May 2004

FORA FALLEN BROTHER F I R

Requiem and resurrection for a fallen brother How are we to view and treat a fellow minister who has a "moral fall"? Dwight K. Nelson

Toward a theological basis for urban ministry What is the scriptural basis for having an active city ministry? R. Clifford Jones

Sexuality in ministry: the pastor, sexual sin, and the Bible The third in Ministry©s series on clergy and constructive sexual behavior Miroslav Kis

"The law is our anchor, Jesus is the wind in our sails" A Christocentric view of the Seventh-day Adventist view of the Ten Commandments Alden Thompson

Evangelism is everyone©s task From a first-time student evangelist, some inspiring approaches to public outreach endeavor Caesar Wamalika

Traction or distraction Avoiding the "legitimate" activities that can distract pastors from their calling C. Lloyd Wyman

Behavioral marital therapy: a way for pastors to help heal marital conflicts An implementable pastoral approach to helping struggling married couples Daniel M. Forbes

MINISTRY T T R

he January 2004 "Letters" column thus, we damn our honor and sanctity. robe of Christ©s righteousness can we Tof Ministry had a letter from Roger Therefore, as far as life is concerned, stand before the Father. It is in accept Kovaciny regarding the well-known as ambassadors for Christ, we must have ing His righteousness, made possible by psasage from Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a that capacity to preserve our individual His death on Calvary, that gets us child ..." ity that shall not be destroyed. The Lord through the judgment." Herewith are a few sentences from turns the natural aptitudes and capabil Are the hundreds of people I Walter C. Kaiser, jr.©s book, Hard Sayings ities into profitable channels. In the taught "He that hath the Son hath of the Old Testament (InterVarsity Press, improvement of the faculties God has life" (1 John 5:12); "though your sins be 1988), page179ff: given, talent and ability are developed if as scarlet, they shall be as white as "Therefore, we conclude that this the human agent will recognize the fact snow" (Isa. 1:18); "Come unto me, all enigmatic phrase means that instruc that all his powers are an endowment ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I tion ought to be conformed to the from God, to be used not for evil or ugly will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28); and nature of the youth. ... As with many purposes . . . but for the glory of God the many texts that make Jesus central other moral proverbs of this sort, the and the good of our fellowmen" (Letter to our salvation based on His death on question often comes from many a dis 20, 1894, HC90). Calvary lost because they did not traught parent: ©Does this proverb have We are happy in the coming future understand the intricacies of the sanctu any exception to it, or will it always even, only among the least in the mil ary ritual? work out that if we train our children as lion saints, marching toward the inlet When Jesus said, as He breathed His this verse advises us, we can be sure gold and to be with our beloved Savior last, "It is finished" (John 19:30), sanctu they won©t turn from the Lord?© face to face. We have conquered the ary (none) sacredness was demonstrat "No, this verse is no more an iron worst battle of our self, because of our ed by the tearing of the veil between the clad guarantee than is any other excellent precept to follow our Lord. Holy and Most Holy Place (Matt. 27:51). proverb. . . . The statement is called a Estrella Anac/eto Jordan, Prilly, Switzerland. The sanctuary and its services were proverb, not a promise." replaced by One "greater than the tem F. A. Hertwig, Lincoln, Missouri. am responding to Clifford Goldstein©s ple" (Matt. 12:6). Rather than looking I article in the January 2004 issue. back to the sanctuary and its services, it highly appreciate the excellence Several points he makes are puzzling to seems to me the gospel teaches us to I exhortation of the author that inten me. I will deal with only one of them. look forward. It also seems of some sig sify courteously unequivocal approach My question involves Goldstein©s nificance that none of the disciples, in in line of ministerial functions. The observation: "Thus, the message of the writing to the Christian believers, men author, Miroslav Kis, who wrote this sanctuary is this: Christ and His right tion anything about a mid-nineteenth- article in the cover story of the Ministry, eousness, symbolized by the ceremonial century event that would relate to man©s "Sexual Misconduct in the Ministry" blood shed on the Day of Atonement salvation. (January 2004). and in other sacrificial settings, is what Have I and some of our eminent As a gospel minister or any workers gets us through the judgment. Without evangelists failed to prepare our con link in our church, this calling is sacred it, all of us would be lost, for none of us, verts for heaven? and knows with respect to undertake no matter our works, have the quality of Cery P. Friesen, Loma Linda, California. excitements sensational interest upon righteousness needed to stand before a confidential nature of personal impulsive holy God." Clifford Goldstein responds; Cery impugn. He should have that standard My first ten years were spent as a Friesen is correct; it©s only the Cross, and to overthrow besetments and should singing evangelist. I listened to some of not our understanding of the "intricacies not go beyond the limit of being too our most outstanding evangelists pre of the sanctuary ritual," that saves us, inquisitive. The enemy corrode our spir sent the Gospel, and not one of them both now and in the judgment. I don©t see itual understanding in some occasion. made the observation Goldstein makes. any contradiction, or problem, between Human beings as we are, we go down My understanding is that "all of our knowing what happens in judgment and deeply, because of the attractions which righteousness are as filthy rags..." (Isa. what happened at the Cross. Both are direct us to undergo such problems, 64:6). Only as we are clothed with the parts of a whole. W

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

May 2004 MINISTRY D T O R I A L

More on clergy sexuality

hat©s been happening during and fatal spiritual nap while a corrupt the last few years that mind-set has evolved and established W Christian ministers have itself amongst us; a mind-set that become as involved as we have in sex impairs our deepest convictions about WlLLMORE D. EVA ual wrongdoing? Is it just that a less who we actually are as ministers of God. deferential culture has emerged leading We must ask ourselves if we still actu to an unprecedented exposure of ally believe that our calling is indeed all behaviors that have been going on that high and all that holy. among us all along? Or has there in fact Throughout my ministry, I have been been a rise in our involvement in such a serious advocate of ministers being things? more approachable, more human, and Even as I ask these questions, I©m more themselves, while they strive to be aware that I can©t answer them with less stiff, stentorian, authoritarian, and ultimate adequacy. But along with dom dare to actually count what our formal; that they curb their ultimately many, my sense of disquiet is not one illicit, undisclosed sexual behavior costs egotistical attempts to live up to some that merely manifests itself in a con us and others when it comes to our sort of contrived ministerial image. This demnation of those of my colleagues marriages, our self-respect, our sense of quest is certainly not wrong in itself, but who have "fallen." My disquiet also personal integrity and ministerial verac I am now sensing a rising, pressing brings me up sharply as I see myself ity. It©s also hard for us to assess how need for us to be much more prayerful standing vulnerable before my God, secret and so far unexposed illegitimate and careful about the way we go about with the realization of how susceptible sexual patterns impair our spiritual and establishing the realities behind the we all are to the pervasive, persuasive emotional being, and how they blight ministerial image we seek to adopt and patterns of the contemporary attitudes, our own sense of pastoral authentic project. I know I©m not alone when it thoughts, fantasies, and behaviors, ity which is so foundational to our comes to these concerns. which confront us and tend to shape us function as ministers not to mention The third article in our 2004, six-part more than we might realize. how they affect our credibility and series by Miroslav Kis dealing with pas Then of course, there are those effectiveness as preachers as we stand tors and sexual sin is in this issue (see immensely significant factors associated up to handle the holy things of Cod. page 14). It confronts us with a most with the sexual sins of clergy: We see Thus there is a particular aspect of potent challenge when it comes to the these most clearly when clergy dallying clergy sexual transgression that haunts things we are discussing here. becomes public, causing incalculable us, I think. It has to do with our grasp of Finally there©s the terribly important damage to the hearts, homes, and mar the stark contradiction between sexual question of how we deal with one riages of those involved; and when sin and the holiness of our call to be another as clergy when one of us does festering congregational bewilderment prophets and priests of the Most High "fall." I am glad indeed to be able to and disillusionment become familiar Cod. present in this issue, our cover article by cross currents in their wake, and when When we muster the courage neces Dwight Nelson, who deals so insight the credibility of Christian ministry in sary to actually face this reality we are fully with this critical question. general is wearing so thin, not to men confronted by the magnificence of our Both these articles demand a deeply tion the upheaval that ravages the souls calling as it stands in stark contrast honest reading. The fact is, these arti of our own spouses, marriages, and against the dark, shifting value systems cles transcend the sexual questions that families, and when a species of sterility of our time, sexual or otherwise. In the they deal with frontally. They address takes over the previously secure trajec light of such disparity, we simply have questions that are jugular to what it tory of our lives and vocations. to face the question of whether we have means to be a Christian minister in the We must also confess that we sel- in fact been caught taking a rather long here and now. HI

MINISTRY May 2004 Can you imagine the moment? You©re gathered to bury him and then he walks in! Just like a resurrection. Just like that Sunday night when the dead and buried Jesus walked through the doors of His own upper-room funeral. Who could forget it! And yet what we have too readily forgot ten and too quickly overlooked is that John©s account is really the story of two resurrec tions and it©s the second resurrection our now third millennial church is still waiting for, isn©t it? Requiem and "On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus resurrection for came and stood among them and said, ©Peace be with you!©" (John 20:19, NIV).* Who knows how many bars and padlocks a fallen brother the panicked disciples had slapped onto that upper-room door. Obviously they hadn©t con vened themselves for a Sunday evening worship service the record is too embarrass Adapted from a recent sermon preached by ingly clear, the doors were locked "for fear of Dwight K. Nelson Pastor Nelson. the Jews." The 11 survivors of the slain preacher©s rag ould there be anything in this tag band were utterly convinced that the life more glorious than a resur same authorities who had brutally executed rection from the dead? The their Master on Friday were now on their trail Reuters news agency carried the with bloodhounds. Hence the locked doors. story, dateline: Managua, Nica But of course the sublime truth of the ragua.C Cesar Aguilera, 58 years old, was miss Resurrection is that all the master locks in the ing from his home in Tipitapa, east of the world can©t lock the Master out! capital Managua. In fact, he had been missing And so Jesus stands in their petrified midst for days. His wife and family were frantic. The with a smile and a "Shalom." And the place authorities had no answers. goes berserk. Fear. Shock. And perhaps a kid After a week with no sign of him, in des in the corner screaming, "Are you from this peration the family visited the Managua life or the other?" morgue. There amongst the cadavers they We aren©t told how long it took for them to found the body he©d been run over by a car. grasp the living and glorious Reality who With sorrow they arranged for it to be stood before their gaping mouths. But what brought back to Tipitapa for burial. At the does become clear is that with His "Shalom" funeral the grieving family gathered beside the Jesus births the resurrection community that sobbing wife. The service began. Then without our own community of faith desperately warning the door opened, and in walked needs to become: Cesar! You can understand the place went "After he said this, he showed them his berserk! And a child in the corner kept scream hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed ing, "Are you from this life or the other?" It when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, was as if a resurrection had taken place! ©Peace [Shalom] be with you! As the Father Dwight K. Nelson, Interviewed by a local television station has sent me, I am sending you.© And with that D.Min., is the senior the next day, Cesar Aguilera said he had sim he breathed on them and said, ©Receive the pastor of the Andrews University ply been away for a week to care for some Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, Church, Berrien rural property, and had forgotten to tell his they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, Springs, Michigan. wife who was about to bury the wrong body they are not forgiven©" (John 20:20-23). (and perhaps was then tempted to bury Cesar Note it carefully: This is the portrait of a res himself!). urrection community. A community that

May 2004 MINISTRY resurrects and restores. A community will deny me three times.© He went there any rest for the fallen in our that restores and forgives. Jesus says it out and cried and cried and cried" midst? "Am I my brother©s keeper?" of them: "If you forgive anyone his (Luke 22:60-62, The Message). (Gen. 4:9). How easy it is to dismiss sins, they are forgiven; if you do not A thousand deaths in one minister him. But how hard it is to forgive. forgive them, they are not forgiven." ial fall. Requiem for a fallen brother. Requiem for a fallen brother. And We seem afraid to accept Jesus© then there©s the resurrection of Simon word about us as a Christian commu Fallen in our midst Peter. nity Christ©s inauguration of a new I have looked upon brothers (and resurrection community. Certainly sisters) who have fallen in our com One more resurrection we don©t like the idea of a formalized, munity and in our community of Because there is one more resurrec humanly decided system of forgive faith. The shame. The stigma. The sor tion left in the Gospels, it is ness. But in our fear of creating such row, especially when it has become imperative that we move from the a thing, and thus in our apologetic public. barred and shuttered upper room to the breathe-free, wind-swept shores of Galilee at night. UT IS THERE ANY REST FOR THE FALLEN IN It©s evening actually, when the story continues: "Simon Peter, B OUR MIDST? ©AMI Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ©I©m going out to fish,© Simon Peter told them, and they said, ©We©ll go with you©" (John 21:2, 3). Remember that Simon Peter had defensiveness, have we missed the I wrote a letter once to a brother fallen in as public a way as is humanly high calling to us in these very who in humiliation fled our commu possible. He ground the name of Jesus words the calling of the Gospels© nity practically under the cover of like a cigarette butt beneath his second resurrection? darkness. It was his birthday. It is my cussing heel in front of the whole For on that same dark weekend, practice to send a personal birthday world that night. there had been another death. letter to every one of my parishioners. Why, even Jesus heard his explo Someone died ... a thousand deaths, But I am ashamed to admit that on sion of expletives! "I do not really. And if that fallen brother is not that day when I came to his letter, I know that blankety-blank-blank resurrected, there will never be a res hesitated. man!" You can©t fall any lower than urrection community. At all. What personal note should I publicly repudiating your Savior by Remember the burly big fisher inscribe on the bottom of his birth your words, your life, your very man who had been personally day letter to a now out-of-town lifestyle. called by Jesus to fish for people the address? Wouldn©t it be easier to sim How long would a brother like one who at his ordination swore his ply not scribble anything at all just Peter last in a community like ours? It loyalty to Christ until death the one a signature? Or maybe not even send is a shining testimony to the love of who became a leader appointed to the letter and let him think we©d sim his brothers that Simon Peter did not the inner ministerial circle remem ply forgotten? I©m embarrassed to have to go fishing all alone that night. ber him the one who even when confess my (un)pastoral conundrum. "We will go with you," they said. the chips were down at least trailed in Requiem for a fallen brother. Would that we would do the same. the shadows behind his arrested Requiem is Latin for "rest." But is there "So they went out and got into the Master the same one who much any rest for a fallen brother or fallen boat, but that night they caught later in that same midnight hour sister in our community, our church? nothing" 0ohn 21:3). The moon is in turned the chilled night air blue with What do we do with our fallen its final quarter. It is a picture-perfect his obscenities of denial remember brothers? Strip them of their creden silvery night out on the waters of Peter the pastor? tials? Burn their vestments, or at least Galilee. Beautiful, but depressing. For "At that very moment, the last revoke their ordination? Imprison Peter is not only morally fallen, he is word hardly off his lips, a rooster them in their guilt by our collective now professionally failing fishing crowed. Just then, the Master turned or at least administrative silence, ban when he should be preaching. and looked at Peter. Peter remem ishing their memory and their As it so often happens, fast on the bered what the Master had said to ministry forever from our midst? heels of a moral fall comes the profes him: ©Before the rooster crows, you Requiem for a fallen brother. But is sional failure. A double curse, a double

