) by writing to day? In our pluralistic and materialistic rise to the December 25 observance of the editor such comments as: "The Sab society we can hardly hope to induce
10 ©A proper observance of God©s holy day reflects a healthy relationship with God, while disregard for it bespeaks spiritual decline."
Christians to rest and worship on God©s nation©s greatest needs ... is to get back They take vacations, tranquilizers, holy day by means of civil legislation. In to the fourth commandment and once drugs, and alcohol; they join athletic European countries such as Germany, again ©Remember the sabbath day, to clubs or meditation groups. At best these England, and Italy, where on Sunday keep it holy©... I will do all in my power provide only temporary relief for inner practically all industrial and commercial to put great emphasis on the fourth tensions. True rest is to be found not in activities are shut down by law, the commandment." Let us all pledge by magic pills or fabulous places, but in a churches are empty. In Italy church at God©s grace to lead our congregations right relationship with a© Person our tendance is about 6 percent and into a renewed understanding and expe Creator and Saviour. As stated by Au throughout most of Western Europe av rience of the blessings of the Sabbath. If gustine in the opening paragraph of his erages 10 percent of the Christian popu we do, we soon shall rejoice to see the Confessions: "Thou has made us for lation. physical, spiritual, and social life of our thyself, and our heart is restless until it Nor can people be induced to keep the people revitalized. finds rest in thee." Sabbath by appeals to social, economic, 3. Theological reappraisal of the Our common task today is to help physical, and ecological benefits. Even meaning of the Sabbath for contempo believers and unbelievers to understand those persuaded will not be led into an rary Christians. A third area of coopera how the Sabbath enables our Saviour to experience of worship, fellowship, and tion involves redefining the theological bring peace and rest to our restless lives. service. It is only when the knowledge of meaning and message of the Sabbath in I am grateful for the insights I am gaining what is good is strengthened by deep the light of our contemporary situation. from religious thinkers of every persua theological convictions that a person will The challenge that ministers face in sion. We need to explore together how to be motivated to keep the Sabbath as God every generation is to identify the needs make the Sabbath a physical and spirit intended it to be kept. The Sabbath of people and society and then to show ual renewal experience for ourselves and commandment, pressed on the con the divine solution to such human needs. our people. II science by the Holy Spirit, brings such What is a most crucial problem af conviction. flicting many lives today? Is it not the Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph.D., is associate In his inaugural address Dr. Wesberry problem of restlessness? To work off professor of church history, Andrews Uni stated unequivocally that "one of our tensions, people try many expedients: versity, Berrien Springs, Michigan.
Thoughts on ©from Sabbath to Sunday© Seldom has the writing of an Ad- regarding the introduction of Sunday as described in Paul©s writings on the ventist scholar stirred such widespread observance into the Christian church, gifts of the Spirit. These facts have attention and reaction as the work of and has brought some significant ac called forth some remonstrance from Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi in publishing knowledgments from Sunday observ several Adventist sources pastors, the essence of his doctoral disserta ers, he has been seen as a new cham evangelists, and editors. The theolo tion From Sabbath to Sunday: A pion of the faith of Seventh-day Ad- gians of the church seem to have been Historical Investigation of the Rise of ventists. The fact that he obtained his rather quiet, possibly to give him time Sunday Observance in Early Christian advanced degree in the heart of Rome to make his case and to respond to ity (Rome: The Pontifical Gregorian has intrigued many readers. reactions that he might receive both in University Press, 1977). The attention However, in the process of present his public presentations and in his con has been evident in book reviews in ing his thesis, Dr. Bacchiocchi has also tacts within the church. The readers of scholarly journals, in articles in reli presented some seeming challenges to MINISTRY should understand, however, gious publications, and in the reception long-held Adventist interpretations of that this reasonable reticence on the of Dr. Bacchiocchi in person at meet certain texts of Scripture, particularly part of Adventist scholars does not ings of a number of organizations. Dr. Revelation 1:10 and Colossians 2:14- imply unequivocal acceptance of or Bacchiocchi©s experience in Rome and 17. Some of these interpretations have support for every facet of Bacchioc his subsequent publications have the support of Ellen G. White, who is chi©s conclusions, although there is un caught the imagination also of his own recognized by the Seventh-day Ad doubtedly considerable support for his church. ventist Church as having received and major thesis. Because Dr. Bacchiocchi©s research manifested, during a long life of min challenges some long-held positions istry and writing, the gift of prophecy (Continued on following page.)
Ministry, July/1979 11 (Continued from previous page.) presents primarily a historical chal and how the scholarly community in lenge to some of the positions and in general will relate to it. Recently Andrews University Semi terpretations presented by Bacchioc There seems to be quite general nary Studies published a two-part study chi. Only incidentally does he touch on agreement from various quarters that of the transition from Sabbath to Sun certain theological issues, including a Bacchiocchi has made a significant day in the early Christian church, with glancing question about Bacchiocchi©s contribution to the Sabbath-Sunday Part I in the Spring issue of 1978 and interpretation of Revelation 1:10. His discussion and that some of his work is Part II in the Spring issue of 1979. The review indicates that space and time both unique and crucial. Undoubtedly, former deals primarily with Willy Ror- limitations and the particular emphasis the issues highlighted by the Bacchioc dorf©s reconstruction and the latter of the analysis precludes any signifi chi thesis will continue to draw atten with that of Samuele Bacchiocchi. The cant attention to Bacchiocchi©s presen tion within Adventist ranks, among author, Kenneth A. Strand, editor of tation of "Paul and the Sabbath" other Christian communities, and in the A USS and professor of church history which are a part of the appendix. scholarly world at large. MINISTRY will at the Seventh-day Adventist Theolog It remains to be seen how Bacchioc continue to report on them in future ical Seminary of Andrews University, chi will respond to the Strand critique issues. Editors. II Special offer for MINISTRY readers Now MINISTRY readers can order this answers to Sabbath-Sunday questions. carefully researched study of the sub provocative and informative study, Dr. Bacchiocchi©s deep desire that his ject." David Noel Freedman, Profes From Sabbath to -Sunday, by Dr. Bac book will not encourage belligerent po sor of Biblical Studies, The University chiocchi at a savings of $2 off the reg lemics but positive dialogue is being of Michigan. ular price! Normally priced at $9.95, realized on a large scale." Dr. James "The scholarship of From Sabbath this book can be ordered by you as a P. Wesberry, Executive Director, The to Sunday is not just impeccable, it is MINISTRY reader for only $7.95 through Lord's Day Alliance of the United truly a marvel. No patristic stone has special arrangements we have made. States. been left unturned. And when, as in And we will pay the postage too! "It is a thorough and painstaking several instances, Dr. Bacchiocchi©s This hard-cover, 372-page volume, piece of research, which every inves patristic and scriptural interpretations published by the Pontifical Gregorian tigator in the future will have to take are opposed to traditional interpreta University Press in Rome and bearing into account." Bruce M. Metzger, tion, they are generally quite thought- the imprimatur, is based on Dr. Bac Professor of New Testament, Princeton provoking and in all rather persua chiocchi©s doctoral dissertation and in Theological Seminary. sive." W. A. Jurgens, The Catholic vestigates the intriguing question of "In my judgment Dr. Samuele Bac Historical Review. how Sunday came to be observed as chiocchi has made a most important To order your copy of this valuable the day of rest and worship by the contribution to the study of a very work (which has gone through four majority of Christians. It deals with central issue in the history of Biblical editions in a single year) simply fill out such issues as: Do Christians still need religion. His work is a very thorough, the coupon below. II a day of rest and worship? When, where, and why was Sunday observ ance introduced? What is the dif YES! I want to take advantage of your special offer and save $2.00. Please ference in meaning and function be send me POSTPAID ...... copies of From Sabbath to Sunday. I have tween the Biblical Sabbath and I enclosed my check for $7.95 for each copy ordered. Sunday? Can the Sabbath command I ment rightly be invoked to enjoin Sun Name day observance? I The book has received highest acco Address lades from a wide spectrum of Catho I lic, Protestant and Jewish scholars and City ...... State ...... Zip ...... clergy. Here is what some have said: ! Mail to: MINISTRY Special Offer, 6840 Eastern Avenue NW., Washington, "Students of all faiths will find it a I D.C. 20012. source of great help in their quest for
12 Gonsumerism penetrates the pulpit by Margie Schutte
one are the days when ministers, religious publications have stressed the plant. The members vote to accept the physicians, teachers, and other role of the minister as a spiritual leader; proposal and they specify the type of G authority figures were considered his primary task is not to be an adminis addition, size, and materials. Later, sacrosanct. No longer does the donning trator, businessman, or errand boy. without approval of the building com of ecclesiastical garb or a "calling from Routine church affairs, it is pointed out, mittee or the church body, the pastor God" automatically qualify one for a can and should be handled by the laity, initiates changes in the approved speci position of infallibility in the eyes of thereby freeing the pastor for a spiritual fications. The next year he may accept a thinking laymen. Consumerism, riding ministry. One would be hard put to argue call, leaving the church membership the the crest of the wave in American soci against such a position. In fact, it is safe task of raising the extra funds required ety today, has washed over the rock of to say that most church members would by his individual decision. the church and bids fair to carry out to welcome a stronger spiritual emphasis Besides causing resentment, such a sea the pastor who ignores accountabil and direction from the pulpit. lack of accountability confuses the roles ity. In spite of burgeoning consumerism, of pastor and laity, capriciously altering Accountability, the key word of the many church figures seemingly have their relationship from that of an adult to consumer movement, has come to per failed to study the times adequately and an adult to one between a parent and a meate modern life. Firestone is forced to are trying to keep one foot planted firmly child or an authority figure and a subor recall tires worth $250 million. Ford is in the past while reaching out to the dinate. Pastors who act thus are saying, challenged in court on the Pinto©s safety. benefits of the present. Such pastors "I want the privilege of making deci Politicians find themselves facing voters cling to their desire to be the authority sions (even in nonspiritual matters) but who want to know why they have taken figure in certain chosen areas of church without the corresponding responsibil certain positions and who vote accord life (often unrelated to spiritual matters), ity." What such a minister fails to real ingly. Patients are insisting on more ex while at the same time they ask the laity ize is that his parishioners would proba planations from health professionals. to shoulder more of the responsibility. bly accept him either as an autocrat or as Years ago the role of physician to pa Thus a double standard often exists in a more democratic leader. But what they tient (and the role of minister to pa the interpretation of roles and expecta will not accept in this age of consumer rishioner) was similar to that of parent to tions. Many pastors apparently want to ism is for him to define his role both child or authority to subordinate. What maintain a parent-child or authority- ways, changing back and forth whenever ever the doctor said was accepted and subordinate relationship with their flock it is convenient or suits his purposes. followed without question. Today, for while paradoxically expecting their pa Pastors who delegate increasing respon complex reasons, the patient is assuming rishioners to function independently sibility to their members must be willing an increased responsibility for his own enough to assume greater responsibility to relinquish the authority in those areas health and is expecting an equal voice in for operating the church. that will enable the member to imple the health-care delivery system. Patients As an example, a pastor states to the ment his responsibility. Without this are demanding access to information church finance committee that in order willingness, a double standard exists. about their health, medication, treat to free him to devote his time to spiritual Privilege and responsibility must go hand ment, and costs, much of which was leadership, its job is to handle all finan in hand. once the privileged domain of the physi cial matters in the church fund raising, Where accountability is ignored or de cian, to be dispensed at his discretion. the annual budget, contacting members nied, the laity will suffer a crisis of con However much one may long for the for commitments, and authorizing ex fidence in their pastor; his spiritual min "good old days," it is as Thomas Wolfe penditures. The finance committee istry to them will be greatly diminished. stated, "You can©t go home again." agrees that this is a worthy goal that will The members of such a minister will What chaos would result if health strengthen all areas of church life. How inevitably question, "How can I believe professionals chose to ignore these role ever, shortly after delegating this re what you tell me about God, when the changes, pretending they did not exist! sponsibility, the pastor decides the message is so garbled in the important Yet in many cases, the clergy seems church needs new office furniture. With area of our relationships?" The very most reluctant to acknowledge this so out consulting the finance committee he foundation of honesty and Christlike in ciological phenomenon, except in a the purchases the furniture and has the bill teraction upon which the church was oretical sense. Obviously, not every as sent to the church treasurer, although formed hangs in the balance until the pect of social change is divinely inspired there is no provision in the budget for the crucial issue of©privilege and responsi or even beneficial. On the other hand, to expenditure. bility is settled. El pretend that it does not exist is to handi In another case, at a business meeting cap seriously one©s effective ministry. the pastor presents a proposal to the Margie Schutte is a free-lance writer who Recent articles in MINISTRY and other members for an addition to the church lives in Asheville, North Carolina, Ministry, July/1979 13 The judgment A little-known sanctuary symbolism indicates separate judgments for the righteous and the wicked.
