The End of Islamic Neo- Ministry as Connection Apocalyptic We Know It Adventism Adventist SUMMER 2009 • WWW .AT odAy.CoM Today Is God Finished With the Adventist Church? An Ellen White Prediction? Adventist Today Executive Publisher dI ENPSAIdRE T M E N T Ervin Taylor Editor vol. 17 No. 3 J. David Newman 10 cover story Copy Editor Debra J. Hicks Is Contributing Editors God Finished Chris Blake, John McLarty, With the Andy Nash, James Walters Adventist Church? Art Director Chris Komisar Online Editor Marcel Schwantes cover story 8 Webmaster Linda Greer Director of Development Edwin A. Schwisow FOunDAtiOn BOArD Larry Downing — Board Chair, Ervin Taylor — Board Vice- Chair, Eugene Platt — Treasurer, Virginia Burley, Keith Colburn, Elwin Dunn, Edmund Jones, John McLarty, Chuck Mitchell, Jim Nelson, Randy Roberts, Nate Schilt, J. Gordon Short, Dan Smith, James Stirling, Eldon Stratton, David Van Putten, John Vogt, James Walters rAymOnD F. COttrEll EnDOWmEnt B OArD James Walters — Board Chair, Douglass Ewing, James Nelson, Nate Schilt, Ervin Taylor SEniOr liFEtimE AD viSOrS ($25,000+) features Beth and Elwin Dunn, Patricia and Douglass Ewing, Kathi and Richard Guth, Judy and John Jacobson, Betty and Al Koppel, Joan Ogden, Lori and Thaine Price, J. Gordon Short, Marilynn and Ervin Taylor, Priscilla and James Walters liFEtimE ADviSOrS ($10,000+) 6 Why I Am a Seventh-day departments Susan and Hernan Barros, Kathryn and James Dexter, Rosemary and Merlyn Duerksen, Patricia Hare, Patricia Adventist Phillips, Judy and Gordon Rick, James Stirling, Nancy 3 Editorial and John Vogt by John Tangen unDErWriting AD viSOrS 4 Letters ($2,500+ during last two years) 14 Islamic Connection Kelli and Robert Black, Mariellyn and Edwin Hill, Carmen and Clive Holland, Tracy and R. Craig Reynolds, Marie A. by Seth Pierce 25 Book Reviews William Sandborn, Michael Scofield Neo-Apocalyptic Adventism: gEnEr Al AD viSOrS ($500+/year plan) 18 The End of Ministry Donald Ackley, Jay Baldwin, Barbara and Almon J. Balkins, Vision or Nightmare? 25 Theresa Buchholz, Diana and Ken Bauer, Jeanne and Gary as We Know It Bogle, Galeta Brewer, Ginny and Todd Burley, Charlotte 30 Remnants and John Cassell, Ruth L. Christensen, Sid Christiansen, by Loren Siebold Judy and Keith Colburn, Patricia and Ronald Cople, 7 Questions for L. Humberto Covarrubias, Judy and John Curtis, John 18 Cutts, Josephine and Joshua Dee, Larry Downing, Mary Ron Gladden and James Dunn, Anders Engdahl, H.O. 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Scott, Barbara and Eldon Stratton, Robert Tandy, Betty Adventist Today (ISSN 1079-5499) is published quarterly by Adventist Today Foundation, P.O. Box 8026 Riverside, CA 92515-8026. Periodical postage and James Webster, Stephanie and Tim Welebir, Carolyn paid at Riverside, California, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Adventist Today, P.O. Box 8026, Riverside, CA 92515- and John Wilt II, Anne and Ralph Wiseman 8026. Copyright © 2008 by Adventist Today Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering open dialogue in the Adventist community. As an independent press, Adventist Today relies on donations to meet its operating expenses. To make a donation, go to www.atoday.com or mail to Adventist 2 AdvENTIST T odAy • summer 2009 Today, P.O. Box 8026, Riverside, CA 92515-8026. Thanks for supporting Adventist Today with your regular tax- deductible donations! EdI T oR I Al george Knight and the neutering of Adventism J. David Newman George Knight has published what he considers to be preaching as my main emphasis. The church I pastor the most important book of his career. Ervin Taylor targets the totally unchurched, and for them last- reviews The Apocalyptic Vision and the Neutering of day events have little or no meaning. They are more Adventism in this issue. His summary of the book concerned with finding a job, dealing with work- is outstanding. You may or may not agree with his place issues, trying to hold their family together, and conclusions, but they are worth reading. just making it financially. What relevance does the I have my own issue with the book. Knight never