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ADVENTISTREVIEW.ORG
MARCH 2021: THE ANATOMY OF CHANGE +
THESE WE BELIEVE + THE WEIGHT OF
THE WAIT + A BLESSED LIFE + NO MORE TEARS
Can
we talk
about
change?
MARY STOCKER/ISTOCK/GETT Y IMAGES
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VOLUME 198
03/21 NUMBER 03
FEATURES
18 THE ANATOMY OF CHANGE | GERALD A. KLINGBEIL
Change has been with us since “in the beginning.”
22 THESE WE BELIEVE | DAVID TRIM
There weren’t always 28 Fundamental Beliefs.
How did we get here?
28 OPENING A DIALOGUE ABOUT CHURCH
18 AND CHANGE | LAEL CAESAR
Change is wonderful. Change is terrible.
When it comes to the church, which is it?
30 CAN WE TALK ABOUT CHANGE?
We asked a question. Here’s what you said.
34 THE NECESSITY OF CHANGE | GASPAR COLÓN
To live, one may need to change.
To live eternally, it is a necessity.
MARCH 2021 | ADVENTIST REVIEW 1
“Jesus Himself spoke often about change. This
change began with individual hearts and would
penetrate societies and cultures and, ultimately
the entire world.”
19
ARTICLES
38 THE CHURCH’S MISSION 50 K9 VETERANS DAY 54 AN ANCIENT LOCKDOWN
ELLEN G. WHITE SANDRA BLACKMER HOMER TRECARTIN
The mission of the church Man’s best friend serves with Pandemic lockdown? Paul can
becomes more fun when you him on the frontlines. say a lot about that.
serve.
58 A BLESSED LIFE
40 THE WEIGHT OF THE WAIT CAMERON JOHNSTON
DELEISE SHARON WILSON A simple prayer at 16, still
Who likes waiting? Raise your being answered at 91.
hand.
60 FAMINE AND RAIN
44 ASKING FOR HELP WINTLEY PHIPPS
MAX LASSEL Curing famine with the right
When you can’t move, it gives dish.
you a whole new perspective.
66 ENDGAME: THE SECRET
46 AT-RISK BEHAVIORS ARE OF THE WINNING MOVE
ON THE RISE DURING ADAM BRASS
THIS PANDEMIC We don’t win by hurling
ALINA M. BALTAZAR, DUANE C. insults.
MC BRIDE, GARY L. HOPKINS, AND
PETER N. LANDLESS
Stressed? Develop some
better coping mechanisms.
50
EDITORIAL
NEWS|OPINION 5 BILL KNOTT
BACKYARD KINGDOM
» At the UN, Adventist Leader Calls
Out Gender-based Violence D E PA R TM E N T S
6 LETTERS
» Inter-American Division Expands 63 HOUSE CALL
Cross-Cultural Training
71 CLOSER LOOK
» Atlantic Union College Legacy Will Live COLUMNS
On at Andrews University and Beyond 27 CLIFF’S EDGE
CLIFFORD GOLDSTEIN
» Agriculture Curriculum Adds Value to 65 JOURNEYS WITH JESUS
Adventist School on Caribbean Island JILL MORIKONE
72 IN OTHER WORDS
» She Wants to Be the First MARCOS PASEGGI
Doctor in Her Village
» German Adventist Theologian Johann
'Hans' Heinz Dies at 91 From COVID-19
2 ADVENTIST REVIEW | MARCH 2021 ADVENTISTREVIEW.ORG
TRENDING
THE MOST SHARED STORIES ON
ADVENTISTREVIEW.ORG LAST MONTH:
When God Moves Members to Give
FOUNDED 1849. PUBLISHED BY THE GENERAL
CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS®
1
Covid-19 Vaccines: Addressing
PUBLISHING BOARD
Ted N. C. Wilson, chair
Guillermo Biaggi, vice chair
2 Concerns, Offering Counsel
Atlantic Union College Legacy Will Live
Bill Knott, secretary
Lisa Beardsley-Hardy, Williams Costa, G. Alexander
Bryant, Peter Landless, Geoffrey Mbwana, G. T. Ng,
3 On at Andrews University and Beyond
Daisy Orion, Juan Prestol-Puesán, Ella Simmons, What Ellen White Did During a Pandemic
Artur Stele, Ray Wahlen
Karnik Doukmetzian, legal advisor
4
Something Better
EXECUTIVE EDITOR/DIRECTOR OF ADVENTIST
REVIEW MINISTRIES Bill Knott 5
ASSOCIATE EDITORS/DIRECTORS,
ADVENTIST REVIEW MINISTRIES
Lael Caesar, Gerald A. Klingbeil, Greg Scott
COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR/NEWS EDITOR
Enno Mueller 100 YEARS AGO
DIGITAL PLATFORMS DIRECTOR Gabriel Begle
ASSISTANT EDITORS Sandra Blackmer, Wilona The March 3, 1921 cover of the Review featured a portrait
Karimabadi, Dixil Rodríguez
FINANCIAL MANAGER Kimberly Brown
of United States President-elect Warren Harding.
