International Journal for; Pas tors August 1996 Letters The Son is up Christ. Samuele Bacchiocchi, pro realize that Satan is working with great R. O. Stenbakken©s article (April fessor of theology and church history, zeal to get people to have a false sense 1996) surprised me positively and Andrews University, Berrien Springs, of assurance. negatively. Positively, I was pleased to Michigan. In this world you have multitudes see some creative suggestions for cele who claim to be grounded in Christ. brating the feast of our redemption Which gospel? They know the steps to eternal sal annually. Some of the suggested topics Many Christians want to know why vation frontwards and backwards and of sermons, as well as the idea of church we devote so much time, pen, and paper share their experience by using the decorations, deserve consideration. In to the Christian behavior fundamental, expression "I©m saved." Others who harmony with the teaching of Scripture and so little to the work of Christ©s profess to have a profound grounding and the witness of the early church, it Spirit as the inspiration for our behavior. in Christ can expound the wonderful would be well for us to commemorate The Christian behavior fundamental theme of righteousness by faith most the suffering and death of Jesus not keeps the mind on our works, and eloquently with pen and voice. only quarterly through the Lord©s weakens our trust in Christ, and His The good news of the judgment is Supper, but also annually through a total power to change us, even though, that through Christ both justification special Passover celebration. In the thanks to Him, the Father already con and sanctification are possible. Both light of the biblical and early Christian siders us as perfect (see Heb. 10:14-18). are impossible without Christ being the tradition, our annual Passover should Our efforts to improve ourselves central figure of both the judgment and be an evening service consisting of should be a nonissue. Our trust in Jesus our lives. appropriate readings, songs, and should make us complete (see Mark How many of us can live in a meditations on the suffering and death 5:34; Luke 17:19). The overemphasis delightful state of assurance knowing of Jesus, followed by a special Lord©s on the Christian behavior fundamental that we have truly confessed our "every Supper and an agape-fellowship meal. establishes a works mentality, and is unfulfilled duty"? That is what God My negative criticism concerns detrimental to the peace of mind and wants, to be sure. He wants us to have Stenbakken©s proposal to develop a emotional stability of those impres faith and assurance. It comes with an special Adventist service in conjunction sionable young (I©m speaking from earnest involvement on our part. It with Easter. Passover and Easter are experience) who hear the constant talk cannot come without a correct under not the same festivals. The two feasts of do©s and don©ts and boasts and criti standing of Christ©s involvement in the differ in their dates, meaning, and cism of others© behavior, and translate investigative judgment. It cannot come manner of observance. In many ways this speech to be our prime objective. without a clear understanding of our the change from Passover to Easter To take away from the minds of His involvement, either. Sunday is strikingly similar to the disciples the work of Christ as our total It is this total earnest involvement change from Sabbath to Sunday. The substitute is the same behavioral activ that continues to be the hard part. same social, political, and pagan factors ity as that of another organization Evidently it will be until the very end. have contributed to change of the date described in Daniel 8:11. Ellen White states: "Though God©s and meaning of these two biblical holy Let©s make it clear to all. Not our people will be surrounded by enemies days. For Adventists to adopt the works, but His work (Eph. 2:9). John who are bent upon their destruction, annual Easter Sunday celebration as D. Howie, Reynella, Australia. yet the anguish which they suffer is not some of our churches are already doing a dread of persecution for the truth©s is almost similar to adopting weekly Blood and judgment sake; they fear that every sin has not Sunday. After all, both feasts originated I can certainly understand Clifford been repented of, and that through some at about the same time for similar Goldstein©s burden ("Blood and Judg fault in themselves they shall fail to social, political, and religious reasons. ment," February 1996) that Jesus is realize the fulfillment of the Saviour©s If as Adventists we wish to celebrate the good news of judgment, and great promise: I ©will keep thee from the Passover not only quarterly but also attention should be given to exalt His hour of