by Desmond Ford
~>chatology, the doctrine of "last see in that text a statement of the present New Testament will not leave religious things," has become prominent in privileges of the believer he does not man to rest in his complacent smugness. E the study of the Christian church stand under condemnation but has It prods him wide awake with its insist only in these last times. The early cen passed from death to life. Certainly Bib ence that he, too, stands under judg turies of the Christian era were preoccu lical scholarship today concurs that even ment. Take the saying quoted in Heb. pied with the primary question "What Christians must undergo ultimate inves 10:30 (Deut. 32:36), ©The Lord shall think ye of Christ?" Inevitably, there tigation by God Himself. judge His people.© This brings the matter followed attention to the nature of the Canon J. E. Fison somewhat causti unpleasantly close to home. And it is Godhead, resulting in the formulation of cally, but accurately, accuses popular even worse with 1 Peter 4:17, ©the time is the doctrine of the Trinity. Later issues misconceptions regarding the judgment come for judgment to begin at the house revolved around the nature of sin, of refusing to allow it to do the one thing of God.© Jesus assures us that people like atonement, justification, and regenera that the New Testament declares it is the scribes, with religious pretensions, tion. Our own day is characterized by most designed to do judge, not lost ©shall receive greater condemnation© investigation of the scriptural testimony pagans outside the pale of the church, (Mk. 12:40), and James reminds us that regarding the closing events in the his but the complacent, ecclesiastical souls Christian teachers ©shall receive heavier tory of the church and the world. The whose entire confidence is based upon judgment© (James 3:1). Jesus tells us that latter rain of the Holy Spirit, the final the fact that they are well within it (Leon in the judgment some will say, ©Lord, proclamation of the gospel and the con Morris, The Biblical Doctrine of Judg Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, sequent testing of the church by perse ment, p. 64). and by thy name cast out devils, and by cution, the sealing of every man©s des In the same book Morris himself thy name do many mighty works?© only tiny as manifested by the judgment, and speaks similarly. "The judgment will be to receive His sentence, ©I never knew the second advent of Christ these are such that none may escape it. The living you; depart from me, ye that work iniq the topics now absorbing those who be and the dead are involved (2 Tim. 4:1; 1 uity© (Matt. 7:22 f.). ... It is worth lieve in Holy Writ. Pe 4:5). Even angels are included (2 Pe noting that the people who will be sur New investigation brings new truth, 2:4; Jude 6). God is ©the Judge of all© prised on that day are not the rank out and nowhere is this more evident than in (Heb. 12:23). It is" the temptation of reli siders, but those who think themselves the increasing light that has been shed on gious man to think that he will escape in safe within the church." Ibid., pp. 62, the doctrine of the judgment. For cen such a time. He can understand such a 64. (Bible references are from the turies the church paid lip service to the saying as ©fornicators and adulterers A.S.V.) Biblical warnings of judgment, but only God will judge© (Heb. 13:4). He can ap The doctrine of judgment was no in the past century and a half have theo preciate the force of Paul©s dictum that strange thing to the ancient people of the logians given it serious study. Until very all will be judged ©who believed not the tabernacle. In their ritual, on the Day of recent times it was popular to misinter truth, but had pleasure in unrighteous Atonement, there was "a remembrance pret John 5:24 to assert that Christians ness© (2 Thess. 2:12). But he likes to again made of sins every year" (Heb. would not be judged. Now most scholars think of himself as immune. . . . But the 10:3). Not all Israelites, of course, could
14 be summoned within the Holy of Holies liminary to glorification. ment; and that; of necessity, believers before the glory of God, but all appeared Let me repeat that the Israelites did must first be judged, and that prior to the in the person of their representative, the not appear in person before the ark. coming of the Lord. High Priest. They appeared only in the person of These truths help us understand the Students of the tabernacle have long their representative advocate the high significance of Israel©s Day of Atone understood that it portrays the true Pil priest. A number of scholars now recog ment, and also such passages as Zecha- grim©s Progress. Entering the courtyard, nize that the New Testament does not riah 3, where the high priest stands be the believer is confronted by the brazen speak of a judgment of the church fol fore the Most High in the soiled altar of sacrifice, a fitting emblem of lowing the Second Advent except in the garments that represent the sins of conversion and justification at the be parable of Matthew 25:41-46, which is Israel. We also gain insight into that ginning of the Christian journey to the recognized by many as a wide-lens pho passage in the Bible©s last book, which New Jerusalem. At this point, having tograph, a picture in cosmic perspective, warns that "the hour of his judgment is accepted the invitation to "come," the condensing in one representation the en come" (Rev. 14:6-12). This threefold believer in the grace of God finds himself tire divine judgment, though other message, which encompasses the "ever surrounded by the spotless white of the scriptures separate its phases (see J. lasting gospel," gathers out of the world court hangings, and through the ministry Oliver Buswell, A Systematic Theology a host who are characterized by their of priest and sacrifice his burden of guilt of the Christian Religion, vol. 2, p. 417). loyalty to "the commandments of God is rolled away. With Bunyan©s pilgrim The judgment of those who profess and the faith of Jesus" (verse 12). who confronting the cross could sing: Christ must precede His coming in order How wonderfully wise are the ways of "Blest cross, blest sepulchre, blest to determine the genuineness of their God! While salvation is set forth repeat rather be, the Man who there was put to faith in Christ and dependence upon His edly in Scripture as a gift, yet the doc shame for me" he feels his burden slip merits a dependence made manifest by trine of judgment reminds all recipients from his shoulders and roll into the tomb holy works thus deciding who is enti of that gift; that their lives are to be of Christ. tled to be in the first resurrection (see reviewed to see whether there is evi Every Christian knows it is not enough Rev. 20:4-6). dence of that absolute surrender to to be declared righteous through the im As Joseph Seiss has seen: "The truth Christ that characterizes genuine faith. puted merits of the Saviour. Holiness of is, that the resurrection, and changes We are indeed justified by faith alone, heart and life are essential. The laver, which pass ©in the twinkling of an eye© but all will be judged by their works, in located between the altar of burnt offer upon the living, are themselves the fruits order that all of God©s immortal ones ing and the tabernacle entrance, pointed and embodiments of antecedent judg may recognize whether the claim to faith to the truth of sanctification. Without ment. . . . Strictly speaking, men are has been substantiated. Not the Father, holiness "no man shall see the Lord" neither raised nor translated, in order to but He who bears our human nature as (Heb. 12:14), because God justifies no come to judgment. Resurrections and well as the divine, is to render each man whom He does not proceed to translations are products of judgment verdict (John 5:22). How vital that we be sanctify. God ever presents His gifts previously passed, upon the dead as found in Him, trusting solely in His with two hands, and no man can receive dead, and upon the quick (living) as merits, yet laboring earnestly to glorify forgiveness, pardon, and righteousness, quick." The Apocalypse, vol. 1, pp. Him in all things! without also receiving the sanctifying 325, 326. The final message to the world echoes Spirit. No man can accept Christ©s aton In a volume entitled The Last Things, the gospel of which Paul was not ing death without also taking His risen Walter Wood lists in his table of contents ashamed. It proclaims "the faith which life, which gives victory over sinful hab such themes as the following: The day of was once for all delivered to the saints" its. God is not content with forgiving the judgment not necessarily a natural day; (Jude 3, R.S. V.). While calling all men to rebel; He also takes away his rebellion. the righteous and the wicked will not be the worship of the Creator rather than Not only the stream of pollution is dealt judged together; passages in which the the creature, it simultaneously warns with, but also the fountain. judgment of Christ©s people is spoken of against the chief perversions of the gos Entrance to the first apartment re without any accompanying judgment of pel legalism and antinomianism. The minds the pilgrim that all Christian the heathen; the judgment of saints and "everlasting gospel" of Revelation 14:6 growth depends upon partaking of the sinners cannot be simultaneous because is a defense against the first heresy; the bread of life and the nourishing of the the saints are to bear a part in the work clarion call announcing the judgment indwelling Holy Spirit. The shewbread, of judgment. hour in the next verse is the divine lampstand, and the incense altar where Wood©s last point is highly significant. warning against antinomianism. Gi prayer was offered symbolize the ele There are two sets of texts in Scripture ments of the devotional life, as well as about judgment. One set declares that all * A number of systematic theologians have the Christian warfare. The incense is a who profess the name of Christ will be made this point. Benjamin Field says: "The continual reminder that the blessings of judged (Matt. 7:24 ff; 24:45 ff; 25:1 ff; saints, after being judged themselves, shall be justification cannot be left behind at 25:14 ff., etc.). But the other set repre assessors with Christ in the judgment wherein he shall condemn all the wicked, as well conversion, but continue to be necessary sents the believers as appearing in the angels as men." Handbook of Christian until the end of the journey. The as day of judgment in a different capacity Theology, p. 259. See also the writings of D. cending fragrance alone makes all else not as defendants but as judges (Matt. H. Kromminga, especially The Millennium in acceptable. 19:28, Luke 22:30, and particularly 1 the Church, pp. 86, 87. The next step of pilgrimage finds one Cor. 6:2, 3, where it is affirmed that the inside the Holy of Holies confronting the saints shall judge both the world and Desmond Ford, Ph.D., is currently serving as ark of the law. This article is an apt angels).* These two sets of texts prove a professor of religion at Pacific Union Col figure of judgment, the necessary pre that there is a definite order in the judg lege, Angwin, California. Ministry, July/1979 15 The Shroud of Turin Proof of the resurrection or a fourteenth-century hoax?
