March 13, 2014 Vol. 191, No. 7

www.adventistreview.org

March 13, 2014

Into Dark Places 7 Media Professionals Meet in Baltimore 8 The Green-striped Downy Comforter 28

SERVING

LIKE JESUS

AUTHORITY IN GOD’S CHURCH.

“Behold, I come quickly . . .” Our mission is to uplift Jesus Christ by presenting stories of His matchless love, news of His present workings, help for knowing Him better, and hope in His soon return.

16 28 12 6 COVER FEATURE ARTICLES DEPARTMENTS EDITORIALS 16 Serving Like Jesus 2 0 Keeping the Heart 4 Letters 6 Bill Knott Darius Jankiewicz in Heaven Springtime in the Soul We all agree that Christ is Rex D. Edwards 7 Page 7 the head of the church. But When so much conspires 7 Wilona Karimabadi what happens after that? to keep our focus on 8 World News & Into Dark Places earthly things, an upward Perspectives glance is not enough. 13 Give & Take 2 4 A Twenty-first- Century Faith 2 3 Introducing the Why Jonathan Martin 2 7 Searching the Obvious It all boils down to one word: relationships. 31 Reflections

2 8 The Green-striped Downy Comforter Elizabeth Boyd ON THE COVER Admit it: We all have some memory that con- In an age of flowcharts and nects us to the past. Next Week lines of authority, it’s im- portant to remember that Through the Fire Jesus led by serving. From Peru, a story of faithfulness

Publisher General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®, Executive Publisher Bill Knott, Associate Publisher Claude Richli, Publishing Board: Ted N. C. Wilson, chair; Benjamin D. Schoun, vice chair; Bill Knott, secretary; Lisa Beardsley-Hardy; Daniel R. Jackson; Robert Lemon; Geoffrey Mbwana; G. T. Ng; Daisy Orion; Juan Prestol; Michael Ryan; ; Mark Thomas; Karnik Doukmetzian, legal adviser. Editor Bill Knott, Associate Editors Lael Caesar, Gerald A. Klingbeil, Coordinating Editor Stephen Chavez, Online Editor Carlos Medley, Features Editor Sandra Blackmer, Young Adult Editor Kimberly Luste Maran, KidsView Editor Wilona Karimabadi, Operations Manager Merle Poirier, Financial Manager Rachel Child, Editorial Assistant Marvene Thorpe-Baptiste, Marketing Director Claude Richli, Editor-at-Large Mark A. Finley, Senior Advisor E. Edward Zinke, Art Director Bryan Gray, Design Daniel Añez, Desktop Technician Fred Wuerstlin, Ad Sales Glen Gohlke, Subscriber Services Steve Hanson. To Writers: Writer’s guidelines are available at the Web site: www.adventistreview.org and click “About the Review.” For a printed copy, send a self-addressed envelope to: Writer’s Guidelines,A dventist Review, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600. E-mail: [email protected]. Web site: www.adventistreview.org. Postmaster: Send address changes to Adventist Review, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740-7301. Unless otherwise noted, Bible texts in this issue are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Unless otherwise noted, all prominent photos are © Thinkstock 2014. The Adventist Review (ISSN 0161-1119), published since 1849, is the general paper of the Seventh-day Adventist® Church. It is published by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists® and is printed 36 times a year on the second, third, and fourth Thursdays of each month by the Review and Herald® Publishing Association, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740. Periodical postage paid at Hagerstown, MD 21740. Copyright © 2014, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Vol. 191, No. 7.

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www.AdventistReview.org | March 13, 2014 | (195) 3 giving approval to the unconscionable salaries paid to some of the players. A inbox newspaper article I read Feb- Letters From Our Readers ruary 2, 2014, stated that Percy Harvin, a leading Seat- tle Seahawks player, had signed a six-year contract I ask on behalf of all the Especially dear to my that guaranteed $25.5 mil- tagged and tainted that this 85-year-old heart: Give & lion but could give him as unique church think long Take’s page “Prodigal,” a much as $67 million. and hard about the conse- poem by friend Tom Green, Watching also gives tacit quences of tagging and taint- and “Think About It,” by approval to the often scantily ing, not only in terms of loss cousin Marie Smith (Feb. 13, clad cheerleaders and to the of membership and financial 2014); Inbox letters from many hours it takes to watch support for the church, but, friends Pastor Jerry Lastine a game. George Knight stated more important, in terms of and Chaplain Mike Hansen in his book Myths in Advent- human loss, loss of church (Dec. 12, 2013, and other ism that “spectatorism is one Tagged friends, loss of “belonging,” recent issues). of the most serious diseases and Tainted and, even more important, TED GREEN of modern society” and is »»After I read Bill Knott’s edi- loss in terms of the spiritual Parker Adventist Hospital, “the antithesis of Christian torial “Tagged and Tainted” life of the tagged and tainted. Parker, Colorado concern and action” (p. 225).

(Feb. 13, 2014), it occurred to It’s hard to be out there on January 23, 2014 For a number of years I Vol. 191, No. 3

me that lots of tagging and your own. January 23, 2014 have noted in the Review, www.adventistreview.org urvives adventist s 12 home Invasion

Into all the World 22 When a Vandal 29 tainting goes on at many lev- TAGGED AND TAINTED slashed My Tires either in articles or letters to els within the church. At the editor, mention of favor- least that has been my expe- »»In his editorial Bill Knott ite teams or sports. Are these rience, and that of many points out that there are Head the things that should be tak- subhead other families I know who, honest people, and good ing up the time and thoughts like myself, no longer wor- people, on both sides of the of the followers of Jesus? ship within the Adventist debate. He points out that it In Fundamentals of Christian Church—and who for many is wrong to demonize those Tacit Approval Education Ellen White writes, and varied reasons no longer who have different views »»Tim Ponder’s article “How “I cannot find an instance in attend church at all. from our own, and he calls Much Do the Games Cost?” the life of Christ where He If one happens to be Bap- on us to have the courage to (Jan. 23, 2014) is great. When devoted time to play and tist, Presbyterian, Anglican, “call out” or oppose this type a person watches games amusement. He was the Assemblies of God, or what- of reaction. such as the ones mentioned great Educator for the pres- ever else, one can very easily I am in full agreement in the article, they are giving ent and the future life” (p. just hop around, as they all with Knott’s views on this tacit approval to something 229). White did recognize the basically believe the same matter. It is possible for sin- that Ellen White states Satan propriety of play for chil- stuff, worship on the same cere Christians to have views invented—and they’re also dren. We have to study her day, and life goes on. But for different from each other— a Sabbath believer, no such and holding such views does opportunity exists, and once not automatically make “tagged and tainted,” there them lovers of evil. It is possible for sincere Christians to is no alternative, nowhere to COURTENAY HAREBOTTLE have views different from each other— turn. When someone is hurt Gauteng, South enough to leave, or the “ and holding such views does not auto- church for whatever reason Poems, Thoughts, decides to play judge and and Friends matically make them lovers of evil. jury, there is nowhere else to »»What a blessing to be a go—the person is con- loved member of the Ad- —courtenay harebottle, Gauteng, South Africa demned to isolation. ventist Review global family! ”

4 (196) | www.AdventistReview.org | March 13, 2014 writings to find the proper IDE-GO Brazil is reaching sins forgiven since we often sitive to the need for bold balance for all of us on this Portuguese-speaking coun- erroneously think of our- witness. issue. tries in Africa and in unen- selves as lesser sinners. Sala- 3. His use of subtle word- Zenus Alfa Banda tered areas of the Amazon zar rightly shows how the play—at least that’s what I via e-mail region. The GC and the divine Spirit must do for us saw in the title “Red South American Division are what Simon the Pharisee had Intrepid.” It’s not about a car A Few Words supporting this ministry, not let Him do. My greatest but about Knott’s witness »»Hyveth Williams’ article and we pray that, as in India, sin is the lack of love for the that transitioned from (red) “A Few Words About Jesus” we can reach many families lost, the least, and the love- embarrassment to (Intrepid) (Jan. 16, 2014) was absolutely with the gospel of Jesus less around me. Then as courage. I think it’s brilliant. amazing. What a magnificent Christ. As GO president Dan Kathy-Ann C. Hernandez STEVE COOK Lord and Savior we have! Preas said, 75 percent of shares in her article “Broken Wildwood, Georgia This article would be power- baptisms in many areas of and Beautiful,” we can be ful to meditate on each day the 10/40 window are cred- more fully accepted regard- Going Somewhere as we wait for our coming ited to the more than 2,000 ing others and ourselves. I »»I just finished reading Savior. Great job! Bible workers of Gospel praise God for both Kimberly Luste Maran’s ELLEN PERRY Outreach. concepts. “Going Somewhere” (Dec. 26, Sonora, California LEO RANZOLIN John F. SPEYER, Jr. 2013). It struck a chord in me Estero, Florida Cool, California because I too had a grand- Into all the World mother who was diagnosed »»As chairman of the board with dementia. She passed for IDE-GO (Instituto de Dis- away in 2001. Maran’s expe- seminação do Evangelho), riences echoed my own. Gospel Outreach for Brazil, I Those experiences affect us was happy to read the article and change us, and I am glad “Into All the World,” by that Maran was able to Kevin Waite (Jan. 23, 2014), derive a positive message member of the board of Gos- from such an experience. pel Outreach (GO), in College May God bless and keep Place, Washington. I fell in Maran as she continues to love with this organization share insights with us. and its volunteers during my KENDALL BEAMAN summers in College Place. Stone Mountain, Georgia I’ve tried to help to translate some materials into Portu- guese for Brazil, was a mem- We welcome your letters, noting, ber of the board for a while, as always, that inclusion of a letter and am now helping the in this section does not imply that and Canada to the ideas expressed are endorsed by reach nearly 3 billion people either the editors of the Adventist in the 10/40 window who Review or the General Conference. don’t know Jesus. Short, specific, timely letters have As General Conference the best chance at being published (GC) president Ted N. C. Wil- (please include your complete son said, these national COLLECTION/GOODSALT.COM © PROVIDENCE address and phone number—even workers know the language Loving the Lost— Red Intrepid with e-mail messages). Letters will and the culture and can start and the Broken »»Three reasons I liked Bill be edited for space and clarity only. immediately sharing the gos- »» I loved Janet Salazar’s arti- Knott’s editorial “Red Send correspondence to Letters to pel in their countries. India cle “Simon the Pharisee and Intrepid” (Dec. 12, 2013): the Editor, Adventist Review, 12501 has about 500 indigenous Me” (Jan. 16, 2014) because 1. The editor walks— Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD workers and has become one she highlights something that’s a good example for all 20904-6600; Internet: letters@ of the largest countries in important: wrestling with of us. adventistreview.org. membership. the issue of gratitude for 2. He is transparently sen-

