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' 'Dear Miriam' ' reports on an informal reader survey.

The Church "What the Church Means to Me" (Nov. 20) is most appropriate. The majority of God's people are still outside the SDA Church. How can we convince them to join us? "A Christlike life is the most powerful argument that can be advanced in favor of Christianity. . . . Men will believe, not what the minister preaches, but what the church lives" (Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 21). The church needs the rich and poor, educated and uneducated, peoples of all languages and colors. HAROLD E. VOORHEES South Lancaster, Massachusetts Pornography "The Porno Menace" (Nov. 20) deeply concerns me for the following reasons: 1. The leading members of the pornography commission are undisguised foes of civil liberties and the separation of church and state. 2. The commission brought upon itself the wrath and scorn of the media, not because the press is anti-God and pro-porn, but because the commission's work was shoddy and irresponsible. 3. Child pornography is already illegal. This is not an issue so far as the law is concerned. Only consenting adults over 18 can be legally involved in such material. 4. Violent porn is perhaps a bit more complicated, but even here we should be careful. Our society permits neo-Nazis and Ku Klux Klansmen to openly call for the extermination of Blacks and Jews and yet be unmolested by the state. Only if people actually commit violence can the law be properly used against them. The same First Amendment that protects good speech protects bad speech. It is simply part of the price of democracy. KEVIN D. PAULSON Loma Linda, California We should add our voices and efforts to those who are calling for government regulation of the porno
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industry. The same reasons and counsel that support our involvement in the cause of temperance compel our involvement in Bible purity, family life, and being against pornography. This does not mean we follow along completely with the other organizations that are speaking out on this issue. The same warning given by Ellen White regarding the temperance work would also apply in this matter. The issue of pornography falls in the area of murder, adultery, dishonesty. It has to do with the violation of another person's body. We might just as well close our eyes to stealing and murder as to ignore this issue. DAVID MANZANO Baytown, Texas As a result of working hard to rehabilitate victims of sexual exploitations, I feel the primary form of damage is emotional. That is, any stimulus that sets sexuality apart from tenderness, warmth, intimacy, relationship-building, and commitment (i.e., abuse, exploitation, recreational sex, pornography) fundamentally damages an integrated, functioning self. JEANNE FLEMING, PH.D. Longview, Washington I have coined a "pledge" for those who continue to believe in the social value of pornography: I pledge allegiance to the centerfold of the porno industry of America, and to the repugnancy for which she stands, one abomination, under Satan, enslaved, with degradation and ruin for all. DIRK E. ANDERSON Keene, Texas

Choosing
Although our REVIEW arrives two months late here, my wife and I have followed with interest the discussion about TV. TV is inanimate. Viewers choose what their hearts desire, good or bad. Don't blame the TV. If we can't say no, if we can't control a small

thing like TV, how shall we manage should persecution come? If TV interferes with spiritual life, get rid of it, but surely it would be better to control it. My wife listens to the news while she gets breakfast. Almost 80 and crippled by an accident, I listen as I do my half hour on an exercise bike. But Christ rules in our hearts and in our home, and He controls our TV. R.R.D. MARKS Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia The I am a Fundamental Baptist who grew up in a home that was torn by strife and anger, that made no claims to being Christian. As a teenager I accepted Christ and at 18 moved out of state. However, in the past few years there has been a tremendous change in my family. I've been so impressed with this change that I would like others to know what the Lord has done for us. In 1984 my brother and his family, and then in 1985 my parents, became Seventh-day Adventist Christians. Instead of the drinking, fighting, and bickering of former years, we now enjoy peace, love, and family togetherness. Although I am not an Adventist, Adventism means to me that my family is no longer a disjointed group with each person going his own way, but a single unit, joined in Christ. "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another" (Rom. 12:5). This passage describes the way our family is only because of the saving and changing power of Jesus Christ and the love and care of some local Adventists. DENNIS N. JARVIS Church Road, Virginia
Letters should not exceed 250 words and should carry the writer's name, address, and telephone number. All will be edited to meet space and literary requirements, but the author's meaning will not be changed. Views expressed in the letters do not necessarily represent those of the editors or of the denomination. Address letters for this column to Editor, ADVENTIST REVIEW, 6840 Eastern Ave., NW., Washington, D.C. 20012.

ADl/EMTIST

REVIEW
January 15, 1987
General paper of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

Editor
William G. Johnsson

Associate Editor
Myron K. Widmer

Managing Editor
Jocelyn R. Fay

News Editor
Carlos Medley

Assistant Editors
Eugene F. Durand Deborah Anfenson-Vance

Administrative Secretary
Corinne Russ

Editorial Secretaries
Jackie Ordelheide Edith Wiikens

Art Director
Byron Steele

Teacher learns, p. 8. EDITORIALS

Let down, p. 12

Outdoor school, p. 19 THE CHRISTLIKE LIFE_________

Designer
Dennis Ferree

Marketing
Thomas Kapusta

Ad Sales
Jeff Blumenberg

4 The New REVIEW: One Year Later

How have readers responded to the redesign and re focus of the REVIEW? The editor reports.
by William G. Johnsson

12 How Jesus Treated the Outcast

Jesus accepts us regardless of who we are, where we've been, or what we've done. by Morris L. Venden THEOLOGY_______________

Subscriber Services
tarry Burtnett Consulting Editors Neal C, Wilson, Charles E. Bradford, Wallace O. Coe, D. F. Gilbert. Robert j, Kloosterhuis, Kenneth J. Mittleider, Enoch Oliveira, Calvin B. Rock, G. Ralph Thompson

Special Contributors

Kenneth H. Wood, Robert H. Pierson, George W. Brown, Gerald J. Christo, Ottis C. Edwards, Bekele Heye, Edwin Ludescher, J, J, Nortey, Jan Paulsen, Walter R. L. Scragg, Joao Wolff

CHURCH________________

Africa-Indian Ocean Editions Inter-American Edition South American Editions

Editor, Adalgiza Archbold Editor,

8 What My Black Students Taught Me

Not until I taught on the college level did I learn how much of a racist I was.
by James J. Londis LIFESTYLE_______________

15 What God's Law Means to Me

The Decalogue is God's face disclosed. Eighteenth in the series My Faith, My Life. by Frank B. Holbrook

Editor, R. S. Lessa, Portuguese; editor, Rolando Ilin, Spanish How to Subscribe Subscription prices; US$27.95 for 40 issues. US$36.20 for 52 issues, To place your order, send your name, address, and payment to your local Adventist Book Center or Adventist Review Subscription Desk, Box 1119, Hagerstown, Maryland 21741. Single copy, 90 cents U.S. currency, Prices subject to change without notice. To Writers We welcome unsolicited manuscripts. Notification of acceptance or rejection may be expected only if accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Address all editorial correspondence to 6840 Eastern Avenue NW.. Washington, D.C. 20012. published 40 times a year, each Thursday except the first Thursday of the month, Copyright C' 1986 Review and Herald Publishing Association, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740. Second-class postage paid at Hagerstown, Maryland 21 740. Postmaster: send address changes to Adventist Review, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740. Bible texts credited to NEB are from The New English Bible. C The Delegates of the Oxford University Press and the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press 1961, 1970. Reprinted by permission. Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New Interna tional Version. Copyright 1978 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Texts credited to RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyrighted 1946, 1952 1; 1971, 1973. COVER BY MAUREEN TIERNEY Vol. 164, No. 3

6 Newsbreak 19 Worldview

NEWS_________________

10 Adventists and the Movies

An informal survey reveals a wide variety of Adventist opinion and practice regarding theater attendance.
by Miriam Wood

DEPARTMENTS

2 Letters 17 Ross Report 22 Children's Corner 23 Reflections

COMING NEXT WEEK

4 "Helping Children Handle Stress," by Miriam J. Wilson. Stress is nothing new, but children are experiencing it as they never have before. Here are some things parents can do to help their kids cope with life's pressures. "One Day Jesus Cleared His Desk," by Donald John. Jesus cleansed the Temple, thereby showing something of God's priorities and the meaning of reverence. "What the Sabbath Means to Me," by Neils-Erik Andreasen. On this special day God comes calling, and we must get ready to meet Him. Nineteenth in the series My Faith, My Life.
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EDITORIAL