Adventist Church have for these people? Preaching really deals with why we are still here. On page 104 I have been studying with a young man who has a he writes: “In the face of what seems to be an ever- Jewish mother and a Lutheran father but who is an the beasts is delaying Second Advent, many Adventists, especially atheist. He wants to know if there is a God. How do much more talented young ones, are searching for a relevant, you know there is a God? How do you find this God? meaningful message for the new century.” He is asking the most basic questions—questions captivating Knight suggests that we still preach the prophecies Adventism has not been used to answering. of Revelation but call it neoapocalypticism. Cut out I plan to teach a series on the book of Revelation than simply the “beastly preaching” but make it Christ centered— this fall. I have never done this before. I will take up preaching or, as he phrases it: “Jesus the hope of the world is Knight’s challenge. Can I teach a series on Revelation neoapocalypticism in a nutshell” (p. 105). that is Christ centered and not beast centered? Christ. We want I have no doubt that God raised up the Adventist Roy Naden wrote a commentary on Revelation to be scared, Church for a specific mission. In the Spring 2009 issue (published in 1996) that was completely Christ cen- of Adventist Today, four authors gave us their vision of tered. It was called The Lamb Among the Beasts. It frightened, what Adventism is. In this issue, see my separate arti- never caught on. Preaching the beasts is much more whipped into cle “Is God Finished With the Seventh-day Adventist captivating than simply preaching Christ. We want to Church? An Ellen White Prediction.” be scared, frightened, whipped into shape. Love is not shape. love is What puzzles me most about our church today is enough. We need a healthy dose of fear. the lack of debate over why we are still here. A church I don’t profess to have all the answers. I just know not enough. We that believes it was raised up to herald the second that we are still here, and I want to go home. I want to need a healthy coming of Jesus is a failure until Jesus actually returns. be with Jesus. I am tired of sin and my struggles with In less than 40 years, we will be 200 years beyond the it. I want to be free from sin and live with Jesus for- dose of fear. epochal date of 1844. And no one seems to really care. ever. What about you? We carry on holding General Conference Sessions, devising new yearly slogans. For example, 2009 is the Who adventist today reaches year of evangelism. Does that mean evangelism was Adventist Today is reaching more and more people. not important before 2009 and will not be important Two thousand and fifty subscribe online and with the after 2009? print issue. Two thousand receive the e-newsletter. Knight is trying to wake us up, and I hope that And 10,000 people visit the Adventist Today website he succeeds. Personally, I have given up apocalyptic each month. WWW.AT odAy.CoM 3 lE T T E R S before there was war in heaven was the pasture and only find one cow, I sure correct—then every individual must have don’t dump the whole damn load.” opportunity to make a conscious decision I couldn’t help wondering what the to follow the promptings of the Holy articles would have looked like if the Spirit. Such a follower would be “safe authors had been instructed to limit to save,” as sin will not arise again. No themselves to the same number of words one now has all the answers. All who are that Lincoln used in the Gettysburg “saved” will continue throughout eternity Address. Especially after seeing the to learn more and more of God’s love and following article by Alden Thompson, His great plan of salvation. written for a different purpose, that What is an Adventist? Over my 80 years as a fifth-generation nevertheless summarizes the whole idea Just finished scanning the latest issue of Seventh-day Adventist, and presently as of what an Adventist should be noted for Adventist Today. I find the forthrightness a member of a small but growing church- in less than a column of type. If you don’t and