www.AdventistReview.org | March 13, 2014 | (197) 5 Editorials Springtime in the Soul It usually begins with light—when a warm shaft of late afternoon briefly discovers the narrow pane that passes for a window at the top of my office wall. Had I the courage, I would make a mark on the off-white Sheetrock to note the angle where sunlight first penetrates my gray interior each March—a sundial of sorts to help me track the seasons. The familiar bookshelves fleetingly glow with amber, reminding me of the wide, warm world outside. And I draw a breath rich with memory and grace from more than 40 years ago. It is spring again—sunlit, blessed spring again—in the season and in the soul. Somewhere, far from Silver Spring, creamy white bloodroot blossoms and yellow adder’s-tongues are poking through the fallen leaves on the south-facing bank of a middling Yankee stream. The earliest of the early robins strut and pose among the mosses and the fiddleheads, listening for the stirrings in the warming soil. I loiter by the creek, wrapped in the sound of moving water and all the inarticulate but reassuring noises that witness to Bill the resurrection of the earth. This is a sacred space: this is a sanctuary. None may enter here save the conse- Knott crated, the baptized. I still keep within arm’s reach that much-underlined copy of the Living New Testament I read beside that waterfall when I was young, knowing I will need reminders of hopeful, forward- leaning hours on days dull with committees. Memory—holy memory—traces the lines that stirred a teenager’s heart for God: “He was before all else began and it is his power that holds everything together” (Col. 1:17, TLB).* “Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all he has done” (Col. 2:7, TLB). In such words and images we relearn the confidence that once was ours—in Christ, in His life- giving power, in resurrection after years ill-spent in January and jaundice. Beside such streams we touch the memories of baptism and rebirth, glad that our of mistakes and sins are being quietly carried to the depths of some far-distant ocean. Who doesn’t need a springtime of the soul, at whatever moment in the calendar? Whose life with God is so consistently alive that it requires no quickening? “Revive me” is the cry of every heart in which the Spirit moves. “Renew me” is the song we sing, with oft-repeating chorus. This is why the church needs testimonies—because the testifiers need that holy moment of recalling “the providences of God.” We stand to speak, we say, for the sake of others, for the encouragement we think our story brings to other blighted lives. But then we find—in grace, through grace—that we are those most blessed by what we’ve said. Our memories of conversion prove to be the streambeds in which the Spirit’s waters flow again, and we are brought back hap- pily to riverbank encounters with the Lord we pledged to follow. “There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High” (Ps. 46:4, KJV). Your sacred place, the holy memory of when you gave yourself to Jesus, is worth visiting and retelling, and not only in sunlight or in springtime. Whether you have walked with Jesus 40 years or only 40 days, “re-mind” yourself of when you gave your life to Him. Retell the story, preferably to someone younger in the faith, and find your own heart “strangely warmed,” whatever the weather or the season. Don’t let another Sabbath pass without revisiting the story of your springtime. Tell someone else where flowers grow, where robins sing, where you were healed in holy joy. This is the duty that you owe—to others, and to your life with Christ. n

* Verses marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible, copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Ill. Used by permission.

Photos: david knott Into Dark Places Guillaume Néry is a world champion free diver. Free diving is a sport in which divers descend to deep depths without scuba gear or any other sort of underwater breathing apparatus. This involves breath holds of up to 11 minutes or so (records change yearly as enthusiasts seek to break them). Néry’s underwater exploits made the rounds on Facebook in a video that shows him BASE- jumping underwater at Dean’s Blue Hole in the Bahamas. Dean’s Blue Hole is the world’s largest underwater sinkhole and boasts a depth of 663 feet. The video—shot by Néry’s girlfriend—was filmed over the course of four afternoons, and is more of an “artistic fiction,”* in that reaching that distance on a single breath is impossible. In the short film Néry wades into clear, blue waters until he is totally submerged. He then proceeds to the rim of a deep black hole with zero visibility, seemingly without end. He soon pushes off and dives straight down into the darkness before eventually resurfacing. Truthfully, Wilona it’s kind of terrifying. Karimabadi We’ve all been there—not to Dean’s Blue Hole, that is. But to places where we’ve walked in rela- tive calm until we reach a precipice that plunges straight down into darkness. If we can avoid it, we do. But sometimes we have no choice but to go in headfirst. In those moments there is no need for trusty breathing equipment or safety divers, for the psalmist’s words ring true. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me” (Ps. 23:4). Don’t be afraid of the dark places of life, for we never go alone—not now, not ever. n

* http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/08/guillaume-nery-base-jumpi_n_604183.html.

Seasons of Our Lives

he beauty in the way beauty and makes a significant end to a particular period in periods of excitement and God designed the contribution to life. our lives. Sometimes winter new beginnings. By God’s T four seasons is that, Just as God planned seasons brings hardship, but we remain grace, we will enjoy seasons though each one is distinct, in nature, He planned seasons hopeful, for another spring is of harvesting the fruit of our they all work together to in life as well. Life has its just around the corner! faithfulness. By God’s grace, bring life and growth. Spring is springtime, when we begin In God’s perfect design we will also overcome the a period of freshness and new new things and look excitedly for our lives, He has planned cold winters of heartache and life. Summer sees growth toward the future. Summer for times of fruitfulness and grief, for without winter there and productivity. Autumn comes and we work diligently activity. He will also build in would be no spring. Just as it is a time for harvesting the in the heat of the day at all that times of quiet and rest. There is with the seasons of nature, rewards of past labors. God has assigned to us. With will be times when He asks these seasons in our lives Winter is the season of autumn comes the fruition of us to remain faithful doing work together to bring about dormancy and closure. Each things begun at an earlier time the same work day after God’s perfect will for each season has its own unique in our lives. Winter brings an day. But there will also be one of us. Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby, Experiencing God Day-by-Day, p. 35 World News & Perspectives

■■World Church Innovation Key to New Attention Economy, Media Experts Say Adventist tech, communication conference highlights need for “creation mind-set” BY: ELIZABETH LECHLEITNER/ANN

Pushing the boundaries is no longer for iPhone and iPad, Heroes was down- enough. Seventh-day Adventist tech and loaded 3,000 times in the first 48 hours media professionals at this year’s Global of its release, tripling the benchmark Adventist Internet Network (GAiN) con- analysts say a mobile app should meet ference were challenged to leave the in its first week to be considered boundaries in the rearview mirror or successful. risk becoming irrelevant. On the final day of GAiN, the General Speaking at morning worship on Feb- Conference Youth Ministries Depart- ruary 13, Pardon Mwansa, a general vice ment signed a deal to help support the president for the Android release of Heroes. church, told hundreds of Web profes- : A nsel O liver /ANN P hoto The game reintroduces players to sionals that the “boundary mind-set” CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO: Mar- heroic biblical characters—such as tha Gabriel, a best-selling author and mar- and the “expansion mind-set” are limit- keting consultant, addressed the GAiN Abraham, David, and Esther—while ing the scope of Adventist mission and conference in Baltimore. testing their Bible knowledge with quiz ministry. A boundary mind-set is throt- questions. Players can compare scores tled by traditions; an expansion mind- you are not part of the message they with their friends on Facebook. At GAiN, set is content to reimagine those want to hear, you are part of the noise,” a demo of the game pitted players from traditions. What’s needed instead, he she said. the church’s Trans-European Division said, is a “creation mind-set.” Organizations that thrive in the atten- with other divisions. “It’s easier to go where others have tion economy know that the currency of “We realized that to bring a sense of already been. But who is it who has ideas and information is no longer identity to a new generation, we needed improved this world? People who have enough to succeed. “Ideas alone are to remind them of who their heroes broken the boundaries,” Mwansa said, worthless. What we need now are peo- are,” Neves said. “And what better way citing early explorers, civil rights lead- ple who make things happen,” Gabriel than to use a medium they are very ers, and tech innovators. said. familiar with?” “We will not get anywhere with a For Adventist pastor Sam Neves and a Indeed, said Daryl Gungadoo, distri- boundary mind-set,” he told 400 GAiN development team from the British bution and network engineer for Ad- participants meeting at the Maritime Union Conference, that meant not wait- ventist World Radio Europe, Institute in Linthicum Heights, Mary- ing for the church to get behind a comic “gamification” is the new frontier, and land, United States. book-style trivia game called Heroes. successful companies will find ways to Author and marketing consultant The first Seventh-day Adventist game engage their audience with games. Martha Gabriel amplified that idea in He cited an example from Sweden, her February 14 keynote, describing where a marketing campaign from what she called “simplicity plateaus,” Volkswagen turned the oft-loathed where an organization stagnates at a speed cameras into a lottery, where level of technology they have mastered. people who drive the speed limit are “We can’t stay here. Know the next level automatically entered into a pool to you need to conquer,” she said. win the fines paid by motorists who And, perhaps more important, she speed. added, know your audience. In today’s Another presenter challenged the “attention economy,” messages com- : A nsel O liver /ANN P hoto popular adage that “content is king” in HAPPY ENDING: World church president pete for relevance, Gabriel said. Ted Wilson speaks with pastor Anto- social media. Sonja Kovacevic, content “You need to understand what makes nio Monteiro, who was released from manager of LIFEconnect in the church’s your audience’s hearts beat faster. If prison in part because of social media. Trans-European Division, proposed

8 (200) | www.AdventistReview.org | March 13, 2014 that instead, “the audience is king.” technology has been his greatest contri- 50,000 times, while the Twitter event “[Our audience] prefers to trust bution,” said Williams Costa, General hashtag reached more than 7 million someone they know. And they come to Conference communication director. users. Later, a Change.org petition to know us when we offer useful content. This year’s GAiN conference also fea- release Monteiro gathered more than They come to like us when they enjoy tured a presentation by Antonio Mon- 60,000 signatures. our content. And they come to trust us teiro, who was released in January from Monteiro received thousands of when our content is credible, consis- prison in Togo after nearly two years of Christmas cards during a December tent, and free,” Kovacevic said. detainment. Monteiro and four others 2013 campaign to encourage Adventists Brazilian businessman and philan- were imprisoned on charges of conspir- in prison on false charges and forced to thropist Milton Soldani Afonso received acy to commit murder in a case that spend the holidays separated from this year’s NetAward from Adventist captured the attention of the Adventist family. Church president Ted N. C. Wilson. world church. “I told my wife, ‘We will plaster them Afonso was key in establishing and In December 2012 a social media onto a wall in our home,’ ” Monteiro funding the Adventist Church’s use of campaign calling for a day of prayer said, thanking his world church family media outreach in South America. helped raise awareness of the situation for their support during an ordeal he “Even more than his money, his vision in Togo. Facebook followers interacted says both tested and strengthened his for the church in communication and with “Pray for Togo” content more than faith. n