I HE NEW REVIEW: ONE YEAR LATER

^^^he redesigned REVIEW has just person awaiting the Second Coming H celebrated its first birthday. should live at work, at home, at In this report to you, its play. Our survey showed that both "stockholders," we will summarize the changes, share subscribers and nonsubscribers readers' responses, discuss the cir- wanted more articles on victorious culation picture, and inform you Christian living, health, and current about important developments in issues affecting Adventism. The new REVIEW attempted to respond to 1987. Our extensive 1985 survey of these perceived desires. With these various changes we subscribers and nonsubscribers revealed that we had a solid but nonetheless have sought to keep the aging readership. Two thirds of REVIEW solidly within its heritage. subscribers were 50 or older; we Certainly we have not implied any needed to refocus the paper to disparagement of those who have gone before or of their efforts! We attract younger Adventists. Working with representatives of are proud of the REVIEW and for the the Review and Herald Publishing manner in which the Lord has used Association, the editorial staff put it these many years. We simply have in hundreds of hours of intensive sought to update it to better meet the planning. The new REVIEW, we needs of today's church. The editorial changes coincided decided, would be primarily directed toward readers in the 25-45 with a significant shift in the circuage bracket. Its features: lation of the magazine. Starting with Redesign. We sought to give the the January 2, 1986, issue, the first magazine a dynamic look, one that issue of the ADVENTIST REVIEW goes reflects the vibrant character of our out each month on a complimentary worldwide church. We used larger basis to church members throughtype, bolder titles and headlines, out the North American Division. more color. We sought to make the These monthly issues have a circuREVIEW stand out in the crowd, to lation of more than a quarter milinvite the readerespecially the lion. With four pages exclusively for younger oneto pick it up and read North American news and material, it. they function as the North Ameri Writing style. Articles are can Division church paper. shorter, move faster. We want These changes removed the need readers to get information quickly for the monthly Review digests. and accurately. Subscribers overseas who want to Content. We share more infor- get the REVIEW only once a month mation and faster than ever, seeking now receive the NAD issues. to fulfill the REVIEW'S mission as the premier vehicle for conveying the Responses news of the church. We also make a Several thousand readers have studied attempt to relate Adventism written us this year. Although we to all aspects of life, to show how a have not pleased everybody (a few
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have expressed their displeasure by canceling their subscriptions), the great majority80 to 90 percent have been pleased with the changes. We have printed only a small selection of the positive mail. We have been amazed and gratified by this outpouring of reader response. We have tried hard, and although at times we obviously could have done better, so many people have taken time to express support, to offer a kindly criticism, or to make a suggestion. Most have been understanding of our approach. They realize that if, for example, a particular cover does not appeal to them, its bright colors may attract younger readers. Readers' letters and telephone calls have given us the feeling that we are working together in the common task of building up the church. Thank you! The Atlantic Union Conference wished to gauge the effectiveness of the one-a-month REVIEW plan. A survey of its members showed that 72 percent found the REVIEW a positive influence in their attitudes toward the Adventist Church, 76 percent said the REVIEW very effectively increased their knowledge of the worldwide church, and 83 percent were very pleased to be receiving the free issue monthly. Confirmation on a division-wide basis of the Atlantic Union findings comes from another source. The Adventist Health System/U.S. asked the prestigious firm Seltzer Daley Companies to find out attitudes in the Adventist Church toward our hospitals (we'll be sharing this information with you in a later report). The survey also polled Adventist laypeople, ministers, educators, and physicians concerning their reading habits. Far and away the ADVENTIST REVIEW emerged as the magazine read and preferred by Adventists in all four categories. For instance, when readers were asked which periodical they considered the most reliable source of information about church affairs, the REVIEW was chosen by 61 percent of members, 81

percent of educators, 77 percent of ministers, and 59 percent of physicians. The only other periodicals to receive significant ratings were union papers (14 percent of members) and Ministry (20 percent of ministers). No privately published Adventist journal scored higher than 7 percent among any of the categories.

Circulation Frankly, we did not know just how the REVIEW one-a-month plan would affect the paper's circulation. Quite a few leaders feared that sending the REVIEW out on a complimentary basis once a month would drastically erode the subscriber base. That didn't happen. A year ago at the start of the plan we had just under 50,000 subscribers. Today that figure is almost unchanged. During 1986 we added some 8,000 new subscribers. However, almost the same number did not renew their subscription, so circulation-wise we are just where we were one year ago. Those 7,000+ people who failed to renew their subscription concern me. We attempted a spot check by telephone and mail, sampling about 100 of them. No clear pattern emerged: Some said they no longer could afford to get the REVIEW; some were not clear on how they should renew; a few said the monthly REVIEW would be sufficient for them. Not one of the persons we contacted said he had decided against renewing because he wasn't happy with the changes we had made. One other note of cheer: Atlantic Union College has begun to place the weekly REVIEW in every dormitory room, and other SDA colleges and universities are considering doing the same. Plans for 1987 Most changes this year will be in the nature of fine tuning. Two developments, however, warrant special mention:
ADVENT1ST REVIEW. JANUARY 15, 1987

gory: "The Christlike Life." Articles in this section focus on the devotional life, wrestling in a practical manner with what it means to be a follower of Jesus in these times. Morris Venden's article on page 12, "How Jesus Treated the Outcast," is the second in this series. The Review and Herald Pub lishing Association has instituted a new renewal system for subscrib ers. Subscribers now will receive several notices before the REVIEW runs out. Further, they can renew through their local Adventist Book Center, as previously, or by mailing

REVIEW needs now is a push at the grass-roots level.

ADVENTIST

hat the

directly to the Review and Herald Subscriber Services at Hagerstown, Maryland, using a credit card if they choose. The aim is to make renewal simple, quick, and easy. While we are pleased that the fears of some that the new monthly plan would erode the subscriber base have not been realized, we are not satisfied with the current circulation figure. We had hoped that by now the REVIEW would have shown a significant increase. After pondering the situation at length, we have concluded that what the ADVENTIST REVIEW needs most of all right now is a push at the grass-roots level. The center for action is the local Seventh-day Adventist church. If pastors would give the REVIEW a push by mentioning it from the pulpit, if members would give it a We have started a new cate- push by inviting other members to

subscribethis would make the greatest difference. We editors can advertise, meet with ministers at combined meetings, and so on. All this is good, but the real action occurs at the grass roots. Twenty-five years ago the circulation of the REVIEW jumped dramatically. In the space of only 12 months it increased by about 40,000 subscribers. The secret? A coordinated, division-wide grass-roots campaign. In every church a REVIEW committee telephoned members to invite them to subscribe. We can do it again. You, dear reader, are the REVIEW'S best ambassador. Invite your children, your friends, members of your Sabbath school classif necessary, even your pastor!to subscribe. We want to see the REVIEW'S circulation increase, not out of selfish considerations but because we believe the paper has a God-given ministry for our people. The Lord wants the REVIEW to inform and to inspire, to build us up in the common faith, the common hope, the common mission. A perceptive reader summarized the REVIEW'S role in a recent letter: "Soon it will be impossible to communicate effectively with each other because of sheer numbers. We will increasingly need a journal that will fairly, compassionately, and wisely help us understand both the content and effects of our Christianity in the world..,. We must learn to accept people who live strikingly different lives from our own in North America. North American Christians must increasingly be willing to be led by Second and Third World members. The REVIEW is the only reasonable catalyst for these needed changes that seems to offer manageable friction." We love the Lord and His people. We want the REVIEW to glorify our Saviour and to build up His church. We enlist your support in increasing the scope of the REVIEW'S growing ministry. WILLIAM G. JOHNSSON
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MEWSBREAK.

WORLD CHURCH: AWR-Asia Prepares for Station Opening. The

construction crew of Adventist World Radio-Asia's new station on Guam is busy with last-minute preparations for the station's grand opening January 18. Six representatives of the General Conference, including president Neal C. Wilson, plan to attend the inaugural events, which will include a motorcade from the governor's residence in Agana to the station site in Agat, a tour of the facilities, and a traditional fiesta. AWR-Asia's beginning schedule lists programs in 14 languages.

voted financial support for a chaplain to serve Adventist youth attending non-Adventist universities and colleges. Delegates to the winter meetings also voted a division budget of 2.9 million (US$4.14 million); named Mark Finley, Borge Schantz, and Mrs. Erja Kuhalampi to the General Conference's commission to formulate longrange plans for reaching the unreached; and approved a field school of evangelism to train pastors in connection with evangelistic meetings in London this year. Greek Membership Grows. Seventeen persons were baptized into the church in Greece during the first 10 months of 1986, Greek Mission president Leland Yialelis reported at the Trans-European Division's winter meetings. This is the highest number of people baptized in Greece in 10 years. Yialelis noted that most of these baptisms were the result of personal contact by church members in the Athens area and Macedonia. Euro-Africa Division Leaders Hear Progress Reports. Harvest 90's first year was the main topic of discussion at the Euro-Africa Division's annual council in Montreux, Switzerland, November 5-12, reports communication director John Graz. Leading the way in Western Europe is the Franco-Belgian Union Conference, which baptized 408 persons between July 1985 and June 1986. A recently opened Bible correspondence school in this union has 755 students enrolled. In Angola, a difficult country for evangelism, 7,045 persons were baptized during that same period, including 1,360 young people. In Mozambique, another country in which evangelism is difficult, 2,000 persons joined the church. Churches in Romania welcomed 2,577 new members, exceeding their baptismal goal by nearly 6 percent.