transparency of the articles/dialogues/ planting group here on Guam, I have love God and your neighbor as yourself, debates to be a great tonic to my “Adventist observed many changes in the Seventh- what good are all the other doctrines soul.” Why did it take so many decades to day Adventist Church. My prayer is that anyway? get to this kind of journalism! we continue to grow in grace reaching gOrDOn ShOrt Salt Lake City, Utah tOm StAFFOrD out to others while looking for the soon Battle Ground, Washington coming of Jesus. I read with interest the essays and ruBy StAhlnECKEr, ED .D. Adventist man Yona, Guam comments in the Spring 2009 issue of Thank you for confirming what I’ve always Adventist Today. I was reminded of the Holy smoke (and mirrors)! The series of suspected about strictures on pop music. story of the blind men who described the articles reminded me of a story a great My son is looking forward to the day elephant. One said that this thing was like clinician laid on us in medical school. when nursing home sunshine bands belt a rope; another contended that it was not a Seems that there was some kind of out Scandinavian Death Metal. Has Led rope but a wall, etc. Each of these authors blizzard in Minnesota, and when the Zeppelin been beatified yet? Also, if folk was correct from a personal point of view preacher showed up for divine services rock has been made holy, does that cover, that was less than the whole. Can the on Sunday (he lived across the street), the say, a new folk rock group starting out answer be encapsulated into 25 words or only other person there was the janitor with original material in 2008? Or does it less, 100 or even 500 words? (who lived next door). only include bands from the 1970s? Personally, first of all, I am a Christian “Well,” says the preacher, “there’s just Who is your cartoon avatar based who loves, believes in, and follows to the the two of us, John. Should we cancel for upon? Is it a real person, or some sort of best of my ability our Creator, Sustainer, this week?” cultural stereotype? Just asking. Redeemer, Savior, and soon-coming Lord Replies John, “If I take a load of hay out To the rest of you: Leave Adventist God, Jesus Christ. What I think, do, or to feed the cows and only find one cow, I Man be. Sometimes he gets off the don’t do is not to follow any list of do’s don’t go back without leaving any hay.” reservation, but you can’t tell me that or don’ts to earn or obtain God’s favor So they had an invocation, sang a couple any (conscious) person hasn’t thought or to belong to any specified group. It of hymns, had a Scripture reading and about the same things. Better to have it is because of a growing understanding, another prayer, and then the preacher out in the open, I say! friendship, and love relationship with launched into his sermon. Feeling more and AnOnymOuS my god—the one and only true God as more inspired, he warmed to his task and briefly described above. preached for an hour and a half. Then they True story: I know that may sound simplistic sang another hymn and had a benediction. Whenever somebody rants about how and there are many who believe that As they got to the front door, the dry the Adventist church is, I say, “No way! they are following God’s will. If God is preacher says, “Well, John, how was that?” You should read Adventist Man.” fair—and if he isn’t, Lucifer’s accusation To which John replies, “If I take hay out to This statement helps to end the 4 AdvENTIST T odAy • summer 2009 conversation with a certain degree of Ford responds to Kirkpatrick Kirkpatrick is not true to Luther. Any harmony, especially if an Adventist Today Elder Kirkpatrick (Spring, 2009) says compendium of Luther’s sayings makes magazine is nearby. many good things, though I am surprised it clear what he was teaching. To select Thank you, Adventist Man. You’re one he still holds to the 457-458 [B.C.] schema, an isolated statement as Kirkpatrick does of my heroes. something that was given up by most SDA is quite unfair and misrepresents the StEPhAniE KA y scholars decades ago. Reformer. Binfield, Berkshire, UK But he is misrepresenting