MINISTRY May 2004 indemnity, a double jeopardy for the "pastor." Which being interpreted fallen brother. No fish ... all night. means, the One who declared, "I am But the night is about to end. And the good shepherd [or pastor]" Qohn Premium art. upon the first faint breeze of the 10:11) is the same One who less than dawn comes the hint of another res 40 days after Peter©s headlined moral More choices. urrection. failure and disgraceful public fall res "Early in the morning, Jesus stood urrected that fallen brother and on the shore, but the disciples did not reinstated him to his shepherding, Best value. realize that it was Jesus. He called out pastoral ministry! to them, ©Friends, haven©t you any "Do you love me?" "Yes, you know fish?© ©No/ they answered. He said, I love you." "Feed my sheep." "Follow GOOD: Throw your net on the right side of me" Qohn 21:15-19). jVoir Ihc wrld-mde leader in the boat and you will find some.© Requiem and resurrection for a Christian presentation tirl and imagery When they did, they were unable to fallen brother. haul the net in because of the large number of fish" (John 21:4-6). From fallen to risen In that instant young John recog What does a fallen man have to go nized the Stranger on the shore and through, what does a failed woman cried, "It©s the Lord!" have to do, in order to be resurrected And that was all the broken heart and restored in a community like of his fallen brother needed to know. yours and mine? And how long do Grabbing his tunic, Peter plunged they remain fallen? By that I mean, over the gunwales and splashed up how long does the adjective "fallen" the grey dawn shore to Jesus. Let the remain attached to their memory? I©m others bring in the catch, he must not talking about God©s record I©m find the Savior. Such is the hunger of wondering about ours. a fallen disciple©s heart. And while we©re at it, let us also ask And after their early morning ourselves: These fallen ones do they seashore breakfast with Jesus, the remain our brothers and our sisters in Gospel of John may as well have read, the meantime during their fallen- "When they had finished eating, it ness? You say, Well, that just depends GOODSALT was time for a resurrection." For in on whether they really repent of their EASTER front of all the rest, Jesus gazed moral failure or not. Does it? Does COLLECTION through the campfire light, deep into there ever come a time when I am no VOLUME 2 the eyes and heart of their fallen longer my brother©s keeper? brother. But what are you suggesting? you "Three times, Peter, you swore to may retort. That it really doesn©t mat the world that you never even knew ter whether they repent of their sinful Me. And so three times I must ask you and public fall or not? Actually, I©m in front of these your brothers: Do not suggesting that at all in fact I©m you love Me? Do you love Me? Do you not even thinking of their response really love Me?" right now. I©m wondering about ours. And three times with the shame When does the adjective "fallen" get Our and weight of a thousand deaths dropped from their memory mean roys!ty-free upon his guilty heart, Peter, hardly ing, our memory of them? coUections are able to look his Master in the eyes, in In Dietrich Bonhoeffer©s wonderful produced from over 11,000 high quality art a humbled voice barely audible little book on Christian community, and photographic originals replied, "Yes. . . yes . . . yes." Life Together, he makes a disturbing created by award-winning artists, And three more times, the cruci observation on why we have such a fied and risen Savior of the world hard time breaking through to com To view and purchase visit spoke the words of pastoral reinstate munity: ment, "Feed My lambs and My "He who is alone with his sin is wwEgoodsall.com sheep." Such is the work of a shep utterly alone. It may be that herd. And in the Greek of John Christians, notwithstanding corporate or call (800) 805-8001 "shepherd" is interchangeable with worship, common prayer, and all their

May 2004 M N I S T R Y fellowship in service, may still be left No community. For the truth about "The woman was stunned. ©Did I in their loneliness. The final break grace is that I will never extend it to hear you right, bishop? You actually through to fellowship [read commu you fallen as you are until I experi want me to ask Jesus to tell me the nity] does not occur, because, though ence it in me fallen as I am. sins of your past?© they have fellowship with one another The great truth is that you can©t "©Exactly. Please call me if any as believers and as devout people, they have Easter before Good Friday. The thing happens.© do not have fellowship as the less Cross must come first. I can©t resurrect "Ten days later the woman noti devout, as sinners. The pious fellow you, until grace has restored me. fied her spiritual leader of a recent ship permits no one to be a sinner. So "Peter, do you love Me?" "Oh Lord, apparition. ©Please come,© she said. everybody must conceal his sin from You know that I love You." "Good "Within the hour the archbishop himself and from the fellowship. We now go and love the fallen back to arrived. He trusted eye-to-eye contact. dare not be sinners. Many Christians Me." ©You just told me on the telephone are unthinkably horrified when a real that you actually had a vision of sinner is suddenly discovered among Jesus. Did you do what I asked?© the righteous. So we remain alone with "GRACELESS "©Yes, bishop, I asked Jesus to tell our sin, living in lies and hypocrisy. me the sins you confessed in your last The fact is that we are sinners!"1 A.COMMUNITY" confession.© Could it be that the reason we©re so "The bishop leaned forward with hard on the fallen is because the fallen anticipation. His eyes narrowed. remind us of ourselves? And so we pre "©What did Jesus say?© tend piety in ourselves. And we "She took his hand and gazed deep demand piety in others. As Bonhoeffer into his eyes. ©Bishop,© she said, ©these wrote, "The pious fellowship permits are his exact words: "I can©t remem no one to be a sinner." ber."©"2 But tragically, it is by that very pre Apocryphal? Perhaps. Truth? tending that we inadvertently choke Once I grasp the truth that Calvary Indeed. For a century ago these words off any possibility of genuine com is God©s pardon of every sinner who were written: "If you give yourself to munity. For how can I risk getting has ever lived and every sin that has [Jesus], and accept Him as your close to you in a small community or ever been committed once I compre Saviour, then, sinful as your life may group? Because you might find out hend the magnitude of God©s grace have been, for His sake you are that I am a sinner. And knowing how for fallen me there will not be a fall accounted righteous . . . and you are hard I©ve been on sinners and how en brother and there is not a fallen accepted before God just as if you had hard we are on the fallen, I cannot sister I cannot love back to Him. not sinned. "3 risk being vulnerable and transparent That is how grace works. With its "©I am he who remembers your with you. You would reject me. doors thrown wide to all. And when sins no more©" (Isa. 43:25). Thus we wear our masks of piety. grace works, community flourishes. "I can©t remember." And live the lie. And live alone. How For only grace can resurrect community. The truth is, genuine community did Bonhoeffer put it, "He who is Brennan Manning in his surpris can only happen when men and alone with his sin is utterly alone." ing book The Ragamuffin Gospel tells a women gather together in the name For there can be no community when story he wonders if we©ve heard: of the risen Christ whose forgiveness we wear the masks of piety. And that "Four years ago in a large city in and grace declare, "I can©t remember." is the tragic comedy. What we long for the far West, rumors spread that a cer It is when we say the same to each most, we prevent, when we pretend tain Catholic woman was having other that we resurrect our brother, we we are not what we really are sin visions of Jesus. The reports reached restore our sister and we revive our ners, all of us, in need of divine grace. the archbishop. He decided to check community. For only grace can resur You see, a "graceless community" is her out. There is always a fine line rect community. Bl an oxymoron. For it is no community between the authentic mystic and the at all. A "pious fellowship" perhaps. lunatic fringe. * Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture But it is not community, genuine "©Is it true, m©am, that you have is from the New International Version. community. For only grace can resurrect visions of Jesus?© asked the cleric. community. No grace. No resurrection. "©Yes,© the woman replied simply. 1 Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (San Francisco: "©Well, the next time you have a Harper, 1954), 110. vision, I want you to ask Jesus to tell 2 Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel www.ministrymagazine.org (Multnomah Books, 1990), 116, 117. you the sins that I confessed in my 3 Ellen White, Steps to Christ (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific last confession.© Press Pub. Assn., 1892), 62, emphasis supplied.

MINISTRY May 2004 professor at the seminary is above

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ry pK)graiiis at -::^«^^ in part because of statements of Ellen G. White about the city. Poll any ten Adventists on the subject and chances are that a disturbingly high percent age will assert that Ellen White stated that the city is inherently evil, that to live in the city is to imperil our lives and hazard our future in heaven, and that we should flee the cities.

Ellen G. White and the city Did Ellen White admonish Seventh-day Adventists to flee the city? Toward a Monte Sahlin carefully examined the 107 periodical articles on city work written by Ellen White. He found that of that number, 24 admonish establishing institutions and living theological basis outside city limits, while 75 encourage living within the city in order to win its people for Christ. The remaining eight analyze the nega for urban ministry tive conditions found in the city but stop short of saying whether or not Adventists should live there.1 eptember 11, 2001, almost irre George Knight has amply demonstrated R. Clifford Jones versibly altered the course of the need for Adventists to take another look at American and world history. urban mission based on a rereading of Ellen G. Terrorists hijacked four passenger air- White. Knight contends, after a balanced and crafts, crashing three of them into thoughtful analysis of all that White wrote on Smonuments of American economic and mili the subject, that she spoke about the estab tary might the twin towers of the World lishment of schools in both idealistic and Trade Center in New York City, and the practical terms, allowing that while the ideal Pentagon in Washington, B.C. Since that fate was the country school, the fact that many ful day, hardly anything of political, economic city children were unable to commute to or social significance in the United States takes schools in the country made city schools a place without reference to its events. necessity. And while Mrs. White did promote In the days immediately following, an outpost model for city institutional work, Christians and non-Christians alike gave she never condemned living and working in more than passing thought to the utility and the city at the local church level. In fact, she wisdom of living in the urban community. commended those who, bucking the trend of Not a few concluded that the time to aban the late nineteenth century, had moved into don the city in favor of the country had the city to evangelize it from within.2 finally arrived. These individuals claimed that Thus, based on a representative survey of the devastation of the twin towers provided Ellen White©s statements on urban commu unimpeachable evidence that living in the nity, it is reasonable to conclude that she city was hazardous to one©s physical and psy spoke more about living and working in the chological well-being, and demonstrated that city than against it. Obviously, she was con terrorists bent on maximum if not com vinced that the best way to bring the city to plete destruction could hardly find a more Christ was by penetrating and living in it. R. Clifford Jones, attractive target than the cities of the world. D.Min., Ph.D., is chair The truth is that long before the tragic Responding to New York City of the Christian events of September 11, Christians had been To their credit, even as Adventists were Ministry Department, ambivalent toward the city, viewing it with a reassessing the merits and demerits of city Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, mixture of enchantment and aversion. They dwelling, they and other religious organiza Andrews University, were simultaneously drawn to it and repulsed tions flooded New York City in the wake of the Berrien Springs, by it. Not surprisingly, Seventh-day Adventists terrorist attacks to bring both short- and long- Michigan. were caught in the throes of this ambivalence, term relief to the city©s beleaguered inhabitants.

