Global Interfaith Conversations Embracing the Stranger: Toward an Adventist Theology of ...

68 Pages·2010·3.22 MB·English

by  Laura Lamar

Creation and
Devolution
Global Interfaith
Conversations
Exile and
Responsibility
Embracing the
Stranger: Toward
an Adventist
Theology of Migration
Ellen White
Returns Home
Leland Kaiser
on the Future of
Health Care
VOLUME 38 ISSUE 1 n winter 2010
SPECTRUM is a journal established to encourage
Seventh-day Adventist participation in the discus-
sion of contemporary issues from a Christian
viewpoint, to look without prejudice at all sides of
a subject, to evaluate the merits of diverse views,
and to foster Christian intellectual and cultural
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED COPYRIGHT © 2010 ADVENTIST FORUM
growth. Although effort is made to ensure accu-
rate scholarship and discriminating judgment, the
statements of fact are the responsibility of con-
Editor Bonnie Dwyer
tributors, and the views individual authors express
Assistant Editor Jan Malin
are not necessarily those of the editorial staff as a
Advertising Carlyn Ferrari
whole or as individuals.
CirculationPhilipa Barnes
DesignLaura Lamar
SPECTRUM is published by Adventist Forum, a
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nonsubsidized, nonprofit organization for which
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gifts are deductible in the report of income for pur-
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Cover Art: poses of taxation. The publishing of SPECTRUM
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depends on subscriptions, gifts from individuals,
by Beatriz Mejia-Krumbein
2010 and the voluntary efforts of the contributors.
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Beverly Beem Loma Linda University
and raised in Colombia,
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before immigrating to the
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United States. She studied
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son University in Harrison-
Doublin, Ireland Norman Young Roseville, CA 95661-9047
burg, Virginia. Currently
Cooranbong, Australia
she is the chair of the Art
Sharon Fujimoto-
Department at La Sierra
Johnson tel: [phone]
University in Riverside,
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California. BOOK ADVISORY COUNCIL fax: [phone]
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Her mixed media paintings Lainey Cronk
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Theology
rate layering processes,
La Sierra University Letters to the editor may be edited for publication.
representing the multiplici- Terrie Aamodt
ty of her own life as artist, History
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History
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SPECTRUM
winter 2010 n VOLUME 38 ISSUE 1
contents
14
Editorials
2 Stand Up and Cheer: Hope for and by Adventist Authors| BYBONNIEDWYER
3 Creation and Devolution| BYCHARLESSCRIVEN
Feedback
24
5 Letters| HILDE, PESTES, JAKOBSEN
Noteworthy: Guarding the Line Between Contextualization and Syncretism
7 Roadmap for Mission Voted at 2009 Annual Council
10 New Director Merklin Takes Reins of Adventist Muslim Study Center
31
Conversations
12 Global Interfaith Conversations| RACHELDAVIESINTERVIEWSWILLIAMJOHNSSON
Bible: Strangers in the World
14 Exile and Responsibility: A Perspective on the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s
37
Exilic Calling| BYABIDOUKHAN
19 Embracing the Stranger: Toward an Adventist Theology
of Migration| BYLOURDESE. MORALES-GUDMUNDSSON
23 Zogby Survey Finds Religious Leaders and Members
at Odds| PRNEWSWIRE-UCNEWSWIRE
38
Sunrise in Maine
24 Ellen White Returns Home: The Ellen White Project—2009| BYBEVERLYBEEM
30 SIDEBAR| Ellen White: American Prophet
31 “Joy in the Morning” | BYKENDRAHALOVIAK
Health-Care Future 46
37 Health-Care Reform 2009–2010: Is it Yes or Is it No? | BY LARRY A. MITCHEL
38 My View of the Future of Health Care | BYLELANDR. KAISER
42 Faith-Based Caregiving in a Secular World: Four Defining
Issues | A REVIEW BY LAUNA RASMUSSEN
52
Healing of the Nations
46 The Gospel According to Moses and Elijah | BY ROY E. GANE
52 Repairers of Broken Walls and Restorers of God’s Justice | BY ZDRAVKO PLANTAK
60 The Promise of Peace| AREVIEWBYMATTHEWBURDETTE
Poetry
cover Blue | BY JOHN MCDOWELL
WWW.SPECTRUMMAGAZINE.ORG n CONTENTS 1
EDITORIAL
from the editor
n
Stand Up and Cheer: Hope for and by
Adventist Authors |
BY BONNIE DWYER
W
hat makes you stand up and cheer for
ADRA relief
Adventism? Is it a Fox news report of
workers
people in Haiti gathering on an
in Haiti
Adventist church campus taking care
distribute
of each other? What about the significant campaign to
basic
stop violence against women called ENDITNOW,
necessities.
