In an editorial published June 9, 2011, Bill Knott, the editor of the Adventist Review condemned people who pronounce the word "Adventist" differently the customary pronunciation among Anglo Adventists.
Knott wrote that people who pronounce the name of our church the way that is customary among West Indians, this is proof they do not have "a full understanding" of the church.
Claiming that a particular inflection of the English version of the name of our church is essential to a "full understanding" of our mission and identity is an astonishing claim. It is false. It is offensive.
Bill Knott ought to apologize or resign.
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By the same reasoning one could proclaim that no one could be a Christian unless they knew how to pronounce the name of Jesus - the same way that his parents and the apostles did. Having never studied Hebrew or gone to Jerusalem I would have no hope - therefore my life is meaningless... Oh, I think somewhere I was told that Jesus bought me at a high price and says that I have value. I suppose that is the same for those who do not know the "proper" pronunciation of "Adventist". I have often wondered who has the honest authority to determine what people stay in or are shut out of our SDA fellowships. Seems to me that Jesus has a very lot of different kinds of people who he cares for.
Thank you, John. My first thought is "what is "perfect"? And who determines what is "perfect" - or even
"appropriate" behavior? Certainly former standards such as not wearing a wedding ring or women not wearing sleeveless
dresses are (mostly) not valid in the day we now live in. Other standards like cell phone etiquette and driving courtesy
could not have been imagined in the days of the SDA pioneers. So, what is "perfect"?
You are right about doing what is before us today. We tend to imagine ourselves in the starring roles of life. My
experience is that those who aspire to perfection often are narcissistic and become unaware of the needs and
relationships of the people around them. I have seen marriages fall apart because the spouse could never conform to the
lifestyle that "perfection" demands. I have seen children in our churches fall out of faith and into addictions because they
could never be "perfect" as was expected of them. Perfectionism never allows discussion of real life things - does not
allow for human weaknesses or human psychology. It has been my experience that perfectionism rather demands that
one separate oneself from those who are not. "They made their choices..." What if one had to choose between being
"perfect" or "losing one's own salvation" in order for one's children to be saved? There are those who have wrestled with
that essential question. Do we do what is said to be "right" so that we can be perfect, or do we do what is healthy for our
children - and for others in our world who are subject to human weaknesses?
It seems to me that, especially if one believes the world is coming to an end, there is a desperateness to be
trying to make a difference for those who do not know where salvation is. If a house was on fire - there would be a
desperation to get people out and safe - same for floods and tornadoes. I do not see perfectionism doing these things.
However, there is a need for honest and nurturing relationships with family, church, community, and God.
Perhaps the "final, perfect generation" will not be so much characterized by their overt behavior as much as their
empathy, compassion and commitment to minister to those who are most broken and hurting. Maybe those who are
seeking the second coming will be studying and praying for wisdom and power to bring healing and joy to those who are
living in very real personal hells.
I have seen new pastors come into churches and preach and enforce behavioral standards. It becomes a
management technique. The authority of the pastor is established, and former social connections all now go through him.
The church does nothing unless it is OK by the pastor. They are all "in step" with each other and in awe of the pastor's
authority. The church "looks good" but loses its spontaneity and creativity. It also loses its youth. And they do not
understand why the kids leave the faith. It is also a church where "real things" - like addictions and abuse - are not
discussed. It is NOT OK to talk about things or to ask questions - so there is no real solution to the ills of the human
family nor do educated people stay and fellowship.
I have also seen churches where the new pastor comes in and focuses on healthy relationships - first with
Jesus and then with others. It was OK to be imperfect - even to be handicapped or divorced. It was OK to be hurting - we
were all on a journey and we wanted all of us to get there. We were supportive of each other and it was OK to talk and to
be creative. The church families were healthy, marriages were healthy, The pastor was not the "final authority" but all
were encouraged to seek God for themselves. People loved to go to church. They could have stayed all day and basked
in the joy of that fellowship. Those pastors had churches that grew. The kids left home and became missionaries.
Standards were based on what made healthy relationships and healthy people.
Perfectionism is, in the end, another kind of addiction. It has been said that an addiction is anything that keeps
one from being honest with God (and with oneself and with others). A child who knows his parents love and accept him
is not afraid to run and fall and skin his knee. He knows the parents will pick him up, wash his knee - even the blood
stains - and maybe even "kiss the owie". A child who is only a bother to his parents is afraid to run because he might
break something - might fall and get his clothes dirty - might look like he was undisciplined. Those who worship an
intolerant god will always have to obsess with rules, fear to do anything, and never heal from the pains that come in this
life. That kind of religion becomes a stumbling block for children and others. It keeps them from knowing tthe goodness of
God the Creator. I doubt that those who preach thusly realize just how damaging and harmful this kind of theology is.
Thank you John. You are one of the most balanced theologians that I know.
Dear Antinyx,
If I remember correctly, the debates at the time of Jesus were those of the Pharisees and how to keep the law
(perfectly?) V.S. the Sadducees and the question of if there is a resurrection. How many centuries later are we now at, and
the discussions still go on. Theology can make a person crazy - I am sure of that. I am just as certain that God and His
worlds are so much bigger than anything we could ever imagine. I also believe that if more women were included in
theological studies and discussions our understandings would be so much different.
Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you...". There are things I know in my heart that cannot be proved
rationally. That is how it is. I anticipate understanding more in the hereafter. Meantime,, I accept that I know enough. I
appreciate that you love and accept damaged people. And I know that is a true statement. I also know that you are in a
profession that endeavors to heal the "damage" so many of us have. Your life is full of compassion.
It is rather a dilemma to know what to do with those who are seriously broken and damaged. Many of those live
in constant pain - physical, emotional, psychological. Many also live in isolation due to the consequences of their
disabilities. My handicapped adult son; I wish that there were some kind of medical or spiritual miracle which would give
him miraculous healing. I accept that scenario is doubtful. I have learned to "see" the beautiful personality and love which
are there though he is so seriously disabled. I will grieve when he is gone, even though his care is costly, time consuming
and often frustrating. I do look forward to the hereafter - whatever that is - so that I can be reunited with so many of my
loved ones and so that I will be able to know my son as a fully functioning person. In my heart heaven is not in any way
"allegorical". There will be many with your persuasion who will be surprised to wake up there someday! Maybe we can
watch the "reruns" of the creation together and both of us be amazed at God's power and love.
By the way - Hitler would never have fit into his own "perfect world". If he had been judged by his own standards
they would have had to put him into a concentration camp and annihilate him, too. Ironic - yes?
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