10 MINISTRY May 2004 Don Schneider, president of the anthropology, urbanology, and eco ciplines of cultural anthropology, North American Division (NAD), nomics, but not theology. Again, for a economics, and sociology, they study reflecting on the crisis, shared his biblical theology of urban mission to the city©s population density, its dream of seeing new churches spring be appropriate, it must commence, transportation and communication ing up throughout Manhattan Island, continue, and be consummated in systems, and its religious and socio- and several NAD organizations God. economic distributions. responded by sending financial and For theology to be credible it must On the other hand are those who personnel resources to the city. be dynamic, not static. Theology is use the ethnographic approach, get Yet any strategy to win the city for seldom a product; it is a process, ting down to the street level and Christ must be based on a sound bib something done to bring enlighten living amongst the city©s inhabitants, lical theology. Mission strategies that ment and understanding.5 It is an where they are able to hear the peo are not undergirded, shaped, and activity that is informed and shaped ple©s stories and observe city life in its informed by a coherent theology are by time and place, making it contex everyday flow. bound to be problematic and destined tual. Content and context must exist An integration of the helicopter to fail. in dynamic interrelationship, each and street-level approach is what is In a recent article calling on probing, assessing, informing, and needed in Grafting a tenable urban the Christians to love the city, Samir shaping the other. Yet to say that the ology. Such an integration will make Selamovic states that we must radical ology is contextual is not to say that for the complete exegesis of the city. ize our theology if we are to engage in God is constrained by contexts. On Along the way probing questions ministry that transforms the urban the contrary, God is universal and will be asked to identify the city©s her community.3 For too long Christians ultimate. itage, character, and spirit. Each city have read the Bible through rural Of necessity, a theology of urban has a unique ambiance and flavor, lenses, arguing for the primacy of the mission must be thought out and grounded for the most part in its his country because God chose to place crafted in the urban community. No tory and often evident in its trends. earth©s first humans in a garden. urban theology far removed from the As such, the urban exegete will ana What is needed, however, is not so challenging complexities of urban fac lyze the city©s history, its place in the much a radicalization of our theology tors will be tenable or relevant. That is country©s history and economy, and as a transformation of it based on an not to say that systematic theology its past and current labels. The objective reading and appraisal of the cannot contribute to the formation of exegete will also examine the city©s God portrayed in Scripture. a functional urban theology. Yet for it traumatic experiences (such as earth People who see the Bible as a rural to do so it must be done in the heart of quakes, economic collapse, ethnic or book and therefore claim that the city, consciously and intentionally racial conflicts, etc.) and the political Christians should not live in the city connecting all God-talk to the urban and religious institutions that have tend to hold to that view more for context. Only as it speaks to the par dominated its life.6 sociological than theological reasons. ticularity of the city will its integrity It is in listening to and examining Put simply, their desire is to disassoci and authority go unchallenged. the theological narratives of the city ate themselves from the kinds of Grounded in the urban community, that the urban exegete stands to glean people who dominate the inner city such a theology will be more practical the most useful information for the the poor, the aliens, the refugees, the and applied than systematic. creation of an urban theology. immoral, etc. In seeking to include urban realities Germane to the story will be an explo in its formulations and articulations, a ration of the circumstances under Constructing a theology of biblical theology of urban mission which the gospel first entered the city, urban mission4 must examine the systems and struc and the trends that represent the A biblical theology of urban mis tures of the city, as well as listen to the greatest opportunity for the growth of sion is a reflection on the nature and stories of its people, especially those the church. Demographic shifts will attributes of God, the biblical text living on the margins. In so doing it be investigated, especially those that being its point of departure. In seek will not fall victim to either of the two have the potential to hurt a mission ing to understand God and God©s extremes that exist in urban mission into the city, or that present seem ways, it ponders such great themes as today. ingly insurmountable barriers to God©s love, mercy, justice, sovereignty, On the one hand are those who urban mission. and power. Were God not the cen focus on the big picture, looking at Any approaching crisis that calls trifugal force of theology, the God-talk the city from "helicopters" hovering for intense prayer will be examined, as would not be theology, only preten overhead. These individuals view the well as all subcultures experiencing tious chatter. In the context of the city city as a conglomerate of statistics spiritual darkness or manifesting such talk would be sociology, cultural and unnamed faces. Utilizing the dis satanic oppression. And believing that

May 2004 M. I N 1 S T R Y 11 God is already at work in the city, the century, 25 percent of the world©s faithful to God©s call. Later, Abraham©s urban exegete will search for opportu population lived in cities; by the turn descendants are themselves aliens in nities through which dynamic and of the twenty-first, more than half Egypt, experiencing oppression from struggling congregations may partner did. Cities are magnets for the world©s their "hosts" and learning firsthand to reach the city for Christ.7 poor, who stream steadily into them what it means to be displaced. What is the link between the urban looking for jobs, seeking affordable The embrace of displacement and context and the biblical text? Who is and accountable health care, and vulnerability by God©s people contin most qualified to faithfully exegete hoping to find an education and to ues when Israel is exiled and when the both Scripture and the city? The faith improve themselves. first Christians are scattered and per community, the church! Rich or poor, people are the object secuted. God requires His people in all The theological task is not an of God©s love and concern, and to these situations to be missional that option for the church, but an activity turn our backs on the city is to treat is, to impact the surrounding culture wrapped up in its very being and mis God©s passion for people with benign in ways they would have been unable sion.8 Only the church is qualified to neglect. Offered freely to all, God©s to do, had they not become pilgrims. bring Scripture to bear on the city with love intentionally seeks out the least God is a sending God. God and God©s integrity and accuracy. Yet in bringing deserving, and it delights in seeing the people do not just call people to the two together the church must be seemingly incorrigible transformed. them, but go where the people are. careful not to read into Scripture what A tale of two cities. Using the title of More significantly, Israel©s experi is not there in an effort to pursue its Charles Dickens©s famous book as a ence shows that to be in Christ is to be urban agenda, nor must it view the launching pad, Robert C. Linthicum a pilgrim who finds belonging, stabil city in irredeemably bleak terms. weaves a biblical theology of the ity, and security not in place but in An urban theology that mourns the urban church, arguing that the city is relationship with and dependence on metropolis instead of celebrating it as a at once the dwelling place of God and God. Seeking to preserve oneself is at vital component of God©s mission God©s people, and the stronghold of variance with the openness to pain agenda will inevitably miss the mark. Satan and his hordes of demons. that is critical to dealing with the The faith community will do more The abode of personal and struc stranger with disinterested benevo than reflect on the biblical text in the tural evil, both of which are rampant lence. Because they themselves were context of the city. After reflecting, the and disturbingly real, the city is the aliens, the children of Israel could faith community will act, then reflect battlefield where the great cosmic war empathize with the stranger in their some more. The action/reflection par between God and Satan is taking midst. adigm is creative and dynamic, ever place. Yet if sin is pervasive in the Admonished to welcome the evolving and growing. city, much more so is God©s grace stranger, Israel was to be guided by (Rom. 5:20). experiential knowledge, extending to Themes of an urban theology Linthicum argues that, contrary to others the grace God had extended to God©s love for people. A theology for popular belief, the Bible is an urban them. Though recipients of a special urban ministry must begin with the book that was written in the urban covenant relationship with God, nature and character of God love. Near East. How then did it come to be Israel was to be acutely aware that all God created humans out of love. He viewed otherwise? Linthicum posits they were was due to God©s grace. continues to lavish His love upon that the main theological formula This knowledge was to engender them, undeserving though they may tions of the church developed in rural gratitude in the nation. be. As the objects of God©s love, peo Europe, and that not until the late When Christians accept that we ple His children are the very apple nineteenth and twentieth centuries are sojourners in the world and that of God©s eye, and God©s unending did theologians allow city elements all we are and have are due to the love affair with the human family is to impact how they applied the Bible grace of God, they will stifle the urge what sent God©s Son, Jesus Christ, to to urban life.9 to shut out aliens and strangers and the cross 0ohn 3:16). Vulnerability. When Scripture is to hoard what they possess. Of all God©s creation, people, made read in search of themes for an urban Unity. Offering hospitality to the in His own image, move God most. theology, one that will inevitably sur stranger in the city will contribute to People cause God to act; people of all face is that of vulnerability. This the creation of the spiritual unity for shades and colors, of both sexes, of all vulnerability is highly evident in the which Christ prayed. This unity ages, and of every socioeconomic call and experience of Abraham. reflects the unity of the Godhead: the level. And where are the people of the Leaving the land of his origin with its Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It world found? Masses of them are in comforts and security, Abraham is born of humility, and reveals itself the cities of the world. sojourns in foreign territory, casting in the way the church utilizes the At the beginning of the twentieth off self-preservation so that he may be gifts of the Spirit (Eph. 4:1-13).

12 MINISTRY May 2004 The implications of this truth for a at Jesus. Luke tells us that after Jesus City with one unshakeable convic theology of urban ministry cannot be confirmed and authenticated His tion that only a long-term commit overstated. Cognizant of our unity in ministry in the synagogue one ment to live and work in the city will Christ, Christians will admit that we Sabbath by quoting Isaiah, He set His have a telling impact. And by long- have been gifted to serve those who, face and feet toward the towns and term they mean a minimum of three though unlike us, need inclusion in villages, teaching in Capernaum and years.11 the body of Christ.10 in Judea (Luke 4:18-44). Human history will end not in a For too long have Christians di Yet it is Matthew and Mark who garden where it started, but in a city, vided the church and its mission, with provide a succinct summary of what making urbanites of all who have mission being understood as an activ may be termed Jesus© urban agenda been saved by grace. John saw this ity the church engages in. Church and (Matt. 9:35-11:1; Mark 6:6, 56). Jesus city, the New Jerusalem, in vision. It mission are inextricably bound did not flee places bulging with peo will be a city devoid of pollution, vio together in indivisible interrelation. ple, but sought them out so He could lence, pain, and suffering, and will be They must stand together or die apart. preach the good news, teach them, inhabited by people of every nation Nowhere is this more obvious than in and address their felt needs. ality, gender, ethnicity, language, and the city, where the purpose of God is Incarnating and modeling what the class who live in peaceful harmony not just to transform the stranger but church should be a symbol of the (Rev. 21:1-8; Isa. 65:17-25). the church as well. kingdom and its agent in the world Old Testament patriarchs and Prone to exhibit an attitude of Christ went about ministering in prophets anticipated living in it, omniscience, Christians tend to enter peopled contexts and speaking to abandoning earthly comforts to pur the city with a holier-than-thou air, "urban" issues. sue it in faith and with hope (Heb. eager to provide all the answers to the If Jesus came to liberate the "little 11:8-10). Our theology should cause city©s woes. Such an attitude fails to ones," speak for the voiceless, and wel us, like Abraham, to set our faces to accept that the city exists for our ben come the stranger, then the city is the the city and to walk toward it with efit too. Our engagement with the city place where He would be found today. indefatigable courage. IS must be reciprocal. His own experience of homelessness Casting off the cloak of omnis and displacement argues the point. This article has been peer reviewed by cience and donning the garment of Born in a stable, Jesus later stressed professors at the Adventist Theological humility, we must enter and live in that unlike creatures of the wild, He Seminary, Andrews University, Berrien the city as learners eager to resonate had no permanent home (Matt. 8:20; Springs, Michigan. with its inhabitants, however poor Luke 9:58). Christ©s displacement was and unlettered they may be. Only consummated after His crucifixion, then will our perspective expand and when, because of poverty, He had to we shall come to view the city and its be buried in a tomb owned by another inhabitants as Jesus does. (Matt. 27:57-60). 4 For many of the ideas in this section I am indebted to I recall my first encounter with the In Jesus the theology of presence Charles Van Engen. See Charles Van Lngen and Jude Tiersma, eds., God So Lovc©.s the City- Seeking a Theology for mayor of Benton Harbor, Michigan, a finds supreme expression. Jesus lived Urban Mm/on (Monrovia, Calif.: MARC, 1994), 241-269. See city of approximately 9,000 over amongst those He came to save. Must also Bruce Campbell Moyer, "A Biblical Theology of Urban Mission," Metro Ministry 1 (Fall 1999). 1-6. whelmingly minority inhabitants. we not do the same? 5 Robert C. Linthkum, City of God, City of Satan: A Biblical One of the first questions the mayor From April to June 2002, Don and Theology of the Urban Church (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1991), 23. asked when we were introduced was Ruth James of the North American 6 John Dawson, Taking Our Cities for God (Lake Mary, Fl: where I lived. Informed of my resi Division Evangelism Institute lived on Creation House, 1989), 85. 7 Ibid., 123. dence, which was outside the city the tenth floor of an apartment build 8 Fritz Guy, Thinking Theologically: Adventist Christianity ami limits, she pondered a while before ing on Roosevelt Island in Manhattan the Interpretation of Faith (Berrren Springs, Mich.: Andrews University Press, 1999), 37 stating that the residents of her city to establish relationships with a view 9 Linthicum, 22, 23. were tired of folk from suburbia to introducing people to Jesus. Theirs 10 For the themes of vulnerability, grace, and unrty, I am descending on them weighted down was an odyssey in courage, faith, and indebted to Kathryn Mowry, "Do Good Fences Make Good Neighbors? Toward a Theology of Welcome for the Urban with all the answers to their plight. hope, made so because born and Church," in God So Loves the City: Seeing a Theology for Urban What her city needed, the mayor said, raised in rural America, they had Mission, Charles Van Engen and Jude Tiersma, eds (Monrovia, Calif.- MARC, 1994), 105-125. were people who demonstrated genu never spent much time in cities and 11 Don James, interview by author, Berrien Springs, Michigan, ine care by living among them and lis had visited New York City only once February 20, 2003. tening to their stories firsthand. before. Christ and the city. A biblical theol The couple succeeded in introduc ogy of urban ministry would be ing people to Jesus and studying the www.ministrymagazine.org seriously incomplete without a look Bible with others. They left New York

