FIRST

MINISTRY
Ministry is the international journal of the
Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial Association
and has been published since 1928.

Association Secretary James A. Cress

Editor Wilimore D. Eva

The right tool for the right job Managing Editor Julia W. Norcott
Editorial Assistant Sheila Draper
Legitimate, constructive approaches to issues of
Professional Growth and Inter-church Relations
faith versus science Nikolaus Satelmajer
Contributing Editors: Sharon Cress, Peter Prime, Joel
Timothy C. Standish Sarli, Kit Watts
International Editors:
Inter-American Division Felix Cortes
South American Division Zinaido A. Santos
Consulting Editors:
The nature of Christ: Four Ben Clausen, Raoul Dederen, Teofilo Ferreira, Ron
Flowers, John M. Fowler, Michael Basel, Roland
measures of a mystery Hegstad, Kathleen Kuntaraf, Ekkehardt Mueller, Jan
Paulsen, Robert Peach, Angel Manuel Rodriguez, Penny
A review of the Seventh-day Adventist Shell, William Shea, Russell Staples, Richard Tibbits, Ted
WiEson, Edward Zinke
understanding of the divine-human nature of
Pastoral Assistant Editors: John C. Cress, Fredrick
Jesus Christ Russell, Maylan Schurch, Loren Seibold
International Advisors: Alejandro Button, John
Roy C. Naden Duroe, Andrews Laurence Ewoo, Paulraj Isaiah, Anthony
Kent, Jairyong Lee, Ivan Manilich, Zacchaeus Mathema,
Gabriel Maurer, Ivan Omana, David Osborne, Peter
Roennfeldt, Raymond Zeeman

Pastoral Advisors: Leslie Baumgartner, S. Peter

Cry from a wounded heart Campbell, Miguel A. Cerna, Jeanne Hartwell, Mitchell
Henson, Norma Osborn, Leslie Pollard, Dan Smith,
The plea of a church member for more Steve Willsey
conscientious pastoral care Advertising Editorial Office

Estelle Owenson Resources Cathy Payne

Cover Design Jonathan Eva

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Ministry (ISSN 0026-5314), the international journal
Fellowship: Its meaning and of the Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial Association
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MINISTRY June 2003

 T T R

I read with interest the "Seminary and

Local Church" article (Carlos
Camarena, August 2002) from the per
may at least be singed, if not catch the
fire of the message being proclaimed
abroad. To me, this is where any
able, cooperative attitude when con
fronted, they will show true leadership
potential; if not, they may need to be
spective of fifty-odd years of local church change in the seminary should begin. disciplined.
leadership relating to pastors with and Local church, U.S.A., does not seem to I disagree somewhat with the
without seminary training, and at all lev qualify as a study model for changing author's assertion that Seventh-day
els of experience. I know the problems what ails it. Adventist clergy are accountable to no
that are addressed in the article first Robert H. Alien, Ontario, New York. one. I find it appalling when mavericks
hand. However, the article addresses the are fired yet nothing is said to those on
wrong problem! "T"he October 2002 issue of Ministry the other side of the "checks and bal
I agree that "the time to implement \ was one of the most interesting ances" system that is in place specifically
changes is now!" But we need to look at issues I've read over the last 20 years. to handle situations like that; namely,
the broader picture and replace our Richard Coffen's article, "The Enigma their superiors, boards, constituents, etc.
"present aims" with aims that address of 'Unanswered' Prayer," was thought- These all have the power to say No to
that broader picture. To begin with, as provoking, and I agree there are times the maverick, as well as the responsibili
a church, we are commissioned to bear when God does not answer prayer. ty to train the maverick how to minister
the three angels' messages both at Tim Crosby's article on church disci effectively and responsibly. They must
home and abroad. It is from our semi pline was excellent and timely. I do feel be wise, open minded, and flexible to
nary that the Seventh-day Adventist his use of the word "myths" was a little discern (aside from personal preference)
Church expects the leadership to come misleading, because all the examples he what is legitimate leeway and what is
for bearing the three angels' messages mentioned have clear elements of truth truly intolerable. Often, giving them
to the world. One does not need to be to them and are "myths" only when assistance in their areas of weakness and
too bright to observe where this is misapplied, as in church discipline. But, making them accountable will make a
being accomplished most successfully. hey, it got and kept my attention, and huge difference.
I realize that there are more than one his points are well taken. The article on GraceLink is the most
Seventh-day Adventist seminary serving "Mavericks on the Payroll?" con clear and concise summary and expla
our worldwide church and that the pas fronts a subject desperately needing nation of the curriculum and its
tor in the Philippines or India, with their attention. It should be noted that mav philosophy that I have seen yet, and I
15-20 churches to serve, and with the ericks exist at all levels of church have copied it for every person who
primitive transportation available, face leadership, not just at the pastoral level works in the children's divisions of our
vastly different challenges than any pas or even on the payroll. Mavericks have church. Having said that, I do feel it was
tor in America. They both work for the creative gifts that can bless the church, far too heavy on the accolades. Two or
same Cod: They both need the same and they should be allowed to flourish three testimonies would have been suffi
inspiration; they both need to draw within guidelines. Problems arise when cient ... I feel it was not balanced
upon each other and yes, perhaps share they are unwilling to be constrained by reporting to include an avalanche of
experiences to some degree so that "reins" such as budgets, calendars, and solely positive comments, making it look
congregations in Smugtown, U.S.A., policy. If they possess a humble, teach continued on page 29

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We want to share our aspirations and faith in a way that will provide inspiration and help to you as clergy. We hope you will accept this journal as our
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June 2003 MINISTRY

 D T O R I A L

What kind of
respect are you
looking for? trol them. They made their own daily

T
hese days, being a leader is com choices; they made their own mistakes
plex. One of the greatest (Matt. 26:14-16; Mark 14:66-72).
challenges is achieving a balance And it was in multitudes that people
between being a friend and confidant to
JULIA W. NQRCOTT came to Him (Matt. 4:25-30; Mark 4:1,
those we lead while also maintaining 2; Luke 9:10,11). They asked His advice,
our role as effective leaders. and the wisdom of Jesus' advice had a
For a quick fix, when no one seems profound effect on them because they
to be listening and life appears over came seeking, and He focused on them
whelming, we can, of course, go to the and answered their questions.
dogs! Seriously. A dog will give us all the Furthermore, though Jesus was com
love, attention, and respect we need. manding and authoritative, He was not
It's usually quite easy to be "top dog" to ministers to look to God to find the ulti merely kind; He was tender. His touch
a dog! But the question is, Do we as mate patterns for leadership, and for saved lives because in it was the ulti
leaders inspire respect in dogs or in inspiring respect in those they lead. mate strength of an underlying
people by making an admirable Though a complete understanding of integrity. He was "for real," and people
impression on them, by inspiring fear, or God is unfathomable to us as humans, could feel it. They trusted Him, and so
through winning their trust? the Bible does give us two correlating they respected Him.
Teachers must inspire respect. One portrayals of God through the Old and "I am the way, the truth, and the
of my daughters is an English teacher. the New Testaments. life," Jesus told His disciples (John 14:6).
She recently started working with inner In the Old Testament God is pictured As way, truth, and life, the power of
city, public school teenagers. This is a more in terms of power. His awesome- God in Jesus captivated people.
much tougher group to handle than ness is emphasized and it inspires a However, they became followers
the students at the Christian school at respect growing out of awe for God. because Jesus felt not acted "as if,"
which she had been teaching. Some of When it comes to this side of God, we but felt esteem for other people. He
these teenagers were in gangs or were cannot come near to equaling the God regarded them as individuals created
aspiring to gang life. They challenged of the Old Testament, and I would sug with choice by God, and in turn they
her constantly, even using profanity to gest that attempting to do so is, to say became devoted to Him.
her face. However, she told me that the least, improper. It seems to me that as leaders we
what seemed to help her the most in Significantly, in the New Testament, need to think of Jesus and learn to "let
bonding with this group of "God's Jesus was the One who came as "the go." Incessant, meticulous, control of
other children," as she calls them, was Second Adam." It was Jesus who lived how other people feel and think and act
looking directly into each set of eyes the life of a man. Yet there was can only exhaust us and them. As it
and talking to each individual by name. unequaled power in Him. He gave us dawns on us that the God who came as
Many of the kids in this particular the ultimate pattern for leading people. the paradigm for humans, holds us in
group feel like a mere number, valueless The way He treated people inspired high esteem, we come to esteem our
in themselves. They are used to obeying both love and respect in them. selves as children of God, and then in
authority if and when they do out of How did Jesus deal with people? turn we feel true esteem (respect) for
the fear of punishment rather than out 4 He fed them (Mark 6:35-44; 8:1 -9). others. With the power and pattern of
of true respect, because they are used 4 He healed them (Matt. 8:1-4; God as our source of strength, we can
to adults who focus on trying to make 9:18-22; Mark 10:46-56). relax, we can be calm, and, never com
them into what these adults believe 4 He comforted them (Matt. 6:25- promising our integrity, treat those
these young people should be, rather 34; 11:28-30; John 11:25; 14:1-4). around us with esteem. Rather than try
than guiding them while respecting 4 He cared about them unselfishly ing to demand respect or merely acting
them as individuals. They have been (Matt. 5:43-48; Mark 12:28-31). like leaders, we can then be leaders.
overpowered, rather than empowered, by 4 Jesus didn't become frustrated or How do we gain people's respect: by
the authority figures of their lives. aggravated with them, even the most making a good impression, through
It is the privilege and the duty of difficult; He didn't try to anxiously con kindling fear, or by inspiring trust? ISI

MINISTRY June 2003

 says may have elements that are scientifically
verifiable.
The assertions of science are always tenta
tive, while the basic declarations of Scripture
are not. Science encompasses our best under
standing of nature at the moment, but does
not claim to be ultimately definitive in its
claims. As science progresses, its current ten
tative claims will no doubt be modified,
perhaps significantly.
If we assert that Scripture is inspired and
that being inspired means the Bible's basic

The right tool for claims are inherently correct, then for us the
tentative claims of science cannot be used as
a measure of Scripture's inspiration.

the right job Attempting to use science to establish the

authenticity of Scripture is something like try
ing to use a hammer to drive home the belief
Approaches to faith and science that William Shakespeare was a great writer.
It may seem that this incongruity could be
overcome if we gave up the contention that
essential factual accuracy is included in the

