F I R MINISTRY Ministry is the international journal of .the Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial Association and has been published since ^928.

Association Secretary James A. Cress %i far or far Editor Wiltmore D. Eva -* to Assistant Editor for Management Julia W. Norcott Thoughtful approaches to Muslims and people of Editorial Assistant Sheila Draper Professional Growth and Inter-church Relations other non-Christian faiths Nikola us Satelmajer Contributing Editors: Sharon Cress, John M. Fowler, Gorden R. Doss Clifford Goldstetn, Peter Prime, Joel Sarfi, Kit Watts r'\ International Editors: French John Graz - 1 Inter-American Division Felix Cortes South American Division Zinaldo A. Santos " the 1) Consulting Editors: Ben Clausen, Raoul Dederen, Teofilo Ferreira, Ron A penetrating review of a long-standing issue Flowers, Michael Hasel, Roland Hegstad, Kathleen Kuntaraf, Ekkehardt Mueller, , Robert Peach, Tim Crosby Angel Manuel Rodriguez, Penny Shefl, William Shea, Russell Staples, Richard Tibbits, Ted Wilson, Edward Zinke Pastoral Assistant Editors: John C. Cress, Fredrick j,, or Russell, Maylan Schurch, Loren Seibold © International Advisors: Alejandro Bullon, John Duroe, Andrews Ewoo, Paulraj Isaiah, Anthony Kent, A provocative review of kingpin faith/science issues Ivan Manilich, Zacchaeus Mathema, Gabriel Maurer, Ivan Omana, David Osborne, Peter Roennfeldt from a Creationist viewpoint Pastoral Advisors: Leslie Baumgartner, S. Peter Lyndon K. McDowell Campbell, Miguel A. Cerna, Jeanne Hartwell, Mitchell Henson, Norma Osborn, , Dan Smith, Steve Willsey Advertising Editorial Office | Ministerial Association Resource Project 1) Coordinator Cathy Payne In dialogue with non-Creationists; indispensable Cover Design Harry Knox attitudes and approaches Subscriptions: 12 issues (double issue for July/August): United States US$29.99; Canada and Leonard Brand and Cindy Tutsch 1 iril 41.75 sin

, i! Web site: www.ministrymagazine.org Circulation queries, renewals, new subscriptions, address changes: Email: [email protected]; phone: 301-680-6510; fax 301-680-6502. Applying Adventist history and heritage to present To Writers: We welcome unsolicited manuscripts. Editorial preference is to receive manuscripts on diskette Church directions and discussions with name, address, telephone and fax numbers, and Social Security number (if U.S. citizen or possessing a Woodrow W. Whidden U.S. Social Security number). Send editorial correspondence to 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600. Phone: 301-680-6510; fax: 301-680-6502; Email: [email protected] or •\ to [email protected] (editorial offices). Crucial pastoral principles in relating to young Writer©s Guidelines available on request. Ministry (ISSN 0026-5314), the international journal people of the Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial Association © 2005, is published monthly (except for July/August, L. Albert Mathewson when a double issue will be published) by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and printed by Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1350 N. Kings Road, Nampa, ID 83687-3193. Member Associated Church Press. Standard mail postage paid at Nampa, Idaho. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Vol. 77 Number 2

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MINISTRY February 2005 T T R

HOWEVER, WHAT REALLY is MISLEADING IS HIS COMMENT THAT IT WAS A ©CONCEPT THAT© SHE STEADFASTLY REJECTED/

d Johnson (June 2004) writes: "There whether the incarnation involved taking gospel. Take it away and you have noth Eis no need to argue against a fallen, on moral consequences of fallen human ing left. I am distressed to see in recent sinful nature for Jesus, for it is not the nature or pre-fallen human nature. If we that the heresies of the moral sinful nature that condemns us, but sin. could conclusively end this argument influence theory of the atonement have We are all born with a sinful nature. But with clear references to the Bible or been creeping into the Seventh-day we are not sinners at birth." Ellen White, we would. The fact that we Adventist Church. I am lifting up my It©s true that at the time babies are cannot shows that it was perhaps not voice against such false teachings. born, they are not guilty of having com one of those theological points essential Pastor Leonard P. To/hurst, retired chair, mitted a sin. But I wonder if Pastor to one©s salvation. I agree with Naden©s theology department, Pacific Adventist Johnson means that human beings view that Christ had Adam©s pre-fallen University, via email. don©t need a Savior at the time they are human nature (no propensities of sin) born. Are all babies born in a saved con but with the physical consequences liver Jacques, great grandson of dition and only begin to need a Savior relating to health, aging, and dying. O Ellen White, writes that Ellen White after they have committed their first sin? Pastor David A. Pendleton, Hailua, Hawaii never used the term "vicariously" and I beg to differ with that theology. Every that it is a "concept she steadfastly human being from Cain and Abel to the liver Jacques (June 2004), the rejected." In Review and Herald, Nov. 1, present has needed a Savior from the Ogreat-grandson of Ellen White, 1892, Ellen White wrote: "The sacrificial moment of birth. But this could not does not seem to understand either her offerings which had been instituted to have been true of Christ, for He could theology or the meaning of the word teach men concerning the vicarious not have been the Savior if at His birth "vicarious" and its derivative, "vicari atonement of Christ. . ." Many quotes He had needed a Savior. Therefore, ously." While he may be correct in in Ellen White©s books confirm this con there has to be something sinful about saying that Mrs. White never used the cept. I found this statement using my us about our nature, if you please at word "vicariously," she did use the term computer. the time we are born that was not true "vicarious atonement" (see Review and Pastor fan T. Knopper, Australia. of Christ when He was born. Herald, Nov. 1, 1892). However, what However, the inspired evidence does really is misleading is his comment that hile an electronic search of The not provide us with the information we it was a "concept that she steadfastly WComplete Published Writings of Ellen need to define that difference. rejected." G. White reveals one appearance of Therefore, we each need to respect Webster©s New Collegiate Dictionary "vicarious atonement," the concept of those whose differ from us and avoid gives among other meanings the follow vicarious suffering/death finds a good calling them heretics. ing for "vicarious" "Performed or suf deal of mention. The phrase "Christ suf Marvin Moore, Co/dwell, Idaho fered by one person with results accruing fered for our sins" appears some 74 to the benefit or advantage of another, times, and the phrase "Christ died for n our 27 Fundamental Beliefs, the doc substitutional, as a vicarious sacrifice." our sins" appears 116 times. And then, I trines entitled "The Son" and "The No one can read nor the what does that gem in , Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ" Desire of Ages and say that Mrs. White page 25 ("Christ was treated as we articulate a biblical understanding of rejected the concept that what Jesus did deserve that we might be ..."), mean if Christ©s human nature which does not on the cross was not for our benefit. not that Jesus died in my stead? conclusively answer the question of Substitution is the very heart of the John M. Fowler, Silver Spring, .

Free Subscription If you're receiving Ministry bimonthly and haven't paid for a subscription, it's not a mistake. Since 1928 Ministry has been published for Seventh-day Adventist ministers. We believe, however, that the time has come for clergy everywhere to experience a resurgence of faith in the authority of Scripture and in the great truths that reveal the gospel of our salvation by grace, through faith alone in Jesus Christ. We want to share our aspirations and faith in a way that will provide inspiration and help to you as clergy. We hope you will accept this journal as our outstretched hand to you. Look over our shoulder, take what you want and find helpful, and discard what you can't use. Bimonthly gift subscriptions are available to all licensed and/or ordained clergy. Requests should be on church letterhead and addressed to the editorial office.

February 2005 MINISTRY D I T O R I A L

Taking back the right to personal peace

oseph©s brothers planned to murder plan to "deal with it"? What about taking him and throw his body into a dried up the initiative and handling the situation well. Instead of killing him, though, that needs forgiveness? judging when J they decided to sell him to a group of doing so is necessary and important. It is passing Ishmaelite traders, who took him also part and parcel of our power of far from home and into a foreign country, JULIA W. NORCOTT choice, and we should pray for wisdom to where he was put up for sale on the slave know when to and how to make such market (Gen. 37). important moves. If we feel we need to Amazingly, many years later, Joseph deal with someone because they are a was in a position of authority in Egypt. constant part of our lives, for example, Not recognizing him, his brothers came to then the New Testament model is the him making their life or death request for appropriate answer. Taking this approach food. Struggling with his memories and rather than, in contrast, talking behind the taken aback by the surprise of facing them person©s back is the straightforward, hon again, Joseph opted to help them, offer Pulling all of the Biblical advice together est, and constructive thing to do. ing kindness though they had done so and looking at the big picture, everything Joseph©s story exemplifies a loving, con much to wrong him (Gen. 45:3-15). falls into place. We are to forgive, and we structive person whose compassion was Forgiving something that horrible are called to let go. not at his own expense. Joseph actually takes courage; it takes humility; it takes a According to Christian psychologist tested his brothers by placing a silver cup healthy sense of oneself. Such forgiveness and author Melody Seattle, detachment is in Benjamin©s sack (Gen. 44). When he is what Christ called us to when he said to "releasing, or detaching from, a person or knew he could trust his brothers, Joseph forgive one another seventy-times-seven problem in love. We mentally, emotionally, broke down with emotion. He then times (Matt. 18:22, NKJV). and sometimes physically disengage our addressed the past wrong openly and they What about the less hurtful yet selves from unhealthy (and frequently acknowledged it and asked forgiveness. nonetheless bothersome and often hurtful painful) entanglements with another per Most significantly, however, we know offenses we suffer? What about the neigh son©s life and responsibilities, and from that Joseph was not vindictive, and that he bor you thought was your friend, who you problems we cannot solve. ... We trust was kind to them in their need and at a found out has gossiped about you? Do we that Someone greater than ourselves vulnerable moment in their lives. "Don©t even have to forgive these people? What if knows, has ordained, and cares about be afraid," he told them. "Am I in the they don©t ask for forgiveness? what is happening ... [and] can do much place of God? You intended to harm me," Many a secular counselor may tell us more to solve the problem than we can."1 he said. "But God intended it for good ... simply to learn to let things go. Perhaps this Christian psychologists Henry Cloud the saving of many lives." He confronted is also what Christ taught when he told us and John Townsend, authors of the them honestly. Then the Bible says that he to "turn the other cheek?" (Matt. 5:39; Boundaries series of books, explain that "reassured them and spoke kindly to Luke 6:29). Nevertheless, I believe letting when humans turned from God, we lost them" (Gen. 50:19-21, NIV). go for Christian people is often, ironically, our freedom. "We became enslaved to sin, Like Joseph, we are not only allowed more difficult. to self-centeredness, to other people, to but actually obligated to live in freedom, On the one hand, Christians are called guilt, and to a whole host of other dynam the freedom to work from a place of to act without anger, so we feel guilty ics."2 God gave us the freedom to respond, serenity and strength with the right to about our reactions and struggle with guiit to make choices, to limit the ways other detach in Christian love from anyone who when we react wrongly or find ourselves people©s behavior affects us. We can would keep us from inner peace. We are unable to act because our turbulent emo choose not to be victims of other people. to honor God by honoring "the tem tions don©t match what our consciences In Galatians 5:1 Paul writes that it was ples" ourselves He created. For are telling us. On the other hand, the New "for freedom that Christ has set us free. without serenity, how can we feel God Testament suggests that when someone Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves working within us? (1 Cor. 6:19, 20). H offends us, we are to go to that person be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" first, and if this is not successful, we are (NIV). We can have Christlike compassion then to go to a church elder and take a for other people without going crazy! witness (Matt. 18:15-17). But what about the New Testament

