The Speed of the Spirit Papua New Guinea Has the Fastest-Growing Concentration of Adventists in the South Pacific Division LETTERS
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October 8, 1998 World Edition The Speed of the Spirit Papua New Guinea has the fastest-growing concentration of Adventists in the South Pacific Division LETTERS Religion in China also suffers from a pronounced lack of Still Go” (Aug. 13) greatly appeals to Chinese history being a serious hobby youth. I think that the church’s biggest this 71-year-old heart, as I believe it of mine, and having recently lived in struggle is to make itself relevant to will to many younger Adventists walk- China, Rex D. the people of this giant nation. ing the road less traveled. Edwards’ “The Soul And how appropriate that a photo- of a Giant” (Aug. —Nathan McNeill graph of the landing place at Pitcairn 13 World Edition) PASCO, WASHINGTON Island was used. That tiny dot of land fascinated me. I will always be remembered as the pio- believe that histori- neer missionary base for gospel giving cally Christianity Suppose that some of our pioneers had by Adventists in the vast Pacific has had trouble contacted Hong Xiuquan early in his Ocean. Having just returned from a rooting itself in China because of two career and introduced him to a fuller research trip through Fiji, where I major events. gospel, as Aquila and Priscilla did with spoke to more than 30 Pitcairners who While the concessions awarded to Apollos? Could it be that the Taiping have immigrated to that country from Western powers during the Opium movement might have reached much the island, I can report that the love of Wars (from the 1840s through the or all of Asia with Christianity? God’s truth still burns in Pitcairner 1860s) allowed Western missionaries hearts. previously denied access to China, the —Val Periman Internet users wishing to know humiliation suffered by the Chinese SILOAM SPRINGS, ARKANSAS more about Pitcairn and its future may did not make Western ideas endearing. go to www.puc.edu/Library/Pitcairn The Taiping Rebellion was most likely the bloodiest civil war in history. O Jerusalem —Herbert Ford, DIRECTOR In the 1850s a young man named Hong Thanks for William Johnsson’s “O PITCAIRN ISLANDS STUDY CENTER Xiuquan started an enormous peasant Jerusalem” and Jonathan Gallagher’s revolt in southern China and eventually “Church Scholars Examine Biblical set up what he called the Heavenly Essentials in Jerusalem” (both Aug. 13) The Gift of Salvation Kingdom of Great Peace in the ancient on the Jerusalem Bible Conference. I am so overjoyed with the message of capital of Nanjing. Hong led a cult Being there was a high point of my life. George W. Reid’s “Wow! What a based on Christian teachings and The fellowship with Spirit-filled, Bible- Gift!” (Aug. 13). My church has a believed himself to be Jesus’ younger believing teachers from around the Bible study group studying salvation brother. When the rebellion was finally world was a foretaste of heaven. Thank and grace. The Holy Spirit has crushed in 1864, an estimated 20 mil- you to the General Conference, the impressed us with this same great lion people had died, and Christianity Biblical Research Institute, and the truth. The understanding of this work had suffered a serious blow to its image. Adventist Theological Society for of sanctification has produced dra- Although Christianity in China sponsoring and organizing this wonder- matic conversions and renewed joy. enjoys new freedom, it still faces major ful experience. As a young adult, I am excited to challenges. With the recent advent of be living in a time of new (or redis- the Socialist free market economy, —Ed Christian covered) light. The Holy Spirit is China has witnessed the rise of a KUTZTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA ready to pour out His blessing and fire wealthy and nonpolitical class. This as we embrace Christ’s grace. class wants nothing to do with religion or anything else that might hinder They Still Go —Jennifer R. Loveridge them from getting ahead. The church Roy Adams’ excellent editorial “They JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 2 (1338) ADVENTIST REVIEW, OCTOBER 8, 1998 Money Matters What Have We Missed? It was with some apprehension that I Regarding Roy Adams’ “A Deeper read “Money Matters” (Faith Alive! Courage” (July 23 AnchorPoints Aug. 13). I was delighted that Calvin Edition). So many of us in the bloom Rock mentioned that “church treasurer of youth bought the myth that we responsibilities do not include divulging must do and have in order to be. COVER STORY information regarding individual perfor- Without realizing the potential conse- mance.” However, I was appalled that a quences, we committed our futures to 8 The Speed of the Spirit In Papua New Guinea the Lord respected church leader would encour- busyness and the