The Journal of Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International, Inc. November 2002 • Vol. 26 No. 4

concerned... guest editorial 3 Review article 4 Kinship responds 5 coming out... free to tell who I am 6

comment.... God loves unconditionally 10 from prejudice to love 5 news & notes 7 S D A K I N S H I P INTERNATIONAL, INC Who we are... Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International, Inc. (Kinship) is a nonprofi t support KINSHIP BOARD President: Bob Bouchard organization which ministers to the spiritual, emotional, social, and physical well- Vice President: Taylor Ruhl being of Seventh-day Adventist lesbian, gay men, bisexual, and transgendered Secretary: Charles Shobe individuals and their families and friends. Kinship facilitates and promotes the Treasurer: Karen Lee understanding and affi rmation of LGBT Adventists among themselves and within the Connection Editor: Steve Pline Seventh-day Adventist community through education, advocacy, and reconciliation. Public Relations: Robb Crouch Kinship is an organization which supports the advance of human rights for all people. Church Liaison: Leif Lind Womyn’s Coordinator: Yolanda Elliott Kampmeeting 2003 Coordinator: John Edwards Founded in 1976, the organization was incorporated in 1981 and has a board of up to 15 offi cers and 10 regional coordinators. The current list of members and friends BOARD MEMBERS-AT-LARGE includes well over a thousand people in 20 countries. Kinship operates solely on contri- IMRU: Eric Gilleo butions from its members and friends. KinNet Coordinator: Floyd Poenitz Offi ce Manager / Member Services: Fred Casey SDA Kinship believes the Bible does not condemn, or even mention, homosexuality as Michelle Cornwell Susan Carver a sexual orientation. Ellen G. White does not parallel any of the Bible texts, which are often used to condemn homosexuals. Most of the anguish imposed upon God’s chil- EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE dren who grow up as LGBT has its roots in a misunderstanding of what the Bible says. Bob Bouchard, Samuel Pang, Pam Roberts Support Kinship CONNECTION STAFF Kinship, supported solely by contributions from its members and friends, depends on you. Circulation: Fred Casey Photography: Bruce Harlow, Steve Pline Help us reach out to more LGBT Adventists by making a tax-deductible donation to SDA Production: Gerry Fox Kinship International. Please send your check or money order to the address below.

INFORMATION SDA Kinship, P.O. Box 7320, Laguna Niguel, CA 92607 — (949) 248-1299 The Connection is published by Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International, Inc. Principal offi ce: P.O. Box 7320, Laguna Niguel, CA 92607; (949) 248-1299. Visit SDA Kinship’s Web Site at: www.sdakinship.org Submissions of letters, articles, pictures, art work, and graphics are welcome. Include your name as you want it published, address and telephone number. If an item REGIONAL COORDINATORS is to be acknowledged or returned, please include a Region 4 self-addressed, stamped envelope. Some connection Region 7 (MN, IO, MO, IL, MI, IN, KY,OH) contributors have chosen to remain anonymous. (AK, WA, OR ID, MT) Fred Casey 949-248-1299 Fred Casey 949-248-1299 [email protected] Pseudonyms, if used, appear at the bottom of this page. [email protected] Region 6 The connection reserves the right to edit manuscripts (ND, SD, CO, NE, WY, UT, NM) Region 1 for length, syntax, grammar, and clarity. Address all Robb Crouch (PA, NY, CT, RI, MA, VT, NH, ME) 402-466-9476 submissions to the Connection, P.O. Box 7320, Laguna Eric Gilleo 978-537-5095 [email protected] [email protected] Niguel, CA 92607. Inquiries and article submissions may also be e-mailed to [email protected]. The mention or appearance of any names, organizations 7 or photographs in this publication is not meant to imply 1 a fact or statement about their sexual orientation or activity. Region 8 8 4 Region 2 (No. CA, NV HI) 6 (WV, VA, NC, DE, MD, DC) Harry Wilmoth 2 Yolanda Elliot 410-531-5382 Subscription requests or address changes may be sent 510-523-3461 [email protected] to: Subscriptions, P.O. Box 7320, Laguna Niguel, CA [email protected] 9 92607, or call (949) 248-1299. The Kinship mailing list is 5 3 confi dential and used only by Kinship offi cers. The mailing list is not sold, rented, or exchanged for any purpose. Region 9 (So. CA, AZ) Region 3 (TN, AL, MS, GA, SC, FL) © 2002 Connection. All rights reserved. Reproduction Jason Edwards 949-248-1299 [email protected] Region 5 and KinNet Rick Shadix 770-489-4184 in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. (TX, OK, AR, LA) [email protected] Floyd Poenitz 972-416-1358 OPINIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN ARE NOT NECESSARILY fl [email protected] THOSE OF SDA KINSHIP. Member of the Gay and Lesbian Press Association. Printed in the U.S. using 100% recyclable paper. Australia Germany CANADA Noel Thorpe 61 (07) 33211101 Rene Tuchtenhagen 49-6151-53-76-12 Brent Lehmann 604-469-6976 Javier Zendabe is a pseudonym. Events shared are recent. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

