International Journal for Clergy March 1988

Ministers; Social Security, and honesty/4 John Paul II: the first nine years/8 Less than human?/!t Letters

Pastor©s pastor baby if its mother became sexually ac ventist Church. However, to be honest, I am already looking forward to future tive when very young. Why should an we must admit that much of it could have. articles by the pastor©s pastor Floyd unborn baby be put to death for its fa Had this happened in the Adventist Bresee. God has spoken to me through ther©s or mother©s sins? Thomas Ha Church, her husband almost certainly his first article dealing with the talents milton, United Methodist Church of would no longer be pastoring; however, (January 1988). I needed that. -R. Great Valley, Great Valley, New York. Peggy herself might be in no better situa Dean Ashley, Community First Church tion than she is now. Like most other of God, Sparks, Nevada. During a nine-month period in churches, we haven©t really addressed this 1970 and 1971, your church produced problem. Editors. Adventists and abortion two sets of recommended abortion What you are doing [offering minis guidelines; since then it has made no Peggy Boyle©s perception of the in ters of other denominations free sub official statement. That fact is horrible! visibility of the ex-clergy wife is pain scriptions to MINISTRY is an incredibly The greatest moral issue of the past 15 fully accurate. In my own case, the di generous and helpful thing. Not only years is the cold-blooded murder of 20 vorce came after my husband became does it help us non-Adventists to under million babies and your church says involved with a woman of the congrega stand you, but it©s rare that I read an nothing! tion. He was removed from his pastor issue without bringing away something Could it be that you "strain at a gnat ate and after some small attempts to to prod my thinking into new channels. and swallow a camel" ? What is more smooth things over I was ignored. I un I particularly appreciated the article important saving people from eating derstood how difficult it was for the on abortion in this issue ("Abortion: meat or saving the lives of innocent congregation to minister to me when The Adventist Dilemma," January babies? William L. Gutel, Flint, they were suffering as well, but I still 1988). It seems to me that Christians Michigan. cannot accept the treatment I received are not going to be able to find common from the church hierarchy. It was as if I ground until we back off the rigid posi Defrocked no longer existed. tions that we have taken on the basis of Since MINISTRY is a Seventh-day I have been more fortunate than our limited understanding of the Scrip Adventist publication, one would as Peggy, however. My health is good and tures and focus on the children. To sume that the Peggy Boyle who wrote with hard work I was able to earn my guarantee a child the right to be born, "Disposing of the Defrocked" (Novem M.Ed, and resume the teaching career I even against the will of its mother, obli ber 1987) is a member of your church. If left when my husband completed semi gates us to provide that child with other that is indeed the case, then shame upon nary. Yet my financial situation remains guarantees that we seem unwilling to your church, and shame upon her or precarious. I find myself at age 54 con offer: the right to adequate food, cloth dained husband for his faithless treat tinually struggling to provide the basic ing, shelter, and education. The prob ment of her sick, old, unemployable, necessities. In effect, I have gone back lem cannot be solved by the hospitals; it penniless, and deprived of all the social financially to where I left off before belongs to the whole society. Edward ties built into a marriage of 35 years. those 28 years of raising children and G. Fisher, Central Vermont Rural Par I find it outrageous that this parish work. Now, as my contemporar ish, Randolph Center, Vermont. woman and she is not alone has ies plan for retirement, I anticipate been dumped, apparently without fi working until I drop. Joanne Gunner- I have enjoyed many articles in your nancial support of any kind. I find it son, Edmonds, Washington. magazine because of your high stan inconceivable that her husband is being dards. However, 1 was very allowed to get away with dumping her I too was a disposed, defrocked wife disappointed in the articles and expla without any provision for her welfare. I of 30 years plus. I can easily say that I nations on abortion in the January 1988 find it incredible that his church is al became well acquainted with hell. The issue. According to what I read, the lowing him to do so without church leaders that be, not wanting to Seventh-day Adventist Church consid consequences to his ministry. Karen create waves, let my husband go to the ers it all right to kill an unborn baby if Armstrong, Albuquerque, New opposite coast (as a priest in good stand that baby©s father was a certain kind of Mexico. ing I was told it was too costly to de sinner a rapist or a child molester. It is We are glad to be able to say that Peggy frock!), where he lived with "the other also considered right to kill an unborn Boyle©s story did not take place in the Ad (Continued on page 26)

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MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 First Glance MINISTRY is the international journal of the Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial Association. ASSOCIATION SECRETARY: Floyd Bresee EDITOR: J. Robert Spangler EXECUTIVE EDITOR: J. David Newman If you have opted out of Social Security, do not save this issue ASSISTANT EDITORS: David C. James for later reading; later will be too late. As ministers we have high Kenneth R. Wade stakes in the integrity issue, and "Ministers, Social Security, and SEMINAR DIRECTOR: Honesty" may cause you to change your mind and enter the Social Rex D. Edwards CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Security program, or it may confirm and strengthen you in your Carlos Aeschlimann current position. Ellen Bresee Raoul Dederen Ariel Roth Our January articles regarding abortion are bringing in letters. Gary Swanson We continue the discussion with Richard Frederick©s perceptive N. C. Wilson analysis of the biblical and ethical issues involved. The right to live CONSULTING EDITORS: Galen Bosley and the right to free choice are both principles. In the development C. E. Bradford of a hierarchy of values one must take precedence over the other. P. Gerard Damsteegt Roland R. Hegstad You cannot exercise the right to free choice unless you first have Frank Holbrook been allowed the right to live. Kenneth]. Mittleider Marie Spangler Richard Tibbits Does your spouse ever get depressed? If he or she does, then Leo R. Van Dolson you will want to read "He©s Really Depressed What Do I Do?" EDITORIAL SECRETARIES: Verjannia Carman lists seven ways you can help your spouse cope. Ella Rydzewski Mary Louise McDowell The pope©s recent visit to the United States occasioned much ART DIRECTOR. editorial comment. Raoul Dederen, professor of theology at An Byron Steele DESIGNER: drews University, summarizes the first nine years of John Paul©s G. W. Busch reign. MARKETING: Tom Kapusta In his editorial, Robert Spangler, editor of MINISTRY, reminds ADVERTISING SALES: us of the centrality of justification by faith. The understanding of Orval Driskell this doctrine still divides Protestants and Roman Catholics. What SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: ever our religious background, may we remember that salvation Larry Burtnett INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENTS: always comes from a dependent relationship with Jesus Christ a Africa-Indian Ocean, W. S. Whaley Eastern Africa, Harry A. Cartwright reliance solely on His life, death, and resurrection. Euro-Africa, Johannes Mager Far East, James H. Zachary Inter-America, Salimjapas North America, William C. Scales, Jr. Trans-Europe, Mark Finley South America, Amasias Justiniano South Pacific, A. David C. Currie Southern Asia,Ronald N. Baird MINISTRY, (ISSN 0026-5314), the interna tional journal of the Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial Association 1988, is published monthly by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and printed by the Review and Herald Publishing Association, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740, U.S.A. Subscriptions: US$19.95 for 12 issues in U.S., US$23.55 for 12 issues else where. Single copy: US$2.00. Member Asso ciated Church Press. Second-class postage paid at Hagerstown, Maryland. This publica tion is available in microfilm from University Microfilms International. Call toll-free 800- 521-3044. Or mail inquiry to: University Mi crofilms International, 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Postmaster: Send address changes to MINIS TRY, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740. Editorial Office: 6840 Eastern Avenue NW., Washington, D.C. 20012. Stamped, self-addressed envelope should accompany unsolicired manuscripts.

VOLUME 61 NUMBER 3

MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 Ministers, Social Security, and honesty

astor John* sat in my gress, it chose to treat ministers as Mack Tennyson office on the verge of self-employed. tears. This was a real A few denominations waived this spe role reversal for cial provision, for Social Security pur him usually he is poses treating their ministers as employ the bulwark of ees. These churches pay the employer©s strength to whom share of the Social Security taxes (50 per others come with their problems. But cent) , and their ministers pay the emplo Can you be honest though he is an honest man, John was in yee©s share (the other 50 percent). From trouble with the IRS. During the 15 years 1951 through 1954, only the ministers of and opt out of Social of his ministry, thinking that pastors these churches were allowed into the So were exempt, he had paid no Social Se cial Security system. Security? If youVe curity tax. An IRS audit found that he In 1955 the government allowed those opted out, you have owed $30,000, more than he makes in a ministers classified as self-employed the year. option of entering the Social Security until April 15, 1988, John©s case was my first brush with a program. To do so, they had to pay the unique part of the income tax laws. In full self-employment tax themselves, the to change your general, ministers are treated as self- standard arrangement for self-employed employed. Along with their regular in workers. mind. come tax, they pay self-employment Finally, in 1968, ministers were re tax currently 12.3 percent of their self- quired to enter the Social Security pro employment net income. (Self-employ gram. Several denominations raised le ment net income is the minister©s salary gitimate opposition to the forced plus the parsonage exclusion minus inclusion of their ministers, offering ar employment-related expenses.) guments based on conscientious objec tions to insurance, public insurance, and The clergy and self-employment public benefit programs. They argued taxes that God and His church are to take care In 1951 the government decided to of the members in need not the gov allow those who worked in not-for-profit ernment or insurance companies. organizations the option of entering the To meet these concerns, Congress al Mack Tennyson, Social Security system, an option they lowed ministers opposed to public insur C.P.A., PhD., had been denied up until that time. This ance on religious grounds to opt out teaches in the School of Business of the College decision engendered a debate over within the first two years of their minis of Charleston, Charles whether ministers were employees or try. This exemption is a peculiar example ton, South Carolina, self-employed. of how government can distort things and serves on the con The President argued for treating min while trying to allow for religious free ference committee of the Carolina Confer© isters as employees. But when several de dom. First, it provides only for ministers. ence of Seventh-da^ nominations actively lobbied the Con- Other members of the churches with Adventists. these convictions including the non- *The story is true, but the names have been ministerial church employees do not changed. have this option, even though several

MINISTRY/M ARCH/1988 have clearly proved to the courts that section of the tax code, ministers must they have religious grounds for their op file before the due date of the tax return position to insurance. for the second year of their ministry. The The Tax Second, ministers must make the deci 1986 tax law requires ministers to inform sion during the first two years of their their ordaining bodies of their morally Simplification Act of ministry. If, after that two-year period, a based objections to receiving public in minister receives a revelation that insur surance benefits. They are not exempt 1986 allows exempt ance is immoral, it©s too late. He or she until an IRS director approves and re will be in trouble with either God or the turns Form 4361. ministers to come back government. 2 In the past, once a person had ob in. Congress has voted Of all the tax-related deadlines I have tained this exemption, he could not seen, none are as strictly enforced as this change his mind and enter the Social to make this a one. As far as the tax court is concerned, Security program. However, the so- no excuse is sufficient and ministers called Tax Simplification Act of 1986 one-time opportunity have tried them all, including "I didn©t allows exempt ministers to come back know about this until it was too late" and in.4 Congress has voted to make this a that it will not offer "I accidentally filed the wrong form." one-time opportunity that it will not of fer again. For the minister who is not again. Current law currently in the program, this determina Currently the law requires ministers to tion makes the choice between remain pay self-employment tax. However, ing out and opting to enter it particularly there are two exceptions. Section momentous. the eligibility requirement. And those 1.1402(h)-l of the Internal Revenue Code who continue working past age 65 may releases "members of certain religious Economic considerations become fully insured even though they groups opposed to insurance." Accord I hesitate to include a section on the have not been in the program a full 10 ing to tax reference guides, this section is economic aspects of opting out. This de years. Since this situation is so complex, included to provide for the religious prin cision should be made solely on a reli those who are facing it should discuss ciples of such groups as the Amish. 3 To gious, not on an economic, basis. But I their needs with the appropriate person qualify its ministers for this exemption, a am sure that the economic aspects of the at a Social Security office. denomination must prove (1) that it decision are at least a matter of curiosity. Social Security also provides survivor holds tenets that oppose insurance, (2) The self-employment tax is a person©s benefits and disability checks. Survivor that it makes provision for its dependent way of buying into the Social Security benefits are paid to a worker©s family in members, and (3) that it has existed system, a system that offers the following the event he or she dies. Afamily of three since 1950. important benefits: monthly retirement or more can receive as much as $1,807 The ministers and only the minis checks, survivor benefits, disability per month. Disability checks are paid to ters of denominations meeting these checks, and Medicare. disabled workers. These checks run be criteria may apply for exemption from The retirement checks currently tween $1,000 and $1,500 per month. self-employment tax under the section of amount to about $700 per month for The amount of the survivor or disability the tax code identified above. They must those who were making $30,000 a year checks varies depending on how long the state that they adhere to their church©s when they retired. To be eligible for insured worked, his or her income, and beliefs concerning insurance. Those who these checks, one must have contributed the number of dependents. do not belong to one of these groups may to the system for 10 years. The eligibility requirements for re not apply for exemption under this This raises a troubling question for ceiving these benefits depend on the age section. those with fewer than 10 years until re at which the worker dies or becomes dis Perhaps Internal Revenue Code Section tirement. Over the remaining few years abled. For example, those who die or be 1.1402(e) is more relevant to most min of their careers they may not build ade come disabled at age 30 must have con isters. It says any minister who is "consci quate work credit to receive full benefits. tributed to the system for two years to be entiously opposed to, or because of reli That, however, does not mean that they eligible for the checks. Forty-two-year- gious principles he is opposed to, the should stay out of Social Security. The olds need five years of payments, acceptance of any public insurance that decision to opt out is a moral and not an 54-year-olds need eight years, and 62- makes payments in the event of death, economic decision. Ineligibility for full year-olds need ten. disability, old age, or retirement" may benefits simply means that the right de The other major program Social Secu apply for exemption from self-employ cision will be harder to make. rity encompasses is Medicare. There are ment tax. This section of the code is hard Those joining the program become el two aspects to Medicare: medical insur to read and understand. The form minis igible for some benefits such as disabil ance and hospital insurance. The medi ters must submit to obtain exemption ity and survivor©s benefits after a cou cal insurance helps pay for the worker©s from self-employment tax, Form 4361, ple of years. Opting in now and paying doctor and for other medical services. quotes this section and requires minis for 1986 and 1987 will get a person two Those who want this insurance must pay ters, under penalty of perjury, to certify years of credit right away (see box accom an extra monthly premium it is not by their signature that they qualify for panying article). Work credit built up in covered by the self-employment tax. exemption on these grounds. college or while moonlighting during But, at least at this time, the medical To qualify for exemption under this one©s ministry may contribute to meeting insurance available through Medicare is

MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 paying all but $520 of the hospital bills So, if he puts $3,690 in the bank every for the first 60 days. In addition, for the year until he retires; I am not sure whether next 30 days (days 61 to 90), while the if he doesn©t suffer a disability; worker must pay the first $130 per day, if he doesn©t die prematurely; I would choose to this Medicare hospital insurance covers if his money earns a 5 percent after-tax enter the Social everything above that amount. So a per interest; and if he and his wife remain son with Social Security can spend 90 healthy until they die of sudden heart Security system* But I days in the hospital and pay only attacks, Tom would come out money $4,500 a stark contrast to the $40,840 ahead to seek the exemption from Social don©t have a choice* average cost for a 90-day hospital stay. 5 Security. Following this scenario, Tom would accumulate about $250,000 by re Many people worry about the financial tirement. (The older a person is, the And neither do many stability of the Social Security system; smaller the pool that he or she can de they©ve heard that the system is nearly of you. velop before retiring. So the older one is, bankrupt. This is completely unfounded. the more attractive Social Security is.) Though all things pass away, the Social For about $100,000 of that he could Security system is as strong as our govern probably buy an annuity that would pay ment and its ability to raise taxes. It may him an amount equivalent to what he a bargain compared with that available not be eternal, but it is more secure than would have received from Social Securi elsewhere. The church pays the Medi any bank or insurance company. ty. This would leave him about $150,000 care medical insurance premiums for for medical care. those retired Adventist ministers who Tom©s case But there are five ifs in this story. participate in the Social Security pro All of these benefits sound good but Should any one of them fail, Tom and his gram. Those who have opted out must are they worth twelve percent of one©s family are in a financial mess. First, he fund the costs this insurance would cover salary? Let©s look at Tom. Fresh out of may not be disciplined enough to make themselves. seminary, he has 30 years until retire the annual deposit into the bank. Frank The self-employment tax does pay for ment. On a salary of $30,000, his self- ly, I have never met anyone who is. A lot hospital insurance, about 20 percent of it employment tax might average $3,690 a of people can be faithful about it for a going into the insurance pool. This in year. (I know that ministers fresh out of few years. But when money problems surance helps with the worker©s hospital seminary don©t make $30,000. This is a come such as college bills or house buy expenses after he or she reaches age 65, guess at an average for his entire career.) ing they end up rushing to the bank to withdraw their retirement savings to bail themselves out. Another big if is the possibility of dis For those who opted out: ability. Outside of the Social Security system, Tom would not receive disability getting in checks. And, if he were disabled, he probably could not make the annual re If you opted out of the Social Security system, you can now get into tirement payment to his savings account. it by using Form 2031, in most cases filing it with your regular tax But the biggest if has to do with Medi return. In general, you must file this form by April 15, 1988, though care. The $150,000 left over for medical you can stretch this to August 15, 1988, by filing for an extension for expenses may seem like a great deal of your regular tax return (Form 4868). If you have already filed your money, but one of my clients spent at least taxes, simply submit Form 2031 with Form 1040X to amend your that much on the medical bills he and his return. wife incurred during the last three years of Form 2031 is an easy form to fill out. It asks four simple questions. their lives. As with all insurance, the Complete them, make three copies of the form, and attach them to the Medicare that Social Security provides is a front of your regular tax return. With your return, include a Form SE bad deal if one doesn©t need to use it. From an economic point of view, I am that finds the amount of self-employment tax that is due and, of not sure whether I would choose to enter course, the payment of the tax due. the Social Security system. But I don©t You may elect to enter the Social Security system as of the beginning have a choice. And neither do many of of 1986 even though it is 1988. (Your Social Security benefits are you. based on the payments you make after you enter the system see the article for more on this.) Do this by amending your 1986 return using Moral aspects of the decision the standard amended return (Form 1040X). Use a 1986 Form SE to Any minister who is "conscientiously find the amount of self-employment tax that is due for that year. Write opposed to, or because of religious prin on line 5 of Form 2031 that you want to enter the system as of ciples he is opposed to, the acceptance of 1986. Attach three copies of Form 2031 to the front of the amended any public insurance that makes pay return, include payment of the taxes, and mail it by April 15, 1988. ments in the event of death, disability, old age, or retirement" may apply to be exempt from self-employment tax.

MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 olate your religious beliefs. Security taxes based on religious convic WARNING: I don©t believe the decision to opt out tions regarding insurance and then got For most people, entering can be based on a simple opposition to Medicare through your spouse. You the Social Security system at taxes. Both Jesus and the apostle Paul would appear as a slacker who was using the end of the tax year exhort us to be good tax-paying citizens. religious arguments to your own means coming up with a sub They taught good citizenship even in the advantage. stantial sum of money. (And case of a totalitarian and unjust govern Our lives, our sermons, and our teach entering it as of 1986, of ment as that of the Roman Empire was. ings must be in harmony with every one course, will about double of our moral positions. Religious freedom that amount.) If you believe Be consistent is cherished as an important right in our All moral decisions call for consis it©s the right thing to do, you country. Those who use arguments based tency in our lives and in our ministry. If ought to do it whatever the on religious freedom casually to avoid re cost. But you will need to you believe that Social Security is wrong, then you must live a life consistent with sponsibilities other citizens face only think through how you will weaken religious freedom. come up with the money. your belief. If the basis for your opposi tion is government involvement in reli We often call on our church members gion, then you should oppose other as to take the moral high ground. We ad Whether or not to do so is a moral deci pects of government involvement in vance the need for sacrificial giving. We sion. In reality, the economic aspects of religion, such as government-insured witness that God takes care of His own. this problem are irrelevant; I have only loans to ministerial students and the par We teach that self-denial for the cause of discussed them to make the decision you sonage exclusion. God is an integral part of the Christian must make more palatable. It is the moral A few weeks ago I discussed this sub walk, and we are quick to encourage peo aspects of opting out that you should con ject with a minister. I asked him what he ple to avoid sin, even if doing so means sider with greatest care. was planning to do if he got sick when he risking their financial security. Do we Are you opposed to any type of life or was old, not having Medicare. He said, believe what we present strongly enough disability insurance? The moral argu "My wife is working, and I©ll be covered to follow it ourselves ? ment offered against such insurance goes through her." Your religious beliefs may lead you to something like this: "God will take care Taking this tack may or may not in decide to stay out of the Social Security of my family when I die or if I©m hurt, so it volve a moral inconsistency, depending system. But to do so consistently, you must is better to use my money now for ad on the reason the minister opted out of ask yourself, "Would I choose to make this vancing God©s cause than for paying in Social Security in the first place. Those stand even if this article had proved that it surance premiums." who object to participating because they was a good deal to be in the system?" Make There may be some truth to this, but view the benefits they would receive sure your decision comes as a result of do you believe it enough to preach it from from the government (i.e., Social Secu God©s leading and not on economic your pulpit? Is the church ready to pro rity) as excessive government entangle grounds. Make sure that the rest of your vide everything for widows and orphans ? ment in religion or government support Is it ready to take care of the needs of the of religion may have grounds for consid life is consistent with your decision. If you disabled and their families? ering their position consistent if their honestly believe that you should be out, If you opt out of Social Security using spouses worked for secular rather than stand by your moral principles. this argument, moral consistency re religious employers. You may decide that you ought to be in quires you to avoid any life or disability But those who claim, on religious the system. Fortunately, God promises to insurance policies including those pro grounds, to be opposed to insurance as care for those who decide to do what is vided by your employer. such or to government participation in right whatever the consequences. "God Another moral argument against par insurance can hardly be consistent and is able to provide you with every blessing ticipating in Social Security runs: "I be still accept the benefits of insurance in abundance, so that you may always lieve that the self-employment tax is through their spouse. Doing so would have enough of everything and may pro government interfering with the free ex clearly be inconsistent with their signing vide in abundance for every good work" ercise of my religion." Religious freedom of the statement that says they are "op (2 Cor. 9:8, RSV). is important. We must fight any attempt posed to the acceptance of any public by the government to infringe on our insurance that makes payments in the 1 W. E. Palmer, 52 TC 310, DEC. 29, 594. religious principles. However, govern event of death, disability, old age, or 2 Some may argue that this rule is needed to prevent the problem of people continually entering ment actions that affect churches indi retirement." and leaving the system. But their doing so is not a rectly are not always an infringement on Suppose you had opted out of Social problem. People regularly enter and leave the sys the free practice of religion. For exam Security and then were enmeshed in an tem as they find and lose jobs. The two-year rule is just an arbitrary deadline selected by Congress. ple, one could argue that in applying fire other matter involving the government Commerce Clearinghouse Standard Federal Tax codes to churches the government is in and religious freedom. Say, for instance, Reports, pp. 58, 105, par. 4870.09. volving itself in religion. But its doing so in a wartime situation you found yourself 4 The IRS estimates that tax revenue will in crease by about $5 million a year because of minis usually doesn©t interfere with the free ex having to oppose a government regula ters reentenng the system. (U.S. Cong. Joint Com ercise of religion. For participation in So tion forcing citizens to work on the Sab mittee on Taxation, General Explanation of the Tax cial Security to be a religious freedom bath. Your arguments would be weak Reform Act of 1986 (Chicago: Commerce Clearing House), p. 1340. issue, you must believe that the ened and might even harm your cause if it 5 Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1985, self-employment tax is forcing you to vi came out that you opted out of Social 105th ed.

MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 7 Tohn Paul II: the first nine years

n October 16, 1987, ening of the Roman Catholic identity. Raoul Dederen John Paul II began his tenth year as What is Catholic identity? pope. Since his elec There is indeed fuzziness in some cir tion to the papacy cles about what the Roman Catholic some nine years ago, Church teaches. Restoring Catholic he has maintained a identity, therefore, means in part identi breathtaking schedule. Even though he fying Catholic doctrine and what it Is the pope has set for himself a pace he might find means to be a truly committed Roman difficult to maintain, so far there is not Catholic. But the real problem has not reaffirming the the slightest sign that it will slacken, been not knowing what Roman Catholic monarchal concept even for a man in his late 60s. doctrine is, but getting modern Catho He is, at the same time, one of the lics to accept it. of his authority? most magnetic personalities on the inter Catholic identity can also be defined national stage a charismatic man with in terms of the way the tension that exists a rare gift for word and drama, reaching among Roman Catholics in general and people of all creeds. that which exists between Rome and the John Paul II©s unusual energy and aura Catholic family in some parts of the complement his forceful and assured world is addressed. style of leadership. Indeed, he shows few John Paul II deals with these tensions of the doubts that some associate with his by calling priests, theologians, and lay- predecessor, Pope Paul VI. John Paul II people to obey the bishops. In his typical unambiguously states that he knows populist fashion, he stresses the dangers what the Roman Catholic Church is and that could arise from disagreements, call what she has to offer the world. The cer ing on the "silent Catholic majority" for tainties that he proclaims are not limited support. to the certainties of faith. They are also In return loyal Catholic- laypeople, certainties about human values and the priests, and theologians have continually human person, derived from a particular spoken to the pope about their love for understanding of the gospel of Jesus the church, their desire to serve, their Christ and of the mission of the Roman loyalty to Rome, their struggles, and Dr. Raoul Dederen is Catholic Church. He has immense per their frustrations. They cite the problems the associate dean of sonal appeal and a rare impact on Chris the Andrews University American Catholics have with certain Theological Seminary. tian thinking, often beyond the limits of teachings, such as contraception, di the Roman Catholic confession. vorce, and priestly celibacy, which have Yet he knows that his impact would led to massive dissent. The pope listened be seriously diminished if he headed a but did not change his mind. divided and pluralistic Roman Catholic In encounters with those who disagree Church. Hence, from the very begin with him John Paul II does not appear to ning of his pontificate, John Paul has seek the truth contained in an opposite brought about an unmistakable tighten view. He seems to be stimulated by oppo ing of discipline, along with a strength sition and to regard it as a validation of

MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 his own calling. The pope strikes one as ment. While he is ebulliently engaged in found. As millions lift up their voices and an either/or thinker. When his interloc reaffirming the monarchical conception cry out for leadership, John Paul II be utors suggest "pluralism," he answers of the Roman pontiffs authority, it is far comes more fascinating. He is showing "truth." In his view, pluralism is another from clear that the bishops feel confident the Roman Catholic Church to the word for indifferentism, and in contra that their authority has been upheld. On world as no pope has ever done before. diction with the Catholic identity he the contrary, the actions he has taken in He has put before the world, without champions. some countries like Austria and The concessions, an absolute moral and spir From this perspective, one can under Netherlands point the other way. itual demand based on an absolute faith, stand why dissent from the magisterium John Paul II strikes me as committed to and people are answering. Millions give is "a grave error." In a closed meeting on the reforms Vatican II instituted, includ ear; young people listen. There is today September 16, 1987, with the U.S. bish ing masses said in vernacular languages no other moral teacher like him. They ops, John Paul told them: "It is some and the need for ecumenical advance. may not follow what he presents, but times claimed that dissent from the Mag- But he does not seem inclined to move they realize he offers it to them because isterium is totally compatible with being a one inch beyond them. It is well known he believes in the individual worth of ©good Catholic© and poses no obstacle to that he wants nuns in distinctive garb every one of them. Unlike today©s the reception of the sacraments. This is a and priests in collars. This puts him in preachers of permissiveness, for whom grave error that challenges the teaching direct conflict with large numbers of few standards matter, this pope is calling office of the United States and else priests and nuns, mostly in Western Eu Roman Catholics to repentance and to a where." During the course of this four- rope and the United States, who object heroic Christian life. hour-long "dialogue," which took place to priestly celibacy, want the Roman No wonder that from this vantage at a Los Angeles seminary, the pope di Catholic Church to open up to women point, with his attention focused on rected the bishops to stamp out dissent. priests, and insist on the broadest possi what he describes as a cosmic battle be "Dissent from Church doctrine remains ble freedom of opinion for theologians. tween good and evil, he finds it necessary what it is, dissent; as such it may not be And there are millions of rank and file to dismiss as of bordering importance proposed or received on equal footing Catholics who continue to express their some of the reforms expressed by his with the Church©s authentic teaching." anguish over the hard line the pope has faithful. In the most uncompromising Statements of this type and there are taken on divorce and birth control. John terms he continues to preach a message many more make clear the pope©s un Paul II seems to fear that in opening her that stresses the need for something that equivocal understanding of the task laid arms to the world in Vatican II the Ro the secular world, Communist or capital on the papacy and his personal approach man Catholic Church went too far and ist, cannot give. To the surprise of some, to that task: resolute, total, and bold. He let the world in. His is a papacy of we hear the pope speak in terms of the is obviously giving a new lease of life to restoration. true followers of Jesus Christ having to the monarchical conception of the pa pay the price of rejection and ridicule. pacy set forth by the First Vatican Coun A paradoxical pope He explains that, though costly disciple- cil. But, some ask, hasn©t he heard of Those who might be inclined to de ship tends to be unpopular, a faithful collegiality, the doctrine advanced by scribe him as a paradoxical pope, if not church is a suffering church. The phrase Vatican Council II, which says that the an inconsistent leader, find it inexplica "fully Catholic" keeps cropping up as a Roman Catholic Church is governed by ble that while in Poland he was a tena new catchword increasingly associated pope and bishops acting together as a cious adversary of an overbearing state, with the concept of a church whose pur team? in Rome he is an indefatigable enforcer of pose is not to set a record in gaining orthodoxy. John Paul©s advocates reply members but to teach the teachings of Tensions in Catholicism that the bishop of Rome is merely fulfill Christ. The First and Second Vatican Coun ing his task. He stirs up so much uneasi Where did he master such skills ? Prob cils have left an unresolved tension at the ness, they explain, because he makes ably in Poland, where the concept was heart of Roman Catholicism. The first vivid a timeless and unpleasant truth tested in the crucible of suffering and the emphasized more sharply than ever be that any community, be it religious or struggle against an atheistic ideology. fore the significance of papal primacy secular, must have a core of settled con From there it traveled with him on his and infallibility in the life of the Roman victions, and if that community is deter many journeys. Wherever he goes, he Catholic Church. The Second Vatican mined to endure and fulfill its mission, it brings the same message. He speaks and Council developed the theology of epis must charge some authority with the task acts as a parish priest whose parish is the copacy and collegiality. In theory the of nurturing, defending, and proclaiming world and as an evangelist like Billy Gra two directions are not necessarily contra these convictions. ham. Yet, unlike Billy Graham, the mes dictory. But it is not yet clear how they The decades immediately following sage that he preaches is rooted not just in do harmonize. World War II were characterized by re the Bible but also in the Roman Catholic Roman Catholic bishops around the lentless materialism, consumerism, and tradition. In this pope we see Roman world would like to see a deliberate and the pursuit of gratifications long de Catholic teaching in action and infalli gradual evolution of the theology of the ferred. Today there is a quickening sense bility at work. papacy toward a conciliar mode rather that humankind is made for something John Paul IPs appeal to Bible-centered than a monarchical mode. Unfortunate finer, something more meaningful, and Christians outside of Roman Catholi ly, however, much of John Paul©s under needs stability in fundamental beliefs. cism cannot be denied. Despite his Ma- standing of the papacy in recent years Moral confidence and steadfastness will riology, his adamant convictions on appears to contradict such a develop be increasingly needed and decreasingly priestly celibacy, and the role of women,

MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 his clear commitment to the family and to biblical sexual ethics have ingratiated him with numbers of evangelical Protestants, including Seventh-day Adventists. Adventist Traditional Catholic Yet, when all is said and done, John Paul II remains a traditional Roman Catholic. He continues to stand for all those things that have, through the cen World turies, divided a biblically rooted Chris tianity from a Roman Catholicism based on the Scriptures and human traditions. When he affirms that Mary is the source of our faith and our hope, Bible- Radio centered Christians respond that their faith and hope are in Jesus Christ alone. When he proclaims that we are saved by faith plus works of love, they reply that we are not justified by our good works. INISTRY: What is When the pope teaches that the magiste- An interview with Adventist World Ra rium of the Roman Catholic Church is Tulio R. Haylock dio, and what does it where we are to look for answers to ques do? tions on life and doctrine, evangelicals answer: "Search the Scriptures, for they Haylock: Adventist are profitable for teaching, for reproof, World Radio (AWR) for correction, and for training in righ was created for the purpose of broadcast teousness." When he exhorts people to ing the gospel to areas where it was diffi rest and worship God on Sunday in cult, if not impossible, to penetrate honor of our Lord©s resurrection, The twin towers of through formal evangelistic endeavors. Seventh-day Adventists respond: "Re station KSDA on Even though that is still the basic objec member the seventh-day Sabbath to tive, the mission has been expanded to keep it holy and thus honor thy Lord." Guam help include beaming the last-day message to When he tells us that the pope infallibly all the world because radio waves di interprets both Scripture and the apos Adventist World rected to any particular area reach into tolic tradition, and that they teach that many other countries as well. the virgin Mary was bodily translated to Radio blanket three heaven, we marvel and reply that we are MINISTRY: How did AWR get its start? unable to find any evidence of such fourths of the world teaching either in the Scriptures or in the Haylock: In 1969 the General Confer genuine tradition of the apostles. with the gospel. ence appointed a committee to look into In matters that affect people©s destiny the feasibility of worldwide shortwave and their relationship to God, Rome is broadcasting. The idea had been sug still Rome. What the future under John gested by several people, including Paul II holds is hard to tell, but it seems H.M.S. Richards, Sr., founder of the highly unlikely that the remaining years Voice of Prophecy radio broadast. of his pontificate will differ notably from the first nine. The pope will probably MINISTRY: Where did it begin? continue to hold the limelight as he con tinues to challenge societies on both Haylock: For years we had been broad sides of the iron curtain as well as his Tulio R. Haylock is casting into Europe from a commercial church, which he is consciously striving an associate director station in Tangier. This station was shut of the General Con to prepare for the third millennium. ference Communica down when the government of Morocco Meanwhile we wait to see if he will be tion Department. changed, and the transmitter was trans able to bring greater homogeneity among ferred elsewhere. That station©s owner today©s 900 million Roman Catholics began planning to build a bigger and bet and if he will find it possible to stem the ter station in Portugal and invited the changes that are fashioning segments of General Conference to use the new facil the Roman Catholic Church into a hy ities when they were completed. By 1969 brid of Rome and the Protestant this new station was under construction, Reformation. and we were informed that broadcasts

10 MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 could begin in the fall of 1970. That was cured, building permits re the spark that the General Conference quested, blueprints ap Communication (formerly Radio/TV) proved, roads cut, and by Department needed to ignite the idea of March 1986 the construc Adventist World Radio. tion of the AWR-Asia broadcast center began. A MINISTRY: How many stations are oper year later KSDA went on the ating now, and how much of the world is air for the first time. We ex covered? perienced the miraculous guidance of the Holy Spirit Haylock: Adventist World Radio owns every step of the way through stations in Italy, Costa Rica, Guatemala, this project. and Guam. In addition, we lease time on Radio Trans-Europa (Portugal), Sri MINISTRY: What is happen Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (Sri ing at KSDA now? Lanka), and Radio Africa No. 1 (Ga bon). Our broadcasts from these seven Haylock: Since the end of stations effectively cover about 75 per October KSDA has been on cent of the world. the air an average of 32 transmitter-hours a day (16 MINISTRY: One of the most exciting hours per day on each of the projects right now is, of course, the new two transmitters), broad KSDA station on Guam. Where did the casting to the countries of idea for such a huge station on a remote Asia and the Far East in 14 island come from? languages. Programs are pro duced in the countries where Haylock: During the planning stage in the languages are spoken. 1969 the world was divided into four op Some countries such as India erational areas by grouping together the and the Philippines produce various divisions. The initial charter en programs in more than one language. Haylock: KSDA (Guam) is the largest visioned Adventist World Radio as an The programs for the largest language AWR station. We hope to have similar interdivision organization of the General block, Mandarin, are produced in Hong stations in each of the four areas of oper Conference capable of coordinating Kong. ation so we can broadcast the gospel 24 broadcast efforts between two or more hours a day and fulfill our global strategy. divisions. MINISTRY: How is all this paid for? The stations in Italy and Costa Rica need At the request of the General Confer to be upgraded in order to realize their ence, a well-qualified broadcast engi Haylock:Production expenses for pro full potential. We also need to add doz neering company undertook a feasibility grams are the responsibility of the field ens of languages to our program schedule study in 1977 to outline a global strategy that produces them, but KSDA broad in order to reach millions in our potential in broadcasting for the church. Subse casts them free of charge. The operation audience that we are not yet reaching. quently, Asia and the Far East were given of the station is supported by free-will the highest priority because of the den offerings and a General Conference ap MINISTRY: How can individual pastors sity of the population there. propriation. The Adventist World Radio and church members help? When I arrived at the General Confer 1988 budget is more than $2 million. ence in 1980, I was assigned the task of Haylock: If they are living within reach looking for a suitable location for a sta MINISTRY: What sort of response is our of a station signal, they can invite their tion in the Far East. The details of that programming getting? friends to tune in to the broadcasts. Pro search are too extensive to relate here, gram schedules and frequencies are avail but we concluded that Guam offered the Haylock: So far this year AWR has re able from the Adventist World Radio, best possibilities. ceived more than 6,000 letters from 114 Washington office, or their local com Once the site was chosen and the con countries. Some correspondence comes munication department director. Indi struction permit granted by the Federal from people who are curious about short viduals can also pray for the success of Communications Commission of the wave broadcasting, while others respond this evangelistic adventure and help nur United States Government, the 1984 because of interest in the messages broad ture any developing interest in their Annual Council voted to make this new cast. Bible correspondence schools in the area. And they can contribute annually station the General Conference session target areas process these responses and to the support of the broadcasts. March offering project for 1985. An offering cultivate the interest. Of course the 12, 1988, is Adventist World Radio Of committee was named and goals totaling number of those who listen far exceeds fering day. All offerings should be clearly $5 million were recommended. Alien that of those who write to us. marked Adventist World Radio and Steele was appointed manager and began given to the local church or sent to AWR organizing a team in January 1985. Of MINISTRY: What are your hopes for at 6840 Eastern Avenue N W., Washing fices were opened on Guam, land se AWR©s future? ton, D.C. 20012.

MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 11 Less than human.7

n the United States Basic to this ethic is the concept that Richard Fredericks today, one out of ev human beings do not necessarily have ery four pregnancies intrinsic value or even equal value. In ends in abortion. In deed, many Homo sapiens should not be 14 metropolitan ar seen as persons at all. Simply put, person- eas, including Wash hood is based on achievement. Unless a ington, D.C., At human achieves and maintains a certain lanta, and Seattle, abortions outnumber level of intellectual or physical perfor Many support live births. l Three abortions are done per mance, he or she is not a person, does not minute, 4,200 per day, 1.5 million per have a life worth living, and therefore is liberalized abortion year a total of more than 20 million disposable if seen as a threat to a full since the Supreme Court legalized abor person. 4 policies because of a tion in 1973. Since 1974 the war on the Several developments in this nation "quality of life" unborn has produced twice as many casu indicate that this ethic is reaching be alties each year as have all the major wars yond the question of abortion. Euthana ethic. What lies in U.S. history, from the Revolutionary sia, the medically induced "good death" War through Vietnam. 2 for those deemed no longer fit to live, has behind this ethic, Less than 3 percent of all abortions are become more acceptable5 and has even done because of serious defects, rape, in been practiced many times by members and where does it cest, or danger to the mother. In almost of the medical profession. And there al every case the abortion is done because ready have been several instances of in lead? Is it biblical? someone perceived the pregnancy as an fanticide, cases in which newboms with inconvenience, a social or financial hin some type of genetic deficiency were drance to personal happiness. placed in a hospital nursery crib marked Is this a gross violation of the sixth "Do Not Feed" and allowed to die of de commandment? One©s answer depends hydration a process that took six days on how one views the fetus. The term in the case of Bloomington, Indiana©s fetus is simply a Latin word meaning "un "Baby Doe" in April 1982. 6 born child." Is the fetus really a child, a All arguments that support this ethic member of the human family, and thus recognize a hierarchial structuring of the deserving of protection? Or is it only tis value of individual humans based on rel Richard Fredericks, sue, a part of a woman©s body whose right ative worth. So, for example, the moth Ph. D., is an assistant to survival is based on whether or not the er©s happiness may be considered more professor of religion at Columbia Union Col mother feels she wants it?3 important than the child©s life, or so lege, Takoma Park, In their 1973 decision the Supreme ciety©s financial well-being than ex Maryland. Court justices gave their answer to this tended care of the terminally ill. This is a question by ruling that while the unborn dramatic shift away from the biblical are human, they are not persons. The fetus view of human life as sacred. is only a "potential life" and therefore does An article that appeared in the journal not have legal right of protection. This California Medicine three years before Roe understanding of the human fetus is v. Wade legalized abortion illustrates the rooted in the "quality of life" ethic. need to repudiate the old ethic based

12 MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 upon the sanctity of life in order to be life, and decried the ©wasted manpower, potential and not at potential life. comfortable with abortion: "It has been patience, and capital investment© Then a young Adventist pediatrician necessary to separate the idea of abortion needed to ©keep life not worth living told me of a late saline abortion that from the idea of killing, which continues alive.© [They] forcefully argued that the failed. The baby was born alive and cry to be socially abhorrent. The results have terminally ill, the unproductive, the ing but was placed in a sealed bucket to been a curious avoidance of the scientific feeble-minded, and all ©useless eaters© suffocate. The pediatrician was horrified fact, which everyone really knows, that have the ©right to the complete relief of by this act of murder. I will never forget human life begins at conception, and is an unbearable life© and should be ©given a her tears as she looked at me and asked, continuous, whether intra- or extra- death with dignity.© " 9 "How can we do this?" uterine, until death. . . . This schizo Killing the useless for financial reasons And I met Patti McKinney, the presi phrenic subterfuge is necessary because became morally acceptable. Before the first dent of the fastest-growing organization while the new ethic is being accepted, Jews entered the gas chambers, the "Char in America: WEBA (Women Exploited the old one has not been rejected." 7 itable Transport Company for the Sick" by Abortion). Started five years ago with If personhood is based on capabilities carried 250,000 German citizens deemed two members, it currently has 36,000 or achievements, then who has the au unfit to live to places where they were members and chapters in 30 states. Patti thority to draw the line between mere given "good deaths." Among these were introduced me to another angle of the entities and genuine persons ? What will World War I veterans who were amputees, "women©s issue" in abortion the in keep those who hold the power in society the incontinent elderly, and Gypsies, credible sense of betrayal and the equally from categorizing as nonpersons those At the Nuremberg war crimes trials, tremendous physical, mental, spiritual, whom they consider a threat to their hap psychiatrist Dr. Leo Alexander demon and emotional scars left with many who piness? If one believes in the fallen con strated that the people who participated in choose to abort. dition of humanity, this is terrifying. and condoned the atrocities of those two Meeting Patti had an impact on me for decades were not demented monsters. another reason. This courageous lady, Classifying humans as nonpersons They were very ordinary people who chose who appears regularly on national televi The questions just raised are not idle to remain silent rather than risk losing sion, was at one time a member of our questions. The 1973 abortion decision their own prosperity, popularity, or posi church. She left us because she believed was not the first time that, based on eco tions. The majority of Christians in Ger we were not serious about our call to keep nomic considerations and the supposedly many continued to attend church regu all the commandments of God. Her ques superior rights of others, the U.S. Su larly but remained silent. Silent! tion was "OK, Adventists, what about the preme Court ruled a certain class of hu What is the Adventist role in this sixth commandment?" mans to be nonpersons. drama that involves life and death? Sev In 1857, in the Dred Scott case, the eral things moved me from apathy to in Finding God©s will Supreme Court ruled that members of volvement. First, was my discovery re Next to apathy ("I don©t want to get the Black race were less than human and garding abortions in Adventist hospitals. involved" or "If the church is neutral, so the property of their owners. As such, Many Adventist hospitals do not per am I"), the predominant response I have they had no rights that White men were form elective abortions. 10 But I discov found among Adventists, especially bound to respect. Freeing slaves would ered that in some of those that do, an clergy, is a denial that the Scriptures violate the Fifth Amendment by causing overwhelming majority of the abortions have anything to say concerning this is an undue financial hardship to those are elective (i.e., done for some reason sue. This, to me, is a view that discredits who were truly human White slave other than a defect in the child or danger Scripture and God Himself. Would God owners. 8 to the life of the mother) a practice be silent on a matter of such great moral This was a pro-choice decision, in this allowed under No. 5 of the guidelines the import, leaving everyone to do what is case the choice of the slaveowner. The church has recommended to its medical right in his own eyes ? basis of this tragic decision was a narrow institutions. 11 The Old Testament contains three view of humanity that arbitrarily limited I soon realized there would not be a principles that impinge on abortion: personhood to a particular skin color. pro-life or a pro-choice movement if the 1. God is against murder. The sixth This century saw an even more direct abortion question really centered on the commandment may allow for some forms analogy to America©s increasing imple tiny fraction of abortions involving rape, of capital punishment or self-defense, but mentation of death laws to solve social severe mental retardation, or danger to it specifically forbids the taking of an inno and economic problems. Hitler©s "final the mother. The real issue is two views of cent life by violent means. No exceptions solution" declared the Jews nonpersons human value. are offered, no conditions (economic, and an unacceptable burden and threat Next, I saw pictures of what happens emotional, or otherwise) are given under to society. The result was the Holocaust, in an abortion. What is being torn apart which taking an innocent life is accept the extermination of 6 million Jews. by a suction curette 10-13 weeks into a able to God (see Deut. 24:16). In 1920 Felix Meiner published a small pregnancy is not a "blob" or "unwanted God especially condemned those who volume in Leipzig, Germany, that paved tissue" but a child with perfectly formed sacrificed their children for their own the way for Germany©s doctors to become little arms, hands, fingers, and even fin sins (seejer. 7:30-34 andMicah 6:7) and the directors of the Nazi killing program. gernails; feet with toes and toenails; a those who "ripped open the pregnant In this book, The Release of the Destruc face with eyes and expression; and a brain women [double murder] ... to enlarge tion of Life Devoid of Value, the authors that has been emitting strong brain their borders" (Amos 1:13).* The Bibli "declared the Hippocratic oath obsolete, waves for a month before the "termina cal Archaeology Review reports that in denied that there is an absolute right to tion." I was looking at a human being with Carthage child sacrifices similar to those

MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 13 condemned by Jeremiah, were motivated and values each of us as persons, but not on destroying the image of God in the world." by economics, though they were given the basis of what we have achieved or ever In the New Testament, love is never religious trappings. Child sacrifice was will achieve. In other words, God loves us simply warm emotions or a fuzzy theologi more prevalent in wealthy homes than in not because we measure up; rather, His cal concept. It is a way of thinking and, poor ones. The wealthy were disposing of love embraces us in our morally and spir especially, of living. The apostles© concept their "unwanted" children in order to itually defective state and declares us ac of love grew out of a concrete, historical protect their standard of living. 12 ceptable by grace. This is the antithesis reality a bloody cross on a windswept 2. God affirms the personhood of the of measuring individual human worth by hill called Golgotha. Jesus© death for sin unborn. He views the unborn not as po levels of achievement. ners taught them that genuine love is al tential life but as persons, individuals "For while we were still helpless, at the ways costly and, above all else, sacrifical with identity and worth for whom He right time Christ died for the ungodly" and redemptive. To buy into the idea that already has a destiny: "Before I formed (Rom. 5:6; see also Eph. 2:3-6; 1 Tim. love is satisfaction minus suffering, plea you in the womb I knew you, and before 1:15). sure minus pain, or commitment only to you were bom I consecrated you; I have "When the kindness of God our Savior relationships that promise no inconve appointed you a prophet to the nations" and His love for mankind appeared, He nience is to deny the gospel (1 John 2:2). (Jer. 1:5). saved us, not on the basis of deeds which "This is how we know what love is: "Thou didst weave me in my mother©s we have done in righteousness, but ac Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And womb. . . . cording to His mercy" (Titus 3:4, 5). we ought to lay down our lives for our Thine eyes have seen my unformed We must not miss this point. While brothers" (1 John 3:16, NIV). "This is substance; the "quality of life" ethic is consistent love: not that we loved God, but that he and in Thy book they were all written, with an atheistic, evolutionary, "survival loved us and sent his Son as an atoning the days that were ordained for me, of the fittest" worldview, it is antitheti sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since when as yet there was not one of them" cal to the gospel. Since Eden God has God so loved us, we also ought to love (Ps. 139:1346). shown Himself to be redemptive through one another" (1 John 4:10, 11, NIV). 3. God has a special concern for the great personal sacrifice. He didn©t re The enemies of early Christians were weak, the orphan, the voiceless, and the spond to sin by ripping Adam and Eve to compelled to say, "Behold how they love oppressed. Those who have no power are pieces, even though they were now mor one another." In the book of Acts these the objects of His special regard and are ally deformed and would cause Him great first disciples were identified as the peo to be so treated by His people. "Vindi suffering and inconvenience. Instead, ple of the way. They were a distinct com cate the weak and fatherless; do justice to He opened a way back to the tree of life munity whose lifestyle was radically dif the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the by giving Himself. ferent from that of the society around weak and needy; deliver them out of the Abortion is not redemptive. The them. Their values were different hand of the wicked" (Ps. 82:3, 4). "quality of life" ethic that lies behind above all, the value they put on human The unborn are persons to God. They abortion moves in the opposite direction life. This became evident in their rela are the most defenseless of persons. To be to that of a life lived as a response to tionships, as the earliest nonbiblical God©s servant is to defend such as these in God©s grace. It breeds a sociological per Christian code, the Didache, illustrates: a selfish, brutal world. fectionism that denies that people who "Our oldest moral catechism prepared We could find more in the Old Testa fail to measure up have human value, and candidates for baptism by instructing ment to expand upon these themes. But then it denies them life. It conditions us them: ©You will not kill. You will not it is the New Testament©s record of God©s to ask What can this person do for me? have sex with other people©s spouses. redemptive acts through Jesus Christ rather than to respond to God©s accep You will not abuse young children. You that most clearly rejects the assumptions tance of us with the question How can I will not have sex outside of marriage. You undergirding the quality of life ethic. offer such love to those who need it most? will not abort fetuses.© " I3 The Gospels elicit an immediate sense Whether we communicate to our chil For these early Christians the value of that Jesus formed a kingdom in which the dren "Grandma is no longer a functional the unborn child was a logical extension self-centered, materialistic values of the person and it is expensive to care for her, of the gospel. This put them at odds with world are turned upside down. "If anyone so we©re going to help her have a good the prevailing practice in Roman soci wishes to come after me, let him deny death" or "Grandma can©t communicate ety, where abortion was rampant. himself, and take up his cross [sacrifice with us, but she is still Grandma, and we 2. The Incarnation speaks strongly himself], and follow Me. For whoever can love her and take care of her until she against abortion and the ethic supporting it. wishes to save his life shall lose it" (Matt. dies" makes a real difference. Children Jesus Christ identified with all human 16:24, 25). raised with the first orientation grow up ity even the unborn. When the "Word Jesus tells us that we find true fulfill eliminating people who are inconve became flesh," He came as an unborn ment by valuing others more than we nient. Those taught the second grow up child, a fetus. Part of the revelation of value autonomy or personal comfort. understanding the power of grace. His "glory" (John 1:14) was entering into This participation in the fellowship of When she accepted the Nobel Peace the womb of an unmarried teenager. Was suffering (see Phil. 3:10) with One who Prize in 1979, Mother Teresa said, "To He at that moment "potential life" with died for sinners is the heart of Christian me, the nations with legalized abortions only relative value?14 ity. It declares all human life valuable. are the poorest nations. The great de Remember, Jesus was born into pov This agape lifestyle is illustrated ina num stroyer of peace today is the crime against erty and hardship, destined for suffering. ber of New Testament themes: the innocent, unborn child. ... In de Looking at the Nativity story in all its 1. The gospel reveals a God who accepts stroying the child, we are destroying love, harsh reality, one wonders what advice

14 MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 we would have offered Mary about her helping the needy. Happiness is found these physicians their crystal ball? Will pregnancy. Birth in a filfthy stable. Only among those who purpose to mirror this new child©s life be a continual burden rags available to dress the child. Jesus© Christ©s unearned, undeserved love by or a joyful praise to God? How can we identification with the poor and under identifying with those who need it most: know? The greatest gospel singer of this privileged rather than the successful, the weak, the frail, the poor, and the century was born as the result of the rape powerful, or prosperous was so real He helpless: "For inasmuch as you have done of a 16-year-old poor Black girl. 16 literally had "nowhere to lay His head." it unto one of the least of these My breth The lives of most successful men and Modern thinking would deem such a low ren, you have done it unto Me" (see women are lives of hardships endured quality of life a good reason for Mary to Matt. 25:40). and obstacles overcome. Beethoven©s terminate her pregnancy. Yet here is the "The rest of the world goes about dis background included a deranged father, glory of God (John 17:1-5). posing of the very young and the very a syphilitic mother, a mentally retarded 3. In the New Testament the love of old, the very weak, the very vulnerable, older brother, and a sibling born blind. money is not the key to happiness, but the and the very poor, calling that reality. Surely Planned Parenthood would have root of all evil. It is a mind-set that causes But the church is called to adopt and told Ludwig©s mother: "Protect your free "those who want to get rich" to "fall into embrace the little ones in the name of the dom; terminate the poor thing." Their temptation" and wander away "from the Lord, who was once a little one."15 god is human speculation, and that god is faith" (1 Tim. 6:5-11, NIV). Jesus em 4. Finally, the "quality of life" ethic is too small, too impotent. Arguing that phatically declared that no one can rooted in the greatest sin of all: man©s desire death is the best answer to life©s problems "serve. .. God and Money" (Matt. 6:24, to play God. Trying to be autonomous, lacks imagination and a sense of God©s NIV); that life does not consist in the the creature living as if his finite reason redemptive might. From an atheist such abundance of possessions, therefore His were the highest authority and therefore spiritual bankruptcy is understandable; disciples must "guard against every form taking the prerogatives of the Creator from a Christian, inexcusable. of greed" (Luke 12:15). When John de this is the essence of sin (see, for exam Should the Adventist Church take a scribed Babylon, the great harlot in ple, Rom. 1:25). stand on the issue of abortion? Promi whom is found the blood of "all who have The first lie the Bible records is Satan©s nent speakers within our church have been slain on the earth" (Rev. 18:24), he assertion to Eve that she could "be like said that those on the side of the sanctity pictured her as that spirit in humanity God" (Gen. 3:5). Isaiah identified Sa of human life are the vanguard of the that values gold and silver above human tan©s one overpowering determination as Religious Right that will bring in legisla lives (verses 11-13). "I will make myself like the Most High" tion limiting our religious freedoms. This is crucial. Most arguments for (Isa. 14:14), and he described spiritual They conclude that we must avoid being killing the defective and unwanted warn Babylon in these words: "You sensual identified with other Christians© struggle that preserving such people will threaten one, who dwells securely, who says in against abortion and infanticide. financial prosperity. The biblical priority your heart, ©I am, and there is no one Curious. Sad. These Adventist lead is shown, however, in the fact that Paul besides me©" (Isa. 47:8). ers© particular concepts of eschatology identified greed as a manifestation of the In "quality of life" literature two have negated their ethical accountabil sin of idolatry the sin the Old Testa themes reflect the human desire for au ity. Concern about a future death decree ment was most concerned about (Col. tonomy and omniscience. The first de should not make us ignore or actively 3:5; Eph. 5:5). Jesus spent more time on fends the "absolute rights" of men and participate in a present one. Surely for the topic of the danger of basing life on women to total sexual freedom and of the unborn of America this is already a money than on any other. He flatly de each woman to do what she wants with "time of trouble such as has never been." clared that "it is hard for a rich man to "her own body" (meaning the unborn Others say it is a Catholic issue. Is enter the kingdom of heaven." child). The second suggests that those protecting innocent life the private do Although in a context other than that who are born with physical, ©mental, or main of the Catholic Church? Proverbs of abortion, the Epistle of James concerns emotional handicaps or even into pov 24:11, 12 and a host of other warnings itself with human injustice and the link erty would be better off dead. from God (in the minor prophets espe between greed and violence against the Do we have absolute rights to our bod cially) call us to defend the weak, voice innocent: "You lust and do not have; so ies? "Do you not know that. . . you are less, and oppressed. you commit murder" (James 4:2). "You not your own? For you have been bought Some argue for abortion on the have lived on the earth in luxury and self- with a price: therefore glorify God in your grounds of freedom of choice. But the indulgence. You have fattened yourselves body" (1 Cor. 6:19, 20). Making the will question is not whether or not God has in the day of slaughter. . . . You have . . . of God synonymous with being true to given this freedom to people. He has. murdered innocent men, who were not oneself, as in Eastern mysticism, is sim Rather, for Adventists the question is opposing you" (James 5:5, 6, NIV). ply the idolatry the Bible warns against whether our choices are just and moral. Jesus said, "So therefore, no one of you disguised in psychological terminology Individuals are free to practice adul can be My disciple who does not give up (see Rev. 9:20, 21). tery or cruelty, but such choices are nei all his own possessions" (see Luke As to the second theme, it is on the ther moral nor Christlike. Neither is the 14:33). Clearly the Christian©s goal in basis that some would be better off dead choice to kill an unborn child. Only life is discipleship to Christ, not that physicians and others now play when our choices are in line with God©s self-centered autonomy or financial in God. They act as if they were omni will for our lives can we as a church pro dependence. Christ calls us to simplicity scient, speaking with certainty about the claim with clarity what it means to em (not to poverty) in order to free up re misery "unwanted" children will both brace Christ©s gospel. sources for kingdom work, the work of cause and experience. Really? Who gave Talk is cheap. The real question is not

MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 15 what we should tell a woman in crisis to Creator, we are called to demonstrate require each pregnant woman to have a test done to determine if her child had Down©s syndrome or do but rather what we, as Christ©s disci those alternatives within a decaying spina bifida. If either was present, she would be ples, should do for such a woman when society. required to receive counseling emphasizing the she reaches out for help. We need to "Unless otherwise noted, Bible texts are from trouble and cost of raising such children and would love, not just with "word or with tongue, the New American Standard Bible. be offered state assistance if she opted for abortion. Spina bifida children are usually only crippled, not but in deed and truth" (1 John 3:18). mentally retarded. But now their personhood is a William Willimon, a professor of 1 Curt Young documents these statistics in The matter of debate. Least of These (Chicago: Moody Press, 1984), p. 7 California Medicine 113, No. 3 (September Christian ministry at Duke University, 30. 1970), pp. 67, 68. gives a practical and beautiful example of 2 Throughout one©s entire life, the most danger ous place is one©s mother©s womb. The chance for a 8 Chief Justice Taney wrote, "They [Blacks] what it means to be Christ©s agents to premeditated fatal assault is never again as high as have for more than a century been regarded as be someone in crisis: when one was there. ings of an inferior order, and altogether unfit to "One Monday morning I was attend Physicians, whose entire training was once associate with the White race, either in social or geared toward preserving life, have now become political relations; and so far inferior, that they had ing a ministers© morning coffee hour. We the nation©s foremost executioners. The Hippocra- no rights which the White man was bound to re got into a discussion about abortion. A tic oath, which for centuries appeared on physi spect; and that the Negro might be justly and law bunch of older clergy were against it, a cian©s degrees, called on the doctor to never be fully reduced to slavery for his own benefit. He was come an executioner upon the penalty of divine bought and sold, and treated as an ordinary article bunch of younger clergy for it. One of curse, specifically requiring the vow, "I will neither of merchandise and traffic, whenever a profit could those who was against it was asked, ©Now give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will be made by it" (Dred Scott v. Sandford, 60 U. S. 393, wait a minute. You©re not going to tell me I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly, I will pp. 404-407). not give a woman an abortive aid. In purity and For a detailed and documented treatment of the that you think some 15- or 16-year-old is holiness I will guard my life and art." Dred Scott decision, see Young, pp. 1-20. capable of bearing a child, are you?© 3 With 3 million couples longing for a child to 9 GaryBergle, "The Never Again Is Happening adopt, the phrase "unwanted child" is, in the truest " ©Well,© the fellow replied, backing sense, a misnomer. Now," People of Destiny, September/October 1984, off a little bit, ©there are some circum 4 In his widely used college textbook on ethics, p. 12; quoting from Karl Binding and Alfred Hoche, The Release of the Destruction of Life Devoid stances when an abortion might be OK.© Vincent Barry demonstrates the problem well: "What conditions should be used as the criteria of of Value, English reprint (Santa Ana, Calif.: Ro "Sitting there stirring his coffee was a personhood? Can an entity [a human] be consid bert L. Sassone, 1975), p. 76. For a far more com pastor of one of the largest Black United ered a person merely because it possesses certain plete treatment of the involvement of the medical biological properties? Or should other factors be profession in Hitler©s extermination program, see Methodist churches in Greenville. He introduced, such as consciousness, self-con Robert Jay Lifton, The Na^i Doctors: Medical Killing said, ©What©s wrong with a 16-year-old giv sciousness, rationality, and the capacities for com and the Pyschology of Genocide (Basic Books, 1986). ing birth? She can get pregnant, can©t she?© munication and moral judgment?. .. For example, 10 See Michael Pearson, "Abortion: The Ad- if we believe it is the capacity to think and reason ventist Dilemma," MINISTRY, January 1988, "Then we said, ©Joe, you can©t believe that makes one human, we will likely associate the p. 5. a 16-year-old could care for a child.© loss of personhood with the loss of rationality. If we 1 * See "Abortion Guidelines for Adventist Med "He replied, ©No, I don©t believe that. consider consciousness as the defining characteris ical Institutions," MINISTRY, January 1988, tic, we will be more inclined to consider a person to I don©t believe a 26-year-old can care for p. 20. have lost that status when a number of characteris 12 Lawrence E. Stager and Samuel R. Wolff, tics such as the capacities to remember, enjoy, a child. Or a 36-year-old. Pick any age. "Child Sacrifice at Carthage: Religious Rite or Pop worry, and will are gone. . . . This doesn©t mean that One person can©t raise a child.© a death decision necessarily follows when an entity is ulation Control?" Biblical Archaeological Review, "So I said, ©Look, Joe, the statistics determined to be a nonperson. But it does mean that January/February 1984, pp. 31-51. show that by the year 1990, half of all whatever is inherently objectionable about allowing or 13 Quoted in William Willimon, "A Crisis of causing a person to die dissolves, because the entity is Identity: The Struggle of Mainline Protestant American children will be raised in no longer a person" (from Applying Ethics: A Text Churches," Sojoumers, May 1986, p. 28. single-parent households.© With Readings, 2nd ed. [Belmont, Calif.: Wads- 14 In this context it is valuable to notice how " ©So?© he replied. They can©t do it.© worth Publishing Co., 1985], pp. 189, 190; italics Luke, a physician, writes of the conception of John supplied). the Baptist. An angel tells Zachariah that his son "We asked, ©What do you do when you Among Barry©s criteria are inadequate moral will be "filled with the Holy Spirit, while yet in his have a 16-year-old get pregnant in your judgment (based on whose criteria of morality?); mother©s womb" (Luke 1:15; see also verses41-44). irrationality (based on what definition of rational 15 Willimon. church?© ity? Jesus was repeatedly declared insane by the 16 In reality, more than 90 percent of the teenag "He explained, ©Well, it happened last most educated religious leaders of His day); or even ers who commit suicide come from rich families and week. We baptized the baby last Sunday, the loss of the capacity to worry (ponder Matt. have successful, educated parents, no material 6:24-31). The bottom line is one human deciding hardships, and no handicaps. Among adults it is and I said how glad we were to have this another is not worthy of life. It is finite man assum the rich, the beautiful, and the successful (by ma new member in this church. Then I ing the role reserved for an infinite God. terial standards) who commit suicide. Suicide called down an elderly couple in the 5 In March 1986 the American Medical Associ among the poor is almost nonexistent, and among ation©s Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs ruled the handicapped there is practically none! church, and I said, "Now we©re going to that it is not unethical to selectively kill patients George Tribou argues powerfully: "To have de baptize this baby, and bring it into the who are in comas judged irreversible by withhold stroyed the defective infant, Helen Keller, would ing all food and water, even when death is not have been to destroy also the teacher-humanitarian family. What I want you all to do is to imminent. The bottom line again was economic who was Anne Sullivan. In countless cases raise this baby, and while you©re doing the rising cost of caring for such individuals. Dr. throughout the world a defective child has not been that, raise the mama with it because the Nancy Dickey, the chairperson of the AMA Coun an expensive, heart-rending burden but a priceless cil, said the determination of which patients were gift that has brought out the hidden strengths of a mama right now needs it." This couple is in irreversible comas would be left up to the indi father, a mother, and sisters and brothers.... How in their 60s and they©ve raised about 20 vidual doctors. "There will be no checklists." foolish that we condemn the ©Me-Generation© and kids. They know what they©re doing. 6 During that time 10 couples offered to adopt then are tempted to remove from them the defec the child, knowing that the majority of Down©s tive children who offer them the opportunity to And I said, "If you need any of us, let us syndrome children are not massively (and often not forget the me and to remember the others. . . . We know. We©re here. It©s our child too." even moderately) retarded. A few days after the will never know how many Helen Kellers and Beet- child©s death, Joseph Sobran, in his syndicated Los hovens are destroyed each year in America©s abor That©s what we do at my church.© " 17 Angeles Times column (Apr. 20, 1982), declared tion mills, or how many Anne Sullivans are left In the face of economic and emotional that "opposition to infanticide will soon be de without the challenge that makes an Anne Sulli problems, Adventists too can offer better plored as the dogma of a few religious sects who van" (quoted in John Powell, Abortion: The Siknt want to impose their views on everyone else." Holocaust [Alien, Tex.: Argus Communications, alternatives than death. Armed with At the time this article was written California 1981], p. 129). commitment and the resources of the was considering ratification of a bill that would 17 Willimon, p. 27.

16 MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 He©s really depressed doldo?

hristians especially Depression strikes Verjannia F. Carman ministers should By pushing too hard, he set himself up never get depressed." for depression, and it descended with Even if we don©t frightening speed. Within three weeks accept this fallacy, he entered the hospital, putting an end ministers and their to his seminary studies. Then followed a spouses may-believe frustrating road back to mental health, that being God©s servants and possessing involving two periods of hospitalization When your minister His Holy Spirit should make them im over the next year and a half. mune. If depression descends, they expe As John recovered, he began to recog spouse suffers severe rience guilt, fear, and even panic. nize that despite his emotional difficul depression, how can In my family©s experience with depres ties, "God©s gifts and His call are irrevo sion I found that "in all things [even de cable" (Rom. 11:29, Amplified). A you help? pression] God works for the good of those small church called him as their pastor, who love Him" (Rom. 8:28, NIV). It all and our family of six moved into the par began, for us, on Thanksgiving Day . . . sonage. After nearly four years there, he The seminary professor©s warm wel accepted a call to another church. come and the aroma of turkey enveloped After one year in this pastorate my us as he opened the door of his home. husband needed major surgery twice in Through the bustle of helping my four 10 days. He tried to resume his pastoral small children out of their coats and duties within a few days. boots he said, "When you called earlier, I Physical weakness and postoperative forgot to ask you why John couldn©t blues are reasonable and to be expected, come. Did he have to work?" but he viewed them as failure. Once "No, he©s in the hospital," I replied. again he experienced that helpless slide At his puzzled look, I explained further. into depression. Another hospitalization "I thought you knew John is undergo of several months followed, during ing an emergency appendectomy. The which he resigned from the church. He doctor will call me here after the was convinced that God could never surgery." again use him in the ministry. Sympathy flowed freely, with reassur Depression in God©s servants is noth Verjannia F. Carman ances that a healthy young man like John ing new. Moses, Job, Jonah, Elijah, Da- writes from Alloway, would recover quickly. vid, and Saul all experienced it. The l-i New Jersey. When classes resumed the next Tues Psalms abound with references to day my husband, moving cautiously, sat depression. in his regular place in the classroom. He When you read about the spiritual gi might have to stay home from his part- ants of the faith, you find that many of time job for a few days, but he couldn©t them, including Martin Luther and John afford to miss school. He was struggling Wesley, fought battles with depression. with some of his second-year courses. C. H. Spurgeon wrote that he knew "by And after coming nearly 2,000 miles to most painful experience what deep de go to seminary, he had to make good! pression of spirit means..." Dr. Archi-

MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 17 In addition to spiritual and physical Resigning may momentarily lift the causes, there are emotional or psycholog cloud of responsibility, but in reality it is Ministers are ical causes. Loss, such as death, divorce, only a band-aid on a broken leg. If the or estrangement, can bring on depres time should come when resigning be especially prone to sion. Loss of a job or lack of self-esteem comes necessary, be sure that it is a care can also contribute. fully considered decision, not one made depression* The Some people develop pathological by a depression-clouded mind. thought patterns. These habits and pat 3. Beware of depression dangers. Do profession attracts terns are difficult to change. One may not believe the adage, "anyone who talks conscientious need professional help to recognize them about suicide will never attempt it." This and break their hold. is not true, as the families of many "suc individuals with high In Psalm 77:1-9, the psalmist Asaph cessful" suicides can attest. But try not to expresses many of the symptoms of de fall apart if he does express suicidal ideals and a desire to pression: refuses to be comforted (verse thoughts. If he continues to consider it 2); feels faint (verse 3); suffers from in but keeps it to himself, that could be help others. somnia, becomes withdrawn (verse 4); dangerous. Let him talk to you about it, dwells on the past (verse 5); develops and be sure to mention it to your doctor many spiritual questions and doubts because your husband might not tell (verses 7-9). him. Perhaps you have noticed these and 4. Control your emotions. You cannot other symptoms in your spouse. Alarmed bring him back to "normal" behavior by by his uncharacteristic behavior, you are venting your own seesawing emotions. wondering what you can or should do. Irritated as you might feel, don©t tell him The following suggestions are based on to snap out of it. If he could, he certainly our family©s experience. would the hopelessness of deep depres bald Hart, in his excellent book Coping sion is too painful to ever be a voluntary With Depression in the Ministry and Other Coping with depression state. Helping Professions, says, "Depression is 1. Get help from others. This is espe Never tell him, even tearfully, how no respecter of persons, and its presence cially important if you are concerned difficult he is making it for you. This only does not deny the power of God or the about his mental state and even his safe makes him feel worse about something earnestness of a pastor©s commitment." ty. Call your family physician for advice. over which he has little control. Ministers are especially prone to de He may want to see your spouse himself, 5. Reassurehim. Intelligent though he pression. The very nature of the profes or he may refer you to a specialist. Since may be, his reasoning processes are sion attracts conscientious individuals decision-making is often difficult for a clouded now. Reassure him repeatedly with high ideals and a desire to help oth depressed person, you might have to that he will get better. He will, you ers. This sense of responsibility for others make the appointment for him. Try to be know! And he needs this reassurance. and the inevitable disappointments com matter-of-fact about it; he may be re 6. Communicate with your congrega mon to the. ministry can be strong lieved at having the decision made for tion. Be open but discreet with your con contributing factors to a minister©s him. gregation. Don©t try to hide the problem. depression. After making the appointment, the Both of you need their love, prayers, and To a certain extent depression like next hurdle you face is getting him there. emotional support. But you don©t need to pain is a normal part of life. We accept He may strenuously resist going to a doc share details of his illness. Discretion is the fact that pain has a function: it alerts tor, out of fear ("Maybe I really am essential. You don©t want to undermine us to the presence or possibility of a situ crazy") or embarrassment ("I©m a minis his future usefulness to his congregation ation dangerous to our health. But we fail ter I©m not supposed to have emotional by broadcasting matters better kept pri to see that depression has a similar func problems"). This may require firmness vate. If in the future you should contem tion. It alerts us to a problem that needs and creative planning (such as inviting a plate moving to a new pastorate, be sure attention. Depression is no more evil friend to ride along with you). to be candid about this episode with than pain. In fact, it forces the stressed 2. Consider church needs. Your church them. They have a right to know. person to back off from the stressful situ board should be informed of the problem 7. Accept the support of others. Your ation and regain strength. It is a part of if the depression proves to be serious. If church family will want to help you. life, and no one entirely escapes it. their minister is incapacitated some tem Don©t try to be superwoman. Accept of porary arrangement for filling the pulpit fers to babysit, supply a meal, drive you to Causes of depression will be needed. Be open with them. an appointment, or shovel the walk. A problem in body chemistry such as The depressed minister may feel that People want to support you. Encourage malfunctioning neurotransmittefs or a his responsibility to the church is an in their intercessory prayers. hormonal imbalance brought on by tolerable burden, and may rationalize Other sources of help fall into two cat menopause may trigger some depres that he should resign. Try to keep him egories: counselors and books. Every pas sions. Such depressions respond well to from making an important, irrevocable tor needs a pastor, a mentor. Your pastor- medication. Another physical cause can decision while he is depressed. I cannot mentor might be in the hierarchy of your be the depressant side effects of certain stress this too strongly: Never make an denomination, or an older pastor who drugs. irrevocable decision during depression. has gained your respect for his wisdom,

18 MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 spirituality, and approachability. He and jor role in helping him when he becomes nomah Press, 1983. your doctor can be God-sent sources of depressed. It is not hopeless. I know; I Cammer, Leonard, Up From Depression. guidance, strength, and comfort. have been there! New York: Simon & Schuster, 1969. Read a book on depression; three are mentioned at the end of this article. Be Reference Books Hart, Archibald, Coding With Depression ware of authors who consider all depres Baker, Don, and Nester Emery, Depres in the Ministry and Other Helping Profes sion to be a purely spiritual problem. Al sion: Finding Hops and Meaning in Life©s sions. Waco, Tex.: Word Books, Inc., though we certainly can©t rule out attacks Darkest Shadow. Portland, Oreg.: Mult- 1984- by Satan, other factors can lead to de pression as well.