May 2004 MINISTRY 13 Sexuality in ministry: the pastor, sexual sin, and the Bible

n the first essay in this series (see The guidelines for "the priest who is January's Ministry) we focused on the chief among his brethren" are even I minister's identity as portrayed in the more explicit and selective. "And he Bible. We concluded that he or she1 is shall take his wife in her virginity. A an unusual person. A pastor is called to widow, or one divorced, or a woman identify with his vocation, to be a minis who has been defiled, or a harlot, these ter, and to do ministry from there. he shall not marry; but he shall take to In the sense of who he is, today's wife a virgin of his own people, that he pastor can identify very closely with may not profane his children among his priests in biblical times. I witness this as people; for I am the LORD who sanctify I visit pastoral retreats or conferences him" (Lev. 21:13-15). everywhere in the world. Ministers Some 850 years later, as liberalizing themselves, the churches they serve, part of a minister's identity, and the influences threatened, God did not give and even some outside the church see wonder of sexual intimacy is an integral in to social pressure. Selectivity for all ministers as counterparts of the priests part of a minister's marriage. These two priests is instead heightened. "They and prophets who are central to the elements of identity, the sexual and min shall not marry a widow, or a divorced biblical story. isterial, stand side by side in the pastor. woman, but only a virgin of the stock of I also hear these pastors pray fer In our second essay (the March issue the house of Israel, or a widow who is vently about sister Alva's heart condition of Ministry) we even hinted that if har the widow of a priest" (Ezek. 44:22). or young Tony's dangerous escapades nessed, the incredible power of sexual The first explicit reason for this selec with drugs. Alva is not their mother nor energy can become an ally in ministry. tivity is summed up in the words: "the is Tony their son, but they are Christ's But harnessed it must be. In this, the priest is holy to his God." His spouse, his blood relatives, His sheep, and the shep third essay, we will search the Scripture, "one flesh" companion, is a part of the herd's heart of a minister pulsates for especially the landscape of the Old priest's sphere of holiness and must not them. Testament, seeking God's position on become a contact point with the pro A plumber's work need not affect his the minister's marriage and sexuality, fane.3 personal identity in quite this way. His and thus His response to sexual miscon The second reason for guidelines profession, natural talents, and good duct in ministry. might be an attempt to protect the training are sufficient in themselves for marriage of the priest from unresolved him to do his work effectively. We pas The wife of the priest issues and pains that past traumatic tors are called to lead human beings God's instructions to Moses about experiences of a future spouse might through the relentless battle against sin the marriage of the priests reveal His bring into the new union. Excessive and and evil, against principalities and pow concerns for the intimate life and home unresolved personal needs often reduce ers, and into the safety of God's abiding ambiance of His spiritual leaders. We one's capacities to support and assist presence. Natural talents and training find God involved (almost as directly as others. are not sufficient for these things. with Adam) in the choice of wives for The third reason is summed up in You and I, along with the apostle the priests. Unlike wives of kings, judges, these words: "They shall teach my peo Paul, are not mere "peddlers of Cod's or other leaders in Israel, the wife of a ple the difference between the holy and word" (2 Cor. 2:1 7). We are called to be priest had to be chosen in harmony with the common, and show them how to the aroma of Christ, to some a "fra specific criteria. "We love each other" is distinguish between the unclean and grance from death to death, to others a not enough. "She pleases me well" does the clean" (Ezek. 44:23). This instruc fragrance from life to life" (2 Cor. 2:15, not work here (Judges 14:3, RSV).* tion cannot be expressed in words 16). In the case of regular priests we read: alone. Examples of the way the minis How wonderful and humbling! What "They shall not marry a harlot or a terial couple loves and cares for each a privilege and responsibility!2 God for woman who has been defiled; neither other and the way in which their home bid that we ever forget this ... ever.. . shall they marry a woman divorced and family operate are the most effec even in the privacy of our sexual life! from her husband; for the priest is holy tive support for teaching the difference After all, human sexuality is a natural to his God" (Lev. 21:7). between the holy and the common,

14 MINISTRY May 2004 between the unclean artd clean. What the Bible is saying, in no uncer tain terms, is this: The pastor's wife is The Amazing Facts College unique, a special wife in God's estima tion. God watches jealously over how of Evangelism gave ws the we pastors choose our mates; how we treat them; how we appreciate their training we need for ministry! loyalty to God, to His work, and to us; and how genuine our love for them is, even when they are advanced in years (Mal. 2:13-16). We must inform and "We©ve learned carefully initiate the future spouses of how to do evangelism in a practi young pastors and the wives of second- cal way, how to understand the career ministers. reactions of the human heart, Some time ago I was faced with the sexual misconduct of the wife of a pas and how, by the wisdom of the tor who had entered ministry from Holy Spirit, to reach each heart another profession. She told me, "I for Christ. We©ve been incredibly accepted his change of work because I blessed by the AFCOE program!" love him. But I did not know what it means to be a pastor's wife. I simply Paulo and Maria Cordeiro, cannot take it, and he has ignored my Adventist pastoral team in Portugal signals and my needs for years." HE©LL TRAIN YOUR MEMBERS The general biblical position FOR BIBLE WORK AND CHURCH GROWTH! on sexual sin The institution of the marriage COURSE REGISTRATION covenant enjoys a highly protected sta DATE DEADLINE tus in the Bible. Even before the promul APRIL 15, 2004 July 18 thru gation of the Moral Law on Sinai, God Complete Nov. 20,2004 intervened twice on behalf of Sarah's 4-month Course marriage (Gen. 12:10-20; 20:1-18). The seventh commandment pro Pastoral & Advanced Sept. 13 thru JULY 1,2004 hibits adultery for everyone (Exod. Evangelism Intensives Oct. 7,2004 20:14), and the tenth forbids coveting a neighbor's wife (verse 1 7). The violation Designed especially for pastors, lay pastors, and church leaders, this advanced of the seventh commandment was training course is divided into four one-week intensives, each covering a specialized punishable by death (Lev. 20:10; Deut. field, including pastoral evangelism, public evangelism, church revitalization and 22:22 ff). church growth, and church planting and developing cell churches. Adultery does violence to the "one At AFCOE you will: flesh" union and "has the character of murder either in robbing the husband Master frequently misunderstood Bible doctrines of his selfhood, or in destroying the cor poreity that is created by the sexual Develop confidence and skills to witness union."4 and teach any time or place Even the suspicion of sexual sin " convincing called for a special procedure "before" God. If a wife was guilty of infidelity, she had to drink bitter water, which would "cause bitter pain, and her body shall swell, and her thigh shall fall away, and the woman shall become an execration among her people" (Num. 5:11-31). In , the book Jeremiah, chapter 3, adultery TODAY! OP online a* w ,amazingfdcts.opg and idolatry are presented as the most

May 2004 MINISTRY 15 serious offences against God and "Behold my own son [Absalom] seeks involving these women in sins that were humans. my life" (2 Sam. 16:9-11). specifically prohibited. As we move down through the his It is important to note that it was not In Deuteronomy we read, "There tory of God's people, we observe trends because of or while in his sin that David shall be no cult prostitute of the daugh toward the compromise of marital was called a man after God's own heart. ters of Israel, neither shall there be a cult fidelity. At times it appears as if fornica It was when he thoroughly and openly prostitute of the sons of Israel" (23:17).8 tion and adultery reached epidemic repented and abandoned his sin in The intensely earnest appeals of the proportions (Judges 19:22-26). humility and without self-justification.6 father of these two men, the priest Eli, We read of prominent individuals, came too late. He tried to impress on his such as Judah, Samson, and David, The Bible and sexual sin sons the seriousness of the abuse of their engaging in some of the most scan among priests powers as well as their responsibilities, dalous behavior, almost as if this was a David's experience and position are and the gravity of the loss of trust with normal, acceptable thing to do. And as not in the same category with priests. the people. trends continued to slide, God's reac David was a king, anointed as a civil Priests are holy (set apart) to their tion became increasingly definite. servant. The difference is clearly out God. They are not their own. When He relied on people such as Phineas, lined when Saul acted as if the they minister among God's people, the grandson of Aaron, and the distinction between king and priest was they are serving Him. When they abuse prophets Nathan, Malachi, and John so insignificant that he felt he could His people, they touch the apple of His the Baptist to decisively oppose the proceed freely by offering the sacrifice eye. When prostituted by His anointed decadence of social mores among His in view of Samuel's delay. ones, God's name, His house, and His people and their leaders. In the light of Saul's behavior God endorsement bring them to the brink of Jesus Himself stood firmly against says, "I repent that I made Saul king, for no return. the stream by calling sin by its name he has turned back from following me" Eli pleads, "If a man sins against a and by urging His hearers to anchor (1 Sam. 15:10). David as a "lay" person man, God will mediate for him: but if a their norms to what was "in the begin was anointed for the kingly office and man sins against the LORD, who can ning" (Exod. 20:1 7; Matt. 5:27, 28). role. Priests, on the other hand, were intercede for him?" (1 Sam. 2:25). No matter how shameless or innocu set apart in a different ceremony (Lev. When the only bridge to safety is ous sexual misconduct appears to be, 9) and for the holy office of spiritual destroyed, how can a rescue reach the how prevalent and acceptable it leader of people and all other leaders. one in peril? Sexual sin is never just a becomes in a given culture and time, or In what follows we will see that God casual physical experience of no conse how prominent the offender, the bibli expects the behavior of a priest to quence. Adultery and fornication in cal witness unequivocally condemns match the influence of his identity and ministry are direct assaults on the essen adultery and fornication in the most the gravity of his calling. A deep, God- tial values of God and thus upon God decisive terms. ordained and inner sense of the Himself, and His plan of salvation. But the Bible also teaches that the minister's identity must hold his sexual How could the people of Israel sexual sinner can be forgiven. David's identity in control. believe that God was mighty to save case was outrageous, yet it became an So we must press Scripture further to them from their sins, when Hophni and encouraging example of how God deals see what happens when a priest is Phineas, His holy representatives, with the most serious sexual sin. David found guilty of sexual sin. demonstrated His impotence to control covets, he commits adultery, and he The sons of Eli the priest. One notori their passions? plans and implements a murder with all ous case of sexual sin in ministry is found Telling the story, the prophet Samuel the deceitfulness that such a feat in 1 Samuel 2:12-24. Verse 22 says, recalled with sadness: "But they would requires. But when Nathan intervenes, "Now Eli was very old, and he heard all not listen to the voice of their father David discovers the ugliness of his ways, that his sons were doing to all Israel, and (Eli); for it was the will of the LORD to repents, publishes his utter regrets for how they lay with the women who slay them" (1 Sam. 2:25). all to read (Ps. 51), and remains on his served at the entrance to the tent of What by now is eminently clear is throne. meeting." that God's decision to end their lives is Consequences do come, however: This last charge was particularly sig irrevocable. A man of God comes to Eli David's resulting child dies; his kingly nificant. Perhaps these women were and declares to him all that will come to influence and respect are all but shat Nazarites involved in a voluntary service his sons and his household as a conse tered;5 the sword never left his house; at the worship site (Num. 6:2; Exod. quence of trifling with the priestly his wives were taken away from him 38:8)7 In any case, their presence there vocation. "Those who honor me I will publicly (2 Sam. 12:10-14); Shimei felt had a legitimate purpose. Yet the two honor, and those who despise me shall free to curse and throw stones and dirt sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, delib be lightly esteemed.. .. And this which at the king; and David himself lamented: erately abused their priestly position, shall befall your two sons, Hophni and

16 MINISTRY May 2004 Phineas, shall be the sign to you: both of For the lips of a priest should guard witnessed covenant with their wives. them shall die on the same day. And I knowledge, and men should seek This kind of divided arrangement, will rise up for myself a faithful priest, instruction from his mouth, for he is the this inconsistency in relationships, sim who shall do according to what is in my messenger of the LORD of hosts. But ply will not do (Matt. 5:23, 24). heart and in my mind; and I will build you have turned aside from the way; him a sure house, and he shall go in and you have caused many to stumble by Ministers today out before my anointed forever" (verses your instruction; you have corrupted the God stands firmly on the side of the 30, 34, 35). covenant of Levi, says the LORD of cheated spouses of these priests, and of Effectiveness and honor in ministry hosts, and so I make you despised and pastors' spouses today. Unless pastors are not inherited but acquired. The peo abased before all the people, inasmuch respect their covenant with their spouses, ple of God are too prudent and insight as you have not kept my ways but have they are out of favor with God. These are ful to be impressed by mere name or shown partiality in your instruction" issues that prompt God to use the lang pedigree. Spiritual issues and the needs (verses 5-9). uage of strongest rebuke. of the soul are so deep and divergent Moved by their sexual lust, the priests God's words are powerful and intimi with every member of the church that adjusted their theology to fit their dating. We who are God's ministers only ministers who are true and inno unholy intentions, their secret vices, and need to have enough courage to hear cent in their "inward being" (Ps. 51:6) their treacherous dealings, until moral His word without attempting to dilute it. will be able to discern God's prodding as values and norms were reversed. Thus In the next essays we will see further He leads each one in His service. they claimed, "Every one who does evil why God is so personally involved in the "The sons of Eli inherited a sacred is good in the sight of the LORD, and he minister's marriage, and why He takes the responsibility and an honorable name, delights in them" (verse 17). And sexual sin of His ministers so seriously. yet through selfishness they had so because the "lips of a priest should God has taken a clear stand. He has become servants of Satan as to merit guard knowledge," people listened and ample power to protect, grace to heal, the universal complaints of the people. fell prey to their corrupt advice. and mercy to forgive. And whatever we When their father failed to exercise his But deep within themselves, they may think of our marriage, whatever authority, he was warned that even as knew very well that things were not the our status, influence, reputation or posi reverence and honor produce a harvest way they pretended them to be. God tion in ministry, faithfulness to the wife of character and usefulness, so the sow had withdrawn His power from their of our youth is of paramount impor ing of irreverence and dishonor results ministry and they knew it. Yet, in tance to Him. H in dishonor and disappointment."9 deceiving others they convinced them "The life spent on self is like the grain selves. They asked, Why doesn't God Miroslav M. Kis, Ph.D., is professor of ethics at that is eaten. It disappears, but there is accept the offering from our hands with the Seventh-day Adventist Theological no increase. A man can gather all he favor? (verses 13, 14). Seminary, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, can for self; he may live and think and The answer came. "Why does he Michigan. plan for self; but his life passes away and not? Because the LORD was witness to * All Scriptures are taken from the Revised he has nothing. The law of self-serving the covenant between you and the wife Standard Version. is the law of self-destruction."10 of your youth, to whom you have been The priests in Malachi©s time. A mes faithless, though she is your companion 1 Throughout this study, male pronouns predominate sage of sharp rebuke meets the priests and your wife by covenant. Has not the because so much of the biblical material presupposes the male gender. It is never the intention of Ministry to dis who are contemporaries of the prophet one God made and sustained for us the criminate in any way against the female gender. Malachi. God's reputation (His glory) is spirit of life? And what does he desire? 2 £. G. White, Ministry of Healing (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1905), 119. at stake (Mal. 2:2), declares the prophet. Godly offspring. So take heed to your 3 Walther Zimmerli, A Commentary on the Book of the Prophet God serves notice that His covenant selves and let none be faithless to the Ezekiel (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1983), 2:460. 4 O Piper, The Biblical View of Sex and Marriage (New York: with the priesthood, "with Levi" (verse wife of his youth. For I hate divorce, says Scribners, 1960), 150. 4), is being broken continually. the LORD the God of Israel, and cover 5 E. G. White, Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce (Silver Spring, Md.: Ellen G. White Estate, 1989), At the time when the covenant was ing one's garment with violence, says 174, 175. made, God recalled with fond memo the LORD of hosts. So take heed to 6 Ibid., 94, 95. ries: "My covenant with him was a yourselves and do not be faithless" 7 Robert D. Bergen, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1996), 7:80, 81. covenant of life and peace, and I gave (Mal. 2:14-16). 8 See also Exod 25:1-5; Amos 2:7, 8. them to him, that he may fear; and he The situation is clear. God could not 9 SDA Bible Commentary, ed. F. D. Nichcl (Washington B.C.: Review and Herald, 1976), 2:463, 464. feared me, he stood in awe of my name. keep the covenant "of Levi" with them; 10 E. G. White, The Desire of Ages (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific True instruction was in his mouth, and He could not work with, or through, Press Pub. Assn., 1898), 624. no wrong was found on his lips. He these priests; He could not bless their walked with me in peace and upright ministry in the professional, vocational www.ministrymagazine.org ness, and he turned many from iniquity. realm while they didn't keep their God-