by Ralph Blodgett
he ancient linen sheet known as the appeared to have been whipped, bat which our Saviour Jesus Christ was en Shroud of Turin, discovered in Eu tered, and crucified arrived in Turin, folded in the tomb." Trope more than 600 years ago, has Italy, from the monastery of Saint Clare The creator of the object, he added, been proclaimed by experts around the in France. And in Turin, with the single had been located and admitted it to be "a world as the genuine burial garment of exception of a brief absence during work of human skill and not miracu Jesus. More than thirty popes have ex World War II, it has remained ever lously wrought or bestowed" (lan Wil pressed belief in its authenticity and since. son, The Turin Shroud, p. 230). Pope Paul VI declared it "the most im However, the fabric itself dates to On January 6, 1390, following further portant relic in the history of Christian some two hundred years earlier, when it testimony and study (antipope) Clement ity" (U.S. Catholic, May, 1978, p. 48). first appeared in the possession of a no VII ruled that further display of the arti Whenever it is exhibited (only four times bleman, Geoffrey de Charny. De Charny fact be permitted only if accompanied by in this century) it draws millions to its placed it on display in a church he had a public announcement given loudly and side to gaze upon the faint image cap previously built at Lirey, in the diocese intelligibly that "it is not the true shroud tured therein. of Troyes about eighty-five miles east of of our Lord, but a painting or picture If we can believe the conclusion of Paris. Unfortunately, De Charney never made of the semblance or representation some of the world©s greatest experts, it is divulged where, how, or from whom he of the shroud." indeed the most prized relic in history obtained the shroud, taking that secret As a result of this ruling little more for the one billion Christians in the with him to the grave when he died in was heard of the shroud until 1443 when world. If they are wrong, the Shroud of 1356. the clergy of Lirey attempted to retrieve Turin is perhaps the most extensive hoax It is interesting that a Roman Catholic it from Marguerite, widow of a count, since the infamous Piltdown man, the bishop was the first to denounce the ar into whose trust the shroud had been supposed missing link to man©s evolu tifact as a fraud! In a letter written to the placed in T418 owing to a period of war tionary past. pope soon after the shroud©s appear and unrest. She successfully stalled Where lies the truth? Is this piece of ance, Bishop Henry of Troyes claimed them off for fifteen years, during which cloth, fourteen feet long by three and a the church leaders at Lirey in an at time she gave it to another chapel at half feet wide, tangible proof of Christ©s tempt to raise money "procured for Chambery, France, apparently in ex death, burial, and resurrection? Or is it a their church a certain cloth cunningly change for two towns. fabulous fraud? An impressive medieval painted, upon which by clever sleight of In spite of several court battles and forgery, or a godsend from heaven? hand was depicted the twofold image of promises of reimbursement for lost rev Background of the cloth. Four hundred one man, that is to say the back and enue to the church of Lirey, the shroud years ago a large piece of linen cloth front, they falsely declaring and pre remained folded in a silver casket at bearing the faint image of a man who tending that this was the actual shroud in Chambery until December 4, 1532, when
16 a fire destroyed the church and damaged a larger sheet overwrapped the other the world finally began. Two small frag the shroud. Though rescued, the shroud items mentioned by John, thereby har ments and twelve threads were carefully still bears triangular burn marks on monizing all four accounts. However, removed from areas of significant mark twenty-four fold corners. It also shows such an outer covering would not con ings, including the supposed bloodstains. water stains from the attempt to rescue tact the body and could not bear the The result? The experts could not locate the relic from the blaze. markings exhibited by the Shroud of any evidence that the "stains" on these A little less than fifty years later it Turin. threads came from or contained blood traveled to Turin, Italy, where it has John also points out that the handker particles of any kind (Thomas Humber, resided for some four hundred years to chief which wrapped Christ©s head (sou- The Sacred Shroud, p. 178). our day. darion) was a separate cloth in addition Further examination of the excised Undaunted by the lack of historical to the body bandages, which he said he threads did reveal something suspected evidence connecting the shroud with found lying by itself apart from the other by some, but never proved. The panel of Christ, its proponents urge that a de grave wrappings (verse 7). Yet the cloth experts discovered that the fabric mark tailed examination of the markings on of Turin depicts a human face on the ings lie only on the surface of the indi the cloth itself exhibit unique features sheet along with the rest of the body. vidual threads with virtually no penetra that attest to the cloth©s miraculous ori The burial account (see John 19:40) tion, such as might be expected by many gin. Most often mentioned are the fol also uses the plural form for the wrap of the formerly proposed methods of lowing: pings placed about Christ©s body. All image transfer. * Marks in one hand and possibly in four Gospel writers agree that the linen Because no stains had penetrated into the feet accompanied by what appears to sheets, or swaths, were "wound" or the fibers of the material, the research be bloodstains. "wrapped" around Christ©s body, not group concluded that neither an organic * Bloodstains on the right chest area half-draped over it as would have been nor a chemical transfer of image could where a spear might have entered. the shroud (Matt. 27:59; Mark 15:46; have taken place on the shroud. * Numerous dumbbell-shaped wound Luke 23:53; and John 19:40). This ac 5. Existence of many similar shrouds. marks on the anterior and posterior por cords perfectly with known Jewish bur Many believers in the Shroud of Turin tions of the body accompanied by ial customs. do not realize that numerous other body bloodlike stains, which suggest a Roman 2. Not like other contemporary grave shrouds appeared in Europe about the flogging. clothes. The Shroud of Turin does not same time as the Turin cloth. In fact, no * Marks on the forehead and scalp harmonize with any other burial garment fewer than forty-three similar "true areas where a crown of sharp thorns dating to Christ©s day, Jewish, Egyptian, shrouds" circulated in medieval Europe might have penetrated. or other. after the Crusades had flooded the West Evidence disproving the shroud. One Likely the world©s largest collection of with "relics" from the east. Many of almost-consistent feature of contempo first century A.D. burial garments is the these shrouds, some quite similar to the rary books and articles on the shroud is a one housed at the Louvre, in Paris. The Shroud of Turin, still are on display in failure to present the negative side of the seventy-five or so such garments have Europe. issue the evidence that refutes the ex been described as knee-length tunics Conclusion. The weight of evidence perts© claims that this is the burial cloth with sleeves to the elbow and a hole for from Scripture, history, and science in of our crucified Saviour. the head. According to Robert Wilcox, dicates that the Shroud of Turin is not 1. Disharmony with the Biblical rec author of the 1977 volume Shroud, not a the actual covering for our Lord©s body ord. In his own words John (who calls single one of these garments bore the in death. himself "The disciple whom Jesus imprint of a body or face. The bodies Can we believe that God, knowing the loved") declares that he saw "the linen seem to have simply melted through the extremes mankind reaches in the misuse clothes, lying . . . and the napkin, that cloth, leaving a hodgepodge of human of material objects, would permit the was about his head, not lying with the disintegration. preservation of the actual shroud which linen clothes, but wrapped together in a 3. Testimony of history. Earlier in this contained Christ©s body? The God who place by itself" (John 20:5, 7). article we pointed out the absence of hid the grave site of Moses, that great The Greek word John uses is othonia, historical evidence for the shroud prior patriarch of old (Deut. 34:6), does not a plural form of othonion, meaning to 1356. Thus for some 1300 years fol want us to look backward to a lifeless "small linen cloths." In fact, in John lowing the burial of the Saviour nothing Saviour so much as He wants us to look 20:5-7 seven plural Greek forms of arti is known of the cloth that purports to be forward to a soon-coming Redeemer. cles, nouns, and participles referring to the one in which He was buried. When The Lord doesn©t want us to look at Jesus© burial garments indicate that the shroud did appear in the fourteenth the what of His crucifixion; He wants us Christ was not clad with just a single century (under unknown circumstances) to look at the why: "Who his own self cloth, top to bottom, as depicted on the the earliest official references to it (as we bare our sins in his own body on the tree, Shroud of Turin. According to John, have seen) not only identified it as a fake that we, being dead to sins, should live who was an eyewitness, He was but also demanded that statements to unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye wrapped in plural sheets or strips of that effect be announced publicly every were healed" (I Peter 2:24). The image linen cloth not a singular, fourteen- time it went on display. In the final anal of Himself that Christ wants left behind foot-long piece. ysis, skeptics and believers alike must on earth is not on a cloth, but in the lives We should point out, however, that admit history is the shroud©s worst of millions who reflect Him in words, Matthew, Mark, and Luke who were enemy. actions, and thoughts. II not eyewitnesses of the empty tomb 4. Lack of any trace of bloodstains. use a singular form when mentioning the On November 24, 1973, tests demanded Ralph Blodgett is associate editor of These graveclothes. Hence it could well be that by skeptics and believers alike around Times, Nashville, Tennessee.
Ministry, July/1979 17 FROM THE EDITOR
Salvation and the Cults 4. What is missing in the current practice of Christianity to cause bizarre groups to flourish?
The young man who knocked on my hear has its origin here. Unbelief a lack "The Seal of God" and "The Mark of door was clean-cut. His speech indicated of faith or trust shattered man©s rela the Beast." that he had a thorough knowledge of his tionship with God and loosed the flood of The sealing chapter of Revelation 7 particular brand of religion. As we stood sin and woe upon the world. Fear, guilt, describes the saved as clothed in white under my carport discussing the Scrip envy, and a host of other destructive robes and crying with a loud voice, tures, I waited for the right moment to attitudes replaced love, peace, confi " ©Salvation belongs to our God who sits ask the all-important question. Although dence, and all the constructive, delight upon the throne, and to the Lamb!© " I didn©t frame my question in the words ful attitudes with which God originally (verse 10, R.S.V.). Note carefully the of the Philippian jailer, "What must I do endowed man. inherent quality of salvation by faith in to be saved?" the point was the same. In perfect union with his Maker, man this praise session. The saints refer not This zealous apostle of what I consider was at peace with God, himself, and his to their works, their accomplishments, to be a cult seemed strangely bewildered wife. When he sinned, man was at war or their doings, but to what God and the as I asked for his belief on the doctrine with God, himself, and his wife. In Lamb, Jesus Christ, have done for them. of salvation by faith. In fact, he acted as creasing population only enlarged the Salvation is of the Lord, not of man! It is if he had never heard the phrase before, battlefield. Increasing knowledge only He who saves man, not man who saves and I honestly believe he hadn©t. It was expanded the possibilities for greater himself. Incidentally, this verse is sig evident that his spiritual emphasis was and more serious varieties of rebellion. nificant evidence for the equality of God dedicated to fitting scriptural passages By nature, the sinner is an unbeliever. and the Lamb, since both receive the into a framework of the end of the world He simply does not believe God. Some same praise for the plan of salvation. and the establishment by Christ of an even deny His existence. All rebel In Revelation 14, we find three mes earthly kingdom. He seemed to be to against God in one way or another. Sol sages going to the earth, under the aus tally unaware of the implications of sal omon sensed this when he wrote, "This pices of three symbolic angels. The first vation by faith. alone I found, that God made man angel©s message (verse 6) proclaims the In continuing this series on authentic upright, but they have sought out many everlasting, or the eternal, gospel to Christianity versus cults, the magnifi devices" (Eccl. 7:29, R.S.V.). every nation, tribe, and tongue and peo cent doctrine of salvation by grace The answer to Job©s question, " ©How ple. An understanding of this unchange through faith alone in the Lord Jesus can a man be just [be clear, be righteous] able gospel reveals that God©s method of Christ stands as an Everest of unique before God?© " is found in God©s way of saving sinners has ever been the same. ness, forever distinguishing true Christi reuniting man with Himself. It is God's Salvation has been, is how, and ever will anity from all other religions. I say "true way of salvaging lost man; God's way of be by faith, and not by works. Christianity" for, sad to say, in all prob restoring the ruptured relationship; In this same chapter, the third angel©s ability the majority of professed Chris God's way of giving back to man the message contains a warning against the tians, which includes the friend at my peace and sense of self-worth he once beast and his mark, couched in the most door^ have an extremely limited and had. "It is not in man that walketh to severe language to be found in Scripture. shallow understanding of this founda- direct his steps" (Jer. 10:23), Thus, in this one chapter, the two tional truth. To repeat, the doctrine of The content of all Scripture, from themes of salvation by faith and salva salvation by faith alohe in Jesus Christ Genesis to Revelation, centers on God©s tion by works the everlasting gospel stands without a peer in any other reli plan of salvation. Of course, our foe, and the beast with his mark appear in gious philosophy. Nothing equals it! Satan, uses every conceivable scheme to stark contrast. In future editorials, we Naturally this belief centers on Jesus, abort and distort God©s unique and will expand this concept more fully. The "the chiefest among ten thousand," who beautiful way to save a person. Satan©s point we wish to emphasize here is is "altogether lovely" (S. of Sol. 5:10, aim is to destroy, to kill, and to steal. By God©s unalterable way of saving a man, 16). Around this particular doctrine the inducing men to believe error and dis and Satan©s unceasing attacks on this storm center of controversy swirled believe truth regarding God©s plan of plan as exposed in every book of the during Reformation days, although the salvation, he is a liar and a murderer Bible. Authentic Christianity will clearly conflict between salvation by faith and from the beginning (see John 10:10; show the difference between the two salvation by works has a history as old as 8:44). systems by exalting Jesus Christ as the man©s fall. Through the corridors of There are two opposing themes de one and only Way, Truth, and Life. time, from Eden until today, one crucial scribed in Scripture one inspired by The first step in understanding salva problem has continued for which no one God, and the other inspired by Satan. tion by faith is to recognize that God©s has the solution except God. Job put One is salvation by faith, and the other is method of saving us begins and ends his finger squarely on the problem when salvation by works. The history of with love. Today©s society, which so he asked, "©How can a man be just Israel, the sanctuary services, the glibly punctuates everything with the before God?©" (Job 9:2, R.S.V.). The Psalms, the prophetic book of Daniel, word love, makes understanding its broken personal relationship between the teachings of Jesus, the writings of meaning in God©s terms extrefnely diffi man and God is the root cause of all Paul and others, contrast these two cult. So few connect love with God, and problems in life. Every jail and hospital, themes. The book of Revelation cli so many believe it to be an inherent every divorce and graveyard, testifies to maxes this antithesis by bringing these quality of human nature, that surely it this fact. Every evil you see, feel, or two themes into focus under the titles of must be the most overworked, misun-
18 derstood word in the dictionary. and for his wife garments of skins, and ask for? What more could God do to let My daughter Linda, during college clothed them" (verse 21, R.S.V.). Is it us know that He loves us? No wonder days, bought a large poster with the reading too much into this simple state John exclaimed, "Behold, what manner word love printed vertically in large let ment to see here the inauguration of a of love the Father hath bestowed upon ters. Three of the letters carried qualify sacrificial system for transgression? God us, that we should be called the sons of ing statements, one of which revealed a patiently instructing these new sinners of God" (1 John 3:1). The incalculable dangerous misapprehension (although I the unsuspected malignity of sin? Ex value God places upon man is unparal am sure the author of the poster meant plaining that man-made coverings of fig leled. God the Son giving His life on well). It read: "Love is an energy which leaves would not suffice and that a sub Calvary is the most profound theme exists of itself. It is its own value." This stitute must die in order to provide for possible for meditation. statement makes love an entity that them a suitable covering? Imagine "Every human tie may perish, exists of itself, detached from God. The Adam©s feelings as he watched the death Friend to friend unfaithful prove; scriptural view is that God is love, not of the animal, knowing his sin was the Mothers cease their own to cherish, love is God. He is the source of love and cause of this hitherto unknown suffering Heaven and earth at last remove; life. Satan, of course, attempts to block and that because of his guilt innocent But no change this concept from our minds by picturing blood must be shed! Dimly he under Can attend Jehovah©s Ipve." J.R.S. God as a tyrant who is responsible for all stands that he deserves to die, and can suffering and death. dp nothing to avert that just sentence, So the first step God took to redeem but an innocent One will take his place! Fifty Years Ago man was to help him to see that He is All this and more is wrapped up in this "The cultivation of a pleasing love. When Adam and Eve sinned, ap single sentence. manner by a minister of the gospel is parently there was no acknowledgement The point is that God took the initia not to be condemned; but when a of wrong on their part. Adam blamed tive in redeeming man. That is love! He minister begins to study how he may Eve, and Eve blamed God for making is the one who reaches out first to the gain the approval of men, without the serpent that deceived her! There is sinner. That is love! The sinner can and regard as to himself being approved no record of any confession of sin or may respond, but it all starts with God. unto God, he is headed toward de request for forgiveness in the Genesis That is love! feat. The mouthpiece for God, the story, although both are implied. In ac Paul puts it this way, "God shows his ambassador of heaven©s King, can tions and words, Adam and Eve initially love for us in that while we were yet not mold his message and govern his exhibit self-justification only! What sinners Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8, conduct to satisfy popular demand. more fitting symbol could there be of R.S.V.). His social contact must be governed salvation by works than the fig-leaf gar The magnificent point is that God by the high standard of the holy ments they made to cover their naked didn©t have to save us. In fact, from a calling of the ministry, as set forth ness? human standpoint, His doing so is in in the inspired word. To lower this In spite of their self-justifying atti comprehensible, as Paul reasons in Ro standard, in the desire to win favor tude, the first thing the Lord did for mans 5. Oh, the breadth and length and and popular applause, and be con Adam and Eve was to curse the serpent depth and height of His love is unfath sidered ©a good fellow© in the social and promise that a marvelous salvation omable ! When the Holy Spirit impresses realm of the world, results in ruin to would be made available to the sinful the heart with this one point alone, it will the career of any preacher." MIN pair (see Gen. 3:14, 15). Then, the record cause us to cry out, "Lord, be merciful ISTRY, July, 1929, p. 23. says, "The Lord God made for Adam to me, a sinner!" What more could we
Ministry, July/1979 19 HEALTH AND RELIGION
Who Are the Disadvantaged? Ills caused by affluence must receive the attention of the church as well as ills caused by poverty.