accumulation of is doing great things. And so are age pastors to inspect church treasury things. By midlife we are so weighted His people. records to find out who is giving tithe by stuff and activity that we can BY SARAH E. COLEMAN faithfully. scarcely stir the water. Forget making I had hoped “tithe policing” was a waves or even tentatively rocking the ARTICLES relic of the past. Our church cannot boat; we have become poor followers afford this practice for at least three rea- of the Galilean Prophet who didn’t 14 She Hates Me, sons. First, since our church depends on have a hole or a nest to call His own, and I Can Prove It the free will gifts of members to sustain but who flattened waves and walked Sometimes we think we know more than we know. it financially, institutional policy must on the water. BY DENISE RUTLEDGE respect the anonymity of charitable We wanted security. We wanted contributions. Second, our churches adventure. We wanted money. 16 The Long Ago Meets need to foster an open, trusting, mature Strange reasoning. We wanted secu- the Here and Now atmosphere that is destroyed by a “Big rity and money so we could experience We can’t always see the way God Brother’s watching you” approach. great adventures for God, but money works, but we can see the results. BY GARY PATTERSON Third, and most important, how we and security became our gods. We give to Him is a matter of conscience should have allowed God to do great 22 Fourscore . by Reason and confidence, to be shared only by things in us, for us, and through us, of Strength Him and us. and thus experience real adventure. Individuals who didn’t know when More generally, while there is clear What have we missed? it was time to quit. biblical support for admonition of God must look down on us and BY ROBERT G. WEARNER struggling believers, there is no role for shake His head as we struggle 25 Experiencing God “sin policing.” If we search the giving through these midlife years dealing An invitation to linger in His records to find out who is not giving with the results of decisions and atti- presence. enough tithe, what will be next? tudes we made or acquired in the BY BARBARA FOLKENBERG Sneaking into church members’ back- almost-forgotten past. But God does yards to look through the window and have a deal for us: take Him at face DEPARTMENTS see who’s doing what? Frankly, in this value and see what He will still do in 2 Letters end-time we have much more impor- us, for us, and through us. For this we tant things to do in preparation for don’t have to wait until retirement. 7 Give & Take His return. And for those of you just starting out: 13 Bible Questions Answered consider the lilies. 18 World News & Perspectives —Mark Reeves 28 Children’s Corner NEW YORK, NEW YORK —Merlin Nichols CHETWYND, BRITISH COLUMBIA, 29 Bulletin Board CANADA Gun Control Position? 30 Faith Alive! As a newly baptized member, I’m won- 31 Reflections dering about the Adventist Church’s position on gun control. EDITORIALS ALDWELL 5 Like a Rock C —Leonard Urrea, Sr. YNN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, 6 Knowledge Is Not Enough L CALIFORNIA BY ON THE COVER: IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA A PASTOR BAPTIZES ANOTH- PHOTO The church has taken no official position ER CONVERT IN THE WATERS OF THE VER O on gun control.—Editors. KIA RIVER. C ADVENTIST REVIEW, OCTOBER 8, 1998 (1339) 3 “Behold, I come quickly . .” Our mission is to uplift Jesus Christ through stories of His matchless love, news of His present workings, help for knowing Him better, and hope in His soon return. The Adventist Review (ISSN 0161-1119), published since 1849, is the general paper of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is published by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and is printed 40 times a year each Thursday except the first Thursday of each month by the Review and Herald® Publishing Association. Periodicals postage paid at Hagerstown, MD 21740. Copyright © 1998, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Publishing Board: Robert S. Folkenberg, chair; Phil Follett, vice- chair; Lowell Cooper; William G. Johnsson; A. C. McClure; Dorothy Watts; Ted N. C. Wilson; Martin Ytreberg; Robert Nixon, legal advisor Executive Publisher and Editor William G. Johnsson Associate Editors Roy Adams, Bill Knott Managing Editor Myrna Tetz News Editor Carlos Medley Assistant Editors Stephen Chavez, Andy Nash Editorial Assistant Ella Rydzewski Administrative Secretary Chitra Barnabas Editorial Secretaries Beverly Koester, Jean Sequeira Art Director Bill Kirstein Designer Bill Tymeson Design Assistant/Production Stephanie Kaping Ad Sales Melynie Tooley Subscriber Services Steve Hanson Marketing Coordinator Ray Tetz Consulting Editors: Robert S. Folkenberg, Matthew Bediako, Phil Follett, Robert J. Kloosterhuis, A. C. McClure, Jan Paulsen, Leo Ranzolin, R. F.