Adventist Review General Paper of the Seventh-day Adventist Church April 26, 1984 Going on after your mate is gone Page 9 Three o'clock honesty Page 11 Outreach in Uganda Page 13 Does anybody have the right to tell me what to Page .3 THIS WEEK Adventist Review Although we try to be even- exciting news is that the debt no more or less how it is with the handed in dealing with the longer exists. Through a con- plan of salvation and the debt news, if we are to be honest we certed effort the 4,400 members that has been paid for each of us. must admit our bias toward of the Texico Conference were Bible credits: The Scripture Or) good news. We like success able to retire a debt that had quotations marked R.S.V. in Published continuously since 1849 stories—stories about church been a major burden for this publication are from the EDITOR growth, exceptionally effective years—and they did it in a Revised Standard Version of the William G. Johnsson literature evangelists, innova- relatively short time. Bible, copyrighted 1946, 1952 ASSOCIATE EDITOR tive forms of outreach. "Texico Conference Liqui- © 1971, 1973. George W. Reid Recently, however, we dates Debt" (p. 16) is such a Art and photo credits: MANAGING EDITOR received exciting news about a good-news story because it once Cover, H. Armstrong Roberts; Jocelyn R. Fay topic that we seldom report— was such a bad-news story. p. 3, David Sherwin; other ASSISTANT EDITORS debt, big debt. Of course, the Which, come to think of it, is photos, respective authors. James N. Coffin, Eugene F. Durand Aileen Andres Sox ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY LETTERS Corinne Russ EDITORIAL SECRETARIES Chitra Bamabas, Jeanne James Letters submitted for publication should A family budget is a docu- contribute ideas and comments on articles let me quote from the following or material printed in the ADVENTIST ment setting forth the needs, on justification from my old ART REVIEW. They should be brief, not exceed- Director, Byron Steele ing 250 words, and must cany the writer's goals, and priorities, in mone- high school religion text: Designer, G. W. Busch name, address, and telephone number tary terms, for the husband and "Fallen man cannot regain (although this number will not be printed). CONSULTING EDITORS Letters must be legible, preferably typewrit- wife who prepare it. It is not a God's friendship by himself. It Neal C. Wilson, Charles E. Bradford, L. L. ten, and doublespaced. All will be edited to Bock, L. L. Butler, Charles B. Hirsch, W. meet space and literary requirements, but device to restrict freedom and is God who saves man, through R. Lesher, Alf Lohne, Kenneth J. Mitt- the author's meaning will not be changed. happiness, but a means of set- the merits of Jesus Christ. God leider, Enoch Oliveira, G. Ralph Thomp- Views expressed in the letters do not son, Francis W. Wemick necessarily represent those of the editors or ting forth reasonable goals. first acts, but the man must of the denomination. Address letters for this column to Editor, ADVENTIST REVIEW, 6840 The Adventist Home, by actively respond by turning SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS Eastern Ave., NW., Washington, D.C. Ellen White, sets forth some Kenneth H. Wood, Robert H. Pierson, 20012. from sin to God. The grace of George W. Brown, G. J. Christo, W. T. excellent general principles. God remits the guilt and Clark, Bekele Heye, R. J. Kloosterhuis, Edwin Ludescher, Jan Paulsen, W. R. L. Family Issue More detailed guides are avail- changes the man interiorly. He Scragg, Joao Wolff able in the form of paperback can then grow in God's friend- SOUTHWESTERN UNION EDITION Thank you for the timely and books. Such books are gener- ship by the continuous response Editor, Richard W. Bendall stimulating special issue on the ally available in bookstores, of prayer and good works."— Adventist family (March 15). It EASTERN AFRICA EDITION public libraries, or bookstands John S. Nelson, S.J., The Editor, Bill Edsell was well done with one excep- in supermarkets, or from the Church: The People of God, p. tion: you left out For the Youn- INTER-AMERICAN EDITIONS county extension agent. Some 362. Editor, Wanda Sample ger Set. What a beautiful oppor- banks have forms available, As for the role of the sacra- Associate Editors, Simone Doleyres, French; Humberto Rasi, Raul Villanueva, tunity to include an appropriate without cost, to use for family ments, they represent for the Spanish story for the children on the budget preparation. Catholic outward signs, insti- meaning of the family. SOUTH AMERICAN EDITIONS ARNOLD E. BULLOCK tuted by Christ, through which Editor. R. S. Lessa. Portuguese DON BYROD II Acting Editor, Rubem M. Scheffel, Susanville, California one can grow closer to God in Portuguese Mountain Lake Park, Maryland His friendship. They are not Editor, Jose Tabuenca, Spanish ■ Non-Adventist writes regarded as charms