T
he right tool can make a major reach of inspiration. But if we did that, it
Timothy G.
Standish difference in getting a job done. would only mean that the nature of the prob
On the other hand, the wrong lem would be shifted: Biblical claims dealing
tool may be useless, even damag with the material world would then be as ten
ing. For example, screwdrivers are tative as those of science. In that case both
good for working with screws, but almost use Scripture and science would be rendered
less for hammering nails or cutting wood. impotent to throw light upon one another,
That's on the physical level. and the inspiration of Scripture itself would
When it comes to the world of ideas, we become a merely subjective question.
need a sharp, skilled, and developed mind;
one that can reason logically, analyze and Why study science?
synthesize perceptively, and be able to com Why, then, should Christians who believe
municate complex ideas into easily in the accuracy and authority of the biblical
understandable forms. message study science? What should moti
Of the many tools the human mind vate them to take on such an enterprise? I
employs to decipher surrounding reality, the suggest at least four good reasons:
scientific method is a significant one. Science First, if the Bible is viewed as entirely reli
may in fact be considered a superb tool for able, the comparison of scientific claims with
dealing with issues that have to do with how the Bible might provide a measure of the suc
natural or physical phenomena work. This cess of science.
includes fields of endeavor as varied as medi Second, disagreements between the Bible
cine and agriculture. and science encourage reexamination of how
Yet even this exceptional tool can be mis the Bible and scientific data are interpreted.
used. For example, if we attempt to employ Carefully considered scientific approaches
the approaches of science to "prove" that can provide a lens for better understandings
Scripture is inspired, or that there is such a of the Bible.
Timothy G. Standish,
thing as "inspiration," or to decipher how Third, some who question the validity of
Ph.D., is a research
divine inspiration works, we are likely to their faith may find some reassurance as they
scientist at the
Geoscience Research come to strange conclusions that end up dis discover the degree to which science and the
Institute, Loma appointing and confusing us. Science is Bible agree.
Linda, California. simply not the right tool for demonstrating or Fourth, and perhaps most important, the
establishing the nature or authenticity of the study of nature reveals something to us about
Bible, even though portions of what Scripture the mind of the Creator-God that is empiri-

June 2003 MINISTRY

cally understandable and may not be For example, consider 1 Kings Questions about claims
revealed in Scripture. The great physi 7:23: "And he made a molten sea, ten If certain things that the Bible
cist Johannes Kepler put this cubits from the one brim to the other: seems to be claiming are to be com
elegantly when he said: "To God it was round all about, and his height pared with findings of science, at least
there are, in the whole material was five cubits: and a line of thirty two questions need to be addressed: Is
world, material laws, figures and rela cubits did compass it round about." the Bible in fact making a claim at all?
tions of special excellency and of the This passage seems to have an and, Is the claim one that science can
most appropriate order. . . . Those apparent conflict between science and address?
Four examples illustrate how the
apparent claims made in Scripture

A
TTEMPTING TO USE SCIENCE TO ESTABLISH may be viewed in a way that is con
sistent with faith in the inspiration of
THE AUTHENTICITY OF SCRIPTURE IS Scripture:
1. The four corners of the earth: "And
SOMETHING LIKE TRYING TO USE A HAMMER TO after these things I saw four angels
standing on the four corners of the
earth, holding the four winds of the
;;;|ip|p;lfD^ earth, that the wind should not blow
on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on
any tree" (Rev. 7:1).
This passage has led some to argue
laws are within the grasp of the Scripture, and it stems from the fact that the Bible claims (consistent with
human mind; God wanted us to rec that a circle's circumference divided the prevailing popular views of the
ognize them by creating us after his by its diameter equals a value called pi, time in which it was written) that the
own image so that we could share his which is approximately 3.14. Our text earth is square or cubical in shape.2 If
own thoughts." 1 states the circumference of the molten the text is indeed making such a claim
For many Christians it is enough sea was 30 cubits while the diameter about the shape of the earth, it could
to know that Scripture records God's was 10 cubits, and 30 divided by 10 be scientifically tested. But the Bible is
interaction with the material world equals 3.00, and not 3.14. not in fact making any such claim.
and with humanity. However, many Quibbling over 14 hundredths in The only claim made in this text is
struggle with apparent contradictions the quotient is ridiculous, and any that God is patient and forbearing,
between the claims of Scripture and thinking person can quickly generate and is in control of what occurs on
those of the material world as inter reasons why the numbers may be earth. Strained exegesis is necessary to
preted by science. In addressing this accurate to however many digits after turn the "four corners of the earth"
concern, it is useful to have a clear the decimal point they want. from a figure of speech into a claim
picture of what science is, what the While such exacting arguments about the shape of the earth.
claims of Scripture are and how the may have some validity, the real 2. The death of Uzzah: "And the
two might reasonably be expected to point must be seen elsewhere. The anger of the Lord was kindled against
interact. text makes no claim about the value Uzzah; and God smote him there for
In addition, Scripture, like science, of pi; it describes the dimensions of his error; and there he died by the ark
must be interpreted. As mentioned the molten sea in Solomon's temple. of God" (2 Sam. 6:7).
above, correlation between the claims Skeptics who argue that the text Here a nonscientific claim is being
of science and Scripture may hint that shows an error in the biblical under made. The Bible contains the only
the interpretations employed in both standing of pi expect that if Scripture known account of Uzzah's death.
have merit, while disagreement is inspired its narrative of dimensions Even if an independent record of his
between the two encourages reexami- must be accurate to several positions death were to be found, at most it
nation of the assumptions underlying after the decimal point. But any prac would show that people associated
our interpretations along with the ticing scientist would understand with Uzzah attributed his death to an
logic employed. that numbers are routinely rounded, act of God. Experimentation cannot
When doing this, it is necessary to ignoring any need to record small be done to test the theory that it was
ensure that the conflict between sci fractions of cubits, particularly when God who was active in the death of
ence and the Bible is real and the issue is historical narrative and Uzzah. Alternative explanations a
substantial, and that examination of not mathematical verification. Thus a sudden stroke, lightning, or a heart
the quality of the claims being made close examination of 1 Kings 7:23 attack may explain the immediate
are valid. reveals a frivolous base. cause of Uzzah's death, but it could

MINISTRY June 2003

not actually gainsay the possibility of lent reaction of elemental sodium to experimental science which tests
God's direct role in the demise of with water. Perhaps this is why evan in the present. However, whether one
Uzzah. A scientific claim should, at gelists have discovered that explain is working with experimental or his
least in theory, be falsifiable. In this ing prophecy is an effective method torical science, neither is a good tool
case, even if Uzzah's death appeared for convincing skeptics of the reliabil for proving the inspiration of
to be completely natural, it could still ity and inspiration of Scripture. Scripture. However, both may be
be interpreted as an act of God. powerful faith-promoting tools.
3. Hezekiah's tunnel: "This same Science, Scripture, and the Scripture reveals the wonderful
Hezekiah also stopped the upper promotion of faith interaction of the Creator with the
watercourse of Gihon, and brought it Science is generally restricted to creation, while science reveals the
straight down to the west side of the the study of the material world. In magnificent creative power of God.
city of David. And Hezekiah pros very broad terms, science can be In the words of Paul: "For the invisi
pered in all his works" (2 Chron. defined as logical interpretation of ble things of him from the creation of
32:30). data collected from the material the world are clearly seen, being
It is possible to accumulate data world. This kind of science is capable understood by the things that are
consistent with the Bible's claim that of addressing questions such as how made, even his eternal power and
Hezekiah was involved in the con fast the speed of sound is, or what the Godhead; so that they are without
struction of waterworks delivering pyramids are made of. It may there excuse" (Rom. 1:20). H
water to the west side of Jerusalem. fore be able to infer how the
The Gihon spring is well-known, and pyramids were built, but theories are 1 J. Kepler, "Letter to Herwart von Hohenburg,"
a tunnel exhibiting marks of human intrinsically more tentative when 1599. In Carola Baumgardt, Johannes Kepler: Life and
Letters (New York: Philosophical Library, 1951), 50.
construction has been discovered looking at the pyramids' history than 2 Rex Dalton, "'FLAT Earthers' in Battle with
leading from the spring to within the when looking at their composition. Creationism," Nature 398 (1999):453.
city walls. An inscription dating to the This is because no experiments can be 3 See H. Shanks, "Everything You Never Knew about
Jerusalem is Wrong," Biblical Archaeology Review, 25
time of Hezekiah and describing the done in the present to definitively (1999) 6:20-30; J. A. Hackett, "Spelling Differences
work has also been unearthed. The answer questions about the past. and Letter Shapes are Telltale Signs," Biblical
claim, however, is open to refutation, At best experiments may show Archaeology Review, 23(1997) 2:42-44; and J.
Rogerson and P. R. Davies, "Was the Siloam Tunnel
a vital characteristic of science. Active how pyramids can be built now. From Built by Hezekiah?" Biblical Archaeologist, 59 (1996)
discussion of the relationship between these we can infer that similar meth 3:138-150.
this tunnel and the biblical claim of ods were used in the past. On the
Hezekiah's activities continues as new other hand, samples of the stone from
evidence is brought to light.' pyramids can be experimented with.
4. The destruction of Babylon: "And As long as samples of stone are avail Advertise in
Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the able, any scientist can experiment
beauty of the Chaldees' excellency,
shall be as when God overthrew
with them and draw conclusions con
sistent with their experimentation.
MINISTRY
Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never For this reason, Hezekiah's tun
Does your organization promote
be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt nel a historical claim is likely to
in from generation to generation: nei remain more tentative than the programs or products for clergy?
ther shall the Arabian pitch tent experimentally testable claim about If so, advertise them in Ministry*.
there; neither shall the shepherds Babylon's destruction. We offer a wide range of ad sizes
make their fold there" (Isa. 13:19, 20). Because immediate observation
and prices and would be glad to
Assuming this text makes an and experimentation is possible in the
unambiguous claim about the perma present, science can be less tentative discuss these with you. Please
nent end of literal Babylon, testable about what pyramids are made of contact us for a copy of our
hypotheses can be drawn from it. than about the exact way in which advertising brochure or for more
One such hypothesis is: Building a they were built. In other words, sci
information.
large tent city among the ruins of ence must be more tentative about
Babylon and filling it with Arab ten historical claims than about claims
ants should prove impossible. experimentally testable in the present. Email: norcottj@gc.adventist.org
Biblical prophecies which are cur Many of the claims of Scripture Phone: 301.680.6510
rently being fulfilled are as reliable as that are tested using science, are his Fax: 301.680.6502
predictions made by volcanologists torical claims, like the dimensions of
about the imminent eruption of vol the molten sea. Historical science
canoes or by chemists about the vio operates at a disadvantage compared

June 2003 MINISTRY

 J ELEMENTS OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST FAITH

MINISTRY
The nature of Christ:
Four measures MAGAZINE
of a mystery deduce that Jesus has all the character
Seventh-day Adventist Statement of istics of God, for He is God (Luke 1:35;
Faith #7: "Man and woman were made in Mark 1:24). First is His unfailing love
the image of Cod with individuality, the (John 3:16), then omnipotence (Matt.
power and freedom to think and to do.
ROY C. NADEN 28:18; John 17:2), omniscience (Col.
Though created beings, each is an indivis 2:3), omnipresence (Matt. 18:20;
ible unity of body, mind, and spirit, 28:20), and an eternal life preexisting
dependent upon Cod for life and breath Creation (Isa. 9:6; Col. 1:17). We also
and all else. When our first parents dis learn that He is rightly worshipped as
obeyed Cod, they denied their dependence God (Heb. 1:6; Phil 2:10, 11), for He
upon Him and fell from their high position and the Father are One (John 14:9), and
under Cod. The image of Cod in them was He is the great "I AM" of the Old
marred and they became subject to death. Jesus surrounded by a lion, an ox, an Testament Gohn 8:58).
Their descendants share this fallen nature eagle, and a man. The Church Father On the reverse side of the coin, we
and its consequences. They are born with Augustine understood these four crea know something of the human nature
weaknesses and tendencies to evil. But tures to represent the four portraits of of Jesus, which He took at His incarna
Cod in Christ reconciled the world to Jesus presented in the four Gospels. He tion and will retain for all eternity (Luke
Himself and by His Spirit restores in peni wrote: 22:18; Acts 11). More than 80 times in
tent mortals the image of their Maker. "We concur... [that] the Four Living the New Testament we read the title,
Created for the glory of Cod, they are Creatures in the Apocalypse . . . repre Son of Man. And just as He is perfect in
called to love Him and one another, and to sent the Four Gospels, . . . Lion, the His divine nature, He is perfect also in
care for the environment. (Cen. 1:26-28; King of Beasts . . . St Matthew; ... Ox, His human nature so He could be our
2:7; Ps. 8:4-8; Acts 17:24-28; Cen. 3; Ps. the Sacrificial Victim . . . St Luke .... Savior. He "knew no sin" (2 Cor. 5:21),
57:5; Rom. 5:12-17; 2 Cor. 5:19, 20; Ps. [And] St Mark . . . relates what Christ He "did no sin" (1 Peter 2:22), "in Him
51:10; 1 John 4:7, 8, 11, 20; Cen. 2:15). did in His Human Nature. . . . These is no sin" (1 John 3:5). So there is no
three Living Creatures the Lion, the reason for us ever to have the slightest