■■North America Evangelist Don Gray Dies at 87

BY SANDRA BLACKMER

Don Gray, a longtime Seventh-day Adventist evangelist, development of their most effective tool, however, took died January 11, 2014, in Portland, Oregon. He was 87. place in the early 1960s when they wrote a set of 24 Bible Gray, born in Klamath Falls, Oregon, in 1926, was known lessons. During the next few decades these lessons were throughout the church for his work in soul winning and translated into more than 76 languages, eventually pro- evangelism. An ordained minister, he duced as CDs and DVDs with animation first served as pastor of several small and graphic illustrations, and distrib- churches in rural Oregon. He then uted worldwide. Gray is also responsi- began holding evangelistic meetings in ble for establishing a number of local tents, and incorporating visual media Adventist churches. with his sermons—a method he found In 2011 the North Pacific Union and to be effective in sharing the gospel Oregon conferences jointly awarded

message. onference Gray a plaque of accomplishment, on Don and Marjorie, his wife of 65 which they referred to him as “the years, traveled to such countries as Unstoppable Don Gray.” U nion C acific Russia, China, and Europe to promote In June 2010 Marjorie died from evangelism for the Adventist Church. complications of Alzheimer’s. They worked closely with , “[Don] was a devoted husband, lov-

Voice of Prophecy, Pacific Press Pub- P of N orth ourtesy ing father, and a true witness for lishing Association, and numerous Christ,” his son, Randy Gray, says. “I am C P hoto other church organizations in their ADVENTIST EVANGELIST: Don Gray proud to call him my father. He was worldwide witnessing and evangelistic truly a great man.” efforts. Don was a pioneer in the multimedia approach to Along with their son, Randy, the Grays also had a daugh- communication and witnessing, at one point overseeing ter, Donna. the It Is Written Advent Digital Media project to produce Don is survived by his son, Randy; a sister, Helen Winkle; cutting-edge evangelistic graphics. and a granddaughter. His daughter, Donna Stannard, died Don and Marjorie also wrote seven books on witnessing in 2007. n and the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. The —information provided by Randy Gray

www.AdventistReview.org | March 13, 2014 | (201) 9 World News & Perspectives

■■Germany Change of Leadership timme D er H offnung

at Voice of Hope : S P hoto PASSING THE TORCH: Klaus Popa (right) On August 1, 2014, Klaus Popa will external consultant. will soon lead Germany’s Voice of Hope, replace current CEO of Germany’s Voice Another generational change will taking over from Matthias Mueller. of Hope (Stimme der Hoffnung), Matth- happen on August 1, 2014, when Sven ias Müller. Popa studied in Germany, Fockner will become director of the key leadership roles to a new generation Austria, Great Britain, and the Nether- international Bible correspondence of committed Adventist pastors. These lands. He holds academic degrees in school, a department of Voice of Hope. appointments will send a signal to a graphic design and theology, and gained Fockner studied theology and philoso- younger generation and keep the practical experience as a pastor and phy in Austria, the United States, and dynamic of the European Media Center counselor. He has been working at Voice Germany, and served from 2013 as alive. of Hope since 2006 and was called to assistant department director of the The European Media Center in Als- serve as deputy chief executive officer in institute. bach-Hähnlein (Hesse, Germany), in 2013. Fockner will replace Siegfried addition to the international Bible cor- Matthias Müller has served as the Wittwer, who has served as the director respondence school, runs a service for CEO since 2002. He will serve as depart- of the Bible correspondence school the blind ministry as well as Hope mental director for communication and since 1994. Wittwer will continue work- Channel, radio, and TV. personal ministries in the Hansa Con- ing with the institute until his retire- The European Media Center is owned ference of the Seventh-day Adventist ment in 2015. by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Church in Hamburg, Germany. Müller Both Müller and Wittwer welcome which operates in more than 208 coun- will still work with and the decisions made by the board of tries, serving more than 18 million support Stimme der Hoffnung as an directors of Voice of Hope, entrusting members in 70,000 churches. n

■■South Pacific Australian Team Completes “Fly and Build” Trip to Myanmar

SOUTH PACIFIC DIVISION RECORD

A team of 19 Australians, led by Wolf- D ivision acific gang Jenke and his wife, Lyn Joy, went P outh on a “fly and build” trip to Myanmar late last year. The purpose of the trip : S P hoto was to build three bathroom/shower CONSTRUCTION VACATION: A goup of Australian Adventists join believers at Mountain blocks for Mountain View Adventist View Adventist Seminary at the end of their stay. Seminary near Toungoo. The seminary is directed by Alvin Hla and currently earthmoving for each site, helped dig district pastor, ran two evangelistic has 380 students. three large septic tanks with 50 meters meetings, which resulted in 76 baptisms Without earthmoving machinery, of leach drain each, carried 6,000 on the final Sabbath. “It was absolutely wheelbarrows, and most of the power cement blocks to the building sites, and fantastic. All our thanks goes to God for tools taken for granted in modern con- mixed the concrete and mortar. The His enabling grace and protection,” said struction work, the team built all three team also learned how to weld and lay Jenke. facilities on time, with the dedicated blocks. To read more about the mission trips, work of all the students. They did all the Each evening Jenke and Ben Kosmeier, visit www.jenkemission.org. n

10 (202) | www.AdventistReview.org | March 13, 2014 ■■North America Charles Richard Taylor Dies Long career of support for Seventh-day Adventist Church onference Reprinted with permission of Chattanoogan.com.

Charles Richard Taylor, 92, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, education secretary.

died on Tuesday, February 18, 2014. He was born November Taylor received a Ph.D. in C : G eneral P hoto 2, 1921, in São Paulo, Brazil. education from the Univer- Charles Taylor The son of missionary parents, George and Gladys Taylor, sity of Maryland in 1965. In Charles spent his childhood in Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. 1975 he was elected to a position in the General Conference He returned to the States to finish high school and attended of Seventh-day Adventists in Washington, D.C. He was an Pacific , graduating in 1942. He married June associate secretary and then secretary of the General Con- Laura Hulbert on August 20 of that year, then served a short ference Education Department. Later he worked as assistant time as an evangelist in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 1943 he to Neal Wilson, president of the General Conference. He accepted a position at what was to become Antillian College was instrumental in the founding of Global Mission. in Santa Clara, Cuba. For the next 32 years he worked in the He is survived by his wife, June; one son, David Charles Inter-American Division of Seventh-day Adventists as Taylor; two daughters, Myrna Jean Taylor and Donna June teacher, youth leader, school administrator, and division Evans; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. n

■■North America ​Churches Lead in Massive Global Outreach

BY KIM PECKHAM, Review and Herald Publishing Association

This is a story about a guy who had distribute the book to their friends.” McVicar is the kind of guy who loves never read a book for most of his life, and Among them were Stan and Andrea Kot- the outdoors more than sitting in a the couple who sent him a 384-page vol- low who live in Maine, near the Cana- chair reading. “I never read a complete ume about Bible prophecy. dian border. Both had joined the church book until I was 55 years old,” he The book, of course, is The Great Con- in part because of The Great Controversy. admits. But God had been preparing troversy. Ellen White’s book is part of a When they heard about the project, they him. Involvement with Amway had worldwide outreach movement that has wanted to get involved. “We’re not good prompted him to start reading motiva- gathered so much momentum in the at sharing door to door,” says Stan. “But tional books. Soon, he actually enjoyed past three years that it has left some we thought this was something we reading. people stunned and surprised. could do.” After The Great Controversy had sat in General Conference (GC) vice presi- They arranged with the Review and his bathroom for about a year, McVicar dent remembers when Herald Publishing Association in Hag- felt God working on his heart. “I’ve got his boss, GC president Ted Wilson, erstown, Maryland, to send the book to to get up a little earlier to read this asked him to lead an effort to share The several thousand homes in their area. It book,” he said to himself. He deter- Great Controversy. They decided to set an would have been too much for them to mined he would read two or three pages ambitious goal of sharing 50 million afford, except for an act of providence in a day. Then it became five pages a day. copies of the book worldwide by the their own backyard. The wild blueberry Then more. He was fascinated and end of 2013. “Then Elder Wilson men- bushes on their property brought forth noticed how it seemed to fit with Bible tioned in a meeting that his personal a huge harvest that raised more than preaching that he had heard on an prayer goal for the project was 100 mil- $6,000. They earmarked the windfall for early-morning program called Amazing lion,” recalls Baker. “We were still trying outreach. Facts. to wrap our arms around the 50 million That’s why Phil McVicar in nearby Meanwhile, the church he attended number!” Alexander, Maine, got a copy of The Great with his wife, Vicki, left them feeling Baker says that what happened next Controversy in his mailbox. “We couldn’t empty. “The preacher would tell us was a small miracle. “Hundreds of figure out where the book came from or what we wanted to hear, not what we thousands of Adventists sacrificed to why we got it,” he says. needed to know,” says Phil. “I never

www.AdventistReview.org | March 13, 2014 | (203) 11 World News & Perspectives

learned how to get into the Bible or even McVicars waded into the chilly waters son’s original goal. “We had a thanks- how to navigate it,” adds Vicki. of Howard Lake for their baptism. giving service at the GC in October when Convicted of the Sabbath truth, the Churches in northern New England we reported that a total of 142 million McVicars just showed up one Sabbath have been leaders in the Great Contro- copies have been shared around the morning at the Calais church. They were versy Project, working with the Review globe,” says Baker. “I have not found a welcomed and immediately felt at home. and Herald to mail a quarter million record of any denomination handing The pastor, Arnet Mathers, answered all copies of the book to local zip codes. out this many books in a two-year their questions directly from the Bible. Worldwide, enthusiasm for the project period. This has been an extremely In September 2011 Mathers and the had resulted in almost tripling Ted Wil- blessed project.” n

■■North America Rita Hoshino, Widely Known for E. G. White Portrayals, Dies at 58

BY JULIE Z. LEE

Rita Hoshino, mentor to thousands of students at Pacific father was employed. She eventually created the Ellen Union College and Mountain View Academy, passed away White Legacy, a ministry devoted to sharing White’s work unexpectedly from complications of kidney disease and through dramatic enactments. pneumonia on February 10, 2014. She was 58. Hoshino’s portrayal of Ellen White took her across the Hoshino, who grew up in Sunnyvale, nation, bringing “Ellen” back to life for California, and resided in Angwin, Cali- such events as St. Helena Hospital’s fornia, is a graduate of Miramonte 125th anniversary celebration, the Christian School, Mountain View Acad- Farm dedication, Loma emy (MVA), and Pacific Union College Linda University Medical Center’s cen- (PUC). She began working at PUC tennial anniversary, and the 2010 Gen- immediately after graduation. Eventu- eral Conference session in Atlanta, ally becoming assistant dean of stu- Georgia. She was also a favorite at dents, she oversaw the college Campus Pathfinder camporees, church services, Center and Student Association, work- schools, and camp meetings. ing closely with clubs and student With the approval of the Ellen G. leaders. During her 23 years of service White Estate, Hoshino was invited to at the college, Hoshino was a beloved be a representative of Adventist Heri- mentor and friend to thousands of tage Ministry.

