OETHICS W Does an Ancient Xt Speak to Modern Birth Technologies?
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Weekly News and Inspiration for Seventh-day Adventists November 10, 1988 CH2 - -P -OCH2CH,NICH,), -- H S C--H-G—S co -- tan-' -- tan - ' -- Pt PZ ril r:: • • • rh, r:, r:: • • r2. OETHICS w does an ancient xt speak to modern birth technologies? Why Fight for Religious Liberty? God Gives Only Good Gifts LETTERS AIDS problem: the spiritual illness of the Better Choir Lofts AIDS is a very real presence in the church. What is needed more than One of the human activities in the San Francisco Bay area. Calvin restructuring services is the restruc- worship service is the contribution Rock's (Faith Alive! Sept. 8) assur- turing of Adventist hearts. When of the musicians—choir and instru- ance that the church is doing some- hearts have been transformed, the mentalists. Since Adventist thing about AIDS falls flat. fog of indifference will lift. The "pa- churches do not pay for their min- To say that ideas are not "opera- thetic paucity of attendance" will istry, would it not be a great kind- tional" because of "competing pri- change. Empty pews will fill. Mem- ness to consider their comfort when orities" merely masks the fact that bers will react as did David: "I was the church is designed? According the church is talking but not doing glad when they said unto me, Let us to Neville Clouten, in "Architecture anything about AIDS. go into the house of the Lord" (Ps. of Enrichment" (Sept. 15): "Our We are at the stage where everyone 122:1). buildings should respond uniquely agrees that something should be Rum JAEGER BUNTAIN to the environment, human activi- done, but no one is willing to step out St. Helena, California ties, climate, cost, society, culture, and actually do anything. I lent a des- and symbolism." titute former Adventist AIDS victim But our choir lofts generally are $100 to help with his rent, but he Having returned to the United poorly ventilated, cooled, heated, returned it because he found a place States recently after being overseas and lighted. Likewise, the cubby- in the Catholic hospice in San Fran- for 19 years, I wholeheartedly agree holes where the organist and/or pi- cisco. As far as I can determine, there that our Sabbath schools in North anist are located are uncomfortable is no Adventist ministry to AIDS vic- America are in trouble. However, and are often in areas not acousti- tims anywhere near San Francisco. since Sabbath schools are alive and cally relevant to either the choir's The fact that nothing is opera- thriving in many countries of the contribution or the congregation's tional says something about our world, I think we should consider participation. competing priorities. Compassion that the problem here may not be Why not have separate lighting, and a witness to God's healing with Sabbath school itself, but with heating, and air conditioning con- power are not high priorities. But the attitudes of our members. trols for those presenting the musi- most disturbing, we are missing our There is no need to change the for- cal offering? Place the controls chance to make a spiritual impact mat of Sabbath school. It is already where an appointed choir member on men and women who may be designed to create opportunities for can adjust them? This would pro- going to Christless graves. study, fellowship, and outreach ac- vide a comfortable setting for both In my opinion, our Christian tivities. Instead of encouraging our rehearsals and the worship service. charter commands us to reverse our members to focus on their own needs MARGUERITE N. ENTZ priorities and put compassion, heal- and whether they are being met, we Madison, Tennessee ing, and Christian witness above all should paraphrase. John F. other priorities. EDWARD ALLEN Kennedy's famous challenge, "Ask Handicapped Welcome Concord, California not what your Sabbath school can do Thank you for the information for you; ask what you can do for your about the new General Conference Sabbath school." office building under construction. Lagging Attendance Is it not a self-centered attitude to Perhaps there was simply an over- Lagging Sabbath school atten- think that Sabbath school must ca- sight concerning the assurance to dance ("Sabbath School—In Need ter to my needs or I will not attend? handicapped believers of planned of Revitalization-1, 2," Sept. 22, Too many members feel free to sit access to the offices for them—at 29) is indicative of a deeper problem back and criticize the Sabbath least I hope so. Just in case some than lackluster programming. It is a school, but they are not doing any- avenue of access for them has been symptom of the spiritual indiffer- thing themselves to revitalize it. I overlooked, please, before it is too ence that pervades the church in think the old adage "If you would late, make the whole building avail- North