May 2004 MINISTRY 17 ELEMENTS OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST FAITH "The law is our anchor, Jesus is the wind in our sails"

Seventh-day Adventist Statement pened by the office of a well-known Old of Faith #18: "The great principles of Testament scholar. We chatted a bit Cod©s law are embodied in the Ten about the various projects we were work Commandments and exemplified in the ing on. When he asked me what I was life of Christ. They express Cod©s love, will, Jile>Mf SON , doing, I frankly told him that I was writ and purposes concerning human conduct ing a book to help my students see more and relationships and are binding upon clearly what never changes in Scripture. I all people in every age. These precepts are said I was sick and tired of seeing my stu- the basis of Cod©s covenant with His peo dents lose their faith when they ple and the standard in Cod©s judgment. discovered things in the Bible they didn't Through the agency of the Holy Spirit they think were supposed to be there. Here's point out sin and awaken a sense of need a brief summary of what I told him: for a Saviour. Salvation is all of grace and The unchanging anchor in Scripture not of works, but its fruitage is obedience name and formally organize as a church, consists of the great principle of love, to the Commandments. This obedience Cod's law had become central to our Jesus' two great commands (love to develops Christian character and results in identity. The "seventh-day" in our name God, love to your neighbor), and the a sense of well-being. It is an evidence of points directly to the Ten Ten Commandments. You can draw a our love for the Lord and our concern for Commandments. And before we had double line around those laws and our fellow men. The obedience of faith anything that could be called a list of everything else for they never change. demonstrates the power of Christ to Fundamental Beliefs, the words "com The rest of Scripture simply applies them transform lives, and therefore strengthens mandments of God," lifted directly from in particular times and places, an inter Christian witness. (Exod. 20:1-17; Matt. the three angels' messages of Revelation pretation suggested by Jesus' summariz 5:17; Deut 28:1-14; Ps. 19:7-13; John 14, stood out in the simple covenant ing comment which accompanies His 14:15; Rom. 8:1-4; 1 John 5:3; Matt. used to organize local churches: "We, statement of the two great command 22:36-40; Eph. 2:8.)" the undersigned, hereby associate our ments: "On these two commandments selves together, as a church, taking the hang all the law and the prophets" awless" and "lawlessness" are scary name, Seventh-day Adventists, cove (Matt. 22:40, NRSV). words. I can't imagine that very nanting to keep the commandments of While the two great commands are L many ordinary people would want God, and the faith of Jesus Christ."1 certainly enduring, the Ten Command to live in a lawless society. But we run ments represent an additional layer of into trouble when we consider the alter The Adventist advantage stability. They, too, "hang" on the two native, because "law" or "law and Now there are weighty reasons why great commands, but they never order" aren't very happy words either. Adventists have seen the Ten Com change. Draw your double line after the "It's the law, you know!" sounds like mandments as a notch above all the rest Ten. Everything else in Scripture—all the someone is trying to push us into doing of the laws God has given to His people. laws and stories—"hang" on the two, something we'd rather not, or to stop us Some of the Old Testament laws can illustrating how we are to understand from doing something we quite like. sound very strange to our ears. Not the and apply the fundamental principle of But if we feel caught between these Ten Commandments. And it's not just a love, the two great commands, and the two troubling words, law and lawless matter of the fleeting sounds of the Ten Commandments in many and var ness, at least we're in good company. In moment. The Bible itself gives the Ten ied circumstances. Romans 7 Paul describes his battle Commandments a place of special So there, I thought to myself. That's between delight in Cod's good law and honor. my good Adventist Bible study on the his rebellion against it. "Wretched man A few years ago that point was law. that I am!" he cries out. "Who will res brought forcibly to my mind in a quite To my surprise, he replied without cue me from this body of death?" unexpected way. While on sabbatical in hesitation, "Of course that's where the (Rom. 7:24, NRSV). Scotland, I was putting the finishing Bible draws the double line. Look at By the early 1860s, when Seventh- touches to my book Inspiration: Hard Deuteronomy 4:13, 14." day Adventists finally decided to take a Questions, Honest Answers2 when I hap Incredibly, our next few moments

18 MINISTRY May 2004 together still sounded like an old-fash NRSV). Jesus could omit the penalty pointing us to another key passage in ioned Adventist Bible study on the law. while still affirming the command as Scripture, Ellen White wrote this buoy "Note the difference between verses enduring. ant exclamation in the 1890s: 13 and 14," he said. "In verse 13, Cod is And in the New Testament that "Good news! Good news! Ring addressing Israel directly, not speaking enduring quality of the Ten Command throughout the world! 'For God so through Moses. According to this text, ments is underscored by the fact that loved the world, that He gave His only- Cod gave the people 'his covenant' and they are quoted and excerpted by both begotten Son, that whosoever believeth described what He gave them as 'ten Jesus and the apostles. The array of texts in Him should not perish, but have ever commandments.' Furthermore, the text is impressive: Matthew 19:16-21; Mark lasting life.' This lesson is one of the states that Cod Himself wrote the 10:17-21; Luke 18:18-22; Romans 13:8- greatest importance to every soul that Commandments on two stone tablets." 10; James 2:8-12. lives; for the terms of salvation are here "But," he continued, "note the changes in verse 14. First, Cod is N THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, JESUS addressing Moses, not the people. Second, to Moses, He gives 'statutes and CONFRONTS US WITH THE TERRIBLE TRUTH ordinances,' not 'his covenant' or the I Ten Commandments.'" "In short," he concluded, "you're quite right. The double line comes after the Ten Commandments." I was astounded that he would respond so spontaneously and quickly So our Adventist forebears have deliv laid out in distinct lines. If one had no with that solid "Adventist" exposition of ered to us a rock solid understanding of other text in the Bible, this alone would the Bible. It's not just Adventist, of law, grounded thoroughly in both be a guide for the soul."5 course. It's just a simple and straightfor Testaments. But that didn't mean that Now when Adventists point to Jesus ward reading of the Bible evident to any they were ready to live happily ever after. as the solution to our problems with the honest person. It wasn't long before our Adventist law, we are simply identifying with To make the "Bible study" complete, pioneers, like the great apostle Paul him great truths known and recognized we would need to add just two addi self, became aware of the "wretched" throughout the Christian world. The tional points. First, the "statutes and tensions which the law stirs up. In 1890, simplicity and power of this truth is ordinances" were written by Moses in a for example, Ellen White wrote this lofty nicely captured by C. S. Lewis: book and placed beside the ark, not in description of God's law and His ideal: "The earliest converts were converted theark(Deut. 31:24-26). "The law of love being the foundation of by a single historical fact (the Resur Second, the penalties for breaking the government of God, the happiness rection) and a single theological doctrine the Ten Commandments are not of all intelligent beings depends upon (the Redemption) operating on a sense included in the Decalogue itself but in their perfect accord with its great princi of sin which they already had—and sin, the additional legislation, thus giving ples of righteousness."3 not against some new fancy-dress law the Decalogue a more enduring quality. Yet in that same year she also produced as a novelty by a 'great man,' Penalties are much more likely to be penned this striking exclamation: "Let but against the old, platitudinous, uni shaped by time, place, and culture, and the law take care of itself. We have been versal moral law which they had been thus vary considerably, even in the Bible. at work on the law until we get as dry taught by their nurses and mothers. The In the Old Testament, for example, the as the hills of Gilboa, without dew or 'Gospels' come later, and were written, additional legislation assigns the death rain. Let us trust in the merits of Jesus not to make Christians, but to edify penalty to every one of the Ten Christ of Nazareth."4 Christians already made."6 Commandments except the last one So we like the law and we don't like But Adventists have taken the argu (don't covet), an application matching the law. What can we do about that ment a step further, making special the violent needs of the violent people dilemma? claims about the Ten Commandments who had come out of Egypt. Most important of all, we must know which give us a great advantage, but Jesus, of course, coming to earth as that the story of Jesus takes us to the also place us in great danger. In short, Cod in the flesh, points us toward the first, last, and best answer. From his we have argued that all of the Ten nonviolent ideal, with the story of the "wretched" exclamation in Romans Commandments are enduring; that woman taken in adultery being the 7:24, Paul moves on to that glorious taken together as they are written, they most famous example: "Neither do I promise in Romans 8:1: "There is there provide believers with a secure anchor, condemn you. Go your way, and from fore now no condemnation to those protecting us from a wide range of now on do not sin again" (John 8:11, who are in Christ Jesus" (NRSV). And temptations, from those which bubble

May 2004 MINISTRY 19 31:31-34 which points to a time when ning it was not so" (Matt. 19:8, NRSV). no one will need to teach someone else Surprisingly—yet probably not sur and no one will command anyone else prising when we think it through—at to know the Lord because God will have Sinai, Israel was delighted that Cod had up from within—our own passions and written His law on the heart. given them rules to help them. Indeed, appetites—to those which threaten us In other words, the law has become Moses said that even the surrounding from without, the temptations posed by so much a part of human life and think nations would almost envy them for an increasingly secular and relativistic ing that the loving response has their rules, saying, "Surely this great world. Others may waffle, wandering become entirely spontaneous. The law nation is a wise and discerning people!" about in search of meaning and security; has not been rejected or abolished; it (Deut. 4:6, NRSV). Adventists can rest secure, held by an simply has been internalized where no Moses went to exclaim: "For what anchor that never moves. one can see it. other great nation has a god so near to That's the great advantage. The dan Ellen White follows that line of think it as the LORD our God is whenever we ger? The very simplicity of our message ing when she describes the perfect world call to him? And what other great nation makes us vulnerable to the greatest sin at the time of Lucifer's rebellion: "When has statutes and ordinances as just as of all: arrogant reliance on our own abil Satan rebelled against the law of Jehovah, this entire law that I am setting before ity. And in our pride, we too easily fail to the thought that there was a law came to you today?" (Deut. 4:7, 8, NRSV). Ellen look within and discover those more the angels almost as an awakening to White echoes that sentiment: "The subtle—and thus more dangerous— something unthought of."7 object of all these regulations was forms of sin which will certainly lead us But the war in heaven changed all stated: they proceeded from no exercise away from God's kingdom and keep us that. Adventists have rightly argued of arbitrary sovereignty; all were given from touching the hearts of those who that God could not just snuff out the for the good of Israel."9 need to know the story of Jesus. rebellion immediately—unless He Yet the joyful reception of the rules But God has a plan to preserve the wanted all His creatures forever after to masked a real danger, namely, that rules advantage for us and to protect us from serve Him simply from fear. Ellen White can never lead to love. They can guide the danger, a plan that can best be describes God's ideal in this way: and protect, but they can never really understood if we sketch the history of "God desires from all his creatures touch the heart. The fact that God is God's law from a cosmic perspective, the service of love—service that springs willing to give rules touches the heart, from a perfect world, to rebellion, and from an appreciation of His character. but the rules themselves never can. And back to a perfect world again. He takes no pleasure in a forced obedi so we come to the final reality in Cod's ence; and to all He grants freedom of great plan, the story of Jesus. From no rules to many rules will, that they may render Him volun An important aspect of the Adventist tary service."8 Rules are never enough understanding of law is that God's law So for a time, God gave Satan free In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus of love is a natural law like the law of dom to develop his way, a government confronts us with the terrible truth gravity or the laws of mathematics. It is based on the principle of selfishness about our tangled lives, namely, that a "natural" law, not an arbitrary one, instead of the principle of love. Genesis rules can never transform the heart. because it is the natural reflection of 3 to 11 documents the tragic and ever- Hammer blow after hammer blow drive God's character. In other words, God worsening results: sin in the Garden, home the stinging truth: You haven't cannot choose to make one law for this Cain's murder of Abel his brother, the murdered? But what about your mur part of His kingdom, and another one Flood, Babel. When God stepped back derous thoughts? (Matt. 5:21, 22). for that part. He cannot change His law, on the stage more actively at the time You've kept your sexual activity in nor can anyone else because it is simply of Abraham, Scripture says that check? But what about your impure a reflection of Himself. Abraham's own family worshiped other thoughts? (Matt. 5:27, 28). You've The opening line of Ellen White's gods (Josh. 24:2). That's how bad stayed within the legal limits of book Patriarchs and Prophets makes this things had gotten. revenge: an eye for an eye. Now turn point with powerful simplicity: "'God is When things are that bad, what does the other cheek, go the second mile love.' His nature, his law, is love. It ever God do? He lovingly—and daringly— (Matt. 5:38-41). Love your enemies has been; it ever will be." adapts the principles of His kingdom to (Matt. 5:44). Be perfect—like God is Two biblical passages, in particular, the needs of His fallen creatures. As perfect (Matt. 5:48). point us in this direction. One is Romans Jesus bluntly explained in connection Jesus, we cry, You make it impossible. 13:10: "Love is the fulfilling of the law" with divorce, God has given some rules We almost had the rules down pat. (NRSV)—or, to put it another way, love because of the "hardness" of human Now You've ruined it. fills the law full. The other passage is the hearts. But such rules should never be Precisely. Jesus shows us a marvelous new covenant promise in Jeremiah mistaken for His ideal: "from the begin example of how we really want to live.