Campo Grande Hospital Opens New Wing.

Campo Grande Adventist Hospital, in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, recently opened a wing built specifically for the dermatology service. The new facility will help curb the vicious skin disease pemphigus foliaceus, says Werner Mayr, Adventist Development and Relief Agency director for the South American Division. Below, Ralph Watts, executive director of Adventist Development and Relief Agency International, joins local officials in the ribbon cutting.

Cyclone Damages Indian School. A recent

cyclone in northeast India damaged buildings at Khurda Adventist School, in the state of Orissa. The school, featured in the January 17 Sabbath school Mission report, only has four permanent buildings. The cyclone damaged the dining room (pictured) roof, and left gaping holes in the permanent building, according to Noelene Johnsson, of the General Conference Church Ministries Department. The March 28 Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help provide new facilities.

Adventist Authors Organize. Adventist authors in the Trans-European Division currently are forming the Adventist Authors Association. According to Kaj Pedersen, division publishing director, more than 50 Adventist authors live in the division. TED Makes Plans for Youth. Several actions taken at the Trans-European Division winter meetings, November 13-21, involve the division's young people, according to Ray Dabrowski, division communication director. The division voted to make 1987 the Year of Adventist Youth and to encourage youth involvement in activities throughout the division territory. A special mission project is planned for Pakistan. In connection with the above action, the division
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Central Philippine College Has New Programs, New Problems. Administrators at Central Philippine

Adventist College have found that the solution to one problem has brought them another problem to solve, according to E. A. Bingcang, president. Faced with declining enrollment, they learned through a survey that offering two new courses, nursing and commerce, would bring them more students. Because of a moratorium, the Philippine Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports was unable to give CPAC permission to offer these courses at first. But through the intervention of a government official who had studied the Bible with an Adventist pastor, it eventually granted permission for them. Bingcang reports, "Whereas our main problem was lack of students, now we are short of facilities."

Former Worker Dies. Fern (Mrs. Clayton D.) Forshee died December 19 in Takoma Park, Maryland. She served the church with her husband in Japan, the Philippines, and at the General Conference, where he was personnel director from 1959 to 1971.

CLM to Be on ACTS Satellite Network. On

January 17, Faith for Today's Christian Lifestyle Magazine will be available over 233 local cable suppliers through the ACTS Satellite Network, a Baptist-owned broadcasting company. The series will be carried twice each Sabbath, at 11:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) as a public service to network viewers. "We are praying that many viewers will be reached through this additional outlet in 30 states," says Dan Adventist Speaks Weekly on Polish Radio. Matthews, executive producer and host of the series. Polish Union president S. Dabrowski speaks to radio Viewers will be invited to sign up for one of the many listeners weekly about health at the invitation of Polish Lifestyle study courses offered through Faith for Today. national Radio One. His talks are part of a 10-minute feature and news program that is repeated twice daily. Youth Leaders Attend Seminar. The North AmeriThis weekly coverage is in addition to worship can Division's youth resource center conducted its first services prepared quarterly by Adventists for national one-day seminar for youth leaders November 1 at the radiobroadcast. Garden Grove, California, church. Approximately 50 youth pastors, Sabbath school leaders and teachers, and parents attended presentations on earliteen/junior high MORTH AMERICA ministry, academy/senior high ministry, Sabbath school programming, working with small groups, and AdventRetired Workers Share Christmas Joy. In keeping ist lifestyle issues. with an eight-year tradition, retired church workers in The youth resource center, affiliated with North the Collegedale, Tennessee, area shared food and funds American Division Church Ministries, plans to conduct with 34 Southern College student families at Christmas 20 seminars in North America this year, according to Les time. Pitton, North American Division associate church The retirees collected groceries and cash at their ministries director. annual pre-Christmas gathering, then bought perishable items and assembled the food in gift boxes. They visited NAD Ingathering Report4. The Newfoundland the students in their homes, giving each family a box of and Greater New York conferences lead the North food and a cash gift of $30. American Division in Ingathering funds raised per This year, instead of exchanging Christmas gifts capita, with $46.97 and $25.86, respectively. among themselves, retirees donated the money to the Ingathering funds through December 20, the end of the student family fund, making it possible for each family seventh week of this year's crusade, totaled $5,720,with children to receive an additional gift of $5 per 042.21. This is $89,660.70 less than last year's total at child. this time. Marian Kuhlman, who chaired this year's gift committee, said many students told the retirees that the gifts Record Baptism in Montreal. Members in Moncouldn't have come at a better time. "Those who treal have welcomed 79 new Adventists into the church distributed the boxes got quite a lift from sharing," she family as the result of a recent crusade in the city by added. evangelist T.A. McNealy. This is the largest number of persons to unite with the church during a single crusade Breathe-Free Goes Behind Bars. Approximately in the history of the Quebec SDA Church Association, 125 prisoners at the Soledad, California, Correction according to pastor C. Millett. Institution participated in a Breathe-Free stop-smoking clinic in November. The program was conducted by Dr. CHURCH CALENDAR: Willard Regester, of Mountain View, California, according to the General Conference Health Department. Jan. 24 Health Ministries Day The guards and administration at the prison were so Jan. 26 Ministry Professional Growth Seminar starts impressed by Regester's presentation that they in Princeton, New Jersey. For more informarequested a clinic this year. tion, call (609) 392-7131.
ADVENTIST REVIEW, JANUARY 15, 1987

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CHURCH.

BLACK SIUDENTS
Five sobering revelations that changed my life
grew up in Coney Island, New York, a racially mixed community comprised of Jewish, Irish, Italian, and Black families. There I went to school with, played ball with, and was friendly with Blacks. We visited and ate in each other's homes. In the early 1950s I attended Greater New York Academy. One of my closest friends was a Black student. In college I had several Black friends like James North, an excellent pianist and singer, who now serves as an Air Force chaplain. I went through all those friend-

ships, yet not until I taught at Atlantic Union College did I learn how much of a racist I was. With patience, tact, and caring, my Black colleagues and students taught me the truth about myself, my society, and my churcha sobering revelation that changed my life. This is what I learned. I learned how intimidated many of them were about being in a White college. They never showed it, but one student told me that this was the first time in his life he ever had to cope with an institution controlled by Whites. He had grown up in the Black

section of a city and attended all-Black schools. I imagined myself in a Blackcontrolled university, and had to admit that I would feel uncomfortable. I learned how subtly the culture had denigrated their Blackness and exalted Whiteness in their minds. One student asked me how many Blacks I saw acting on television or featured in commercials. I had to admit that I saw very few. "Do you realize," he challenged, "what it's like for a Black child to grow up seeing only White faces on the screen? He becomes programmed to see White as

BY JAMES J.LONDIS:
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beautiful and Black as ugly, to see himself as impotent, ignorant, worthless. That's why we need to hear 'Black is beautiful' and 'Black power.'" The president of the Northeastern Conference (comprised largely of Blacks) asked me, "Londis, what do you do with a whole race of people who possess an inferiority complex?" That need to "be somebody" could be met at least partially, Black students felt, by allowing them to form their own organization on campus. The Black students announced that they were going to hold a public discussion about their proposed organization, and that any faculty members or students who wished to come were welcome. I attended that meeting and heard speeches I shall never forget. Passionate words flowed like a flood-swollen river. One young man said: "Whites are welcome to join our organization and attend our meetings. But while they are here, they will think and feel Black." The organization was needed to allow Blacks the chance, while on a largely White campus, to enter into the richness of their Black heritage. In their religious meetings, the style of singing and sermonizing was to be distinctly their own. They would affirm the dignity and pride of Blackness. I learned that I was insensitive to the pain experienced by Black people because of discrimination. As one of its major events, the new organization sponsored Black History weekend, with the purpose of educating and sensitizing Whites on campus to the history of slavery. to the contributions of Blacks that had been ignored by White historians. to the meaning of the civil rights movement. to the history of Blacks in the Adventist fellowship. to the unique needs and concerns of Black students on campus. I learned that my church has followed the world in its policies and practices regarding Blacks. This, of course, proved the most painful of all
ADVENTIST REVIEW, JANUARY 15, 1987

