Registered by Australia Post—publication No. NAR10 72 Longburn Special ISSN 0819-5633 C VOL 93NO10March19.1988 RECORD EDITORIAL Official Paper of the South Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist As Foolish As a Frog Church Editor James Coffin Associate Editor Gary Krause ames Dobson, as I recall, tells the place is a philosophy in which human Assistant Editor Joy Totenhofer tJ story of an unfortunate frog who, as perfectibility is possible without any aid Editorial Secretary Glenda Fairall part of some grisly scientific experiment, outside ourselves. Copy Editor Graeme Brown In placing themselves above the Graphic Designer Wayne Louk was placed in a saucepan of cold water Senior Consulting Editor A. H. Tolhurst over a gas burner. clearly expressed will and plan of God, Consulting Editors As the water heated, the frog con- humans have established a new auth- Correspondents R. H. Baird, J. T. tinued to sit, blinking happily— ority, a charter of liberty. The credo Banks, R. L. Coombe, M. Darius, A. Kabu, N. K. Peatey, L. Solomon, P. B. Weekes blissfully unaware of his mortal peril. reads, "I believe in Man." Regional Reporters D. D. Blanch, R. K. Nevertheless, when the water boiled, the Darwin's evolutionary theory has Brown, R. G. Douglas, G. W. W. Drinkall, poor frog went off to wherever it is that possibly given the strongest impetus to L. J. Laredo, M. R. Potts, L. R. Rice, G. M. Smith, E. I. Totenhofer, R. W. Townend, A. dead frogs go. modern humanism. But humanism has R. Walshe That story has stuck with me, partly created a paradox for itself. When hu- Local Reporters Church Communication because the story is so gruesome and one mans deny the existence of a Creator, Secretaries Subscriptions South Pacific Division, always seems to be able to recall the gory they place themselves on a lower species $A25.00 $NZ28.75. All other regions, bits. But I've always marvelled at the level than God wishes. $A48.25 $NZ55.50. Air mail postage rates frog's stupidity and wondered how it Humanism attempts to reduce us from on application. Order from Signs Publishing Company, Warburton, Victona 3799, could possibly allow itself to be trans- being members of God's family to being Australia. ported into eternity at 100° C. the end product of a long evolutionary Manuscripts All copy for the paper should be sent to The Editor, RECORD, And yet, I suspect, time will demon- process. In so doing, it denies our Signs Publishing Company, Warburton, strate that we, who as a denomination dignity—the very thing it wants to Victoria 3799; phone (059) 66 5781. most anticipate the second advent, are achieve. Humanism has created a field of Printed weekly by Signs Publishing Company. allowing Satan's sophistry to deceive us battle in which the issues are mutually Directory of the South Pacific Division of just as the frog was deceived. antagonistic. the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 148 Lucifer successfully convinced our In denying the existence of God, hu- Fox Valley Road, Wahroonga, NSW 2076; first parents that human beings have the manism says that we must take the full phone (02) 489 7122 innate capacity to save themselves. responsibility for the direction of human President Walter Scragg "Your eyes will be opened, and you will affairs. Because we are the measure of all Secretary A. H. Tolhurst Treasurer W. T. Andrews be like God, knowing good and evil." our needs, a "Thus saith the Lord" does Associate Secretary V. B. Parmenter Genesis 3:5, NIV. And the same not come into the picture. Associate Treasurers 0. S. Mason, W. H. Stokes phenomenon in the form of humanism is The prospects are both frightening Field Secretary A. J. Ferch Administration Projects Director M. G. rampant in the world today. and apparent. Humanism legitimises ab- Townend Modern humanism has infiltrated the errant lifestyles and practices. And Archivist and Statistician R. E. Clifford education of schools and tertiary schools dismiss God from human Auditor G. J. Bland Associate Auditors E. N. Hokin, M. E. institutions in a subtle and powerful affairs—not usually through arrogant Mitchell, E. J. Moffitt, N. F. Sawert, K. E. Watts fashion. If we knew its full extent, it antagonism, but through an indifference Church Ministries A. E. Birch (Director), A. B. Gane (Youth), R. L. Hodgkinson (Sabbath would leave us breathless with horror. to the claims of God. The end result is School), B. K. Craig (Family Life), P. R. Jack Having just made such a strong state- still the same. (Personal Ministries), L. R. Chester (Sabbath ment, I should back it up somewhat. Hu- The scientific advances of this century School) Communication, Public Affairs and Religious manism, which has been around since are ascribed to the