T
hanks to the Romans, life flour Calf, the Man walk on the earth. The question about "the perfect sinlessness
ished during the second century first three Evangelists describe specially of the human nature of Christ,"2 for He
in the city of Aries, in Gaul, those things which Christ did in our was unquestionably without "a taint of
today's southern France. When they flesh. . . . But St John soars to heaven as corruption." 3 And unlike us in our sinful
arrived from Italy, the Roman soldiers an Eagle, above the clouds of human state, Jesus had not the slightest inclina
brought their taste for fierce amuse infirmity, and reveals to us the mysteries tion or desire to sin." But vicariously He
ment and erected a 20,000-seat of Christ's Godhead." 1 took upon Himself our sins and atoned
amphitheater to display and experience for those sins in which He had no part
it. Among other so-called "sports," they How can we understand? just as we enjoy His righteousness in
introduced bull fighting, which still How can we understand Jesus' divine which we have no part.5
flourishes in the same well-preserved nature and His intimate connection with
amphitheater. us in His human nature? The reality is we Jesus becoming human; what
A five-minute walk away is the town can't. The apostle puts it accurately does it mean?
square. As I walked into that square in when he declares it a mystery (1 Tim. But what does it mean that Jesus
2001, my focus went immediately to St. 3:16). Theologians have traditionally became a human being, as fully human
Trophime's Church, named after a third- sought to understand Jesus' nature by as we are, and still remained as fully
century bishop of the city. Above the searching the Scriptures, finding a God as before the Incarnation? Again it
twin entrance doors, divided by a slen phrase or verse here and another there. is no ordinary mystery, it is a "great"
der red-marble pillar, I saw what This is because Scripture simply does not mystery beyond our understanding
brought me to Aries. Carved from stone address the theme comprehensively in (1 Tim. 3:16)!
in the tympanum above the doors is any one place. The disciples had no reason to doubt
depicted John the revelator's vision of Canvassing the Scriptures we the humanity of their Master. Some of

8 MINISTRY June 2003

them first met His human mother Mary
at the wedding celebration in Cana. So
they knew the person that carried Him
to term to begin His human life on Adventist
earth. There's nothing more thoroughly
human than that!
Health Study!!
They observed Him during His short
public ministry when He got hungry,
tired, and thirsty like the rest of them.
They saw Him cry in His sadness at the
tomb of Lazarus. They knew of His
intense prayer life, revealing His com
plete dependence on the Father. And in
the Garden of Gethsemane three of
them heard Him beg for human sup Don't let your church miss out!
port in the intensity of beginning to Encourage your members to be among the 125,000 Adventists
take upon Himself the sins of the world. in USA who join the new Adventist Health Study.
It was soon painfully observed that He
bled when whipped, and staggered This is a chance for all English
under the weight of a load too heavy speaking Adventists in the U.S.
for His weakened body. 35 years or older (30 or older if
So His intimates knew that He had African American/Black) to be
part of one of the largest and
accepted our humanity with the physi
most exciting studies of its kind
cal limitations which thousands of years
{Participation is limited to Adventists in the U SJ
of sinful disintegration had imposed,
but He took human nature without in
If you have ever used previous
any way inheriting the sinfulness of AHS research findings in your
being human. 6 Mystery! ministry you'll know the value of
this new study.
The four creatures and the Pastors in USA don't miss
four Gospels out! Here's your chance to be
But perhaps there are other ways for personally involved in creating
us to "discover" the God-Man Jesus a new ministry resource
than assembling isolated Bible texts as one that you and Pastors
legitimate an approach as that is. worldwide will use in the
Perhaps we can best bring Him to life in future to help people discover
our hearts by looking at the four com better health.
plementary portraits of )esus in the
Gospels, those images depicted in the
carving above the doors of St.
Trophime's Church in Aries.
Near the end of His public ministry. LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY
Philip spoke for the disciples when he SCHOOL OP PUBLIC HEALTH
asked Jesus to show them the Father. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
OAKWOOD COLLEGE
Jesus showed His anguish at this request AND THE
when He exclaimed, "Have I been so SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST
long time with you, and yet hast thou CHURCHES OF
NORTH AMERICA
not known me, Philip? he that hath
seen me hath seen the Father" (John
14:9).
But how revealing of our humanity is
Philip's question! In our humanity we
seek not so much a cognitive response
to our questions about the nature of bur
Lord as an experiential one. And that

June 2003 MINISTRY

quest is wonderfully satisfied by explor the Jews constantly looked nostalgically. In the Bethlehem story Mathew
ing the experiences described by the Matthew wants us to know that in Jesus reminds us that King Jesus was born in
four Gospel writers that "show" Him to we have our King the Son of King the place predicted by the prophet
us in the fullness of both His deity and David. Yes, He inherited our human Micah. There He was visited by princes
His humanity. nature, but not the sinfulness of this from the East with "treasures" fit for a
Matthew's ]esus is like a lion, the king exceedingly sinful human heritage. king. And at the end of His earthly min
of the animal kingdom. Reading Mystery! istry, Mathew reminds us, the people
Matthew's Gospel we see a portrait of In Matthew's account of the three took up the refrain sung by angels at His
Jesus as the promised King of the Old temptations we see Jesus fresh from His birth, and sang "Hosanna to the Son of
Testament prophets. This is the New immersion in Jordan's waters con David."
Testament's first portrait of Jesus. It is a fronting Satan over the "kingship" of According to Matthew's account,
very human role, a very human the world. When Jesus asked John to Jesus is the ultimate "Royal," Lion of the
metaphor. baptize Him, He threw down the gaunt tribe of Judah, who invites us to find the
One readily deduces Matthew's pri let to Satan. fulfillment of our greatest hopes and
mary goal in writing his Gospel. He Through baptism He said in effect, dreams as princesses and princes of the
wished to persuade his fellow Jews that "Satan, I'm challenging you. You won a King.
their Messiah had come in the person battle in Eden with the first Adam. You'll Mark's Jesus is a man, and he por
of Jesus. So he begins his book with a lose the same battle with the Second trays the human nature of Jesus by
genealogy. As you read the names, you Adam. I stand here like the first Adam showing His complete understanding of
are powerfully reminded of what a sin before you tempted him. I, too, have the human nature Jesus shares with us.
ful line it is. But Matthew shows Jesus as never sinned. And I have a sinless nature One of the stories that shows it con
a descendent of King David from like the first Adam at his creation. And vincingly is his account of Simon's feast.
whom the prophets predicted the I'll demonstrate God's power to sustain Mary took her life savings to a per
Messiah would come. In the great Me through all your temptations. . . . fume dealer. After some haggling, she
poet-king we see a key person with a "Where Adam failed, I will succeed. walked away with an alabaster bottle of
key foundational role in the genealogi And in my success I'll redeem his failure the most expensive spikenard. The
cal line of Jesus' humanity. and lay the foundation stone for the night of the party, she knelt before Jesus
David's life story reveals the vastness rebuilding of a perfect world. All that and poured the beautiful aromatic per
of self-deception, the very worst form of was lost in Eden I will regain. And it fume over His feet. Rivulets poured to
deception. But under King David's lead starts now!" And immediately the Spirit the floor, so Mary dropped her head to
ership, the Jewish nation saw some of its led Him into the wilderness and the let her long hair fall so she could wipe
most memorable times, years to which great battles began. His feet with her hair.
As the rare scent filled the room,
Mary suddenly became the focus of
everyone's attention. Judas castigated
Your her for what he called "a waste!" But
Jesus' human nature completely under
a stood what was going on, and He
of TAGnet to post f instantly came to her defense. He pro
news, events tn<tf tected her, honored her, affirmed her,
promotions at th« 7 and predicted that wherever the gospel
website provided fcfjjf; would be preached, her story would be
told.
Host a The Scriptures note that in conversa
complete website. tion with Simon, Jesus emphasized that
at His arrival, no one had washed His
Build yoyr own feet, and no one had given Him the tra
ditional greeting of a kiss. In His
humanity, Jesus missed these human
touches! How thoroughly human He is!
Of He feels as we do, understands our
thoughts, can empathize and nurture

TAG net !«t Iff*

us through the most dire of human
predicaments, because He's been there.
Luke's Jesus is a sacrificial ox, revealing