students. She had a vivid memory and W ick at Hoshino’s hope was to grow the remembered names and details about Ellen White Legacy ministry into an : P P hoto everyone she met, earning her the PORTRAYING ELLEN WHITE: Because of educational tool for youth and young nickname “Rita Rolodex.” her resemblance to Ellen White, Rita por- adults. The ministry Web site (www. Following her career at PUC, trayed the Adventist Church cofounder at ellenwhitelegacy.com) states, “The Hoshino was the alumni/advancement numerous events. ministry of the Ellen White Legacy is director at MVA. It was after this that committed to presenting the life and Hoshino began investing in what had previously been only person of Ellen White in a realistic, respectful way, hop- a hobby: portraying Ellen G. White. Because of her resem- ing to encourage audiences to return to the real woman blance to the Seventh-day Adventist Church cofounder, who inspired millions. Our ultimate goal is to point con- Hoshino had often been asked to portray Ellen White at gregations not to Ellen White, but to the Jesus she so various functions. The first invitation was during her teen- adored.” age years, when Hoshino was asked to play a young Ellen at Hoshino is survived by her brother, Dennis Hoshino; an event for Pacific Press Publishing Association, where her niece, Laren James; and nephew, Brent West-Hoshino. n

12 (204) | www.AdventistReview.org | March 13, 2014 crews © terry

health tip Garlic (Allium sativum) is a member of adventist life the lily family (along with leeks, onions, The theme for our Cradle Roll department program shallots, and chives). It originated in central was “Creation.” The class had gone through the first six Asia, and has been cultivated worldwide days, singing songs about all the things God had made. for millennia. Garlic has been used through- Sound Bite As the leader, I reviewed what God had given us on out the centuries as both food and each day of the week—light on the first day, air on the medicine. “If you want to second, etc. Then I said, “And God saved the best for Garlic has a strong antimicrobial action. last. On the seventh day He created the best gift of all. It can lower lipid levels and inhibit blood Do you remember what that was?” clots. It can also enhance the immune sys- have adventure, Three-year-old Logan threw up his hands and called tem. Garlic can help maintain good out, “Pizza!” health—the recommended amount of con- —Charlotte Erickson, Battle Creek, Michigan sumption is about one clove (four grams of stand up for fresh garlic) daily. Some people are allergic to garlic and suffer gastrointestinal dis- history lesson tress. Large amounts should be avoided, Christ!” —Pastor Lutz Binus, during a During the weekend of March 13 and 14, 1858, James because of possible heartburn and stom- sermon at the Springfield and Ellen White attended meetings in a schoolhouse ach upset. Seventh-day Adventist Church in at Lovett’s Grove, now Bowling Green, Ohio. After —information from Vibrant Life, www. Oregon James conducted a funeral there on Sunday (March vibrantlife.com/?p=88 14), Ellen stood up to offer comforting words to the mourners. Soon after she started talking, she began receiving a vision. For two hours God gave Ellen what Adventists now call the Great Controversy vision. The Whites started home the next day, both intent on getting home quickly so Ellen could write the vision out as soon as possible. On the way Ellen suffered a stroke—after earnest prayer she regained enough strength to return home to Battle Creek, Michigan. Even though she was still quite weak, her strength came back gradually each day, and she worked little by little on recording the vision. But it wasn’t until June that she was able to complete most of the manuscript. Eventually Ellen recovered fully from the stroke. —material gathered from Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, pp. 161-163

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Jesus: Authority in God’s Church

16 (208) | www.AdventistReview.org | March 13, 2014 BY DARIUS JANKIEWICZ n order to thrive, every human cerned with issues related to gospel I decided recently to re-read and society must establish its own order, organization, ranking, and pol- think through the Gospel passages in organizational and authoritative icy—all the while striving to be faithful which Jesus speaks about authority. His structures. Eventually, if someone to Scripture. The nature of authority views are truly astounding. For most of desires to know something about a and its use has surfaced most recently us, immersed in hierarchically-oriented Iparticular nation, family, or association, in discussions on the possible ordina- cultures, Jesus’ message continues to be they are likely to inquire about the tion of women to the gospel ministry. counterintuitive and difficult to com- nature and use of its authority. I’ve observed the debate for a number prehend, much less to accept. For this While organized on entirely different of years, and listened carefully to both reason we tend to gloss over the pas- premises than a nation, family, or asso- sides. I find myself asking several ques- sages dealing with authority without ciation, the church is also a human soci- tions: Are we certain that we truly much thought. And yet these passages, ety that must have organizational and understand what we mean when we use if understood and applied, have the authoritative structures in order to the word “authority”? Am I possibly potential to revolutionize our personal share its message, and thus fulfill the making the false assumption that when and communal lives. Great Commission given to it by Jesus. I utter the word “authority,” you know During His earthly ministry Jesus’ Because of this, it’s reasonable to ask exactly what I mean, and vice versa? disciples were frequently preoccupied about the nature and use of authority What informs our understanding of with status and ranking in the kingdom within the community of believers. Ask- “authority”? Is it our culture (both sec- of God. This is understandable, for their ing the right questions is of vital impor- ular and religious), or is it careful atten- attitudes reflected the prevalent cul- tance, for much depends on the way tion to the words of Jesus? tural and religious conceptions of authority is understood and exercised authority. But the kingdom of God pro- in the church. Even such foundational claimed by Jesus presented such an Christian teachings as the nature of God It’s truly astonishingly different understanding and salvation in part depend on the way of Christian authority that it took the authority is defined. unfortunate death of Jesus for His disciples to Any discussion of the nature of Chris- that in understand His teachings.1 Jesus’ teach- tian authority, however, tends to be ings on the authority of Christian lead- muddied by our cultural context—the Christian ers are most crisply articulated in a way we “see” the world. Our under- history the conversation that found its way into the standing of authority is shaped by the three Synoptic Gospels. way authority is exercised in our society. lowly term For many people, the word “author- “pastor” has The Foundational Truth ity” carries very few positive connota- become a The story is well known. Two of Jesus’ tions. But we acknowledged that disciples, John and James, approached various authoritative structures are symbol of Him with a request that they be seated essential, as they provide our society status. on His right and left in His kingdom. It with continuity, stability, safety, and appears that these two assumed that the boundaries. Without some form of kingdom of Jesus would operate like authority, no human society would or Jesus on the Authority of other earthly institutions: their underly- could exist; this includes the Seventh- the Christian Leader ing desire was to have authority over day Adventist Church. In order to exist and fulfill its mission, others. Mark tells us that when the It’s the combination of our sinful the church must have organization and remaining 10 disciples heard about it, nature and the abuse of authority, how- leadership. Rather than modeling its they became very angry, not because they ever, that causes us to develop negative organization upon secular structures of had a different idea of “authority,” but attitudes toward authority. Unfortu- authority, as early post-apostolic Chris- because they themselves wanted such nately, all too often, abuse disguised by tianity did, the church should first of all power as well. In response, Jesus gath- the label “spiritual” happens in the look to Jesus to search for ways in which ered them together, and in the simplest church, the fellowship that Jesus estab- authority in His church should be exer- terms explained the operational rules of lished to be different from any other cised. It is Christ who founded the the kingdom of God. His words are so human society on earth. church, and He knows best what Chris- striking that they must be quoted here: ank In recent years the issue of authority tian authority is and how it should be “You know that those who are arrel T has received much attention in Ad- exercised. His followers must take His regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it ventist circles. As we have experienced teachings on authority seriously. over them [katakurieusin], and their high the delay of the second coming of So what did Jesus have to say about officials exercise authority over them

D by illustration Christ, we’ve become increasingly con- authority? [katexousiazousin]. Not so with you!

www.AdventistReview.org | March 13, 2014 | (209) 17 Instead, whoever wants to become great I believe that Jesus was keenly aware willingness to be the least of all. Follow- among you must be your servant, and that His kingdom would be doomed if ing His lead, the despised terms diako- whoever wants to be first must be slave the disciples incorporated into it the nos and doulos later became the [doulos] of all. For even the Son of Man authority structures seen in their con- quasi-technical descriptions of apos- did not come to be served, but to serve, temporary society. For His mission to tolic and ministerial leadership in the and to give his life as a ransom for succeed, all “pecking order” in the church. many” (Mark 10:42-45). church had to be abolished. Murray Two other Greek terms, exousia and In this concise passage Jesus presents Harris grasped this well: “Jesus was dynamis, are commonly translated as us with two models of authority. The teaching that greatness in the commu- “authority.” Exousia appears to be first is the Roman idea of authority. In nity of his followers is marked by hum- related to Jesus’ teaching ministry and this model, the elite stand hierarchically ble, self-effacing servanthood or slavery, His ability to forgive sins (e.g., Matt. over others. They have the power to modeled on his own selfless devotion to 7:29; 9:6; Mark 1:22; Luke 4:32). The make decisions and expect submission authority (exousia) that Jesus exercised from those below them. Jesus clearly brought words of life and healing to rejected this model of authority when We see that those who were willing to listen. Dyna- He stated, “Not so with you!” Instead mis is usually associated with Jesus’ He presented the disciples with a the concept of power to perform miracles and drive breathtakingly new model of authority, authority in out demons (e.g., Luke 4:36; Luke 9:1). a thorough rejection, or reversal, of the New Testament Nowhere in the Gospels, however, do hierarchical model with which they the terms exousia or dynamis appear to were familiar. , be associated with exercising any form founded upon of having authority over others in a the words spiritual sense. Such thinking simply The concept of authority for Jesus wasn’t part of Jesus’ worldview.6 It is was to be governed by two words: ser- and actions of exousia and dynamis that Jesus bestowed vant (diakonos) and slave (doulos). From Jesus, doesn’t upon the entire community of believ- our modern perspective, these two represent ers—all of them—and it’s these two words, often translated as “minister,” terms that are often confused with a have lost much of their force.2 For a per- any form of secular understanding of ministerial or son familiar with ancient society and its control over leadership “powers.” institutions, however, Jesus’ words others where There’s a remarkable and unique use must have been appalling—so much so of exousia in Matthew 28:18: “All author- that the disciples were unable to under- submission is ity in heaven and on earth has been stand Jesus’ words. Right up to the last expected. given to me.” Jesus doesn’t hand over moments of His life, during the Last this authority to the disciples, for it Supper, they argued about “who is the can’t be done. This is the absolute greatest” (see Luke 22:24). They did so the highest good of others.”5 authority of the almighty, omniscient, because, in the first-century culture, All this shows that Jesus certainly Creator God.7 servants (diakonoi) and slaves (douloi) didn’t seek to abolish all authority in And how does the almighty Creator represented the lowest class of human the church; He just radically redefined it God exercise His authority? Does He beings, persons who had few rights and and distanced it from the kind of force His human subjects to be obedi- whose job was to listen and fulfill the “authority” that advocated submission ent? Does He take away their free will? wishes of those they served. Among to a higher authority. Instead, the In Ephesians 5:1, 2 Paul provides an slaves “there [was] no place for one’s church was to be a place where those answer to the question of how God own will or initiative.”3 “Ruling and not who desired to follow His example were exercises His authority: “Follow God’s serving is proper to a man,” the ancient willing to serve in the lowest positions. example, therefore, as dearly loved chil- Greeks believed.4 Thus, whatever the In Philippians 2:5-7 Paul thus states dren and walk in the way of love, just as metaphors of servant and slave were that “your attitude should be the same Christ loved us and gave himself up for meant to convey, it certainly was not as that of “Christ Jesus: who, being in us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to exercising authority, spiritual or other- very nature God, . . . made himself noth- God.” The absolute authority of Christ wise, over others (katexousiazousin) or ing, taking the very nature of a servant.” thus represents a supreme example of having status in the community. In the church of Jesus, therefore, it love, servanthood, and self-sacrifice. Why did Jesus use these two metaphors isn’t ordination to an office, a title, or a So we see that the concept of authority if He could have compared His disciples position that makes a leader, but the in New Testament Christianity, founded with other leadership groups in society? quality of a person’s life and his or her upon the words and actions of Jesus,