under the direction of Adventist Women’s Ministries
and the Adventist Development and Relief Association, and service. For us today, observing the Sabbath rest means
that is currently gathering signatures around the world? attending to the needs of imperfect relationships with God
Do announcements of increased enrollment at your and with each other. This day reminds us that our most
alma mater touch you? significant achievements are not in the world of commerce
For me, it is all of the above plus the publication of but in the intimacies we enjoy with God, family, and our
books by my favorite Adventist authors. And when my worshipping community. These interactions heal us in so
favorite authors address my favorite subject—the Sabbath— many ways and at so many levels, it is impossible to ade-
I am ready to stand up and cheer. quately chronicle them,” he says.
In this issue you will find reviews of two such books: Healing is a significant topic in this issue of the journal;
The Promise of Peaceby Charles Scriven and Faith-Based Caregiv- and we have several noteworthy authors addressing differ-
ing in a Secular World: Four Defining Issuesby James Londis. ent aspects of that word.
From the titles, you can tell that the Sabbath is not the Renowned health futurist Leland Kaiser looks ahead at a
central point of these books, but it plays a significant role in significant issue within the United States—health care.
each. And I love it when articulate people give us profound Lourdes Morales-Gudmundsson, author of I Forgive
descriptions of the day such as this: You, but…, provides thoughts on a different kind of heal-
“Sabbaths were, each one, holidays of hope. They were ing—healing of international relationships. She would have
sheer grace wrapped in the ribbon of ritual,” Scriven says as us consider reasons for an Adventist Theology of Migration.
he describes the Sabbaths in the Old Testament. We close the journal with two excellent addresses that
We featured Londis’ thoughts on Sabbath as God’s cure were given by the presidents of the Adventist Theological
for burnout in a previous issue of Spectrum. Returning to Society and the Adventist Society for Religious Studies at
them in this book, it is good to be reminded that Sabbath is their shared session in New Orleans in 2009. Roy Gane,
about health and healing, too: author of five books, and Zdravko Plantak, author of The
“The Sabbath rest is imbued with this multilayered con- Silent Churchspoke movingly about the healing power of the
cept of curing and healing through forgiveness. The com- Gospel. Their presentations gave hope for the healing of
mand to rest implies much more than a cessation of physical Adventism and were certainly an occasion to stand up
labor. The Hebrews were to give time to God in worship, and cheer. n
to their families in hours of refreshing conversation and
recreative activity, and to their community in fellowship
Bonnie Dwyer is editor of Spectrummagazine.
2 spectrum VOLUME 38 ISSUE 1 n winter 2010
EDITORIAL
from the forum chairman
n
Creation and Devolution |
BY CHARLES SCRIVEN
“I saw Satan laughing with delight gians, are afraid to say what they think about creation
the day the music died…” and science. At the same time, some Adventists, at least,
—Don McLean have made anti-intellectualism a near-article of faith.
These traits guarantee devolution—of conversation,
O
certainly, but also of the church itself. When they infect
ptimism? Pitch it in the dumpster. The our disagreements about Genesis, they exacerbate
Adventist church reflects the American— decline. No organization suffused with arrogance and
and now the contemporary American— unfriendliness or bogged down in fear and ignorance can
environment, so it may be expected, I long endure; not, at least, in a vibrant and mattering way.
suppose, to decline into reckless quarreling. Certainly, But can we not hope, at least, for less of all these tox-
disagreements about Genesis seem likely to worsen and ins—less of arrogance and unfriendliness, less of fear and
to cause yet more injury to the body of Christ. ignorance?