MINISTRY February 2005 of trouble between Christians and Muslims, during which each has done unmentionable things to the other. For many reasons, over the centuries even the best efforts of Christian mis sion among Muslims have generally yielded poor results, when compared with efforts in behalf of other people groups. Thus, many Christian groups, including our own, are experimenting with creative Too far or not methodologies that are bearing fruit. However, these experiments are generating discussion and debate around two related far enough: questions: "How do Christians live ©in the world© without being ©of the world©?" Qohn 17:14-16), and, "How do we go far enough reaching out to without going too far in adapting to culture?" Put another way, the debate is about contex- Muslim people tualization. In the context Contextualization3 seeks to do all that is humanly possible to lead people to become ^" ""^he attacks of 9/11© brought many disciples of Jesus within their context. Gorden R. Doss I new issues to center stage. This is Contextualization assumes that is true not only for American-Arab a global religion whose "skeleton" or "DNA" I but also for Christian-Muslim rela- of core beliefs is "fleshed out" or "lived out" .^L. tions. Many Christians are now differently by people in various cultures. Just trying to reconcile contradictions in their as Jesus was incarnated into Jewish culture understanding of Islam and to define an Qohn 1:14), so His gospel and His church can appropriate stance toward Muslims. One be incarnated into any culture so that the church leader opined that, after 9/11, Muslims church may be "a place to feel at home." went beyond the reach of salvation, while Christ©s own human and divine nature is another labeled Islam a wholly demonic reli the model for the church, which Paul calls the gion.2 "body of Christ" (1 Cor. 12:27). The church is One problem with these responses is that a human institution that miraculously and the Great Commission includes "all nations mysteriously embodies Jesus Christ; in a . . . even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19, sense, it©s a symbol prefiguring the time when 20, NKJV). The understandable anger of Jesus Himself will dwell with His people in Christians toward Islamic terrorism must glory (Rev. 21:3). never cause us to do or say things that work That any grouping of humans could be against God©s stance toward Muslim people or called the "body of Christ" is itself a miracle His mission to everyone on earth, by all of divine grace. In cross-cultural mission, the means including Muslims. Even the horrific church in one sinful human society seeks to images of airliners burying themselves in col reproduce itself in another sinful human soci lapsing skyscrapers must be viewed through ety. Viewed in this way, the work of mission the eyes of God©s divine mission in the whole calls for the deepest humility and for ultimate earth and every person upon it. dependence on the Spirit because no church Garden /?. Doss is For American Adventists, the politics and represents Jesus Christ fully or perfectly. associate professor in patriotism of the post-9/11 era must never dull There are different ways of applying the the department of world mission, the focus of our calling. After all, we are (or principles of Contextualization. One way is to Seventh-day Adventist should be) Christians first and patriots second. deny that it is either good or necessary. Theological Seminary, How should twenty-first-century Christians Noncontextualization assumes that "one-size- , fulfill their role in God©s continuing way of fits-all" and that "my-way-of-being-a- Berrien Springs, reaching out to the Muslim world? Answering Christian" can be exported to any cultural Michigan. this question is not easy, given the long history context and set up like a prefabricated church

February 2005 MINISTRY building. Typically, noncontextualiza- In short, noncontextualization Ironically, both uncritical contex tion condemns all aspects of other reli does not go far enough and the gospel tualization and noncontextualization gions and assumes that Christianity never penetrates the world, because produce the same result syncretism. will make them disappear. Yet this the church never really begins the The former fails to communicate the noncontextualization overlooks the journey. pure gospel because it sells out bibli fact that Christianity always dwells In some ways noncontextualiza cal truth in an exaggerated attempt to within a particular culture with its tion is a fiction because contextualiza be relevant. The latter fails because it own cultural specificities. tion of some kind always happens. does not engage local culture and reli There are multicultural Christians Missionaries and converts in every gion in the intentional dialogue with but no culturally neutral Christians. location apply biblical truth to the Scripture that unmasks individual Neither is there a "Christian culture" local context in some way, knowingly and corporate sin. that exists as such apart from regular or unknowingly. Perhaps noncontex Both styles of contextualization are human cultures. Although Christians tualization could also be called cop-outs because they try to escape in every culture share important com "blind," or "haphazard," contextual the tension that exists wherever the monalities, they always retain specific ization. church is planted within human soci cultural characteristics that give eties. Clearly, neither approach is an shape and texture to their faith and Uncritical contextualization acceptable alternative for Adventist their religion. If noncontextualization anchors mission among Muslims or anywhere. Noncontextualization breeds sev one end of a spectrum, uncritical con eral negative consequences:4 First, it textualization anchors the other. Critical contextualization places converts in a religious-cultural Uncritical contextualization takes the The Mennonite missiologist Paul vacuum. In this vacuum they are side of those who emphasize "being G. Hiebert uses the term critical con associated with an alien culture and in the world" and "going far enough." textualization to describe what needs religion where they are set apart from In trying to make Christianity attrac to happen in cross-cultural mission.10 their own people.5 The resulting tive enough to penetrate culture, this Critical contextualization accepts the ostracism and social penalties vary, approach accepts too much of culture challenge of working within the but they can be quite severe. The con and sells out biblical truth. Uncritical inherent tension of being "in the vert may be cast into confusion about contextualization gives culture "more world but not of the world" and of her own cultural identity and may authority than revelation."8 "going far enough but not too far." lose her witnessing potential entirely. In church history, the change from The process of critical contextual Second, some local customs that the seventh-day Sabbath to first-day ization rests on several assumptions: need to be modified or abandoned on worship is a classic example of First, that God is active in every age, the basis of Scripture are retained and uncritical contextualization. In mod individual, and society through the driven underground, leaving the door ern times uncritical contextualization Holy Spirit and general revelation, open to syncretism.6 When this hap has been initiated in an attempt to drawing and guiding receptive people pens, Christians end up with a "split- avoid the errors of noncontextualiza to Himself (Acts 17:22-31; Rom. level" religion, with Christianity and tion seen in modern mission history. 1:20)." Thus, Christian mission has to traditional religion coexisting in a One contemporary example of the engage non-Christian peoples seri way that produces "deep inner disso uncritical approach is the approval of ously instead of trying to make them nance."7 Split-level Christians have practicing homosexuality as a valid "clean slates" (tabula rasa) by erasing dual allegiances to Christ, and to the alternative lifestyle for Christians. their religions (as if that were possible). powers of their traditional religion. Uncritical contextualization happens Second, the gospel can be incar Third, missionaries and local lead in Europe, America, or anywhere nated or translated into any culture. ers become religious police who try to when constant cultural change is not Third, the missionary is a facilita eradicate underground un-Christian matched with constant Christian self- tor who guides converts in a search customs. evaluation by the standard of Jesus for a Christian way of living within Finally, the local converts who must Christ and Scripture. their context. The missionary©s out live with -this kind of noncontextual- Jacques Ellul says that Christianity sider knowledge and experience links ized Christianity are denied participa has a "propensity to soak up culture up with the convert©s insider cultural tion in a contextualization process. like a sponge," so that it becomes knowledge to engage local culture. Thus they tend to have neither full "Christianism," instead of being the As the congregation matures it ownership of the call to communicate pure religion of Jesus Christ.9 Uncritical assumes full responsibility for critical the faith, nor do they contribute their contextualization "goes too far" and contextualization, so that fourth, as insider cultural knowledge to the evan the church becomes part "of the the Bible is applied to the local culture, gelizing process. world" because it rushes the journey. customs will be retained, modified, or

MINISTRY February 2005 abandoned in a process that requires time, energy, and patience. Finally, the process is continuous because culture is ever-changing and THIS YEAR, requires constant re-evaluation.12 Critical contextualization is diffi cult because it seeks to maintain biblical primacy while also respecting GIVE FREEDOM. culture. Because all cultures are com plex amalgams of good and evil, the boundary between being faithful or unfaithful to the Bible is often fuzzy and hard to identify. Hiebert names three protections from heresy: the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and the global church, or the "hermeneutical community."" Contextualization done the right way is the key to maintaining the pu rity of the gospel. When Christianity resides in any society for a prolonged period, the pure religion of Jesus Christ becomes encrusted with cultural arti facts or specificities that become iden tified with the gospel itself.14 Carrying the gospel across cultural borders using the critical contextual ization model forces longtime Christians to rediscover the "pearl of great price" within the layers of cul tural encrustation.15 Only as Christians learn to differentiate between their 0-8163-2042-X. Paperback. own culture and their religion can Single copy: US$1.99, Gin$2.99 they retain the purity of the gospel. 10 for USS14.90, CanS22.49. Thus, the task of contextualizing the gospel among Muslims holds the potential that those who carry the Based on the extraordinary biblical account of gospel will rediscover it for themselves Jesus and the demoniac of Decapolis, Broken in a fresh and powerful way.16 Chains, by president Doug The Muslim challenge Batchelor, unfolds the wonderful power of God to But again, what of the challenge of the Muslim world? deliver the desperate and heal the hopeless. While critical contextualization is If you or someone you know needs freedom challenging everywhere, it is particu from the shackles of guilt, bad habits, and a shattered larly challenging in Muslim contexts because Islam resists the development life, this book is the key to unlock those chains of of new Christian congregations with despair. varying degrees of intensity." Pacific Press® Wlterc the Word is Life Ideally, a growing local congrega tion functions freely as a locus for evangelization and contextualization, with the help of cross-cultural mis Available at your local ABC, 1-800-765-6955, or online: sionaries in the early stages. However, www.AdventistBookCenter.com this ideal scenario often cannot

February 2005 MINISTRY develop in Muslim lands. Frequently structures are needed for church over a symbolic vision commanding him the "extraction method" is used, sight and guidance (Hiebert©s third to eat filthy beasts (Acts 10). sending converts to Europe or protection against heresy). Finally, The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) America and removing their witness unprecedented missionary education made decisions that to us seem like at home. But Muslims must somehow and specialization is required. simple common sense 2,000 years be brought to Christ in a way that Implementing a holistic, successful later, while at the time it strained allows them to remain embedded in methodology will require great cre apostolic adaptability almost to the their native societies, where the Holy ativity. The problem is that creative breaking point. Since the time of Spirit can work through them in approaches make us feel uncomfort Abraham, circumcision had been the miraculous ways to share the gospel. able because some parts of the Church visible symbol of covenant relation The challenges of mission among Manual may not be followed as we ship with Yahweh (Gen. 17:11). Yet, Muslims suggest several things about seek to adapt to challenging cultural the apostles were open enough to the methodology: situations. Also, success stories usu Holy Spirit to be shown that this First, expectations and measures of ally cannot be published, and the ancient cultural-religious tradition, success must be realistic for the con Annual Statistical Report will not once commanded by God, did not text. We are accustomed to quick and include some of the numbers. In have to be carried across the cultural easy successes in evangelism; mission short, creative methods seem radical border into the Gentile world. with Muslims, however, requires because they take us outside of our Some Jewish Christians never did planning, patience, and discipline. well-established institutional box. make this radical leap of faith with the Second, a methodology that allows for Is there biblical precedent for using Jerusalem Council and spent their individual and congregational "radical" methods in mission? We can lives opposing Paul and his colleagues. growth as steps in a process is needed. easily forget what a radical departure Cross-cultural mission that uses the Third, reliance on the Bible and the the apostles made when they went critical contextualization model often Holy Spirit must receive extraordi from Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria feels radical to established Christians. nary emphasis (Hiebert©s first and and to the whole Gentile world. When Muslims accept Jesus Christ second guards against heresy). Fourth, Before Peter©s missiology could to they inevitably follow Him in a way alternative or parallel organizational be turned upside-down, he had to see continued on page 29

