January 28, 1999 AnchorPoints ADVENTIST CONGREGATIONALISM Wake-up Call or Death Knell? LETTERS Thanksgiving Cover found the cover to be offensive. Adventist Church, but not at the sake of I was terribly disappointed by the accuracy. In the case of a news or feature cover of the —Linda Scales Mercer item (like this one), we must honestly November 26 SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND reflect what we receive.—Editors. AnchorPoints Edition. At face Your concern is well taken; here’s what value, one would happened. When, for the third consecu- The Reasonable Observer think that the only tive year, we invited Adventists to thank Kudos on the excellent article by people due honor for someone who had influenced their life, we Clifford Goldstein. “The Reasonable “making a differ- also invited photos of the persons being Observer” (Nov. 26) should give all ence” are a group of 50-plus thanked. The photos used on the cover thinking Adventists confidence in our Caucasians. Out of the 27 people on were the only ones we received. In our roots. After three rather tumultuous the cover, only one was non-White work here—staff mix, author mix, illus- years in my personal life, it has been a and two looked under the age of 30. trations—we try very intentionally to wonderful experience to revisit the As a 34-year-old woman of color, I reflect the wonderful diversity of the biblical principles upon which our Final Reminder: An Invitation to 8. The Great Controversy 9. The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ Grown-ups and Kids 10. The Experience of Salvation 11. The Church While we always welcome reader contributions to our mag- 12. The Remnant and Its Mission azine, we especially welcome your contributions to our special 13. Unity in the Body of Christ April edition on the 27 fundamental beliefs. 14. Baptism Here’s what we’re thinking—27 colorful 15. The Lord’s Supper two-page spreads, each expressing a particu- 16. Spiritual Gifts and Ministries lar belief in a variety of forms: brief testi- 17. The Gift of Prophecy monies, anecdotes (serious or funny), photos, 18. The Law of God paintings, you name it. The more creative, 19. The Sabbath the better. We’ll award a Review cap to all 20. Stewardship published submissions. 21. Christian Behavior And kids: We’ll also award a Review cap to JOIN THE TEAM: Help us 22. Marriage and the Family the 27 best drawings/colorings of a funda- with “Fresh 27” and get our 23. Christ’s Ministry in the Heavenly mental belief. Your parents can help explain famous Review cap. Sanctuary the beliefs, but real quick—here’s the list: 24. The Second Coming of Christ 1. The Holy Scriptures 25. Death and Resurrection 2. The Trinity 26. The Millennium and the End of Sin 3. The Father 27. The New Earth 4. The Son Rush submissions to: Fresh 27, Adventist Review, 12501 5. The Holy Spirit Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904; fax 6. Creation 301-680-6637; e-mail: [email protected]. 7. The Nature of Man Please include address and phone number. 2 (98) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JANUARY 28, 1999 church was founded, as well as to commandment as “You shall not murder.” regain increased respect and apprecia- tion for the writings of Ellen White. —Mitchell Nicholaides Many thanks. FLETCHER, NORTH CAROLINA —Robert D. Sewell COVER STORY HERMISTON, OREGON The first four commandments have to do with man’s relationship to God, the last 12 Adventist Congregationalism: Wake- six with his fellow men. There’s nothing Discipline or Devotion? up Call or Death Knell? in the Decalogue about his relationship At issue is what’s best, not what’s Sandra Doran’s “Discipline or with animals, bugs, or rattlesnakes. expedient. Devotion?” (Nov. 26) nicely illus- BY GEORGE KNIGHT trated the paradox of the Christian —Adriel Chilson life. Spirit and letter, grace and law, COLLEGE PLACE, WASHINGTON ARTICLES faith and works, relationship and obe- dience. It is clear that unless we have 8 By What Standard? both, we have neither. I just wanted to add a hearty amen to Finding acceptance is a long, tedious process. Or is it? the sentiments Eric Knapp expressed. I BY RENATE KRAUSE —Arnold M. Sy Go thought I was the only one who felt VIA E-MAIL this way. Also, while eating animals 24 Alone but Not Lonely for food is acceptable, the conditions A prescription for those who many of those animals are raised in live alone. Health Versus Faith? and the cruelty they face every day do BY MORRIS CHALFANT Ella Rydzewski is right on with her not justify this practice longer. 