MARCH 2018 PACIFIC UNION RecorderPACIFIC Renewed by Hope Page 6 How Can Christians Respond to a Polarized Culture? Page 4 2 PACIFICUNIONRECORDER.COM PACIFIC UNION RecorderPACIFIC Publisher Ray Tetz • [email protected] Interim Managing Editor Delwin Finch • [email protected] Interim Copy Editor Julie Lorenz Interim Design/Layout Stephanie Leal Printing Pacific Press Publishing Association www.pacificpress.com The Recorder is a monthly publication reaching approximately 76,000 Seventh-day Adventist homes in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah. Our mission is to inform, educate, and inspire our readers to action in all areas of ministry. 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Editorial office is at 2686 Townsgate Rd., “God hears the prayers of all who seek Him in Westlake Village, CA 91361: 805-497-9457. Periodical postage Pacific Union paid at Thousand Oaks, CA, and additional mailing offices. 4-9, 42 truth. He has the power that we all need. He Subscription rate: No charge to Pacific Union Adventist 38 Pacific Union College fills the heart with love, and joy, and peace, and church members; $16 per year in U.S.; $20 foreign (U.S. holiness”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies to the funds); single copy, $2. POSTMASTER: Send address changes Church, vol. 9, p. 169. to: Circulation Department, Pacific Union Recorder, Box 5005, 22-25 Southeastern California Cover art and on pages 5, 6, 7, 8. and 9 by iStock Westlake Village, CA 91359. 28-31 Southern California MARCH 2018 3 How can Christians Respond to a Polarized Culture? By Bradford C. Newton hroughout the history of the United States there have been “And while we stand here, with the aid of no other Tintense periods of national creed than the Word of God, and bound together division. And each period called forth a response from Christian people caught by the bonds of love—love for the truth, love for up in the events of the world. each other, and love for a perishing world—all We are living through another his- toric era of strident division, polariza- party feelings are lost.” tion, and partisanship in America. The —James White, Review and Herald, August 11, 1853 flames consuming the structures of a civil society are fanned by unbridled expression on social media platforms, were nothing less than a new spiritual this world of inequality, injustice, spiri- political and economic agendas, and order. What could be more challenging tual and physical corruption, and evil? long-held grievances between citizens. to a society built on social, economic, Certainly, history records monastic and Civil discourse is increasingly a wistful and religious inequalities? What could cloistered movements of Christians memory. The cry goes up over the lay waste more efficiently to the crass who hid themselves away and awaited noise of this social conflagration, “Can divides of class, gender, and ethnicity? Jesus’ return. But read the Kingdom anyone save us from ourselves?” The When injustice was the rule of the day, Manifesto carefully and it is filled with eyes of history look again to us, the whether in the halls of Roman power both explicit and implicit human inter- disciples of Jesus and inquire, “What or the sacred confines of the church, actions. You can’t be salt while remain- say you?” here is Jesus pointing in a radically new ing in a shaker, or a light beacon hid- Why not start where Jesus Himself direction. Has the passing of time de- den under the basket. No way can you did with the Kingdom Manifesto fanged the radical power of His words? love enemies from the couch or forgive recorded by a former tax collector Certainly not. people you never meet. The answer to disciple named Matthew. In a mere 12 At Jesus’ trial for betraying the “what now?” is clear from Jesus. ½ minutes Jesus upends the present spiritual order of Israel and alleged Here is a call to action: state of human order and declares a sedition against the political order of “Love to Jesus will be seen, will new social contract for believers in a Rome, His interrogators demanded to be felt. It cannot be hidden. It exerts a corrupted society. know about The Kingdom. The Rabbi wondrous power. It makes the timid Remarkably, the thesis statement answers simply, “My Kingdom is not bold, the slothful diligent, the igno- of the whole sermon resides in a series of this world.” The Kingdom Manifes- rant wise. It makes the stammering of eight unprecedented traits for His to is for the reborn woman and man tongue eloquent, it rouses the dor- revolutionary followers—poverty, in whom Jesus has placed His Spirit. mant intellect into new life and vigor. sadness, meekness, While turning the other cheek remains It makes the desponding hopeful, and hunger, mercy, pu- foolishness to the wisdom of the gloomy joyous. Where love exists, there rity, peacemaking, boardroom and the legislature, it is the is power and truth in the life. Love does and persecution. marker in a life preparing for a “new good and nothing but good. Those In Jesus’ day these heaven and a new earth.” who have love bear fruit unto holiness, Bradford C. Newton Could some conclude that Jesus and in the end everlasting life”—Ellen Pacific Union Secretary calls His followers to withdraw from White, 1898. 4 PACIFICUNIONRECORDER.COM But it shall not be so “among you. —Jesus, Matthew 20:26” MARCH 2018 5 Intimations of HopeBy Ricardo Graham 6 PACIFICUNIONRECORDER.COM he Bible tells us not to put our Job was undergoing a severe test. trust or hope in another person, Why? Remember, God knew the intent Tbecause those people cannot of Job’s heart. But Satan and the rest save. Other human beings are of the of the angels— the holy ones as well same nature as us. as the evil ones— did not. Nor can we invest trust in orga- Job had been accounted blame- nizations because, in a sense, hu- less and upright. Now he was being man-led organizations are a com- put to the test, not for the benefit bination of the traits of those who of God but for the witnesses—the comprise them, and at their best they heavenly beings who were watching are still fallible. No, it is best to follow the great controversy being played the recommendations of the Bible: out before their very eyes. The “sons of God” who had heard Satan’s accusa- Do not put your trust in princes, tion were watching to see whether it in human beings, who cannot save. was possible for humans to be faithful When their spirit departs, they to God— for faith to sustain through return to the ground; on that very day severe trials and tribulation, as God their plans come to nothing. knew it to be possible. Blessed are those whose help is “God is able and willing ‘more the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the abundantly’ (Hebrews 6:17) to bestow LORD their God (Psalm 146: 3–5, NIV). upon His servants the strength they need for test and trial. The plans of Job’s hope certainly was located the enemies of His work may seem in God, His Savior. to be well laid and firmly established, way for our eventual perfection should Job’s friends had pushed hard at but God can overthrow the strongest let us know that God is still at work in him to get him to admit the specifics of these. And this He does in His own our lives. of his horrible sin. They are caught in time and way” (E. G. White, Prophets As Paul explains: “We also glory in the grip of the fallacious idea that all and Kings, p. 164). tribulations, knowing that tribulation suffering is the direct result of God’s Job’s hope was in the Lord. Job produces perseverance; and perse- divine retribution. had the conviction that even though verance, character; and character, By their persistent accusations, he was going through a torturous ex- hope. Now hope does not disappoint, Job’s friends had actually joined the perience, God would see him through. because the love of God has been enemy. Their tactlessness and lack Whatever difficulties and trials poured out in our hearts by the Holy of compassion had mischaracterized God has seen us through or given us Spirit who was given to us” (Romans Job—and the God they sought to victory over in the past can remind us 5:3– 5, NKJV).