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MINISTRY February 2005 desire, another Jew, named Eleazar, who came from Galilee and who had a reputation for being extremely strict when it came to the ancestral laws, urged him to carry out the rite." (Antiquities 20.41-3, Loeb). Among other things, this history tells us that Jewish agents traveled about the empire, some advocating a lax policy on circumci sion, others a strict one. Paul wrestled with a similar situation in some of his churches. So the controversy over Jewish proselytes and circumcision was not limited to Christians. Did the Apostolic The Jerusalem council took up the issue around A.D. 45. After much discussion, speeches by Peter and James crystallized the Council set aside consensus, which was then written down. The Gentiles were commanded "to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from the Sabbath? (parti) sexual immorality" (Acts 15:29). Generations of scholars have wondered what reasoning process the apostles followed n Acts 15, the leadership of the early to arrive at their conclusion. On what did Tim Crosby church met to settle a controversy. they base their decision? "Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the broth Levitical precedent ers: ©Unless you are circumcised, Under the direction of the Holy Spirit (Acts Iaccording to the custom taught by Moses, you 15:28) the apostles found a passage in the cannot be saved.© This brought Paul and Torah that laid down rules that applied to Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with aliens living among the Jews. Notice how the them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, decree of Acts 15:29 follows Leviticus exactly, along with some other believers, to go up to in precise textual order. Notice also that each Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about segment of Leviticus repeats that the law this question" (Acts 15:1, 2*). applies to non-Jews: Around this time, the issue of circumcising "You are to abstain from food sacrificed to Jews who had become Christians was debated idols:" Converts to Christianity must no longer among the Jewish proselytes in the Christian offer any sacrifices to idols; "this is to be a last community. Josephus tells of Helena, queen of ing ordinance for them and for the generations Adiabene, and of her son Izates, who embraced to come. Say to them: ©Any Israelite or any alien Judaism under the influence of a Jewish mer living among them who offers a burnt offering or chant named Ananias. King Izates feared that sacrifice and does not bring it to the entrance his subjects would not accept him if he sub to the Tent of Meeting to sacrifice it to the mitted to circumcision. Ananias assured the LORD that man must be cut off from his peo king that circumcision was not the most ple©" (Lev. 17:7-9, italics added). important thing: "The king could, he [Ananias] ". . . from blood:" "Any Israelite or any alien said, worship God even without being circum living among them who eats any blood I will cised if indeed he had fully decided to be a set my face against that person who eats blood devoted adherent of Judaism, for it was this and will cut him off from his people. For the Tim Crosby is pastor that counted more than circumcision. He told life of a creature is in the blood, and I have of the Wiliowbrook him, furthermore, that God Himself would Seventh-day given it to you to make atonement for your Adventist Church in pardon him if, constrained thus by necessity selves on the altar; it is the blood that makes Boonsboro, Maryland. and by fear of his subjects, he failed to perform atonement for one©s life. Therefore I say to the this rite. And so, for the time, the king was con Israelites, ©None of you may eat blood, nor vinced by his arguments. Afterwards, however, may an alien living among you eat blood.© Any since he had not completely given up his Israelite or any alien living among you who

February 2005 MINISTRY Participating Organizations LASIERRA • ' UNIVERSITY TUESDAY, APRIL 5,2005 [Repeat broadcast April 6. 2005!

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E-MAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: www.ministerialassociation.com hunts any animal or bird that may be that the apostolic decree was merely Did the Apostolic Council set eaten must drain out the blood and provisional or temporary. But the aside the Torah? cover it with earth, because the life of source documents suggest otherwise. It is impossible to maintain that every creature is its blood. That is why Allusions to the decree are found in the church leadership in Acts 15 I have said to the Israelites, 'You must the last book of the Bible: intended to set aside the Torah when not eat the blood of any creature, "Nevertheless, I have a few things their decision was based upon the Torah. because the life of every creature is its against you: You have people there It is important to remember that the blood; anyone who eats it must be cut who hold to the teaching of Balaam, apostolic decree exempted only off" (Lev. 17:10-14, italics added). who taught Balak to entice the Gentile believers from circumcision; ". . . from the meat of strangled ani Israelites to sin by eating food sacri Jewish believers were still expected to mals:"1 "Anyone, whether native-born ficed to idols and by committing sexual observe it. This is implied not only in or alien, who eats anything found immorality" (Rev. 2:14). Acts 15 itself but also in an interesting dead or torn by wild animals must This is repeated in 2:20. By twice cit conversation between James and Paul wash his clothes and bathe with ing the first and last stipulations of the recorded in Acts 21:20-25. It may water, and he will be ceremonially apostolic decree of 15:29, John implies help to read the passage aloud, unclean till evening; then he will be the binding nature of the whole. There emphasizing the words in italics: clean. But if he does not wash his is no doubt that the apostolic decree "Then they Dames and the elders] clothes and bathe himself, he will be stands behind the text, for Revelation said to Paul: 'You see, brother, how held responsible" (Lev. 17:15, 16). 2:24 alludes to it again ("I will not many thousands of Jews have ". . . and from sexual immorality:" impose any other burden on you;" cf. believed, and all of them are zealous "The Lord said to Moses, 'Speak to the Acts 15:28). Evidently some Christians for the law. They have been informed Israelites and say to them: "I am the at the end of the first century did not that you teach all the Jews who live LORD your God. You must not do as regard the apostolic decree as testing among the Gentiles to turn away from they do in Egypt. . . . No one is to truth, and John, as he wrote the book Moses, telling them not to circumcise approach any close relative to have of Revelation, regarded this group as their children or live according to our sexual relations. I am the LORD. Do not heretical. customs. ... As for the Gentile believ dishonor your father by having sexual John's position prevailed in the ers, we have written to them our relations with your mother.... Do not second-century church. The Didache, decision that they should abstain lie with a man as one lies with a which may be seen as a species of •from food sacrificed to idols, from woman; that is detestable. Do not have early Christian "church manual" blood, from the meat of strangled ani sexual relations with an animal. . . . written around A.D. 100, says "Keep mals and from sexual immorality.'" The native-born and the aliens living strictly away from meat sacrificed to In other words, James and the eld among you must not do any of these idols, for it involves the worship of ers were apparently chiding Paul for detestable things'"" (Lev. 18). dead gods" (6:3). allegedly teaching Jewish Christians Leviticus 17-18 offers a far stronger Justin Martyr claimed that that they were no longer bound by the parallel with Acts 15 than the Noachide Christians "abide every torture and law (21:21), in violation of the agree covenant of Genesis 9, which forbids vengeance even to the extremity of ment of 15:19, which exempted only only blood but says nothing about food death, rather than worship idols, or Gentile Christians (21:25). This sacrificed to idols, things strangled, or eat meat offered to idols" (Trypho 34). explains the elders' request to Paul in porneia. The Noachide laws may have Eusebius regarded the teaching that 21:23-27 to sponsor four Jewish broth influenced Leviticus 17-18, but it is there was no harm in eating things ers in observing a vow (probably the Leviticus 17-18 that stands behind Acts sacrificed to idols as a heresy of Nazirite, see Num. 6) to reassure the 15 (a later passage that mentions Basilides (Hist. 4.7.7). critics that Paul, a Jew, was "living in approximately the same offenses is In the second half of the second obedience to the law" (Acts 21:24). Ezekiel 33:25, 26). century, Christians were still not It is unclear whether Paul agreed The apostolic rationale is obvious: allowed to eat the blood of animals with James that Jewish believers should the laws of Leviticus 17 and 18 explic (Hist. 5.1.26). Finally, all bishops of the be circumcised. In 1 Corinthians 7:19 itly refer to Gentile proselytes—the Christian church, up until the capture Paul writes, "Circumcision is nothing word translated "alien" here is the of Jerusalem by Hadrian around A.D. and uncircumcision is nothing. Greek proselytos in the Septuagint 135, were Jewish (Hist. 4.5), not Keeping God's commands is what (LXX). Gentile, and so were expected to counts," but he makes no distinction enforce the apostolic decree. Evidence between Gentile and Jewish believers. Was the apostolic decree suggests that the apostolic decree was The issue would arise, however, provisional? still considered normative well after only in the context of Gentile con Modern expositors often claim the New Testament was completed. verts, though it is unlikely that Paul

February 2005 MINISTRY 11 would have objected to Jewish believ to the promise" (verse 29). said to apply only to the descendants ers circumcising their own children. By the end of the first century of Abraham and their slaves—not to At any rate, his acquiescence to the John even refused to allow ethnic the aliens living among them. Exodus elders here (Acts 21:26) and his earlier Jews the right to any longer claim the 12:43-48 implies that aliens living circumcision of Timothy (16:3) show, title "Jew."4 The church called itself among the Jews were not normally at the very least, submission to "Israel"5 and assumed Israel's canon. circumcised unless they wanted to church leadership. The apostles saw the church as the partake of the Passover. IX! Even later Paul made sure he was legitimate continuation of God's ceremonially pure before he entered covenant people.6 They believed they Part 2 of this article (to appear in the April the temple (Acts 24:18). So Paul him were authentic Jews, so they did not issue of Ministry) will explore why the self observed parts of the ritual law simply discard the Jewish Scriptures Ten Commandments are not mentioned ("to the Jews I became like a Jew," and start from scratch. Rather, they in the Apostolic Decree of Acts 15.* 1 Cor. 9:20). He even seems to have selectively discarded certain "external supported in principle the prohibition regulations applying until the time of * Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture against meat offered to idols (1 Cor. the new order" (Heb. 9:10). quotations are from the New Inter 10:14-21), although he created a It is essential to remember that national Version. major loophole where the origin of early Christianity was derived from the meat was uncertain (10:25-28). the Old Testament. Christian evan 1 Wild animals often kill by strangling their prey, so "torn by wild animals" suggests strangulation. gelists did not preach from Christian 2 Some of the theological differences between Jewish and Unresolved differences among texts before the destruction of Hellenistic Christianity surface in the epistles of Romans and James. James' polemic against "faith alone" in chapter 2 of his New Testament leaders Jerusalem at the earliest, and prob epistle provides a provocative counterpoint to Paul's exposi The New Testament debate over ably not until the second century. tion of righteousness by faith in Romans 3 and 4. Both writers use the very same text about Abraham believing God (Gen. the law is easier to understand if we Their preaching was based on the 15:6) to arrive at differing conclusions (contrast James 2:21-23 allow for the possibility that Paul and canon of their parent community, with Rom. 4:1-5). Paul's fundamental thesis is stated in Romans 3:28, "We maintain that a man is justified by faith the Twelve had unresolved differences Judaism—in the same way that con apart from observing the law " Contrast this with James 2:24, of opinion on the matter.2 Galatians temporary Adventist evangelistic "You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone" (NASB). Here the formula "faith alone," in its only 2:12 seems to suggest that Paul's theo preaching appeals only to the tradi occurrence in the Greek New Testament, is rejected as error. logical opponents in Acts 15:1, 5 were tional Christian canon, ignoring any To harmonize Paul and James, one may distinguish works of law from works of faith. Works of law are bad (Rom. 3:20, 27, allied in some way with James. later authoritative writings. 28; Gal. 2:16, 3:2; 5, 10), while works of faith are good (Rom This much, however, is clear: the The apostles would have been 13:12; 2 Cor. 12:12; Gal. 5:6, 18-23; 1 Tim. 2-10; 5:10, 25; 6:18, 19; Titus 2:7, 14; 3:8, 14). Even works of faith are worthless as a Jewish founders of Christianity did astonished by the modern evangelical ground or basis of salvation but are essential as a fruit or result. not expect Jews to abandon their her- notion that nothing in the Old Fruitless trees/vines are cut down/off (Matt. 3:10; 7:19; Luke 13.7, John 15:2; Heb. 6.7, 8; Jude 12), because the lack of fruit itage when they accepted Jesus. Testament is binding except that indicates that the tree is dead. Hence "faith [i.e., mere mental Indeed, the earliest Christians consid which is repeated in the New. Paul assent] without works is dead" (James 2:17, 26). Even Paul preached that his hearers "should repent and turn to God and ered themselves not as a separate believed that "all [Old Testament] prove their repentance by their deeds" (Acts 26:20; cf. Luke 3:8). religion but as a sect of the Jews Scripture ... is useful for teaching" Our best efforts at harmonization aside, the aposties still found that Paul's writings contained material that was "hard known as "the Way."3 (2 Tim. 3:16). "Do we, then, nullify the to understand" (2 Peter 3:16)—and it seems significant that, Paul regarded Christianity as ful law by this faith?" he asks. "Not at all! immediately following this statement, Peter warns against antinomianism (3:17). filled Judaism, and Gentile Christians Rather, we uphold the law" (Rom. 3 Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23, 22:4, 24:5, 14, 22; 28:22. "The Way" is as true Jews: "It is we who are the cir 3:31). already a technical term among the Essenes at Qumran- 1QS 9:17-21 states that the instructor is not to argue theology with cumcision" (Phil. 3:3). "A man is not Luke, Paul's disciple, records the outsiders, but is to save his reproof for "those who have cho a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor words of Jesus: "It is easier for heaven sen the Way, treating each as his spiritual qualities and the precepts of the era require. He shall ground them in knowl is circumcision merely outward and and earth to disappear than for the edge, thereby instructing them in truly wondrous mysteries, if physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is least stroke of a pen to drop out of the then the secret Way is perfected among men of the Yahad (community), each will walk blamelessly with his fellow, one inwardly; and circumcision is cir Law" (Luke 16:17). He also records guided by what has been revealed to them. That will be the cumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, Paul's testimony in a Roman court of time of 'preparing the way in the desert' (Isa. 40:3). He shall instruct them in every legal finding that is to regulate their not by the written code" (Rom. 2:28, law, "I believe everything that agrees works in that time, and teach them to separate from every 29). "It is not the natural children with the Law and that is written in man who fails to keep himself from perversity. These are the precepts of the Way for the Instructor in these times." 1QS who are God's children, but it is the the Prophets" (Acts 24:14). 10:21 mentions "any who rebel against the Way." 4Q400 frag. children of the promise who are If the apostles did not simply dis 1, col. 1:14-16 mentions those "who transgress the true Way." 4Q405 frag. 23, col. 1, says of the angels: "None of them omits regarded as Abraham's offspring" card the Torah, how could they set a precept or fails to acknowledge anything the King says. They (Rom. 9:8). "Those who believe are aside circumcision for Gentiles? neither run from the Way nor reverence anything not a part of it." See Michael Wise, Martin Abegg, Jr., and Edward Cook, The children of Abraham" (Gal. 3:7). "If Notice that the covenant God made Dead Sea Scrolls: A New Translation (New York: HarperCollins, you belong to Christ, then you are with Abraham in Genesis 17:10-14, 1996), 140, 141, 367, 376. Abraham's seed, and heirs according where circumcision is commanded, is continued on page 25