2 November 2002 seen as acceptable, ethical and routine. Guest editorial I had hoped that things were improving at LLU/MC compared Ben Kemena, 20 August 2002, Denver, Colorado to events of 1999 and 2000. What should we now do? Perhaps you noticed the article titled legacy within . The author Upstream in the by dismisses the notion of gay “witch- I feel hurt, threatened, and Leslie N. Pollard. I found the article hunts” at LLU/MC — but how many condemned — again. Worse, this troubling. gay employees, staff and students article has been printed in a church has he interviewed? Indeed, at publication to church audiences. I’m This type of rhetoric continues to already hearing of a new round of create an intolerant atmosphere such an institution, how could a gay person ever come forward without fear and cruelty stirred by this article at and the within the LLU/MC staff. Can this be Medical Center (LLU/MC) despite being summarily condemned and fired? I wonder how many openly what diversity education is about at the author’s claim to the contrary. LLU/MC? I’m relieved that the author was gay individuals the author knows as sternly challenged at a national a friend? Furthermore, the author I think about how this article diversity conference even though doesn’t mention a recent article in might be seen through the eyes of it embarrasses me to see my alma the Riverside Press-Enterprise (2/11/ Adventist parents trying to guide a mater shamed and humiliated on 01) openly disputing his claims of gay gay son or daughter. I think about such an issue. Regrettably, the real tolerance at LLU/MC. the legacy of SDA church-supported lessons from this meeting — and its Dr. Pollard asserts that sexual “change ministries” which have questioners — appear lost. orientation doesn’t influence health been closed repeatedly because care at the Medical Center. This is so-called “therapists” have acted Despite Dr. Pollard’s theological immorally. I think about the gay LLU/ MC alums who rescue scores of gay SDA young people each year from family banishment, runaway shelters, suicide attempts, and back alleys. These people will read this article. And these Adventists genuinely know what it means to swim upstream every day amidst articles like this one. Dr. Pollard could have handled this issue very differently — both at the national conference and in this article to church audiences. Also — he could have reflected the church position without deliberately and background, his article does not dishonest. Patients, who make the self-righteously belittling a group of fully reflect the 1999 policy of mistake of being honest, “openly people. the Seventh-day Adventist church gay”, can find their treatment rather regarding homosexuality. I suspect harsh. Staff members, who make As it stands, we have a responsibility his article omits a full reference the mistake of being honest, “openly to notify interested parties of the because health care professionals gay”, face termination. Perhaps wrong done and to petition their attending a national diversity gays and straights are allowed to concern on behalf of people that conference would even be more use the same toilets and hallways in Leslie Pollard, representing LLU/MC, shocked to know the complete truth the hospital, but a holistic healing flippantly dismisses and condemns. about the current Adventist church therapeutic environment is lost Thank you for hearing my concerns. position. The professional policy whenever a group of people is Please pray for our church, its statements on sexual orientation dehumanized and demonized. institutions, and my alma mater. from the American Medical I hope the author would never Ben Kemena, is a physician in Denver, Association, the American Psychiatric publish an article justifying where it’s getting cold. Ben writes, Association, and the American discrimination against people of ”time to put on the tea kettle, light Academy of Pediatrics contrast color, Jews, women, or divorced the fire, grab a blanket, partner, and starkly with current SDA church persons. And yet, another article doggies -- and settle into some long policy statement. justifying church condemnation of evenings catching up on ‘the world‘ Diversity concerns, race relations homosexual orientation — in the beyond Colorado’s Front Range.” and gender equality have a difficult name of moral purity — is apparently