fike many other White Adventists, I had much to repent of, much to try to undo.
the revelations I received. I did not know, for example, that Black Adventists have separate conferences because when the conferences were integrated, Blacks were systematically denied leadership. I did not know that for years many Adventist institutionsschools, publishing houses, hospitals, and churchesdiscriminated against Blacks. For years they could not receive treatment in some Adventist hospitals, could not eat in the cafeteria in our publishing houses, or worship God in a number of White churches. Like many other White Adventists, I had much to repent of, much to try to undo. I learned that our Adventist strug gle to achieve true fellowship and equality between the races was just beginning. Since my graduation from Atlantic Union College, the percentage of Black members has steadily increased in the North American Division. The same has held true for the world church. At the 1985 General Conference session, the delegation from Africa, which included a number of highly educated people, made itself heard loudly and clearly in behalf of representation at the highest levels of leadership. I asked one Black administrator with whom I sat during one of the sessions, "What do you make of all this?" He replied, "The sleeping giant has awakened. I am thrilled to see this day." White people may comprise a majority in North American Adventism, but not for long. The Hispanic and Black minorities will, if present trends continue, make up the majority populations in the church on this continentas they already have in the world field. We have learned in this country that White powerholders can live comfortably with minorities seeking power if they don't get much stronger in number than about 20 percent of the overall population. I suspect the church membership feels much the same way. What will happen to Adventism as we know it when the White population becomes a minority and the democratic process provides the historically powerless with new power? When that time comes, we will need all the educating and sensitizing possibleWhite and Black and Hispanicif we are to compose the kingdom of God, the model community on earth, that Christ has called us to form. I have been privileged over the years to work with Black Adventist administrators who oversee White populations as well as Black ones. They have proved themselves capable, fair, gracious, patient, and dedicated to this church. Many years ago a Black college student said to me, "We know that power is a terrible temptation. We realize that if the fortunes of history had been reversed, Blacks would most likely have treated Whites no differently than Whites have treated us. But I would hope," he continued, "that should we ever achieve a degree of power, we can demonstrate a more Christian way to wield it." I hope so too. D James /. Londis is director of the Washington Institute, serving the needs of thought leaders in Washington, D.C.
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V
uring the years I have been REVIEW'S question-and-answer columnist, questions on several of the same topics have come to my desk with great frequency. True to my commitment, I have answered the letters individually, but have never gone public with three or four issues in the church, one of them being the movies. In former generations Adventists were rock-solidly opposed to any kind of theatrical performances. Films were never shown in Adventist schools, and attendance at any kind of theater usually provided grounds for dismissal. However, inventions of the past few decades have changed many aspects of theatergoing.

ANDTHE

An informal survey reveals a wide variety of Adventist opinion.

ing the capacity to show all kinds of rental films in the home. That being the case, it seemed time to take an informal sampling of Adventist thinking on the subject of movies. In the May 22,1986, ADVENTIST REVIEW I invited readers to give me their opinions. I posed three questions: "Is there a difference in seeing the same motion picture in a theater, in a Seventh-day Adventist school, or at home? Are movies acceptable if shown in the privacy of our homes? Where do discrimination and good taste come in?"

I learned that Adventists' opinions on issues can vary greatly. I believe the most helpful and fair thing I can do as an unbiased reporter is to give you samplings of the letters and ask you to read them carefully and consider them. You will, I hope, see that the issue is not nearly so simple as "having the church take a stand."

First, the Conservative

Let's start with the conservative letters. "I am surprised," writes one reader, "that you would give space to any suggestion that would change the guidelines of our religion as moviegoing would. I was attracted to the SDA Church because it dared to be different. ... There are some who say a little wine won't hurt or a little dancing won't hurt or a little moviegoing won't hurt. There is no such thing as being a little pregnant! Sometimes church progress is nothing more than a regression to paganism. Leave our church alone!" A recurring point has to do with television. Many people appear to feel that Adventist people should not own TVs, and certainly not VCRs. "I wish that Mrs. White were alive today," writes one person. "What would she say about the Olympic Games, ice skating, ballet, baseball, football, auto racing, and especially TV? One thing

Changes in the Church

These inventions have made changes in the church as well. Today: 1. Adventist schools show feature films for entertainment. 2. Drama classes are taught in some Adventist academies and colleges. 3. Theatrical productions for which admission is charged are produced in some SDA schools. 4. Probably most Adventists in North America own television sets, making available every type of theatrical entertainment at the flick of a switch. 5. A fair share of Adventists own videocassette recorders, provid-

. he problem is not where you see a movie, but what you see."
By far the largest segment of letters I received were extremely conservative. These letters may represent a majority opinion in the churchbut they may not. I hesitate to suggest that members with exceedingly liberal tendencies (I wish I could get away from the terms conservative and liberal, but I haven't thought of any others that would be as readily understood) may not be regular REVIEW readers and may have been unaware of the survey.

1BYMEIAMWOODI
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? wrong with television and the movies i ^, is the time factor. God wants us to use our time wisely. . . . Drama has been I the devil's biggest tool in the promotion and spreading of evil in the ; "' world." \? Here's a crisp summary by another I reader: "1. Because of our emotional - identification, the actors become idols

lost theatrical entertainment is in direct opposition to the Adventist mission.

that seriously interfere in our relationship with Jesus Christ. . . . These images leave a strong and irresistible influence in the mind of the beholder that makes it impossible for the individual to resist sin. 2. The scenes portrayed are fictitious. This in a most subtle way destroys the desire of the mind for truth. 3. To be a Seventh-day Adventist Christian is to have a unique mission in this world. The time, treasure, and talent involved in most theatrical entertainment is in direct opposition to this mission." Another reader sums it up this way: "Is there a difference in seeing the same motion picture in a theater, in an SDA school, or at home? Generally speaking, yes. For just being physically present in a theater would have worldly significance and condition one to attend again and again. But as for the content of what is being shownno; if it's bad, it could be even more harmful for it to be viewed in the school or home since there it would have a measure of approval and acceptance."

God does not force anyone to do His will. The church too should teach principles, lead, guide, and instruct. But it should not dictate.... "It is considerably past time that the church and our schools stop concerning themselves with whether or not members or students attend movie theaters or watch TV/VCR movies, but teach instead what is suitable or unsuitable to watch and, in particular, why. . . . Everything should be tempered with good judgment, asking the question What would Jesus do? In answering that question honestly, you would find that He was very liberal, not like the scribes and Pharisees, who, sad to say, many SDAs are like." This letter from an academy upperclassman was well thought out. "The problem is not where you see a movie, but what you see. While most of the movies being made today are inappropriate for Christians, there are many exceptions. What is acceptable to one Christian may not be acceptable to another Christian. Since each person must make a choice,. . . 'why should my liberty be determined by another man's scruples?' (I Cor. 10:29, RSV). So instead of condemning films altogether, we should teach youth how to be more discreet in choosing the movies they see."

most of the messages it delivers do not measure up to our moral or aesthetic standards. This is irrational, and most young people sense this lack of reason early on and are turned off by it.... "I believe we as a church have spent far too much time and energy propagating a set of rules of behavior when we should have been inculcating a set of spiritual and ethical values that would permit newly baptized as well as young, growing Adventists to make their own reasoned decisions. . . . Today's up-and-coming Adventist Christians are alive and aware. They are asking some difficult questions that are not satisfied by the usual stock answers, or nonanswers, as the case frequently has been."

That's Entertainment
So there you have a sampling of the letters, with their enormously divergent viewpoints. What can we learn from this? My hope and prayer is that we will not judge one another, but that we will attribute to others the same sincerity we know to be in our own hearts. Background, level of education, circumstances, home influences these are some of the factors that bring people to different conclusions not only regarding film attendance but on other issues facing the church. Salvation is an individual matter. We will not go to heaven in a group; our cases are judged individually. And the genius of Protestantism has always been its room for individual interpretations. However, we must keep in mind our need to walk in Christ's footsteps. And we need to remember the church of tomorrowour children and young adultsso that the stands we take and the actions we perform will never seem to them inconsistent and indefensible. D Miriam Wood, author of16 books, is a retired English teacher whose hobby has been "observing human nature in all its complexity."
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(oday's up-and-coming Adventist Christians are alive and aware. They ask difficult questions that are not satisfied by the usual stock answers."
This last writer was very firm in his summation: "There is absolutely no difference between seeing a movie at a theater, academy auditorium, college gym, or private home. A given piece of material is either acceptable food for the mind or it isn't.... Good taste and discrimination have everything to do with the choice. . . . The church's position on movies is entirely inadequate because it confuses the medium with the message and condemns the medium simply because many or

A Different View
Now let's consider responses from readers who have very different opinions from the ones you have just read. "I have been concerned about this matter for a long time," writes one reader. "I believe, however, that it is part of the larger problemthe church's attempt to legislate . . . , leaving no room for thinking or choices. God teaches principles in the Bible; we are to make the choices. . . .

THE CHRISTLIKE LIFE

ABOIT

HOWJESUS TREATED THE

OUTCAST

JESUS

"A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. "Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by /our of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.' "Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 'Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?' "Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, 'Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the

paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven," or to say, "Get up, take up your mat and walk"? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. "He said to the paralytic, '1 tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.' He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, 'We have never seen anything like this.'"'(Mark 2:1-12, MV).