10 MINISTRY June 2003

Jesus as our Burden-Bearer. Luke illus children, part of His family (see John yet begun their work. The dust blown in
trates this aspect of Jesus' nature in 1:12). And after Jesus became a human overnight still lies undisturbed, so He
numerous stories including the account being with human flesh, we were able begins to write in that dust. Then sound
of His return to Nazareth. to see the glory of the Father in Him, full is heard of sandals on sand, the sound
One Sabbath morning Joseph's and of grace, the amazing grace that saves of someone disappearing from sight.
Mary's family went to synagogue. As each one of us (see John 1:14). From Then another, and another.
the service got underway, Jesus stood, the beginning John emphasizes the Some time later Jesus stands and
walked to the front, took a scroll of the divinity of our Lord. looks at the woman. Mercy looks intently
prophet Isaiah and read: "The Spirit of And in a story recorded only in into the eyes of Misery. "Where are your
the Lord is on me, because he has John's Gospel 7 we see a sublime illustra accusers?" He asks. She looks around to
anointed me to preach good news to tion of Him as our divine Savior who discover that not one of the arrogant
the poor. He has sent me to proclaim does not condemn us but who alone gang that had grabbed her in a bed
freedom for the prisoners and recovery can forgive our sins! room and herded her to the temple
of sight for the blind, to release the It is very early in the morning; cool, court is still there. "There are none,
oppressed, to proclaim the year of the but sunny. Jesus has spent the night Lord!" she replies in amazement. And
Lord's favor" (Luke 4:16-19, NIV). outside Jerusalem on the Mount of then she hears inspiring words from the
As Jesus sat down the congregation Olives in prayer. Another man had divine Word of God: "I don't condemn
fell silent, intrigued. Then He spoke spent the night inside Jerusalem you either. Go and sin no more."
again, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in involved with illicit lovemaking. Long Her soul feels a relief and restoration
your hearing" (Luke 4:21, NIV). He was shadows from the rising sun stretch she can't put into words. Her eyes fill
telling the home crowd that no matter across the temple courtyard making with tears as she drops to the ground at
what their burden, He would bear it for contrasting blocks of darkness and Jesus' feet. She confesses her sins to
them. light. It was still too early for the large Him, receives forgiveness, and is born
The burden of any physical disability crowds that would come as the day again to become one of the most trust
like blindness, the burden of poverty, proceeded. ed and loyal followers of Jesus for the
the burden of incarceration, sometimes In the midst of this tranquil scene rest of her life. 8 John's Jesus, the eagle,
of the innocent, the burden of relational came a disturbance from a group of reli in His divinity made her a new person.
or emotional oppression, whatever the gious leaders, Pharisees and rabbis. They So what is the nature of our Jesus?
burden, He bears it for us! Everything He didn't come alone. They were herding a The pictures painted in the four Gospels
had just read in Isaiah. That's the nature frightened, disheveled young woman. show Him to be fully, truly man, but
of Jesus, and the reason He invites all Her tresses had not been combed. Her without sin, and fully, truly God, who
that are heavy laden with personal prob robe had been hastily drawn around her ransomed us and gave us everlasting
lems and sins to come to Him so He can shoulders. The dark shadows under her life. Mystery!
lift them off our shoulders and carry eyes reflected her lack of sleep. They It is the wonderful mystery of His
them on His. Our very human Jesus shoved her in front of Jesus and com dual natures, fully God and fully man,
bears all our human burdens. manded her to stand there. on which our personal fulfillment on
John's Jesus is an eagle, whose far- She kept her head lowered in humil earth, and our hopes of heaven are
seeing sight, and heavenly flight are iation in front of the finely robed men firmly based. W
metaphors of His divine nature. As that ruled her society. The spokesman
Augustine observed, three Gospels described the problem. "This woman
accent the human nature, one, the has been discovered while in the act of Hoy Naden is Professor Emeritus of Religious
divine. adultery. Under these circumstances,
Education, Andrews University, Berrien Springs,
Michigan.
There's something mysterious and the Law of Moses demands that we
awe-inspiring about John's opening stone her to death. Do You agree?" (see
1 Quoted in The New Testament: A Commentary, Bishop
words. He writes that in the beginning John 8:4, 5). She began to count her Christopher Wordsworth (London: Rivingtons, 1874},
of our world was the Word, Jesus, and last moments on earth, sorrowful for xlii.
the Word was with God the Father, and her many failures at such a young age. 2 Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, 5:1131.
3 Signs of the Times, Dec. 9, 1897.
the Word was God. Nothing came into She only hoped the first stone would 4 Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, 5:1128, 1129.
existence without the Word (see John knock her unconscious. 5 Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (Nampa, Idaho:
1:1-3). Like an eagle flying far out of Then she hears Someone say, Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1898), 25.
6 Signs of the Times, May 29, 1901.
sight in the heights of the heavens, "Whoever is without sin, you throw the 7 It is well-known that this story appears in only one of
Jesus lived and lives in full deity. first stone." Then all she "heard" is the early uncia! manuscripts and that none of the
John continues in the opening chap silence. early Church Fathers comments on it. But there is a
high level of affirmation that it is nonetheless a true
ter of his Gospel that all who believe in Jesus bends low over the flagstones story.
Him He gives the right to become His of the courtyard. The sweepers had not 8 The Desire of Ages, 462.

June 2003 MINISTRY 11

 way into our lives. Why couldn't I get a doc
tor to listen to me?
Is it with the genuine comprehension my
husband still retains, that he surprises me by
indicating an interest in joining the Seventh-
day Adventist Church? He has been attending
with me for six years. His admiration for the
pastor grows as he accompanies me to wor
ship services.
The beautiful people in our Sabbath School
class surround him with sincere love and con
cern. They know his comments in class will
reveal how little he understands of the depth
of God's love, and the working out of His plan

Cry from a in our lives, but they delight in drawing him

into their circle and love him for who he is.
My husband's announcement to join the

wounded heart Church leaves me with mixed emotions.

Through the years I've prayed for him to be
impressed by the Holy Spirit. I've heard him
tell people that he'd never be a Seventh-day
Adventist. I've earnestly prayed that someone

A
ugust 18, 2002. 5:30 a.m. I awak he admires and respects would take an interest
Estelle Owenson
en with a sense of darkness in his salvation. I guess they felt it was up to
pressing upon me. Anxious me, but I knew I wasn't the one.
thoughts whirl in my head. Yes, he had questioned me at various times
Sadness envelops me. I grieve. I regarding my convictions, but his argumenta
think back to January. I relive the pain that tive attitude showed me that my part was to
brought me to this place. ask God to help me live my faith and uphold
January 7, 2002. P.E.T. scan shows brain my way of life without any pressure on him
cell loss in my 81-year-old husband. Memory regarding his personal choices.
and cognitive ability are deteriorating. Why, I ask God. Why now, when he has
These days, this 81-year-old retired Marine mentally deteriorated and is hardly able to
Corps Paymaster, once responsible for mil understand the step he is considering? Why
lions of dollars at Marine Corps Headquarters did it not happen when he could have been
in Washington, D.C., doesn't even carry a more able to listen, to understand, to accept?
credit card. When we travel, he watches the Not knowing the answer to the "why"
scenery pass from the passenger side of the car. question, and knowing it is not up to me to
I pay the bills and purchase the food. make a decision as to the validity of his inter
No longer do those soft, uncallused hands, est, I lay it out before the pastor who has
once so swift in military service, create the joy become so loved and respected by my hus
of accomplishment for this proud man a band. I pray that God will give him the
man so often commended by his superiors. wisdom he needs to know how to deal with
Now those hands labor to write only simple the man I love.
reminders to himself and to me. A few days later, the pastor comes to our
No longer does that detailed, meticulous, home and at the right moment, sensitively
mathematical mind sharpened by years of brings up the subject. Yes, my husband is
financial challenge hasten to do his bidding. interested, but has some "loose ends" to tie up
Once a week, a friend comes by to take him to at his Methodist church. Then he will be ready
the American Legion meeting. I make sure he to have his membership "transferred." A few
has enough money to take care of dinner. weeks later there's another visit from the pas
February 5. Diagnosed with vascular tor, with more spiritual talk and interaction.
dementia. It might as well be Alzheimer's. The
Estelle Owenson is a diagnosis doesn't ease my pain and fear. I Delay and frustration
pseudonym. have watched this insidious disease sneak its Weeks go by. I look forward to further vis-

12 MINISTRY June 2003

its by the pastor while my husband's He kindly apologizes; he's been membership. He will leave the church
mind is still functioning, though it very busy. He appreciates my person which he chose so long ago as a
continues to deteriorate. Every day I al visit in this matter. He will deal young man.
see him losing ground. I pray for the with it. We pray together. I rejoice It's not an easy or sudden decision.
pastor to spend time in fellowship once again; we're back on our way. In addition to a very successful
with him, leading, guiding, praying Marine Corps profession, my husband
so that when the day arrives that my More delay, frustration, and has been the business administrator of
husband is ready to release himself indignation another prestigious Methodist church
from his church, he will be ready for Soon, we have another visit from in the large leading city in which we
the next step. the pastor. His parting words: "Let me live. He has carried the title of "dia-
I am keenly aware that this candi know when your project at the conal minister" for many years, an
date cannot be handled in the usual Methodist church is completed." honor bestowed upon administrators
way. My husband is unable to under Yet, I still continue to hope and and nonpastoral leaders in the
stand the 27 fundamental beliefs in pray that although we are in a wait Methodist Church. The title has been
any depth, and living them out is ing period, preparation can be going very important to him. It is not easy
even more in question. on simultaneously while there is still to turn his back and embark on a new
"It's Your project, God." I cry. "You some cognitive ability left. journey.
know his heart, You know how much Third week in June. Father's Day. June 16, 2002.1 call the pastor and
cognitive ability he has left. You also We go to the Methodist church and inform him my husband's project is
know that I cannot be the one to check on the finalized project (a new in place, his membership at the
bring him to an ultimate commit plaque for the ornately carved lectern Methodist church can now end. He is
ment; he'd feel I was policing him. given to the church after the death of ready to make the big step, to go for
He's in Your charge. You know his his first wife by cancer). He wants his ward with a new life in the fellowship
background. You also know that name on it also, so the church won't of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
because his mind is going downhill forget he left his mark as their Another disappointment. I find
with each passing day, there's an beloved administrator for many out that there is only one week until
urgency about these things. Please, years. My husband is very pleased the pastor is to be out of the country
God, send the help he needs to sur with the plaque. I take his picture. We for three weeks. He will come by our
round him while he can still respond leave the majestic gothic sanctuary home for a quick visit, if possible.
to the most vital matter of salva for the last time. When he returns, he will need a few
tion a relationship with Jesus Christ The time has come. He now feels days to catch up, then he will be
his Savior." free to reach out for new church attending to the subject of prepara-
April becomes May. I am dealing
with growing feelings against the pas
tor. Is my husband not important
enough to work into his busy sched
ule? Is the dementia a factor that
discourages the pastor? I find myself
increasingly frustrated and hurt.
When I kneel to pray, the anger and 'FOUNDATION
Ik? Videoj>erm^_ . .... . ,, .., . . ., .,., , , ,,
pain become a growing wall between
my heart and the throne room of
heaven. 0 ie Foiaidatioit documents the
contributions ofAfrican-American
. ' .
•'•(• ,\ ' .frsffiefS** :'
Chaplain tanf :C.;BIacl''
.,

On my knees, with negative emo

enmgetitfs. fl is a compilation of '-.' " "rrVm" ' 3 Sermons ' S45;0 '
tions arising from my heart, I hear a
, and,.mtemew
sermons by, , . mlh, .,, EtteFfJ.
.,,pmygf ff/Ja|jffi,, 2 B&mm mw
voice: "If thy brother have ought
against thee ... go ..." A day or two jorne o//*e outstanding ot ^ftarles B. iroeiss
later, I appear at the door of the pas preachers of the gospel. Set 1-7 Sermons
tor's study and lay my heart open to . 2 -4 Sermons
Here* an opportunity to , 4^ 5^3-7 Sermons-$105.00
him, admitting that I am feeling get to knmc them a little "liets/cosfaaane +S/H
angry and telling him I can't under l*eff«
stand his apparent lack of urgency
regarding my husband, particularly
considering my husband's increasing
dementia.