20 MINISTRY May 2004 He prayed for His enemies, lived a life of the contrary, we uphold the law" (Rom. promise has been fulfilled. "No longer purity, turned the other cheek. Cod 3:31, NRSV). God Himself has demon shall they teach one another, or say to took human flesh to show us how it strated to the entire universe what the each other, 'Know the LORD,' for they could and should be done. His listeners law of love really means. He Himself lived shall all know me from the least of them watched Him, admired Him. But then out the law of love in the flesh. He to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will they realized that they couldn't do it. So Himself demonstrated the full extent of forgive their iniquity, and remember they killed Him. . .. that love by paying the price for our sins, their sin no more" (Jer. 31:34, NRSV). And we don't do it either. Broken taking away our guilt and shame. He God Himself has shown us: The law rules, shattered ideals. Where can we Himself made it possible for us to move has always been our anchor and Jesus is turn? beyond the rules to live in genuine, lov the wind in our sails. H ing relationships with each other and From shattered ideals and with the Creator of the universe. AIden Thompson, Ph.D., is professor of biblical broken rules, back to the rule Perhaps the essence of this great studies at Walla Walla College, College Place, of love teaching is best captured by Jesus in His Washington. When the incarnate God died on the conversation with His disciples just cross, a new cluster of amazing truths before His death: "I do not call you serv 1 Published in Review and Herald, 18:148, October 8, 1861 ("Covenant, Church," SDA Encyclopedia, 2nd began to dawn in the hearts of His fol ants any longer, because the servant rev. ed, 1996, 416). lowers. On the cross, in some mysteri does not know what the master is 2 Alden Thompson, Inspiration: Hard Questions, ous way, God had paid the price for our doing; but I have called you friends, Honest Answers (Hagerstown: Review and Herald, 1991). sins, covered our shame and guilt. He because I have made known to you 3 Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets (Nampa, has forgiven us. We are clean. Whole. everything that I have heard from my Idaho: Pacific Press® Pub. Assn., 1890), 34. And He sent His Spirit to perform the Father" (John 15:15, NRSV). Servants, 4 ———, Manuscript 10, 1890, in The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials (Washington D. C.: The Ellen G. work of transformation on our crooked you see, live by rules. Friends don't White Estate, 1987), 2:557. hearts. need them because the rules are written 5 ————, Testimonies to Ministers (Nampa, Idaho: In other words, that which was in the heart. Pacific Press® Pub. Assn., 1923), 370. The sentence "If one had no other text in the Bible ..." is record impossible before begins to happen God has wanted to be friends with ed first in an 1895 letter to General Conference through the work of God's Spirit. But us all along. But we didn't know how. President O. A. Olson (EGW1888, 4:1449) and was now we know we are dependent on So Jesus came to show us. And He has subsequently published in two pamphlets in the 1890s (1896 and 1897). God and living by His grace. No longer promised to transform our tears of frus 6 C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (1961) XXI11:3 are we trying to impress Him or anyone tration into tears to joy. Finally, we are (New York: MacMillan, 1966), 108. else by our good works. Obedience is once again in a perfect world with no 7 White, Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 109 (1896). no longer driven by fear or mere duty, rules—except the rule of love, engraved 8 Patriarchs and Prophets, 34. but springs from gratitude. on the heart. Jeremiah's new covenant 9 ———, 311. That's why Paul could exclaim. "There is therefore now no condemna Genuine medical missionary work tion for those who are in Christ Jesus" is bound up inseparably with the keeping of God's command (Rom. 8:1, NRSV). "The love of Christ ments, of which the Sabbath is especially mentioned, since urges us on," he wrote to the Corinthian it is the great memorial of God's creative work. Its observ believers. "Because we are convinced ance is bound up with the work of restoring the moral image that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all so that of God in man. Testimonies, vol. 6, pp. 265, 266 those who live might live no longer for Are you combining these in your ministry? themselves, but for him who died and Let us help train your workers. was raised for them. ... If anyone is in WE BRING SCHOOLTOYOUR CHURCH Christ, there is a new creation: every Hydrotherapy-Full Body Massage thing old has passed away; see, God's plan of redemption - Bible doctrines everything has become new!... For our 6 Weeks • 120 Hours • For ministry & service only Not a legal license sake, he made him to be sin who knew Instructor is a no sin, so that in him we might become Licensed Nurse & Massage The rapist the righteousness of God" (2 Cor. 5:14, 15, 17,21). THE REGISTRY What has happened to the law? Route 5, Box 247 Colcord, OK 74338 Phone (918) 422-5562 (918) 422-8996 Affirmed and confirmed for all eternity. Since 1967 As Paul put it, "Do we then overthrow The Registry Is For Those Who Love Others the law by this faith? By no means. On

May 2004 MINISTRY 21 YEAR OF WORLD EVANGELISM 2004

Evangelism is

everyone's task YEAROFWOBLP EVANGELISM 2OO4 Editor©s note: This article is presented lists are known to come from the United as one of a number of contributions in States with big budgets. I knew I would Ministry, especially featuring the global be expected to have my own budget evangelistic drive of the Seventh-day and graphic projection equipment, and Adventist Church in "2004, Year of World to meet my own travel expenses. Evangelism." Carolina Conference Global evange lism had made it clear that I was am a student from Kenya. Before expected to meet my travel costs, hotel, coming to the Philippines, I worked and meals. Yet, I did not have a penny I as a campus ministries director for the with me. Worse still, foreign students East African Union, where my assign have no work opportunities in the ment did not embrace the role of a Philippines. As I faced all of this, I began public evangelist. Even now my study is I got five people to come out to listen to to think that I had made a mistake to directed toward Bible teaching and not me. Besides, with terrorism around the have signed up. evangelism. I am completing a Master world, I felt unsafe as a foreigner in such At the same time, I felt hounded by of Arts/Religion program at the a remote place. the words of Jesus, "Take nothing for Adventist International Institute of But worst of all was the fear of inad your journey" (Luke 9:3). Advanced Studies (ANAS). equacy. As a Master of Arts/Religion stu I wrote to global evangelism head One morning, however, I had a brief dent, my seminary program emphasis quarters, informing them that I was interaction with a student from the AIIAS was tuned toward an academic prepara unable to take up the assignment ministry class. He introduced me to the tion for teaching religion. What do I because I could not come up with Global Evangelism Web site sponsored have to do with public evangelism? I money. But to my surprise, the Carolina by Carolina Conference of Seventh-day asked myself. The AIIAS seminary bul Conference Global-Evangelism director Adventists (carolinasda.org) and the letin makes it clear: "MA-R seminary offered to pay for my bus travel and Quiet Hour. I visited the Web site and program is an academic degree in reli meet other local direct expenses. He signed my name just out of curiosity, as gion," meant "primarily for students also sent me a videotape on the life of one of the possible speakers for an evan wishing to qualify themselves for teach Christ and a set of CDs with sermon gelistic program in the Philippines. ing religion." As a result, I was aware notes and graphics. To my surprise, my application was that my curriculum had little emphasis This development almost drowned accepted and I was assigned to go to on evangelism. my excuses for not being involved in the Bicol region of Luzon island. Bicol is As a student, I had other fears too. evangelism. Then during family worship about 500 miles southeast of Manila. How was I to balance seminary studies one morning, I encountered something The region is famous for the warmth with an intense two-week evangelistic that convicted me of my call to go. My and friendliness of the people and of sili, series? I sought some counsel from my youngest son read the parable of Jesus pili, and tilapia fish! In addition, the seminary dean and from the vice presi about the two sons in Matthew 21:28- place is famous because of its active dent for student affairs, hoping they 32: "... And he came to the second son Mayon volcano. Besides, the Hoyop- would deny my request for time to do and said likewise (son, go work today in Hoyopan caves make Bicol a historic evangelism. But instead, they both my vineyard). And he answered and place and a tourist attraction. encouraged me to go, and rearranged said, 'I go, sir' and he went not." Was my class assignments accordingly! this little boy of mine aware that he was First, some fears As a foreign student in the Philip probably referring to me? As days went by, I felt reluctant to go pines, I was fully aware of the disadvan My next challenge was the fear of to this place for evangelism. Bicol is tages of my status. I cannot speak the leaving my family in a foreign land. I steeped in strong religious traditions local language. Besides, expectations have four children for whom I am that make it difficult to present a from a foreign evangelist are sometimes responsible. Two weeks away would Seventh-day Adventist way of thought too high to meet. destabilize my family. But my heart con and belief. One student pastor at AIIAS The image some people have of an tinued to be disturbed with the convic had warned me that I would be lucky if evangelist is disturbing. Most evange- tion that I should go. It seemed my wife

22 MINISTRY May 2004 had detected some strange uneasiness in never missed a meeting after that! what had happened to their daughter at me. She asked if I had a class assignment But the greatest moment came on the city jail. troubling me. I told her I was going to be the fourth night when I was making a away for evangelism. call for decisions. No one stood for the Finally, some lessons I expected her to discourage me in first five minutes. I almost froze. I began This joyful experience of seeing sim view of terrorism and kidnapping in sweating but I did not give up. ple men and women decide for Christ some parts of the Philippines. But she Then something miraculous hap has taught me several things. prayed and wished me well! I left with pened. In the center of the hall, one First, there will never be any excuse out making adequate financial arrange elderly mother with her son stood up sufficient to deter me from evangelism. ments for my family. and moved forward. Later, she was fol The Master's great commission takes lowed by five young people. Then the highest priority over our business. Then, the adventure fifteen people came. Before ten minutes Evangelism is my reason for exist I attended the orientation program were over, half of the people in hall ence. Witnessing for Christ is a call that in Manila organized by Carolina stood and stepped forward, making swallows up every other engagement of Conference. It was designed to assist their decision. life. It is a call that gives meaning to all first-time evangelists through the I noticed one woman wiping her other things I am doing. My heart and experience of evangelism. One of the tears as she came forward. The sight soul have been refreshed. My mind can things that impressed me was the pres almost electrified me: She was the one focus as I pick up my studies. These ence of six students from Friedensau we had visited earlier, the one who had studies have taken on a new meaning as University in Germany. They, too, were been so impressed with me as a black a result of this experience. scheduled for evangelism at other sites man. On the closing day of the meeting, Second, I have learned that evange in the Philippines. I came back and this family was among the 41 baptized. lism is not so much about the number reread the Web site information on of people baptized but about a single global evangelism and went through Happenings in the city jail life transformed by and for Christ. the CD sermon notes and graphics. Perhaps the greatest miracle of this Heaven's "joy over one soul" is no less Within days, I was ready to leave. evangelistic program was what took than the joy over thousands baptized. The adventure began when I arrived place in the nearby Legaspi city jail. The "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. at the evangelistic site. The opening local pastor had made arrangements for He that goes forth and weepeth, bear night saw the hall filled with people. me to visit the city jail during the day ing precious seed shall doubtless come The wife of the president of South and preach to the inmates. again with rejoicing, bringing his Luzon Adventist Mission had set up the On one occasion, I shared one of the sheaves with him" (Ps. 126:5, 6). projector and screen. The program's Global Evangelism sermons: "The Third, God has His vineyard near to theme was "A New Beginning for the Unpardonable Sin and the Holy Spirit." where we are. Across the street or Family." Some people seemed excited It seemed to have immediately touched across the seas, it makes no difference: to see an African "black" man. The chil a number of inmates. The opportunity for witnessing remains dren would come to touch me and feel One female inmate asked me the same. Students can find both train the hair on my head. It was as though whether she had heard me correctly ing for and opportunity to witness by God created me black for this occasion. when I said that "murder is not the contacting the Carolina Conference Some of the people came to the meet unpardonable sin." I read her the words Global Evangelism Center. ings just to see "this black man." of Jesus in Matthew 21:31. "All manner Fourth, lack of high-tech equipment One day I accompanied the local of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven and big budgets need not be a hin elder to visit a Filipino family. They had unto men ..." Before my translator had drance to effective evangelism. While been resisting our invitations to come finished translating this part of the they are helpful in making public evan to the evangelistic meetings. We verse, she shed tears and joyfully gelism attractive, they should not be entered their house and prayed with requested if she could be baptized. allowed to compete and even clash them. I read a few Bible verses and in She was among 15 inmates baptized with the simplicity of evangelism as vited them to come to the meetings. in the city jail that week. I was overjoyed found in the New Testament. As we were about to leave the house, to see her come out of the water with a Finally, the notion that public evange the mother called out and said, "No beaming face. She told me that she was lism by seminary students applies only to black man has ever entered my house going to live for the glory of her Lord. those taking applied ministry is false. before. This man from Africa must be a Her prison term was to end soon, and Evangelism is every Christian's calling. Bl messenger from God. We will come to she would share her story and joy with the meetings." And that evening I saw others. Caesar Wamalika is a seminary student at the them walk into the hall. They were Her parents came that evening to see Adventist International Institute of Advanced among the first to arrive, and they us. They expressed their happiness for Studies, Philippines.