:By MORRIS L VENDER

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resus accepts us regardless of who we are, where weVe been, or what weVe done.
'T^his is the story of a man who i raised the roof and got let down by his friends! Who was this man? I'd like to suggest that he was a nobody about town. An invalid. A shut-in. He was, on top of that, an outcast. Anyone suffering or afflicted or diseased was charged with being a great sinnera great sinning sinner! And in this case, the charge happened to be true. The evidence is that his affliction was the result of a life of sin, and many Bible commentators consider that it was a social disease. So he was an outcast. One by one his friendsexcept his sinning friendshad faded away. I suppose we could even conjecture that the ones who carried him to Jesus were of the same ilk. This man knew what it was like to have a burning conscience and to sublimate it into the back chambers of his mind. He knew the evil of sin by experience. He knew guilt and what the devil does in pounding a person with guilt. He knew the abhorrence of sin, in spite of still loving it. He knew the unrest, the unsatisfied desires. He knew that even his motives were not right. Why did he want to go to look for help? sinner, outcast by God and man. His friends too had let him down. But this last try, when they let him down through the roof, turned out to be the greatest moment of his life. A large crowd of people surrounded Jesus in Peter's house. It was so crowded that there was no way to get inside. But at the man's own suggestion, his friends carried him to the roof, removed the tiles, and let him down between the beams. This would have been embarrassing to anyone carrying ordinary inhibitions. But he was at the end of his own resources. When a person is at death's door, nothing else matters. The people were therethe eager, the reverent, the unbelieving, the curious. The spy ring was there from Jerusalemthe Pharisees and Sadducees already out for Jesus' life. You can see the teeming throng, inside and outside of the house, listening through the windows and standing in the doorways. You can hear the sudden silence in the room after the pounding on the roof. You can feel the tension in the air as a lone man descends into the very presence of Jesus. The story says Jesus saw their faith. Don't miss the fact that the faith of the four who carried the man was also involved. We don't know their names. We don't sing about them or tell the stories of their lives. But in the arms of their faith they brought this man into the presence of Jesus. list and is checking it twice, trying to see how many people He can keep out of heaven? God called this man, with his track record, "My son"? Yes, this is God talking. This is God saying, "My son." Then Matthew adds a little phrase that Mark doesn't have in his account of the story"Be of good cheer" (see Matt. 9:2). I like that phrase. Is it possible today that anyone needs to cheer up? Is it possible to be bogged down with guilt and remorse and sin? Is there anyone today who can look at this story and see more than just a history lesson, who can put himself in the picture? Jesus knew that at the top of this man's list was his desire to have peace with God. Jesus also knew that this would bring all other blessings in its train. So He said, "My son, thy sins be forgiven." This man was so concerned about peace with God, over anything else, that he was content to live or dieit made no differenceif he could just have his sins forgiven. The rest of it he was happy to leave in God's hands. I had a friend during college days, a quiet sort, a little older than the rest of us. He was back from Korea, where he had been in the Marines, in charge of a platoon of men. One night, under cover of darkness, with only the stars above, the men had started up a mountain to take it for the Allies. They had understood that the hill behind them had been cleared, but someone had done a sloppy job of it, leaving a lone machine gunner. As they started up the mountain the machine gun suddenly opened fire. The gunner swept across the bottom row of his rank, then he raised the machine gun a couple of degrees and
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Let Down So we see this man coming to Jesus. That's the one thing he did right. He had tried other methods, and he had been let down many times. He was about to be let down into a grave somewhere, for the disease had My Son reached an advanced stage. He had Now come the words that bring on tried the doctors, and they had let him the big moment of this man's life. "My down, pronouncing him incurable. son." My son? You mean the God of He had tried the Pharisees and church the universe calls someone like this leaders, and they had let him down. His son? What about the God of They had said he was hopeless, a great justice? What about the God who has a

No"WhatIfs" Sometimes we get bogged down in trying to decide what might have happened if the paralytic had not believed. What if he had stopped to analyze, to decide which came first, his faith or moving his muscles? There was not time for any of that! I would like to propose that when you are in the presence of the Lifegiver and He says, "Arise, take up your bed, and walk," you do just that! You don't pause for dialogue or debate. You rise up immediately in the presence of the mighty creative word of God. The man jumped to his feet. He took A New Man up his bed. And please noticenow So this paralyzed man settles back he was somebody! He didn't have to on his cot or his mattress or whatever go back through the roof! There was it was, rejoicing in the good news, no room before, but the crowd sud"My son, your sins are forgiven." A denly found room now. Carrying his bed, the man walked new glow comes to his face. His eyes, The psalmist expressed it in these even his body functions, begin to out the door and headed toward change. It's hard to know at what home, his face aglow with the wonder words: "Bless the Lord, O my soul: point the forgiveness and the healing of the miracle. There is no evidence and all that is within me, bless merge, but he's a new man. He lies that his wife or children had come his holy name. there in complete bliss and happiness. with him this day on this mission. Bless the Lord, O my soul, But there's always someone in the They must have seen him leave home and forget not all his benefits: crowd to spoil it. The church leaders many timesto see the doctors, the who forgiveth all thine iniqwere thinking dark thoughts. And miracle workers, or the latest quacks. uities; Jesus picked up on their thoughts and They must often have watched while who healeth all thy diseases; their body language. "He said, . . . he returned slowly in defeat. So they who redeemeth thy life from 'Which is easier: to say to the para- stayed home. lytic, "Your sins are forgiven," or to destruction; Now you see them looking out the say, "Get up, take up your mat and window, between the shutters, or over who crowneth thee with walk"? But that you may know that the railing of the front porch. They lovingkindness the Son of Man has authority on earth can't believe it. It doesn't look like and tender mercies" to forgive sins. . . .' He said to the father, but it is father! He's running, (Ps.l03:l-4). D paralytic, 'I tell you, get up, take up Adapted from Morris L. Venden, How Jesus Treated People. Copyright 1986 by Pacific Press Publishing your mat and go home.' " Association. Reprinted with permission.
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came back the other way. Then he raised it and came across again. He was very clever with his firing. My friend, at the head of the platoon, knew he didn't have much time. He heard his men groaning and moaning and dying below him. But he had grown up in a Christian home. He knew about Jesus and the Second Coming and heaven and forever. He had turned his back on all of it. But now, in spite of his wrong motives, he looked toward heaven and said, "God, I don't have much time. And I don't ask You to save my life. I don't deserve anything. But would You please help me to come up in the right resurrection?" That's all he was interested in peace with God. The rest of it could come or go. But strangely enough, he came back from the hill unscathed. He came to college to study to be a minister, and ever since, he has been back in the armed forces as a chaplain, trying to help others like himself. Why did he do it? Because God had given him a bonusnot only forgiveness and peace and a hope of eternity, but life here and now. And when that happens to you, you've got to tell somebody!

t's hard to know at what point forgiveness and healing merge.

Was it easy for the palsied man to obey Jesus' wordsor was it hard? In the beginning, when the Creator spoke, even the dust jumped to attention! At His command, worlds came into existence. Would it have been easy for the man to stay lying on his cot? jumping, almost prancing with excitement. He has new life. He has met the Saviour. Why did Jesus do it? Why did He come to people with healing? Because He wanted them all to know that He has power on earth to forgive sins. Jesus made sinners His best friends on earth, and He still has the same acceptance and forgiveness and power. A lot of people lack assurance and certainty and peace today. But I would like to invite you to join the poor paralyzed man, who proved that regardless of who you are or where you've been or what you've done, you are still accepted when you come to Jesus. You can still be forgiven. This can cause you to walk with a new spring in your step, for God has power not only to forgive but to heal and change and enable you to walk in newness of life as well. This all happens in the presence of Jesus. How thankful we can be today that we can still come into the presence of Jesus and that He's promised to accept us and forgive and cleanse.

THEOLOGY.

MY

FAIT H

MY

LIFE

GOD'S LAW MEANS TO ME

* f The Law of God. The great principles of God's law are embodied in the Ten Com mandments and exempli fied in the life of Christ. They express God's love, will, and purposes concerning human conduct and relationships and are binding upon all people in every age. These precepts are the basis of God's covenant with His people and the standard in God's judgment. Through the agency of the Holy Spirit they point out sin and awaken a sense of need for a Saviour. Salvation is all of grace and not of works, but its fruitage is obedience to the Com mandments. This obedience develops Christian character and results in a sense of well-being. It is an evidence of our love for the Lord and our concern for our fellowmen. The obedience of faith demonstrates the power of Christ to trans form lives, and therefore strengthens Christian witness. (Ex. 20:1-17; Ps.
"Why," I persisted, "if justification is of central importance?" He looked perplexed and answered, "I don't know." "I'll suggest an answer for you, Bob," I said. "The Bible addresses God's people who, it assumes, are already in a right relationship with Him. The believer doesn't ask 'How can I be saved?' but 'Father, what do You want me to do?' " I believe the conclusion we came to that day is true. The Christian delights to know and to do God's will (Ps. 40:8). But he must be taught what that "will" is. God's WiU Revealed Both angels and humankind in their original creationpossessing naturally loving heartswould have taken pleasure in obeying God. Supreme love to God and impartial love to one's fellow beings is the essence of the moral law. This principle is the biblical core of religion. The Creator worded and adapted it in the form of the Ten Commandments to the circumstances of human life. Did Adam and Eve know the 10 specific precepts of the Decalogue in Eden? On this point the Bible is silent, but it is clear that they began life under the ruling principle of love. By obeying whatever commands God gave them in the Garden, they would have fulfilled the principle undergirding the first four precepts of the Decaloguesupreme love to God. The Decalogue is of universal obligation. The Creator must have given the Ten Commandments to our first parents immediately after the Fall (if He had not already done so), because a knowledge of these precepts is present in society long before Israel's organization as a nation at Sinai. For instance, we see allusions in Genesis to the first and second precepts (Gen. 35:1-4); the fourth (Gen. 2:1-3); the fifth (Gen. 18:19); the sixth (Gen. 4:8-11); the seventh (Gen. 39:79; 19:1-10); the eighth (Gen. 44:8); the ninth (Gen. 12:11-13; 20:1-10); and the tenth (Genesis 27). The Ten Commandments reflect the character of the Lawgiver. And that character is infinite lovea love that seeks only the well-being and happiness of the governed. "The law