No doubt everyone who speaks up bears some of the If time and again optimism is shallow and too easy;
blame. I am touched by the tawdry goings-on in the hope is, well, a virtue. You train for it; you hold on to it
human heart, and so are you. against the odds. When you succeed in being hopeful, it
Still, even if optimism is a little screwy and our defec- often surprises you. You feel gifted, like a receiver of grace.
tive hearts a grievous burden, we may still hope for some- As for myself, I am hopeful. With respect to the
thing better. It’s not inevitable that we pick up the worst debates about creation and science, what, then, do I
features of the culture around us. hope for? In a word, faithfulness. I hope for wider faith-
But hope for what? Exactly what would we have to fulness to the risen Christ whose story the Gospels tell.
overcome in order to become a community of construc- From the Gospels I learn that, against the pull of
tive conversation? What would it take to exchange the pride and pomposity, Jesus listened. He listened not just
shouting and sneering for searching and praying— to those He was comfortable with, but also to those
together? This latter, after all, is far more likely to heal capable of challenging Him, such as Nicodemus and the
our hearts and expand our minds. foreign woman He met in Syrophoenicia. What is more,
Consider first the problems of arrogance and He said, according to Mark, that not even the Son
unfriendliness. Which of these has the firmer grip on knows all that the Father knows. In this person’s life,
Adventist life is sometimes hard to tell. But, we Adven- humility showed arrogance the back door.
tists just do find it difficult to allow that God’s thoughts I learn also that despite indifference and cruelty all
are higher than ours, and equally difficult to show empa- around Him, Jesus loved others—including His enemies.
thy and kindness toward those we disagree with. He knew nothing, so far as we can tell, of sustained
Consider also fear and ignorance. Again, which of unfriendliness, and certainly did not shut out, or try to
these explains more about our problems is hard to tell. hurt, those who disagreed with Him. In the end, He ide-
But it’s certain that many church-employed Adventist sci- alized friendship as the crucial feature of His bond with
entists, along with more than a few pastors and theolo- the disciples.
WWW.SPECTRUMMAGAZINE.ORG n editorial 3
more readily interpret words and stories about God as
New York’s
pointers—often metaphorical pointers—to a truth too deep
Best-Kept Secret for language to express fully. We’d get in touch with our
finitude. We’d accept mystery.
Furthermore, we’d start to love one another—and not
Highlights of Recent Services:
in the abstract alone. To our fellow Adventists, we’d
2/6 begin to say: If some mysteries of faith leave you think-
Ronald Lawson: The Ellen White Project
ing differently from me, I still welcome you—into con-
2/13 versation and into joint solidarity with Christ. We’d
Lisa Clark Diller: Modern Minds, Medieval Bodies & Sex
begin to exclaim: Let’s bear one another’s burdens, intel-
and the Incarnation
lectual and otherwise, and not make these burdens hard-
3/6
er to bear. We’d each begin declaring to the other: So
Marciana Popescu: Reframing Christianity within a
human rights paradigm long as you intend to follow Jesus and to build up the
life of your congregation, I will not sneer you out of the
3/13
T Joe Willey: Can the logic of science be used to establish Adventist circle; I will not try to disgrace you; I will try
the supernatural in the health writings of EGW & Who were the
not to put your church employment or the institution
confused races of men created by amalgamation?
you work for at risk.
See www.MNYAForum.orgfor our current program. Then, without supposing we’d ever plumb its depths,
Contact us at [phone]or [email protected].
we might actually progress toward a deeper reading of
Worship with us Sabbath mornings at 11:00 at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church,
521 W. 126 St., Manhattan the Genesis story. We’d have the courage to say what
(two short blocks from the 125 St. Subway station on the #1 line).
we think. We’d begin seeing, perhaps, how the story is
really about relationships and values, as Sigve Tonstad
says in his fine, new book, The Lost Meaning of the Seventh
The Gospels also say that during His public ministry, Day. We’d begin to get past hostile arguing about cre-
right up to the crucifixion, Jesus showed great audacity ation’s how and when, and shift to far more constructive
and nerve. He did not give in to fear, and neither did and congenial discussion of creation’s why.