temptation, which shall come annually, we should observe it not at total involvement. Rightly viewed, we upon all the world© (Rev. 3:10). If they Easter, but at Passover according to the sinners can derive a respect, appre could have the assurance of pardon biblical dating and typology. This is ciation, peace, joy, hope, and assurance. they would not shrink from torture or what most of the non-SDA Sabbath- It is the emphasis on assurance that death; but should they prove unworthy, keeping churches are doing today. It is we need to consider carefully. and lose their lives because of their noteworthy that Christ©s resurrection According to Gallup polls and own defects of character, then God©s was celebrated in the primitive church various surveys, the majority of holy name would be reproached" (The not liturgically by a special day of rest Americans believe not only that God Great Controversy, p. 619; italics and worship, but existentially by living exists, but also that they will be among supplied). Harold O. White, victoriously by the power of the risen the saved in God©s kingdom. We must Texarkana, Texas. 2 MINISTRY/AUGUST 1996 First Glance As part of a concerted attempt to improve the performance 2 Letters of employees in large and small corporations and the profitability 4 How am I doing? of businesses around the world, evaluation of workers© Will Eva productiveness and professional behavior has become the name of the game. As a result of this, and for other reasons, the same 5 Ministerial evaluation: pitfalls and opportunities kind of evaluation has become a practice urged upon many Leslie and Prudence Pollard conferences and churches in more than one part of our world church. This practice is becoming an increasingly significant part 10 The crisis of depression of pastoral life and work. Prudence and Leslie Pollard©s article Alan A. Nelson, M.D. on pastoral evaluation will be challenging and even mildly controversial to some of us. It is well worth reading, pondering, 14 Boring board meetings? and its principles worth implementing. Maxwell G. Townend Alan Nelson©s continuing education feature is especially worthy of mention in this month©s issue. Here is the practical 15 Annihilation or endless torment? perspective of a genuinely Christian and Seventh-day Adventist Brian P. Phillips psychiatrist with valuable insight into the challenges of the pastor when it comes to unlocking the despair that afflicts so many in 19 From awards to academics: women at the seminary our congregations who suffer from depressive disorders. Benjamin D. Schoun The doctrinal article on conditional immortality by Brian Phillips is a strong contribution. It is not only highly informative 20 What do your ethics show? but also encouraging to the Adventist pastor who has traditionally Joseph J. Saggio felt alone in articulating a biblical view of the condition of human beings after death, as our church has consistently sought to do 22 A day for the pastor through the years. Rich Carlson Joseph Saggio gives us a candid reminder of the foundational importance of ethical behavior in ministry and its vital influence 26 The Voice of Prophecy©s golden anniversary on the effectiveness of the overall ministry of the average pastor. in the Philippines Do not miss the outstanding short article on some of the James Zachary fundamentals of effective church board leadership by Maxwell Townend, or Rich Carlson©s contribution on a "Sabbath" rest 30 K at first you don©t succeed beg for mercy James A. Cress for the pastor. Please enjoy this month©s issue. 31 Shop Talk Ministry is the international journal Walter L. Pearson, Jr. Ekkhardt Mueller, Euro-Africa SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Steve Hanson of the Seventh-day Adventist Joel Sarli P.O. Box 219, CH 3000 Ministerial Association. Michael A. Speegle Berne 32, Switzerland Ministry, (ISSN 0026-5314), the interna Heikki Silvet, Euro-Asia tional journal of the Seventh-day Adventist ASSOCIATION SECRETARY: CONSULTING EDITORS: Isakovskogo St. #4, Korpus 1, Ministerial Association 1996, is published James A. Cress Matthew Bediako Stroghino, 123181 Moscow, Russia monthly by the General Conference of Ellen Bresee Jaime Castrejon, Inter-America Seventh-day Adventists and printed by the EDITOR: Willmore D. Eva Eloyd Bresee P.O. Box 140760 Review and Herald* Publishing Association, Gerard Damsteegt Miami, FL 33114-0760 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD ASSISTANT EDITOR: Julia W. Norcott Raoul Dederen William C. Scales, Jr., North America 21740, U.S.A. Subscriptions: US$25.00 for Robert Folkenberg 12501 Old Columbia Pike 12 issues worldwide, air mail US$39.85. SEMINAR DIRECTOR: John M. Fowler Silver Spring, MD 20904 Single copy US$2.25. 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