*"
, *

J ^ k

According to the Bible God's will for the human family is revealed in the moral law of the Ten Commandments. This remarkable 10-part statement can no more be separated from God than sunlight from the sun. It provides principles for daily life that are broad and far-reaching. 40:7, 8; Matt. 22:36-40; Deut. 28:1-14; Do the words will, Jaw, and comMatt. 5:17-20; Heb. 8:8-10; John 16:7- mandments sound restrictive? Lucifer 10; Eph. 2:8-10; 1 John 5:3; Rom. 8:3, thought so, and so do the unconverted 4; Ps. 19:7-14.) (1 John 3:4, 8; Rom. 8:6-8). But God's new covenant promises us that His have a question for you, Bob!" saving gospel establishes a harmoniImmediately the hubbub in the ous union between the Creator and college classroom subsided. those who acknowledge His Lord"To what topic does the Bible ship. "I will put my laws into their devote most of its experiences and mind, and write them in their hearts: counselsjustification or sanctifica- and I will be to them a God, and they tion?" I queried. The students waited shall be to me a people" (Heb. 8:10). Neither physical nor moral law for Bob's response. "I suppose ... the Bible has more to oppresses the creation. As far as moral say about sanctification," Bob replied law is concerned, Divine Love could design only just and good commands. reluctantly.

By FRANK B. HOLBROOKII
(71) 15

of God is only God's face disclosed to human sight" (Augustus Strong). What features of the divine "face" are seen in the Ten Commandments? God says of Himself: "I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16). The redeemed acknowledge: "Just and true are thy ways" (Rev. 15:3), and the psalmist declares: "Good and upright is the Lord" (Ps. 25:8). When the apostle Paul describes the Ten Commandments, he says: "The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good" (Rom. 7:12). And the apostle John adds, "And his commandments are not grievous ["not burdensome,"]" (1 John 5:3, RSV).

Ahe believer doesn't ask "How can I be saved?" but "Father, what do You want me to do?"
ones. Be that as it may, every negative injunction is positive on its flip side, a command that is extremely broad and ( far-reaching in its implications (Ps. 119:96). For example, the positive side of "Thou shalt not kill" is really: "Thou shalt promote thy brother's life." It is God's will that His followers seek to promote the well-being and happiness of everyone who comes within their sphere of influence. In a profound sense the gospel commission the good news of salvation and eternal life in Jesus Christrests upon the positive principle embodied in the sixth precept. The broad sweep of the precepts and principles of the Ten Commandments clearly indicates that if the populations of earth would obey these lawsas God originally intended they shouldheaven would bloom on earth! The Creator, supreme in each life, would be worshiped in spirit and truth. All that was holy and sacred would be revered and respected, and the observance of the Sabbath would function like a golden clasp to bind the heart of the race to our heavenly Parent. Such a vertical love relationship with God would motivate an equally dynamic love relationship between all members of human society. What supreme happiness would be experienced! Such was the society of heaven before Lucifer's rebellion against the will and authority of God; such will be the society of the redeemed when the plan of redemption is completed I D Frank B. Hoibrook is associate director, Biblical Research Institute.

The Nature of the Ten

Four aspects of the Decalogue stand out in my mind: 1. A moral law. The Ten Commandments expressly define our duty to God, the Creator, and our duty to our fellow beings as the Creator has ordained. These relationships are locked into the structure of things; hence, the precepts and principles of the Decalogue are a permanent reality as far as our present existence and genuine happiness are concerned. 2. A spiritual law. "The law is spiritual," observes the apostle Paul (Rom. 7:14). In this area the Ten Commandments are unique. Human laws address the overt act. But under the Holy Spirit the Ten Commandments reach the sinner at the level of his thoughts as well. Jesus emphasized this spiritual aspect in the Sermon on the Mount. Obedience or transgression first begin as matters of the mind (Matt. 5:21, 22, 27, 28; Mark 7:21, 22; cf. 1 John 3:15). And the Ten Commandments convict and turn the heart of a penitent sinner toward Christ's saving grace. 3. A body of far-reaching princi ples. Many dismiss the Ten Commandments as a short series of prohibitions. In reality, the Decalogue is a cluster of far-reaching principles. For example, the fifth precept encompasses the enormous area of Christian relationships. It deals with a Christian's relationship to all forms of proper authority. 4. A positive law. Why did God choose to phrase the precepts in negative terms? Eight of the 10 begin with the idea of "Thou shalt not ..." Only two are stated positively. Perhaps, as sinful beings, negative statements arrest our attention more effectively than positive

What God Is Like This comparison between God and His law has always impressed me. Do I wish to know what God is like? Then I study what has been revealed in His law, for its attributes are His. Do I wish to know by what kind of law God governs His people? Then I need only to read what the Scriptures reveal about the character of my Father, for His character is revealed in His law. Do I wish to know what kind of behavior will result if I live in obedience? Then I need to consider Christ Himself. His life was the law transmuted into a radiant, vibrant experience! Thus, as a Christian, I do not see the Ten Commandments as an expression of an arbitrary or a self-seeking will. Rather, they are the revelation of the character of the heavenly Father, an expression of His gracious will for my happiness in the created order of things. In effect, He is saying "This is the best and happiest way to live on planet earth." Since the commandments reflect the divine character, it also follows that as far as the human situation is concerned, the principles and precepts of the Ten Commandments are not temporal or situational, for my God is not temporary. Furthermore, the atoning death of the Saviour has confirmed forever the lightness and the authority of the Ten Commandments as the expression of the divine will to man (cf. Rom. 3:31).
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ROSS REPORT

APPY BIRTHDAY TO THE CONSTITUTION!

ow begins the celebration, for a year or more, of a yellow parchment with faded printthat document bequeathed to the Confederation Congress and then to the people by the Philadelphia Convention of 1787. Why ought the people of the United States lift the Federal Con stitution from its hallowed past and celebrate it? Was not the unamended, pristine document so conspicuously flawed that ratification could have failed? Paper and ink represent the first answer: This was a written consti tution, and that alone stood as a new and revolutionary concept in constitutional development. Correctly, Chief Justice John Marshall referred to written constitutions as "the greatest improvement on political institutions." Reverencing things written, we consider the Constitution a tangible, visible symbol of what the people value. Laws inscribed seem less mutable, less vulnerable to individual whim, than laws transmitted by custom and word of mouth. We should celebrate the Constitution also because it erased a disas ter, the first try at nation-building, called the Articles of Confederation. Although not everything under the aegis of that document should be condemned, only with its replacement did the certainty dawn that having won the war, America would also survive the peace as a governmental system producing unity at

home and earning respect abroad. While mindful of the excesses of power, the framers of the Constitution reduced some of the distrust thereof, overcoming the notion that constraints must always be minimal, fragmented, and local. In accomplishing this feat, the authors of the Constitution compiled, summarized, and distilled much respected thought of that age. Hardly the mere product of a summer's meetings, this Constitution reached into the past and reflected efforts through time to apply the results of Western science and learning to human affairs. In other words, it transmitted a rich political culture, especially the values of republicanism, balanced government, separation of powers, and the English legal tradition of rights and limited power. One also marvels at the durability of the Federal Constitution. Probably because of the legitimacy that ratification by the people conferred upon it, this instrument of government has outlasted all others. Given that two thirds of the world's 160 national constitutions have been adopted or revised since

1970 and only about a dozen predate World War II, it is obvious that constitutions tend to be precarious. But not the 200-year-old Constitution of the United States! Never allow the vicissitudes of American history to obscure the stability of the government itself. The bicentennial seeks to acknowledge and extol that fundamental reality. Finally, who could gainsay the fact that to some extent the Federal Constitution represents a guarantee of individual liberties? True, it was not primarily such; hence the amendments that were quickly added. To strengthen the relationship between states and national government and to revise the latter's structure became the aims and accomplishments of the delegates in Philadelphia. But in the process they took libertarian steps. Powers not delegated to the central government remained, at least theoretically, with the states and the people. The Constitution barred religious tests for federal officeholding. It also prohibited illegal imprisonment, ex post facto statutes, and punishment for acts not forbidden by law. With French help, Americans won the war for independence. The Federal Constitution is what they did with that newly won independence. For the above five reasons I would give that document a snappy salute. Gary M. Ross serves as an associate in the Department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty and as congressional liaison for the General Conference.

lonstitutions tend to be precarious, but not the 200-year-old United States Constitution!
-GARY M. ROSS(73) 17

Everett Mellish goes the extra mile for his patients.