June 2003 MINISTRY 13

tion for baptism for my husband. pastor will be back. Patience, I tell his cognitive ability during the past
Another four weeks' delay! myself, give him a few days. He'll be five months since we embarked upon
Why, Lord? What will be the state in touch. this important journey.
of my husband's mind by then? One, then two weeks go by, and a I choose our quiet time together,
June 15, the last Sabbath our pastor bit more. The pastor calls regarding when he is the most receptive.
will be in church before his vacation. another project he is helping me I open the conversation. "I've been
My husband does not attend, but with. During that conversation, he thinking about your desire to become
sends this message by me. "Tell Pastor, tells me he will be going to workers' a member of our church. Perhaps you
he's not to preach again in the church meeting for the first part of the next have some questions I could help
until I am a member!" A rather child week, then has some other pressing answer. Is there anything you are
like request, but then in our need, we responsibilities. But after that, he will concerned about regarding any differ
have become childlike! I relate this be in touch. That will take us to mid- ences between Seventh-day Adventist
message to the pastor. He smiles. August. beliefs and what you do or don't
understand?"
Answer: "Evolution." (There was no

Y
S, HE IS AN EXCEPTIONAL PREACHER. HE HAS A hesitation in his answer. In the past,
he has vacillated on this subject,
JL vWAY WITH WORDS. . . . HIS PERSONALITY IS mostly weighted toward the side of
evolution.)
Q. "Do you believe in the Bible as
the Word of God that it is the essen
tial guide for our lives?"
A. "Men wrote the Bible. We don't
know how many changes there have been
to it"
"Do you think your husband will The third week of August. On the Q. "Do you understand the
be willing to go through baptism?" last Sabbath, I hear that the pastor is Sabbath? What it really means?"
The question is asked of me there in going to be gone for another week. A. "1 don't think it matters what day
the hallway where the pastor and I He will be back Friday night. My you keep. You could keep Sabbath on
have crossed paths that last Sabbath. heart drops once again. Wednesday if you wanted to." (Yet, he
We both know immersion would be a It's been over five months since had unfortunately "reprimanded"
big hurdle since my husband always this process started. Once again, I'm our guest when he felt she was not
referred to the process as "changing feeling anger, frustration, and pain. I respecting my beliefs about Sabbath
his membership." would like to ask someone else to pick hours!)
I share with the pastor my hus up and carry this to fruition. I can't. Q. "Do you understand what hap
band's reaction to that question as he Our local pastor holds the key to my pens when someone dies?" (In
and I had discussed it a week earlier. husband's heart and to his member previous discussions, I had been
"I don't like the idea of being shoved ship in the Church. Yes, he is an under the impression that he felt our
under the water, but I'm willing." exceptional preacher. He has a way stand was correct.)
July. My husband calls the Metho with words beautiful, impressive A. "I don't know. I think the body
dist church and asks for a letter of words. His delivery is impeccable and deteriorates, but there is something else
membership transfer. He requests that attention riveting. His personality is that I don't understand . . . what hap
one copy go to our pastor. I am deeply magnetic, but my disappointment pens to the spirit?"
moved at the responding letter and and pain tend to obscure his words. Q. "Does it bother you that you
the kindly manner in which they My heart is bleeding. will not be a diaconal minister any
release his membership, and the way more?"
they wish him the best in his new An awful conversation A. "No." (This really surprises me!
church home. I decide it's time for me to gently This has been so important to him.)
Three weeks go by. I pray for safety and sensitively ask my husband some Q. "Are you still interested in being
for the pastor and his family. I count vital questions. I never intended to be baptized?"
the days when we can finally reach the one to ask these, but I feel that by A. "I don't think it's necessary. It's like
the destination in this long journey. default, at this point, it is important belonging to a club anyway."
that I ask. I must find out to what Q. "Are you saying you have
My heart is bleeding degree the deterioration from his changed your mind and you don't
Finally the day is here. Today, the dementia has invaded and destroyed wish to be baptized?"

14 MINISTRY June 2003

 A. "That's right, I don't want to be There it is the true story. My pain breaking heart would experience bap
baptized." is deep. I grieve. I keep asking myself, tism as a "hollow victory."
Q. "Do you still want to come with Why? How could this happen? We Yet I know that having a relation
me to our church and be a part of it had a window of time but it seems to ship with Jesus is the saving factor.
even if you are not a baptized mem me that it has slowly closed, and now But, he does not have this. Or does
ber, or do you want to go back to your it's shut, like the decayed mind of my he? I don't know. I can't say. I am not
church?" husband. the Judge.
A. "I want to come with you to your I know God isn't held back by arbi "O Lord, Your Holy Spirit once
church. I don't have to be baptized to do trary rules of conversion or the 27 gave us a window of opportunity
that." fundamentals. Neither is He bound by when You placed that original desire
Then, I ask him the most impor our sometimes-fumbling ways in the in my husband's heart. That in itself
tant question. saving of souls. I know Jesus promised was a miracle. You are a God of mira
Q. "Do you believe Jesus came to take the thief to heaven. I know His cles. You can reach down with
from heaven; became a man to live love is boundless and timeless. another miracle a gleam from Your
with us and for us here?" For years I have looked forward to throne.
A. "It'spossible." the day when my husband would "Precious Abba, I trust my hus
Q. "Do you understand and give his life to Christ and be buried in band's eternity to an all-knowing,
believe that He died for you and your baptism. Now I'm terribly sad. Now, I all-loving God. You and Your Son
sins, so you can live with Him in shed tears filled with the inner sense know if, when, or where there was
heaven?" that it is too late. enough of an honest spark in my
A. "I don't know . .. it's possible." Yes, it's possible we could talk him husband's heart that in spite of all
Q. "Do you believe Jesus is coming into being baptized. But at this point, else, You can choose to say to him:
back to take His people to be with he doesn't know what it means to 'My dear son, you will be with Me in
Him forever?" "die," nor would he know what "res paradise.'"
A. "It's possible. urrection" implies. At this point, my Please hear my heart's cry! M

By Invitation Only
You're invited IIyou are a:
• fell or part-time pastor of a new church
• lay ministry leader of a'new church
• Coach of a church planter
• Spouse of any of the above

Early Registration (By August so)

Individual: S149 / Group i«« more): !129
Registration (After August so)
Individual: !169 / Group (4 or mote): S149

www.piantthefuture.org
360-816-1478

June 2003 MINISTRY 15

 and do we actually have a sense of deep con
cern for the struggling humanity around us?
and (2) Are we willing to search for God's
vision and mission for us and our congrega
tion, and do we have the faith and courage to
follow that vision?
Past experience tells me that churches
which focus on reaching and befriending lost
souls in their communities will be the
churches that grow! Churches that actually
go through a visioning and mission-building
process will be unique among most churches
in their community. Why? Because they are

SMALL church
wrestling to find a vision or a mission from
God for their ministry, and therefore God
can work among them and in their commu

growth
nity, helping them to discover the roles they
are to play.
We often make plans and create strategies
for our churches and our ministries, and then
ask God to bless them and make them fruit
ful. But most of the success in any program or

I
t can't be done!" is a phrase that church comes from not asking God to bless
Rod Long
resounds with darkness, hopelessness, our work, but listening for His invitation to
and defeat. Throughout the Christian join Him in the work He is doing where we
world we hear increasingly that revital are. The visioning and mission-building
izing small churches just can't be done. process for a church does exactly that.
Where did this thinking come from? Have we This process should begin with 40 days of
forgotten that we are an extension of the New fasting and prayer. Everyone in the church
Testament church that small, courageous or at least most of the congregation's
assembly of souls who would have been leaders should participate in this highly
understood for saying "It can't be done!" But rewarding step. Participants ask God to show
they didn't even seem to know the meaning them the role that the congregation needs to
of those words. They didn't because they were play in the community. It is probably best for
too busy believing such things as "With God each congregation to work out their way of
all things are possible." actually carrying out this important aspect of
I believe that God is still working, just as the visioning process.
He did with those first-century Christians. The vision speaks of where a congregation
However, the way we approach things today is going, and the mission tells how it is going
is significantly different from that of our New to happen. The vision inspires people to scale
Testament predecessors. As leaders and laity, the summit of the mission.
we seem to be easily quieted on the journey,
almost as if the "fire" is gone. We become Key ingredients for small-church
comfortable with the way things are and growth
sometimes don't see the need to step out in How often have you heard someone say of
faith, to keep trying new things. their church, "We can't do this because we are
Smaller churches seem especially vulnera too small"! People make the word small seem
ble to this kind of inertia. so negative. How can we take the negative
Rod Long pastors
away from small so that we encourage and
four church districts
Finding a vision, discovering a vitalize our people? Could it be that in the
and lives in Chadron,
Nebraska.
mission word small is the solution to growth in
Churches in this new millennium, espe today's church? The word small has become
cially small ones, face barriers to growth, most an acronym that sums up my ministry and
of them having to do with two often reveals a way through which all churches can
expressed yet vital arenas: (1) Do we really feel grow:

16 MINISTRY June 2003

 S Specific vision and mission responsibility to train members to 19:10). Jesus was clear and focused
M Members in ministry reach out ,to the community in a when it came to this. Following
A Attractive to the community meaningful way. someone means that we go the same
L Linking to the power of The pastor is to build up the saints way and do the same things.
Heaven through prayer through the Word of God, and to The next key ingredient is being
L Loving unconditionally encourage them in the face of rejec attractive to our communities. For too
Every church that I have been tion. The pastor is to be the leader long many of our churches have felt
blessed to be a part of, has taken the who is clearest on the vision and mis that if people are looking for Jesus,
time to actually develop these quali sion of God for himself, so that he or our doors are open. Just let them
ties. I believe that any church that will she knows where God wants the con come in. It would be nice if that were
make it a point to follow this acronym gregation to go. Then the pastor leads all we had to do just unlock the
is destined for growth and positive the church. He doesn't do their work door, turn on the light, sit in the pew,
community awareness and impact! for them. and motion for folks to "come on in."
Let me touch on SMALL and what The members must keenly feel the Part of the revitalization journey of
it entails. Because we have already needs and longings of the souls a church is becoming involved in the
covered much of the first aspect spe around them, having a deep desire to community and getting that commu
cific vision and mission we will bring them to Christ, or they will nity involved with the church. When
move on to a space-limited expression never feel the need to do service for I say the church needs to be attractive
of the other four qualities necessary Christ. The pastor should keep before to the community, I don't mean just
for small-church growth. the people the burden that Christ has the beauty or functionality of the
If a church is to succeed the members laid on them for others. physical plant. Although that is
must be active! Many church members Jesus' mission statement is the important, there's more. People need
believe that it is the pastor's responsi essential mission statement of every to have positive memories and
bility to build the church. Actually, congregation: The Son of man has thoughts about our churches.
it's everyone's calling. It is the pastor's come to seek and save the lost (Luke One way to achieve this is by doing