Wesley. Where does Adventism come in? See Adventist Fears The quote he gives from Sermon 5 only Revelation 14:6. It comes in with “the In your Winter 2009 issue, Alden means that God knows exactly what he is everlasting gospel,” not some new creed. Thompson identifies fearfulness as an doing when he imputes righteousness to There cannot be various versions Adventist danger. He says, “We are afraid the sinner. In Sermon 20, Wesley quotes of the gospel (Luther’s, Wesley’s, etc.). of ideas…fearful of Adventists who don’t from Calvin approvingly and on p. 212 of The meaning of Galatians 1:9 is clear share our fears.” It seems ironic that the Volume 3 of Wesley’s Works, he writes: “I whichever version you choose: “I marvel same issue begins with an editorial where think on justification just as I have done that ye are so soon removed from him Andy Nash expresses his fear of thought any time these seven-and-twenty years; that called you into the grace of Christ leaders who raise doubts about significant and just as Mr. Calvin does. In this respect unto another gospel” (KJV). That which points of Scripture. The same issue also I do not differ from him an hair’s breadth.” is not THE gospel of the Reformers is includes an article that raises doubts about Psalm 32:3 is not contradicting the ANOTHER gospel. the scriptural prohibition of women in previous verse. It only reminds us that DESmOnD F OrD Caloundra, Queensland, Australia ministry. Andy, what is the difference? while justification is distinct from Will the real Adventist Today please stand sanctification, it is never separate. The Just a thought up? I’m not sure who you are anymore. justified believer gives up guile. AnOnymOuS As regards the Finger quote, here again As usual, Kevin Paulson (Letters, Spring the difference between “distinct” and 2009) does not know what he is talking Dear Anonymous: “separate” is vital. The legal use of dikaioo about. I am not a dispensationalist I’m not sure who you are either. As to would be impossible without the basis of (and I have written at length against your question, there’s a difference between the ethical meaning. dispensationalism), and neither was F.F. grappling with Scripture (which is a good Romans 3:9-10 is clear enough that all Bruce a dispensationalist, as he clearly states thing) and disregarding its authority of mankind by nature is separate from in the introduction he wrote for my black altogether. God. All are “under sin.” That is more than Daniel (Southern Publishing Association, —Andy Nash their own behavior. See also Ephesians 2:3. 1978). I took no classes with Bruce in my time at Manchester University. marriage, Homosexuality, and the church Kevin has not read Romans 3-5 very Andrews University has scheduled a conference October 15-17 on Marriage and Homosexuality. You can closely, or he would have seen that holi- access the details for this conference at http://www.plusline.org/eventdetail.php?id=10180 ness (righteousness) is the inevitable fruit The conference is open to all who wish to attend. The planners indicate “it will be of special interest of the gospel and the law is not made to pastors, chaplains, counselors, psychologists, lawyers, religion teachers, theologians, and others void. Here Kevin, again as usual, departs who deal with the issue of homosexuality and church teaching and policy.” Some involved with the from plain scriptural teaching, the conference have indicated that it is a response to the recent book Christianity and Homosexuality: Some Protestant Reformers, and E.G. White. Seventh-day Adventist Perspectives. Speakers include Dr. Stanton Jones, Dr. Robert Gagnon, Dr. Richard Again his comments on Daniel 8:14 Davidson, Dr. Roy Gane, and Pastor Dwight Nelson. According to the website, “The basic structure of shows his unawareness that for over half the conference will be that of a typical scholarly conference with a series of substantive presentations a century the chief SDA scholars have followed by general discussions.” The conference should provide insights on the direction the church plans to take on this important issue. rejected Kevin’s