He stifle discussion through the tactic of fear. He By generous listening, we could also consider ways in
embodied and facilitated courage. which evolutionary theory may shed light we really
They say, too, that from start to finish Jesus was need to consider. In addition, we could explore how,
eager to learn. As a child, He sat at the feet of rabbis taken to reductive extremes, the theory undermines our
asking questions. As a teacher, He manifested an aston- sense of freedom and dignity, and so sets itself, as the
ishing grasp of His religious heritage. The book of University of Chicago’s Leon Kass has said, “against the
Hebrews says that He was learning obedience even as evidence of our lived experience.”
He suffered. No evidence—nothing substantial, nothing But we can only take up this conversation if we begin
itsy-bitsy—suggests that He was hostile to knowledge to embody traits evident in the life and faithfulness of
or afraid of the intellect. Jesus. If we did, we might thereby renew our sense of
Jesus embodied traits that renew, not traits that the deeper music of Adventism. And we might thus—in
destroy. Why, by God’s grace, can’t we? Why, at least, small increments, if not at one fell swoop—cause Satan,
can’t we move by inches, or even a hair’s breadth, in the who otherwise laughs with delight at our bickering, to
right direction? feel…sad. n
Then we’d start to see that the God’s-eye view is sim-
ply unavailable to us. So we’d all be less preoccupied with
Charles Scriven chairs Adventist Forum.
the fine details of orthodoxy and more preoccupied with
the big picture and with the practice of faith to which it
points. As we already regard Jesus’ Parable of the Rich
Man and Lazarus as, in some sense, metaphorical; we’d
4 spectrum VOLUME 38 ISSUE 1 n winter 2010
FEEDBACK
letters, e-mails, and comments
n
Creation Clarifications, Doubts, and Debates
Clarification to Fall Issue Response from Bonnie Dwyer
IN THE 2009 FALL issue of Spectrum I read “In the Eye of To be clear, Wisbey stated in his response to my ques-
the Storm: an Interview with La Sierra University Presi- tion that (as of that time) no legal action had been taken
dent Randal Wisbey” by Bonnie Dwyer and noticed a by La Sierra University. Perhaps noting that there is
few things I felt should be clarified. She writes: a difference between a letter from a lawyer and legal
Debate over that event ended up on the internet and then a website action clarifies this misunderstanding.
was created that attacked La Sierra fairly specifically, even tak-
ing the university’s name as part of the website name. Was legal Doubt
action taken by La Sierra over the use of its name? The website I CAN IDENTIFY with various Spectrum staff (writers) who
changed its name to Educate Truth. also have had doubts, not only of our “beliefs” but about
While it is true that La Sierra took legal action, it what was considered “reality.”
wasn’t till after LaSierraUniversity.net had been shut A good beginners book is “Zero” by Charles Seife.
down for six-days due to reasons unrelated to LSU. The Science vs. religion is a 4,000-6,000 year old strug-
site was shut down June 2 and the legal papers served gle. It is riveting, if you still remember high school
June 8. Which makes Wisbey’s response to Dwyer inter- mathematics. The history of such nonsense is still alive
esting: in sermons that equate the center of the universe com-
Our General Counsel did write to the individual associated with ing to earth. Geocentricity is still not totally dead. Aris-
the website, noting that they did not have permission to use the totle’s thoughts still linger for reality. How long will it
university’s name, and the name of the website was soon changed. take to realize:
While LaSierraUniversity.net shared similar content 1. The antiquity of the universe
to EducateTruth.com, they were not owned or run by 2. The antiquity of earth
the same people. There has been a misconception that I 3. The antiquity of life
was the one who created and ran LaSierraUniversity.net. 4. The antiquity of mankind
There are two things I want to make clear:
1. LSU legal counsel was made aware June 8 that I was And this antiquity is verified by
not responsible for the creation, purchase, or content a. The continuity of Egyptian dynasties
of the domain LaSierraUniversity.net. b. The 15,000 tablets of Ebla
2. LSU legal counsel had no influence with the nam- c. The continuity of cuneiform writing predating Abra-
ing of EducateTruth.com as it was created five days ham to 50 AD
before LSU sent the letter from their legal counsel. d. The 6400 year-old civilization of the city states like
Thank you. Brak in Northeast Syria
| SHANE HILDE, Editor, EducateTruth.com, e. The early European civilizations in Romania and sur-
Via the Internet rounding areas
f. Neanderthal cave paintings
g. Counting stones
WWW.SPECTRUMMAGAZINE.ORG n feedback 5
is a kind of a rhetoric trick, because real and true sci-
More Listening In...