Physical cause In my husband©s case, we eventually discovered that he had hypoglycemia and couldn©t tolerate sugar. The shock of surgery depleted his physical reserves. Then all the "sympathy sweets" I baked for him while he was hospitalized compli cated the problem. After a diet change to a low carbohydrate/high protein regime, with no sugar allowed, our whole family began to notice a great difference in how we felt! To create John©s "black night of the soul," the physical effects of surgery and hypoglycemia were compounded by his perfectionist temperament. His self- expectations, set unrealistically high, warred with a persistent tendency to un derrate his accomplishments. His mind became the battleground. Now, 15 years after that last bout of depression, we have just happily cele brated our fifth year in our present church. Another breakdown is not im possible. But now that we understand more about its causes, we no longer dread it as a lurking menace to our family and This is all the food Debra eats. church. We view these episodes of depression Daily. Secretly. Shamefully. as a "school," teaching painful but valu able lessons. I am living proof of these BUT NOW THERE©S HOPE! Scriptures: God can and will supply all my needs spiritual, physical, emotion If there is someone under your pastoral care with al, and financial; the Lord carries my bur an eating disorder, at HOPE (Helping Overcome den when I give it to Him; and He gives peace in the midst of turmoil. (I must Problem Eating) we can help you to help them, admit to hoping that He doesn©t decide professionally. to give us a refresher course!) My husband learned these lessons • anorexia nervosa from the "school" of depression: • bulimia 0 to appraise his accomplishments more realistically; • compulsive eating to recognize the danger in false humility; to better understand the stress his (704)684-1115 body and mind can handle; to watch what he eats because Call Collect! nutrition influences emotional health. PARK "And," he says, "I learned that being RIDGE P.O. Box 1569 Fletcher, NC 28732 depressed is not a sin!" HOSPITAL affiliated with Adventist Health Systerns/Sur.beit As a minister©s spouse you play the ma

MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 19 From the Editors

The subtle deceptiveness of salvation by works

erhaps the greatest is through faith in Christ the righ sion, not on account of it (Rom. 4:9, difference between teousness that comes from God and is by 10). Roman Catholicism faith" (Phil. 3:8, 9, NIV). What kind of faith did Abraham have ? and Protestantism Peter makes it clear that we are not The Scriptures reveal that "by faith lies in their teach redeemed "with perishable things such as Abraham obeyed" when God called him, ings on how people silver or gold . . . but with the precious leaving his homeland and traveling, "not are saved. Do Cath blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish knowing where he was going" (Heb. olics teach that meritorious works play or defect" (1 Peter 1:18,19, NIV). These 11:8, NKJV; see also Gen. 12:4; 13:18). an important part in salvation? and other passages make it clear that nei It is evident that Abraham had a genu Recent conversations with former ther sacraments, pilgrimages, baptism, ine, living faith in God. And his faith Catholics including a former nun commandment keeping, penance, con was demonstrated by obedience. But his who have become Protestants but main fession, gifts to the church, candle bum- works of obedience never were meritori tain close contact with Catholic lay peo ing, faithful church attendance, assisting ous, never recommended him to God, ple, have helped me to understand that, the poor and needy, nor any other good never paid for or helped pay for a single at least here in the Uriitfed.States, many work will ever help merit salvation! sin! Catholics are "coming around" to a more Paul, in his letter to Titus, which deals Tragically, the entire sacrificial system Bible-based understanding of salvation. in part with the problem of Jewish legal- of the ancient Old Testament sanctuary But in my travels throughout the ism, speaks of the "kindness of God our was turned into a system of works. This world, I see evidence that many if not Savior . . . for mankind." Then he de perversion of the true gospel became so most of the Catholic faithful still believe clares that "He saved us, not on the basis nauseating to God that He proclaimed they must rely at least in part on their of deeds which we have done in righ through the prophet Isaiah, "The multi own works to earn salvation. Whether teousness, but according to His mercy" tude of your sacrifices what are they to this belief is translated into penitential (Titus 3:4, 5, NASB). The pure princi me? ... I have more than enough of exercises in self-abasement, such as ples of the gospel found in the Scriptures burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of crawling the length of the Black Christ in both the Old and New Testament fattened animals; I have no pleasure in cathedral in Manila, or simply attending make it clear that our salvation and ac the blood of bulls and rams and goats.. . . a mass in the Lvov cathedral in the ceptance by God is based not on our obe Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Ukraine, the reasoning behind the activ dience, but on Christ©s, for "by one Your incense is detestable to me. New ity is the same. Man©s obedience many will be made moons, Sabbaths and convocations I But rather than passing judgment on righteous" (Rom. 5:19, NKJV). This cannot bear your evil assemblies" (Isa. Catholics, other Christians need to ex obedience is available to believers who 1:11-14, NIV). Finally the Lord made amine the motivations behind their own are "justified freely by his grace" (Rom. this mighty appeal: "Come now, let us activities. The heart, according to Jere 3:24). reason together. . . . Though your sins miah, "is deceitful above all things, and How many, Catholic or Protestant, are like scarlet, they shall be as white as desperately wicked." Furthermore, "who believe that their standing before God snow; though they are red as crimson, can know it?" (Jer. 17:9). It is not diffi does not depend on their good and bad they shall be like wool" (Isa. 1:18, NIV). cult for Christians of any denomination deeds? Addressing this point Paul em How does a person become clean, jus to slip into the slime of salvation by phasizes that we are justified through tified, and saved? On what basis are we works. faith by God©s grace, not by works of the accepted by God? It is through the merits The apostle Paul labels meritorious law. He pointed to Abraham who "be of Christ alone. Nothing we do or ever works in the Christian life "rubbish." His lieved, God and it was counted ["credit can do will recommend us to God. God©s desire was to "be found in him [Christ], ed," NIV] unto him for righteousness" justification of the sinner rests not on not having a righteousness of my own (Rom. 4:3; see also Gen. 15:6). He was what the sinner does. Even if a person has that comes from the law, but that which justified before he underwent circumci a perfect character and renders absolute

20 MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 Computer Corner obedience, his justification is based on Christ©s act of righteousness (see Rom. 5:18, 19). Some pervert this tremendous truth by going to the opposite extreme. They ig nore works entirely. Works done to earn Picking good merit should be ignored, but we cannot ignore the response of a Christ-loving Christian who senses God©s tremendous love. We understand that while we have been "without strength," "ungodly," software—2 "sinners," and "enemies," God "com- mendethhis love toward us" (Rom. 5:6- 10). This irresistible, unfathomable, in comprehensible love is what changes a Kenneth R. Wade person is what converts a person. When we concentrate on God©s magnif icent love, not sporadically, but consis tently, the Holy Spirit creates in our hearts an unconquerable desire to obey n January I began lem with people copying and using their and serve Him. Like Paul at his Dama sharing some of my programs without paying for them. But scus road conversion experience, we cry opinions and preju copy-protected disks are not the solu out, "Lord, what do You want me to do ?" dices about qualities tion. Like locks on doors they keep only But this response and our activities are a good computer pro honest people honest. And they can founded on love, not on a desire to earn gram should have. cause honest people some real problems. merit. Here are a few more: 11. Variable output format: You It is time for Christians of all persua 7. User support: There ought to be should be able to tell the program to gen sions to examine their own hearts on this someone really knowledgeable to whom erate a straight ASCII file so that you can subject. Our modern scientific society you can turn when the program does use its data in other programs. In other with its egocentric emphasis creates a something odd that the manual doesn©t words its data should not be readable only formidable barrier to a correct under refer to. Recently a friend asked for help by the program itself. You should be able standing of the true gospel. We live in an figuring out what was going wrong with a to output data to a file that your word age of rewards an age of human glorifi program. I couldn©t figure it out, and processor can work with. cation. Our proud, world-loving hearts when we turned to the page listed in the Those are my 11 priority consider clamor for recognition. Our educational table of contents for user support, it was ations when selecting good software. system is built on the foundation of re blank! Nothing can make a program Here are some other details that I like to wards. Our work force is rewarded on the worthless much faster. see the kind of little added things that basis of performance. Our pay scales, 8. Language: I don©t care what lan make the program more of a joy to use. even church pay scales, are reward- guage a program was written in, it ought It ought to be easy to back up in pro oriented. The entire spectrum of sports is to communicate with you in the lan gram functions. I often get myself to a overwhelmingly related to rewards. The guage you speak. On-screen messages place I don©t want to be while experi Olympic gold and silver awards are cov should not require you to continually re menting, and I love to be able to just hit eted almost above life itself! Some of the fer to a glossary. the Escape key and escape back to the athletes in a recent Olympic competition 9. Definable keys: Almost every com previous level. One very expensive well- were asked which they would choose a puter application requires you to do re known program recently informed me gold medal with a shortened life, or a petitive multistroke activities. It is nice that I had asked it to do something im longer life without the medal. Some said to be able to define one key to input all possible and gave me only one possible they would accept an early death if they those strokes for you, saving time and response: "OK." Choosing OK sent it could only receive the gold medal! eliminating errors. This is sometimes into an endless loop and I had to reboot The reward system is certainly found called macro definition. There are pro the computer and lose some recent in Scripture but it must never be con grams available that allow you to define input. fused with the gift of salvation by faith individual keys to carry out these multi- Also, when a program is doing a task it alone in Jesus Christ. Eternal life is a gift, stroke functions in whatever program is knows will take a long time, it ought to not a reward. Salvation cannot be running. But my preference is for pro tell me what it is doing instead of just earned! It cannot be bought! It cannot be grams that allow me to define keys right letting me worry that I©ve sent it into an deserved even by the greatest Christian! within the program so that my defini endless loop. Finally, the enormous amount of en tions won©t interfere with the operation A program ought also to take full ergy and money spent on books and sem of other programs. advantage of whatever RAM you have inars designed to raise the level of self- 10. Copyable program disk: Sooner or instead of spinning disks all the time. esteem may give a sense of security to later (a) your program disk will crash, or I hope what I©ve shared will help you some. But nothing elevates a proper self- (b) you©ll want to copy it onto a hard avoid some bad programs, and find some (Continued on page 27) disk. Software companies face a big prob good ones!

MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 21 Pastor's Pastor

Dialogic preaching Floyd Bresee

y heart beat just a lit acceptance, and internalization. But not way to motivate. And important as tle faster as our bus only does dialogue improve our compre learning is, most Christians need to be pulled into the tiny hension of content; we understand oth motivated even more than they need to town a few miles ers and even ourselves better after we be taught. Worshipers do not come to north of Detroit, have shared our ideas and feelings. church so much to learn what they never Michigan. Travel Every pastor wants his church mem knew as to be motivated to do what they ing by the cheapest bers to feel close to him and to each oth already know they should. Preaching is mode of transportation available, I was er. This closeness happens, this commu still needed especially the kind of doing personal interviews with the 16 nity spirit grows, when people dialogue preaching that©s based on the dialogic homilists chosen by their peers as the openly and often. Howe insisted, "Dia principle. most outstanding teachers of preaching logue is to love, what blood is to the Preaching must always use the dialogic in America research for my doctoral body. When the flow of blood stops, the principle. Dialogue occurs when each par dissertation on the teaching of preach body dies." 1 ticipant both talks and listens. Although ing. Reuel Howe, director of the Insti The church must often use the dialogic preaching is basically a monologic tute for Advanced Pastoral Studies, was method. Christianity has not been un method of communication, Howe©s great next on my list. aware of the importance of dialogue. contribution was to emphasize that it Soon I was standing alone in the bus Most of the sermons Jesus and the apos could and must follow a dialogic princi depot, holding my 10-page interview in tles preached were either preceded or fol ple. Dialogic preaching occurs when strument in one hand and my tape re lowed by conversation. Not until the ora preachers talk to their people only after corder in the other, hoping Howe had torical schools of the West took on the they have listened to them. When they not forgotten his promise to send some gospel message did oratory replace con have heard their hurts, felt their frustra one to meet me. versation. In recent decades, the Sab tions, and attempted to walk in their A tall, unpretentious man, probably bath school class has played a unique role shoes, then their sermons ask those ques in his late 50s, approached and intro in bringing people together for Bible tions and seek those answers that meet duced himself. I was both shocked and study and dialogue. And in their re their listeners© needs. flattered. Howe himself had come. The newed emphasis on home fellowship and Howe summarizes, "How tragic that hour we spent chatting in his car and the Bible study groups, many churches are they [preachers] do not realize that they two-hour interview in his study were to reviving group discussion. need the meanings, thoughts, questions, change my understanding of preaching. Especially in religion, where theory understandings, interests, and encour I had been spending hundreds of hours must always be combined with experi agement of their congregation in order to in communication classes some at Gar- ence, is group discussion an excellent prepare and preach their sermons; and rett Seminary, most at Northwestern teaching device. One of the best ways for that their sermons, far from being the University. The buzz words were dialogue people to learn Christianity is through great production of the occasion, are and group dynamics. Howe helped me re the experiences of their peers through only a preliminary contribution to the late all this theory to the practical life of dialogue. sermons which are formed in each hearer the local congregation. I began to grasp Should group discussion, then, re as he responds out of his meanings to the the absolute necessity of dialogue in the place preaching? This suggestion falters meanings of the preacher." church generally and in preaching on a couple of counts: First, while ideal In another column we©ll suggest some particularly. groups provide an ideal way to share exciting answers to the question "How We learn most and come closest through Christianity, anyone who has ever sat can I make my preaching more dialogic?" dialogue. Communication research per through group discussions in the church sistently teaches that there must be knows there are very few ideal groups. 1 Miracle of Dialogue (New York: Seabury Press, 1963), p. 3. two-way communication feedback if Second, though dialogue is an ideal 2 Ibid., p. 145. there is to be maximum comprehension, way to leam, preaching is often a better

22 MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 Your Worship Services: DEAD OR ALIVE?

hy is worship hat is the Does liturgy have a crucial issue in the relationship between a place in Adventist Adventist Church? worship and evangelism? worship?

Most of us value worship and regard it as a vital part of the church©s life and witness, yet we wistfully yearn to improve our church services. This course will provide you with five worship models that will help you plan a spontaneous yet structured worship service. It will show you how "authentic __ HCM-7012 Preaching Your Way to Better Preaching $ 7.50 ___ worship" can become a powerful form of mission and __ HCM-7013 Decisions $ 3.50 __ evangelism. __ HCM-7014 Coping With Grief $23.95 __ __ HTH-7015 Principles of Prophetic Intetptetation $20.95 __ With today©s emphasis on the meaning rather than the means __ HCM-7029 Keeping Church Finance Christian $3.00 __ of worship, the theology of Christian worship takes on new (with magazine) $12.00 __ importance. Here you can study worship from the context of __ HQS-7028 Transitions $5.00 __ HGS-7086 Care-Fronting $14.95 the great controversy. Both theologically adequate and __ HCM-7Q99 Adventures in Church Growth $13.95 __ pastorally helpful, this course will bring about a renaissance __ HTH-7 134 Biblical Message of Salvation $17.95 __ in your worship services. __ HTH-7 135 Problem Solving/Conflict Resolution $19.95 __ __ HTH-7145 Studies on the Book of Daniel $17.95 __ __ HCM-7 147 Making Worship Meaningful $14.95 __ Making __ HCM-7203 Preaching From Hebrews $10.95 __ Worship Subtotal Less: 10% if ordering 2 Meaningful 15% if ordering 3 by 20% if ordering 4 or more Total Enclosed (U.S. funds only) C. Raymond Holmes Name Course components include AHHress study guide and textbook City/State/Zip ______(Make check payable to Continuing Education for Ministry.) 14.95 Send to: Continuing Education for Ministry, c/o CDS, 6840 Eastern Avenue NW., Earn Continuing Education (CEU) Credit Washington, DC 20012 Health and Religion