18 (210) | www.AdventistReview.org | March 13, 2014 doesn’t represent any form of control despite his special position as an apostle of entrusted to you, but being examples to over others where submission is Christ, we see him wooing people to follow the flock” (1 Peter 5:2, 3). This was the expected. Clearly Jesus always allowed Christ, not through the authority of his primary reason Paul, James, and Peter the exercise of free will. Instead of the “office” (an unbiblical term) but through often introduced themselves to their exercising of authority over others, His the witness of his life. “Follow my example, congregations as slaves (douloi) of kind of authority can be expressed in as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Cor. Christ (Rom. 1:1; James 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1). terms of serving others. He demon- 11:1; see also 1 Cor. 4:16; Phil. 3:17; 4:9; All this reminds us that New Testa- strated this most forcefully when He 1 Thess. 1:6; 2 Thess. 3:7). ment leadership was not about having knelt to wash the disciples’ feet and when With a clear conscience Paul was able “authority” over others, about having He died on the cross, giving us a supreme to write to the Corinthians that when the “last word,” or having an “office.” example of the true understanding of Instead, it was all about having the atti- Christian authority. According to Him, tude of Paul, Peter, and other leaders of it’s not about status or having authority The church was the New Testament church, who led by over others; it’s about being the least in the example of their devotion to their the community of believers. to be a place Lord and to each other. This was the Only when we grasp the clear teach- where those bedrock of genuine Christian authority.8 ing of Jesus on this point will His who desired When we see the church of God church fulfill His vision for leadership. described in the pages of the New Testa- to follow His ment, we understand that it was decid- The New Testament Church: example were edly “non-elitist.” In His sayings Jesus A Unique Community willing to serve focused on the non-elite of the day and As a result of Jesus’ teachings, the in the lowest proclaimed them to be the children of New Testament church became a com- God (Matt. 5:3-8). He said to His follow- munity like no other. It was a commu- positions. ers: “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ nity whose leaders refused any form of for you have one Teacher, and you are hierarchy that would place some above all brothers. . . . The greatest among you others. In fact, following Jesus’ example, his young disciple Timothy visits them, will be your servant” (Matt. 23:8-11). In the New Testament leaders proclaimed he would “remind [them] of [Paul’s] modern terms we could paraphrase this what we can only describe as a “reverse way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees saying as follows: “But you are not to be hierarchy.” “Following the lead of Jesus, with what [he taught] everywhere in called ‘pastor,’ ‘elder,’ ‘professor,’ or its leaders routinely referred to them- every church” (1 Cor. 4:17). It was the ‘doctor,’ for you have only one Master, selves as doulos and diakonos of both way he lived his life, rather than his and you are all brothers.” It’s truly God and the church. position, that resulted in Paul’s having unfortunate that in Christian history Accordingly, in 1 Corinthians 3:5 Paul genuine authority in the church. the lowly term “pastor” has become a writes: “What, after all, is Apollos? And In the context of being “slaves” in the symbol of status. what is Paul? Only servants (diakonoi), church, the New Testament writers were Paul’s favorite imagery for portraying through whom you came to believe.” In remarkably egalitarian. Everyone could the Christian community, i.e., the “body 2 Corinthians 4:5 he emphatically be a slave of the Lord! In Romans 12:11 of Christ,” represented a remarkably declares: “For what we preach is not Paul encouraged all believers to serve the non-elitist view of the church (1 Cor. ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and Lord as His slaves (to¯ kyrio¯ douleuontes). In 12:12-31; Rom. 12:1-8; Eph. 1:22). Cen- ourselves as your servants (doulos).” We Galatians 5:13 he urged believers to tral to this imagery were unity of the constantly find Paul lifting Christ and “serve one another” as slaves (douelete) church and the church’s vital relation- others up, while speaking of himself in through love. Every believer was to serve ship with its Head, Jesus Christ. Paul’s such unflattering terms as “chief of sin- as a doulos of Christ and of each other. insistence that the church functioned ners” (see 1 Tim. 1:15, KJV). Elsewhere While all believers were called to be like a human body reminded believers he writes: “And last of all he appeared slaves of God and one another, this that they were completely dependent to me also, as to one abnormally born. especially applied to leaders in the upon Christ for their growth and life. For I am the least of the apostles and do Christian community who, according to While unity and the headship of not even deserve to be called an apos- the teaching of Christ, were to consider Christ were Paul’s main concern, his tle” (1 Cor. 15:8, 9). themselves “the least of all,” and exam- discussion of the church as the body of While Paul was commissioned to pro- ples to those under their care. Peter Christ was framed in an understanding claim the gospel, to teach, exhort, and echoed Jesus when he wrote to the lead- of spiritual gifts. The recipients of spiri- rebuke, it appears that he purposefully ers in the church: “Be shepherds of tual gifts were all who were part of the sought to avoid positioning himself in a God’s flock that is under your care . . . ; body of Christ, and the unity of the role above his fellow believers. Instead, and not lording it over [katakurieontes] those body of Christ depended on the pres-

www.AdventistReview.org | March 13, 2014 | (211) 19 ence, recognition, and use of these spiri- community. No pious designations rely solely on the authority of their tual gifts (Eph. 4:1-13). Any exclusive attached to the “office” of the church— office. Ideally, genuine Christian author- claim to these gifts was precluded, such as “servant,” “spiritual authority,” ity and the authority of a representative because their distribution was depen- “spiritual leadership,” or “spiritual function should be integrated. There’s dent upon the Holy Spirit, and not on headship”—can change this reality. nothing intrinsically wrong with per- the church (1 Cor. 12:11). Any form of sons holding an office. Neither is there elitism was settled by Paul’s masterful Answering the Questions anything inherently wrong with the discussion on the mutual interdepen- Our God, who is a God of order, cre- way our church is currently organized. dence of believers who exhibited vari- ated a world in which human beings, However, while Jesus left us with no ous spiritual gifts (verses 12-31). the crown of His creation, were to live specific model of running the church, Furthermore, in none of the four list- according to the authoritative patterns He was adamant that His church ings of spiritual gifts (Rom. 12:6-8; that governed the universe prior to the wouldn’t resemble secular structures, 1 Cor. 12:8-10, 28-30; Eph. 4:11) was creation of the earth. Then sin entered where authority was organized accord- Paul exclusive in any way. In Romans the world. The way God exercised His ing to a “pecking order.” 12:8, for instance, the gifts of teaching authority was challenged, and a coun- I’m convinced that when we embrace and leadership were tucked in among terfeit notion of authority was intro- His understanding of authority and other (seemingly insignificant) gifts. It duced. The precise reason Christ, God ministry, Christ’s vision for His church would be impossible to claim, on the incarnate, came to this earth and will be fulfilled, and revival and refor- basis of this passage, that the gift of founded a community like no other was mation will follow. encouragement was lower on the scale to counteract the counterfeit notion of The questions are insistent and of giftedness, while the gift of leader- God’s authority. He accomplished it by unavoidable: Are we going to follow cul- ship was higher and thus could be ture, both secular and religious, which endowed only upon a certain class of has taught us a hierarchical and elitist believers in the church. Certainly this Jesus was understanding of authority? Or are we couldn’t have been Paul’s intention. adamant that going to follow Christ, who said, “Not Paul’s use of the body of Christ imag- His church so with you!”? n ery helps us to understand the reality of wouldn’t the church and the way it should func- 1 Ellen G. White, (Mountain View, resemble Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1898), pp. 432-439, 550, tion. In this kind of community all soli- 551. darities of race, class, culture, and gender secular 2 James R. Edwards, The Gospel According to Mark are replaced by an allegiance to Christ structures, (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002), pp. 325, 326; M. Eugene Boring, Fred B. Craddock, The People’s New Testa- alone. The old way of relating is replaced where ment Commentary (Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John by a new relatedness in Christ (Gal. 3:28, Knox Press, 2004), p. 151; John L. McKenzie, Authority in 29). In this community all people are authority the Church (New York: Sheed and Ward, 1966), pp. 23, 24. 3 equal members of the body of Christ, was organized Karl Heinrich Rengstorf, “δουλος,” in Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, ed. Gerhard Kittel because all have experienced the risen according to a (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964), vol. 2, pp. 270, 261. Christ and all are gifted with a variety of “pecking order.” 4 HermannW. Beyer, “διακονεω,” in Theological Dic- spiritual gifts of equal value (1 Cor. 12), tionary of the New Testament, vol. 2, p. 82. 5 which are to be used for the benefit of Murray J. Harris, Slave of Christ: A New Testament Metaphor for Total Devotion to Christ (Downers Grove, believers and the world (Rom. 12:1-8). His life of divine slavery (douleia), which Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1999), p. 102. In the church described in the New ultimately led Him to the cross. 6 Clayton Sullivan, Rethinking Realized Eschatology Testament, we don’t find a hierarchy in Unfortunately, human beings, weak- (Macon, Ga.: Mercer University Press, 1988), pp. 72, 73; Alan Richardson, The Miracle-Stories of the Gospels which some people rank above others ened by millennia of sin’s existence on (London: SCM Press LTD., 1956), pp. 5, 6; McKenzie, according to status; neither do we find a this earth, returned to the old patterns of p. 25. 7 division between ordained clergy and thinking soon after the death of His first John Nolland, The Gospel of Matthew: A Commen- tary on the Greek Text (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2005), laity. What we see is a new community, disciples. Notwithstanding our devotion pp. 1263-1265. the body of Christ, a new creation to Scripture, even we Seventh-day Ad- 8 See Ellen G. White, Testimonies to Ministers and Gos- (2 Cor. 5:17), where all relationships ventists have inherited from Christian pel Workers (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1923), pp. 361-364, 366. should hail back to the Garden of Eden. tradition these patterns of thinking that The reality is that if anything other are so tenaciously (and tragically) Darius Jankiewicz is than commitment to Christ and His ingrained in the Christian faith. professor of historical church, spiritual gifting, and maturity It’s a common human experience to theology at the Seventh-day determines fitness for various func- be attracted to those who exhibit genu- Adventist Theological Seminary tions in the church, then, whether we ine Christian authority, and to be at , Berrien intend it or not, we an elitist repelled by the attitudes of those who Springs, Michigan.