ence shall not look for that kind of evidence. If it does,
it is not true science. Here in Europe it is obvious for
Some recent and upcoming events at
San Diego Adventist Forum most ordinarily educated persons, but SDAs repeat this
Recordings are available on CDsor audio cassettes fictitious argument over and over again, and young
pupils and students believe it is a valid argument against
nn Michael Scofield August/09
Adventist Higher Education: Which School Shall Close First? evolution. There is an insurmountable difference
nn T. Joe Willey, Ph.D. September/09 between natural science and faith by divine revelation.
Science Falsely So-called: Can Modern Science Establish the Super-
natural in the Nineteenth Century Health Writings of Ellen G. White? Why? Because God cannot be investigated by science,
nn Lourdes Morales Gudmundsson, Ph.D. October/09 and every attempt to do that is futile and even pre-
Embracing the Stranger: Toward an Adventist Theology of Migration
sumptuous.
nn Arthur Patrick, Ph.D. November/09
The Re-parenting of Seventh-day Adventists? Reflections on the Histori - He continues: More difficult, is finding scientific evidence that
cal Development, Substance, and Potential of Ellen White Studies
supports a recent creation; and I am honest about this too, pointing
nn Andrew Howe January/10
The Intersection of Faith and Film out that creationist scientists are continuing to search for evidence in
nn Gary Chartier, et. al. February/10
this area. If that kind of “science” is to continue, it is not
What’s at the Center? University Students Explore the Integration
and Evaluation of SDA Belief Systems science at all, and will never be acknowledged by the
nn Doug Hackleman March/10
scientific community. Bryan Ness and other creationists
Filthy Lucre
know that, but they blame the scientific community for
*CD orAudiocassette Format — Please specify!
Mark your choices and send with check, $9.50 (domestic) or $10.50 (international), per selection to: atheism and working against Christian faith. This is all
San Diego Adventist Forum (cid:129) P.O. Box 3148, La Mesa, CA 91944-3148
wrong. On this side of the Atlantic most Christians
619-561-2360 (cid:129) [email protected]
* * * * * * * * * * * * * know that, and it is not a discussion which find much
To be included on the monthly newsletter announcement mailing roster without charge
and/or to receive a listing of all recordings available, please send a postcard, e-mail, or interest here, because this is so obvious.
make phone call to one of the above providing your name and address.
And he still continues: Creationists, on the other hand,
invoke a supernatural cause for the origin of life and exercise faith in
h. Bone counting notches divine revelation that someday we will understand how to harmonize
i. Ice cores this with scientific evidence. What does he mean by “super-
j. Erosion rates natural”? If this “supernatural” phenomenon was possible
k. Volcanic fingerprints to investigate, and that investigation was successful, the
l. Mountain lifts “supernatural phenomenon” would no longer be super-
m.Continental drifts natural. Does this make sense?
n. Atlantic rift Science knows that knowledge of the laws of nature
is limited and steadily increasing. Science also knows
My intensity on the matter probably comes from the that everything happens according to the laws of nature.
fact that I have been “hoodwinked,” misled, lied to and Science and anybody know that it is legitimate to say
asked to “just have faith.” that the number of the laws of nature must be infinite.
| MICHAEL PESTES That opens for “anything” to happen.
Sierra Vista, AZ I am myself an SDA and active in my local church.