Tobacco: the spreading menace Richard H. Hart

n Brazil in 1981, cans smoked in 1970, but recent surveys gain two to five times more profit from 2.1 percent of the indicate that only 30 percent smoke raising tobacco than they can gain from population was di now. While overall smoking is on the other cash crops. As a result they raise rectly supported by decrease, smoking is still on the increase tobacco on their best land, which leads tobacco-related ac among adolescent American girls. to decreased food production. Tobacco tivities. Cigarette sales The increase among girls should be a companies seek to avoid this criticism by taxes provided 11.6 matter of deep concern because studies encouraging continued food crop pro percent of the country©s total taxes. The show that women have a harder time duction, but diversion of resources to to World Health Organization estimates breaking tobacco addiction than men, bacco production is a serious problem. that 22,500 of Brazil©s cardiovascular and within the past few years lung cancer Deforestation has been accelerated in deaths and 18,000 cancer deaths are has surpassed breast cancer as the most some areas by farmers seeking wood for caused by smoking each year. * common fatal cancer among women. curing tobacco. In a family with limited resources Surgeon General C. Everett Koop has smoking can contribute to poor nutrition thrown the influence of his office behind Popularity of smoking and inadequate child care. In one Sao the antismoking movement. However, People in many developing societies Paulo suburb, expenditures for cigarettes the government speaks with a forked still perceive smoking as a part of West average 9.8 percent of the family in tongue on the issue tax dollars are still ern culture worthy of emulation. Follow come, compared to 5.8 percent spent for being spent to subsidize tobacco produc ing the Fourth World Conference on transportation and 8.3 percent for milk. 2 tion and export. Smoking and Health in Stockholm, The growing popularity of smoking in Sweden in 1979, an internal memo from Brazil and much of the Third World re Third World increase a cigarette company executive zeroed in flects the success of American and Euro In much of the Third World, little or on the importance of social acceptability pean tobacco companies© efforts to diver nothing is being done to curb tobacco as a key issue in the Third World. Refer sify their markets. In 1983 Joseph use. Instead, some governments actually ring to the director general of the World Cullman III, chairman of Phillip Morris, encourage it. The cigarette companies Health Organization, who is known as a Inc., told the Tobacco Merchants Asso make no apologies for their eagerness to powerful voice against smoking, the ex ciation, "We recognized early that ours is infiltrate developing countries. In fact, ecutive noted that "he pointed out the a global business, and built markets they often work together with govern central role of the social acceptability is around the world. Our future is particu ments in co-ownership projects that are sue. In this field nothing came up which larly bright in developing areas, where seen as mutually beneficial. It is difficult was new to us. It was just a confirmation income and populations are growing." for governments of cash-poor countries of our own analysis that the social accept The stimulus for this move to undevel to resist the temptation to cooperate ability issue will be the central battle oped areas comes in part from the waning with tobacco companies that promise a ground on which our case in the long run popularity of smoking in the United quick infusion of capital for industrial will be lost or won. "3 States and some Western European and agricultural development. Western magazines such as Time and countries. Forty-three percent of Ameri- Tobacco industries are often govern Newsweek carry large cigarette ads. Ad ment-controlled and generate signifi vertising efforts are aimed at the up cant taxes and local income as well. wardly mobile groups in each country, Richard H. Hart, M.D., Dr. P.M., is Health-care systems in many countries and make smoking appear to be a neces professor and chairman, Department of are still concentrating on infectious dis sary part of the climb up the social ladder. Preventive Medicine, Lama Linda Univer eases and malnutrition, and have not yet Advertising has a powerful impact in sity. This article is provided by the Health felt the impact of smoking-related countries that have not yet been immu and Temperance Department of the Gen diseases. nized by information overload. Many eral Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. On the local level, farmers typically people still tend to believe anything that

24 MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 is published or broadcast. products to be promoted publicly. Al In Africa and the Asian subcontinent though these activists are occasionally the marketing and distribution system for arrested, the fines have been small, and Can pastors continue tobacco is truly awesome. Cigarettes are BUGA-UP lawyers have turned around readily available in virtually every village the legal charge of "malicious damage" to support companies shop in India. The tobacco distribution (the definition of which involves "indif system is far better than most food distri ference to human life and suffering") to that are spreading bution programs. suggest that the billboards haven©t been Because of the long lead time of damaged but improved. They say tobacco's curse? smoking-related diseases, few people liv BUGA-UP activities are akin to break ing where smoking is just now gaining ing into a burning house to save chil popularity have ever seen or known of dren the illegal act is committed to pre nominations and the unchurched) have someone dying from lung cancer, em vent a greater evil. kicked the habit in church-sponsored physema, or heart disease. Despite their While civil disobedience may not be Five-Day Plans. The Five-Day Plan has ignorance smoking is already taking a the answer to the problem, there are ways recently been updated and upgraded. It is heavy toll on their society. Worldwide that churches can legally handicap the now called the Breathe-Free Plan to Stop more than 2 million smokers die annu tobacco companies. The most obvious is, Smoking. Adventist churches and hospi ally from heart disease, lung cancer, and of course, for all members to simply quit tals typically sponsor one or more of these emphysema caused by their addiction. 4 using their products. The latest survey every year. Other churches should get "It is now feared that involuntary expo results indicate that 69 percent of Amer involved in similar programs, or encour sure to cigarette smoke causes more can icans belong to a church. 6 If all church age their smoking members to attend a cer deaths than any other pollutant. members suddenly quit smoking, the in Breathe-Free program. Nonsmoking wives of smoking husbands come loss would hamper if not cripple Tobacco consumption is not a prob have two to three times the normal inci tobacco production in this country. lem that will solve itself. We can no dence of several smoking-related diseases If all churches sponsored antitobacco longer ignore its harmful impact. And we including lung cancer. Children living in campaigns, it would help get the word should not sit back and idly watch as the homes in which one or both parents about tobacco©s harmful effects out. It is world becomes the tobacco companies© smoke have more upper respiratory infec estimated that 25 to 50 percent of the golden goose. tions and miss more school days from U.S. population is unaware of the dan sickness. And perhaps the most tragi gers inherent in smoking. Ignorance of 1 F. L. Lokschin and F. C. Barros, "Smoking or cally affected involuntary smoker is the tobacco©s harmfulness is even more prev Health: the Brazilian Option," New York Journal of unborn fetus. With nicotine restricting alent in other parts of the world. Medicine 83, No. 13 (December 1983): 1314. Silveira Lima et al., "Implicacoes medicos e blood flow, and carbon monoxide inacti Churches could provide an effective socio-economicas do tabagismo en familias de vating red blood Cells, these victims are counterbalance to the marketing influ baixa renda em Sao Paulo," J. Pediat 52:325-328. born smaller and have a higher probabil ence of the tobacco companies. 3 "The Social Acceptability Issue Will Be the Battleground," New York Journal of Medicine 83, ity of contracting disease. For the past 25 years the Seventh-day No. 13 (December 1983): 1323. Adventist Church has been sponsoring 4 William U. Chandler, "Banishing Tobacco," The Futurist, May-June 1986, pp. 9-15. Should churches be involved? smoking cessation programs. Millions of 5 Ibid., p. 10. Should pastors and their congrega people (chiefly from among other de- 6 Emerging Trends, June 1987. tions be concerned about tobacco con sumption? Some would argue that the decision to smoke or not to smoke is a private, individual option in which the church should not interfere. But how can we take such a position in the light of the '§fip[Bi^sjiliG|^ adverse effects smoking has on nonsmok- ©wilfeiC- lffiS^A^C^^S- ers ? How can pastors in the United States continue to support, through their own pjfa^e^ tobacco consumption, companies that "© -elfnic ; are spreading tobacco©s curse to unsus e]dj;;§i3riife^ 1 '*''' '"' **•''" ' -"*'"'* *'' '*"" ;- pecting multitudes around the world? . ,. . .. - Isn©t it time for Christians to take a "-"; r©(i|j3;Hli$seTS$^ stand against this insidious poison that ©"j tMe, Airw©C iGwfdg £&>, jQpffing Smoking©- " i|©aFailablefrfefrbifl ;" robs so much from our society? ^^^ , In Australia, some clergy have joined . physicians, teachers, and others to form "£(tp^ office© -supplies a© "MelpjSg;: an organization called BUGA-UP (Bill ?ait;lv^ .- ,'f.-^ _.'•'• board Utilizing Graffitists Against Un ~7 : Tfbje AmSricstnturlg.Aslociatipij, 8 Motiritain View, Avei. ^Albany, * healthy Promotions). Members use spray NY. 12205V supplies two self-help maiiugls titled ©©FjreeddiHFromSmok© paint cans to "reface" cigarette billboards Vs" arid " A ti,fe.time of Ftiedotn From Smoking;-"©,;", © ," ." with satire pointing out the great ironies of free societies allowing death-dealing

MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 25 perience the "aloneness" of this situa In my travels I share a seminar on Letters tion, I will have accomplished my mis "The Portrait of a Man of God," in From page 2 sion. Sandra Grove, Chicago, which I deal with three perils to a min Illinois. istry: money, pride, and immorality. Your article will help me in my sharing woman" for a year before marrying her. It sounds as though Ms. Boyle is with others. Don Gossett, Bold Bible So Peggy Boyle, do not look to the learning firsthand what less-sheltered Missions, Blaine, Washington. church for answers, but look deep inside women have known for a long time: Do yourself and find all that strength you not expect the patriarchy to take care of The gospel of Jesus has indeed suf have stored up. Rush up and grab the you, because it/he/they won©t. The solu fered, these past months, because of the future and hold on to each straw that tion is for women to take care of them greed of a few who preach the gospel of comes your way. The scars will remain selves i.e., get a good education, de prosperity in the name of Jesus. always, the pain is deep and forever, but velop a solid career, and forget about There are many who preach the gos the future can be yours. Hold on to your meeting the expectations of the pel of Jesus for the sake of the kingdom faith and know that God is ever- congregation. of God rather than for the increase of present. Martha Kephart, Gaithers- I hope her words will serve as a warn personal luxury. It is so unfortunate that burg, Maryland. ing to all womeri. Take responsibility the vast majority of Christian ministers, for your own life, and give up the role of morally upright and dedicated to the I believe "Disposing of the De silent, subservient martyr. That old rule cause of Christ, do not find themselves frocked" needs a response. I am not serves no one not your husband, not in the public eye as often as those who questioning the facts in the author©s the congregation, and certainly not promote the cause of division and strife situation. My concern is that the article you. Joan Baker, Pomona Unity in the body of Christ. Thank you for could give the impression that her situa Church, Pomona, California. doing the good that it is in your power tion is typical in clergy divorce. Recently I heard a marriage counselor to do! Jean Marie Egger, St. James Deceptive theology Church, Kansas City, Missouri. state that in 80 percent of the cases it is Caleb Rosado certainly struck the the wife who wants and/or secures the right chord with his article "The Decep The pastor and success divorce. I don©t believe it has been any tive Theology of Institutionalism" (No I found Eric Doran©s article "Search different in clergy divorce. I know of vember 1987). As a church we are justi for Success" (September 1987) to be about four situations where the pastor fiably proud of our organization and the quite thought-provoking. We accept asked for the divorce; I also know of at various institutions that comprise it. the biblical evidence that all do not least 12 where the clergy spouse secured The church, however, is always about receive the same gifts. Some of us are the divorce. people indeed, the church is people. evangelists, some pastors, some admin I speak from firsthand experience, for God began with a people (Israel) and istrators, and so forth. Yet in the area of my wife of 26 years filed for and when He returns it will be to redeem a evangelism all are expected to have the obtained a divorce. As in most cases I people not an institution. How sad same measure of success in terms of am aware of, neither of us was aban then that we so often put the needs of numbers. Success is relative; many fac doned by the congregation. I felt most the institution above the needs of peo tors have to be taken into account. A of the congregation was a little uneasy ple, sacrificing the principles of justice pastor©s "success" may depend on the in relationship to us and didn©t know on the altar of expediency. Bob territory, the willingness of his church quite how to relate to us, but most of Lewis, Crouch End Seventh-day Ad- to make sacrifices with him, and his the people were very kind toward both ventist Church, Watford, Hertford own abilities. of us. Name Withheld. shire, England. Our leaders must be concerned not only with production from their work I have found myself in the same Caleb Rosado©s "The Deceptive ers, but also with preserving the work position as Peggy Boyle after 20 years Theology of Institutionalism" is refresh er©s self-worth and self-image. Anything of marriage and 15 years of service to my ingly new, insightful, progressive, and less than this reeks of the spirit of the husband©s various churches. I am also Christian. Rosado has a good grasp of enemy of souls. A. Donovan Smith, an educated woman in my early 40s and the macrosociological dynamics trans Westmoreland, Jamaica. am finding that the denomination©s piring in world society. He makes valid response is "We hired your husband, points on the need for the church to Hellfire as motivation not you." address itself to contemporary social Tim Crosby©s "Is the Hell of the Bible My reason for writing this letter is issues or risk becoming anachronistic. Unending?" (July 1987) certainly stim that I would very much like to corre Willie Oliver, Maranatha Seventh-day ulated a lively response in your letters to spond with the author of this article. Adventist Church, Brooklyn, New the editor section. I found it interesting After much thought and prayer, I am York. that those wanting to hold to an unend intending to stay in my denomination ing hellfire are fearful of losing the mo to attempt to make some changes re Prophets of profit tivation this doctrine provides. Yet this garding this issue. I am trying to gather I agree with your statements ("The kind of motivation represents the most information and statistics regarding this Prophets of Profit," November 1987), elementary stage of moral development. problem to aid in my project. If I can and appreciate insights for helping us as And theologically, it certainly pictures save just one person from having to ex ministers avoid the pitfalls of money. God as a vengeful tyrant. I am grateful

26 MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 that God will accept us regardless of our ally are. Such an understanding will motivations, but He does expect us to The subtle deceptiveness eliminate any proud boasts of our develop a more mature understanding of of salvation by works achievements in the spiritual realm. One Him. Steve Case, Seventh-day Ad- From page 21 little ray of the glory of God, one gleam of ventist Theological Seminary, Berrien the purity of Christ, one tiny vision of Springs, Michigan. respect and appreciation for the value of God©s love exhibited on the cross makes one©s own soul as much as an understand it manifestly clear that attempts to work Now that's appreciation! ing of salvation by faith alone in the Lord our way into heaven are based on a pro I have received your splendid maga Jesus Christ. When we behold the glory found misunderstanding of the plan of zine for more than a year, gradually of the God of heaven, and recognize to salvation. reading more and more of it, without what depths our Saviour stooped to re One wonders how many Christians of having paid anything for a subscription. deem us, we can then, and only then, any persuasion have really grasped this Enclosed is a check for $10 as a partial begin to understand how valuable we re tremendous truth. J. Robert Spangler payment for just the July 1987 issue alone. Articles therein "Recognizing and Handling Burnout" and "Discipline Featured in this month's book review section Yourself are worth many times that price! So, while I am at it, and in my forty- fifth year in the ministry, and having read so many good "helps" through the years, let me say that I consider MINIS TRY one of the best I have read. I think Eat More anc the spirit of its interdenominational circulation and its openness to other views are highly commendable. Thomas T. May, Richmond Road Community Church, Lexington, Kentucky. Live Loira Corrections Re my "Can Science and Religion Work Together?" (November 1987): .his is the book for those who want to feel younger and page 22, middle of the second column, T, should read "we cannot objectively de live with all their hearts. Try this proven plan and in four fine the source of a scientific idea." The weeks you can change your life-forever. Requested by thou cannot was left out, which changes the sands after seeing Dr. Diehl©s health series on T.V., this book meaning entirely, falsifying the state will show you: ment. Leonard Brand, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California. How to eat more and lose weight How to beat high blood pressure Re "Social Security Opening for How to eat better for less money Those Who Opted Out" (April 1987): The article states that the form to be "This lifestyle medicine approach, if implemented on a filled out to get back into Social Secu national scale, could improve the health status of America rity is IRS Form 4361. Unfortunately, more than all the efforts of modern technological medicine that is the form to be filled out to opt Combined." -Charles Tarn, M.D., Cardiologist out. The correct form to be filled out to get back into Social Security is Form 2031, "Waiver certificate for use by IkHANSDIEHL Special for Ministry readers: Only $6.95 postpaid ministers. . . electing coverage under """ "©©I I I" " the Social Security Act." Robert (Regular price is $9.95) Wiese, Michigan Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Lansing, Send payment to: Michigan. YOUR The Quiet Hour You are correct—and so was our au HEALTH 630 Brookside Avenue thor. Unfortunately, somewhere between Redlands, California 92373-4699 his manuscript and the printed magazine, FEATURENGT the numbers were changed. For more on THE MONKEY DIET Or call toll free for credit card this subject see "Ministers, Social Secur THE BASEBALL DIET THE HORSE DIE I ity, and honesty" in this issue. THE JflO-VEAK-OU> IMS orders: 800-541-4488 —Editors. California: 800-544-1036 Biblio File