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June 2003 MINISTRY 17

community appreciation days. Twice time when we give up something Jesus. It is the role of the Holy Spirit
a year the churches in my district rec important and desirable, replacing it to convict others of sin, not ours. It is
ognize and thank a community with time spent in earnest prayer. the role of the Holy Spirit to reprove
action group for what they do in our Jesus began His ministry with a 40- righteousness, not ours.
neighborhoods. We have invited the day fast. Fasting is a great opportunity Of course, God sometimes uses us
volunteer fire department, the police, to come close to God, and for Him to to help each other in situations that
state patrol, and sheriff. Other church come close to us. It is during these require an honest word of correction,
es I have served have honored nurses, times that my members have shared but even this is to be done in calm,
ambulance personnel, emergency with me how God has opened their noncondemnatory love. Anyone who
room staff, and others. eyes in new and surprising ways. has been in ministry for any length of
In my community appreciation They come so close to Him that many time knows that when we continual
sermons, I focus on the qualities continue this deep form of worship ly look to and point people to Jesus in
these community leaders exhibit, past the 40 days. Prayer accompanied our talk and walk, people begin to
especially highlighting those that are with fasting provides time and special wonder and move in His direction,
directly a part of Christian faith and concentration so we may commune and their lives begin to change into
which Jesus also modeled. We then with God and search His will for our His likeness. When we've pointed
serve them a meal during which we selves and our church. people to Him, then we have an
honor them by giving them a plaque Finally, and very importantly, there is opportunity to share what He has
and voicing our appreciation for their the matter of loving unconditionally. We done for us and with us. Notice I did
contributions to our community. cannot grow a church in which we n't say share with them what He can
Many people have come into our and our leaders and members are so correct for them. We need to lift Him
churches whose first contact was an busy pointing out faults and correct up and people will be drawn to Him.
Appreciation Day service. We must ing people that we forget that we are
not use these days as a way of "hook called to love as we are loved by God. Conclusion
ing" members or influencing them We have particular difficulty under The real secret of small-church
with the doctrines of our church. We standing and acknowledging the growth lies in congregations and
need to have appreciation days sim importance of this virtue. leaders having a willing spirit to do
ply to say thank you and show our The world we live in today offers whatever it is that God would lead
friends that God loves and protects very little in the way of acceptance them to do, as together they search
them. Memberships will come as a and support for an individual. Our the heart of God for what that is. It
natural result of this! society is consistently so engrossed in means having a church that is not
Next in the SMALL acronym is link the pursuit of all kinds of self-interest, afraid to change some things if it
ing to the power of Heaven through that others are left out and left alone means coming in line with God's mis
prayer. No church grows healthfully to struggle through their storms. Our sion for them.
without prayer. The power of the uni churches should be a haven, a place of Small-church growth doesn't just
verse is unleashed only when we are ultimate safety, acceptance and love. happen. We must be dedicated to it
on our knees. (Earlier in the article we People should feel that they can and purposeful in our actions as God
noted that 40 days of fasting and come to our churches regardless of leads us. This takes time and effort
prayer are crucial to the vision and what they wear, how many or what but is entirely worthwhile.
mission building of any church.) kind of burdens they are carrying. So we are longing for churches full
Prayer is our help line, our connec They should feel free to come with of members in action. We are follow
tion to the solution center of the their guards down, defenseless and in ing what God is directing us to do,
world. There is no mountain too need. They should find love and open and not just something we think is a
high. Fervent prayer can scale impos arms. After all, we are to treat others as good idea. We want the community
sible-looking summits. Prayer can lift Christ has treated us. If the Christian to feel attracted to our churches. So
us from the lowest valley. Prayer from world today would more fully reflect we are linking to the power of Heaven
even the weakest soul can bridge the the wholehearted, unquestioning love through prayer for our churches to
deepest, widest river. that has been given to us, our church grow. And, very importantly, we are
If we want to turn our churches es would be full! loving people in tangible, uncondi
around, and keep them headed in the We need to be about lifting up tional ways.
right direction, we need to build a Jesus to heartbroken people. It all too As we step up, initiating and
team of prayer warriors! Fasting with often seems, however, that we are too implementing these things, God will
prayer has become almost obsolete in busy playing the convicting role of be with us, bringing growth of all
today's Christian world. More time the Holy Spirit to actually spend time kinds to churches that may have
needs to be spent in fasting. It is a uplifting and living out the love of seemed beyond such progress. ISI

18 MINISTRY June 2003

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 our theology. We identify ourselves with the
remnant who keep the commandments of
God and have the testimony and faith of
Jesus. Our mission is to give that everlasting
gospel to every tribe, nation, language, and
people.
It is because this is the particular commis
sion of Seventh-day Adventists that we
cannot look to the nature or mission of other
ecclesiastical entities, making them our

Can the church

model. These churches don't have the theolo
gy, identity, or mission that, through a
unique, historic encounter of the three

be relevant and
angels' messages, has been given to Seventh-
day Adventists.
This is not to say that we cannot learn

survive? 2)
from other churches and organizations. But it
is to say that they cannot be our models. This
is so because, without the unique commission
that has been divinely imparted to Seventh-
day Adventists, that particular message

I
cannot be carried into all the world as God
n part one of this series (Ministry, April intended it to be carried. And to carry that
Jay Gallimore
2003) we asked, Can the church be rele particular message is in fact our mission.
vant and thrive? In this part we ask the Maybe, then, our early Adventist fathers
same question with an important twist: and mothers were right after all about church
Can the church be "relevant" and sur- organization. By spreading our human and
vive. financial resources over the entire world field,
Considering the impact or influence that we are able to grow in many different cultures
some megachurches are having within with an amazing degree of unity. Our organi
Adventism, at least in North America, we zation is not rigid but elastic. It is adaptable,
need to ask how such changes might in fact not pluralistic. Our organizational structure
affect us. If Seventh-day Adventists, in an adapts well worldwide while providing high
attempt merely to be "relevant" to the sur proportions of unity and oneness. It allows
rounding culture, adopt their approaches and for significant cultural diversity without sacri
methodologies, will we also tend to adopt ficing the essence of what is uniquely ours to
some of their presuppositions about the proclaim from the Bible.
church and, most significantly, their mission? Congregational churches, on the other
If we adopt their mission, will we, in turn, hand, are limited by their local focus and cul
adopt their ideas about the nature of the ture. They may by all means be compelled by
church, and their conception of why the the gospel commission, but their organiza
church exists? If so, would such changes bless tional vehicle is simply too small and fragile
or curse us? to carry out a world mission. By their nature
they cannot maintain any degree of unity
The three angels' messages and cooperation beyond a localized sphere of
Most Seventh-day Adventists recognize influence. They consume large proportions of
that Revelation 14:6-12 represents the most their resources on the local level where many
succinct biblical source for our theology, iden of them exclusively operate. They have diffi
Jay Gallimore is
tity, and particularly for our mission. All three culty acting upon the need for an unselfish
president of the
of the messages of the angels of this passage unity and sacrifice that provides for an out
Michigan Conference
of Seventh-day are merged. A person cannot change or neg reach to all languages and people groups.
Adventists, Lansing, lect one without changing the other, and thus
Michigan. the thrust of the message as a whole. Mission and structure
The everlasting gospel, in the setting of the There is a principle here. Concepts of mission
three angels' messages describes the heart of give birth to church government. Some Seventh-

20 MINISTRY June 2003

day Adventist congregations which for the whole leads us to cooperation. alternative forms of church govern
have recently left the sisterhood of the Our theology embraces the fact that ment, as a church we have a biblical
Seventh-day Adventist Church to fol the gospel work is not finished any die cast, and its not a corporate or
low a megachurch dream are an where until it is finished everywhere. political one, but one where authori
example of how this principle works. During the crisis of the last presi ty is shared and balanced among the
First they changed their mission, then dential election in the United States, levels of a representative form of
their form of church government. the citizens of the nation did not church governance.
They went from a passionate world- know who the president-elect was As an example of the sharing of
view to a passionate local view. Then going to be. In all this, the nation government among the levels of
they naturally moved from a repre could have lost its footing, but it kept church organization, take the role of
sentative to a congregational form of going largely because of the stability the conference. The decision of where
church government. of well-established structures that the church schools of a given confer
Does this mean that we Adventists operated despite the serious uncer ence should be located is not one
are not passionate about our local tainties that arose when things at the made at central headquarters. Here
work? No, not at all. Rather, it means head of the nation were in question. the local decision is primary. Even the
that we are passionate about both. Representative forms of govern conference is given life by local
We believe that an investment in ment will not succeed well unless church delegates at a constituency
world missions returns to strengthen they have building blocks starting at meeting. Those combined delegate
the local work. It should not surprise the grass roots. This way, the power is votes give the conference authority to
us that unselfish love unleashes more both top-down and bottom-up. These oversee and guide the operation and
human and financial resources than layered structures provide stability expansion of churches, schools, and
any other power in the world. So throughout and steer the whole. other ministries within its jurisdic
instead of having fewer resources, we Certainly, such structures can be tion. It exists to choose pastoral and
actually have far more. Adventist giv cumbersome, but they provide neces educational leadership and to shep
ing is astounding when compared to sary strength and stability. While it is herd unity, local initiative, and
almost any other church. Our passion appropriate for us to think about self-determination within the whole.

mm

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June 2003 MINISTRY 21

 These local conferences form the tive committee, we are not politicians ership will educate the body so that it
union conferences, which in turn or CEOs, but servants seeking the will may carry out its functions well as it
make up the world divisions of the of God. There is always the tempta looks to its Head.
church. Unlike some organizations, tion for members and workers to try
the Adventist Church is not held to manipulate local church business Conclusion
together merely by charismatic per meetings or conference and union Seventh-day Adventist theology
sonalities. Policy, carefully crafted constituencies or, for that matter, the and mission is unique. It is not found
through a process involving all the General Conference. We must anywhere else. We believe God has
levels of the church keep the organi remember these represent not just brought us into being for a particular
zation working concertedly. The what we sometimes thoughtlessly call eschatological purpose. The programs,

o
organizations, and worship styles
reflected in the mission and gover
UR PROCESS IS SET UP FOR SPIRITUAL, NOT nance of other bodies is not ours.
Trying to embrace these wholesale
POLITICAL PURPOSES. WE SHOULD BE without embracing their theology is
causing a great deal of stress in many
of our congregations. Trying to merge
6QNCERNED WHEN WE SEE PEOPLE their methods with our mission will
not give us a super hybrid. At stake in
all of this is nothing less than the sur
vival of the Adventist Church itself.
We do not simply want to survive
ongoing life of the church is not "the body," but they represent the but to thrive. Thriving means we must
dependent on a localized body, led by body of Christ. Any part of the realize that human leadership is not
one or two, as it is in many of the church, including any level of church enough. We need in our assemblies
megachurches of our time. administration, is not the head, but the conscious presence of our real,
The union conferences represent parts of the body. As such they do not unseen Leader. We need a great awak
their part of the world field to the lead out in self-government, (which is ening. We need a spiritual renewal
General Conference. They are vital to the common political view of a secu that grows in power and scope until
the policy making process just as the lar democracy) but they lead looking Jesus comes. We need spiritual power
bone marrow is vital to making to the Head Himself for governance. from the sanctuary above. We need
blood. The General Conference devel Our organization was set up with the glory that shines from between
ops resources and is the vision caster the concept that humble, godly the cherubim to enlighten a darkened
and final authority on the policy and believers would come together and world. We need the blood sprinkled
planning that drives the world make organized decisions. It never on the mercy seat to carry us through
church. Each of these parts wield real envisioned one person running for the close of human probation. We
power but in different spheres. We all office against another. Neither was it need the celestial glory of Jesus
depend on each other doing well. meant to sustain well-orchestrated Himself, directing His church through
Like wheels within wheels, we need manipulative campaigns to force, the maze of tempting options, perse
the Holy Spirit to constantly pour His trick, or manipulate the body into cution, and attack.
oil into the machinery, His water into decisions. In the New Testament, the In the final analysis we do not suc
His living organism. manipulative methods of Simon were ceed because of church government,
immediately put down by Peter. as important as that is; we do not suc
Spiritual, not secular In Galatians, Paul challenged ceed because of human ingenuity and
We sometimes have difficulty real Peter's hypocritical politics publicly. brilliance, as much as that is needed.
izing that the Seventh-day Adventist In Acts, the early church called for the We succeed when, by faith, we indi
Church is also not to be run by a leadership and delegates from various vidually and collectively surrender
model adapted from secular politics. places to come and settle disputable ourselves to Him who is our Head. It
Our process is set up for spiritual, not matters. Political maneuvering pro is then that He will use poor, feeble,
political purposes. We should be con motes division, pride, and competi and unworthy mortals like us to
cerned when we see people trying to tion, rather than unity, humility, and "lighten the world with His glory." M
work our spiritual process like politi cooperation. To try to impose the sec
cians. The two don't mix. ular processes on the church is to ruin
Whether we are members of a local it as a reflection of the humble Savior. * For a complete, unedited version of
church board or a conference execu- Genuinely Christian servant lead this article, email <info@misda.org>

22 MINISTRY June 2003

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 and enjoying the favor of all the people" (Acts
2:42-47).*
We must admit that this picture is one that
is vibrant with a depth and breadth of fellow
ship that goes well beyond what we often
think of as fellowship in today's church.
These days we tend to reduce the concept and
practice of fellowship to terms and activities
that diminish and even cheapen its true
meaning, so that it involves only the matter

Fellowship:
of getting together in spiritual and social
interaction, while it largely leaves out, for
exa'mple, the pooling of our possessions in

Its meaning and

the way first-century Christians did.