SDA Kinship Connection 3 Upstream not Leslie N. Pollard, Adventist Review, August 2002, NAD Edition, reprinted with permission ^ editor’s note: it is with regret and sadness that we report here what the premier magazine of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church has published. SDA Kinship’s response appears on the opposite page. Have you ever felt as if you were When it was my turn, I began by confessional institution, has the swimming upstream? Upstream—as showing the diversity service video we prerogative to hire persons consistent in conspicuouslySubject: standing Re: Permission out in a to reprintuse Dr in. Pollard’ new employees article “Upstream” orientation from at NAD withAdventist its faith Review community?” The very public forum. Upstream—as Loma Linda University Medical Center, audience nodded. in sticking out when what you’re “Diversity Makes a Difference.” I then Then I added, “I know that some saying isn’t popular.Thank you Upstream—as for your request but permissionwent on to is discussdenied. howFeel free,we deliverif you need might hear traces of witch hunts in articulatingfurther a position information, that gratesto contact ourour Attorney employee Kent training. Hansen in I distributedour Legal Department. and intolerance when you hear that against the stated sentiments of the preview copies of our diversity position. But that is not the Loma larger group.Cordially I felt that, Offi way ce of recently. Diversity service-training workbook. After 50 Linda I know and work for. Delivery I was invited to make a presentation minutes of presentation, I opened the of care is not predicated on sexual on the subject“PLINE,STEVE” of health care wrote: and fl oor for questions. orientation or lifestyle.” diversity at a national conference in A man who represented one of the I wish I could report that the San Francisco.> DearWith Ms the Ortiz, increasing national hospital corporations raised audience stood and applauded our racial, ethnic,> cultural, and lifestyle his hand. “What is Loma Linda’s church’s position. They did not. I diversifi cationcation> I withinwouldwithin like NorthNorth to request America,America, permission position from onDr. sexualPollard orientation?”to reprint with he can only pray that my answer, while health-care systems> attribution are hisexamining article, “Upstream” asked. published in the August 2002 NAD editiontrue to Scripture and the positions of their service >practices. of the Adventist Scores Review of , in Connection,I responded: the Journal“Loma of Linda SDA hasKinship one the Seventh-day Adventist Church, health-care administrators,> International. Connection providers, is a standardnon-commercial, applicable free-subscription, to both hetero quarterly refl ectedected thethe truthtruth inin asas lovingloving aa wayway and employees> journal. gathered for the and homosexual persons: celibacy as possible. conference, >and many nationally before marriage; monogamy within Swimming upstream is not easy! Our known hospitals> The were Review represented. had given me verbal permission to reprint last month and Dr. marriage.” collective culture in North America > Pollard’s article was printed in the journal. However, last night I One commonly articulated theme He retorted immediately, “Does makes strong moral positions diffi cultcult > received an e-mail from the Review stating that Dr. Pollard is the copyright swirled around the accommodation Loma Linda hire practicing homo- to sell. Begin with a constitution that > holder for the article. Fortunately, mailing of the Connection was of the sexual orientation and sexuals or extend benefi ts to their protects the rights of the individual, practices of employees.> scheduled forMany today , Novemberpartners?” 8th. I have asked that the mailing be put on design a government dedicated to hospitals reported> hold untilto the confi enthusiastic rmation of Dr . Pollard’s permission is received. “Not knowingly,” I responded. not infringing upon the consciences and appreciative> audience the of citizens, grow a culture of pleasure virtues of extending> I apologize domestic for the confusion surroundingObviously unhappythe ownership with of my copyrights. answer, As that over time relegates religion to partner benefi> you tsts to tomight theirtheir imagine homosexualhomosexual I would reallyhe chortled,appreciate “Howa quick can response. you all do the private sphere, elevate tolerance employees, of> recruiting and that?” I wish you could have heard as one of our highest social values retention efforts> Warm toward regards, the gay the hush that fell over that room. I and—viola!—we who stand with the community, >of establishing gay prayed silently, “Lord, give me the Word of God are often considered employee support> Steve groups Pline and grace to defuse this tense situation narrow-minded extremists on our accepting sexual> Connection lifestyle Editor variations. without giving needless offense.” best days, and on our worst, bigots. For two full days of the conference, I looked at the group and said, “My in presentation after presentation, I am reminded of three young men friends, would we not all agree that open-mindedness reigned supreme who swam upstream many years ago. Loma Linda, as a faith-based, and tolerance was celebrated. Their king was committed. The image was built. The command was given (see Daniel 3). But the three Hebrews stood while many of their colleagues bowed. Their rationale? “Our God is able.” Ellen G. White wrote: “He who walked with the Hebrew worthies in the fi eryery furnacefurnace willwill bebe withwith His followers wherever they are” (Prophets and Kings, p. 513). So take the plunge. Upstream is the only direction God knows!