natural ingenuity of Liberty R. L. Coombe Eden, has disguised itself in many ways humanity. And the spirit of endless con- Education G. F. Clifford (Director), L. D. throughout history. Greek civilisation quest not only lays claim to the future, Devine, B. A. Hill, J. I. Howie, R. A. Spoor Health Food E. W. Grosser added to it, and Confucius taught it. but also reaches back to clothe the past Adventist Health D. E. Bain (Director), H. J. Basically, humanism emphasises in the new light of humanism. Stanton many of the virtues that we consider to Humanistic thought in the form of Ministerial Association A. D. C. Currie Publishing J. T. Knopper be reserved for the Christian domain, Marxism has saturated university cam- Trust Services such as truth, kindliness, honesty, self- puses in Australia and New Zealand. ADRA C. A. Laxton (Director), W. P. Truscott control and benevolence. But all these And teacher graduates diligently pass on Christian Services for the Blind and Hearing Impaired E. Lcmkc ethical ideals are to be achieved through the humanistic philosophy they have the fundamental goodness and power in- been taught. herent in human nature. Christians who claim advantages that George Edgar Shankel points out that may be gained in a non-Christian edu- the modern humanist completely rejects cational setting must realise the eternal the supernatural in Christian religion. In peril their words may generate. fact, the humanist considers religion in- J. G. Hammond, Principal, imical to our highest development. In its Longburn Adventist College. 2 RECORD March 19, 1988 LETTERS Shame, Shame that an audience does not pay attention the Markham Valley in Papua New Although I stopped reading the RE- longer than 20 or 25 minutes" is only a Guinea, that the SHF has 11 factories CORD some time ago because it is such part truth. and 70 retail shops across the Division, an unbalanced magazine with a rose- Skilful speakers recognise the atten- that the SDA Church in Botswana is now coloured-glass approach to church af- tion span of about 20 minutes and will the largest Christian denomination in fairs, I happened to see a copy of the Feb- release audience attention by such things the country, that a new church has been ruary 13 issue. as an aside, gesture or illustration, and built in Gdansk, Poland, and many more To my disgust and repulsion, I found a then will "pick up" their audience and such items. perfect example of emotive blackmail on proceed. Thank God for the continual progress the back page, using such provocative Content, not time, is the major factor of the work of the three angels of Revel- language as "just enough to appease his in audience attention. My appeal is that ation 14. It thrills my heart to read these conscience" and "shame him with your all ministers give more attention to per- reports, and encourages me to keep on generosity." I ask, are you Christians or fecting the divine art of preaching so that preaching. Editors, keep the thrilling not? And is it any wonder the RECORD no one will find it a pleasure to be ab- stories and snippets flowing in. They has lost support if this is the depth to sent. Raymond Stanley, SA. help us to keep our heads above water in which you have allowed it to sink. tough old Australia. I feel the people in the pews deserve an Incorrect Inference Don Fehlberg, WA. apology for this unethical, unchristian The half a million dollars referred to approach in advertising. Shame on you, in Laurie Green's letter of February 13 Finish the Work you Pharisees. Paul Spear, NSW. (first mentioned in my article of Novem- I love Jesus, our great message and our ber 21) is not at all related to Bicenten- church. Having been a member of other The "Pharisees" apologise for upsetting nial celebrations as might be inferred, churches and having heard many minis- those who, failing to catch the tongue-in- but has been allocated for major evan- ters, I am grateful for the wonderful ser- cheek tone of the ad, took us far more gelistic outreach throughout the entire mons and messages given by our pastors. seriously than we took ourselves. It's an South Pacific Division in 1988. I thank God for the unselfish service of unfortunate misunderstanding, however. R. L. Coombe, missionaries, literature evangelists and Because if the offering suffers as a result, it Communication Director, all workers in health, welfare and edu- will make even a Pharisee sad, you see. South Pacific Division. cation. We have a great work to finish. (Mrs) Leonie Pollock, Vic. Best Thing in Years Thrilling The "glastnost" approach in the Congratulations, editors! I have just Views expressed in Letters to the Editor do not necess- RECORD's present editorial direction is read Flashpoint (January 23).