May 2004 MINISTRY 23 proper, or characteristic activities of ministry jumping the track and no longer functioning in an acceptable manner. Distractions come in many shapes and sizes, forms and guises. Robert H. Pierson, former General Con ference president and a pastor-missionary, once said, "The success of any organization or project is more dependent upon the human factor than upon the budget factor." One pastor I know spent at least one-half of most days on the golf course. Obviously that did not leave him much time to be in the office, or to do much ministry of any signifi cance. He was often late to meetings and committees, because sometimes he and his Traction or friends were behind a slow foursome while doing his "golf evangelism," as he called it. Another pastor was distracted by his com distraction puter. He was unusually capable with the computer and rarely left the machine, so that the members almost never saw him during the week. One of his members said of this young ears ago, returning to college fol capable pastor that he was "six days a week C. Lloyd Wyman lowing Christmas holidays, two invisible and on the seventh he was incom of us rode in a fellow classmate's prehensible," because he did not seem to find Model-A Ford. Living in western the time to put together a well-thought-out, Washington State, we had a thoroughly prepared sermon. Ymountain pass to cross on our way. One young pastor, an intern, stayed home As we started up the mountain, the driver to care for his two little children while his announced, "If we can keep the car moving wife went to work at an 8-5 job because they up the mountain slowly, we can keep our were overextended financially and needed traction. However, if a car stops in front of us, the money. This program did not permit him we'll be in trouble because my tires are nearly to do much of anything with the small bald." Then looking at me, he added, "If we church to which he had been assigned to have to stop, you and Jane will have to get out serve as pastor. and push to get the car started. Then you'll have to run and jump into the car." As it Cushy job? turned out, Jane and I did in fact have to get To some pastors, pastoring is a cushy job. out and push several times in order to help It's as if a pastor has tenure. The salary keeps the car get traction once it had stopped! coming, almost regardless of the lifestyle. So there are some pastors who reason, why not Traction versus distraction pick up a sideline or two? Others are doing it. When we speak of "traction" in ministry, I know that some have taken sales jobs on we are saying that when pastors recognize the side, such as in real estate; others work in their calling and commit themselves to do the "pyramid" sales. I knew one pastor who work to which they have been called, it takes served as a counselor at a mortuary during his steady, focused, intentional attention to the "spare" time. many facets of this unique work of God. These extracurricular tasks are serious "dis Should they allow themselves to be distracted tractions" to the pastor's life. To the degree C. Lloyd Wyman, by sidelines, or by spending untold hours on that we fail to make pastoral work our passion D.Min., is ministerial various nonpastoral matters, pastors can lose and full-time focus, God's work languishes, director of the Pacific traction and thereby become ineffective with our churches become weak, and God's saints Union Conference, their members. are not receiving an honest full measure of Newbury Park, Distractions are often like dysfunctions. the leadership the church is paying for, or the California. Dysfunctions are the result of the normal, church legitimately expects.

24 MINISTRY May 2004 One man who had served as choir people and programs? Is it possible to director of his church for 20 years be so wrapped up in our own pursuits said that during that time there had that ordinary ministry and pastoral not been one pastor for whom the concerns are passed by or crowded out? church was his first love, priority, and passion. Then he began to list the Evaluating pastors pastors in order and state what it was Some years ago a conference that they loved more than pastoring. administration asked me to evaluate For one it was cars; for another, its pastors. The administration and I computers; for another, buying, sell decided to send a fairly simple evalua ing, and collecting books; for another, tion instrument to seven leading houses and real estate, etc. He said officers of each church of the confer "there has never been a time when we ence. The evaluations were sent out at the church didn't feel we had to with a note that encouraged the make a commotion to get our pastor's church leaders to be brief and honest attention for a few minutes, before he in their answers. got back to his real passion." How did it turn out? From the scores of evaluations Understanding the work of received, a picture of each pastor came Supportive Prayer Groups ministry today into focus. Here are only a couple of When a friend described the benefits I do understand that the economic highly noteworthy points that came of her prayer group, I remembered crunch on minister families is real. from this work. the prayer bands of my high school Even when both spouses work, there The pastor does not seem to be spirit years and prayer meetings that blessed my grandparents. I are major financial pressures, espe ual. This was probably the most determined that I wanted to be part cially for those with several children. serious indictment of any that I heard. of a supportive group for the I do understand that to answer a The report went on to say that the pas following reasons: call to minister in some areas these tor had a short fuse and a bad temper. 1. Humans have a basic need for days, a pastoral family can be in for Board meetings were a battleground fellowship. With the escalation of broken homes, support groups are some dollar shock. because if the pastor did not get his more and more necessary to I do understand that pastoring is own way, he tended to fly into a rage. maintain a healthy society. often frustrating work. The church And if someone said or did something 2. Even when my own faith isn't may not have developed a mission the pastor did not like, he could not vibrant, I still experience more statement so that the pastor might seem able to forgive or forget. answers to prayer. Sharing with others forms a signficant, powerful know what to expect. The church When confronted with the evalua team. Recently, in a Women's people are not home much and when tion, the pastor was quick to shift the Ministry Roadshow, we travelled, they are, they do not want to be both blame elsewhere—to the insensitivity preached, and prayed seriously for a ered or visited. of some of his leaders, to the fantastic week. Our prayers were fervent and the anwers were amazing. We felt However, consider this: "Some pressure under which he had to min and saw God at work. who have labored in the ministry ister. He found it hard to own any 3. Sharing important needs in prayer have failed of attaining success responsibility in these matters. with others forms a special bond that because they have not given their We are reminded here, "Self is the cannot easily be broken. Neighbors undivided interest to the Lord's work. enemy we most need to fear. ... So who prayed with me during difficult times are still good friends. Even ... The energies of the minister are all long as we are in the world, we shall though separated, we continue to needed for his high calling. His best meet with adverse influences. There share each other's concerns through powers belong to God.... The minis will be provocations to test the tem prayer. ter who is wholly consecrated to God per; and it is by meeting these in a 4. Praying together for a specific refuses to engage in business that right spirit that the Christian graces project becomes a powerful tool for communicating God's love and would hinder him from giving him are developed. If Christ dwells in us, releases the Holy Spirit's power to self fully to his sacred calling."1 we shall be patient, kind, and for work more powerfully. r „ , -Joy Butler Is it possible for us as pastors to see bearing, cheerful amid frets and the pastorate as just a job and allow irritations. . . . Each one has a per "other things" to steal our time and sonal battle to fight."2 I©rcsh ideas for de\H<»j)in» interest? Is it possible to take such a Here is another serious charge that \<>nr (hunh s spiritual life general view of the church that one came from the evaluation of another does not see the immediate needs of continued on page 31

May 2004 MINISTRY 25 the complex marital and family conflicts that come our way. Nothing in our regular train ing for ministry seems to have prepared us for such complexities. We can, of course, choose to refer people to someone in the community for counseling. Quite frankly, that might be the best thing we can do in some situations. But that is not pos sible or needful in every case.

Spiritual leaders Behavioral For many in our communities the church is traditionally the first source of help they turn to when marital or other family crises marital therapy: arise. Our parishioners consider us spiritual leaders, and they expect us to help them in a way for pastors to help heal their emotional crises. They may also turn to us for help because of financial constraints marital conflicts that may not permit them to go to profes sional counselors. For these and other pastoral reasons, it is necessary that we have a working knowledge of marriage counseling. astor, I feel like I'm at the end of my Pastors may be eager to minister to those Daniel M. Forbes rope. Everything I do or say to my who have such needs, but that eagerness is wife only seems to fuel her anger often met by frustration because of a lack of toward me. I can't seem to do any training and skill in how best to deal with thing to make her happy. She's marital and family problems in a professional Pnothing like the sweet girl I fell in love with and effective manner. Such frustrations may and married 30 years ago. Life should not have tempt some pastors to choose to avoid situa to be this hard! The only time I feel content is tions that involve counseling, particularly when I'm away at work. I'm thinking more marriage and family counseling. and more that divorce is the only answer, but For clergy who might be struggling with I thought about talking to you before I did these and similar frustrations, I'd like to sug anything like that. Can you help me?" gest a therapeutic approach called behavioral "Hello, Pastor! I need to talk to you. I think marital therapy as a possible solution. I'm losing my husband! Ever since the baby We'll approach this study of behavioral was born he's always having to work late. And marital therapy in six basic steps: (1) the theo he never has time for the family or to help me retical cause of breakdown in marital with the baby. I think he's having an affair! relationships, (2) diagnosis and assessment, What should I do?" (3) building relationships between the pastor "Pastor, do you have a minute to talk? Last and the couple/family, (4) a general outline of week my wife told me she doesn't want to how sessions are utilized, (5) therapeutic tech remain married to me anymore. She says she's niques, and (6) termination. going to take the kids and move to a place where I'll never find them. I've been walking Theoretical cause of breakdowns around in a daze ever since. I really thought Successful marriages can be measured by we were happy together! Can you help me the amount and range of reciprocating posi sort through it all?" tive reinforcement that is shared between Daniel M. Forbes, As clergy we often find ourselves more and spouses. Distressed marriages, however, are Ed.D., LMHC, NCC, more involved in ministering to troubled cou characterized by acts of coercion, withdrawal, CFLE, is pastor of the University Seventh- ples and hurting families. Sometimes we feel and retaliatory behaviors.1 day Adventist overwhelmed by the magnitude and multi The basic premise underlying behavioral Church, Orlando, tude of what seems like a stream of families marital therapy is that in happy marriages, Florida. crying for our attention. We may feel alto the rewards of the relationship outnumber or gether inadequate or unprepared to approach outweigh the costs or stresses. The reverse is

26 MINISTRY May 2004 also true: Marital discord shifts the tal therapy according to the personal the ideal.8 Thus it is important for the balance to where the costs outnum frame of reference of the individual emphasis to be upon learning the ber the rewards.2 clergy/counselor. It usually involves means for achieving interpersonal In troubled marriages the interac some combination of interviewing, behavioral change, rather than upon tions between spouses are locked in a self-report questionnaires, behavioral the change itself. pattern of problematic behaviors that observations, and perhaps some self- only serve to perpetuate the marital monitoring by the spouses.6 How sessions are utilized discord. In such a negative pattern, On the basis of the assessment and Behavioral marital therapy typi each spouse refuses to change his or diagnosis of the troubled marital rela cally addresses four basic areas: (1) a her behavior until a change is first tionship, data is collected and a behavioral analysis of the couple's seen in the other's behavior.3 treatment plan using standardized troubled relationship, which is based Behavioral marital therapy modules is offered to the couple. The on interviews, self-report question attempts to decrease the negative, therapeutic plan is usually designed naires, and behavioral observations; destructive behavior patterns that and tailored to meet each couple's (2) initiating a pattern of positive reci characterize troubled marriages in particular needs.7 procity using various activities order to increase the positive behav designed to foster such a response, i.e., ioral experiences.4 Evidence reveals Building relationships "caring days," which will be discussed that the main sources of marital con between counselor and couple later; (3) communication skills train flict are found in a lack of communi The beginning phase in behavioral ing, for example, using "I" messages cation, poor problem solving skills, marital therapy is for the counseling to express personal feelings, dealing and a lack of reciprocal exchange. pastor to create a positive therapeutic with problems of the present instead When behavioral martial therapy alliance with the couple, in which of dwelling on the past, describing is employed—which involves behav they are comfortable working together each partner's actual behavior instead ior exchange along with training in toward agreed upon counseling goals. of labeling it, providing positive feed proper communication skills—the The first session involves asking back to each other, and (4) training in results are statistically observable in spouses to express their feelings when problem solving, i.e., specifying the improved patterns of communica it comes to the actual marital problems problem, negotiating a resolution, tion, problem-solving skills, and the couple is experiencing. Special and contracting for agreed upon ways overall satisfaction for most couples attention is given to the couple's moti to achieve that resolution.' in marital distress. vation to reestablish a new behavior Since behavioral marital therapy pattern of marital interaction. seeks to bring about a lasting change Diagnosis and assessment Assessment is the cornerstone of in the communication pattern in the Behavioral marital therapy is pri counseling. If properly performed, it troubled marital relationship, the marily based on observations of can create confidence in the pastor's couple is taught to utilize the skills marital couples, interactions of cou ability to help the couple succeed in presented to them during the coun ples with the counseling pastor, and improving their relationship. seling intervention sessions, and then sound exchange theory.5 The goal is Assessment in the initial phase of to use them on their own.10 to analyze and modify the unwanted counseling offers the therapeutic Behavioral marital therapy is rela interaction behavior of a distressed structure and foundation of the coun tively structured, and therefore the couple rather than focusing on ana seling process. It helps couples know methods employed by different coun lyzing the personal growth taking what to expect and predicts the course selors are somewhat similar. What is place in their family relationship. and possible success of their efforts. going to happen during each session is The therapeutic process begins Emphasis on behavioral change is generally known before counseling with a thorough assessment that is pivotal to behavioral marital therapy. begins, because the therapeutic task usually distinct from actual counsel Yet there is just so much change that has already been established in the ing per se. In some instances, couples is possible, especially in some rela early assessment period. So the day-to agree to an assessment process and tionships. If the focus is primarily on day crises that undoubtedly will be then make a separate agreement for change rather than .upon the process presented each week by the couple are treatment, if they choose to undergo that achieves change (the couple not a distraction to the counseling pas counseling. In other cases, assessment learning how to unite their efforts tor because the goals and focus of is more brief and is actually an addi against their problems), then counsel counseling are already clear. tional part of counseling. ing will succeed or fail depending on Generally speaking though, assess the degree of change that is achieved, Steps of behavioral therapy ment may be thought of as a more or and disappointment will result when Eight steps are involved in the less elaborate part of behavioral mari the amount of change falls short of process of behavioral marital therapy.