What is fellowship?
The Greek word for fellowship expresses the

its demand idea of sharing, of having something in com

mon with somebody else. Common
participation takes on a double form: giving
and receiving. Christian fellowship seriously

W
involves both aspects.
hat does Christian "fellow Moreover, Christian fellowship is vertical as
Bryson M. Katele
ship" mean? Is it church well as horizontal. The horizontal plane pre
members chatting outside supposes the vertical for its very existence.
after the church service? Is John described the vertical dimension this
it young people hiking way: "Our fellowship is with the Father and
with one another in nature? Is it having that with his Son, Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3). This
special sense of togetherness that comes during fellowship is what makes a Christian,
worship, or church friends getting together Christian. Indeed, John's words provide a def
Saturday night at someone's home? inition of what it is to be Christian. Those not
The point is that we tend to equate fellow in fellowship with the Father and the Son,
ship with what we do, and such a tendency however upright they may be, are not actually
can trick us into thinking that we are thriving Christian in this Johanine sense.
on fellowship, while all the time our souls are The horizontal dimension of fellowship is
still starving for it. the habitual sharing, the constant giving to
Fellowship is a great New Testament con and receiving from each other, which is the
cept. It denotes something vital to Christian true, authentic pattern of life for God's people.
spiritual health, and central to the church's Fellowship with God, then, is the source from
true life. We ministers need to have a clear which fellowship among Christians springs;
sense of what Christian fellowship actually is, and again, fellowship with God is the end to
then we can help to bring it about in our which Christian fellowship leads.
churches. Christian fellowship, then, is neither a lux
The New Testament describes a fellowship ury nor a devotional option, but a spiritual
that was central to the life of the young, first- necessity. God intends that we have fellow
century Christian church. "They devoted ship with Him and with each other. The
Bryson M. Katele is
themselves to the apostles' teaching and to former feeds the latter, and the latter requires
director of
stewardship, global the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and constant feeding for its own deepening and
mission, and trust to prayer. ... All the believers were together enrichment. Fellowship between Christians
services in the and had everything in common. Selling their cements our fellowship with God.
Zambia Union of possessions and goods, they gave to anyone Our fellowship with God covers all our giv
Seventh-day as he had need. Every day they continued to ing to Him, all our taking from Him, and
Adventists, Lusaka, meet together in the temple courts. They expresses our faith in and love for Him. God
Zambia. broke bread in their homes and ate together gives Himself to us as our Father on the basis
with glad and sincere hearts, praising God of redemption wrought for us by the gift of His

24 MINISTRY June 2003

 Son. We receive "childship" from
God, and a title to all the blessings
that childship entails.
"He who receives you receives
Something for Everyone!
me," said Jesus, "and he who receives
me receives the one who sent me"
(Matt. 10:40). And John adds: "To all
who received him, to those who
Adventist Preaching &::''*|l||i
Adventist Preaching For Kids TOD 8
' • . .•'.".'".-•-Ll'">' ••••,.•'V,»V;0.

believed in his name, he gave the

right to become children of God"
(John 1:12).
This adoption (yet so much more
than the concept of human adoption
entails) is the foundation on which all
our subsequent fellowship with God, Pastors
and thus with one another, rests. Day A resource for excellent sermons to use in your absence
by day, as God's children, we thank
fully take the gifts that our heavenly
Father presents to us. Daily He for
Layleaders g
Use when you're too busy to prepare a sermon ,a """"*
gives our sins and reveals Himself to
us through His written Word, and
through nature and through one
Adventist homes |
Devotional sermons for spiritual renewal j|
another. Such is the taking and giving,
the sharing with God that constitutes
this deeper fellowship.
Our fellowship on the human level
is seeking to share what God has
made known of Himself with others,
as a means of finding strength,
refreshment, and instruction for spir
itual growth. In fellowship, one seeks
to receive as well as to give. The apos
tle illustrates this when he tells the
Romans, "I long to see you so that I
may impart to you some spiritual gift
to make you strong—that is, that you
and I may be mutually encouraged by
each other's faith" (Rom. 1:11, 12).
Paul's understanding of fellowship is
clear: it is a two-way channel where
by both he and the believers may find
mutual encouragement in the bond
of Christian fellowship.
In summary so far: First, fellowship
comes from God's grace. Through fel
lowship, one's soul is refreshed, fed,
and strengthened. Second, fellowship haracter-building stories for the family
is a test of active spiritual life. It means
opening one's heart to fellow believ
ers. Fellowship cannot exist where
there is pretense or concealment. We
can be free from pretension and con
cealment in our relation with others
only as we are open and honest in our
ACN
dealings with God and with others.

June 2003 MINISTRY 25

 If we prevent or obstruct God's love (Rom. 12:9). False or limited fel The enemies of fellowship
light from shining fully on ourselves, lowship springs only from within us Genuine fellowship has two ene
we cannot have free fellowship with and only goes so far as to depend mies: the merely human self and the
other believers; we will shrink from upon our natural human affinities, sophism of Satan. James asks: "What
fellowship, and our reticence will not affections, and associations. Such fel causes fights and quarrels among you?
go undetected. "If we walk in the lowship remains superficial, and may Don't they come from your desires
light, as he is in the light, we have fel differ very little from that which that battle within you?" (James 4:1).
lowship with one another, and the exists in a common social club. We Overcoming self and its desires and
blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us must admit that this deficient or temptations is our greatest battle.
from all sin" (1 John 1:4). incomplete fellowship is all too com We are like people who live in the
Third, fellowship is God's chosen mon in contemporary Christian world that has no mirrors. We are
plane for spiritual life. It is where the churches. able to see other people's faults but
spirit of God is found, where we find On the other hand, authentic not our own. We do not realize that
spiritual life, and where we grow in Christian fellowship is alive and the self we see in other people exists
grace and are ready to help others to always growing in quality and depth. in us also. If I say that my brother is
do the same. When we fellowship Increasingly it affects the deeper parts stubborn and only wants his own
together, we should do so in prayerful of our personalities and calls for con way, that is exactly how Brother John
dependence on the Holy Spirit; other tinual self-sacrifice; it is always sees me.
wise, our "fellowship" will be partial humble. "You, therefore, have no excuse,
and even empty, profiting little. In false fellowship, members are you who pass judgment on someone
often afraid of one another, which else, for at whatever point you judge
True and false fellowship makes them secretive and suspicious. the other, you are condemning your
Fellowship can be true or counter True fellowship has no fear or flattery, self, because you who pass judgment
feit, full or incomplete. Paul warns us and it speaks with grace, seasoned do the same things" (Rom. 2:1).
of the perils of imitating Christian with love. The few years I have served as a

26 MINISTRY June 2003

Seventh-day Adventist Church pastor,
I have discovered that of all the sins
that destroy fellowship, the most Guidelines for submitting articles to

MINISTRY
common and the hardest to recog
nize is jealousy. It separates husband
and wife, mother-in-law and daugh
ter-in-law, pastor and parish, and
Christian partners and leaders on all
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Self, the enemy within us, is but MINISTRY IS INTERESTED IN ARTICLES ON THESE SUBJECTS
the instrument of Satan. He is the * Pastoral practics, such as preaching, evangelism, lay training,
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night before God, but also accuses us ** Personal needs of the minister
through one another . . . one to one * Professional skills of the minister
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should raise our awareness that when + Worship, music, and church nurture
we have misunderstandings among
* Theological and biblical topics within the framework of Seventh-
us, it is the devil who is at the root of day Adventist belief and practice
it all.
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sonal relationships, reconciliation is
growth, empowerment of laypersons, etc.
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* Shoptalk items: ideas on how to better the work of the local church
fact, as Jesus said, reconciliation pre
* Brief reviews on books relevant to ministry
cedes worship: "If you are offering
your gift at the altar and there 4 Letters of comment on recent MINISTRY articles (no payment for
these)
remember that your brother has
something against you, leave your
gift there in front of the altar. First go INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
and be reconciled to your brother; When writing, it is important to keep the international pastoral audience
then come and offer your gift" (Matt. in mind. The journal is enriched by references to each district setting;
5:23, 24). Paul counseled his people however, it is good to avoid as far as possible the use of any
that they should not let the sun go phraseology or allusion that may be mystifying or irrelevant to readers
outside the writer's national culture.
down on their wrath (Eph. 4:26). The
sun should also not go down on our
jealousy, or anything else that nega ARTICLE SUBMISSION
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In a world torn apart by so many
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June 2003 MINISTRY 27
 PASTOR's PASTOR