4 November 2002 From prejudice to love a vision for change

Carrol Grady SDA Kinship responds

Is there any reason to hope “the August 25, 2002 church” can overcome its prejudice against gays and lesbians? I think Dr. Leslie N. Pollard so. Because “the church” is you and Loma Linda University me (at least if you’re still part of Loma Linda, CA 92374 the church)—it’s people, not some ephemeral “institution.” And people can change. I know. I did. Dear Dr. Pollard: Fourteen years ago, before I learned that our youngest son is gay, I Re: “Upstream” “knew”, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that homosexuals were As an organization committed to caring, inclusive support of Adventist disgusting sexual perverts who would gays, lesbians, and their families, we were saddened to read recent comments never go to heaven (sorry!). To be you wrote in the “Adventist Review.” honest, I’d really never given much thought to the subject, but I had While we recognize your right to express your understanding of Scripture somehow absorbed this belief from on gay and lesbian issues, we would urge greater sensitivity to those who may society and church. If I thought about be part of your reading audience. Many Adventist gays and lesbians attend it at all, I was sure it was something our Adventist Church services and read Adventist literature seeking spiritual that would never touch my life. The nourishment, and, in our opinion, should not fear verbal or written assault worst kind of prejudiced, huh? from someone who feels he/she is speaking on God’s behalf. We would point out that there is a growing recognition within the Adventist Community And then I found out about Paul. that gays and lesbians are also God’s children and that they offer the Church And suddenly my unassailable unique gifts. belief was laid open to all sorts of questions. Because I knew, beyond If we can be of assistance to you by providing resources on homosexuality the shadow of a doubt, that Paul was and the Bible, assistance to parents coping with a gay/lesbian child, support not what I had believed homosexuals to someone coming to terms with his or her sexual orientation, or other gay/ to be. My life since then has been a lesbian issues, please feel free to contact us. Our address and phone number stretching, growing experience—not are included and our website “SDA Kinship.org” is available to anyone who an easy road, to be sure. I’m still might find it helpful. searching for answers. But at least I have found one answer—my life has With Christian regards, been immeasurably enriched by the many new friends I have made who are gay or lesbian or parents of gays and lesbians. Leif Lind, Church Liaison God loves them—and I do, too! SDA Kinship International If I can make that transition from prejudice to love, “the church” can make it—one person at a time. Carrol Grady, author, wife, mother, and friend writes from Seattle, WA

SDA Kinship Connection 5 that I had to withdraw from the organization. Free to tell who I am So, my friend and I started doing a different thing. We started Javier Zendabe, as told to Connection another organization called Great Companion, and started traveling I don’t know where to begin. This is I was really scared and embarrassed around the country trying to see how a hard story for me to tell. All I can that as a church pastor it was so hard things were going. But that is where tell you is that when I was a teenager for me to know what to do. I got into some trouble. I was not attracted to girls. The professor gave me contacts to a I remember after we had meeting of I tried herbs and other aphrodisiacs lot of people including a reverend Great Companion at a hotel, we went to increase my attraction. They did father who also introduced me to to a party where we were waiting not work. My parents were telling many people. It was such a relief to for a friend. While we were waiting me you must get married! Your talk to people who understood how there, the party was surrounded by brothers an sisters are all getting I felt. the police. They had vehicles there married. With this reverend we started an ready, and we were taken to a police So, at the age of 26, I felt I had organization where we can fight for station. It was not so easy. It was a to get married. It was very our rights . We called it the Open very hard experience that night. We hard. Fortunately, even my wife Door. Together with a medical did not sleep so much. understood. Still, it was hard, very Then, the following day, we were hard. transferred to a central police A couple of years ago, I was Right now, I am really station. My friends who were also traveling in a neighboring country taken together from the party were state on a bus. A professor was glad that I am living a also taken there. sitting next to me. He admired me, It was the worst experience I have so he was making a lot of passes. At life with more freedom. ever had in my life. This story first, I didn’t know anyone else could makes me sometimes cry, but then I feel what I was feeling. I didn’t Almost nobody knows remember to thank God. He saved understand, but he understood. about my past life. I my life. “Where are you going?”, he asked. They would use plastic bags, like the Then, “Do you want to go to a hotel keep it a secret. ones we use to buy things from the together?” store, light them and then let the drippings fall onto my body. Then “No.” I replied. But, with time, I might they would take me into another Well, at first I said no, then finally I begin to feel free... room, naked, and dip me into cold said, “OK, that’s OK, we can go to a water, very much cold. They made hotel.” it very painful for me — to make me So the professor, who worked at a doctor, who was a wonderful guy, talk. They keep asking me who was university, started trying to persuade and an attorney who was also a in the group, what are their names.... me as you know, but finally he wonderful guy, we worked to write Every day they are giving me strokes, became just my friend. He could not down everything down to secure beating me. The torture was really believe it, “Haven’t you ever met any some funding for the organization. unbearable. They had a lot of gay people?” We did this while still trying to hide, different kinds. Another kind which “No, I have never seen any!” but we had to secure funding. We really hurt — they would put sharp objects under my nails. I cried, but So, he really did a lot. That day, it were lucky, we got some funding from an embassy, There was a lady I couldn’t do anything. They told was really — a wonderful day. It was me, “You say that you are a rebel”. as if he removed a mask on my face. there who helped us and was always so kind. Then I think that if I say it, they will I started seeing things differently. I just kill me. thought, “Oh, I should have known, With this encouragement the there are people who really see the reverend, the doctor and the Another torture, which was terrible, way I see things.” I should have attorney wrote a constitution, the is they make me lie on something like known. rules as to how we can govern a table and then they tie my arms ourselves. The reverend was and feet and then they turn a handle Even before this, whenever I would and try to dislocate my joints while go to a city, to attend a public interested in moving beyond gaining human rights, so I had to decide what beating me. It was too painful so I conference, there were guys I was fell down. That was the end of me. I meeting, but I was afraid to interact. I really wanted to do. I decided