May 2004 MINISTRY 27 1. Each spouse separately com nicate accurately, honestly, and con ior. So most therapeutic strategies of pletes a marital pre-counseling inven structively without negative behavioral marital therapy rely largely tory, i.e., the Marital Status Inventory, misinterpretation or comment. on increasing the positive reinforce the Couple's Pre-counseling Inven 6. Behavioral contracting based on ments and decreasing the negative tory, the Personal Assessment of the quid pro quo principle—"some interactions based on what each Intimacy in Relationships, or a similar thing for something"—in which the spouse finds subjectively pleasing. A marital assessment instrument. This couple exchange desired behaviors major source for those rewards and gives details of daily activities, general with one another. More on this later. costs for either partner is the behavior goals, current satisfactions, areas for 7. The couple learns important of their spouse.14 change, as well as determining a level principles or strategies for effective of commitment to marriage. This data mutual decision making. The use of contracts between helps in planning an effective inter 8. The couple learns to maintain spouses vention program. the positive changes that have taken Of particular interest are the con 2. A contract is made between the place in their relationship. They estab tracts used in behavioral marital thera spouses and the pastoral counselor. lish rules to continue to grow py. Contracts are written agreements The contract involves further coun positively. Follow-up will occur at that stipulate specific behavioral seling for a certain period of time, four-month intervals, or as needed in changes. Spouses state in detail what usually three to six sessions. Setting a order to gauge progress and to renego behaviors they want increased by their time limit on counseling helps make tiate, as needed, further change over partner. This eliminates the excuse of the task seem more manageable and time.12 not knowing what the other spouse less threatening for the couple as well wanted or intended. The expectation as the pastor. A description of therapeutic of immediate reciprocation is elimi The contract also includes ground techniques nated also. Ironically, this can increase rules for counseling, agreement on With several decades of studies and the likelihood of spontaneous recipro joint sessions, and permission to research on the efficacy of behavioral cation and counter a couple's resist share with both partners what infor marital therapy, it can be stated that ance to change. mation each has provided with no this approach to treating marital dis Two types of behavioral exchange secrets kept by the pastor from either cord is effective in most situations. It contracts are quid pro quo, referred to spouse. It also includes mutual agree puts emphasis on initiating positive earlier, and good faith contracts. ment on any change that is to be family activities and on teaching as Quid pro quo contracts give the cou initiated by the couple." well as implanting effective conflict ple a chance to say to one another in 3. The first joint session is devoted resolution strategies, with communi effect: "If I do this, will you do that?" to discussing and understanding the cation training being the strongest It is a negotiated agreement made basic principle, that the most effective part of the intervention. between them that as one partner way to bring about change in a dis For behavioral marital therapy to does something positive (or ceases to tressed marital relationship is to be used competently, five sets of clini do something negative) for the other, increase the amount of positive behav cal skills are needed: (1) inducing the other will do something of equiva ioral interaction between spouses. positive expectancies; (2) structuring; lent value for the one. 4. Step four involves an activity (3) instigation; (4) teaching; and (5) Good faith contracts are agreements called "caring days." This activity is emotional nurturing. Each of these that specify what one spouse agrees to calculated to motivate both partners skills is evaluated by a set of interven do for the other spouse. These things to reach success in attaining their tion strategies which include are done regardless of how the other counseling objectives. These "caring interrupting couples when they devi spouse behaves or responds. This con days" are used by each spouse to ate from a stated rule or preplanned tractual technique comes closer to demonstrate a type of commitment agenda, involving the couple in a dia reflecting the foundation of Christian that is performed independently of logue regarding why they are being behavior as stated in the golden rule of the other spouse's actions or respons interrupted, and training them to Matthew 7:12, which instructs a per es. Caring activities are based on a list gradually regulate their own behavior son to do to others what they would of specific positive behaviors that each through recognizing their own rule like to have done to themselves. spouse desires of the other. A record is violations.13 kept by each partner of the number Behavioral marital therapy advo Termination and type of caring behaviors he or she cates the importance of the cognition Termination is the final phase of offers each day. Ideally that would be (thoughts) and emotions of marital behavioral marital therapy. It usually between four and twenty behaviors. functioning. Yet the primary focus has begins one or two sessions before the 5. Training the couple to commu typically been on the couple's behav continued on page 3 7

28 MINISTRY May 2004 PASTOR's PASTOR

The wrong crowd

esus was always "hanging out" with diseases), mobility, psychiatric, speech, the wrong crowd. In fact, Jesus gen and visual. Further, many disabled erally offended people because His members do not attend church, so min J behavior did not match their expec istry must be conducted with them in tations of how ministry ought to JAMES A. CRESS their homes. proceed. They thought Messiah would Members must be sensitized to both associate with the high and mighty and the needs and the opportunities to wel lead a vast army to deliver Israel from come persons with disabilities and to the Romans. Instead, Jesus associated utilize their capabilities in service. with the low and powerless and led a Disability Commission member ragamuffin bunch of sinners and out Catherine Burks says, "Accessibility casts to deliver souls from Satan. doesn't just mean ramps and physical Not that He hadn't announced His aids. Those with disabilities need to be intentions clearly. Quoting Isaiah and lesus did not heal every person. encouraged to use their spiritual gifts. applying the prophecy to Himself, Jesus Not every prayer was answered. Not Each time you do that, you lose more said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, every cripple walked. Even though and more fear. Some change is not easy, because he hath anointed me to preach Scripture describes Jesus healing one but change can be for the better. Usually the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me lame man at the pool of Bethesda, there the change involves a struggle, but the to heal the brokenhearted, to preach is no record of every sick person leaving struggle promotes development." Try deliverance to the captives, and recov that place restored. Jesus must have inviting the disabled of your congrega ering of sight to the blind, to set at lib passed by the crippled beggar at the tion to share their insights and to voice erty them that are bruised, to preach temple's Gate Beautiful on numerous their opinions in how the church might the acceptable year of the Lord" (Luke occasions without stopping. Only minister more effectively. You could 4:18-19). weeks after Christ's ascension was the establish a local disability commission. And when they comprehended that beggar contacted by the church. /esus anticipates even greater His ministry actually would follow this And His selection process follows no works from the church. In fact, He pattern, they sought to kill Him. Just as logical pattern. For example, if I were promises the Holy Spirit's power to they were offended that Jesus hung out designing heaven's system for answer energize and accompany the church in with the wrong crowd, so today many ing prayer requests, I would surely performing the same mighty works that reject the reality that Jesus wants His respect the desires of the apostle Paul He accomplished. As you labor to effec church to recruit from, care for, and who was informed not only that his tively reach those who are disabled and minister with the same bunch. thorn would not be removed, but that to include them in all facets of church Jesus targeted the disabled. he should stop praying for deliverance life and programming, God's blessing Moved with compassion by the needs and depend solely upon Cod's all- will accompany your efforts and His of the multitudes, Jesus intentionally sufficient grace. power will guarantee your success. focused on those who were distressed, Jesus expects His followers to con Jesus judges our treatment of the diseased, disabled, despised, and disen tinue His own works. "Reaching out to disabled. In the sobering reality of franchised. He returned sight to the the disabled community is part of evan judgment, both the saved and the lost blind who themselves would extend gelism," says Dr. Rosa T. Banks, Associate ask Jesus the same question. "When did light. He restored lame limbs and those Secretary and Human Relations Director we see You hungry, thirsty, naked, or in newly-abled built belief in others. He for North America's Adventist Church, prison?" Neither group recognized that resurrected dead bodies and created and chair of the Commission for People their ministry to or rejection of "the new born believers who, themselves, with Disabilities. The commission has least of Jesus' brethren" was ministry to shared everlasting life. In loosing their defined seven types of disabilities that or rejection of Jesus, Himself. physical pain and suffering, Jesus bound must be accommodated by congrega Imagine that! In heaven's eyes, the people with mighty cords of love to His tions: cognitive, hearing, hidden (i.e., wrong crowd just might be the right own loving heart. chronic, inflammatory, and debilitating crowd! Bl

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Trust Services General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, Maryland 20904-6600 USA www.willplan.org Traction or be seeing and hearing. It will be a 4- If you and your spouse have most valuable walk." brought children into the parsonage, distraction? Have you listened to yourself lately? let them be your first mission field. continued from page 25 Have you observed the focus of your 4- Never lose your sense of urgency pastor: "He pursues an agenda that cen ministry lately? Have you evaluated about what life and ministry are ters around his own interests and for the the influence and example of your life? about. We are getting a people ready majority of his time does not include his Does it meet with your approval? Do for the coming of the Lord. church or its people. Only occasionally you think it meets with God's Paul's charge to the young man does he show up for church commit approval? The answers to the above Timothy was, "Herald and preach the tees and/or lay-led meetings. Rarely is question could fill many pages. In brief Word! Keep your sense of urgency he seen at conference-called pastors' I would say: [stand by, be at hand and ready], meetings. His wife and family also see 4 Review regularly your sense of whether the opportunity seems to be him very little." calling from God. favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it "Let ministers and teachers 4 Renew your consecration to God is convenient or inconvenient, remember that God holds them as His undershepherd (Phil. 3:7, 8). whether it is welcome or unwelcome, accountable to fill their office to the 4- Every day of your life, seek to do you as a preacher of the Word are to best of their ability, to bring into their God's will from your heart (Eph. 6:6). show people in what way their lives work their very best powers. They are 4 Let financial compensation take are wrong.] And convince them, not to take up duties that conflict a back seat to your true and deep rebuking and correcting, warning and with the work God has given them."3 commitment to ministry for Christ. urging and encouraging them, being This pastor seemed to be unaware 4 Focus on revival for the "saints" unflagging and inexhaustible in that he was accountable for the and a search for the lost and straying patience and teaching" (2 Tim. 4:2, expenditure of his time and energy; sheep and lambs. AMP). W for what was in fact properly required 4 Study the Word deeply and keep of him. at it until you can present soul- 1 Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles (Nampa, changing messages. Idaho: Pacific Press® Pub. Assn., 1911), 365, 366. How can a minister stay 4 Spend no time trying to politi 2 ———, The Ministry of Healing (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press® Pub. Assn., 1905), 485, 487. focused in ministry? cally please men, but concern 3 ———, Gospel Workers (Hagerstown, Md.: Review An old preacher said to me early in yourself with pleasing God. and Herald Pub. Assn., 1915), 271. my ministry, "Take a good walk 4 If you have taken unto yourself around yourself regularly, Lloyd, and a spouse, make his or her life and try to see and hear what others may your marriage a top priority.

Marital therapy pie; and (4) the couple and the pastor An Overview (Pacific Grove, Calif.: Brooks/Cole end the counseling relationship Publishing Co., 1991). continued from page 28 2 E. L. Worthington, Marriage Counseling: A Christian according to the time frame that they Approach to Counseling Couples (Downers Grove, III.: final session between the couple and contracted for in the beginning. InterVarsity Press, 1989). the counseling pastor. It should be There will no doubt be a certain 3 Goldenberg and Goldenberg. 4 S. L. Sayers, D. H. Baucom, T. G. Sher, R. L. Weiss, affable and satisfactory, with the main amount of ambivalence in the termi and R. E. Heyman, "Constructive Engagement, goal of promoting commitment nation process. Yet as the counseling Behavioral Marital, and Changes in Marital between the couple toward their mar pastor moves toward termination, it Satisfaction," Behavioral Assessment 13 (1991): 25-49. 5 Worthington; Goldenberg and Goldenberg. riage. Changes that have been made becomes an opportunity to inspire 6 Ibid. are solidified, and counseling ends. the couple to continue working 7 Worthington. During the termination phase four together toward further improving 8 N. S. Jacobson, "Toward Enhancing the Efficacy of Marital Therapy and Marital Therapy Research," things happen: (1) The time period their relationship. Journal of family Psychology 4 (1991) 4:373-393. between sessions is increased as the The termination process is also an 9 Goldenberg and Goldenberg; Gottman. counseling relationship nears an end; opportunity to help the couple 10 Sayers, Baucom, Sher, Weiss, and Heyman; K. Hahlweg, and H. J. Markman, "Effectiveness of (2) a written evaluation is given strengthen their relationship with Behavioral Marital Therapy: Empirical Status of describing what gains have been God, who is able to sustain their Behavioral Techniques in Preventing and made and suggestions of what the efforts and safeguard their home Alleviating Marital Distress," Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 56 (1988) 3: 440-447. couple needs to continue working on against the attacks of Satan, n 11 Plachary; Goldenberg and Goldenberg. in their relationship; (3) a verbal 12 Ibid. 13 Jacobson. evaluation takes place with the cou- 1 I. Goldenberg and H. Goldenberg, Family Therapy: 14 Worthington.

May 2004 MINISTRY 31 It's time to expand your horizons..

study with us at Loma Linda University where our r acuity of Religion is dedicated to offering Christian education with proper attention to faith, ethics, and science. Choose from three master of arts programs:* • Clinical ministry • Biomedical and clinical ethics • Religion and the sciences *Many combined degree programs with other LLU schools are available. LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY Toll free: Faculty of Religion Graduate Degree Programs (866) 558-6270 e- Griggs Hall, Room 217 Loma Linda, California 92350 [email protected] www.llu.edu/llu/ethics

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