20 (212) | www.AdventistReview.org | March 13, 2014 Introducing the Why The Middle Space

How can a person—a pastor, no less—just up and become an atheist? By now, you’ve likely heard that Ryan Bell, a former Seventh-day Adventist pastor, did exactly that. In case you’ve missed all the action, let me give you a quick recap. In the spring of 2013 Bell was asked to resign his pastoral position because of foundational theological differences with the Adventist Church. Over the next few months Bell admittedly wrestled with his personal belief system, eventually writing a blog entry wondering if religion was “just a drug trip.” To experience firsthand whether an active belief in God really mattered, Bell decided to explore athe- ism for an entire year. This meant he wasn’t going to pray, read the Bible, go to church, or hang out with Christian friends. To allow others to follow along, he registered the URL yearwithoutgod.com and began providing frequent updates about his experience. A quick Google search will reveal a plethora of opinions on his experiment. While some applaud Bell for his courage, others see it as a contrived appeal for attention. Not surprisingly, the strongest views come from the two camps on opposite ends of the spectrum: Adventists and atheists. As someone who has been blessed with a platform to share my personal journey in hopes of encour- aging and inspiring others, I have very strong feelings about the path Bell has chosen to take. That being said, too much venom has been spewed. As Christians, we have to remember our end goal (hint: it should be the same as Jesus’). The best each of us can do is pray for Bell and make a conscious effort to impact people within our of influence, especially those who may be struggling with their faith, positively. Interestingly, in the early days of 2014 Bell’s plight became international news. In an interview with CNN’s Brooke Baldwin, Bell said something that captivated my attention: “I think the tendency Jimmy that people have is to think of religion and faith in binary categories. So you’re either all of one thing Phillips or you’re all of another thing. So you’re either completely Christian and completely sold on all the ideas about being a Christian, or you’re an atheist and you’ve completely abandoned all faith. And I think the reality I’ve discovered . . . is that the vast majority of people are somewhere between those two polls, and I’m with them in that middle space.” Believe it or not, I struggle in that middle space. Maybe you do too. The apostle Paul did, which is probably why he wrote these words: “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want” (Gal. 5:16, 17). As sinful humans, you and I are bondservants to the lust of the flesh. According to Romans 3:12, we’re completely incapable of doing anything good on our own. To overcome our carnal nature, we need a Savior that has the power to re-create us in His image, just as He first breathed life into Adam in the Garden of Eden. The daily grind—the middle space—is the reality of the flesh and the Spirit colliding. We Adventists call this the great controversy. As I read the writings of Ryan Bell, I’m saddened to see another person take his eyes off the true issue. While we are all on a journey, the solution is not to explore the desires of our flesh further. The real answer is to follow in the footsteps of Jesus every day, and through His power remove self from the equation altogether. That’s the best way to leave the middle space for good. n

Jimmy Phillips ([email protected]) is director of marketing and communications for San Joaquin Community Hospital.

www.AdventistReview.org | March 13, 2014 | (213) 21 Adventist Life rounded by ‘mechanical believers’ who ‘believe’ in everything, in every cere- mony, every ritual—but know nothing whatever about the living God.”5 We have been cautioned that “bustle and show” and the “busy activity in the mechanical part of even the work of God may so occupy the mind that prayer shall be neglected, and self- importance and self-sufficiency, so ready to urge their way,”6 take the place of meditation and prayer. Meditation is a way of shutting out the world and letting in the Spirit. It eliminates from our lives the things that would hinder our union with God

and strengthens our desire that all we MeMeditatingditating on Jesus do shall be done for His honor and glory. Meditation is not a petition or a way of using God or of asking things of Him, but rather a surrender, a plea to BY REX D. EDWARDS God that He use us. hristians and other thought ally may be likened to the attitude of a leaders have described medi- child who breaks into the presence of a Two Stages of Meditation tation in numerous ways. mother, saying, “I’ll not say a word, if Meditation has two stages: with- Puritan Richard Baxter in The you will just let me stay here and watch drawal from worldly consideration, and Saints’ Everlasting Rest called it you.” Meditation allows one to suspend concentration on the nature of God and C“a directory for the getting and keeping the conscious fight against external His incarnate Son, Jesus Christ. After all, of the heart in heaven.”1 Quaker D. Elton diversions by an internal realization of asked Ellen White, “what is more wor- Trueblood sees meditation as “a sacra- the presence of God. thy to engross the mind than the plan of mental view of life, an openness to con- redemption? . . . He who has centered tinual revelation.”2 Jesuit Alfred Delp Delp’s Story his affections upon Christ will relish defined meditation as “a continuous Alfred Delp was arrested by the this kind of hallowed association and Advent.”3 Author and theologian Rich- Gestapo in 1944 when he joined a secret will gather divine strength by such ard J. Foster suggests “Christian medita- group called the Kreisau Circle. Expect- intercourse.”7 tion leads us into the inner wholeness ing Hitler’s defeat, this group planned a Meditation uses our three powers: necessary to give ourselves to God new social order to be built along Chris- the memory, the intellect, and the will. freely.” He views it as a preparation for tian lines after World War II. These “re- By memory we recall His goodness and the work of prayer and fundamentally a Christianizing intentions” were our blessings; with the intellect we way of listening to God and commun- considered heresy. After a mock trial recall what is known of His life, truth, ing with the Creator.4 and a perfunctory sentencing, Delp was and love; by the will we strive to love In contrast to Eastern meditation, executed in Plötzensee Prison on Febru- Him above all else. When we study, we which seeks to empty the mind and ary 2, 1945. know about God; when we meditate, we merge with cosmic consciousness, From the shadow of the scaffold, know God’s presence in ourselves. Then Christian meditation seeks detachment while awaiting the executioner’s certain our personality becomes lost in God’s from cultural confusion in order to have but unscheduled arrival, Delp saw a so that His mind is our mind, His a deeper attachment to God. Christian world no longer capable of knowing desires are our desires, His loves are meditation, therefore, is a potent rem- God. “Drowned by the noises of every- our loves. In the words of the apostle edy against the externalization of life. In day life, forbidden by restrictions, lost Paul: “It is no longer I who live, but meditation we do not think about the in the hurry of ‘progress,’ stifled by Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).8 world or ourselves, but instead dwell on authority, misled by fear, the ordinary God and make resolutions that will person’s ‘spiritual mechanism has A Two-way Street draw us nearer to Him. rusted and become practically useless.’ For meditation, the ear is more Meditation is a more advanced spiri- Even the church was not spared from important than the tongue, because tual act than “saying prayers.” It actu- this critique, for he found himself sur- faith comes from listening (Rom. 10:17).

22 (214) | www.AdventistReview.org | March 13, 2014 Most of us commit the same mistake demands helps us to see our sins more serviced. When our spiritual batteries with God that we do with our friends: clearly. It replaces the criticism of others run down, we cannot charge them by we do all the talking. Jesus warned by a self-criticism, which will make us ourselves. The more active the life is, the against those who “use vain repetitions. less critical of others. greater the need to vitalize its acts by . . . For they think that they will be heard Meditation also improves our behav- meditation. for their many words” (Matt. 6:7). ior. “Meditation upon holy things,” One can be impolite to God, too, by wrote Ellen White, “will elevate and Personalized Meditation absorbing all the conversation, and by refine the mind, and will develop Chris- Our time of meditation must be per- changing the words of Scripture from tian ladies and gentlemen.”9 sonalized. We cannot cling to unlawful “Speak, Lord, Thy servant hears” to “Lis- If we meditate consistently on God, a attachments. “Blessed are the pure in ten, Lord, Thy servant speaks.” God has complete revolution in our behavior heart,” Jesus said. Therefore, by God’s things to tell us that will enlighten us, takes place. If in a morning meditation grace, we need purity of conscience, and we must wait for Him to speak. we remember how God became a hum- heart, mind, and action. Our helpless- When we complain that God does not ble servant of humanity, we will not ness must be rendered up to the power hear our prayers, perhaps it’s because lord ourselves over others during the of God, so the Holy Spirit can change we didn’t wait to hear His answers. day. If there were a meditation on His and transform us more fully into His Prayer, then, is not a monologue, but redemption of all people, we would likeness. a dialogue. It’s not a one-way street, but cease to be racists. If we dwell on the As the earth revolves around the sun, a boulevard. As Isaiah the prophet said: truth that Jesus took the world’s sins it carries with it its own atmosphere. So “He awakens me morning by morning, upon Himself, we will seek to take up too can we can carry the atmosphere of He awakens my ear to hear as the the burdens of our neighbors even God amid the world’s turbulent events. learned” (Isa. 50:4). Paul says the Spirit though they are not a part of our mak- Little wonder Ellen White counseled, will tell us what things we ought to pray ing, because the sins the Lord bore were “We . . . must have times set apart for and provide spiritual expression to the not of His making. If meditation focuses meditation and prayer and for receiving voiceless void of our hearts. Prayer is on the merciful Savior who forgave spiritual refreshing. . . . Prayer and faith arduous when it’s only a monologue, those who crucified Him, so we will for- will do what no power on earth can but a joy when our self-absorption gives give those who injure us, so that we accomplish. We are seldom, in all way to the act of humble listening. may receive forgiveness. If we meditate respects, placed in the same position The best exposition of the steps in before we go to bed, our last thoughts at twice. We continually have new scenes meditation is found in the Gospel night will be our first thoughts in the and new trials to pass through, where account of the Resurrection. The disci- morning. There will be no feelings of past experience cannot be a sufficient ples on that day were most forlorn. In depression because we are facing what guide. We must have the continual light their sadness they fell into a discussion seems to be a meaningless day; instead that comes from God.”11 n about Jesus with a traveler they had met will be the joy of beginning another day by chance on the Emmaus road. This serving in Christ’s name. 1 Frank N. Magill and Ian P. McGreal, eds., Christian Spirituality: The Essential Guide to the Most Influential Spir- marks the first stage of meditation: they Meditation also connects us with new itual Writings of the Christian Tradition (San Franscisco: spoke about Jesus, not realizing He was sources of power and energy. “Meditate Harper and Row Publishers, 1988), p. 306. present. This was followed by Jesus’ dis- day and night upon His character,” 2 Ibid., p. 502. 3 Ibid., p. 584. closure of His presence. We must listen, Ellen White admonished, then “you will 4 Ibid., p. 656. then, as the disciples did when He . . . rejoice in His goodness. Your heart 5 Ibid., pp. 583, 584. began to unfold to them the meaning of will glow with a sense of His love. You 6 Ellen G. White, Testimonies to the Church (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1948), vol. 4, p. 535. His passion and death. Finally, there will be uplifted as if borne by everlast- 7 Ibid., vol. 5, p. 600. comes a stage of communion, signified ing arms. With the power and light that 8 All Scripture quotations are from the New King by the breaking of bread at supper God imparts, you can comprehend James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights described in the Gospel. At this point more and accomplish more than you reserved. we are united to God, and God to us. ever before deemed possible.”10 9 Ellen G. White, Fundamentals of Christian Education “Come to Me, all you who labor and (Nashville: Southern Pub. Assn., 1923), p. 132. 10 Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing (Mountain Practical Effects are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1905), p. 514. Does meditation have any practical (Matt. 11:28), Jesus tells us. None of us 11 Ibid., p. 509. effects on our spiritual lives? First, it has sufficient knowledge and power to cures us of the habit of self-deception. carry us through all the difficulties and Rex D. Edwards is research Meditation enables us to hold up the trials of living. The more an orchestra assistant for the General mirror to our souls and see ourselves as plays, the more frequently the instru- Conference Biblical Research we really are—not as we like to think ments must be tuned; the farther an air- Institute. we are. The silence that meditation plane flies, the more often it needs to be