to heaven, Sorry. Our "type squeezer" CIRCULATION already worked overtime on Being a non-Adventist, I do but as one of the several ways to Manager, Robert S. Smith Associate, L. Rhea Harvey that issue. We just did not have not get a regular chance to read mature in the redemption won any more room. the ADVENTIST REVIEW, but I by Christ. (Luther himself TO CONTRIBUTORS recently perused the March 22 recognized the value of the Unsolicited manuscripts are welcome, but Every Adventist home needs notification as to acceptance or rejection issue and "Luther and Rome: Is sacramental, as baptism and the may be expected only if accompanied by a this issue, not just those who Consensus Possible?" I feel Eucharist were and are retained stamped, self-addressed envelope. subscribe. Is it possible this deserves a response. as sacraments in the Lutheran An index is published in the last Review of issue could be sent to every June and December. The Adventist Review It is not the thesis that causes Church.) JOHN K. WALLACE is indexed in the Seventh-day Adventist Adventist home as was the ABC me to write, but rather his Alexandria, Virginia Periodical Index. issue? ESTHER OLDHAM characterization that in the Montrose, Colorado Clear reading The Adventist Review (ISSN 0161-1119) is "modern" Roman Catholic published every Thursday. Copyright 0 1984 Review and Herald Publishing Associ- The issue dealt with a wide Church "salvation comes only After struggling through ation, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagers- town, Maryland 21740, U.S.A. Second- range of problems that families through its hierarchical-sacra- "The Sanctuary Doctrine" class postage paid at Hagerstown, Mary- have to face today, but one topic mental mediation." Such a (Feb. 16), my wife and I opened land. Postmaster: send form 3579 to same address. Subscriber: send address change to was conspicuously absent— statement seems to imply that The Great Controversy to the the above address. Subscriptions: one year, US$30.95. Single copy, 90 cents U.S. management of family the Catholic Church does not chapter "What Is the Sanctu- currency. Prices subject to change without finances. I believe that more recognize the role Jesus plays in ary?" and read it and on through notice. families have lived with tension salvation. The Catholic Church the two following chapters. Address all editorial correspondence to 6840 and stress because the husband always has recognized that sal- When we had finished, we Eastern Avenue NW., Washington, D.C. and wife failed to reach agree- vation is through the merits of thanked God for the Spirit of 20012. ment on this issue than because Jesus Christ. Prophecy. RALPH A. WILLARD Vol. 161, No. 17. of any other single cause. As a point of substantiation, Lancaster, Massachusetts 2 (434) ADVENTIST REVIEW, APRIL 26, 1984 Does anybody have the right to tell me what to do? By BERNARD RAMM New answers to this question are revolutionizing our views of marriage, murder, abortion, law, and even athletic salaries. s all that paperwork and ceremony associated with I marriage really necessary? What is so wrong with a live-in arrangement? We bridle at such questions, but hot feeling is not enough when we are talking with an acquaintance who shares an apartment with his girlfriend. Just why do Christians see marriage as something more than a convenient relationship between two human beings? The reason seems to be rooted in a whole different way of looking at life. The issue is not marriage itself, but our basic outlook on life, and especially on authority. We might face much the same problem in talking with that same acquaintance about murder, abortion, law, or athletic salaries. Interlocking universe To understand the present-day division we need to take a quick look at the past. Greek philosophy from Plato's time taught that the universe is ordered and structured, a System of interlocking systems. In a similar approach, Christian theology would say Scripture teaches about one Lord God who created the world, gave the moral law at Sinai, inspired therefore much more than a relationship of convenience the prophets of the Old Testament, redeemed the world (among many possible ones); marriage is not to be reduced to through Christ, and is the consummator of all things. We can the level of society's customs. call creation, law, inspiration, holy history, salvation, and No! say the nominalists consummation systems within one System. Western culture has been held together, in a sloppy way, The opposite opinion to any such structured viewpoint by a profound belief that there was some kind of interlocking carries the philosophical name of nominalism. In the history system, or else one Lord God. This basic viewpoint underlies of human ideas it is associated with William Ockham, a the West's political and economic thought, as well as its idea philosopher-theologian of the Middle Ages.