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Trust Services General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, Maryland 20904-6600 USA www.willplan.org according to the assumptions of those who draw them, but they all have one common feature—the tree has no roots. What is called "the last common ancestor" remains an assumption. This does not mean that scientists have not tried to invent those roots. Because all liv ing organisms carry their genetic information in nucleic acids, RNA and DNA, and because these are expressed in specific sequences of proteins, attempts have been made to assem ble them artificially. The choice: In the 1950s, Stanley Miller, working in Harold C. Urey's laboratory, designed an experiment that elicited much publicity. He assum Dtion tried to simulate the type of air and water he imagined existed on the primitive earth and then bombarded the mixture with a continu or assura nee? ous electrical discharge. The experiment produced a number of amino acids and enabled Miller to explain how they were pro duced. ^""^"^Wiere's an old nursery rhyme that This work seemed to be encouraging. It Lyndon K. McDowell I asks, "Where did you come from, generated even more excitement when an • baby dear, out of the nowhere and Australian meteorite was found to have the • into the here." Good question, same amino acids in relatively the same quan .JL though the answer, at least today, tities. It looked as if we were about to find the is greatly debated. secret of life. It soon became evident, howev The informed contemporary person might er, we were mistaken. ask the question like this: "How do those life Leslie Orgel, who tried a similar experi less chemicals produce exquisitely ordered ment, explains the problem: "Nowadays structures called organisms?" This is the ques nucleic acids are synthesized only with the tion that drives current research. It is the basic help of proteins, and proteins are synthesized reason for the exploration of Mars to find only if their corresponding nucleotide water, and for plumbing the depths of the sea sequence is present. It is extremely improba to learn the secrets of the thermophiles and ble that proteins and nucleic acids, both of methanogens. It is also the driving force which are structurally complex, arose sponta behind libraries of speculative assumptions neously in the same place at the same time. and hours of laborious research. Yet the Yet it also seems impossible to have one with answer remains as elusive as ever. out the other. And so, at first glance, one Scientists have succeeded in unraveling the might have to conclude that life could never, chemistry of living things and have found that in fact, have originated by chemical means."3 they obey the laws of physics and chemistry. A typical phylogenetic tree is found in the But life itself is "not fully explained in terms of authoritative textbook Molecular Cell Biology, those sciences."1 The statement "Omnis cellula which reads in part that it "depicts a view of e cellula (every cell from a cell), remains one of how all life on earth, from simple bacteria to biology's essential verities."2 In fact, despite all complex mammals, evolved from a common the assurances and predications that presume single-celled progenitor,"4 and it is "based on Lyndon K. McDowell, basic evolutionary theory to be a proven the assumption that organisms with more sim D.D., is a retired explanation for our origins, the theory is based ilar genes evolved from a common progenitor pastor living in Scottsdale, Arizona. on an array of assumptions, such as: more recently than those with more dissimi lar genes. .. ."5 Assumption I. The universal The tree is divided into three main bran phylogenetic tree ches. The lowest branch and, therefore, the The universal phylogenetic trees vary earliest in evolutionary time is labeled

14 MINISTRY February 2005 "Bacteria"; it has six twigs, each carry impressed by the wonderfully effec the differences between the DNA or ing the name of a different bacterium, tive adjustment of their multifarious RNA sequences of the various crea one of which is the familiar Escherichia body structures and functions to their tures. It does not represent time in coli, or, more familiarly, E. coli. varying ways of life. From the sim years. Yet time is implied. The next branch of the stem, there plest to the most complex, all Protein sequences appear to by indicating more advanced evolu organisms are constructed to func diverge at a fairly constant rate. We tion, labeled "Archaea," also has six tion efficiently in the environments are told, for example, the protein twigs. The third branch has the gener in which they live." Then, he adds, components of hemoglobin, called al name of Eukarya, and is assumed to the ancestors of these living things globins, change at the average rate of be an evolutionary advance to more "were in general less complex, less one amino acid every four million complexity. The organisms have perfect and less diversified than the years. Most changes are neutral, that extensive internal membranes that organisms now living."6 is, they cause no differences in the enclose specific compartments. But there are no intermediate offspring, but evolutionists believe One of the six twigs on this branch forms between the various kinds on these changes may be used to com is the one humans belong to. It is the tree. His assumption suffers from pute the number of years since the labeled "Animals." Next to us are two the same disability as does the geolog various species split off from one shorter twigs. The closest are "Plants," ical column. The different forms are another.7 This is how they compute the next closest "Fungi." In terms of found "constructed to function efficient the relationship between chim this evolutionary theory, our nearest ly in the environments in which they panzees and humans. relatives are flowers and shrubs; we live." There are no others. This theory has a problem. The are also cousins to mushrooms. textbook Molecular Cell Biology teach Each form of life on the tree fits Assumption II: Protein es that "the creative part of the exquisitely into its niche. Theodosius sequences determine age evolutionary process is adaptation to Dobzhansky waxes almost lyrical as It should be noted that the length rapidly changing environments."8 he contemplates this. "The more one of the branches and of the twigs men But studies show that this is not pos studies living beings the more one is tioned above represents the extent of sible. There appears to be no way in

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Sharpen your skills this summer and earn credit toward a Master of Arts. Take this opportunity to dialog with colleagues, develop fresh material from Scripture, and learn from experienced profes sors and ministry experts. Choose from our unique areas of emphasis which includes homiletics, evangelism, church leadership and management, religious studies, and religious education. Contact the School of Religion today for the summer intensives schedule. SOUTHERN 1.800.SOUTHERN ext. 2977 ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY or 423.236.2977 email: [email protected] web: religion.southern.edu which "changes in the environment would be abandoned tomorrow if a Metabolism requires energy, and can call forth specific gene muta better theory appeared."14 energy in E. coli is provided by electri tions."9 Change comes by chance cal power generated by the cell. An mutations only. According to Assumption 111: The "simple" alternative energy source is also avail Cavalier-Smith, "Such changes cell able, if required. Electricity drives its should be seen as internally generat As we have seen, the phylogenetic external flagella, which rotate like ed accidents rather than adaptive tree is built on the premise that life propellers. The "propeller shaft" pen responses to external conditions."10 evolved from a simple cell, but that etrates through the membrane and Even if an environment did have an "simple cell" has yet to be found. into the cytosol by means of a bush evolutionary effect, changes would Would Darwin have ever even formu ing and can propel the little bug at a hardly be regular as postulated by the lated his theory if he had possessed speed of about ten to twenty cell molecular clock. an electron microscope and been lengths per second. One reads or hears so frequently aware of the complexity and design Besides this, the direction in which the emphatic affirmations that evolu of cells too small to be seen by the the cell is driven is "computerized." tion is a proven fact that it is naked eye? The flagella all rotate together in a refreshing to find honest statements E. coll is placed on the lowest counterclockwise direction when the to the contrary. Franklin Harold branch of the tree, assumed to be cell is in forward gear, but when its writes: "I share the commitment to a early in terms of evolution. Invisible "computerized" sensing mechanism material conception of life, but that to the naked eye, measuring 2 informs it that the gradient to which makes it doubly necessary to remem micrometers long and 0.8 microme it is heading has changed, a "switch" ber that before the cells were taken ters in diameter, it is a marvelous is thrown, and the flagella change apart—as long, indeed, as they were example of design and complexity. gears and begin a clockwise rotation. alive—they displayed capacities that The cell is enclosed within a dou This results in what is called a "tum go beyond chemistry."" ble wall, or membrane. Within this bling motion," and the cell changes "Any reservations about the mech membrane are about 2,400,000 pro direction. anisms of evolution are apt to be teins, 1,800 kinds of molecules, Of course, I am writing metaphor seized upon by enemies of the princi 14,000 messenger RNAs, and 200,000 ically. The pictures elicited may be ple itself," writes Harold, "and make transfer RNAs. Add to that 22,000,000 unreal, but the facts are correct. 15 Darwin's children anxious. Let me, lipid molecules and 280,000,000 Such is just a brief introduction to therefore, state unambiguously that I, small metabolites. All these jostle this simple cell! like the vast majority of contempo together in the cytoplasm which is 75 rary scientists, see the living world as percent water, but they all have a pur Assumption IV: Cod would wholly the product of natural caus pose and work harmoniously. have created the world es." But "that said, there remains a In the human body the various differently battery of open questions about the units share and cooperate in its In his book The Astonishing forces and events that shaped the his metabolism. The kidneys, for exam Hypothesis Francis Crick wrote that tory of life."12 ple, service the blood, but the heart until Charles Darwin, the "Argument Why then are so many scientists so pumps the blood. Stem cells are born from Design" appeared to be unan adamant about evolution? Because in the bone marrow, but they are swerable. "Yet," he says, "this "we have no better alternative to selected in the thymus and are trans argument has collapsed completely. offer," says Harold. Then he adds, ported by the vascular system. We now know that all living things, "but we must concede that there are A similar coordination is present from bacteria to ourselves, are closely presently no detailed Darwinian in the tiny bacterium. All the proteins related at the biochemical level."16 accounts of the evolution of any bio and molecules share in its internal Crick's apparent assumption is chemical or cellular system, only a metabolism. Their work is encoded in that if God created both men and variety of wishful speculations. "n its genes. It is estimated that those microbes, then He would have creat In an acrimonious correspondence instructions equal about ten pages in ed microbes on the basis of a different between the editor of Nature and 22 the Encyclopaedia Britannica. model than He created man. A relat- scientists from the various branches of science at the British Museum (Natural History), London, the scien tists wrote, "We have no absolute WWW. Ml N I STRYMAGAZINE.ORG proof of the theory of evolution," while there is circumstantial evidence in favor of it, "the theory of evolution