Meet Everett Mellish, a nurse at Porter Memorial Hospital and amateur pilot.
Everett works on one of the most difficult units at Porter the oncology unit. He combines high skill nursing with high level caring. "Nursing isn't just an eight hour shift, it's a total commitment to its highest ideals and a special way of showing God's love." Last year, Everett, who has both commercial and instrument pilot ratings, rented a plane and flew a dying young mother home to Arkansas so she could spend her last days in the support and comfort of her family. When world attention was focused on the famine in Ethiopia, Everett wanted to contribute in a personal way. So, for six months, he used his nursing skills working with a Christian organization to transport food and provide medical care to famine refugees. At Porter, we value employees like Everett Mellish, who go the extra mile. If you share that commitment, we'd like to hear from you.

Put your faith to work.

Make a career out of caring, call or write Porter Memorial Hospital. 2525 S. Downing St., Denver. CO 80210. 303-778-5611.
5 Porter Memorial Hospital An Equiil Opportunity Err

WORLDVIEW.

Armona Union Academy Holds Outdoor School

Rolling school keeps students updated.
t a time when many academies bring high tech to their classrooms, Armona Union Academy, in the Central California Conference, takes its classes to the high tech. Principal Ron Turner and his staff have organized the Outdoor School, where students learn firsthand about the world outside the classroom. This year's five-day session took place soon after school began, when the small, family-atmosphere 32student body piled into a yellow school bus, a motor home, and a "food and luggage" van, left the quiet rural academy, and headed for the state correctional facility at Tehachapi. There Chaplain Valenzuela explained how the system works and afforded students an opportunity to ask questions. Some were surprised to learn that the facility's dress code was even more conservative than the academy's, and all were glad that several inmates had come to know Christ while there. Solar One, southern California Edison Company's solar energy station, the next stop on the Outdoor School experience, proved to be several students' favorite educational experience. They saw hundreds of motorized mirrors transforming the desert surface into a sun-collecting dynamo. The mirrors focused on a central oil-filled collector and generated steam enough to furnish electricity for a town of 6,000 people. Few students had had any idea that industry had applied the same principles they learned in their science classes to help keep cities alive. By Daniel FJinn, of Armona Union Academy.

Since arrangements had been made to stay overnight at various academies along the way and use their kitchen facilities whenever possible, sleeping and eating were cared for inexpensively and effi-

ciently. Students led worship each day, and helped with food preparation and cleanup. The next day the academy toured Loma Linda University Medical Center and the Los Angeles Times Building. The latter facility became a journalism classroom, where students witnessed an entire newspaper operation. The day ended with a visit to Olvera Street, the Hispanic culture center of Los Angeles, where Spanish I students had a chance to browse through the shops and attempt conversation with the vendors. (Continued on next page)

At Solar One, in southern California, Armona Academy students saw hundreds of motorized mirrors transforming the desert into a sun-collecting dynamo.

Would you like to give the

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The following day the caravan headed for San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant north of San Diego, where students enjoyed a multimedia presentation with a questionand-answer session and tour that included an explanation of what occurred during the nuclear power plant disaster in the Soviet Union. As one observer pointed out, "You can't get this in a textbook!" From San Onofre the rolling school traveled on south to visit the San Diego Space Museum, resembling a giant physics classroom with its myriad "hands on" exhibits. An aircraft carrier might seem like a strange classroom, but the BeUeau Wood, anchored at San Diego, became of more than passing interest to the students. History teacher Craig Duller had prepared his class for the visit, as had the other teachers, by giving an assignment for Outdoor School. The visit repre-

sented a culmination of their efforts to learn the history and function of several U.S. naval vessels. That afternoon, students toured the KCET television station in Los Angeles for firsthand observation of television program production. The Seventh-day Adventist Media Center in Thousand Oaks and the Pacific Union Conference Office in Westlake Village provided the final two classrooms for the Outdoor School. There students learned how the center developed award-winning programs to further the salvation message around the world, and gained a better understanding of the structure of their union. The Outdoor School experience has generated much enthusiasm. Besides the obvious educational benefits, Armona Union Academy students developed a unique "family" bond during the trip.

and professional services, came $320,000 in cash, so that the center stands virtually debt-free. Last year the Medina center served approximately 10,000 clients with the help of about 70 "f volunteers, who worked as interviewers, receptionists, clothing assistants, food packers, and in h many other roles.

Small Church Opens SDAs' Finest Community Center

Ohio members build modern facility.
n open house for the public on November 9 celebrated completion of the Adventist Community Services center in Medina, Ohio. The event marked the realization of more than three years of planning, fund-raising, and construction. The facility is said to be the finest of its kind in the denomination, and it has one of the best programs. The two-story building displays the volunteer work of an architect and a professional interior decorator. The ground floor includes 15 roomsa reception area with an adjoining child-care room; a secreBy Monte Sahlin, director, Community Services, Ohio Conference.
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tarial office and two interview offices; large facilities outfitted with storage cabinets for clothing, shoes, linens, and household goods; a food pantry; a sorting and cleaning area next to a small room with a drop where donated items can be deposited; an area where clients try on clothing; public restrooms; a walkin cooler for food storage; and a garage for loading and unloading vans. The second story includes a large classroom with a beautifully equipped demonstration kitchen, offices for a chaplain/health educator, and additional storage for toys and seasonal clothing. The entire facility, with parking, is worth about $375,000. Along with donations of equipment, materials,

Services Provided The center provides emergency groceries, clothing, bedding, and small household items, and keeps a stock of basic furniture in a barn outside of town. The pastor of the local Adventist church, among others, provides counseling at the center, which also holds classes on cooking and nutrition, family budgeting, how to stop smoking, stress management, etc. The center started operations more than 20 years ago in the basement of the church. In 1971 it moved into larger quarters, which soon became inadequate. Volunteers from Protestant churches joined with Adventists at the center and soon began to help with funds as well. In addition the United Way provides a yearly appropriation. About four years ago Betty Ahnberg, who directed the center until her death last fall, saw the need for a new and larger facility. She involved civic leaders, business people, local pastors, and others in a cooperative building effort. The day of celebration was saddened by her loss from cancer at age 55. The Ohio state legislature marked her death by a resolution, and editorials about her appeared in more than a dozen newspapers across the state. Because of her ministry, Adventists are well known in Medina County, where their church became known as a caring church long before that phrase was widely used by the denomination. The Medina church has only 74 members and the usual problems with attendance and finances. But it also has an unusual vision for serving humanity that can bring new life to any congregation.

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Madhya Bharat Work-study Plan Brings Success

ore than 30 workers gathered in Sri Ganganagar in India's Madhya Bharat Section for a school of evangelism and a five-village ( evangelistic thrust this past September. Saudagar Chand, ministerial secretary of the Southern Asia Division, John Willmott, president of the Northern Union, and Lal Singh, field secretary of the Northern Union, provided the instruction. The speakers explained the Harvest 90 program, outlining its aims and objectives in the context of the Madhya Bharat setting. Noting that without evangelism there is no church, Elder Chand taught the

The members of the growing church at Chak 40-F have established three other churches In their district.

evangelists how to plan their work systematically and prepare good sermons. Dr. Willmott brought out

from the books of Ezra and Habakkuk methods of exposition and Bible study, as well as applications for evangelism. Elder Singh stressed the mission of the church as related to Harvest 90. Following five days of study, the team of workers moved out into five villages to practice what they had learned. Every night for the next two weeks the villages echoed with gospel music and preaching. Hundreds thronged the meetings to listen and see the visual aids. N. E. Curtis, education director of the section, showed films on health and religion every night in a different village. King of Kings in Hindi proved such a favorite that all the villages requested a repeat screening. During the day the workers visited homes, giving Bible studies. During the meetings new churches were organized at Nohar, Mohlan, and Beenjbayala in services con-

AILMENT
"Many Adventist young people have never become sufficiently involved in the church's life and mission to qualify as being alienated from it.... The youth simply remain apathetic, uninterested."
Wayne R. Judd, To Catch a Star, Part III Adventist Review, June 19, 1986

ANTIDOTE
"As I read Insight, I sense its potential to bring young people face-to-face with the importance of making Christ the center of their lives. It embraces them as a vital force in our church."
Neal C. Wilson General Conference President October 29,1986

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The New INSIGHT

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ducted by the school of evangelism instructors. After two weeks of evangelistic services, 153 candidates were baptized. In another service, Chand cut

the ribbon to officially inaugurate a new church building before a large gathering of Adventists. This growing church has planted three other churches in the Sri Ganganagar

CHILDREN'S CORNER.