Christian charity©s outreach of love to by Thomas W. Klewin these diseases? unhealthful living hab the body, mind, and soul has tradition its that have evolved over the past fifty ally focused on the poor and disadvan- this as the first revolution in medicine. It years. Our "good life" is rapidly be taged, especially in the Third World. It is a revolution the Christian church has coming a way of death. has attempted to meet the economic, embraced and taken with it as it has gone The health experts point to four pri social, and medical problems of these out into the less-developed parts of the mary areas of abuse: (1) Diet. Most of us people as well as touching them with the world. Even today, the church asks eat too much and improperly. Obesity, gospel of Jesus Christ. concerned Christians to contribute funds lack of exercise, and undue stress and Paradoxically, we may now have to and expertise so that medical mission tension combine to magnify our dietary include among the "disadvantaged" can be a part of its spiritual mission. imbalance. 2. Smoking, especially ciga those living the so-called good life amid While the church has focused its at rettes. 3. Alcohol. Ten million Ameri all the trappings of affluence. Self-indul tention on the malnutrition, poverty, ill cans are alcoholics or problem drinkers. gent living habits have replaced germs, ness, and premature death that form a 4. The pollution of our environment, in viruses, and communicable diseases as way of life for more than half the world, cluding the proliferation of chemicals the major cripplers and killers in our a need has arisen for a second medical and additives, which eventually find prosperous, industrialized, technological revolution preventive medicine. The their way into the water, soil, and air. society. Yet the dangers of such an ap church can and must also carry this rev The solutions proposed by health ex proach to life are largely unnoticed, olution to those to whom it is ministering perts and massive government programs disregarded, or even denied. in the affluent, industrialized world already operating in Sweden and Finland Before 1900 the primary killers in the where the first medical revolution is al (and taking shape in Canada) are re United States were diseases such as ty ready a fact of life. If it is concerned markably similar to what evangelical phoid fever, tuberculosis, cholera, about human beings and the quality of Christianity has always asked of Chris nephritis, influenza, pneumonia, and, for human life, the church must join the tians a change in life style. Heart dis children, whooping cough and diphthe second medical revolution and help ease, stroke, arteriosclerosis, cancer, ria. Medical advances and other im combat those life-shortening diseases cirrhosis of the liver, emphysema, bron provements have largely conquered that are now responsible for three chitis, asthma, diabetes, high blood these scourges in the industrialized fourths of all deaths occurring in the pressure, and a wide variety of lung dis Western world. Health experts refer to United States and Canada. The cause of eases have no real, permanent solutions except prevention. Since there are no use, or neglect our bodies is to violate Christian charity has traditionally miracle vaccines, antibiotics, or drugs on the principle of Christian stewardship. been associated with alleviating the ills the horizon that will eliminate the dis Likewise, Christian theology has of society, not only on the level of the eases of the "good life," the only an stated that our bodies are the temple of individual, but also in the family, com swer is to change life styles, clean up the God, within which the Holy Spirit munity, country, and world. Yet an in environment, and eliminate those un dwells. Consequently, we do not possess dividual©s life may become just as wholesome habits that contribute to dis the freedom to deal with our bodies as stunted by self-indulgence based on the ability or early death. we choose. We are to glorify God in our "good life" as from poverty, malnutri This second medical revolution has bodies by how we live and what we do tion, or lack of medical care. The family theological implications that the church, with them. We are to keep our bodies and society suffer just as much when an and especially the clergy, must consider. under spiritual control, never permitting individual is incapacitated or dies pre Not only must we consider our own life self-indulgence or a flagrant disregard maturely from the disease of affluence as style, but also how involved the church for what is good to rule us. when the causes relate to poverty. and Christians should become in seeking A scriptural mandate for the Chris What can the church do? to eradicate these life-crippling prob tian©s involvement in the second medical It can encourage its members to live lems. revolution may be found in the com Christian life styles, to become con Some believe that the business of the mandment to love our neighbor as our- scious of their stewardship obligations church is to preach the gospel and stay self. According to traditional Christian in relation to their bodies. out of "social," "economic," and "po interpretation, a "neighbor" is anyone in It can also preach the full gospel, the litical" issues. Many are convinced that need of our help and assistance. Those gospel that Christ proclaimed as He went one©s life style is a matter of personal living a destructive life style must cer about not only teaching but also taking freedom, and consequently falls outside tainly be placed in this category. care of people©s physical needs. Jesus the scope of either the church or the The commandment "Thou shall not loved people in their totality. If Jesus government. kill" (Ex. 20:13) includes the thought says anything to the church of today, He Others, in contrast, point out that that we are not to harm our neighbor in speaks of the need for Christians to love Christian stewardship has always in his body, but help and defend him in his all those who have needs physical, as cluded the care of one©s own body as every bodily need. Certainly this com well as spiritual and to attempt to min well as the resources of the earth, predi mandment includes warning others and ister to them as He did. Bl cated on the belief that no individual assisting them to deal with destructive owns anything absolutely, not even his life styles. Cain©s query, "Am I my or her own body. We possess and use all brother©s keeper?" requires an affirma Thomas W. Klewin is a retired United States things, according to traditional Christian tive answer. The church and Christians Air Force chaplain, professional writer, and theology, as a trust from God, the Cre have no alternative but to be concerned former health educator. He makes his home ator and final Sovereign. To abuse, mis and to try to alleviate this situation. in Crapaud, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Ministry, July/1979 21 BIBLICAL ARCHEOLOGY
The Bible and the Black Obelisk. This unusual artifact shows the only known portrayal specifically identified as a Hebrew king. The first article in this series described by William H. Shea Turning now to examine Shalmane the 853 B.C. campaign of Assyrian King ser©s 841 B.C. campaign as given in his Shalmaneser III, which resulted in a Heal history, we should notice a minor annals, we find that after successfully draw or a defeat for him at Qarqar where chronological problem. dealing with Damascus he turned south he faced a coalition of four kings, in According to Shalmaneser©s annals, to the Hauran, an area in southern Syria cluding Ahab of Israel. Over the next the earlier campaign during which he and northern Transjordan. Continuing in few years, Shalmaneser returned peri came in contact with Ahab at Qarqar this direction would have brought the odically to wage battle in this area with (see MINISTRY, May, 1979) occurred in Assyrians into contact with some Israel Damascus as the focus of his attacks. his sixth regnal year. The campaign dur ite settlements in Gilead, which is ex Not until 841 B.C., however, did the As ing which he dealt with Jehu, he dates to actly what happened according to a ref syrian monarch reach the high point of his eighteenth year thus twelve calen erence to this campaign in the Bible. his success in these western campaigns. dar years elapsed between Shalmane In our previous study of Shalma According to his annals, it was in his ser©s contacts with these two Israelite neser©s battle at Qarqar in which he eighteenth regnal year (841 B.C.) that he kings. The Bible, however, specifies a fought Ahab©s forces (among others), we gained the greatest victory over Damas total of fourteen years for the two kings suggested that even though an Israelite cus. Shalmaneser did not actually reduce who reigned in Samaria between Ahab king was involved, the episode was not the city and occupy it. He defeated Ha- and Jehu. Ahaziah followed Ahab and mentioned in the Bible because the battle zael©s army in the field, besieged Da reigned two years (1 Kings 22:51), while was fought in an area peripheral to mascus itself, and then apparently Joram reigned twelve years after Aha Israel©s interest. By way of contrast, if satisfied with his success up to that ziah (2 Kings 3:1). Thus in reckoning the Shalmaneser©s troops crossed into Isra point moved on farther south. interval between Ahab and Jehu there elite territory at this time, we should The reference in his annals to this appears to be a discrepancy of two years expect a Biblical reference. Such a ref particular encounter with Damascus according to the Israelite and Assyrian erence does occur, not in the annalslike claims: "Hazael of Damascus put his records. record of 2 Kings, but in a message from trust upon his numerous army and called The most likely solution to this minor the prophet Hosea. up his troops in great number. ... I chronological puzzle has been proposed In his message the prophet indicts the fought with him and inflicted a defeat by the eminent modern chronographer inhabitants of Israel for their injustice upon him, killing with the sword 16,000 E. R. Thiele. Thiele suggests that at this and for trusting in the strength of their of his experienced soldiers. I took away time in Israel the regnal years of the arms (see Hosea 10:13). Warning against from him 1,121 chariots, 470 riding kings were reckoned according to what false self-confidence, the prophet pre horses as well as his camp. He disap is known as the nonaccession-year sys dicted punishment to come and re peared to save his life (but) I followed tem. According to this method, the first minded his hearers of an earlier occasion him and besieged him in Damascus, his year of the new king started immediately when Israel©s arms were not adequate to royal residence. (There) I cut down his upon his accession to the throne. The save her from the onslaught of a foreign gardens (outside of the city and de accession-year system used in Babylon enemy. "Therefore the tumult of war parted)." (For the inscriptions of Shal did not officially start the first year of the shall arise among your people, and all maneser III see, Ancient Near Eastern new king until the next calendar year your fortresses shall be destroyed, as Texts Relating to the Old Testament, began. Obviously, in nonaccession reck Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the edited by J. B. Pritchard [Princeton: oning, two regnal years the last year of day of battle; mothers were dashed in Princeton University, 1955].) a particular king and the first year of his pieces with their children. Thus it shall This failure of Damascus to hold back successor both fell within the same be done to you, O house of Israel, be the Assyrians proved the undoing of calendar year. Thus adding the number cause of your great wickedness" (Hosea Israel and Jehu its king. Shalmaneser©s of years for each king who computed his 10:14, 15, R.S.V.). annals go on to tell about the continua reign according to this system results in a Who was Shalman and when did he tion of his successful campaign beyond higher total than the actual number of destroy Beth-arbel? The name Shalman Damascus. elapsed calendar years. Since two kings, obviously corresponds to a shortened "I marched as far as the mountains of Ahaziah and Jehoram, reigned in the in form of Shalmaneser. Shalmaneser V Hauran, destroying, tearing down and terval between Ahab and Jehu, we conquered Samaria in 722 B.C., after burning innumerable towns, carrying should deduct one year each from their Hosea gave this prophecy (see 2 Kings booty away from them which was be regnal years to get the actual number of 18:9). Shalmaneser IV reigned for a dec yond counting. I (also) marched as far as years that elapsed during this interval. ade during a period of Assyrian weak the mountains of Ba©li-ra©si which is a Following this procedure fits these two ness in the first half of the eighth century promontory (lit.: at the side of the sea) Israelite kings into the twelve-year in B.C. By a process of elimination, there and erected there a stela with my image terval given in Shalmaneser©s annals fore, the "Shalman" referred to by as king. At that time I received the trib with precision. (For the chronology of Hosea should be identified with Shal ute of the inhabitants of Tyre, Sidon, this period of Israelite history see E. R. maneser III and the only time he could and of Jehu, son of Omri." Thiele, Mysterious Numbers of the He have come in contact with an Israelite Before tracing the course of this ex brew Kings, 2d ed. [Grand Rapids: settlement such as Beth-arbel in Gilead tended campaign and its impact on Bib- Eerdmans, 1965].) was during the campaign of 841 B.C.