6 November 2002 didn’t know what was taking place. there, but they couldn’t know the interrogator at the barracks. I had They took me to a civilian hospital. whole story. to arrange to get a new passport. I As I was getting back to normal, a Fortunately my name and the details received a visa to the United States. former friend who was also gay, of my arrest was not released in My father had to use his title and came to see me. His father was the the newspaper. I was called into a borrow some money to buy the commander of the barracks where I church council regarding my arrest. tickets, so I could come here where had been. He was trying to persuade They concluded I was innocent of any people can be free. Finally, I arrived his father that I had done nothing. crime. But when they later heard here. After some days, working hard to some stories, I was told never to Right now I am really glad that I persuade his father, he came to see continue ministry until future notice. am living a life with more freedom. me again with the news, “You are They told other conferences, since Almost nobody knows about my past free to go.” I traveled a lot, not to give me a life. I keep it as a secret. So I am After being dismissed from the pulpit until future notice here by myself, but with time I might hospital, I went back home. My My passport was not returned to begin to feel free; free to tell people mother was there, my wife was me. It was in the hands of the who I am. Australia get-together Noel Thorpe, Australia

Kinship Australia will host a gathering in Sydney, February 21 to 23, 2003. This is the weekend before Gay Mardi Gras in Sydney, Australia. Meetings, with fun, will be the norm. An excursion on Sunday will end the get together. Accommodation will be at your own arrangement. If you want to be part of this group, please let the Kinship office know. Join us! You will not be disappointed. Connected Notes from readers Floyd Poentiz, KinNet Betty Hale, Region 7

Kampmeeting happens once a year. Got the latest Kinship Connection Catholic and his partner, Marilyn, The Connection is published a few newsletter and really enjoyed it. I who was raised without religion, got times in a year, but KinNet and KOL took it to church to read before excited about Kinship and wanted to (Kinship On Line) are available every the Bible study on Tuesday night. I read the Connection. They thought day! figured my pastor might know of Kinship was cool and they want to Kinship’s goal is that every member Fritz Guy, and I wanted to ask about support it. with Internet access to be able to him before I read the article. Well, I almost had to wrestle my copy out log into this secure area and keep in yes, he knew Fritz and thought he of the arms of all the straight folks touch with each other. If you don’t was fabulous. Another former SDA who wanted to read it and enjoy it. have a user name and password, or said that when she was getting One of them said, “Isn’t that the guy have forgotten an old one, contact divorced, Fritz had been a wonderful who came and sang at our church?” Floyd at [email protected] to get listener. “Yes, that is my friend, Jesse,” my connected. Another couple (straight), a former pastor said…

SDA Kinship Connection 7 Region 3: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Keys Jacob Demetrius

The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Keys group has been meeting at my place in downtown Miami by the bay every month since February of this year. It has been my dream to start a group ever since I moved here almost eight years ago. Finally, it is alive. Though it takes numerous e-mails, phone calls, and more phone calls, God has blessed. Photos (starting below, counter clockwise): a guest Psychologist spoke about the effects / cause of guilt in relation to Homosexuality and Religion at our October meeting; crossing the threshold; for our September fellowship we had an outstanding foot washing and communion service with music and singing; our October group; we also enjoyed table games and pizza at our September meeting