www.AdventistReview.org | March 13, 2014 | (14)(215) 23 Heart and Soul: Theology Religion of Heroes mended for his tactics. The master com- Many of us know as a reli- mended the selfish steward for being BY JONATHAN MARTIN gion for heroes. We are, after all, the rem- shrewd enough to see that his self-cen- nant people, those who must stand in tered approach to life to that point led the last days before a holy God. We stand nowhere. Despite his shady dealings, he apart from the crowd in our observance is praised for seeing that he needed oth- of the Sabbath. We teach unpopular ers, and for seeking them out, even at the truths about history, Bible prophecy and risk of bringing more trouble on himself. A TWENTY- FIRST-CENTURY FAITH end-times, death, law, and judgment. The servant stops his power trip and Add to all that a lifestyle message that decides to bank on friendship, vulnera- seems to touch every cherished sin of bility, goodwill, and solidarity with oth- popular animated film from a few our age, and you have something to ers. This is what is commendable. A intimidate even the most daring people. It was actually a savvy and unusual years ago features a protagonist For many, transitioning to Adventism way of dealing with the problem. The named Gru, who is on a quest to seems like a herculean epic, overcoming more common way would have been to trial after trial on our quest for eternity. try to prove his innocence and/or capture the moon in order to earn However, as Peter discovered, Jesus does impress the master through heroic acts the title of World’s Greatest Villain.1 not need heroes. He needs people capa- of some kind. ble of doing heroic things who realize Another reaction would have been to As the story progresses, one that they are but children in need of gen- be hard on his master’s debtors to try to comes to see that this antisocial, uine community, authenticity, vulnera- prove himself to the master and regain bility, and love that only Jesus provides. his money. This would have been more self-centered aspiration is rooted in a childhood history of emo- tional neglect, unworthiness, and Each one of our distinctive doctrines is a unimportance. The character in declaration of how close, loving, and involved question shows all the telltale Father God really is. signs of someone who is emo- tionally dwarfed: lack of empa- thy, lack of humor, as well as a The Unjust Steward in keeping with his previous life of The parable of the unjust steward independent power and wealth seeking. fear of vulnerability, attachment, (Luke 16:1-13) clearly lays out the But instead he decided to bank on and emotions in general. He importance of connection, authenticity, friendship. He became vulnerable and and vulnerability. approached others as one in need. He seeks to compensate by making The parable begins when a scoundrel laid a foundation for a life of commu- himself significant in a world that wealth manager is found skimming nity and solidarity with others. It is a from his boss’s fortune. Because of the total reversal of his previous life. makes him insignificant. manager’s selfish approach to life, he is By the end of the otherwise silly about to lose his position, status, and We and the Unjust Steward power. To meet this emergency, he unex- Like the unjust steward, we too need story, Gru comes to experience pectedly changes his life philosophy and a dramatic shift in life philosophy. The and open up to love. He stops try- sets out to create a social safety net for independent, self-made righteousness himself at the master’s expense. Amaz- that we often seek actually bankrupts ing to be a hero (or antihero), and ingly, the master commends the shrewd- us. Our antisocial attitude makes us just accepts his need to love and ness of his double-dealing servant. unfit for heaven. Our natural impulse is This is the key to understanding the to try to prove our innocence to God, or be loved. parable: The steward was not com- impress Him with some heroic works.

24 (216) But what we really need is to turn around and focus our energies on fos- tering genuine community and connec- tion in this world. We have to stop promoting and defending ourselves and open ourselves up to vulnerability, authenticity, and love. We have to real- ize that only Jesus can bring true and A TWENTY- FIRST-CENTURY FAITH genuine community. Adventism for the days ahead The gospel exists where there is true community. All our doctrines, under- stood in the light of Jesus’ life-changing love, lead to living socially, authenti- cally, and connected with others.

The Right Thing This concept is hardly foreign to us. We have doubtless heard many sermons and read many articles about the com- munal nature of love. We are encouraged to love each other more. Being like Jesus means demonstrating a love for each other that we do not naturally have. And it is one of the main purposes we ascribe to the church, a community in which Christian love develops and flourishes. Sadly, we seem not to understand and appreciate just how much it is our privi- lege and our need to love and be con- nected to others. The unjust steward did not act from some higher ethical princi- ple; he acted from pure self-interest. By contrast, Christ would have us under- stand that love is the right thing to do, and that even selfish people can recognize the rightness of looking out for others. The latest research in the study of happiness agrees that vulnerability, connection, solidarity, and authenticity is where true happiness is found.2 God isn’t looking for heroes, He’s looking for children. Heroes are inevita- bly proud of their sacrifices and accom- plishments. God is looking for the humble, those who know they are not heroes. He is looking for those who rec- ognize that what is good is also best for them. They’re just doing what they were created and saved to do. “So you also, when you have done everything you

www.AdventistReview.org | March 13, 2014 | (217) 25 were told to do, should say, ‘We are ing our solidarity and interdependence equation. Love makes sense once again. unworthy servants; we have only done with the rest of humanity; when we rec- Love becomes doable rather than heroic. our duty’ ” (Luke 17:10). ognize this as God’s original plan for the perfect and emotionally satisfying Wrap-up The Better Life life we were created for: then we will be Adventism for the twenty-first cen- All of this leads us to conclude that able to see the liberation power of God’s tury has gotten over some narrowly the attached life, the communal, inter- righteousness, instead of the subjugat- intellectual concepts and defense of our dependent life, is the better life. Ascetic ing force of divine orders. These heart- doctrines. Like the walls of Jericho, the individualism centered on denial of and-soul dimensions of Jesus’ saving intellectual walls against our message pleasure and inclination is not God’s grace infuse our preaching with never- will fall without a fight when we do the road to goodness. Rather, God’s way is before-seen power. For it is no longer crucial work of demonstrating what our in solidarity and family connection with some cerebral conception, some theo- doctrines mean for our broken world our sisters and brothers, all in childlike retical abstraction on disembodied, and our broken hearts. dependence on God. immortal souls, it is salvation for whole It all starts with love and vulnerabil- This, of course, often calls for self- people—their brains and their think- ity. When I talk to people about the Ad- denial and sacrifice. But abnegation is ing, their arms and their embracing. ventist revolution, I just want people to not an end in and of itself. God takes no “[Jesus] called a little child to him, and walk away with one conviction: that the pleasure in seeing us flog our bodies. placed the child among them. And he grace Adventists celebrate is about His desire is not to abase us, but to said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change childlike vulnerability, human connec- build us up and help us reach our full- and become like little children, you will tion, and heartfelt authenticity. est potential and happiness. He under- never enter the kingdom of heaven. God is closer to us than anyone ever stands and has designed that such Therefore, whoever takes the lowly posi- imagined. Not only will He end death growth can truly occur only for a per- tion of this child is the greatest in the and suffering, He had nothing to do son who has learned the infinite value kingdom of heaven’ ” (Matt. 18:2-4). with them in the first place. Not only of connection and loving In a way, we never grow up. We just did God start history, He has been guid- interdependence with build higher walls around that love and ing it step by step. Not only can we have others. Jesus’ com- connection-craving child within. God’s a personal relationship with Jesus, but ing, His own con- design is that we go from finding our He has also a specific day set aside each tinual dependence, emotional home base in our parents to week to meet with us. Not only does His celebration finding it in Him. As we become adults Jesus forgive us, He also works in His of His children, we are confronted with the reality that sanctuary to give us His heart. all teach us to our parents are not all-powerful, all- Each one of our distinctive doctrines be converted to knowing, or all-loving. They are mortal is a declaration of how close, loving, and childlikeness and fallible, like we are. They simply involved our Father God really is. God within; to be cannot keep us secure in a world in gives us the emotional security we need genuine, vul- which death reigns, and in which they to love and to be loved without limit. He nerable, and are themselves powerless, no matter is big enough to unlock our vulnerabil- connected, as how well-intentioned they may be. ity and tear away any facade of perfec- He first cre- Mortality turns life into mere enter- tionism, sufficiency, and independence ated us. tainment. There can be no ultimate pur- that frightened humans shut them- The dangers pose or meaning when nonexistence selves into. of missing this awaits us. In a life of entertainment, These precious truths not only present truth are too love and vulnerability become a liability Christ as the answer that our emotionally great to be rather than an asset. Taken too seri- atrophied world desperately needs, they ignored. For miss- ously, they can keep us from having the also, as we understand and apply them, ing it holds Christi- fun and achieving the successes we make us perfectly ready to go home. anity in the perpetual want. So we must protect ourselves 1 Despicable Me (Universal Pictures, 2010). Jesus-Accepts-Me-as-I-Am-So-Why-Do- from them. 2 See Brené Brown, Daring Greatly (New York; Pen- I-Have-to-Be-Good? paradox. An antiso- This is why life in this fallen world guin Books, 2012). cial gospel produces such antisocial pushes us to build walls around us. We questions as this. crave love, but fear the sacrifice it repre- Jonathan Martin Is a pastoral When we, on the other hand, see Cal- sents. If this world is all there is, then intern in Quebec City, Canada. He vary’s saving love as God’s embrace of love isn’t worth it. But eternal accep- has a B.A. in pastoral ministry the whole world; when we understand tance with God, having an assured place from Andrews University, and a the concept of God as Father underlin- within His kingdom of love, changes the J.D. from Sherbrooke University.