26 Listening to One Another analysis of what’s been happening in It’s a good time to be all ears. Adventism regarding the oft-maligned —Lisa Doll BY ELLEN G. WHITE term “health reform” (“Health Versus GRAHAM, WASHINGTON Faith?” Nov. 19). It is a curious phe- DEPARTMENTS nomenon that, as secular culture has 2 Letters become more concerned about diet In “Reckless” (Dec. 10) Roy Adams and health, many Adventists have assures us that spiritism is not engulf- 7 Give & Take become less so. I believe that ing the Adventist Church, but in the 11 Clifford Goldstein Rydzewski’s diagnosis identifies at least same issue is a letter regarding the 19 It Seems to Me a major reason for such a departure. killing of insects and snakes, which the We need to hear more such candid editors didn’t even bother to address— 20 World News & Perspectives acknowledgments regarding some of thereby condoning that kind of false 28 Bulletin Board our faulty perceptions of what consti- reasoning. To put into print this kind 29 Children’s Corner tutes our citizenship in the kingdom. of false reasoning is to allow your read- ers to assume that God’s Spirit is also 30 On the Home Front —Jim Kaatz, PRESIDENT in insects. This kind of reasoning is 31 Reflections SAN DIEGO ADVENTIST FORUM pantheism, and is not pantheism just another form of spiritism? The Review EDITORIALS reminds me of the god Janus—looking Thou Shalt Not Kill (cont.) both ways and still not seeing. 5 Where Have All the Heroes Gone? OMPOSITE Eric Knapp’s December 10 letter, C “Thou Shalt Not Kill,” is seriously mis- —Lindsey Greene 6 Keep It Moving AL IGIT leading. His statement that “intention- VIA E-MAIL /D ISC al squashing of a bug . is exactly the NEXT WEEK D type of ratsach killing the sixth com- We don’t condone all published letters, and HOTO mandment forbids” seems to be the as much as possible we avoid printed A Life in the Spotlight © P exact opposite of truth. Wherever the responses. (Readers can make up their A celebration of the life and ministry of ROM Hebrew verb ratsach occurs in the Old own minds.) In this case, though, we prob- evangelist E. E. Cleveland. F Testament, it always refers to the tak- ably should have included a note about rat- PHOTOS ing of human life. That is why the New sach, just as some letters should include a VER O King James Version renders the sixth city and state/country. Touché!—Editors. C ADVENTIST REVIEW, JANUARY 28, 1999 (99) 3 “Behold, I come quickly . .” Our mission is to uplift Jesus Christ through stories of His matchless love, news of His present workings, help for knowing Him better, and hope in His soon return. The Adventist Review (ISSN 0161-1119), published since 1849, is the general paper of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is published by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and is printed 40 times a year each Thursday except the first Thursday of each month by the Review and Herald® Publishing Association. Periodicals postage paid at Hagerstown, MD 21740. Copyright © 1999, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Publishing Board: Robert S. Folkenberg, chair; Phil Follett, vice- chair; Lowell Cooper; William G. Johnsson; A. C. McClure; Dorothy Watts; Ted N. C. Wilson; Martin Ytreberg; Robert Nixon, legal advisor Executive Publisher and Editor William G. Johnsson Associate Editors Roy Adams, Bill Knott Managing Editor Myrna Tetz News Editor Carlos Medley Assistant Editors Stephen Chavez, Andy Nash Editorial Assistant Ella Rydzewski Administrative Secretary Chitra Barnabas Editorial Secretaries Beverly Koester, Jean Sequeira Art Director Bill Kirstein Designer Bill Tymeson Design Assistant/Production Stephanie Kaping Ad Sales Melynie Tooley Subscriber Services Steve Hanson Marketing Coordinator Ray Tetz Consulting Editors: Robert S. Folkenberg, Matthew Bediako, Phil Follett, Robert J. Kloosterhuis, A. C. McClure, Jan Paulsen, Leo Ranzolin, R. L. Rawson, Calvin B. Rock, G. Ralph Thompson Special Contributors: P. D. Chun, L. T. Daniel, L. J. Evans, Ulrich Frikart, Lee Huff, Israel Leito, Ruy H. Nagel, L. D. Raelly, Ron Watts, Bertil Wiklander To Writers: We welcome unsolicited manuscripts. (Please query before submitting long articles.) Include address, telephone number, and Social Security number, where available. Address all editorial correspondence to 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600. Editorial office fax number: (301) 680-6638. E-mail: Internet: [email protected] CompuServe network: 74617,15 Subscriptions: US$38.97 for 40 issues, US$50.97 for 52 issues. Add $10.20 postage for addresses outside North America. To order, send your name, address, and payment to your local Adventist Book Center or Adventist Review Subscription Desk, Box 1119, Hagerstown, MD 21741. Single copy, US$2.50. Prices subject to change without notice. Subscription queries and changes of address: Call l-800-456-3991, 301-393-3257. or e-mail [email protected]. Postmaster: Send address changes to Adventist Review, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740.