8 November 2002 HAD autumn meeting notes Roy Raetzer, Germany

This year’s autumn meeting Sabbath morning, brother Heinz O., a the last 10 years, about fights with of Homosexuelle Adventisten very supportive pastor from Northern church leaders and so on. Later we Deutschland (HAD) took place in the Germany, spoke about Matthew 15: watched a photo history and Dieter city of Duisburg in Germany’s Ruhr 21-28. Afterwards, we discussed the did drag. We all enjoyed this a lot. area. Old industrial plants now used talk and drew many connections Sunday morning featured a as an open-air museum surround the between this story and the church’s membership meeting and new board youth hotel where we met. relationship with HAD today. Ruud election (top from left: Andreas, Roy, About 20 people from all over and Roy gave a report and shared René, Roland, Andrea). Germany arrived Friday evening to photos from the 1st European Kinship meeting in Sweden. Unfortunately, the weekend was too celebrate our 10th anniversary. Friday fast over and we had too soon to say was filled with chat, as there was a The evening was celebration time. “good bye” and go on our ways back lot to share since the last time we Andrea told us about how HAD home. met. started, about the ups and downs of

Editor’s note John Weiland’s name was omitted from the photography credits last issue. John photographed the group at Kampmeeting and was exceptionally supportive during the production phase of the last issue. Please accept my apologies John! Photo quotes in this issue are from the Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial. The Idaho Human Rights Commission conceived the first-of- a-kind project and recently deeded the memorial park to the City of Boise, Idaho after completing construction in July, 2002. Stories, updates, and pictures are always welcome! Deadlines are: December 10 for the January issue; February 15 for the March issue.

SDA Kinship Connection 9 In other words: “What you need to know is how God loves the world. Well, here’s how— God gave his Son, his own self, really, to the world. And God loves unconditionally here’s why—so no one would have to be destroyed by sin. By believing in this Son, trusting that what he part 2 of 2 says about God’s love is true, anyone can have real life, whole and lasting Fritz Guy life, eternal life. You see, God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending the In the prior issue, Fritz shared that Son just to tell the world how bad it in 50 years as pastor, editor, teacher, is, to tell people how defective they and theologian, the most important are. No indeed! The reason God sent thing he has ever learned is that God the Son was to make people right by loves unconditionally—God loves us showing people how much they are unconditionally. This is the gospel, loved.” This is what Jesus was saying. the “good news”. This is the most This is what the woman’s parents in important thing we can ever know: the Nevada courtroom were telling God loves us unconditionally—right her. This is what God is telling us in here, right now, just the way we are. the story of Jesus. This is the center of our theology, our thinking about God and ourselves. Nothing—absolutely nothing—I have ever learned is as important as this, II spiritually as well as theologically. If we understand it, if we really believe This reality that God’s love for us it, and make it the center of our is unlimited and unconditional is faith and life, it transforms the way a different kind of reality from we think and feel about God and what we see around us. It is God’s ourselves and everyone else. It is a reality. Look: the whole world loves Fritz Guy presenting at Highland Springs complete “paradigm shift”—a new, a winner. We were reminded of this Resort, July 9, 2002. radically different perspective. It is a over and over again a few months Fritz, a fourth generation Adventist is spiritual “Copernican revolution”— ago as we watched the Winter professor of theology and philosophy experiencing reality from the Olympics. We saw the world’s best at , where he has opposite direction, experiencing God skaters and skiers and snow boarders been a member of the faculty for 28 as the Savior who is always on our standing on the winner’s platform years. He has also taught at Andrews side, experiencing ourselves as valued with smiles on their faces and flowers and Loma Linda Universities. He and his and loved unconditionally. in their arms (and sometimes tears wife Marsha have three children and six in their eyes), as they listened to grandchildren. To get this message—to know it and their country’s national anthem and believe it and live by it—is, as Jesus received their gold medals. And we that is unlimited and unconditional— said, like being born again. It is to be saw it again a couple of weeks ago because it depends on what God is, born of the Spirit, to be born from when the Brazilian soccer team won not on what we do. This is why Philip above, to live in another dimension. the World Cup. Yancey is exactly right: we can never As one of my young La Sierra friends put it, it is a metamorphosis, a While the whole world loves do anything bad enough to make change from a caterpillar into a a winner, the good news—the God stop loving us, and we can never butterfly. gospel—is that God loves the losers do anything good enough to make just as much. God loves the school God love us more. It means that we never again have dropouts, the failures, just as much This is what Jesus told his conver- to worry about being good enough. as the valedictorians and the other sation partner during his famous We never again have to worry about successes. God loves us just as much conversation with Nicodemus: “God being acceptable, because we are when we mess things up as when loved the world in such a way that he already accepted. We never have to we manage to do things right. The gave his unique Son so that whoever worry about being left out, because meaning of our lives comes not from trusts him will not disappear into we are already in. And with this being winners but from being loved. oblivion but will ultimately live spiritual security, we can relax. We Our security comes not from our forever. For God didn’t send the don’t have to worry, and we don’t success, but from knowing we are Son into the world to condemn the have to pretend. We don’t have to loved—right here, right now, just the world, but to save the world through live in the fast lane; we can get out way we are. We are loved with a love him.” of the “rat race.” We can be