MARKETING Jared Thurmon Harding was to be sworn in the next day as the twenty-
ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN
Bryan Gray/Types & Symbols
ninth president of the United States. Harding appeared
LAYOUT TECHNICIAN Fred Wuerstlin again on the cover of the August 16, 1923, Review when
COPY EDITOR James Cavil he unexpectedly died in office.” [FYI: Woodrow Wilson
OPERATIONS MANAGER Merle Poirier
EDITORIAL ASSESSMENT COORDINATOR
was featured on the cover as president in 1918 at the
Marvene Thorpe-Baptiste end of the World War.]
EDITORS-AT-LARGE Mark A. Finley, John M. Fowler
SENIOR ADVISOR E. Edward Zinke
AD SALES Glen Gohlke Why this interest in this
CIRCULATION/DISTRIBUTION president? Because
Rebecca Hilde, Sharon Tennyson
TO WRITERS: Writer’s guidelines are available at the
of his close ties to
Adventist Review Web site: www.adventistreview.org Adventism. His mother
and click “About the Review.” For a printed copy,
send a self-addressed envelope to: Writer’s and aunt were Seventh-
Guidelines, Adventist Review, 12501 Old Columbia
Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904. day Adventist converts.
E-mail: revieweditor@gc.adventist.org. His younger siblings
Web site: www.adventistreview.org.
were raised in the faith.
Unless otherwise noted, Bible texts in this issue
are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. His brother-in-law was
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. an Adventist pastor.
Unless otherwise noted, all prominent photos are His nephews attended
©Getty Images 2021.
The Adventist Review (ISSN 0161-1119) is the general Washington Missionary
paper of the Seventh-day Adventist® Church. It is
published monthly by the General Conference of College (now Washington
Seventh-day Adventists®, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Adventist University).
Silver Spring, MD 20904. Periodicals postage paid
at Silver Spring, MD, and additional mailing offices.
Postmaster: Send address changes to Adventist
Review, P.O. Box 5353, Nampa, ID 83653-5353. Learn more of his Adventist connections as well as his
Copyright ©2021, General Conference of Seventh- presidency in the article “The Nearly Adventist President,”
day Adventists®. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.
SUBSCRIPTIONS: Twelve issues of the monthly by Bill Knott, published in the January 24, 2006, Review.
Adventist Review, US$19.95, plus additional postage
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MARCH 2021 | ADVENTIST REVIEW 3
Graciousness is what God’s heartl longs for Experience the joy of giving • willplan.org
EDITORIAL
BILL KNOTT
On our best days, we don’t
get in the Spirit’s way.
Backyard Kingdom
“This is what the kingdom of God is volunteer had claimed increas- kingdom—and His mission—
like. A man scatters seed on the ing space on my imaginative will succeed with or without our
ground. Night and day, whether he landscape, and I had to know its famed activity, our strategies,
sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts true identity. A handy app that initiatives, and well-meant hec-
and grows, though he does not know scans unknown plants pointed toring. Our hurry, haste, and
how. All by itself the soil produces me to panicum miliaceum, or habit of haranguing will never
grain—first the stalk, then the head, proso millet, an edible grain make a green thing grow. On our
then the full kernel in the head. As much cultivated in India and best days, we don’t get in the
soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the Eastern Europe, but used for Spirit’s way. We align our efforts
sickle to it, because the harvest has birdseed in my land. Yes, as the with the cycle long ago affirmed:
come” (Mark 4:26-29). parable says, “A man scatters seed “So neither the one who plants
on the ground”—in this case for nor the one who waters is any-
t began, unluckily enough, as the birds—and something thing, but only God, who makes
I a thin reed forcing its way sun-
ward through the densely
packed red bricks on the edge of
remarkable still grows.