understanding (the tradi- Registration for the event is $80. There is a spouse registration fee of $35, but this fee does not provide tional one) of that verse. an additional copy of the papers presented at the conference. To register online, follow PlusLine's online DESmOnD F OrD Caloundra, Queensland, Australia registration link. For information or to register by phone, call PlusLine at 800-732-7587. WWW.AT odAy.CoM 5 FF EE AA TT UU RR EE Why I Am a Seventh-day Adventist b y j o hN T A NgE N 6 AdvENTIST T odAy • summer 2009 W “What Is an Adventist?”, along with the four viewpoints accompanying it, invited some reflection on my part regarding my own involvement with the Adventist Church. I’d like to share my thoughts on why I identify with this sometimes puzzling, sometimes infuriating, yet overall satisfying denomination. This reflection will be primarily a left-brained, cerebral approach—for that is largely the way I operate. My feelings, my emotional reaction, will have to wait for another time. So here is who I am, spiritually and ecclesiastically. First, I am a Christian. I believe in Jesus, the God-man, and men like Peter Waldo, Menno Simons, Hans Hut, Hans Denk, accept the essentials of Biblical faith. I appreciate the historic John Bunyan, Roger Williams, and John Wesley.3 Men who creeds and confessions of faith, though the Bible alone must presented “church” as a voluntary association of committed stand as the ultimate, final authority. believers—separate from, yet respectful of civil powers. Who Second, I am Protestant. I identify with Reformation faith evangelized through persuasion, not compulsion. Who left the as begun by Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli—solus Christus, sola choice of denominational identity to the individual rather than gratia, sola fide, and sola scriptura. That is, Christ alone, grace to the governor of the province or king of the nation. That is alone, faith alone, the Bible alone. why they championed church-state separation. “Christ alone” means that Jesus is my sacrifice, my priest, my The Evangelical Reformation was radical in that it broke mediator. No other being, living or dead, can stand between completely with ecclesiastical tradition and restored a “free” God and me. church (without civil connection); it emphasized a direct, “Grace alone” means that salvation and acceptance with invisible connection with God and a radical return to primitive God is all a free gift. Whatever holiness I experience is never Christian faith. meritorious. Among some of the radicals are found increasing emphasis on “Faith alone” means that forgiveness and salvation become practical Christian living and the joyful hope of Christ’s return. mine through faith, or trust—simply accepting them as a free These further truths build upon the biblical foundation already Why I Am a gift; they are not earned by penance, indulgence, or pilgrimage. rediscovered by the Magisterial reformers. While some of the “The Bible alone” simply means that Scripture is the final Radicals (spiritualizers and militants) took things to extremes, Seventh-day authority. All secondary sources (such as creeds, confessions of in general these Evangelical reformers gave Protestantism faith, or spiritual gifts) must bow before the greater authority of greater clarity and consistency. the Bible, God’s written word. Yes, I am a Radical, or Evangelical, Protestant Christian. Historic Protestantism also rests on a fifth pillar—the Fourth, I am an Adventist Protestant Christian. For me, priesthood of all believers. In a spiritual sense, there is no such Christian faith is not just a circle with the cross at the center; Adventist thing as clergy. Before God, all are on equal ground. All are it is more of an ellipsis with two center points: the cross (first equally in need of grace, equally offered grace, and equally advent) and the Parousia (second advent). The first advent is called to minister that grace to others. the kingdom inaugurated; the second advent is the kingdom Third, I am an Evangelical Protestant Christian (as contrasted consummated. My gaze, my spiritual focus, is on