22 when he marched into the Hauran and which was excavated by A. H. Layard at temporary depiction of a Hebrew king then turned to the sea. (For a detailed Nimrud, or ancient Calah, in 1846. This and one of the few representations of discussion of Shalmaneser Ill©s 841 B.C. four-sided monument stands two meters Israelites from the period of the mon campaign, see M. C. Astour, "841 B.C.: high and is slightly over half a meter archy. (The Lachish reliefs from Sen The First Assyrian Invasion of Israel," wide at its base. There are five panels of nacherib©s palace show Israelite soldiers Journal of the American Oriental Soci pictorial relief on each of its four sides, fighting and Israelite refugees fleeing the ety, 91 (1971): 383-389.) Thus Shalma crowned by three progressively smaller city and being captured.) The Black Ob neser III was the first Assyrian king to steps at the top. On the topmost steps, at elisk may no longer be the sole known move his army into Israelite territory and the base, and above each of the panels depiction of a Hebrew king, however, fight against one or more Israelite sites, are inscriptions. The upper set of panels since the discovery in the excavations at thus setting in motion the tragic pattern show Sua of Gilzanu bowing before Ramat Rahel of a sherd on which ap of Assyrian invasions that continued Shalmaneser, who is attended by two of pears an ink drawing of one who may be through much of the next two centuries. his officers. Four more Assyrian officers an Israelite king. The identification is not Following his foray into the Hauran, stand behind Sua and in front of his certain, however, and the picture of Jehu the Assyrian commander turned west, porters, who bring his tribute. The sec on the Black Obelisk still is the only according to his annals, penetrating the ond set of panels depicts Jehu the "son representation specifically identified as a mountains of Ba©li-ra©si beside the sea. of Omri" bowing before Shalmaneser Hebrew king. (For the new sherd from The second word of the two which make and attended by a similar group of As Ramat Rahel which may depict a Juda- up this name is related to the Hebrew syrian officers, who are followed in turn hite ruler, see Y. Aharoni, "Beth- word ro'sh, meaning "head." Thus the by thirteen Israelite porters, who bring Haccherem," Archaeology and Old Tes name of the place referred to here means Jehu©s tribute. (For photographs of the tament Study, edited by D. W. Thomas "Head of Baal." Earlier interpreters Black Obelisk see, The Ancient Near [Oxford: Oxford University, 1967], Plate identified this site with Ras en-Naqura at East in Pictures Relating to the Old Tes VI, following page 180.) the mouth of the Dog River in central tament, edited by J. B. Pritchard Although Shalmaneser certainly sub Lebanon where so many ancient con [Princeton: Princetbn University, 1954].) jugated a number of kings in his cam querors carved their victory stelae. More The inscription lists Jehu©s tribute as paigns, the Black Obelisk pictures only recent interpreters have identified Ba©li- including, "silver, gold, a golden saplu- two Sua and Jehu. Why did he pick out ra©si, correctly I believe, with Mount bowl, a golden vase with pointed bot these two? The answer appears to be Carmel on the Mediterranean coast just tom, golden tumblers, golden buckets, given by the monument itself. Above south of the border between Israel and tin, a staff for a king (and) wooden both Sua and Jehu appear symbols of the the territory of Tyre and Sidon. Several puruhtu." The succeeding three sets of winged sun-disk and an eight-pointed reasons point to this identification. panels from the middle to the bottom of star but in a reversed order. The sun is to In the first place, the fact that at this the obelisk list and depict the tribute the left over Jehu and to the right over time Shalmaneser took tribute from both brought from Musri, Suhi, and Hattina, Sua. The reason, I would suggest, is that Jehu of Israel and the kings of Tyre and but without picturing the rulers of these the sun rises in the east, where Sua Sidon implies that such tribute was re kingdoms. ruled, and sets in the west, where Jehu ceived at a site, such as the Mount Car This monument gives us an extraor ruled. Sua©s kingdom of Gilzanu has not mel area, located approximately equi dinary opportunity to see how ancient been located precisely but it was some distant between their respective royal Israelites looked and dressed. All four where to the north and east of Assyria. It residences. Second, if one draws the teen of the Israelites, including Jehu, are may not have been Shalmaneser©s east geographical coordinates for Shalma- bearded, have long hair, and wear a ernmost conquest but it certainly was neser©s 841 B.C. campaign, the logical pointed cap. All of the Israelites wear a representative of his conquests in that highway for him to have taken from the belted tunic that has a fringe at the bot area. This location of Gilzanu is also Hauran and Beth-arbel to the Mediterra tom. In addition, the Israelite porters borne 6ut by the camels that Sua is nean Sea would have been through the wear over the tunic a mantle that extends shown bringing to Shalmaneser along Jezreel Valley, which would have over the shoulders and is fringed or tas- with his tribute. These camels have two brought him to the coast at Mount Car seled down the front on both sides. Jehu, humps and are, therefore, Bactrian or mel, rather than at a point north of however, does not wear the outer man eastern^ camels. Beirut on the coast of Lebanon. Third, in tle. His position perhaps suggests the Jehu was selected to appear on the light of the struggle which took place reason for it©s absence. He is bowing Black Obelisk not because he was the upon Mount Carmel between Elijah and before the Assyrian king on hands and most powerful or one of the more im the prophets of Baal during the reign of knees with his chin and beard towards portant kings that Shalmaneser defeated, Ahab, only a little more than a decade the ground the picture of abject humil but because he represented the western before this incident, it is not at all un iation. As a part of this humiliation, it most conquest, just as Sua of Gilzanu likely that Mount Carmel could have looks as if he had to remove his outer was representative of Assyrian con been called "Head of Baal" or Mount mantle and was thus forced to bow be quests in the east. Putting this depiction Baal at this time. The evidence seems to fore the emperor of the world virtually in of Jehu together with the reference in the indicate, therefore, that Shalmaneser set his underwear! All of the Israelite por Assyrian king©s annals to receiving trib up his stele and received tribute from ters wear pointed shoes, but we cannot ute from him in the vicinity of Mount these western kings on Mount Carmel. see whether Jehu has his shoes on or not, Carmel, I would suggest that the Black We are fortunate to have a pictorial because his feet are hidden behind those Obelisk depicts an event that actually representation of Jehu©s payment of of the Assyrian officers. happened as a result of Shalmaneser©s tribute to Shalmaneser. This representa Until recently it was said that the campaign of 841 B.C. and further, that it tion comes to us from the Black Obelisk, Black Obelisk provided the only con happened within the borders of Israel-
Ministry, July/1979 23 ite territory. Semitic languages than it does in modern the esteem in which he was held as the Shalmaneser©s inscription refers to English, however, and can mean a de founder of Samaria and of the dynasty Jehu as the "son of Omri." Actually scendant of any subsequent generation. that built up that city and its kingdom. Jehu was not a descendant of Omri, but In this case it even refers to an unrelated was the one who exterminated Omri©s successor in office. Omri©s name, com William H. Shea is an associate professor of line to become king himself. The word monly associated with the royal house of Old Testament, Andrews University Theo "son" has a broader meaning in ancient Samaria in Assyrian inscriptions, shows logical Seminary, Berrien Springs, Michigan. Yours free from MINISTRY
As a special service to its readers, the Past: The World©s. Most Important areas of the Middle East. Its collection MINISTRY offers a free copy of a signifi Biblical Artifacts," it is available for of Nuzi cuneiform tablets is among the cant lecture, "Biblical Archeology After $1.00 per copy. largest known. Museum membership, Thirty Years," by Siegfried H. Horn, The Siegfried H. Horn Archeological which includes a quarterly newsletter eminent archeologist. Given October 22, Museum was founded by Horn in 1970. and announcements of special events, is 1978, at the naming of the Siegfried H. He retired in 1976 as dean of the An open to all for a fee of $10.00. Horn Archeological Museum, Berrien drews University Theological Seminary To take advantage of these offers, mail Springs, Michigan, this survey discusses and curator of the museum. Also a field the coupon below, along with the correct such archeological achievements since archeologist, Horn was associated with payment, to: MINISTRY Archeological 1948 as: Dr. G. Earnest Wright in excavations at Offers, 6840 Eastern Avenue NW., * consolidation of ancient chronology Shechem and led out in three seasons of Washington, D.C. 20012. This offer valid * discovery of texts bearing on the his work at Heshbon. The museum has only through September 30, 1979, since tory of writing grown to contain 7,000 objects from all supplies are limited. * texts which illuminate various periods of Biblical history * ancient Bible manuscripts I want to keep up with what is going on in Biblical archeology. Please send * sensational emergence of the Ebla I me the following: tablets I [ ] ...... copies of "Relics of the Past: The World©s Most Important * excavations of key cities _ Biblical Artifacts" ($1.00 per copy). *A- discoveries with particular implica I [ ] Membership in the Siegfried H. Horn Archeological Museum ($10.00, tions for the New Testament. I one-time fee). Horn served for several years as [ ] "Biblical Archeology After Thirty Years" (no charge). sponsor of the Biblical Archeology sec tion of MINISTRY. Recently, in response | Name ...... to a request from the MINISTRY staff, he prepared a directory to the great muse I Address ums of the world, guiding the reader to I City .... State Zip. those artifacts that have special bearing on Biblical studies. Entitled "Relics of Ministers© tour to Bible lands September 10-27, 1979 sites of special significance to min- round trip from New York City! First- ir Eighteen days that will add a signifi isters. class accommodations, good food, and cant new dimension to your ministry. Special emphasis of archeological excellent land-travel arrangements are * Experienced guides, who know what sites. all included in this low price. Register your interests are. The all-inclusive price is only $1,545 now! * Wonderful fellowship with ministers of all faiths. Sponsored jointly by MINISTRY and [ ] Yes, I want to join the Ministers© Tour to Bible Lands. Andrews University, this special tour Enclosed is my deposit of $150 (refundable up to 30 days before departure for ministers to the Bible Lands will date). include: [ ] Send me a brochure giving complete itinerary and full particulars. * Egypt, with additional flights to Luxor and Karnak. Name * Syria, where you will see Tel Mar- dikh, home of the famous Ebla tab Address lets, as well as Damascus. * Jordan, with a never-to-be-forgotten City __ State Zip side trip to Petra, the "rose-red city half as old as time." Mail to MINISTRY, 6840 Eastern Avenue NW., Washington, D.C. 20012. ** All the usual places of interest in Israel and Jerusalem, as well as many 24 SCIENCE AND RELIGION