By now, I was fully protective
of “my plant”—ignoring pleas to
things grow” (1 Cor. 3:7). “We are
co-laborers with God, and we
need the Spirit of Christ.”3
my backyard patio. I noted it cut the eyesore down, and watch- Our privilege is to sow the
sometime in May, and mused on ing anxiously after each thunder- gospel seed—to tell the grace
Dylan Thomas’ evocative first storm or lawn mowing to ensure and mercy of our God who saves
line: “The force that through the it had survived. This thing that us through the blood of Jesus.
green fuse drives the flower drives God had grown was now an But we can’t cause the mystery
my green age.”1 From all appear- object of my care. I was irrevoca- by which that seed may crack
ances, this mystery sprig had bly committed to learn how even and sprout. We watch with love
energy behind it, but certainly a solitary seed might yield “thir- the growth that God has caused;
wouldn’t survive the onslaught tyfold, some sixty, and some a we shield it from the careless
of the summer’s heat; the crush hundred” (Mark 4:8, NKJV).2 heels; we pray for this new life
of heels; the randomness of In the end, as autumn frost through all the storms that will
finches searching for more grass de-greened my valiant plant, it inevitably blow through. When
to line their hasty nests. yielded two tassel heads and 318 harvest comes, we learn again
By June, the plant was six seeds, all of which are pledged that all is owing to God’s grace,
inches of green vitality, claiming to the birds, who were the daily and none of it to us.
sunlight and hidden nutrients witnesses to this annual miracle The greatest change is always
that lie beneath unyielding of change and growth and har- in the human heart. Pray for this
bricks. I could see it on the corner vests unexpected. I had done change—in others, and in you.
of my vision as I ate my breakfast nothing—literally nothing—to And stay y in ggrace.
in the rosy dawn of early summer cultivate or weed or water or
mornings, a daily reminder of encourage, and yet “the force that
things unexpected and unforced. through the green fuse drives the 1
Dylan Thomas, 18 Poems (London: Fortune
In summer’s blaze, a tassel flower” had brought a harvest Press,1934).
2
Texts credited to NKJV are from the New
stalk replete with seeds pushed three hundred eighteen-fold. King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980,
upward with the promise that If there is a parable for Adven- 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permis-
sion. All rights reserved.
even accidents might one day tists in all of this—and there is—it 3
Ellen G. White, The General Conference Bul-
yield a harvest. By now, this yields at least one lesson. God’s letin, April 25, 1901.
MARCH 2021 | ADVENTIST REVIEW 5
INBOX
VIEW.O RG
ADVEN TISTRE
JANUARY 2021:
IT IS TIME + ABOU
BEARING + A BIGG T BURD
ER PICTURE + THE EN
STATES IN PROP UNITED
HECY
LIFE IN THE BALA + I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR +
NCE
You are not alone in receiv-
Y
in your December Review
ing
THE NEED TO BE after the Christmas holidays.
af
UNDERSTOOD We prepare each magazine
I would like to thank Jill well in advance so that our
we
Morikone for her
spiritually insightful
You readers receive their maga-
rea
zine by the first of each month.
column “The Need to Be
have to Challenges within the United
Cha
Understood” (January
read this! States mail system as a result
Stat
2021). Sometimes an of th
the pandemic have wreaked
overly strong demand havoc with the magazine ar-
havo
for justice drives us to rival times.
t We do appreciate
ruminate on hurts and your listening
l to the concert we
offenses. The question provided even though Christmas
provid
“Why do you care what AR JAN 2021
COVERs
noSpine.ind
d 1
had passed,
pa and hope others do
others think of you?” the sam
same. Celebrating Jesus’ birth
is the challenge before us and,
nd, if and HiHis gift of salvation is some-
properly answered, can be truly
ruly liberating! thing tot be appreciated all year
Lourdes Morales Gudmundsson long!—Editors.
Riverside, California
Lael Caesar’s celebration of
angelic messengers in your
December issue was excruciat-
MUSIC THAT BLESSED churches will sponsor this kind ingly lovely in its reminder of
What an outstanding edition of of music and that someday we where Christianity begins.
the December Adventist Review will be able to sing the “Hallelu- Caesar’s unique baroque style
for the climax of one of the most jah Chorus” like the angels, as coupled with a Trinidadian
difficult years in history! I Lael Caesar portrayed in his cadence was altogether
appreciate this special addition: article! appropriate to his subject. Is it
“A Testament to the Power of Leo Ranzolin, Sr. not time for another break-
Music We Sing,” by Bill Knott. E. G. Estero, Florida through from the “realms of
White said that “music was made glory” to announce the coming
to serve a holy purpose, to lift What a delightful issue on music. King? I am looking for the words
the thoughts to that which is It served as a good prelude to to describe how much I enjoyed
pure, noble, and elevating, and Christmas, although ours arrived reading this piece but fail—
to awaken in the soul devotion on December 31, 2020. “Our except to say thank you!
and gratitude to God.” Let us Priceless Instruments” is worth Ernest J. Stevenson
pray that in the new year our reading again. Pastor, retired
Ken Albertsen
6 ADVENTIST REVIEW | MARCH 2021 ADVENTISTREVIEW.ORG
I am looking for the words to describe how much I enjoyed
reading this piece but fail—except to say thank you!