February 2005 MINISTRY 17 ed assumption is that God would not we find similar DNA in all forms of have created a world in which there is living matter. The basic, underlying so much competition and suffering. design is that of the Creator. Alfred Lord Tennyson expressed those concerns in his poem "In From assumption to assurance Memoriam." He wrote of "nature red In response to an inquiry of mine, in tooth and claw." "Are God and Crick ended his letter with, "If you Nature then at strife?" he asked. believe in a resurrection, you can "Who trusted God was love indeed believe anything." The statement / And love Creation's final law— / proved a timely heuristic stimulus to Tho' Nature, red in tooth and claw / explore the basis of my own faith. With ravine, shriek'd against his Why did I believe as I did about creed."17 Creation, the virgin birth, and the Providentially, Seventh-day Resurrection? Adventists were provided with at least As I review my life, God has been a partial answer to the questions good to me. In all the twists and turns about evil in the world with their of my experience, in both shadow White, The Fields theology of the great controversy and sunshine, He has been there to between Christ and Satan. sustain and guide. I know that God by Joseph A. Decker Because this great controversy lives. But experience is too personal theme was first suggested in to persuade, too subjective to be the 1848/1849, l8 the timing appears sig foundation of faith in the face of nificant. Genesis 3:17 also hints at an well-nigh-universal disbelief. answer. But for evolutionists the The first three chapters of Genesis metaphysical argument remains. The cannot be used either, for it is "by theory of evolution is true, they say, faith we understand that the universe because in the struggle described as was formed at God's command" the survival of the fittest, one would (Heb. 11:3). To depend on my own expect Nature to be harsh and com personal belief in the existence of petitive, while a world created by a God and His way with me, would, in loving God would, at very least, be a very real sense, put me on the same benign. level with evolution. Besides, Genesis Decorate your office, church Crick is also wrong if he assumes is such an abbreviated account of foyer, lobby, or any other well that God would not microbial Creation that it leaves too many life on the same pattern of man. The questions unanswered and is too eas traveled space with a limited Bible is clear about the relation ily open for personal assumptions, of edition 18"x24" print signed between men and animals. "God which we have many. formed the man from the dust of the My mind turns to Luke's gospel. by the Artist. ground and breathed into his nostrils There is no question about the basis the breath of life." of Luke's faith. He carefully investigat The word aphar, translated "dust" ed everything. Many, he found, had means "the dry fine crumbs of written down an account of the includes shipping for US earth."19 We are made of dust, that events. He listened to the oral ubiquitous material less than 63 accounts of those who were eyewit microns in size and of which even the nesses from the beginning (Luke 1:1-4). includes shipping outside the US stars are made. Were it not for the "metaphysical" But Scripture informs us that we aspects of the events—the virgin birth are also related to other forms of life. and the Resurrection—Luke's history CONTACT: "God formed both man and animals would surely be regarded as one of GENERAL CONFERENCE MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION out of the ground" (Gen. 2:19), thus the most reliable of the time. 12501 OldColumbiaPike-SilverSpring,MD-20904 "All have the same breath; man has Sir William Ramsey, in his book St. tel 301-680-6508 • fax 301-680-6502 no advantage over the animal.... All Paul, the Traveler and Roman Citizen, Payment options: Visa/Mastercard, Check, Cash or go to the same place; all come from recognized this. "I may fairly claim to Money Order (US Funds only) dust, and to dust all return" (Eccl. have entered this investigation with 3:19, 20). It is no surprise then, that out any prejudice in favor of the

18 MINISTRY February 2005 conclusion which I shall now attempt Like thousands of others through the to justify to the reader. On the con centuries I can say, "I know that my PLUS! trary, I began with a mind unfavorable Redeemer liveth." to it."20 It was his study of Luke's The choice is clear: SEEDS methodology and his accuracy that The shaky basis of assumption: 3-in-l International changed his mind. "Molecular science, for all of its no- Conference on Ministry Paul's account also rings with reli nonsense airs, asks one to swallow on the campus of Andrews University ability. He affirms that over five some real humdingers, and none big Berrien Springs, Michigan USA hundred were witnesses to the ger than the assertion that all extant Resurrection, and while "some are organisms have descended from a SEEDS International fallen asleep," the majority were still unique population of cells in the dis Cnwicdfei MaatinjgConfer alive and able to testify to the bodily tant past."22 resurrection of Jesus. Assurance: "In the beginning was It is always the metaphysics that the Word, and the Word was with people rebel against. As it is today, so God and the Word was God. . . . it was in Athens in Paul's day. "When Through him all things were made; they heard about the resurrection of without him nothing was made that the dead, some of them sneered" has been made. In him was life" (Acts 17:32). (John 1:1-4). M Next, there is the gospel story itself. It has what J. B. Phillips called "the 1 Franklin M. Harold, The Way of the Cell (Oxford: Uni ring of truth." John Polkinghorne, for versity Press, 2001), 14. mer professor of mathematical 2 Ibid., 20. 3 Scientific American, October, 1994, 78. Orgel is senior physics at the University of fellow and research professor at the Salk Institute for Edinburgh, is also persuaded by the Biological Studies. He discusses several attempts to force of the gospel accounts. "One of simulate conditions in which life could originate and then closes his article with the note: "As we have the strong lines of argument for the seen, investigators have proposed many hypotheses, truth of the resurrection is the aston but evidence in favor of each of them is fragmentary ishing transformation of the disciples at best. The full details of how the RNA world, and life, emerged may not be revealed in the near future." from the demoralized defeated men of 4 Molecular Cell Biology, exec. editor, Sara Tenny (H. Good Friday to the confident pro- Freeman and Company, 2001), 6. claimers of the Lordship of Christ at 5 Ibid., 5. Emphasis supplied. 6 Readings from Scientific American, "Evolution and the Pentecost and beyond, even to the Fossil Record," 20, 1950. point of martyrdom."21 7 For problems with the molecular clock, see also Hunter, Darwin©s God, Evolution and the Problem of Evil There is an unqualified assurance (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Brazos Press, 2001), 42. in the proclamation of faith by those 8 Op. cit., 3. Emphasis in original. who lived in the first century. "We 9 Harold, op. cit. 50. 10 See The Biology of free-living Heterotrofhic Flagellates, proclaim to you what we have seen D. Patterson and J. Larsen, eds. (Oxford, Claredon and heard," wrote John. "We have not Press 1991), 120. followed cleverly invented stories," 11 Harold, op. cit. 65. 12 Ibid., 190. wrote Peter; "we were eyewitnesses of 13 Ibid., 204, 205; emphasis supplied. Current Issues his majesty." 14 Nature, 290, March 12, 1981, 172. >ics in Ministry Of course faith itself is fundamen 15 For technical description see Harold, op. cit; chapter 5. tal, but it is clear that the writers of 16 Francis Crick, The Astonishing Hypothesis. The Scientific the New Testament saw the most cru Search for the Soul (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1994). June 22 - 27, 2005 (General Conference Session starts June 29) cial role for careful investigation, 17 The Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson, Poet Laureate extensive, qualified eyewitness testi (London: Macmillan and Co., 1901), LVI, 261. mony that reliably filled out the 18 Arthur White, Ellen G. White: The Early Years, 1:371. 19 Koehler and Baumgartner, Lexicon In Veteris www.nadei.org whole picture. Faith and this kind of Testament! Libros, "aphar." (visit often for updates) investigation are inseparable, forming 20 William Mitchell Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveler and the a highly convincing whole. Roman Citizen (London: Hodder and Stoughton, events@plusline. or g 1927), 7, 8. Having made my stand on this 21 John Polkinghorne, Belief in God in an Age of Science 800 732-7587 assurance, I may then, legitimately (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1998), 33. [8:30 am EST - 5:00 pm PST) and without apology, add my own 22 Harold, op. cit. 169. Franklin M. Harold is emeritus professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Fax: 805 497-7099 experience to the weight of evidence. Colorado State University.

February 2005 MINISTRY 19 that we have disdain and even animosity for those who disagree with us. James was a graduate student in molecular biology at a large state university. He became friends with another graduate student, an evolutionist and atheist. They discussed many topics, and as their friendship grew they discussed religion. James finally invited his friend to attend a Seventh-day Adventist evangelistic meeting, and he came. That night the topic was creationism. The evangelist used the all too common sarcastic, condescending approach to the topic so often Presenting evolution seen in our publications and sermons. James's friend would never talk about religion again. We need to be careful and thoughtful about and Creation: how we deal with this issue. Much of the material in creationist publications is written HOW? (parti) by people who do not understand evolution and evolutionists. They often misunderstand what evolutionists believe; they misquote them by taking part of a statement out of con ecause we begin with these premis text, thus making it say something that the Leonard Brand and Cindy Tutsch es, (1) that God is love, (2) that He person was not really saying. They use the evi is light, and (3) that "in him is no dence that seems to fit our creationist beliefs, darkness at all" (1 John 1:5)—we while they ignore other evidence that is more are convinced it's unreasonable of a challenge to us as creationists. thatB He would leave us with a Bible story of On top of this, creationist writers generally creation we can't trust. seem to follow the pattern seen in other cre Genesis, we believe, is the actual descrip ationist publications, and thus the cycle tion of how our planet was prepared by God continues. to accommodate life. It is an account of how God created life in six literal, historical, 24- Well-founded animosity? hour days, culminating with a literal 24-hour Many scientists harbor a deep-seated Leonard Brand, Ph.D., Sabbath day of rest. This Creation event was resentment for creationists. Creationists, in is professor of biology later followed by a worldwide flood, also turn, tend to think this is because those sci and paleontology at depicted in the Genesis account. entists hate and look down on God, or the , Why would a God of love who wishes to be idea of God. That may be true of some, but Loma Linda, California. trusted and loved, a God who is light, a God not all. The resentment is often fueled by the in whom there is no darkness, give us an way they are treated by creationists. account of creation totally at variance with We make fun of their beliefs; we make sar what really happened? We don't believe that castic comments about evolutionists, He would. implying that they are stupid, and we misuse However, while convinced of the literal- their statements, making them appear to say ness of the Creation account, we have reason things that they are not saying. They do not to be concerned about how creationists see us as loving, kind fellow human beings express or present the chronicle to others. with strange, implausible beliefs; they see us as dishonest and hateful dogmatists—and in Cindy Tutsch is Win arguments, lose souls response, many of them hate us. associate director of As creationists, what is our goal in a publi A prominent evolutionist and outspoken the Ellen G. White cation, a lecture, or a sermon dealing with a antiCreationist at a famous university has Estate, Silver Spring, Maryland. literal creation? What impression do we want been heard to say that creationists are "cheats to leave? A sermon can uplift Jesus Christ and and liars." A few years ago he had a graduate leave the audience wanting to follow Him, or student who was a conservative creationist. it can leave the audience with the impression The professor had a hard time accepting this at

20 MINISTRY February 2005 first, but finally professor and student became friends. The graduate student DO NOT was a kind and thoughtful person, a Present positive reasons for belief Ridicule other people©s beliefs true friend to the evolutionist, espe Discuss concepts and beliefs Put people down cially during the evolutionist's bout with cancer. The evolutionist contin Love and support people Try to make evolutionists look stupid ued to be an outspoken anticreation- Respect those who believe differently I Picture unbelievers as inferior ist, but he seemed to value his ongoing friendship with a creationist Remember that there may be an Assume that all evolutionists are who was a real friend. He even told evolutionist seeker in the audience simply dangerous and hate God the creationist that he did not see him as a cheat or liar like the rest. thoughtfully and even tenderly intro the evidence for earth's origins but are Friendship can gradually break down duced to a Savior, not turned away by searching for meaning in life. barriers and draw people to us and to our shrill publications or sermons. There is always the possibility that our Lord. These persons include Christians some in the audience are in the third who have accepted evolution as category; even if there is only one, Cod's love for evolutionists God's method of creation. That belief our sermon should be addressed to At Loma Linda University, several seems like a dangerous view because, that seeker. When the opportunity faculty members do research in biolo while appearing Christian at the out arose, Jesus was glad to give His per gy and geology, and at times work in set, theistic evolution denies that sin sonal attention to just one seeker. Our collaboration with scientists from is the source of death and thus elimi goal is to reach that one seeker, not to other universities who believe in the nates our need of a Savior. However, amuse or impress the others with our evolution of life over millions of those who hold these beliefs are also witty comments about evolutionists. years. We can successfully work with persons whom God loves. them because our specific research If you were giving a sermon at an Adventist young people projects do not depend on whether evangelistic meeting about which day Much of the existing creationist one believes in large-scale evolution is the Sabbath, and some of your audi material takes the position that evo or in long geologic ages. ence were Sunday keepers, would you lution is just a mindless theory giving If we treat them with respect and poke fun at Sunday keeping and make people a way of evading the truth are true friends to them, and are also sarcastic comments about them? about God. Such creationists think careful scientists, when they find out Certainly not! We must recognize that that if evolutionists would simply we are creationists they do not reject this is not appropriate when it comes look at the evidence that is so obvious us but continue to respect us despite to the topic of Creation, either. to the creationist worldview, they disagreeing with our beliefs. We do See box above for a list of sugges would realize that Creation is obvi not need to make evolutionists hate tions that can help us think about ously correct. us in order to tell the truth about our how to present this topic. We like to think that we can prove commitment to our Creator. that the Bible is right and prove that The world is not divided into the Think carefully about your evolution (speaking about the large- good creationists and the bad evolu audience scale aspects of evolution theory, tionists. Many scientists have never When presenting this topic pub beyond the changes that occur with had opportunity to see reasonable licly or discussing it privately, it is in created groups) is wrong. alternatives to a materialistic evolu helpful to think of what types of per Well intended as we may be, we tionary process. Many scientists, sons could be in the audience, or sometimes present this approach to though convinced by the evidence for what the person feels or is really like our young people, many of whom evolution, are unwilling to give up on with whom you are speaking. attend public universities where sci God and/or are searching for some They could represent at least three entists spread before them an meaning in life. Do we want to draw types: (1) those who firmly believe in overwhelming array'of data that these people to us or drive them away? the Genesis account of Creation and destroys their creationist beliefs. Here Certainly God wishes to give them are not likely to change their mind, these creationist young people find a fair opportunity to learn that He has (2) those who definitely don't believe out that evolution is not a stupid the a message of hope for everyone and in Creation and are also not likely to ory but can be supported by an array that He is worthy of their confidence. change their mind, and (3) those who of evidence that looks convincing, We have a passion to see believers are searching or are at least open to and many lose faith. realize that these evolutionary scien see this question in a new way, or (4) How much better it would be if we tists are people who need to be those who don't know how to explain continued on page 30