Opinion in my church is differing, but a debate on this
Creationism/Evolution Debate topic would be detrimental to our loveable fellowship
SINCE I DO NOT have a university education, I have to and unity. God has created all the laws of nature. He
use a simpler language than the professor I quote here— never breaks them. He has never regretted any of them,
from Bryan Ness’s article on Creation, Evolution and because they are perfect. Not only science says that
Adventist Higher Education. On page 48 in the Fall they cannot be broken, the Bible also does.
2009 issue of Spectrum he writes: Evolutionists currently have How long shall this irrational debate continue?
no tenable theory for the origin of life by purely naturalistic | KRISTEN FALCH JAKOBSEN
processes so this is the easiest point to make. In my opinion this Via the Internet
6 spectrum VOLUME 38 ISSUE 1 n winter 2010
noteworthy
events, news
n
Guarding the Line Between
Contextualization and Syncretism
Editor’s Note: No statement explaining the Adventist church’s approach religions and cultures. While the concern for mission is
to mission has existed within the official Working Policy, delegates to the commendable, the proliferation of approaches makes it
2009 Annual Council were told. The following is the text of the statement all the more imperative for the organized Church to
that was proposed and adopted at that meeting. articulate simply and clearly the nature of our mission—
what it is and how we go about it—firmly grounded in
Roadmap for Mission Voted at
the authority of the Scriptures.
2009 Annual Council
We must find our roadmap for mission in the specific
instructions and acts of Jesus and the apostles as recorded in
GOD’SMISSIONfor this world motivates and informs our mis- the Scriptures. In His sovereignty, the Lord takes initiatives
sion. For this reason, mission is the lifeblood of the Seventh- to reveal Himself to men and women through a variety of
day Adventist Church. Mission is woven into our identity; mis- means. For instance, in the Old Testament, we read of peo-
sion defines who we are and why we exist. Early in our move- ple outside the circle of the chosen people who were fol-
ment, we took the Great Commission (Matt. 28: 18–20) as our lowers of God—Meichizedek (Gen. 14:18–20), Jethro
divine mandate motivated by the vision of the everlasting (Exod. 18:1–27), Naaman (2 Kgs. 5:1). Likewise, the New
gospel reaching every nation, tribe, language, and people Testament tells of the Magi (Matt. 2:1–12), of Gentiles who
(Rev. 14:6–12). The genuine quest for God in world religions were “God-fearers” (Acts 13:43, 50; 16:14; 17:4, 17), and of
provides a pathway for the proclamation of the gospel. others who obeyed God’s law through following their con-
Under the blessing of the Lord, our Church has grown, science (Rom. 2:14–16). Such examples, however, do not
reaching to Earth’s farthest bounds. When we began, our provide a template for Seventh-day Adventist mission; they
mission placed us among people who had traditions of simply provide laudable examples of the Lord’s working.
Christianity. Today, however, mission takes us to popula-
tions that are rooted in other world religions. Furthermore, The Mission
in some areas of the world, conversion to Christianity is Seventh-day Adventist mission is centered in God’s loving
frowned upon or even runs the risk of threatening one’s gift of His Son to be the Saviour of the world. We are to
person and life. The history of Christianity indicates that share this good news with all people, telling them that “Sal-
this has practically always been the case. vation is found in no one else, for there is no other name
At the same time, the spirit of the age encourages accept- under heaven given to men by which we must be saved”
ance of all world religions as valid expressions of the human (Acts 4:12), and that “whoever believes in Him shall not
spirit and discourages efforts to persuade people to turn perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
from one religion to another. Some Christian theologians At its core, mission is bearing witness through word
even argue that the task of missions is to affirm people in and life and in the power of the Holy Spirit. As the
their own religion—to make Hindus better Hindus, Muslims Lord commanded Israel of old, “You are my witnesses
better Muslims, Buddhists better Buddhists, and so on. ...and my servant whom I have chosen” (Isa. 43:10), so
Among Seventh-day Adventists, one finds a variety of the Risen Lord commands us, “You will receive power
initiatives and methodologies toward people of different when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my
WWW.SPECTRUMMAGAZINE.ORG n noteworthy 7
witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and those that the apostles encountered. How they went about
to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). the mission is instructive for us today.