26 (218) | www.AdventistReview.org | March 13, 2014 Searching the Obvious Fragile Daisies Three hours have passed. I remember the words: Do not be afraid; just believe. Yet I am truly afraid. * * * I walk into the pediatrics facility. Tomorrow is Laurie’s surgery. She’s only 6. Treatment has shrunk her brain tumor, and surgeons will remove it tomorrow. As I open the building’s door I remember conversing with Laurie’s father. While Laurie sleeps, he reads the Bible. He found the story in which Jesus healed Jairus’ daughter. “Jesus told them not to be afraid, but to believe,” he said. “We trust in God’s will.” That night I peeked through Laurie’s bedroom window. I prayed that the Holy Spirit would sustain them, remind them of God’s promises, and bring us grace and humility to stand without fear. I stop at the nurses’ station. The nurses tell me that Laurie asked for a daisy chain to wear on her head before surgery. I . Laurie lives on a farm and loves daisies. Her mother once showed me a picture of Laurie in her father’s arms, laughing, her long hair blowing in the wind, a daisy chain around her head. The treatment has left Laurie with no hair. A nurse hands me an envelope with directions to a flower shop five miles from the hospital. “Can you help us?” They all pitched in for the daisy chain. * * * A little bell announces my entrance into the flower shop. A young woman carrying a bucket of roses greets me. She takes out a small notepad to gather information. A short old man walks toward the counter, looks at me, looks at the notepad, and walks away in an uninterested man- ner. He returns with two buckets of daisies, places them on the counter, and walks away. The young woman quietly apologizes and tells me this is her father’s shop. He is ill. She has inherited responsibilities as well as the flower shop. She asks for the measurement for the daisy chain and comments on how “unusual” this request Dixil is. I hand her a piece of paper just as her father returns to the counter. The woman looks at the paper, Rodríquez then at me, then at her father. She just realized how small the measurements are. The look on the old man’s face softens. He begins working through the daisy buckets as he talks: “For the perfect daisy chain, select the ones that will not break easily; and beautiful ones that have all their tiny petals. Always have two chains braided together. They are fragile.” A pause. “Is she fragile too?” Yes. * * * I stand outside the room, listening to Laurie’s laughter as nurses help with the daisy chain. Tomorrow the daisy chain will no longer be on her head: Do not be afraid; just believe. Profound words. Our Savior is right here, right now, helping the surgeons prepare, managing every little detail. Do not be afraid; just believe. I sit with Laurie’s parents in the waiting area. Three hours and 20 minutes have gone by. Dear God, let me believe. Take my fear away. * * * Two days have passed. Laurie is recovering from a successful surgery. As I walk into the room I see daisy chains on the window, on the base of her bed, and in beautiful arrangements on the tables. Laurie’s mom says a father/daughter team decorated the room while Laurie slept. They said they would return to change the flowers as needed. What a beautiful gift. From a small piece of paper, the Holy Spirit encouraged the florists to participate in God’s healing work with Laurie. That we are all fragile is obvious. That we have to help one another more, on small and big things, is often not as obvious. Still, the Holy Spirit puts urgency in our hearts to lend a helping hand, and we must listen. I sit close to Laurie, take her hand, and ask, “Do you know how to make the perfect daisy chain?” n

Dixil Rodríguez is a college professor and volunteer hospital chaplain.

www.AdventistReview.org | March 13, 2014 | (219) 27 Story crews © terry

BY ELIZABETH BOYD What e stood alone at the back and wonder about God. Did God still love entrance of the church, the him after all his wasted years? reminds winter sun shining on his The thought in the back of his mind weathered face. His shoul- kept hounding him: perhaps he should you of ders were slightly stooped, find his way back to church. Maybe Hhis white hair and beard neatly something there would be a balm to his trimmed. He reached for the handle of aching heart. “going the door. Should he go in? The winter wind tugged at his down It had been a long time since he had parka. He pulled it closer about him and home”? been inside a church. Life had been opened the back door. It was warm hard. His wife had left him a few years inside. Women were already heating the ago, and he and his 16-year-old son covered dishes for potluck, and the shared an apartment overlooking Port- aroma surrounded him. land’s harbor. Faint voices of children in the kinder- The Green-striped Downy Comforter Starting a new business after retiring garten room came floating up the stair- from the Navy wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t way. “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the the ex-wife, the wayward son, or the Bible tells me so!” He was drawn in by change of life work that weighed on his the voices of these little ones. He stooped shoulders. It was the nagging, remembered that long ago and far away empty place in his heart. He was the little boy in the blue shirt When he had been a kid, his grand- who sang, “Jesus loves me, this I know!” mother had taken him to church. He His blue eyes began to sting, and a tear had learned Bible verses, sung “Jesus rested on his weathered cheek. This is Loves Me,” and prayed. But he had where I belong, he thought, as he made his dreams. Big dreams. Church just didn’t way closer to the singing. I’ve come home. fit into them. When he told me the story a few Sometimes, when all was quiet in the months later, he had a new look on his middle of the night, he would look up face, and shoulders were no longer from his puffy pillow into the darkness stooped. I could identify with his story.

28 (220) | www.AdventistReview.org | March 13, 2014 Home Away From Home rolling hills dotted with small farms I was a 13-year-old from the city. Day and Black Angus cattle. The windows ? What Do You Think? after day on the freeway, trucks with were wide open, and the smell of freshly diesel engines roared past our house. mowed hay was in the air. The silver 1. What are your one or two best mem- Police and ambulance sirens wailed day notes of the meadowlark’s song blended ories about growing up in a Christian and night. The sky hung heavy and gray, with our own singing. The words of the home? If you weren’t raised in a blocking the golden rays of sunshine; songs etched themselves into my mind. Christian home, what appealed to you most as an outside observer? Could it be that in these days 2. What role do those memories now play in your appreciation of and par- of uncertainty we need a few ticipation in the church? security blankets? 3. How has the world changed—either for good or bad—since you were my lungs ached for a breath of fresh air. Ever after, when life seemed brittle, I young? List at least three ways. There was no spot where a little girl would visit the farm again. The scene 4. What can you as an individual or as with long brown hair could go to be was the same. Women gathered around a congregation do to create positive, alone and ponder the long, long the table with the covered dishes, men lasting memories for the generation thoughts of youth. talked about the weather, and the sing- now forming its memories about Then came summertime. Uncle Felix and ing would begin. As always my uncle Christianity? Be specific. Aunt Mary lived on a cattle ranch among would raise his hand and invite us to the rolling green hills of the Midwest. sing, “Hold us who wait before Thee, After school was out, my parents let near to the heart of God.” beside the lake. Cabins are there, but me spend some time where the air was There’s something to be said about you have to bring your own linen and fresh and the sky was blue. I rode the finding that what was there when you sleep on a cot definitely designed with horse at full gallop down the dirt road left is still there when you come home. youth in mind. with the wind in my long hair and the I spread the green-striped puff atop horse’s black mane blowing onto my Bridging the Gap the sagging bed and crawled between face, stinging my cheeks. The teens at our church have a prayer the sheets. I had just closed my eyes From the farm, I could see the little group that meets at my big old New when I heard the door creak. white church some five miles away on a England farmhouse after the service A beam of light shone on the green- yonder ridge. Church was special. Farmers every week. We’re not very fancy. We striped puff. “Oh!” whispered a little gathered at the churchyard early, as soon just have soup, swirl bread, and peanut blond teen to her bud. “It’s the green- as their chores were done. Women butter. That’s all. striped comforter!” brought covered dishes of green beans, After the meal the kids rush to my In a moment they were on the bed, snug- The Green-striped Downy Comforter new potatoes, and fresh red tomatoes office upstairs to stake their claim to gling under the green-striped puff, and from the garden. Men gathered and talked which puffy flowered pillow they will hug sharing the long, long thoughts of youth. about the weather, and what it was doing for the afternoon, and who gets to nestle Could it be that in these days of to the hay. Then the singing started. into the old feather tick. Their favorite change and uncertainty we need a few Uncle Willie sang bass; Uncle Delbert, item is the downy puff covered with the security blankets around? The new tenor; Uncle Felix took the lead. The songs white-and-green-striped sheets. As many songs, the new ways of doing church, the went on and on, until it was time to start as possible sit on the floor atop the green new viewpoints are refreshing, and have the service. Then my uncle would raise Prussian rug with this green-striped their place. But everyone needs a green- his hand for the worshippers to welcome comforter over their legs and their Bibles striped comforter to come home to. n the platform participants. He would start in their hands. It is a precious time as the song, and we would all sing together, they make their own memories. I’m glad Elizabeth Boyd writes from “There is a place of quiet rest, near to the the green-striped puff is part of it. Harpswell, Maine. heart of God. . . . Hold us who wait before A few months ago I went to one of Thee, near to the heart of God.” those periodic “retreats” at the church’s I could look out the window over the youth facility back in the mountains

www.AdventistReview.org | March 13, 2014 | (221) 29 (222) Reflections Loving the Unlovable The first time we saw him he was walking leisurely across our backyard. He paid little attention to Joan and me as we relaxed near the little fishpond. “He” was a beautiful big orange-and-white cat with long fur and a large, bushy tail. We soon discovered that he was a tomcat of Turkish Van heritage, and that his name was Tom. We often observed his walks as we sat in the cool of the evenings. There he would go across the backyard and the garden plot, through the little patch of woods, and on toward our neighbor’s house. We tried calling to him as he passed by, but he would stop only for a moment in midstride, turn his head to look at us, and amble on to wherever he was going. He paid no attention to our dog and two cats, nor did they him, as if there was a certain peace agreement between them. Early one afternoon I went to Joan’s sewing room in the basement and found Tom lying on one of Joan’s large sewing tables. Apparently he had made his way through Sheba’s dog door, helped himself to some of Sam and Suzie’s cat food, and stretched out for a nap. I wanted to make friends with this big, beautiful cat, so I reached out to touch him. I made contact, all right, but not in the way I intended. Tom snarled wickedly and jumped at me, fastening his claws into my arm and his teeth into my hand. Then just as quickly he let go and darted out of the basement. It was not a very good start to what I hoped would be a beautiful friendship. Apparently that episode did not discourage Tom, because before long I met him again under the same cir- cumstances. He lay there quietly, just looking at me and wondering if I had learned my lesson not to touch him. This time I was more cautious. I leaned against the nearby table while talking to him quietly. I reached out with the tip of my walking cane and lightly rubbed his back between his shoulders. He did not move, but squinted his eyes, as cats often do when pleased. This happened several times during the next few days, with the same result. I decided to be a little bolder. So the next time, after rubbing his back for a bit with my cane, I reached over to touch him. But Tom was still not ready for that close of a friendship. Snarling like a wildcat, he grabbed my arm and hand again before he ran out of the basement. Tom enjoyed our basement, continuing to rest on the sewing table after feasting on some of Sam and Suzie’s dinner. I gave him the same treatment with my cane, but kept my hands to myself. One day something miraculous happened. I gave Tom his nuzzle with the cane and drew it back. Then, while leaning against the next table, I just looked at him. All at once he gathered himself up, leaped across the gap between our tables, and began rubbing against me as if we were longtime friends. It wasn’t all roses from then on. I had to be careful about our associations on certain days, as he would lose his cool and go back to his old snarling meanness. But I didn’t give up. It took a bit of time and patience, but Tom became my almost-constant companion, and his tem- perament softened. I believe Tom finally learned how to love when he finally recognized and responded to the affection shown him. Tom is gone now, resting by the little fishpond. But that big orange-and-white cat taught me a great lesson. In my experience with him I came to better understand God’s experience with me. I may have appeared likable and touchable on the outside, but that belied what was inside. Jesus loved me and showed me so with His actions. He did not give up when I snarled or even struck out at Him. He kept drawing me in with His love until I jumped across the gap between us to be His friend. Now He keeps me close, and I will be His forever. “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jer. 31:3, KJV). n

Raymond H. Hickman, Sr., writes from Midlothian, Virginia.