February 2005 MINISTRY 21 The traditional Adventist term "present truth" is one that from our earliest existence as a people has influenced our conception of what encompasses those doctrines that con vey the theological consensus of early pioneer Seventh-day (1845-1863) and helped the "pioneers" of mid-nineteenth cen tury Adventism clarify what was more especially the "Adventist" component in their The Adventist theology when it was projected against the backdrop of what is Christian. This consensus included the following "pioneer" theological points: (1) The second coming of Christ as lit eral, visible, imminent, and pre-millennial; (2) heritage: the sanctuary ministry of Christ, which encompasses His work as High Priest in the Implications for faith, Most Holy Place of the and the ""; (3) the eter nal authority of the law of God and the preaching and teaching seventh-day Sabbath; (4) the nonimmortality of the soul (conditionalism) and the uncon scious state of the dead; (5) the annihilationist ne of the most critical view of hell (the wicked destroyed); (6) the Woodrow W. Whidden moments in the ministry of millennium as a period in which the Jesus is recorded in John 6 redeemed rule in heaven with Christ while when many of His disciples Satan presides over a desolated earth; (7) spiri withdrew and "walked with tual gifts, including the gift of prophecy, are all HimO no more" (verse 66, NKJV). At this junc still active options for the Spirit to bestow ture, Jesus turns to the remaining twelve and upon the church; (8) holistic health (physical, asks: "Do you also want to go away?" (verse mental, social, and spiritual) is greatly empha 67). The response of Peter, framed as a rhetor sized as an integral part of the process of ical question, speaks eloquently and mental, spiritual, and ethical development plaintively for the whole human race—"Lord, (i.e., sanctification); and (9) a profound sense to whom shall we go?" (verse 68). that, as the "remnant church," Seventh-day The question of the meaning and destiny Adventism has a special task in fulfilling the of human existence can be found only in the prophetic vision of the three angels of truth of Christ and His gospel. What other Revelation 14. answer can compete with it? Furthermore, These distinctive, or "present truth," doc the portrayal of Christ and His gospel, in the trines did not stand out as isolated pearls on a setting of the distinctive "theological" con string but were given collective theological victions of "pioneer" Adventism (1845-1915) force through the shaping power of four key forms a uniquely comprehensive set of per framing perspectives: spectives and beliefs. And these convictions 1. A hearty commitment to the Protestant have a powerful potential for shaping the sola scriptura principle. Thus there is the Seventh-day Adventist Christian worldview, strong conviction regarding the primacy of philosophy of life, mission, and ethical per scriptural authority in all theological and eth Woodrow W. spective. ical considerations. Whidden, Ph.D., is 2. Under the rubric of the primacy of professor of religion "Present truth" Scripture, the apocalyptic portions of the bibli and theology and church history at the Adventist historian and writer George cal canon (especially Daniel, Jesus' Olivet Seventh-day Knight has suggested that the two major theo discourse,2 and the Revelation) were given a Adventist Theologial logical accomplishments of the "pioneer" privileged place in shaping Adventist theology. Seminary, Andrews period were (1) to forge out what was 3. The "great controversy" motif. This meta- University, Berrien "Adventist" and (2) what was "Christian" about narrative traces the origin of sin, God's reaction Springs, Michigan. the Seventh-day Adventist belief system.1 to this celestial "fall," and how sin spilled over

22 MINISTRY February 2005 into this world with the earthly fall of 4. English and American revival Adam and Eve. This narrative then ism, with its missionary burdens Premium art. traces all the redemptive initiatives 5. American "restorationism" with God has instituted for the salvation of its radical biblicist, optimistic individ humanity and the restoration of har ualism, and "sanctified" rationalism More choices. mony in the universe. 4. Sanctuary imagery (drawn from Christ at the center Best value. the books of Daniel, Revelation, Jesus' The collective effect of the above Olivet discourse, and the New was to raise consciousness about the Testament book of Hebrews) and the centrality of the person of Christ: His "investigative judgment," which life, death, resurrection, ascension, helped develop a cosmic "theodicy"3 and enthronement as Advocating Aw I he uwlfkide tew/w /// that forms the background for the Intercessor in the heavenly sanctuary. Christkn presentation arl awrf /n/^r i: great controversy between Christ and While "pioneer" Seventh-day Satan and its finale. Adventists were truth-driven seekers The great controversy and sanctu for biblically based doctrinal clarity, ary perspectives became self- they gradually came to understand conscious keys that help unite the pil that the exaltation of not only the lars or landmarks of "present truth" teachings but also the person and with the "eternal verities"4 of the larg work of Christ would serve as a cata er Christian doctrinal heritage. lyst for a deeper experience in the The embracing of the "eternal ver things of God. And this deeper, ities" reflected a growing awareness of Christocentric perspective would give the importance of key doctrines birth to a revival that would prove to bequeathed to Western Christianity be more loving and winsome (and through the decisions and creeds of more effective) in its service and wit the first four ecumenical councils and ness to the world. the later heritage of the Protestant In this context, Ellen and James Reformers from 1517 to 1850. White developed an awareness of the The most important doctrines spiritual aridity among the "truth" retrieved by Adventism from this burdened saints of the Adventist "rem GOODSALT Heritage of Eastern and Eatin nant." This realization led to the stir EASTER COLLECTION Christian orthodoxy were: ring conviction that Christ, the Cross, VOLUME 2 1. The Trinity, with a special accent and the love of God needed to enter on the full deity and humanity of not only into Adventism's doctrinal Christ development but into its collective 2. The essence of Augustine of heart, soul, and spiritual growth. Hippo's emphasis on human depravity These developments ultimately led 3. The Eastern Orthodox optimism Ellen White to her most profoundly of transforming grace stirring portrayals of the love of God. 4. The Eatin emphasis on legal Furthermore, such portrayals were metaphors of salvation. Furthermore, accompanied by earnest appeals to the "eternal verities" were augmented God's people to embrace this "love Our royalty-free with the following from Adventism's divine" as manifest in the saving collections are Protestant heritage (1517-1850): work of Christ and the redemptive produced from over 1. The great "solas" of Euther and moving of the Holy Spirit. These por -©" 11,000 high quality art and photographic originals Calvin (fide-faith, scripture-scripture, trayals included the following: created by award-winning artists. ^raft'a-grace, and the priesthood of all Doctrinally, godly love was believers) poignantly described as an unfolding Vl| 7;Jj/-"©"© To viciv and piirrliasp visit 2. The Arminian emphasis on free of divine justice and mercy, which will resides in the very core of God's 3. 's emphasis on nature. Such love was expressed in www.goodsalt.com total human depravity, on legal other more theologically practical or call (800) 805-8001 metaphors of salvation, and on the and tensional balancing acts—law optimism of grace and grace, justification and sanctifica-

February 2005 MINISTRY 23 tion, lingering mercy and the In the context of the "love story" inevitability of judgment. of the person and work of Jesus, the This crucial and climactic exposi key theological contributions and per tion of the love of God (especially in spectives of Ellen White come into the setting of Christ's atoning death play. And this powerful portrayal of on Calvary), the recovery of the doc the unfolding of God's love will pro trine of the Trinity in the setting of the foundly illuminate each doctrine with "great controversy" theme, and an alluring and fruitful significance. Christ's ministry in the heavenly sanc For Ellen White, God's love was tuary all come together in The Desire of comprehensively expressed at the Ages, especially on pages 761-763. Cross and included two key compo It is in the context of Ellen White's nents: a wonderfully balanced ministry from 1888-1901 that unfolding of (1) justice and (2) mercy. Seventh-day Adventism has really Most certainly, divine love's pri embraced the task of integrating its mary "calling card" is an enduring "Adventist," or "present truth" her mercy. But it is quite easy for mercy to itage with its larger "Orthodox"5 and degenerate into soupy indulgence. Protestant heritage. The fruit of this Therefore, love must be ultimately The Bible Teaches integrating effort was manifested in conditioned by justice. On the other Prayer for Others an effort to make the proclamation of hand, justice can easily degenerate the three angels' messages more into cold vengeance or calculated "If you believe, you will receive Christ- and Cross-centered. And this impartiality. But at the Cross, and in whatever you ask for in prayer" Christo- and cruci-centric effort its subsequent redemptive develop (Matt. 21:22) resulted in the uplifting of the great ments, the love of God has been "This kind can come out only theme of all themes—the Trinitarian steadily revealed as a wonderful inter- by prayer." (Mark 9:29) love of God for alienated, depraved, balance of justice and mercy, resulting "And will not God bring about justice and unworthy sinners. in the full solution to the sin problem. for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night?" (Luke 18:7) Ellen White was in the vanguard of And, out of this redeeming love, we every significant theological, revival, are confronted with the genius of the "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." (Col. 4:2) and missiological renewal of Seventh- Trinitarian contributions to the "Pray continually; give thanks in all day Adventism. Without her contribu Adventist theological pilgrimage. circumstances for this is God©s will for tions, Seventh-day Adventists could you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thess. 5:17) have easily evolved into a semi- Dry as the hills "We constantly pray for you." Christian cult. Her strong emphasis on The early "pioneers" had become (2 Thess. 1:11) finding truth through the Word was stout defenders of the law (both "My soul is overwhelmed with crucial to our doctrinal formation. moral and physical, i.e., "health sorrow to the point of death. Stay reform") and bold proclaimers of here and keep Watch with Me." Further considerations judgment. The Sabbath was to be : (Matt 26:38) The Biblicism behind these van observed, not so much experienced. "They devoted themselves to the guard initiatives includes not merely The millennium was more about the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, bringing together all of the key texts devil getting his due than about God and to prayer." (Acts 2:42) on any given theological subject or giving clear views of redemptive "After they prayed, the place where theme but also carefully interpreting strategies and decisions. they were meeting was shaken. And them in the setting of the overarch Ellen White said that we had the were all filled with the Holy Spirit ing . Yet this preached "the law until we [had and spoke the word of God boldly." narrative is not primarily about become] as dry as the hills of Gilboa , : ; ,. ,(Acts4:31) : © . Lucifer and his rebellion, the Fall, and that had neither dew nor rain."6 "Jesus© own prayer lof dedication and .©".. intei;e.cessibri for His disciples,;for , the ultimate restoration of peace and This mere justice emphasis had led ' justice in the universe. Instead, the to preaching that consisted mostly of centerpiece that drives this whole "theoretical discourses" typically narrative is the nature or character of framed in a debating style. Most trag Fresh ideas for developing God's love—especially as it is mani ic of all, this was done to the your church's spiritual life fested in the life, teachings, death, exclusion of any Christ-centered resurrection, and heavenly interces emphasis on "practical godliness."7' 8 sion of Jesus. It was not, of course, that Mrs.