both. with Magisterial Protestantism).1 That means I affirm salvation Fifth, I’m a Sabbatarian Adventist Christian. The Sabbath, as personal and experiential. Becoming a Christian is a for me, is a confession of my faith in Jesus as Creator; it offers personal encounter with God rather than initiation into a visible me tangible, ritual expression of my gratefulness and delight to organization. The “means of grace” (that is, how we are justified) be God’s handiwork. To me, it is an “extra,” a delightful gift of is faith—not baptism, not communion, not church membership.2 grace from a thoughtful God. The ruler of the universe offering Consequently, Evangelical Christians usually practice a whole day each week to be, in a special sense, with his human believer’s baptism; for them, baptism is a symbol of their family. conscious acceptance of God’s grace. Salvation first, baptism The Sabbath also offers me an expression of my trust in Jesus commemorating it. as Savior. It commemorates deliverance from bondage: the As an Evangelical, my roots go back to the Radical, or bondage of guilt, shame, and fear. In the Old Testament Sabbath Evangelical Reformation. My spiritual heroes are found among passages, grace comes first; Sabbath celebration follows. Those WWW.AT odAy.CoM 7 B09017 AD_ChristianLiving_AT:Layout 1 7/9/09 12:51 PM Page 1 F E A T U R E HOWTO KILL ADVENTIST EDUCATION (AND HOWTO GIVE IT A FIGHTING CHANCE!) NEW ShaneAnderson who don’t share in the ritual of Sabbath joy can still know heart- of the God of the gospel. Believing that one reason Jesus came Takeahardlookat rest in Christ, but I think they’re missing some of the thrill of to earth was “to show us the Father,” we read Scripture carefully thetroublesplaguing MAJESTY their spiritual birthright inheritance. and find that even in his dealing with the unrepentant, God’s Adventistschools,along EXPERIENCINGAUTHENTIC WORSHIP withtherootcauses, loving justice is revealed. Thus hellfire will put an end to sin and S.JosephKidder sabbath a Joy suffering rather than perpetuate it forever. I plan to be in heaven, anddiscoverasimple Ofcourseyouknowwhomto (I can’t resist adding that for me, the Sabbath has always been a not just to escape the flames, but to enjoy eternity with the kind yeteffectivestrategyfor NEW worship,butwhataboutwhy, change.978-0-8280- day of joy. Some of my earliest Sabbath memories are of early- of God Jesus has shown. how,andwhen?Discoverthe 2419-8.US$12.99 simpleyetprofoundanswers morning canoe paddles along the North Dakota-Manitoba So we want to represent God aright to a skeptical world—not thatwilltransformyoursoul border. It was there that I developed a love for the outdoors, first for making it to heaven, but for serving him honorably. I choose REVELATION’S GREAT LOVE STORY andleaveyouhungryfor sighted the magnificent blue heron, first heard the haunting cry to identify with those who see death as an enemy, an intruder. It MORETHAN I EVER IMAGINED God’spresence. of the loon. In fact, “Sabbath” is now almost synonymous with is resurrection, not death, that is the Christian’s hope. Because of LarryLichtenwalter 978-0-8280-2423-5. “canoe,” though nowadays it’s more often a kayak. Far from being the resurrection, death has lost its sting; we look with confidence Discoverasideof US$11.99 a legalistic requirement, Sabbath is a joyful treasure.) to Christ’s return, when the dead will rise. It is right to sorrow Revelationthatis myA indde natsi tay Sinev teenrtmhs- doafy G Aoddv benritnisgti nPgro mtees tianntot Ceshpreisctiiaalnly, Ic lsoesee w“thhee nb lfeascseedd whiotphe d”!eath. But that sorrow is tempered with hope— Csehldroismt’sppoarstsriaoyneadte: NEW SIMPLY PUT confidence. Speaking more intimately about himself, his plans, loveforhumanity. WHAT GOD’S BEEN SAYINGALLALONG Hellfire LoronWade his hopes, his feelings. (Perhaps this is the purpose of the book Openyoureyestothe Godhasbeenspeakingforafew of Revelation—to see history, to see God’s passion, through And I must choose a fellowship that holds firmly to hellfire being extraordinaryloveof thousandyearsnow—andwaiting his eyes.) I see him hoping, longing