August 1997 NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION EDITION The Long Shadows of LETTERS Cloning and the Christian means that at least part of a person Youth and Ownership In “Cloning and the Christian” desires to sin. Jesus made it clear in Thanks to Andy Nash for his perceptive (June NAD Matthew 5 that a person was guilty of ruminating on reaching young adults Edition) George sin if he only wanted to do it, even today in “A Letter to Myself (Open in Javor writes, “The though he did not externally commit 2011)” (June 12). cloning of the sin. His letter reminded me of the humans itself is Clearly Jesus had the effects of first president’s youth cabinet. not likely to pre- 4,000 years of sin in Him (“fallen Because 20 percent of the NAD is cipitate divine human nature”) but was not infected under 30 years old, we recom- intervention.” with sin—which is another way of mended that one fifth of all com- Ellen White stating that He took Adam’s physical mittee members at the local, con- writes, “But if there was one sin above human nature after the Fall, but His ference, union, and division levels another which called for the destruc- spiritual human nature before the Fall. be under 30 (see Adventist Review, tion of the race by the Flood, it was June 6, 1991). One young adult the base crime of amalgamation of man —Doug Baker, D.MIN. member summarized, “We would and beast which defaced the image of OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA enjoy a piece of the pie. However, God, and caused confusion every- we would also like to help make where” (Spiritual Gifts, vol. 3, p. 64). the pie.” It would appear that genetic tam- Relieved To my knowledge, this has not hap- pering can and will provoke “divine Thanks to William Johnsson for his pened. Who will be the first to show intervention.” editorial “High Tech and Hocus- the courage and farsightedness to do it? pocus.” It has renewed my faith in —Clyde Bagby the Review. —Chris Blake FREDERICKSBURG, TEXAS LINCOLN, NEBRASKA —Leslie A. Mathewson VIA E-MAIL Javor states that what humanity inher- The 6,000-Year Theory ited from Adam and Eve “is sometimes I hear it in sermons, I see it in books— called ‘fallen human nature’ or ‘the Signs of the End? the view that earth’s events are wind- propensity to sin.’” This implies that Thanks to Kermit Netteberg for his ing down to the Revelation 20 millen- he believes those two phrases are syn- news commentary concerning weather nium, with less than three years to go. onymous. But clearly they are not, disasters as signs of Christ’s second It seems to be based upon Bible sevens because Ellen White sometimes coming (“Signs of the End?” June and the Sabbath. Our critics will scoff, referred to Jesus as having “fallen NAD Edition). I completely agree that “The Adventists are time-setting human nature,” but was categorical in weather disasters are not a sure sign again!” denying that He had any “propensity Christ will return soon. Considering There is no certainty about to sin.” that our weather data usually does not Ussher’s chronology. True, Ellen The author’s second error imme- go back even a hundred years, it is White stated that the earth is 6,000 diately follows when he approvingly hard to conclude that weather disasters years old, but that was a century ago, declares that “Adventists are careful have increased in severity. bringing the present tally to a mean- not to confuse a ‘tendency to sin’ with ingless 6,100. We must not get ex- sin itself.” Of course, a tendency or —Ron Corson cited about uncertain calculations. propensity to sin is sin itself because it VIA E-MAIL The message will go, and Jesus will 2 (1042) ADVENTIST REVIEW, AUGUST 1997 come on His schedule, not ours. mention is made of the downward trend in Sabbath school attendance. —Adriel Chilson To many of us the trend is easily COLLEGE PLACE, WASHINGTON explained. Many of the recent lessons con- We also reject the 6,000-year theory, tained in the adult quarterlies are writ- COVER STORY which holds that the earth will experience ten by college professors for college a Sabbath-like rest for the seventh millen- 12 The Long Shadows of students. They are just too difficult for Divorce nium. While pleasing in its “neatness,” it many laypeople to understand. In one Is divorce a reality we have has no biblical basis. For more on this and lesson the author asked the members to accept? related topics, see Roy Adams’ “Living in to outline complete chapters of the BY JAMES COFFIN Crazy Times” (June 26).