10 November 2002 compassionate and generous. We can want a surgeon who got through put this in striking language: “To enjoy the evidences of grace in our medical school and surgical residency repent means to change your mind, lives—family and friends, fl owers and “by grace.” I want a surgeon with to accept the mind of God as your music and good conversation. recognized com petence. If I’m going guide. The greatest repentance for One of the great treasures of our to a concert, I don’t want to listen many of us is to discover that we Adventist heritage is the little book to an orchestra whose members are beautiful in God’s eyes—and if Steps to Christ. It is widely recognized got in “by grace.” As a matter in God’s eyes, why not in our own, as a resource for Christian spirituality, of fact, candidates for positions too? We shall fi nd ourselves beautiful and it is just as valuable as a resource in the Los Angeles Philharmonic not in a possessive or competitive for Christian theology. Here four audition behind a screen. The judges or arrogant way, not in order to extremely important sentences from don’t know the identity, or the show off the advantages we have the fi rst chapter: “The enemy of appearance, or age, or gender, or that others may not have, but simply good blinded the minds of men, so eth nicity of any of the candidates. for the sake of enjoy ment—God’s that they looked upon God with The only thing that counts is enjoyment of us and our enjoyment 4 fear; they thought of Him as severe performance. of God.” and unforgiving. Satan led men to But when it comes to the ultimate IV conceive of God as a being whose value of our lives, what counts is the When it comes to “obedience,” so chief attribute is stern justice,—one fact that God loves us—immediately, deeply imbedded in our collective who is a severe judge, a harsh, Adventist psyche, the best way to exacting creditor. He pictured the think about the Ten Commandments Creator as a being who is watching The meaning of our lives (and all the other instructions in with jealous eye to discern the errors the Bible) is in relationship to God’s and mistakes of men, that He may ...our security...comes unlimited and unconditional love. visit judgments upon them. It was The essential difference between to remove this dark shadow, by from knowing we are Paul and the Pharisees was this: The revealing to the world the infi nite loved...just the way we Pharisees said, “We keep the law; love of God, that Jesus came to live therefore we are saved.” Paul said, 3 among men.” are. “I am saved; therefore I keep the III law.” In other words, the Pharisees One of the great ironies of We are loved with a love said, “We do what God tells us to do, life—Christian life and Adventist so we know God loves us.” But we life—is how diffi cult it is for us to that is unlimited and say, “We know God loves us, so we believe that God really does love want to do what God tells us.” God’s us unconditionally and how easy it unconditional—because love is very much related to the way is to forget it. When we talk about we live—to living right. But it is the God’s unconditional love, some it depends on what God motivation, not the result. people get nervous. Some evangelical is, not on what we do. God’s love and justice are not in Christians ask: “But what about sin? tension with each other; they are not Doesn’t sin have to be punished? confl icting princi ples. Nor are they And what about justice? Isn’t jus tice unconditionally and forever. God’s two equally basic principles. God’s as important to God as love?” Some love is unrestricted and unending. love is even more fundamental than Adventists ask, “But what obedience? This is a value from another, jus tice. For God, love is the source of Isn’t it important to keep the transcendent realm. It refl ects justice, and justice is the expression commandments? Doesn’t it matter another dimension—something of love. The fundamental idea of how we act?” like a fi fth dimension—of our divine justice is not punishment, not These questions are understandable, existence. It does not negate the giving people what they deserve, but and probably inevitable, because other dimensions of time and making things right. To bring justice we live in a world where, like the space, where performance counts, is to establish right relationships. Olympics, ability and performance but it is a wonderful and necessary Justice is not retribution but count. When a person applies to complement to them. Like time and restoration. And because God’s graduate school or professional space it is an essential aspect of love includes everybody, it is the school, the question is: How good our total reality. And like time and motivation for human justice too. are your grades and our test scores? space it intersects all of our reality. When I remember that God loves When we want to buy a house or To understand this, to let it light up everyone else just as much as me, I a car, The question is: How good our lives, is to think in a new way, to try to treat everyone with respect— is your credit rating? Much of the think of ourselves the way God thinks even the bully in the big black SUV time, ability and performance do of us. who cuts in front of my little white count. If I’m having surgery, I don’t A contemporary theologian has CRX on the freeway.