for friends with great the destruction of sin, rather than its eternal continuation. It is ourSavior—andthe patientlyforustopayattention. understanding, with great sympathy with his heart. What a God’s strange act, done reluctantly and sadly. (And, I believe, as incrediblereasonswe Thismessagebookoutlines28of privilege—and what a responsibility! quickly as possible.) The God I know does not use his creative canloveHiminreturn. thefundamentalconceptsGod’s 978-0-8127-0460-0. And yet, I must remember that I am still a ragamuffin, in need power to keep people alive for no reason but to torture them— beencommunicatingtousall US$12.99 of his love, his forgiveness, his healing. He is my Savior; I am not and that endlessly, throughout all eternity. No, he makes an END thistime.978-0-8280-2381-8. his!4 I am one with all other Christians before him. And in need of sin; he creates ALL things new (even hell!), and wipes away US$14.99 of their witness and service to me, too.5 ALL tears. Throughout the vast creation will be felt one pulse of Yet it still seems to me that the Christian church needs what harmony and gladness. Every living creature uniting in heartfelt TEN CANS Adventism at its best has to offer: the gospel presentation in the allegiance to the Creator. Surely this is Evangelical Christian faith AREYOU AN OPENER? context of the cosmic conflict. God’s reputation cleared from false at its mature best. DaleHenry understandings of judgment and vengeance. (And yes, Adventists In conclusion, I would say that at its worst, Adventism can be Theselightheartedstoriesrevealthe have had to learn—and unlearn—too. And undoubtedly have a bigoted, exclusivist, legalistic cult. Yet at its best, it’s a vibrant ten“cans”ofchange,andhowyou more to learn—and unlearn.6 community of faith with a timely emphasis that can add to the NOT FOR SALE canbecometheopener!Youcan Sixth: Finally, as I observe the variety within the Adventist wholeness of Christian witness as we near the climax of history.AT INTEGRITY IN A CULTURE OF SILENCE thrivethroughlife’supsanddowns— family—mainstreamers, historics, 1888ers, liberals, etc.—I SamuelKoranteng- andbecomeapositiveinfluenceon find that what my mind sees as most authentic, and what my John Tangen is a cook/baker presently working at Pacific Union Pipim,Ph.D. others.978-0-8127-0473-0.US$17.99 heart most beats in harmony with, is what some have termed College in Angwin, California. In his spare time, he enjoys Rare,butdesper- “Evangelical Adventism.” That means that all doctrine, all truth, exploring the foot trails and waterways of the high Sierras. atelyneeded,are TAKETHE RISK important as it may be, must be understood in the light of the peopleofstrong BenCarson,M.D. gospel, and in particular, to Christ’s atoning death on Calvary. 1 I use “Evangelical” in its historical sense, not as a synonym of character.Yetwelive SurgeonandauthorBenCarson,who Assurance of God’s love, assurance of eternal life for all who trust “Fundamentalist.” inwhattheauthor facesriskonadailybasis,offersan 2 And that means that “church” is first and primarily a spiritual, invisible reality. him, is the cornerstone of Evangelical Adventist faith. Whatever 3 I am indebted to W.L. Emmerson’s The Reformation and the Advent Movement callsa“cultureof inspiringmessageonhowaccepting else we believe becomes valid and significant only as seen in the (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1983) for this list of Radical cowardlysilence.”This riskcanleadustoahigherpurpose. light of Christ’s cross.7 reformers. isachallengetostand Hardcover.978-0-310-25973-2. 4 This should suggest caution when speaking of some generation of Christians boldlybyyourprinci- US$19.99.AudioCD.978-0-310- While I am deeply intrigued by the Progressive, or Intellectual, vindicating God’s character. Ultimately, it is God himself who vindicates his NEW name. plesnomatterwhat. 25964-0.US$24.99 strain of Adventist faith—it is well worth one’s time in study— 5 For example, the Catholic writer Brennan Manning. 978-1-890014-09-4.US$19.99 Evangelical faith remains my passion. 