OW TO CATCH H A SANDHILL CRANE

BY BOB NIXON, SR. obbie and John rode along the trail by Vallecitos Creek on the way to school. Their horses, Mac and Tilly, enjoyed the trip to school as much as the boys did. The boys often found exciting things during this, their first year on the Mokelumne River Ranch. The horses galloped and then settled into a fast walk. John was ahead. Suddenly he stopped Tilly and put his finger to his lips for Rob to be quiet. Then he motioned for him to come closer. Beside the trail were a dozen sandhill cranes stretching out their long necks to see something. They were watching a crazy coyote as he jumped in the air, turned somersaults, then chased his tail round and round. He rolled over like a dog and acted like a clown. Robbie whispered, "Why does he do that?" John shook his head. He didn't know, but the cranes were surely enjoying the coyote's tricks. Suddenly Robbie saw something moving behind the cranes. "John, look!" he whispered, pointing to another coyote sneaking up on the cranes. Each time the crazy coyote would act silly the cranes would watch him, and while they looked at that coyote the other one would sneak up closer. The
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closer he came to the birds, the crazier the other coyote would act. When they were all looking at the crazy coyote, the sneaky coyote ran quickly and grabbed a crane by its long neck. All the other cranes flew away, and the crazy coyote came over by the sneaky coyote and they had breakfast together. The boys hurried on to school. They could hardly wait to tell the teacher what they had seen. Mr. Hoff, the teacher, asked the boys to tell about the coyotes and the cranes for morning worship. When Robbie and John finished telling their story, Mr. Hoff said, "Boys and girls, Robbie and John have told you how those coyotes fooled the cranes. Satan works just the same way. He distracts us with silly little thingspetty quarrels, tiny disagreements, selfish desires, hurt feelings, unkind gossip, or making fun of people who are different from us." Mr. Hoff looked around the room at his students. Then he continued, "Satan makes us think these things are so big and important that we forget about the things that make life happy and worthwhile. We forget how important it is to value our families, classmates, and friends, and treat them the way our friend Jesus treats uswith kindness, forgiveness, unselfishness, and love."

district. Workers and members are " challenged by the instruction, "Wherever a company of believers is raised up, a house of worship should be built. Let not the workers leave the place without accom-f* plishing this" (Evangelism, p. 376). "If we can adhere to this it will bring stability and identity to our fc> work," stated Maxwell Paul, section treasurer. "Owing to the shortage of means, this is often difficult to^ accomplish, but we are confident of God's providence and trust that a t lack of funds will not prove a hindrance in the progress of His work." Harvest 90 has become a way of life for all Seventh-day Adventists y in the Madhya Bharat Section. They f have planned an extensive program to follow up the work already ^ accomplished.

1,000 Celebrate Pay of Baptism

ore than 1,000 persons gathered in Manhattan for a celebration of baptism on Sabbath, October 25. Climaxing a Greater New York Conference Day of Baptism, the gathering welcomed nearly 200 persons baptized earlier in the day. North American Division president Charles Bradford addressed the meeting, while Carlos Aeschlimann, General Conference director of Harvest 90, reported on the 32 simultaneous Hispanic crusades and 15 evangelistic series conducted in English and other languages in Greater New York that had led to the Day of Baptism. According to Merlin Kretschmar, president of the Greater New York Conference, the statement made by the celebration was that "a lot of dedicated workers and laypersons are involved in reaping right now. This will be a catalyst for even greater attempts to work for the Lord."

REFLECTIONS.

THE RISEN LIFE

W
herever you go in the walled city of Jerusalem you can hardly escape the atmosphere of a teeming Arab bazaar. But a few hundred yards north of the Damascus Gate lies a place of peace where pomegranates grow on trees and brightly colored flowers bloom everywhere. At one end of this garden looms a skull-shaped hill, an ancient place of execution. At the other extremity stands an empty rock-hewn tomb. Many Christians believe this to have been the tomb of Jesus. I have spent many hours of meditation in this peaceful garden and have become well acquainted with Bill White, curator of the garden tomb, who gave me a copy of his book, The Thing Incredible. He autographed it for me and wrote on the first page: "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death" (Phil. 3:10). Three Central Acts We find the three central acts of Christianity in this verse: His death four death to self, dying with Him); His burial four sins buried in the depths of God's forgetfulness); His resurrection four resurrection, the pulse of the risen life throbbing through our veins). Thank God that the miracle of His resurrection may be repeated, must be repeated, every day of our lives. The Gospels contain the record of three persons brought back to life by Christ. As recorded in Mark 5:22-24, 35-43, Jairus' daughter died. The ruler went to fetch Jesus and threw himself at the feet of the wandering Teacher, who started immediately for his home. They heard the wail of flutes and the scream of mourners as they approached the place of death. In response to two words, "Talitha cumi," the little girl rose. What was the evidence of her resurrection? Jesus commanded that she be given food. At first and throughout our "risen life" we need the food of the Word, that we may know Him. The power of His resurrection makes me victorious. We find the raising of the widow of Nain's son recorded in Luke 7:11-15. Jesus and His disciples came upon a funeral procession coming out of Nain, near to Shunem, where Elisha had raised another mother's son. There Jesus claimed as His own what death had seized as its prey. What was the evidence of the resurrection of the widow's son? He began to speak. An obvious sign of the "risen life" is our witness. As ambassadors for Christ, we must speak for our Sovereign in an alien land. The resurrection of Lazarus appears in John 11:1-44. This time Jesus arrived at the scene four days after the funeral. The valley outside Bethany opens onto the lunarlike wilderness of Judea. The voice of Jesus rang through that valley, across the wilderness, shattering the power of death: "Lazarus, come forth." What was the evidence of new life in Lazarus? "And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes" (verse 44). His ability to walk, though encumbered with graveclothes, furnished evidence that Lazarus was alive.

The "risen life" involves walking each day in the company of the risen Lord, for Christians cannot remain static. We dare not say "Sorry, that's just how I am!" The "risen life" means leaving sin behind and progressing onward toward the kingdom of God. As we look to Jesus we shall bear more and more "the family likeness of his Son" (Rom. 8:29, Phillips). Secret of the Life We find the secret of the "risen life" in maintaining a vital connection with the Living Vine (John 15:1-8). Paul speaks of it as abiding with Him and knowing Him. As I do this, the assurance of salvation, of heaven, of eternity, becomes mine. "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection." When I know Him and the power of His resurrection I shall ingest the Word that I may know Him better. Knowing Him and the power of His resurrection, I shall witness to that resurrection power and harness it for my life. When I know Him and the power of His resurrection I shall "come forth" as Lazarus did to walk with Him. My life will display the fruit of His resurrection power, the indwelling Spirit, in the way I live. Death and He who has the power of death died on the threshold of an empty tomb. That resurrection morning they surrendered dominion, were led captive and humbled. As a shadow, they fled before the Light shining in the darkness. So, deathand darkness and the power of sinbe not proud! For Christ the Lord, over whom none can have dominion, is risen! D David N. Marshall serves as editor at the S tan borough Press in England.

BY DAVID N.MAESHALL:

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: THE SUICIDE.. ; '.'.', ane 'desperately

/tt*seded..$ome answers,, "rwas-.at a life where -I. could ' " : =' 3od forever," she .says.* ' ." ' Fortunately, somiebody was there to provide just the answers Jane needed, That somebody was Amazing Facts evangelist Joe Crews, and the caring church that stands behind Amazing Facts evangelism, "Unlike all my previous experiences with preachers, 1 couldn't find any contradictions between what he said and what I read in my Bible. At last, here was something that made sense v.somethiagl: could ;believe in!"'-., On the Sabbath of November 1, 1986, Jane was baptized into the Seventhday Adventift Church, "Something very significant has changed in me," she saySi "and it could only be the result of my new relationship with Jesus." Jane is one of the first fruits of Amazing Facts' newest evangelistic outreach. The very same crusade that brought peace into her life is now being televised nationally on the PTL and TEMPO cable television networks. It's the first oldfashioned Adventist evangelistic crusade ever to be nationally televised, and good results are already happening. Share Jane's discovery with your neighbors and friends! : The Amazing Facts Telecast Wednesday, 9:30 pm Eastern Time on PTL Sunday, 10:30 am Eastern Time on TEMPO (check local cable listings)
For further information and a free copy of The Inside Report, write Amazing Facts today.

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