Or should we
look for another?
^T™he followers of John the Baptist opportunities can be created where
I questioned jesus, "Are you the hearts and minds are open to the Holy
I One? Or should we look for Spirit and where He is specifically invit
another?" ed to accomplish His work.
Since I was a young pastor until
JAMES A. CRESS
'"" """"mi Communion with Cod through Bible
today, denominational leaders have study and prayer. Hearing God's word
recurringly called the church to deeper and engaging in interactive fellowship
spirituality, revival, reformation, and with our Saviour will awaken our need
preparation for the coming of |esus. for repentance and produce the fruits of
In fact, Adventists have become so revival. Our task: Devise attractive ways
culturally accustomed to revival slo to encourage 100 percent of our mem
gans, position papers, urgent reform bers to regularly study and pray.
calls, and soul-winning goals that flow and begin by deepening my own rela Training and Witnessing. Both
from administrative convocations, that tionship with Jesus, then results different aspects are necessary. Sometimes we
we seem jaded to yet another program. than "we're still here" will come. have over trained and under utilized. The
As one quipster put it, "Whether it's ACTS100 is encouragingly different objective is that every member be
the caring church finishing the work in because it grows out of tragic statistics equipped to witness, which Mark's
a thousand days of reaping to reach out from a world church survey conducted gospel defines as "telling your friends
for life with the real truth as we are unit by Andrews University which showed what wonderful things God has done for
ed in Christ through global mission to that only about 50 percent of members you," and then deployed to share the
win the world in our generation with regularly participate in Bible study or good news they personally experience.
special emphasis on sowing a billion in prayer, that less than 40 percent are Service to the Community. The
the 10/40 window, the next great proj involved in witnessing activities, and gospel commission tells us to go to the
ect will appear at upcoming sessions as less than 30 percent are involved in nations, not merely to await those who
consistently as the next bus will follow activities which interact with their local might seek us. We must intentionally
along its established route. It's going community. seek them. We start by becoming
forth is as certain as the dawn!" With statistics like this, we are delay involved in their lives and with mean
So what's different about the ing Christ's coming for generations. No ingful activities that interest and benefit
ACTS!00 initiative which was intro wonder we must keep the slogan mak the communities in which our churches
duced at the recent spring meeting of ers active! exist. Imagine the impact if 100 percent
the General Conference committee? ACTS/ 00 (acronym for acknowledg of our members become actively
Perhaps nothing! It is entirely possi ment, communion, training, and involved in their communities as a vital
ble that this excellent idea could service), must not rely on prescriptive part of their church life.
become nothing more than the next "how to" implementation assignments Our president, Pastor ]an Paulsen,
program which fades from view as with a "one-size-fits-all" mind set, but has encouraged every entity of the
quickly as the slogan makers can devise rather emphasizes TOO percent involve church to affirm and promote these
a new catch phrase. ment with each congregation, pastor, concepts. The Ministerial Association is
However, before I share with you and leader encouraged to develop beginning a regular feature this month
what can be different this time, let me effective methods for their area. (see page 31) to emphasize Bible study
affirm the reality that whether or not Acknowledgment of our great need and prayer, and to encourage every
"this is the one" depends much more for revival within the church. "A revival aspect of ACTS! 00.
upon my response—and yours. of true godliness among us is the great At some point in time, some leader's
You see, it is not the uniqueness of est and most urgent of all our needs. To call for spiritual renewal will blossom
the call for renewal and spiritual growth, seek this should be our first work." 1 This into the final revival before Jesus comes.
but the response of pastors and laity must begin with the leadership of the This could be the one! Or should we
leaders that ultimately makes the differ church while recognizing that revival is search for another? n
ence. If I purpose to prioritize spiritual Spirit driven and cannot be pro 1 Ellen G. White, Sefecte;/ Messa,^ (Hagerstown, Md . Review
growth among my church members grammed or orchestrated. However, and Herald Put). Assn., 1958), 1:121.

28 MINISTRY June 2003

Letters continued from page 3

like there are no negatives. As good as

CraceLink is, it is not perfect . . . The MINISTRY
Bible lessons revert randomly each
month from the Old and New
Testaments, while the previous curricula
provided a more sequential connection
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Thank you for an issue that I couldn't
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put down! and interested laypersons. It also reaches out to ministers of
—Carol Allred, San Antonio, Texas. other denominations on a bimonthly basis under the PREACH
program. MINISTRY readers are diverse in culture, ethnic
I thank profoundly the author, Jan
Paulsen, who wrote the lead article,
"Living It. That's What It's All About," in
origin, professional, educational, and economic standing;
most readers are pastors with college degrees and a
the October issue. commitment to proclaiming the gospel and nurturing those
I was gratified for his powerful
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June 2003 MINISTRY 29

 RESOURCES

church historian at the Seventh-day place was to be taken by a chairman

Adventist Theological Seminary deals elected by and served at the pleasure of
with the issue of church organization— the executive committee. The last inno
from the time when it was denounced vation was found impractical and did
as equivalent to Babylon to the present not last for long.
I t's All in How You Tell It: Preaching
First-Person Expository Messages, by
Haddon W. Robinson and Torrey W.
when it is equally denounced as a behe
moth gone beyond control. The two
Knight sees the third stage as the
continuing efforts since the 1970s to
Robinson (Baker Book House). ISBN previous volumes dealt with A Brief fine-tune and restructure the organiza
080109100, paperback, US$12.99. History of Seventh-day Adventists and the tion with great sensitivity and concern.
This well-rounded book is an excel Adventist Search for Identity. While the process has led to recognition
lent introduction to the preaching of The present work traces three stages of ethnic and international diversity of
first-person sermons. Especially preach with which the church had to struggle the world church, will the structure be
ers, who rely resolutely on "content" from no organization to some organiza flexible enough to increase operational
preaching, should take serious note of tion to over organization and the story efficiency, deal with the increasing
the contents. The authors demonstrated is filled with humor, biography, serious threat of Congregationalism, maintain
that expository preaching can indeed ecclesiological and theological issues— global unity, and preserve the world
respond to the challenges of the listen and above all a deep and abiding wide mission of the church? The author
er's communication needs. We can commitment in the ultimate destiny of provides a possible approach, which
enrich expository preaching, with its the Adventist Church. may upset some and challenge others.
powerful emphasis on the biblical text, The author sets the first stage against Both a need to know our history and
with first-person preaching, by develop the common view of the founding a demand to approach the future
ing a "sanctified imagination" without fathers that organization is of the devil. requires that Adventists be familiar with
merely amusing listeners. The founding fathers preferred to call the issues raised in this book.
Although only an introduction, the themselves a movement rather than a
authors discuss most of the prominent denomination. And yet, before long the he Cure for the Last Daze, by Karl
steps of first-person sermons. The title
could be regarded as an overstate
church found itself in need of an organ
ization because of the rapid growth of
T Haffner (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press
Pub. Assn., 2003); ISBN 081631960X,
ment, but it nevertheless illustrates that congregations which required a struc 142 pages, paperback, US$11.99.
preachers can overcome the problem ture to protect themselves from impos It's not only a daze, but muddled,
of preaching from the Bible as a mere tors, to buy and hold property, to plan dizzying daze—this question of the last
theological textbook. Even if some are for the future, to be involved in a global days. Particularly since September 11,
not persuaded to preach fist-person mission. If that was the first struggle, the the apocalyptic sword has been hang
sermons, this exposition may inspire second one was not far away. The turn ing over people everywhere, and
them to preach with much needed of the century shook the church with preachers and writers have taken full
imagination. near financial bankruptcy and inade advantage of the confusion. From the
—A. Cerhard van Wyk, pastor, quate structures to deal with the grow Left Behind phenomena to the horror of
Thomasville Seventh-day Adventist Church, ing problems of a global church. So the suicide bombs, from AIDS to SARS,
Thomasville, North Carolina. 1901 General Conference session, the every turn and twist of history in our
prodding of Ellen White, and the fertile time has been given an eschatological
mind of A.G. Daniells coalesced to lay scare. Even some Seventh-day
O rganizing to Beat the Devil, by
George R. Knight (Hagerstown, Md.:
Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 2001); ISBN
the foundation of a new church organi
zation that created union conferences
Adventists, to whom the issue should
be crystal clear, are ready to throw up
0828015961, 189 pages, paperback, and missions, departments at all levels, their hands in bewilderment.
US$9.99. and the General Conference executive Yet, to the diligent student of the
George Knight has the gift to make committee which dispersed power and Bible, willing to let the Bible speak for
the complex simple and to unravel the authority, union ownership of institu itself without any human interpretation
confusing to be understandable. In the tions, and even the abolition of a or interference, the last-day events are a
third of a three-part series, the eminent General Conference president, whose source of joy and not of fear or confu-

30 MINISTRY June 2003

sion. Karl Haffner, senior pastor of the outer—leap to affirm and nurture our
Walla Walla College Church, does just faith and assurance in Jesus, who
that. In a style that is readable, with a remains "the same yesterday, today,
stress on clearing the confusion and and forever," thus defining the con
paving the way for clarity, the author tours and destiny of history. Mueller's
deals with last-day events. I read The presentation of 12 portraits of Jesus in
Cure for the Last Daze in one sitting, and 12 chapters, with one additional chap
I was blessed by his healing touch to ter dealing with sanctuary language is a
such baffling issues as secret rapture, treasure-trove in homiletics, Bible study,
the Harry Potter phenomenon, the or just personal meditation. Read it and
antichrist, the millennium, the remnant join the march of the saints of all ages
(Adventists will get a fresh understand toward that heavenly kingdom.
ing here), and the new earth.
The book also has a study guide for elieving, Behaving, Belonging, by
each chapter, making it an absolute
must for prayer meetings and group
B Richard Rice (Roseville, California: The
Association of Adventist Forums, 2002);
studies. Haffner certainly clears the fog 212 pages, paperback. <www.spectrum-
and lets the sunshine of hope shine on, magazine.org/store>, US$ 14.95.
making the second coming of Christ The title is cute, and there ends cute-
truly the blessed hope of history. ness. This is a serious study for serious Just Ten Minutes More
people by a serious author on a serious

C ome Boldly to the Throne, by

Ekkehardt Mueller (Nampa, Idaho:
Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 2003); ISBN
subject: the church as a believing,
behaving, and belonging community.
The author, Richard Rice, is well-known
Try tliis spiritual experiment.
Challenge every : rnember of ; , :
your .congregation to;try jtMs, / , ,
081631974X, 128 pages, paperback, around the world in Adventist colleges simple plan, for thirty days. ;:; « ,
US$9.99. where his thought-provoking work The
What is religion? To some, it sets the Reign of Cod (Andrews University Press,
standards of life; to others, it provides 1997) is used as a textbook for intro
inner satisfaction; to still others, it is an duction to theology and Bible doctrine.
opium that dulls one's senses. But The present work transcends theology
Ekkehardt Mueller sees an altogether and doctrine and approaches the
different starting point—in the book of nature, function, and mission of the
Hebrews. To him, religion, if it is to be church from the standpoint of a pastor
relevant and meaningful at all, must who loves his church, considers belong
provide open, free, and sufficient access ing to it as a precious gift, and pleads for
to God. That access, according to divine empowering to be worthy of
Mueller's interpretation of Hebrews, is being a part of that body.
Jesus. A letter written to the Jews is so Rice is at his best when he shows that /For, '
saturated with the all-sufficiency of Jesus biblical eschatology does not
that the epistle presents Him as the key dichotomize the spiritual and the rela
to understand redemptive history. And tional. The church is not just a commu
so Mueller, a New Testament scholar nity of faith in God and His Son, but it is
and an associate director of the Biblical also a community that must stand hand
,:thte:blessings , they :discbjverjfrpiiB: :u
Research Institute of the General in hand in harmonious relationship with
; ' just a : small " feGrease,ln;Jiearliig^ ; •
Conference, presents to us a Christ- cen one another. The faith that does not 'God's WoMl '"
tered commentary on one of the most reach out in relationship (both vertically
;:who will share tfiel
beautiful, eloquent, but difficult epistles and horizontally) is meaningless; and a
'.the whole: grOUpv'<; '
of the New Testament, and invites us to believing community that does not
come to Jesus and look to Him, the behave is irrelevant and an insult to the
Author and Finisher of our faith. One whose body the church is.
Mueller makes the symbolism of the An important, enjoyable book. A Fresh ideas for developing
Old Testament sanctuary system—sac must read for every pastor. Perhaps the vour church's spiritual life
rifice and blood, holy and most holy, best so far in Adventist understanding
priest and high priest, inner and of ecclesiology. Bl

June 2003 MINISTRY 31

 for you .. Jfr A. .*.

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