Does the Ice Age Disprove the Bible? Were the sites of Chicago and New York once under ice? In New England, a land of distinct by Doug Johnson tons of rock and sand debris over Can seasons, the summer of 1816 was ada and the Northern United States. strangely different. Old-timers remem This glacial debris is responsible for bered it as "the year without a summer"; much of the rolling hills dotted with or "Eighteen-Hundred and Froze to lakes found throughout the northern Death." It was characterized by snow in United States. June, overcoats and mittens in July, and Not only did this great ice sheet affect August temperatures in the thirties. the land, it siphoned water from the sur What caused this freak climatic devia rounding oceans. Scientists estimate that tion? Scientists interviewed by the Na- at this time the oceans were as much as tional Geographic (Vol. LXXXIV, No. two to three hundred feet below their 6, December, 1943) attributed it to the present levels. If correct, the present site accumulation of volcanic dust in the of San Francisco would have been earth©s atmosphere following large vol nearly fifty miles inland and that of New canic explosions in 1812, 1814, and 1815. York City a hundred and fifty miles from Volcanic ash ejected in enormous quan the ocean! tities into the atmosphere may absorb, As long as conditions were favorable, reflect, and block up to 20 percent of the the ice sheet spread in all directions, warmth-producing rays of the sun. One into a wide U-shaped valley a valley growing to an estimated depth of 2,000 to scientist has estimated that "three or totally different from the V-shaped val 4,000 feet in what is today New York four times the number of currently leys carved by rivers and streams. Below State and 5,000 feet over New England! erupting volcanoes would depress the Paradise Glacier on the south side of the An ice sheet that towered a mile high and temperature [of the earth] from one to mountain, large areas of bedrock have spread as wide as the continent may two degrees Centigrade, enough given been scraped smooth, leaving a shining seem difficult to believe. However, even adequate precipitation to initiate an ice surface with minute scratches running today, one tenth of the earth©s landmass age." Harold G. Coffin, Creation: Ac parallel to one another, indicating the and 2 percent of the earth©s water re cident or Design? (Washington, D.C.: glacier©s direction of travel. mains locked up in glaciers. The Antarc Review and Herald Publishing Assn., On the north side of the mountain, tic ice sheet covers more than 5 million 1969), p. 238. Carbon Glacier, a skinny river of ice, square miles at an average depth of a Abundant evidences of volcanic ac descends to an amazingly low elevation little more than a mile. The glacial ice tion from the past can be seen in the of under 4,000 feet. At the toe or termi sheets of today cling to the poles, far western United States. Crater Lake in nus of the glacier a ridge of rock and from the reach of civilization. However, southern Oregon is a prime example. sand debris stands where it has fallen off they provide us with a glimpse of what This peaceful lake lies in a cone-shaped the glacier as it melts in summer. Farther the giant ancient ice sheets must have depression that has replaced the top of down the valley other ridges of debris, been like. an ancient mountain called, by modern called moraines, signify that the glacier Ultimately, the ice age ended, of geologists, Mount Mazama. Towering has advanced to even lower elevations in course, and the glaciers halted their ad nearly as high as Mount Rainier or past years. vance. In response to rising tempera Mount Shasta, Mount Mazama once Geologists studying the landforms of tures the ice sheets retreated until they reigned as a Cascade monarch. Then North America have discovered evi reached an equilibrium with the elements sometime following the Flood, according dences of extensive glaciation in of nature along their present boundaries. to Creationist scientists, it blew off its twenty-one of the States of the United During the early twentieth century, top in a wild display of fire, smoke, and States and all of Canada. Glacial phe conservative Christians often felt ash. The once dignified peak was trans nomena that may be observed and stud threatened by the thought of an ice age formed into a belching smokestack, ied in the high mountains where glaciers and many even rejected it. They viewed contributing a man-sized helping of ash usually exist today are also found in the it as an event totally incompatible with a to an already overpolluted atmosphere. lowlands of northeastern North Amer short Biblical chronology. But with the Mount Mazama, though, wasn©t alone in ica. The evidence indicates these gla passing of time, as Christian scientists this volcanic heyday. The geological ciers covered what is today New York studied the geologic record, most of record indicates widespread volcanic City, Detroit, Chicago, and Minneapolis! them concluded that an ice age had in eruption in the post-Flood era. What effect did this ice sheet have on deed existed. They began to realize that Did these eruptions precipitate an ice our present landscape? One interesting the ice age didn©t disprove the Bible; it age? Are there evidences of massive result was the formation of the largest simply showed that the earth©s history glacial action in the United States? inland waterway in the world the Great has been one of turmoil and rapid The Mount Rainier area of the Pacific Lakes. Other carving feats include Puget change. II Northwest serves as an example of ter Sound of the Northwest and the spec rain showing extensive glacial activity. tacular Canadian Rockies. In addition to Doug Johnson is an M.Div. student at the Emmons Glacier, on the northeast, has shaping the land, the ice sheet acted as a Theological Seminary, Andrews University, transformed a massive mountainside large dump truck, depositing billions of Berrien Springs, Michigan. Ministry, July/1979 25 SHEPHERDESS
The Prayer of a Minister©s Wife. Have you ever felt that the pressures of your position were more than you could handle?
Dear Shepherdess: Jane Taylor by Jane T. Howell imagine you being a minister©s wife!" Howell, who wrote this month's column, Where did I get off the track? "The Prayer of a Minister's Wife," not see to it that a meeting or "unexpected Lord, it©s come up again. I©m having only is the wife of a minister, she is also a emergency" arises? Weeks go by before trouble coping with my deep loneliness. minister's daughter and a minister's he can find a full twenty-four hours to These days made dreary with sick chil- daughter-in-law! Thus it comes as no re-create his body and free his mind for a den haven©t helped much. They©ll soon surprise when she says that the parson few needs of his own. Don©t they realize be over, I know, but why can©t someone age is the only life she has known. She is he would work better if he were rested care enough to call and ask how we©re the mother of girls aged 9 and 11, and her and rejuvenated, not stagnant, stale doing? Can©t someone see that when the husband pastors the Buck Run Baptist mated, and saturated with the many de children are well and in school, I©d love church in Frankfort, Kentucky. tails of his work? to be asked to share a shopping spree or Mrs. Howell wrote this article during a My children, Lord, what about them? have a leisurely lunch or just a chat. soul-searching period in her life in which I©ve tried, like my mother, not to let Why do they think I©m too busy to be a she came to realize the Lord wanted her them know I hurt. I©ve tried to appear person like anyone else? I can be a to be herself, as well as to use her talents contented and satisfied, but it©s becom neighbor; I could be someone©s best to glorify Him. As the saying goes, ing harder. They©re expected to be little friend; I feel, and have needs. Do they "What you are is God's gift to you. What angels, and You know they©re far from think I am supposed to be immune to you make of yourself is your gift to it! I©d like to be with them during church living? God. "Let us all by God's grace make of services, train them, teach them, and This loneliness seems more than I can ourselves what He would have us to be as win them to Your way. But why as a bear alone. With no relatives close by, Shepherdesses. With love, Kay. single parent (father©s always in the pul our family has no one with whom to pit) must I sing in the choir, play the share holidays and time off. Couldn©t Dear Lord, I have come to You, for piano, or keep the nursery? No one else someone occasionally include us as a there©s no one else I can talk to, open up will volunteer to rear my youngsters in part of their larger family? I know You to, and cry with. Being a pastor©s wife, I church worship for fear of having to take felt terrible loneliness, too. Why else have no pastor. And I©m afraid I would the responsibility if they turned out less would You have said, " ©But I, the Mes make my husband©s situation appear less than perfect. Lord, You gave them to siah, have no home of my own no place than perfect to his peers if I went to talk me, please let me do it. to lay my head© " (Matt. 8:20, T.L.B.)? with another pastor. So here I am again. I know You expect me to use my You knew; You knew well. Forgive me, Lord, if I don©t begin by talents, Lord. I thank You for giving You didn©t even have a roof over Your counting my blessings. I©m just too them to me my love for music, my head. We do, but it©s their roof! I©m heavy now; maybe I can after I©ve baking, sewing, decorating, leading, almost afraid to breathe for fear some shared some of this burden with You. nursing. It seems each time I develop thing will crack and ruin their posses You would have thought I©d have one talent You open another bud for me. sion. O for my own house, Lord! I could known about being a minister©s wife And I appreciate Your showing me the let it be dirty if I found I had to. I could after all, I©ve observed my mother all my meaning of Matthew 25:29 "The man wait on the yard and attend that seminar life. But there must have been a lot she who uses well what he is given shall be or I could decorate it with green and didn©t let me see for fear I©d be turned given more, and he shall have abun purple if I wanted and not experience against the one You had chosen for me. dance" (T.L.B.).* But why, Lord, do frowns. My husband and I could labor Others too seemed to think I©d under these talents seem to get in the way of and save and have something we could stand. "She©s the daughter of a minis my being me? call our own to retire in. We labor, Lord, ter," they said. "She knows the role." If I used my talents only in my ex but save? No. You©ll have to be prepar Oh, if only I had known some of it, I pected role, so many would go wasted. I ing for our retirement someday. could have programmed myself to fit the happen to like emergency-room work, It©s true we©re better off materially mold our ministered-to souls seem to which requires taking weekend calls. now, Lord, than we have been, and I have for me! They claim I©m not a paid And that means sometimes being away thank You for it. We©ve had our strug staff member (more like an unpaid ser from worship. But they don©t seem to gles. If I couldn©t have gardened, canned vant), but why am I expected to fill every understand. I©m not hired by the church; and frozen, sewed, knitted, crocheted vacancy no one wants? Why am I ex why do I have to be there every time the and made over, made do and graciously pected to sing or play the piano when no key turns? Can©t I sometimes be me and worn hand-me-downs we would still be one else feels up to it? Why am I ex work at what I feel is a special calling below the poverty level. We have a fairly pected to open the doors, turn on the from You? Am I wrong not to feel like new car now, and I©m thankful it isn©t heat, and . . . O Lord, I know You©ve worshiping sometimes? If so, forgive giving us backtalk in repair bills. We find heard it all before! me. it just as difficult as others to tithe, but My husband is he really my own? If I have a talent, Lord, and use it, I©m being consistent about it has shown us Why must I wait until the late news "too smart." If I hide it, I©m "pretty You do take care of Your own. before I can see him? Why must they dumb." Can©t they let me be me, even if Lord, forgive me for being so selfish. feel I have to share him fourteen hours a I don©t fit their mold? And, Lord, forgive You have given me so many joys as a day? If he plans a day off, why must they the saint who said the other day, "I can©t pastor©s wife. I forget too easily; I©m just 26 human. Thank You for the friends we©ve congregations, individuals, and groups promise, "Let Me have all your worries made who have served with us in min that remind us of our association with and cares, for I am always thinking istry. We have many around the globe them. Some gifts have helped us through about you and watching everything that now. And some in each pastorate re hard times a mysterious set of tires, concerns you" (see 1 Peter 5:7, T.L.B.). member us after we©ve gone. Let me not fuel for the furnace, food, medicine, Thank You, Lord. H forget the inspirational peaks we©ve had clothes, fabric. Lord, others who in seeing someone come to You and in haven©t had these experiences to teach watching young people whom we taught them how You provide can never really * Texts credited to T.L.B. are from The Living years ago pursue a Christian career. understand. Thank You, Lord. You Bible, copyright 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers, There is joy, too, in being a friend in know it is in my heart, even though I Wheaton, 111. Used by permission. need, and in giving away a part of our forget to mention it. selves through ministry, nursing, music, And thank You for a listening ear, for speaking, poetry, and living. caring, for letting me share with You. Jane T. Howell is a pastor©s wife living in We have many gifts given to us by I©m simple enough to believe Your Frankfort, Kentucky.