6 This writer is impressed with Pastor Kenneth Richard’s candid article “Daniel 8 And so, I am first of all a Christian; second, a Protestant; third, & 9: The Way I See Them Now” (in Adventist Today, November, 2006). I submit that we have not yet heard the last word on this topic. afinn aElvlya, nagne lEicvaaln; gfoeluicrtahl ,S aenv eAndthv-ednatiys tA; dfivftehn, tais St.abbatarian; and G7 Aonodd hNeerwe sI Tleoaurrn (fwrowmw .shpeeaavkeenrlsy/swarnictetursa rwyi.tcho mLi)g.h Wt Bheilaer e“rjus sMtifiinciasttiroyn ”a nisd a t he 3WAYS•VisityourlocalAdventistBookCenter® metaphor borrowed from the legal world, undoubtedly it may carry a deeper TO •Calltoll-free1-800-765-6955 I must add one more word—not only to Adventists who want meaning as well, suggesting restoration of relationship and intimacy. The SHOP •OrderonlineatAdventistBookCenter.com to speak well of the gospel, but also those who want to speak well meaning of the cross also invites close study. Priceandavailabilitysubjecttochange.Canadianpriceshigher. 8 AdvENTIST T odAy • summer 2009 B09017 AD_ChristianLiving_AT:Layout 1 7/9/09 12:51 PM Page 1 HOWTO KILL ADVENTIST EDUCATION (AND HOWTO GIVE IT A FIGHTING CHANCE!) NEW ShaneAnderson Takeahardlookat thetroublesplaguing MAJESTY Adventistschools,along EXPERIENCINGAUTHENTIC WORSHIP withtherootcauses, S.JosephKidder anddiscoverasimple Ofcourseyouknowwhomto yeteffectivestrategyfor NEW worship,butwhataboutwhy, change.978-0-8280- how,andwhen?Discoverthe 2419-8.US$12.99 simpleyetprofoundanswers thatwilltransformyoursoul REVELATION’S GREAT LOVE STORY andleaveyouhungryfor MORETHAN I EVER IMAGINED God’spresence. LarryLichtenwalter 978-0-8280-2423-5. Discoverasideof US$11.99 Revelationthatis seldomportrayed: NEW SIMPLY PUT Christ’spassionate WHAT GOD’S BEEN SAYINGALLALONG loveforhumanity. LoronWade Openyoureyestothe Godhasbeenspeakingforafew extraordinaryloveof thousandyearsnow—andwaiting ourSavior—andthe patientlyforustopayattention. incrediblereasonswe Thismessagebookoutlines28of canloveHiminreturn. thefundamentalconceptsGod’s 978-0-8127-0460-0. beencommunicatingtousall US$12.99 thistime.978-0-8280-2381-8. US$14.99 TEN CANS AREYOU AN OPENER? DaleHenry Theselightheartedstoriesrevealthe ten“cans”ofchange,andhowyou NOT FOR SALE canbecometheopener!Youcan INTEGRITY IN A CULTURE OF SILENCE thrivethroughlife’supsanddowns— SamuelKoranteng- andbecomeapositiveinfluenceon Pipim,Ph.D. others.978-0-8127-0473-0.US$17.99 Rare,butdesper- atelyneeded,are TAKETHE RISK peopleofstrong BenCarson,M.D. character.Yetwelive SurgeonandauthorBenCarson,who inwhattheauthor facesriskonadailybasis,offersan callsa“cultureof inspiringmessageonhowaccepting cowardlysilence.”This riskcanleadustoahigherpurpose. isachallengetostand Hardcover.978-0-310-25973-2. boldlybyyourprinci- US$19.99.AudioCD.978-0-310- NEW plesnomatterwhat. 25964-0.US$24.99 978-1-890014-09-4.US$19.99 3 WAYS•VisityourlocalAdventistBookCenter® TO •Calltoll-free1-800-765-6955 SHOP •OrderonlineatAdventistBookCenter.com Priceandavailabilitysubjecttochange.Canadianpriceshigher. WWW.AT odAy.CoM 9 C O V E R S T O R Y God Finished Is With the Adventist Church? An Ellen White Prediction? A little-known Ellen White prediction could mean the end of the Adventist Church as God’s premier By J. d avid neWman instrument in finishing his work on planet Earth. It was 1950. I had just turned 7. My father was a delegate to the General Conference Session in San Francisco, Calif. I remember the day as if it were yesterday. The leaders had called for the first Sabbath of the Session to be a day of prayer and fasting. My parents said: “We do not believe that we will live to see another General Conference Session (back then they were held every four years). The world is in such a sorry state (it was right after World War II), and the signs of Christ’s coming are so many, that we will see Jesus come before 1954.” Since then my parents have died. I am now a grandfather, and still Jesus has not come. Why? It is not the purpose of this article to try to answer that question. The purpose of this article is to ask this question: Could God be finished with the Seventh- day Adventist Church? 10 AdvENTIST T odAy • summer 2009