America. James Londis refers have friends, you must show your- able to them. to this apathy as "indifference to self friendly" could be applied to HARRIETT RICHARDSON MUSK Adventist theology, indifference to Sabbath school. If we want our Sab- Kingman, Arizona the future of the church, indiffer- bath schools to be alive and grow- ence to local church and conference ing, we must put our best efforts into Be assured that the entire build- affairs, indifference to spiritual dis- making them that way instead of ing, by law, will be accessible to the ciplines, even indifference to God" complaining that they are not meet- handicapped—from the Ellen G. (Adventist Review, Sept. 29). ing our needs. We get out of Sabbath White Estate to the president's of- Restructuring church worship school what we put into it. fice to the Adventist Review office. services is doing little more than ap- CARROL GRADY We hope you'll come visit us. plying a Band-Aid to the underlying Silver Spring, Maryland —Editors. 2 (1218) ADVENTIST REVIEW. NOVEMBER 10. 1988 ADVEIVTIST REVIEW November 10, 1988 General paper of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Editor William G. Johnsson Associate Editors Roy Adams Myron K. Widmer News Editor Carlos Medley Assistant Editors Eugene F. Durand Kit Watts Administrative Secretary Corinne Russ Editorial Assistant Jackie Ordelheide God and technology, p. 8 Good gifts, p. 11 Why separate? p. 14 Editorial Secretary Edith Wilkens Art Director Stephen Hall EDITORIALS RELIGIOUS LIBERTY Designer Bryan Gray 4 Judged by the Light Marketing 14 Church and State Gil Anderson Why did the religious leaders of Jesus' Separation: Why Do We Still Ad Sales day reject light? Would I have done the Orval Driskell Fight for It? Subscriber Services same? The editor also reports on staff Four reasons why Adventists advocate re- Larry Burtnett changes. by William G. Johnsson Consulting Editors ligious liberty even though we're not now Neal C. Wilson, Charles E. Bradford, Wal- lace O. Coe, D. F. Gilbert, RobertJ. Kloost- threatened by a national Sunday law. Sec- erhuis, Kenneth J. Mittleider, Enoch Ol- 5 If I Were Looking ond in a three-part series. iveira, Calvin B. Rock, G. Ralph Thompson Special Contributors "If I were looking for truth, I would be by Mitchell A. Tyner Kenneth H. Wood, Robert H. Pierson, George W. Brown, Gerald J. Christo, cautious about certain people." Ottis C. Edwards, Bekele Heye, Edwin Lu- descher, J. J. Nortey, Jan Paulsen, Walter by Paul A. Gordon NEWS R. L. Scragg, Joao Wolff Africa-Indian Ocean Editions Editor, Jack Mahon 6 Newsbreak Inter-American Edition LIFESTYLE Editor, Adalgiza Archbold 17 Worldview South American Editions Editor, R. S. Lessa, Portuguese; editor, 8 Is the Bible Out of Date? Polish Adventists celebrate centennial. Rolando !tin, Spanish How to Subscribe Subscription prices: A look at the good old Book in the light Dakota Academy reopens following one- US$28.95 for 40 issues. US$37.60 for 52 year shutdown. Scandinavian SDAs hold issues. of modern technology. First in a series on To place your order, send your name, congress. address, and payment to your local Ad- ethics. by Jack W. Provonsha ventist Book Center or Adventist Review Subscription Desk, Box 1119, Hagers- town, Maryland 21741. Single copy, 95 DEPARTMENTS cents U.S. currency. Prices subject to change without notice. To Writers We welcome unsolicited 2 Letters manuscripts. Notification of acceptance or DEVOTIONAL rejection may be expected only if accom- 13 Speaking Out panied by a stamped, self-addressed 11 God Gives Only Good Gifts envelope. Address all editorial corre- 16 Faith Alive! spondence to 6840 Eastern Avenue NW., Why the Lord may answer some prayers Washington, D.C. 20012. The Adventist Review (ISSN 0161- and not others. Asking and receiving in 21 Bulletin Board 1119) is published 40 times a year, each Thursday except the first Thursday of the the light of Bible promises. 23 Children's Corner month. Copyright C 1988 Review and Herald' Publishing Association, 55 West by Ivan Blake 24 Reflections Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740. Second-class postage paid at Hagerstown, Maryland 21740. Postmas- ter: send address changes to Adventist Review, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Ha- gerstown, MD 21740. COMING NEXT WEEK Bible texts credited to Jerusalem are from The Jerusalem Bible, copyright C 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd., and Doubleday & Company, Inc. Used by permission of the publisher. Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New Inter- "When You Want to Give help us answer bioethical national Version. Copyright C 1973, 1978, by the International Bible Society. Used by Up," by Charles Burkeen. questions. permission of Zondervan Bible Publish- ■ ers. Bible texts credited to Phillips are from God opens doors before you. "Ruling on Religion," by J.