Seventh-day Adventist mission is comprehensive in The first Christians faced a world of many deities. It was
its scope. It involves proclaiming the good news to the also a dangerous world, as the Caesars in Rome increasing-
whole world (Matt. 24:14), making disciples of all ly demanded not only respect, but worship as divine. Yet
nations by going, baptizing, and teaching them (Matt. they risked everything they had, even their lives, and many
28:18–20), and inviting them into the ecciesia—the end- lost it, in an unbreakable commitment to their Savior.
time community of believers in Jesus who worship God In this environment, the apostles always uplifted Jesus
the Creator and Redeemer (Rev. 12:17; 14:6–20 7). Christ as mankind’s only hope. They did not shrink from
This community, the Church, is the body of Christ (1 proclaiming who He was and what He had done. They
Cor. 12, Eph. 1:21, 22; 4:4–6). In this fellowship where announced forgiveness and new life through Him alone,
Jesus is confessed as Savior and Lord, and where the Scrip- and they called people everywhere to repentance in view
tures provide the foundation for instruction, members of judgment to come and the return of Jesus (Acts 2:38;
experience the transforming power of the new life in 8:4; 1 Cor. 2:2). And they proclaimed that only one per-
Christ. They love one another (John 13:31, 32); they are son could rightly be adored as Lord—Jesus Christ: “For
united, despite differences of race, culture, gender, or social even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on
standing (Eph. 2:12–14; Gal. 3:28); and they grow in grace earth (as indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’),
(2 Peter 27 3:18). They, in turn, go out to make disciples of yet for us there is but one God, the Father... and there is
other people, and they carry forward Jesus’ ministry of but one Lord, Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 8:5, 6).
compassion, help, and healing to the world (Matt. 10:7, 8). Although they modified their approach in keeping with
Although other Christians also preach the gospel, Sev- the audience, they never deviated from proclaiming the
enth-day Adventists understand our special calling as pro- uniqueness of Jesus as the hope of the world. They never
claiming the good news of salvation and obedience to suggested that they had come to help their hearers find a
God’s commandments. This proclamation takes place dur- deeper spiritual experience within their own religions; on
ing the time of God’s judgment and in the expectation of the contrary, they challenged them to turn to the salvation
the soon return of Jesus, bringing to an end the cosmic provided in Christ. Thus, the Apostle Paul in Athens began
conflict (Rev. 14: 6, 7; 34 20:9–10). his discourse on Mars Hill by referring to the gods the
Seventh-day Adventist mission, therefore, involves a people were worshipping, but led them to the message of
process of proclamation that builds up a community of Jesus and His resurrection (Acts 17:22–3 1).
believers “who keep the commandments of God and have
the faith of Jesus” (Rev. 14:12). They live lives of service to Writings of Other Religions
others and eagerly await the second coming of the Lord. Paul made references to non-biblical writings in his speech
in Athens and his letters (Acts 17:38; 1 Cor. 15:33; Titus
Fulfilling the Mission 1:12), but he gave priority to the Scriptures (the Old Testa-
Our mission remains unchanged wherever we find ourselves ment) in his proclamation and instruction to the new Chris-
in the world. How we fulfill it—how we go about it—how- tian communities (Acts 13:13–47; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; 4:2).
ever, takes a variety of forms depending on differences in In Seventh-day Adventist witness, the writings of other
culture and conditions in society. Fulfilling the mission religions can be useful in building bridges by pointing to ele-
where non-Christian religions prevail often entails signifi- ments of truth that find their fullest and richest significance
cant modifications in approaching the task. We encounter in the Bible. These writings should be used in a deliberate
cultural differences, other writings that are deemed sacred, attempt to introduce people to the Bible as the inspired
and sometimes restrictions in religious freedom. Word of God and to help them transfer their allegiance to
the Scriptures as the source of faith and practice. However,
The Example of the Apostles the nurture and spiritual growth of new believers must be
The conditions Seventh-day Adventists face in sharing the accomplished on the basis of the Bible and its exclusive
message of Jesus to people of other religions largely parallel authority (see “Guidelines for Engaging in Global Mission”).
8 spectrum VOLUME 38 ISSUE 1 n winter 2010