Prayers from the parsonage by Cherry Habenicht cepted by those whose business "will him to spend regular time at home? only take a minute," he sandwiches ad Block off a morning in his appointment ©m worried about my husband, Lord. ministrative details between appoint book? Confront him with a desperate, Dick is pushing himself too hard, not ments. "You can©t go on like this!"? I from ambition, but from a sense of We may see him for an hour at supper "And Moses© father in law said unto all that waits to be done. Of course, I©m before he hurries to a Bible study or him, The thing that thou doest is not proud that he takes his responsibilities so meeting. Returning late, he ekes out a good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both seriously, but must he choose between few minutes for reading and writing be thou, and this people that is with thee: the extremes of "wearing" or "rusting" fore he comes to bed exhausted. for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou out? Familiar with his amazing energy, I art not able to perform it thyself alone" How long can he continue this de know he©s really tired when he admits (Ex. 18:17, 18). manding pace? He©s up at 5:00 A.M. to that he©d like to rest. He©s losing weight Father, make me wise in counsel like pray and study in undisturbed quiet. (those skipped meals) and is uncon Jethro of old. I want to help, not hinder, After breakfast he©s off to the church, sciously knitting his brow in tension. Dick©s ministry. May I approach him calling as he leaves, "I won©t be back for This morning I found him on his knees, with loving concern rather than nagging dinner, there©s a committee at noon." his hands folded in prayer, but he was complaint. Help us to plan a schedule People©s needs counseling sessions, sound asleep. that includes the most important duties hospital visits, pastoral calls fill his What should I do? Keep silent, making without neglecting habits that promote day. Interrupted by the telephone, inter sure our family provides a haven? Coax health and satisfaction. El
Ministry, July/1979 27 LETTERS-CONTINUED
a more representative sampling of our Braille Foundation. I wish it were possi each month. The selection for this issue mail. While the vast majority of the ble for them to record MINISTRY so that should especially speak to the concern thousands of letters received are compli other blind clergy could benefit. MIN you have. You'll find it on page 26.— mentary, some take issue kindly with us ISTRY, in its wonderfully intuitive sense Editors. and others are more direct. We welcome of the concerns confronting the busy them all. The following three letters will pastor, has achieved a blend of system Seminar responses demonstrate that not all our readers have atic, historic, exegetical, and practical The Kansas City area seminar was a unmitigated praise.—Editors. theology unequaled by any magazine of day of excellence from beginning to end. which I have knowledge. I wonder if you The personnel were of the highest qual No value could have a resource department as a ity and even the food was a delicious God©s Word calls on us to try each part of MINISTRY? I would like a list of surprise. I have always held Adventists spirit to determine if it is of God. I have books that would refute the inroads of in high regard, but this experience gives done this with your magazine and have liberal Biblical criticism. It would be one a heightened impression. Please do it been led to believe that it has no value to useful to those clergy who have been again sometime. me either as a Christian or a preacher of schooled in the liberal tradition, and United Methodist minister the great truths that are revealed directly who, by the grace of God, have been led Kansas from the pages of God©s Holy Word. I back to the Bible as the inerrant and thank you for your efforts to share with infallible Word of God. Thank you for The Gladstone, Oregon, seminar was others your understanding of God©s what you are doing to enrich the minis helpful and well done. My wife and I message, but I will continue to rely on tries of so many of us. enjoyed the hospitality and the lectures. His Holy Spirit to reveal those truths to Anglican priest A special thanks for the lecture "The me as He sees the need in my ministry. New York Battle Over the Bible." The day was Baptist minister well spent and we appreciate your pro Arizona Hits the mark viding it. Thanks a million for MINISTRY. The Christian minister Some of your readers have asked on articles are short, easy to read, precise, Oregon the letters page of MINISTRY to have their and scriptural (so far). Just as the arrow name dropped from your list. Not me. I on page six of the March issue indicates, Outstretched hands am asking you to send me all the copies you are finding your mark in ministers© Recently a fellow pastor shared a copy you can. I always like to get my hands on hearts. Those who refuse to read are of MINISTRY with me, and I have profited the devil©s material so I can burn it. missing some of the finest journalism from my reading. I would like to accept Keep the trash coming. I will be glad to I©ve ever read. I do not agree with Ad your outstretched hand and begin re take care of all I receive. I may save ventist doctrine, but you do know the ceiving the magazine myself. In the near some Bible-ignorant soul from finding heart of the professional minister. The future I would hope to greet your hand error. article, "Ministerial Burnout" (March, with a gift of my own a subscription. I Baptist minister 1979), especially hit home. am delightfully happy with what I have Arkansas Baptist minister seen so far. It©s nice to meet you. Kentucky United Methodist minister I would like MINISTRY sent to me no Kentucky longer because I feel the Adventist No academic overstatement Church is founded on false I am much excited about your publi We are pleased to greet you as a new prophecies. You are trying to make the cation. The articles are concise and member of the MINISTRY readership. Bi evangelical Christian community believe without a lot of academic overstatement, monthly subscriptions are still available you are evangelical too, when in reality unlike the tendency of those who view without charge to active clergy who re your roots are in false prophecy. theology as a science rather than as a quest them. (See the boxed notice on page Community Church minister joyful experience. Please continue to 2.)—Editors. New York solicit articles and views from a cross section of varied denominational repre Reciprocates MINISTRY on tape? sentation. We appreciate the help and informa Thank you for what I consider one of Christian minister tion to be found in MINISTRY. In our the greatest acts of love and pastoral New York parish, we reciprocate somewhat by concern I have experienced in some mailing a subscription to The Lutheran time. For you to make MINISTRY available Ministers© wives to the pastor of the Adventist congrega to clergy of all denominations is truly a Many of the articles in MINISTRY have tion in our area. wonderful and generous act of fraternal been very helpful to me. Would you Lutheran minister assistance. An act, I might add, that is consider printing articles for ministers© Pennsylvania typical of the Seventh-day Adventist wives? Many times they are faced with Church. I have been blind since birth. As problems that involve the ministry. Knowing each other an Anglican priest and teacher of sacred Community Church minister I appreciate the spirit in which issues studies and classical languages, I spend Alabama of MINISTRY are offered to me. It cer much of my time employing the services tainly is one way in which we can get to of readers both personal and via cas You are right that pastors' wives are know each other. sette tape. Of course, I use the services an integral part of ministry. We have a Catholic priest of your remarkable Christian Record regular column for "Shepherdesses" Wisconsin 28 WORLD VIEW
Encouragement for Spanish Catholics on earth is heralded by a star, learns the Anyone having a biography of Lyman virtue of working with his hands from his Beecher, the great champion of the by Roland R. Hegstad adopted earthly dad. The lad grows in church in New England, can do a good the favor of his friends, even as he turn by sending it to Catholic Church begins to notice that he has powers and authorities in Spain. Seems the Spanish on non-Christians and to the amaze abilities far beyond those of mere mor hierarchy is worried about what will ment of the non-Christian world tor tals. happen to their church now that the turing and killing fellow Christians. "Finally, the boy senses that his time newly signed agreement between the If one cry could encompass the Chris has come, and he departs to the barren Vatican and Spain provides for cutting tian record through the ages it would wilderness for a time of testing. While off the $8.9 million in state aid at the end be All this in the name of Christ! meditating in the wilderness, the spirit of of three years. his other-worldly father prepares him for Lyman Beecher has the answer. The wisdom of Solomon the mission to come. When in May, 1818, disestablishment Requirements of religious belief still "At last, transfigured and self-as of the church in Connecticut became may demand the wisdom of a Solomon, sured, the young man returns to society, certain, Beecher called the day "as dark as two cases illustrate. In New York City which stands in awe of his miracles, his a day as ever I saw." a Catholic priest-lawyer has been trying goodness, and his power. Only the But he lived to say that the loss of since 1974 to win a court decision per forces of evil stand in his way, and these establishment was the "best thing that mitting him to wear his clerical collar forces launch a never-ending struggle ever happened to the State of Connecti during jury proceedings. In Chicago, the against him." cut. It cut the churches loose from de right of Jewish men to wear skull caps in Sound familiar? It should. You©ve pendence on State support. It threw a federal courtroom has been at issue. read it a score of times in the comics. them wholly on their own resources and The decisions? The priest-lawyer must It©s the story of Superman, as inter on God." remove his collar. The Jewish men may preted by Philip E. Jenks, editor of The With what result? wear their skull caps. American Baptist magazine. Said Beecher: "They say ministers The reasoning? The priest©s clothing Maybe the "false messiahs" Jesus have lost their influence; the fact is, they would be a "continuing visible commu predicted would appear before His re have gained. By voluntary efforts, so nication to the jury and others in the turn are no farther away than the neigh cieties, missions, and revivals, they courtroom," preventing a fair trial. But, borhood theater. exert a deeper influence than ever they said the U.S. District Court in Chicago: could by queues, and shoe-buckles and "The yarmulke worn by Orthodox Jew Playboy values challenged cocked hats, and gold-headed canes. . . . ish men is not merely a symbol of reli Hugh Heffner should be all shook up. We were thrown on God and on our gious devotion. They are required by The foundational beliefs on which his selves, and this created that moral coer their religion to keep their heads covered Playboy kingdom have been built are cion which makes men work." at all times; the yarmulke may not be false. Sex is not "very important per "Then," said Beecher, "there came removed. Thus, a ban on head coverings sonally" for a happy and satisfied life. such a time of revival as never before in in a federal courtroom is not simply a Or so says a survey taken by Louis the State." time, place, or manner restriction . . . but Harris for Playboy Enterprises, Inc. rather a blanket exclusion of all Ortho Playboy©s poll of American men sur In the name of Christ dox Jewish men from otherwise public veyed 1,990 men aged 18-49. These rep On the chance that some of you proceedings." resented the 46 million men in the U.S. Christians out there are stigmatizing the Solomonic? It would seem so. But in their so-called prime years. Moslems who are threatening to wipe what about that case in Columbus, Ohio, Instead of sex, it was found that out Christian missionary incursions, last fall in which Rajindar S. Sandhu, an health, love, peace of mind, and family hear what is happening in Nagaland, the Indian Sikh, was barred from his wife©s life topped the list of values considered only Indian state having a Christian ma naturalization proceedings because he most important. jority. Within the past few months refused to remove his turban? The nine values cited most frequently raiders have massacred at least fifty A wise man once said that a nation©s by the men as "very important person people in attacks on ten villages in the true attitude toward religious freedom is ally" for a happy and satisfied life were: neighboring state of Assam. determined not by how it treats its dom health (chosen by 89 percent), love (85 Nagaland, on the border of Burma in inant faiths, but by how it treats its percent), peace of mind and family life northeastern India, has a number of smallest, most-despised minorities. (both 84 percent), work (65 percent), tribes that traditionally have defied au Score in the above cases? Does 2-1 friends (63 percent), respect for others thority. One can always assume that the sound right? (58 percent), education (57 percent), sex raiders and the unruly tribesmen are (49 percent). from the non-Christian element. But Familiar plot? Money ranked eleventh, with 39 per does history support such a surmise? Heard a good movie plot recently? cent citing it as important. The harsh truth is that many of the How about this one: Unfortunately, Hugh Heffner is not most brutal slaughters in history have "A wise, all-knowing father in the sky the only one who should be shook up. been perpetrated by Christians not by looks down on the earth. He sees a torn A convulsive shudder by the collective bad people trying to make others bad, and primitive planet badly in need of clergy is in order. but by good people trying to make others help, and he sends the world his only Religion came in next to last, with only good! All too well can we recall the begotten son. 41 percent of the respondents calling it artist©s depiction of Christians preying "The son, whose miraculous arrival very important personally.