SDA Kinship Connection 11 Over the centuries, there has been one of them. hold their gloves in order to have an interesting development in the V the best chance of catching the language of the Bible. The Hebrew ball if it happened to come their word torah originally meant This past spring I spent some time way. I watched him show a catcher “instruction”—the sort of thing one on Sunday mornings watching ABL how to adjust her shin-pads so she gets from a teacher. Then, when games. (“ABL” means Adventist wouldn’t trip on them. It reminded the Hebrew Bible was translated Ball League, an Adventist version me again of God’s grace. Grace is into Greek, torah became nomos, of Little League games.) The games not just “unmerited favor,” giving us which meant custom, standard I saw involved the “Minors”—boys something we don’t deserve. It is God practice, regular procedure, the and girls from 8 to 10—and the helping us do what we are supposed way things usually work. When “Cadets”—5- to 7-year-olds. What to do so we can have more fun. the Bible was translated into Latin, impressed me most was not the ABL uniforms, which were classy, or even At the end of the season, all the torah and nomos became lex, which players received trophies—all of meant a statute, the product of the ABL players, who were earnest and enthusiastic, but what I call the them, regardless of how many times a legislative body. And when the they struck out, how many fly balls Bible was eventually translated “ABL theology.” In the Minors this year there were 14 boys and girls on they didn’t catch, how far they threw Into English torah, nomos, and the ball over the first baseman’s lex became law, which meant an a team. When a team was on the field, everyone played—the catcher head, or how many times they got obligation, a requirement enforced called out for running outside the by punishment, something we have and 13 fielders. And everyone had a turn at bat. base lines. These trophies weren’t to do, or else! So over time the gift earned; they were gifts. The ABL of “instruction” became the demand You may wonder why the pitcher Minors and Cadets weren’t perfect, of “law”—which feels very different, wasn’t one of the 14 players. That’s but when things were working right, and is very different. because the pitcher was the coach they were a theology of grace in When I was in the third grade, I of the team that was at bat. So the action. The kids could learn a great began taking violin lessons from pitcher had a vested interest in as deal more than how to hit and throw Mrs. Van Ringelestein She was many batters as possible getting on and catch a ball. base. That’s something like God and kind and patient, but also firm and There are just two kinds of people demanding. She insisted that I work us, isn’t it? The pitches were slow and easy. And if the batter has trouble in the world: those who know that on bowing and fingering until I got God loves them unconditionally, and them right. Practicing the figuring hitting the pitches, the umpire got out a batting tee to hold the ball those who don’t. More than anything and bowing her way was not always else, God wants us to be part of the fun, but I knew it was necessary in right in front of the batter. The batting tee was adjustable so it could first group, and live in the freedom, order to make the violin sound the joy, and security of unconditional way I wanted it to. Even when she be put at the height where the batter would have the easiest time hitting love. And God invites us to help make thought I wasn’t practicing enough, the first group larger, and the second I knew she was on my side. We both it. The umpires didn’t just call the players safe or out; they also helped group smaller. This is an invitation wanted the same thing: for me to that is easy to accept when we play the violin well. the players play the way they were supposed to. remember how much we are valued The instructions in Scripture are for and loved. our benefit. “Do not steal” is not for I watched with particular interest God’s benefit (except that God wants as one of them, a college student, 3Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ what is best for us). Nor is it intended explained to the pint-size batters (repr. Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific primarily to test our loyalty to God, where and how to stand and hold Press, 1956), 10-11. the bat in order to have the best or to help us develop character. All 4L. William Countryman, chance of hitting the ball. I watched the instructions in Scripture are there Forgiven and Forgiving, 123. to help us make our lives as good as him tell awkward fielders how to they can be. In a conversation with Patty Cabrera, one of our La Sierra graduate students a few months ago, she suggested that somebody needs to write a book about the Ten Commandments with the title Ten Way to Have More Fun.” We follow God’s instructions because we want to get as much out of life as we can. There are many good reasons for doing what Scripture says we should do, but getting God to love us isn’t

12 November 2002