—Editors. Bible and to check how many times a word was used. Then we were supposed ARTICLES to tell how it was used and the point Goodbye, Evolution? made. It appeared to me and many 8 Who Is Prisoner, Who Darwin’s Is Judge? Readers of Michael J. Behe’s others that the writer used the outline Good thing we weren’t present Black Box, reviewed by David Ekkens of an upper division theological course. at Jesus’ trial and execution. Or in the May 15 Cutting Edge Edition, Because of this, not only has were we? might be pardoned for concluding that Sabbath school attendance declined, BY BILL KNOTT we are witnessing the beginning, at but those who do attend faithfully no 16 A State University least, of the end of evolution. Thomas longer study the lesson. I would sug- Professor Tells . Why S. Kuhn, in the famous Structure of gest that these lessons be used for Your Student Should Attend Scientific Revolutions (1970), would college theological study and easier- an Adventist College eventually call it a scientific crisis. to-understand lessons be used for the It’s elementary. According to Kuhn, time-honored general population. My wife, a BY ED CHRISTIAN frameworks of scientific thought fi- Sabbath school teacher, and I study 24 They Don’t Come Anymore nally fail to explain things accounted together to try to make the material Our children are our most valuable for by new approaches, and older understandable, but often this is possession. Giving them to God is adherents give way, by default, to nearly impossible. not easy. those who work within new theories. If the General Conference Sabbath BY CLAUDETTE TANG-KWOK In the case of evolution, creationism School Department is really interested 26 Flying High is like the new covenant: really older, in increasing attendance, they must Harnessing technology to spread but now new and perhaps yet tri- give us quarterlies that the average the gospel. umphant in the scientific realm. non-college-educated person can BY WILLIAM G. JOHNSSON Such works as Darwin’s Black Box, understand. skeptical of Darwinism and written DEPARTMENTS by people from the orthodox, secular —Richard M. Norman 2 Letters scientific community, find strong evi- REYNOLDSBURG, OHIO 7 Give & Take dence in living things for an intelli- 11 Take a Stand gent Designer, although it is clear 15 Global Mission that to a degree the authors are still Letters Policy 19 From the Heart prisoners of the older beliefs. The Review welcomes your letters. 20 World News & Perspectives However, as Kuhn pointed out, com- Short, specific letters are the most effective ing generations finally adopt the new and have the best chance at being pub- 25 Children’s Corner views, and we may yet see the implo- lished. Letters will be edited for space and 30 Reflections sion of Darwinian evolution, particu- clarity only. Send correspondence to EDITORIALS larly as it is challenged from the Letters to the Editor, Adventist Review, 5 Awash in a Sea of Relativism inside. Stay tuned. 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, 6 Peppermint Patty Christians MD 20904-6600; ISC —Richard Rimmer Internet: [email protected] D NEXT WEEK HOTO MADISON, TENNESSEE CompuServe network: 74617,15. P Religious Liberty BY Adventists have always been champions Sabbath School Quarterlies of religious freedom. But are we doing PHOTO any good? VER O On page 23 of the June 19 Review C ADVENTIST REVIEW, AUGUST 1997 (1043) 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 by the Review and Herald® Publishing Association, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740. Standard postage paid at Hagerstown. The North American Edition of the Adventist Review is published 12 times a year on the first Thursday of each month. Copyright © 1997. Publishing Board: Robert S. Folkenberg, chair; Phil Follett, vice- chair; William G. Johnsson; Lowell Cooper; 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 and Online Editor Carlos Medley Assistant Editors, Stephen Chavez, Andy Nash Editorial Assistant Ella Rydzewski Administrative Secretary Chitra Barnabas Editorial Secretaries Mary Maxson, Jean Sequeira Art Director Bill Kirstein Designer Bill Tymeson Design Assistant Alan Forquer Desktop Production Stephanie Kaping Ad Sales Melynie Tooley Subscriber Services Steve Hanson Director, Periodical Sales Ginger Church Consulting Editors: Robert S. Folkenberg, Matthew Bediako, Phil Follett, Robert J. Kloosterhuis, A. C. McClure, Jan Paulsen, Leo Ranzolin, R. F. Rawson, Calvin B.