Ministry, July/1979 29 WORD POWER
Sacred words dedicated to the god and them, and upon the whole meaning to focus someone©s became its servant, but he Israel of God! In future let attention, as in "My speech The Stigma of the Lord also came under its no one make trouble for me, will address the problem of "In future let no one protection, so that he should for I bear the marks of divorce." Some speakers make trouble for me, for I not be molested." He adds Jesus branded on my body" carry this to the extreme of bear the marks of Jesus that "what the [Greeks] (Gal. 6:12-17, N.E.B.). saying, "I will address branded on my body" (Gal. found contemptible was For the "new man" the myself to the topic." 6:17, N.E.B.).* carried in the East with apostle says, superficial There are many short and The word here translated pride." In Kittel, marks mean nothing. What pithy words that would "marks" is from the Greek Theological Dictionary of the counts is the imprint of the convey this thought more stigma, derived from the New Testament, vol. 7, p. cross on the heart. Paul is effectively; for instance, talk verb stizd, "to stick" or 660. not ashamed to be a member about, discuss, and consider. "inscribe." In Greek usage In the Old Testament we of a minority he refuses to Look out for the barnacles! this referred to the custom find that the Lord was accept the badge of Christ The word list for this of tattooing, branding with a displeased with as a stigma. "I am not month includes terms drawn hot iron, or otherwise cult-membership tattoos (see ashamed of the gospel," he from common speech, from producing distinctive scars Lev. 19:28). The Jews had said (Rom. 1:16). public presentations, and on a person©s body. The one form of body scarring, No one should need to see from a dictionary of Romans put such marks on however, that they practiced a tattoo or scar or amulet to theology. Test your criminals and runaway as a sign of their attachment discover who a Christian is; knowlege by selecting for slaves as a mark of shame, to God circumcision. This it should be evident in all each word the choice that reflected in our present use they regarded as a mark that person©s dealings. The most nearly corresponds in of the words stigma and distinguishing them from the true servant of the Lord meaning. For the correct stigmatize. Erving Goffman Gentiles. The early Jewish Jesus will indeed be marked, answers, turn to page 32. has defined stigma as Christians also considered it but with a stigma that goes 1. abjure: (a) renounce; "spoiled identity," and he necessary, and it became an far deeper than the skin. (b) misjudge; (c) disagree; suggests that society today issue in the evangelization of (d) curse. reacts unfavorably not only the Gentiles. Ultimately the * From The New English Bible. 2. adulation: (a) religious The Delegates of the Oxford to people who have visible church leaders declared that University Press and the Syndics of ceremony; (b) excessive blemishes but also to those it was not required for the Cambridge University Press admiration; (c) sincere with socially disapproved acceptance into the church. 1961, 1970. Reprinted by permission. greeting; (d) howling sound. statuses such as ex-prisoner, This decision never 3. anticipate: (a) to take leper, prostitute, or pleased some of the part in; (b) to be at enmity homosexual. "Judaizing" Christians, Secular words with; (c) to experience or The idea of marking or however, and Paul Barnacle words expect beforehand; (d) to scarring the body also had contended with them in his Some words, like release from captivity. some positive meanings, letter to the Galatians. He barnacles on a ship©s hull, 4. beatific: (a) helpful; (b) however. At times people wrote, "It is all those who attach themselves unseen to smiling; (c) blissful; (d) would mark themselves to want to make a fair outward a speaker©s working avant-garde. represent their membership and bodily show who are vocabulary and impede his 5. canticle: (a) religious in a special tribe or cultic trying to force circumcision or her progress toward story; (b) article of faith; (c) group. In Ethiopia children upon you; their sole object communication. As a ship sacred song or prayer taken were dedicated to Apollo by is to escape persecution for must occasionally seek a from the Bible; (d) a mark on the kneecap. The the cross of Christ. For fresh-water berth where the apocryphal writing. Syrians consecrated even those who do receive barnacles can be shed, so 6. eschew: (a) avoid; (ti) themselves to the gods circumcision are not also should a public speaker choose carefully; (c) soften; Hadad and Atargatis by thoroughgoing observers of periodically purge his speech (d) deny. signs branded on the wrist the law; they only want you of fad words and 7. imputation: (a) or neck. An ivy leaf was to be circumcised in order to unconscious clutter. teaching by inference; (b) branded on the devotee of boast of your having How often have you heard experience of conversion; (c) Dionysius. In the book of submitted to the outward the expression, "You teaching that the attributes Revelation we are rite. But God forbid that I know"? If you knowingly of one may be credited to introduced to a symbolic should boast of anything but allow it in a sentence of the account of another; (d) branding of the worshipers the cross of our Lord Jesus yours, you should ask teaching that all are sinners. of "the beast," who carry Christ, through which the someone to clock how often 8. pragmatic: (a) his name or number as a world is crucified to me and it crops up in your sermons. practical; (b) unyielding; (c) mark on their right hand or I to the world! Circumcision Other empty phrases which mathematical; (d) logical. forehead (Rev. 14:9-11). is nothing; uncircumcision is clutter sentences are 9. schism: (a) heresy; (b) This identification carried nothing; the only thing that "basically," "in other division or separation; (c) the additional idea of counts is new creation! words," "as a matter of crisis; (d) protest. protection. Betz says that Whoever they are who take fact," and "the bottom 10. sinecure: (d) carefree; "when a man was given the this principle for their guide, line." A recent fad (b) focus of attention; (c) sacred mark he was peace and mercy be upon expression is "address," irremediable; (d) easy job.
30 SHOP TALK
Unchurched do not participate in valuable, more productive. It consumers. "The organized religion, have gives you a chance to build active-surviving church the Some 61 million American positive inclinations toward up momentum on a project. typical church will have adults are not members of the church and would like to (2) Morning hours are most about 33 percent of its any church or religious have their children receive productive, no matter what members as leaders focused institution. In fact, many religious training. Fifty-two you may think, so give these inward, 2 percent outward, churches are experiencing a percent say they can strongest hours to your MIP. and 60 percent of the decline in membership. In conceive of a situation (3) By getting off to a good congregation as consumers. order better to understand where they could become start you improve the rest of The inactive-nominal the basic factors behind this active members of a church your day. However, even if congregation has 20 percent phenomenon a major study and would welcome an things go badly, you©ve still of its members as leaders has been undertaken by The invitation from the church accomplished a lot. focused inward, 1 percent Princeton Religion Research community. The technique is simple to outward, and 75 percent Center and the Gallup The entire 82-page report, grasp but difficult to consumers." Organization, Inc., polling titled The Unchurched accomplish. Don©t let the attitudes of the American, is available from distractions deter you. The unchurched. Among their The Princeton Religion rigid rule is not to handle Filing findings: Research Center, 53 Bank anything else during these Pastors who are not yet The unchurched are Street, Princeton, New two to three hours. If you locked into a filing system overwhelmingly "believers." Jersey 08540. pull a blank, sit back and may wish to consider The It is not a loss of faith, in think, but don©t work on New Baker's Textual and most cases, that has kept anything else. Eventually the Topical Filing System. It is people from the church. Of Slides flow of ideas and energy will one of the most practical, the unchurched, 68 percent Some may not be familiar start up again. It takes simple, and time-saving say they believe in the with the handy method of tremendous will power and systems available today. It resurrection of Jesus Christ; filing slides in 9>V-i by 11 concentration to let requires no elaborate 64 percent believe that Jesus plastic sheets. The sheets, everything else go by for preparation of advance set is the Son of God or God; which contain pockets for this length of time, but up. One can begin with a 40 percent say they have twenty slides, are punched you©ll be amazed by what single SY2 by 11 file folder made a commitment to Jesus to fit a standard three-ring you accomplish. on any subject desired. Christ; 57 percent believe in notebook. Large quantities Executives' Digest, The key to the Baker a life after death; and 76 of slides can be housed in January, 1979. system is a hard-bound book percent indicate that they these sheets by filing them that contains the alphabetical pray to God 45 percent say in Manila envelopes in a index to the folders. they do so frequently. regular file cabinet. An Growing Subjects are filed in Rather than being advantage of this method of "Influence of friends and numerical order, the number nonbelievers, most of the storage is that all twenty relatives is the largest single being placed beside the unchurched apparently are slides may be viewed at factor in church growth," appropriate subject heading disenchanted with the once for selecting quickly. reports Sources and in the index. The major church as an institution. These plastic sheets are Resources (Feb. 15), sister portion of the book consists Sixty percent agree that available in most photo and publication of The of 1,200 sections arranged most churches and stationery shops, but can be Wittenburg Door, on the four to a page with ample synagogues have lost the bought much more cheaply 1978 Advanced Church space for entering the real spiritual part of religion. in quantity from 20th Growth Seminar sponsored material filed in the folders. Fifty-six percent feel that Century Plastics, Inc., 3628 last January by the Institute References may also be most churches and Crenshaw Boulevard, Los of American Church Growth made to books, periodicals, synagogues are too Angeles, California 90016. in Pasadena, California. et cetera. The index includes concerned with Write for catalog. "Other factors and a separate section on each organizational issues at the methods, in descending Bible book, broken down by expense of theological or percentage, were: walk-in chapters. spiritual values; 49 percent Timing contact, congregational The Baker system makes do not feel that institutional Making the best use of program, work of the pastor, it very easy to file and religion is effective in time requires attitude more special needs, visitation retrieve material. Special helping people find meaning than techniques. But there©s evangelist, Sunday school, arrangements enable in life; and 86 percent feel one simple technique that©s and crusades." MINISTRY to offer the Baker that an individual should an absolute gem: Start early Peter Wagner, of Fuller filing system to you for only arrive at his or her own in the morning on your most Seminary, is said to have $22 a considerable savings. religious beliefs important project (MIP) and noted that the To order, send your check independently of any church work on it without growing-reproducing church to MINISTRY, 6840 Eastern or synagogue. interruption until you can©t has 40 percent of its Avenue NW., Washington, It is interesting, however, work on it anymore. The members as leaders focused D.C. 20012. The order will that many of the benefits are enormous: (1) inward, 20 percent outward, be shipped directly to you unchurched, although they Concentrated time is more and 40 percent as from Baker Book House.
Ministry, July/1979 31 RECOMMENDED READING
HAPPILY EVER AFTER: stands out as a sensitive, that is claimed at the bottom and illustrations in this LOVING YOUR CHILD responsible view of of page 41, any more than a volume. TOWARD EMOTIONAL parenting. volcano contradicts uniform Orley Berg AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH, Darold Bigger behavior of molecules in Joy Wilt, Word Books, volcanic soil. Rather than Waco, Texas, 1977, 203 FALLACIES OF being blind to chemical Answers to Word Power pages, $6.95. EVOLUTION, Arlie J. changes that may have taken (See page 30.) "Once upon a time, a long Hoover, Baker Book House, place over the history of a 1. abjure: (a) renounce. From the time ago, there was a little Grand Rapids, Michigan, mineral, as implied on page Latin ab "from," "away," jurare, "to swear." girl. She was an ordinary 1977, 85 pages, $2.50 (soft 42, modern radiometric 2. adulation: (b) excessive girl with freckles on her cover). dating techniques often admiration. From Latin adulare, "to nose and long, brown hair. Fallacies of Evolution is a provide identification of such flatter." Her favorite thing in the changes. It is not the 3. anticipate: (c) to experience or brief, nontechnical, expect beforehand. world was fairy well-written treatment of the validity of radiometric age 4. beatific: (c) blissful. From the tales especially the ones case for equitable determinations that is at Latin beatus, "happy," and facere, that ended with, ©. . . and presentation in public issue, but the reliability of "to make." their conversion into real 5. canticle: (c) sacred song or they lived happily ever schools of both evolution prayer taken from the Bible. From after.© She wanted more and Creation explanations time. the Latin for "little song." than anything else to live for origins. Dr. Hoover Fallacies of Evolution 6. eschew, (a) avoid. happily ever after, just like argues effectively for a rigid should be a valuable 7. imputation: (c) teaching that all the characters in the fairy addition to any collection of the attributes of one may be credited application of the principles to the account of another. tales." Page 7. Hence the of the scientific method and material on topics related to 8. pragmatic: (a) practical. From title of Joy Wilt©s book in sound logic to each of these creationism. the Greek pragma, "something done," "business"; from prassein, which she does a real explanations. His discussion R. H. Brown "to do." service to parents, children, of Social Darwinism and the 9. schism: (ft) division or and any who work with church-state issue will be of DEVOTIONAL separation. From the Greek schizein, either group. particular interest to many COMMENTARY ON "to split." Topics include individuals who are PHILIPPIANS, F. B. Meyer, 10. sinecure: id) easy job. self-concept, meeting a concerned over the teaching Kregel Publications, Grand Scores: 10-9 Excellent 8-7 Very good child©s needs (basic, of creation in public schools. Rapids, Michigan 49501, 6-5 Good physical, emotional, creative In its class, this book is 1979, 261 pages, $3.50. and intellectual, and remarkably free from This is another welcome spiritual), discipline, scientific error. However, reprint by Kregel MINISTRY decision-making, handling six pages of the text contain Publications of a volume Change of Address feelings, coping with trauma, statements that should be that has blessed and inspired If you©re moving, please let us know sex (education, roles, and noted with caution by countless ministers of a past six weeks before changing your ad identity), and socializing individuals who may wish to generation. London-born F. dress. Print your new address at right, with children. Each chapter utilize material from the B. Meyer is well-known for clip out this entire corner, including includes a concise outlined book. The reference on page his devotional approach to the label, and send it to us. If you have a question about your subscription, summary for quick reference 56, footnote number 1, is to verse-by-verse commentaries please clip this form to your letter. and review. Darwin Retried (not Retired). and for his biographies of Mail to: Review and Herald Publishing Her humor in the text is The last clause in the Biblical characters. His Association, 6856 Eastern Avenue evidenced in the chapter paragraph ending on page 35 Devotional Commentary on NW., Washington, D.C. 20012. titles "The Bible . . . Rated is incorrect, but the principle Exodus has also been ©R© "; "Talking About involved is correctly stated reprinted by Kregel You-Knbw-What"; at the end of the last Publications. "Mommy Mows the Lawn paragraph on page 37 new While this verse-by-verse 83 n While Daddy Washes species may and probably do commentary on Philippians 3" Dishes"; "Let ©Em Learn arise from microevolution. is both scholarly and 5T or the Hard Way." The format To say that a complete exegetical, it speaks in a n is a blend of case studies, geological column "would be very practical way to dialogs, narratives, theory, about 100 miles deep," and Christians seeking to live the poetry, and diagrams, that "geological layers are victorious life amid trials making it easily readable. often all scrambled up with and pressures. The 0 In a few places the each other" (page 39) are twenty-seven chapters are a author©s views of human gross overstatements, but short and packed with 5© nature and destiny may not the remainder of the inspiration and coincide with the reader©s discussion on the geologic encouragement. The study o views, but in general her column is correct. The Big qualities of the work are a points are well-made, and Bang cosmological model enhanced by marginal a her approach is logical, does not involve the references and headings. a sound, and practical. The contradiction of The minister should find a book is fun reading and uniformitarian presumptions wealth of sermonic ideas
32