24 MINISTRY February 2005 White wanted to do away with the merits and grace of Christ. doctrinal and theoretical aspects of If any doctrine, practice, or moral truth, or to neglect the justice of God; demand cannot be informed by or there was simply, instead, a lack of more clearly inform the Trinitarian love Christocentric grace that should suf of God, it should be reconsidered. If the fuse doctrinal essentials with the love revealed at the Cross and appropri merciful side of "love divine." ated through salvation by faith alone is Sensing this need, at the General not in our preaching, teaching, or prac Conference of 1883 Ellen White tice, such efforts are not worthy of our sounded a strong message of grace. time and energies. IB This was the period that climaxed with the great revival of "righteous 1 George Knight, A Search for Identity (Hagerstown, Md : Review ness by faith" and a clear accenting of and Herald Pub. Assoc., 2000), 10. 2 Reported by the synoptic writers m Matthew 24 and 25, Luke the primacy of justification by grace, 17 and 21, and Mark 13. 3 The expression "theodicy" is the technical term that has ref through faith alone. The atoning erence to any attempt to give some satisfactory theological death of Christ as a merciful sacrifice explanation for the problem of evil DON'T 4 The expression "eternal verities" was coined for Seventh-day for the sins of the world became the Adventists by Leroy Edwin Froom to describe Adventism's dis keynote of her writing and speaking criminating doctrinal appropriations from the larger or MISS THE broader Christian tradition, or the "great tradition" of twenty ministry. Especially in the aftermath centuries of Christian theology. of the Minneapolis General Confer 5 We need to alert the reader that we are using the term BOAT ence of 1888, she exalted the crucified "Orthodox" to refer to both the Latin, or Western Roman ,,«»m*'iil™™.'(«^sH»«s»»sassS5t '•*^»»«fSSffl?s(:-Kww!™»"-»-'»i«" W"«™»» Catholic tradition and the Eastern, or Greek Catholic tradition One as the great channel of the love ot churches. The latter are usually referred to as the "Orthodox" family of churches headed by the Patriarch of of God for a doomed world. Constantinople (present day Istanbul, Turkey). Planning on attending Furthermore, not only did this 6 White, Review and Herald articles, March 11, 1890. 7 This expression refers to the steps to reconciliation with God the upcoming General period feature the uplifted Christ and and a life of effective witness and service. His merciful, justifying grace, but it 8 White, Gospel Workers (Hagerstown, Md • Review and Herald Conference Session also witnessed a somewhat protracted, Pub. Assn., 1948), 158, 159. steady advance in the recovery of key in St. Louis? We'll be doctrines such as the full deity of Apostolic Council there with a boatload continued from page 12 Christ and the personhood of the of useful ideas and Holy Spirit. In other words, Trinitarian The term also occurs m Jubilees 23.20, 21; Odes of Solomon yeast was being instilled into the 11-3; 17-9; 39:7,13. Elsewhere in the New Testament, see Mark l:3//Luke 3:4//John 1.23; Mark 12:14//Matt- 22.16//Luke resources for pastors Adventism. 20:21; Matt 7:14, 21-32; Luke 1-79; John 14:6; Rom 3:17; Heb Interestingly enough, when 10:20; 2 Peter 2:2, 21. The source of "the way" may be Isa and Jay leaders. From 35-8, LXX: "There shall be a pure way, and it shall be called a Adventism began to proclaim its holy way, and there shall not pass by there any unclean per sermon outlines "present truth" in the light of the son, neither shall there be there an unclean way; but the dispersed shall walk on it, and they shall not go astray." and study helps to Trinitarian love flowing from Calvary 4 Rev 2.9,3.9 John's invective against the Jews here was written and Christ's heavenly ministry, a new by a fellow Jew and cannot be called anti-semitic; it is no worse than similar aspersions in the Old Testament: see Isa. 1:4, 23, counseling aids and element was brought into the work. 57.3, 4; Jer. 6:28; 23:14; Ezek. 16; 23. The comment of K. T. Those doctrines, which had been pri Wright, Jesus and the Victory of God (Minneapolis: Fortress, personal inspiration, 1996), 447, is relevant here: "Even today, not least in marily viewed as conveying justice, Jerusalem, one may see posters and placards in which one they're all aboard were now seen as also fused with group denounces another (often remarkably similar) group as being diabolically inspired." mercy. Not surprisingly, a new note of 5 Gal. 6:14-16; cf. Rom. 9:6- Notice the census from the tribes of (and in stacks of more hopefulness was featured in the "Israel" in Revelation 7. 6 According to Brent Kinman, "Lucan Eschatology and the than two and seven). proclamation of the blessed hope. Missing Fig Tree," /BL 113, no. 4 (1994): 675n23, in recent scholarship on Luke/Acts the essential unity of Israel and the We'll leave the door church has been emphasized by defining Israel as an entity Conclusion consisting of those Jews and Gentiles who believed Jesus to be open for you. The sum of the matter is this: the Messiah. Israel has been redefined so as both to incorpo rate believing Gentiles and to exclude ethnic Jews who do not As inheritors of this rich legacy, believe. See J. Jervell, Luke and the People of God. A New Look at Adventists must accentuate each doc Luke/Acts (Minneapolis. Augsburg, 1972), 41-74; E. Franklin, Christ the Lord: A Study in the Purpose and Theology of Luke-Acts Booths #637-722 trine, each practice, each standard, (London: SPCK, 1975), 77-115; D. L. Tiede, Prophecy and and every ethical demand in the light History in Luke-Acts (Philadelphia- Fortress, 1980), 9-11; idem, "The Exaltation of Jesus and the Restoration of Israel in Acts (Just look for the big boat) of the arresting narrative of Triune 1," HTR 79 (1986): 278-286; Fitzmyer, 59; J T. Carroll, Response love as unfolded at the cross of Christ to the End of History: Eschatology and Situation in Luke-Acts, www. ministerialassociation. com Society of Biblical Literature Dissertation Series 92 (Atlanta: and in salvation by faith alone in the Scholars Press, 1988).

February 2005 MINISTRY 25 they cannot be trusted to make right deci sions. And this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit." 1 Hard on the heels of these words came some others: "Judge not that ye be not judged." I was determined to cast the event in the best light possible and, lacking the courage to directly confront the leadership, I assumed that the conference had invited this group in an attempt to "reach our young people." For years, I have worked with honest individuals who have been worried that—with television and movies, video games and the Internet— our young people will no longer be content with the "plainness" of religious meetings. Attempts to I now fear, however, that our attempts to "keep up" with modern culture will cause us to create "nominal" Christians.

reach our youth Stages of growth Before the age of five or six, kids are eager to acknowledge that Jesus loves them and ecently I attended a Christian they love Him right back! But all too often L Albert Mathewson convocation. Having worked with something happens: The same people who as young people for much of my life, kids loved to come up front and listen to the I was interested in what had been children's story find themselves in the back planned for the young people, row of the balcony with sleeves rolled up, ties Rand so I stopped in at the youth meeting with loosened, and minds far away from the my 15-year-old son to observe. church service. I watched a multimedia presentation Many teenagers are unsure of their feelings which was a candid interview with the con for God, but do wonder if God can still love ference president. He answered questions someone such as themselves. I think the key about things that related to teenagers, and did to keeping our young people and reclaiming so with charm and admirable candor. our youth is to translate the assurance of their What followed totally surprised me. standing before God into a language that they Several young men led the song service. They can hear. played electric guitars, a keyboard, and a The problem I have with that youth pro drum set. By the end of the second song, gram is not the drums or the tempo of the some of the kids were dancing in the aisles music itself. In fact if you read the above cita and I was dumbfounded. tion from Ellen G. White carefully, she does What was almost more amazing was what not directly condemn drums. She was con popped into my mind as I watched and lis cerned instead, that the totality of what was tened. Through the years I have somehow going on in the name of God had confused garnered a reputation for being a progressive the rational senses. Adventist. In earlier years I had stood, guitar in When I think carefully about this, I must hand, where the song leaders now stood lead conclude that in our efforts to reach others for ing a more "contained" song service. So it was Christ, we must be careful not to introduce surprising when this popped into my mind: anything that has a way of confusing or blunt L Albert Mathewson "The things you have described as taking ing the senses of the people we are ministering is a psychiatric place in Indiana, the Lord has shown me to. We cannot afford to bypass or exploit the mental health nurse practitioner at would take place just before the close of pro rational component of the individual. Instead Lakeshore Mental bation. Every uncouth thing will be we must appeal to this crucial part of human Health Institute, demonstrated. There will be shouting, with consciousness in such a way as to help people Knoxville, drums, music, and dancing. The senses of to understand that being a Christian involves Tennessee. rational beings will become so confused that a conscious rational choice.

26 MINISTRY February 2005 We have to carefully and purpose course, use technology to our advan aloud the sermon his father helped ly integrate into our evangelistic tage, but to think that we must him write. I am talking about giving methods what child development compete with the entertainment mar our young people genuinely signifi experts have learned about cognitive ket lowers the gospel to a commodity cant responsibilities. Our young peo development, especially as it relates and changes our pastoral role from ple must know that they are actually to our children. minister of the gospel to entertainer. contributing to the life of the church Jean Piaget identified four stages of We were not called to entertain, but, and to the lives of people all around cognitive development: the sensori- in partnership with God, to reach the them. motor period (birth to 2 years); minds and hearts of people. Our 11- and 12-year-olds can help preoperational thought (2-6 or 7 The language we use tends to in cradle roll so that the parents can years); concrete operations (6-7 to 11- betray us! Do we preach from the plat attend a lesson study nearby. Our 13- 12); and formal operations (11-12 to form, or the stage! Do we stand before and 14-year-olds can assist with the adult). I would like to concentrate on the audience or the congregation! Are kindergarten room in leading song the latter two. our deacons ushers, or are they dea service, teaching the lesson, and help cons©! The church, no matter what it ing with crafts. Our 15- and 16-year- Too much, too soon does, can never compete with the olds are more than able to assist in the In many churches attempts are entertainment industry. Entertain primary room. If a church is con made to reach our children while ment intentionally plays to the emo cerned over the loss of warm bodies in they are in the concrete operations tions; worship to the soul. the upper classes of the children's phase. Some say that if we do not get The second thing we must do and division, the class could be divided our children baptized before the age do well is to teach our children, start into two teams and alternated of 10 or 11, we are much more likely ing at age 11 or 12, how to think and between helping lead in the lower to lose them. But at this age or stage, apply spiritual principles to their divisions (or whatever while they can understand and repeat lives. Doctrines are important. What the service activity may be) and a religious doctrine, they cannot yet we believe about the state of the dead, attending Sabbath School on a weekly perform abstract problems or consid the Second Coming, and the Sabbath basis. er all the logically possible outcomes. are only going to become more Young people can help in numer In other words, we are trying to reach important as we face the eschaton. ous other ways. There is no reason them before they are fully "rational But doctrines in and of themselves, that a 16-year-old individual cannot beings." crucial as they are, are not enough. organize and develop any number of It is not until children reach the Unless we can challenge our young to active ministries. Instead of lowering formal operation stage that they are think and reason about God's place in the bar and attempting to entertain suitably capable of thinking logically their lives, they will simply warm a our youth, we should give them and abstractly. At this point they also pew, if they even stay. responsibilities and help them transi reach the place where they can rea We must openly admit to the vari tion into adulthood. son theoretically. ous issues with which we struggle and Finally, we must listen to our This raises an uncomfortable ques model an effective way of struggling youth. Every pastor should spend at tion: Does our desire to baptize our with them before our young people. least as much time listening to the children at such an early age stem We must show them how we apply concerns of his members ages 11 to from our insecurities that our faith God's Word to our own life, if we 18 years as he does giving devotionals will not stand logical scrutiny from would have them learn to do it for to the church school or Pathfinders. A our young? I hope not! Of all themselves. pastor may know perfectly well every Christian denominations, ours is seen The sad truth is that many among possible concern a young person to be the one in which all of the doc us are in fact stuck in the concrete could have, yet without engaging in trines fit into a logical whole! operations phase and are threatened the process of listening to them, the by those who would openly question youth will not fully enter into a rela Recommendations and abstractly apply God's Word. tionship with the pastor. In our attempts to rush our chil Another thing we must do is to inte While we do not believe that as dren to salvation have we done them grate our young people into leader ministers we stand in the place of a disservice? If so, what can we do to ship and active ministry. I am not God, we are deceiving ourselves if we reach our young people? talking about dragging up the chil do not realize that in the most signif First, we must surrender the notion dren's division on Thirteenth Sabbath icant ways the minister does that we have to compete with the use to sing a couple songs. I am not talk represent the church, especially to of the modern technology and special ing about having a "Pathfinder the youth. effects in entertainment. We can, of Sabbath" in which a youngster reads continued on page 30

February 2005 MINISTRY 27 PASTOR's PASTOR

How do you spell relief?