The Text of the New Testament: healthy. Not so, according to authors people are asking about our most relent An Introduction to the Critical Edi Raymond and Dorothy Moore. All you less killers: atherosclerosis, diabetes, tions and to the Theory and Prac need to live healthfully is knowledge of obesity, and hypertension. It deals with tice of Modern Textual Criticism what is good for you and discipline in diet the practical problems of why and how Barbara and Kurt Aland, William B. and exercise. to, and where to start in relation to Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Homemade Health has been evaluated healthful living. Rapids, Michigan, 1987, 338 pages, and approved by a professional advisory Dr. Diehl strongly supports preven $29.95, hardback. Reviewed by Sakae group of 18 doctors and dentists and cov tion but goes beyond it. He offers well- Kubo, vice president for academic affairs, ers important health topics from a Chris documented dietary approaches de Atlantic Union College, South Lancaster, tian perspective. These include the four signed to reverse the killer diseases and Massachusetts. food groups, rest and relaxation, raising restore people to normal function. In Every minister needs some knowl healthy children, and pregnancy nutri simple language this gifted scientist, re edge of the history of the New Testament tion. Raymond Moore is a well-known searcher, clinician, and lecturer reveals text since the issue of manuscripts and developmental psychologist and re how one can "eat more and live longer translations is one that he will frequently searcher whose work has appeared in nu and better" by following a simplified di face, for the Bible is basic to the spiritual merous academic journals worldwide. etary and exercise program. life of our members. This book and one His wife, Dorothy, is a gifted reading spe Joseph Califano, former secretary of by Bruce Metzger (The Text of the New cialist and longtime homemaker. Health, Education, and Welfare, said, Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, In an easy-to-read format, the Moores "You can do more for your own health and Restoration [New York: Oxford Uni answer important questions such as: How and well-being than any doctor, any hos versity Press, 1964]) are intended to do you cook food to best maintain miner pital, any drugs, any exotic medical de serve as an introduction to this topic. als, vitamins, and flavor? What©s so ter vice." Dr. Diehl turns this sound philos Both volumes are excellent and rible about sugar? Should cholesterol be ophy into a prescription as he deals with wellwritten. totally avoided? What are the effects of such intriguing topics as "The Monkey The book under review has the advan eating too much or not enough protein? Diet," "The Baseball Diet," "The 100- tage of being more up-to-date and dis Can you get enough calcium without Year-Old Diet," and a host of other cusses in more detail the modern Greek drinking milk? Is it healthier to be a vege health-preserving suggestions. He suc editions. Comparisons are made between tarian? Are vitamin supplements a good ceeds in linking his health message with various editions, and explanations are way to ensure you©re getting what you his Christian convictions in a most win given so that one can make the best use of need? some way. these tools. Another very helpful sec There are also inspiring personal sto Dr. Dennis Burkitt of fiber fame con tion, also found in Metzger©s book, is a ries, informational charts, and a topical siders To Your Health "without doubt, chapter on how to evaluate variant read index. The principles are easy to apply at one of the best books on diet and health ings in a text to determine which is most home, require no health clubs, expen published in America." likely to be the original reading. sive dieting, or special equipment. They The book is a must for any minister The authors are very active at the In are built on common sense, biblical prin who sees the results of culturally- stitute for New Testament Textual Re ciples, proven nutritional research, and conditioned, faulty eating patterns in pa search at Munster, and Kurt Aland has experience. rishioners with high blood pressure, obe been a member of the committee that sity, diabetes, and heart disease. It is not selected the text of the United Bible So To Your Health only a good book to recommend, but can cieties as well as editor of the Nestle- Hans Diehl, The Quiet Hour, 630 Brook- be a blessing to the pastor as well. Aland text and the Synopsis Quattuor side Avenue, Redlands, California, 92373- Evangeliorum 4699, 1987, 210 pages, $7.95, paper. Maranatha Reviewed by Robert H. Pierson, retired Harry Bultema, Kregel Publications, Homemade Health president of the General Conference of Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1985, 364 Raymond and Dorothy Moore, Word Seventh-day Adventists. pages, $12.95, paper. Reviewed by Nor Books, Waco, Texas, 1986, 233 pages, To Your Health could mean an extra man Gulley, professor of theology, South $11.95, hardcover. Reviewed by Dr. De- $50,000 for your investment portfolio! ern College. Witt S. Williams, Health and Temperance Of course, author Dr. Hans Diehl makes Maranatha, a study of unfulfilled Department, General Conference of no such excessive claim. He does, how prophecy, was first published in the Seventh-day Adventists. ever, tell us how we can avoid expensive Dutch language in 1917. It caused such a Many people believe they must in cardiovascular surgery. stir that the author left the Christian Re vest a lot of money in fitness clubs, exer This excellent book provides scientif formed Church that he "highly es cise equipment, or vitamins to be ic, commonsense answers to questions teemed" because of differences he held in

28 MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 prophetic interpretation. It is an Hans LaRondelle, however, takes a would be so drunk he couldn©t stand, "yet in-depth logical study, with a clear focus different approach to Armageddon. Fol when the time to preach arrived, he sud that sustains interest. The book centers lowing a hermeneutic used in his previ denly sobered up and ministered with on a literal biblical interpretation and ous book, The Israel of God in Prophecy, powerful results." There was also the includes 1,700 scriptural texts. he tackles this crucial aspect of the last "much sought after charismatic leader" The author©s hermeneutic principles days. guilty of persistent adultery with several are up-front. He states that his "literal Applying the same basic principle women. A woman confided that a char interpretation" opposes the "year/day used in understanding the prophecies of ismatic evangelist, who helped many, theory of the Adventists" and maintains Christ, LaRondelle confronts the ques had invited her to his motel at 2:00 a.m. that if Protestant churches had done jus tion of what, where, and who is involved because "God was showing him many tice to prophecy, there would not be so in Armageddon. Is it limited to massive wonderful revelations" about her. many sects. Briefly, his eschatology is war in the Middle East, or is Armaged Basham poses the question: "How can dispensational and premillenial, with don something else? a minister whose personal life is a moral antiChrist as a Jew, Armageddon as a LaRondelle believes it is something shambles, who is guilty of repeated dis Palestine war after Christ©s return to else that it involves God©s true Israel honesty and immorality, continue to ex earth, and the resurrections of the righ made up of His faithful followers scat ercise an effective ministry attested to by teous and wicked bracketing the tered over the world, and that the battle conversions and signs and wonders?" He millennium. is not merely a physical war between po answers by using tortuous reasoning and Bultema is thorough in unfolding the litical nations, but that "the issue at stake a transparent misuse of Scripture. His ar aspects of eschatology, but he fails to do in Armageddon is the true or false wor gument is also marred by a basic inability justice to a proper Christological herme ship of the God of Israel." He shows that to recognize that signs and wonders are neutic that recognizes the distinction be God©s people are those obedient to His not necessarily evidence of the presence tween Israel and the church; Christ©s law. of the Holy Spirit. It would seem his an completed work brought the mission of In what is perhaps the best chapter, swer makes the Holy Spirit an accessory Israel to an end. Bultema©s basic incor LaRondelle deals with the seal of God, to sin and deception. "Enthralled by the rect presupposition stems from overlook warning that "there is a real danger of ministry which is God©s they [Chris ing the conditional nature of prophecies confusing the apocalyptic seal of God at tians] fail to discern the rebellion and made about Israel, numerous examples of the end of time with the gospel seal that immorality that reveal the true identity which we find in the Old Testament. He all Christians receive when they come to of the false prophet." interprets these prophecies as part of an faith in Christ and unite with Him in Even in ancient Egypt priests were irrevocable divine election so that all un baptism." This subject has been one of casting out devils and healing the sick. fulfilled prophecies concerning Israel contention, but LaRondelle handles it in Babylonian and Assyrian medical texts will literally be fulfilled in Palestine. a convincing manner that should allevi tell of exorcism. Scripture points out that ate some of the confusion. it is not God who deceives but the devil Chariots of Salvation Always a scholar, LaRondelle has who "deceiveth them that dwell on the Hans K. LaRondelk, Review and Her done his homework well in this fine earth by the means of those miracles ald Publishing Association, Hagerstawn, book. It may be a little complex for the which he had power to do." Maryland, 1987, 185 pages, $12.95 hard average layperson, but a pastor or theolo Basham is honest in his confusion and back; $8.95 paper. Reviewed by Clifford gian can digest this book and translate has undoubtedly been harassed by those Goldstein, editor of Shabbat Shalom, Ta- the message in a manner so that members who would like to continue a cover-up, koma Park, Maryland. who do have their eyes fixed on the Mid but his book provides clear evidence that As the end of another millennium ap dle East will turn them where they really miracles and spiritual exuberance can proaches, apocalyptic fever will spread belong toward Jesus Christ. come from sources other than God. Per like the plague throughout Christen haps this book and the recent Bakker dom. The most prevalent symptom will Lead Us Not Into Temptation, Con case highlight a need to reassess the be manifested in an outbreak of books fronting Immorality in Ministry whole charismatic movement. about an impending doom associated Don Basham, Fleming H. Revell Compa with the day of the Lord. Most will center ny, OldTappan, New Jersey, 1986, 191 Bible credits: Texts credited to RSV are from on the Jews in Palestine, who are ex pages, $6.95. Reviewed by Lyndon McDo- the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyrighted 1946,1952 1971,1973.Text pected to face massive war. One basic well, a pastor in Olney, Maryland. credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New scenario is that Israel will be attacked and This book is part rehash and part International Version. © Copyright 1973, through the intervention of God, will follow-up of the author©s previous book 1978 International Bible Society. Used by win! Then the antiChrist power will True and False Prophets. The introduc permission. Texts credited to NEB are from make a pact with the Jews, who will re tion of both volumes is identical as are The New English Bible. © The Delegates of the Oxford University Press and the Syndics build the temple and resume animal sac many of the examples and theological of the Cambridge University Press 1961, rifices. Christians will be raptured from arguments presented. 1970. Reprinted by permission. Scripture the earth and 144,000 converted Jews Basham is to be congratulated for his quotations marked NASB are from the New will preach Christ to the world just before willingness to expose the rampant immo American Standard Bible, © The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, the carnage of Armageddon, which will rality within charismatic ministry. He 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Texts credited to center in a valley in Israel. After that describes it as reaching "crises propor NK] V are from The New King James Version. battle Jesus will come and establish 1,000 tions" and his examples are horrifying. Copyright 1979, 1980,1982, Thomas Nel years of peace on earth. There was the alcoholic preacher who son, Inc., Publishers.

MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 29 THE PUBLISHERS OF Ministry PRESENT A Christian Guide to Good Health.

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Meeting the Secular as little as $1 per story/tape written us, indicating that computer problems that have Mind in holiday packs or VBS they have not received, the since been cleared up. A second, expanded edi packs. (All prices include Quest cards they ordered If you ordered a card and tion of the book Meeting the shipping. Payment may be through advertising that ap have not yet received it, Secular Mind: Some Adventist by personal check, money peared in MINISTRY. Quest please contact us so that we Perspectives has just been order, or credit card, and International, the company can make arrangements with published. It contains 15 es churches may order on 15- that offers these cards, which Quest to get it to you as soon says that analyze the mean day credit. Each tape has a can be used to secure substan as possible. Write us at: ing and impact of secularism lifetime guarantee.) tial discounts on motel lodg Quest Cards, MINISTRY, and suggest Christian re The sample tapes make an ing, has informed us that the 6840 Eastern Avenue NW., sponses. It also includes the excellent and affordable gift trouble stems from some Washington, D.C. 20012. report and recommenda (one to a family) from the tions of the Seventh-day pastor or from the church. Adventist Committee on Many of my people have told Secularism (1981-1985) and of the great benefit they have an annotated bibliography. received from listening to MINISTRY readers can obtain the tapes we gave them last acopy for US$7.50 (price in year. Ministry cludes postage). Write to Several have purchased Professional Growth Seminars Secularism, MINISTRY Ser either the New Testament vices, Box 3969, Hyatts- or full Bible on tape as a re March-April 1988 ville, MD 20787, enclosing sult (New Testament a check or money order KJV, NKJV, NIV, and California Indiana payable to "General Con Spanish NlV-$18 [$16 in March 8, Glendale April 21, Indianapolis ference." quantities of six sets]; the For more information For more information wholeBible-KJVorNIV- call Llpyd Wyman call Jim Cox Toward a renewal of $59). A few have even or (213)245-1876 (317)844-6201 Bible reading dered sets for neighbors .or Ohio Maine and New Hampshire The spiritual condition of relatives who have heard the March 18, Kettering April 25, Brunswick the church is closely related tapes and want a set for For more information April 26, Concord to the place of the Bible in themselves. call Al Brendel For more information the lives of the individual There has been so much (513) 298-4331 call Elmer Malcolm members. When there is a demand that I keep a few sets May 2, Akron (207) 797-3760 renewed interest in the Bi of the NIV New Testament For more information Topics include: ble, revival will be the inev on hand (the KJV has not call Loren Nelson COUNSELING itable fruit. You can best pro been sufficiently popular to (614) 397-4665 Marriage mote revival by emphasizing merit keeping it in stock). Washington Conflict Management the Bible. This enables me to place at April 4, Spokane ETHICS Audiotapes can be a useful least a portion of the Bible April 5, Yakima Euthanasia tool for bringing the Bible in members© hands so they April 6, Walla Walla Abortion PREACHING into the lives of your mem can get started on a Bible- For more information call Bryce Pascoe Expository bers. Hosanna (2421 Aztec listening program while Narrative Road NE., Albuquerque, their interest is still high. (509)838-2761 . . . and much more NM 87107-4224; telephone One unforeseen benefit is Oregon 1-800-545-6552) offers an the special appeal these April 18, Portland Phone the coordinator of the affordable way of introduc tapes have had for members For more information seminar you wish to attend ing your parishioners to the on the fringes of the church. call Curtis Miller for details of the subjects to benefits of the spoken Word. Already I have seen the com (509) 527-2615 be addressed. Hosanna sells sample cas mitment of some increase as settes containing the com a result of their listening to Each all-day seminar is designed for pastors and church workers. MIN plete book of Mark (KJV, the read Word. Submitted ISTRY©S commitment to biblical authority, professional competence, and spiritual enrichment will prepare you for more effective ministry in NKJV, NIV, or Spanish by Wayne Willey, Ames- today©s world. NIV) for $1 each (in quanti bury, Massachusetts. Clergy of all faiths testify that MINISTRY seminars are an exciting ties of 25, or 75 cents each in opportunity for personal growth. quantities of 100). This If you haven't received company also offers assorted your Quest card Participants Receive Continuing Education Credit Bible stories for children for Some of our readers have

MINISTRY/MARCH/1988 31 Is SIGNS a powerful magazine? Does a leopard have spots? SIGNS OF THE TIMES believes that one word from God is worth more than all the literary strivings of men from the dawn of time. Because you handle God©s Word daily, you know its power. And SIGNS OF THE TIMES brings that power to bear on the issues you and your people face in the family, on the job, at church, in the world, in the personal life. Each month, SIGNS goes behind world events to put them into a biblical perspective shows how God works in lives like yours digs into the Word to demonstrate what it means for today informs, inspires, and energizes on a wide variety of topics. No other magazine offers what you can find in SIGNS the publication named by the Associated Church Press in 1987 as its best magazine. (SIGNS also achieved the same recognition in 1985.) As a reader of MINISTRY, you can order this award-winning magazine at the lowest price available today just US $7.95 for a full year of 12 issues. Let SIGNS OF THE TIMES enrich your ministry—and your soul. Mail the coupon today!

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