hen four Florida hurricanes immediate chaos toward restoration of destroyed his crop, Dale normal life patterns. Clothing, food sta W Bass, owner of Golden ples, household supplies, bedding, and Harvest Fruit Company, realized he was kitchen equipment may top the list of "out of business" until the next season. needed items. When people begin As the premier shipper of high-quality rebuilding their lives, they need every citrus to churches and schools for fund- thing. raising, Dale also understood that many By advance thinking and planning, entities would feel the impact as they, in your church can organize processes to turn, suffered from the lack of ship collect and distribute supplies and ments and the shortfall of needed money in cooperation with other help income. agencies. A well-maintained database Even with no fruit to ship, the busi congregation opened its facilities for of care groups, crisis counselors, med ness must maintain its contacts, care for people to sleep on the pews, estab ical centers, insurance companies, and its employees, and assure future deliver lished a hot-meal program in the other volunteer organizations will pro ies. More immediate in the disaster, neighborhoods, and began to serve res vide vital information for a future crisis. however, was the trauma of lost homes, cuers who had come to work the larger You can also follow up by offering grief- jobs, transportation, heirlooms, com effort. There's a whole lot of religion in and loss-recovery support groups. munication, pets, and even lives. a loaf of bread. Add peanut butter and How do you spell re-leaf? Dale's cit Charitable and governmental agencies jelly and they will never forget you. rus groves will re-leaf and produce new move into such disaster areas to provide Sometimes the greatest kindness is fruit. Generous souls will grow again rescue and long-term rebuilding aid; simply "being there" to sit alongside into abundant harvests. but even before they arrive, congrega someone who has experienced great Likewise, a certain "re-leafing" will tions can provide specific help if loss. Eloquence is not needed. Your very flourish in your own heart. If you have pre-crisis planning has occurred. presence communicates care, concern, ministered to strangers through trau "How do you spell relief?" This camaraderie, and confidence in Cod's matic times, you will discover a host of very slogan of the famous antacid med providences. As Saint Francis admon new friends in whose lives you have icine recognizes that the first great need ished, "Preach the gospel always; if invested and in. whose souls you have may be to reduce pressure. necessary use words." If you must become family. Your own perspective In the midst of disaster, many people speak, talk of a hope-filled future; of will change concerning life's real essen become disoriented, experiencing both better days to come. Don't preach, but tials as less important issues are eclipsed emotional and physical shock. Victims do articulate hope, assurance, and your by the things that really count in life. do not always respond with logic to personal belief in the ultimate triumph Opportunities will expand for your con devastating events. For example, in of good over tragedy and evil. And do gregation to share expertise and to these same hurricanes, Sharon's 70- listen. Allow those whose lives have experience fellowship with individuals something-year-old mother decided she been uprooted to share their pain. Just who, previously, had not been open to would climb onto her house roof to the ability to talk about their feelings of the gospel. check the damage caused by a falling loss brings them real stress relief. And as you plan, remember, "Christ's tree. While insurance agencies would How do you spell re-live? Simple method alone will give true success in clearly warn church volunteers against actions make a great contribution. Try reaching the people. The Saviour min becoming roof-repairers, 1 would much helping sort the debris of a destroyed gled with men as one who desired their rather a younger neighbor had climbed house for photos, hauling away trash, good. He showed His sympathy for that ladder than a senior citizen. running errands, providing emergency them, ministered to their needs, and Where do you start? Dale says, child care, sharing transportation, loan won their confidence. Then He bade "When someone has lost everything, ing your mobile phone, contacting ani them, 'Follow Me.'"1 that is exactly what they need—every mal shelters, or phoning relatives. By thing! A bottle of water, a thermos of helping victims focus on the future, you 1 Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing (Nampa, soup, a place to sleep." His Ft. Pierce enable them to struggle out of the Idaho: Pacific Press® Pub. Assn., 1905), 143.

28 MINISTRY February 2005 Too far or not far patience to walk by the side of Muslims from where they are to continued from page 8 where God is leading them? If a new and sudden openness developed, that differs from the way other groups would we be prepared with material of people follow Him. resources, trained missionaries, and Basic learning theory says that open hearts to reap the harvest?19 fresh knowledge always builds on As we seek better ways to obey the prior knowledge. This means that a Great Commission among Muslims, convert's theology retains Islamic we must never "go too far" in contex- influences, however biblical it may tualization so that the churches we be. Christians in Muslim contexts plant are merely "of the world," of need to retain some kind of relation Islam, or of anything besides of ship with the mosque if they are to Christ. However, the precedent of the witness. Islamic styles of personal Jerusalem Council suggests that the piety and corporate worship remain.18 bigger concern is making certain that In fact, Western Christians, with our we "go far enough" so that the good highly secular societies, can learn a news penetrates deeply "into the RELIGIOUS lot from fellow Christians with an world" of the Muslim. • Islamic background. Effective mission to the Muslim 1 On September 11, 2001 (9/11) Muslim terrorists hijacked four world requires that Seventh-day commercial airliners and used them for suicidal attacks in the BOOKS eastern U.S.A. Adventists follow the precedent of 2 Some post-9/11 Chnstran rhetoric about Islam suggests one- the Jerusalem Council. The cultural- upmanship in insult making between pastors and imams. That Islamic belief and practice contradicts certain Christian religious divide we seek to cross is just principles is apparently a new discovery for some prominent NEEDED as deep and wide as that faced by the Christians. 3 See "Contextualization" in A. Scott Moreau, ed., Evangelical apostles. Only the eternal, universal Dictionary of World Missions (Grand Rapids. Baker Books, Seminaries and Colleges principles of the Bible will success 2000). around the world are in 4 Paul G. Hiebert, Anthropological Insights for Missionaries (Grand fully cross the divide. Rapids: Baker Books, 1985), 184. great need of quality At the very heart of biblical truth 5 Japan is an example of a society in which Christianity con religious reading materials tinues to be seen as a foreign religion and thus does not realize stands Christ. Although the Koran's significant growth for training and educating view of Jesus does not fully agree with 6 "Syncretism" is the "replacement or dilution of the essential future leaders. truths of the gospel through the incorporation of non- the Bible, Muslims possess an open Chnstian elements" (Moreau, 924). You can help meet this ness to Jesus that is an open door to 7 Paul G. Hiebert, K Daniel Shaw, and Tite Tienou, Understanding Folk Religion (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1999), 20. challenge by donating new further learning. 8 Moreau, 226. or used religious books We tend to see Muslims as shut 9 Quoted in Pat Apel, Nine Great American Myths: Ways We Confuse the American Dream with the Christian Faith (avoid story or devotional doors, and many are —to Christianity (Brentwood, Tn.. Wolgemuth and Hyatt, Publishers, 1991), books), or by helping us as they perceive it. But from a God's- 129. 10 Hiebert, Anthropological Insights for Missionaries, 186. purchase the most urgently eye-view, Muslims may be more 11 This is not to undervalue the role of special revelation but to needed books through your spiritually open to Jesus Christ than acknowledge God's activity among non-Christian peoples. 12 For a full discussion of the process see Hiebert, Anthropological financial contribution. some secular citizens of Europe and Insights for Missionaries, 186-190. America. What Muslims need is to see 13 Hiebert, Anthropological Insights for Missionaries, 191. 14 This is not to suggest that cultural features of Christianity in a the real Jesus more clearly in the given society are all wrong The problem is that Christians Please send donations to: Bible, in the lives of individual tend to confuse secondary cultural elements with primary gospel principles. Seminary Books Christians, and in the church. 15 Andrew F. Walls develops this concept and traces it through The argument for openness to cre six eras of church history in The Missionary Movement in GC Ministerial Association Christian History: Studies in the Transmission of Faith In care of GC Transportation ative mission strategies among (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 1996). 6620 Amberton Drive Muslims does not rest on any delu 16 Space does not permit a discussion of cultural specificities that pollute Western Christianity. See Pat Apel, Nine Great American Elkridge, Maryland 21075 sions of quick and easy success. The Myths and Craig M. Gay, The Way of the (Modem) World: Or, spiritual journey from being a Why It©s Tempting to Live as if God Doesn©t Exist (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1998). or, if you would like to meet Muslim to being a mature Christian is 17 Some ancient Christian churches exist in Middle Eastern a specific need, please call long and difficult; the corporate countries, but they are usually constrained by laws against evangelism and church planting. resistance is fierce. 18 Space does not permit a discussion of how culture shapes 301 680 6511 or 301 680 6499 The question challenges us: Will Christianity in every society. to find out how you can help. 19 Adventists need to remember and iearn lessons from our Seventh-day Adventists have the responses to the sudden opening of the former USSR.

February 2005 MINISTRY 29 Evolution and can explain all of the evidence, but much too complex, and the existing that is not the way it is now, even creationist literature is too full of creation though today much can be explained errors, for anyone to write more cre continued from page 2 7 satisfactorily. Thus we should be hon ationist literature without careful est and help our readers and hearers consideration of how to present the taught them that evolutionists are see that there is reason to trust God's topic. intelligent people, with abundant evi communication to us, even though Qualified scientists with experi dence for their views, but that there we don't have all the answers. ence in this area (such as the staff of are other ways, better ways, to inter We need not be insecure about our the Geoscience Research Institute) pret that evidence. Though we have beliefs; we can live with some unan should be consulted to check the con good reasons for our beliefs, we swered questions. Too many tent and the approach. should not underestimate the ability Christians seem to depend on being We need God's blessing in a special of non-creationists to make their able to prove Creation, and this often way as we consider how to present this views look convincing. becomes the focus of creationist pub aspect of the gospel. Our prayer and lications. Other scientists don't have desire is for all of us to work together Dealing with difficult proof of their noncreationist view to find better ways of reaching people evidence either, and they would not be realistic and drawing them to Jesus. HI The most difficult evidence for cre- to expect such proof. There is evi ationists comes from paleontology dence for Creation, but if our faith in Editorial note: Part 2 of this two-part (fossils) and geology. We did not God depends on proof, we are in seri series will appear in the April issue of observe the events that produced the ous trouble because we will never be Ministry and will consist of a sample fossil record, and we do not know smart enough to prove our creationist sermon, illustrative of the concepts and enough to be able to explain much of beliefs on a simply scientific or ration principles presented in this article. the evidence. There are no simple al basis. answers to some of the scientific data. Though presenting the literal Some lines of evidence clearly sup Creation account is imperative, may port Creation and challenge material we suggest that, perhaps, no one istic evolutionary theories; other should write creationist publications Reach our youth evidence challenges our biblical unless they have some good personal continued from page 27 understanding of a literal Creation friends who are evolutionists and con Conclusion and global flood. sequently have a burden to win those During my entire adult life, I have We believe that some day we will friends by a loving, kind, tactful pres witnessed the church struggle with understand how the Genesis account entation. The scientific evidence is how to reach our youth. I don't think we have taken the highest path in try ing to do so. Prepare for NET SERIES '05 & GC While we wonder how to reach our HYUNDAI youth, we fail to remember that God largely used teenagers to help lay the foundation for a highly significant PVR end-time movement, the Seventh-day Record Over 70 Hours of Adventist Church. He used a 17-year- BEST Satellite Reception Package High Quality Digital Broadcasts old girl to give His message, and then • Fortec Lifetime Ultra ' 120GB Hard Drive building on that base, used her well • High Quality LNBF • Commercial Grade LNBF • 36" (90 cm) Dish • 36" (90 cm) Dish into her golden years. • Deluxe Installation Kit • Deluxe Installation Kit In the nineteenth century very • 2 Year Warranty • 2 Year Warranty young people assumed responsibili • Fedex Shipping $25 • Fedex Shipping $30 ties on a regular basis. Perhaps by moving the focus from the "young" or in "young adults" to the "adult," we $174 $399 could bring true significance back PRE-PROGRAMMED CHANNELS • NO MONTHLY FEES into the way these up-and-coming • 3ABN English • Loma Linda Broadcasting Network "people" view the church. H Esperanza TV • 3ABN Latino • ATN1 • ACN2 (Special Church Events) LifeTalk Radio • 3ABN Radio • Radio/4 1 Ellen G. White, Selected Messages (Hagerstown, Md.: AdventistSat.com 888-483-4673 or 916-677-0720 Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1958), 2:36.

30 MINISTRY February 2005 w o D • D N ra via a va H IWVMM '-"ICs3x;fet^|^

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