ERNEST J. STEVENSON
TO THOSE ON HIS LEFT
A severe warning by Jimmy COMMENTS FROM ADVENTISTREVIEW.ORG
Phillips in the December 2020
Adventist Review to what the King ADVENTHEALTH UNIVERSITY LAUNCHES NEW MASTER’S
will say to “those on His left,” and DEGREE IN SPIRITUAL CARE (SEE NEWSBRIEF ON PAGE 17.)
the remarkable story of the man As an additional comment to the article, the majority of
in jail awaiting execution for his hospitals in the United States require that a chaplain be
crime who then was set free. How certified clergy, endorsed by a specific church. With the
many others can we relate to passage of time, standards are being developed related to
who are in the prison of sin the provision of pastoral care. As part of this process, JCAHO*
waiting to be set free? We can, standards for pastoral care will require that all hospital
with involvement, help them chaplains be clergy who have completed an approved Master
meet the Judge, who can do just of Divinity program. The specified degree in the article does
that (Matt. 25:36). One dared to not meet those educational standards. The following website
do just that for me. will inform you as to the current standards for the accredita-
Robert Rouillard tion of pastoral-care departments. AdventHealth University
Lakewood, Washington must, in preparing their degree program, plan for future
employment requirements. It is not fair to their students to
enroll them in an educational program that has little to no
value for future employment.
Gregory Matthews
YOUR TURN *Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
We welcome your letters, noting,
as always, that inclusion of a LET’S CELEBRATE THE LEGACY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.,
letter in this section does not
imply that the ideas expressed AND ABRAHAM JOSHUA HESCHEL
are endorsed by either the There were leaders who were swayed by requests that our
editors of the Adventist Review church change its direction and begin to right wrongs. There
or the General Conference. Short,
specific, timely letters have the have been many members who believe that the church
best chance at being published corporately must take a stand that asks, Which side are you
(please include your complete on? The fact is that the singular 1965 statement draws
address and phone number—
even with e-mail messages). attention to the terrible entropy that exists throughout our
Letters will be edited for space church. We all need to affirm that God’s church is composed
and clarity only. Send correspon- of God-loving people who likewise love and nurture every
dence to Letters to the Editor,
Adventist Review, 12501 Old other human being God created.
Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD Milton Hare
20904-6600; Internet: letters@
adventistreview.org.
MARCH 2021 | ADVENTIST REVIEW 7
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“It’s very difficult for modern Adventists to
grasp the real lives of those who founded
this movement more than 150 years ago, and
the collection housed for so many years at
Atlantic Union College helps us . . . to bring
the world of our pioneers much closer.”
Merlin Burt, p. 13
AT THE UN, ADVENTIST LEADER
CALLS OUT GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
PARL DIRECTOR URGES TO ADVOCATE FOR THE “FULL HUMANITY” OF WOMEN.
BETTINA KRAUSE, GENERAL CONFERENCE PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY DEPARTMENT
W hen we talk about the status
and treatment of women
worldwide, we’re not just indulging
Diop is director of the Public
Affairs and Religious Liberty
Department of the General Con-
tionately suffer the tragedies of
human existence.”
“Women are often the prime tar-
in “academic speculation about ference of Seventh-day Adventists gets and victims of wars, geno-
rights in the abstract,” Ganoune and the secretary-general of the cides, human trafficking, domestic
Diop said during a January 26, International Religious Liberty servitude, and slavery,” he said,
keynote address to more than Association (IRLA). “all adding to the toll of insecuri-
a thousand attendees drawn In his presentation, which pro- ties prompted by the multifaceted
from both the United Nations (UN) vided a thematic framework for the reality of gender inequality.”
community and many faith-based daylong event, Diop said that within Diop cited a list of statistics high-
organizations. many contexts, women “dispropor- lighting the lopsided impact on
MARCH 2021 | ADVENTIST REVIEW 9NEWS
women of many social inequalities at the UN building in New York, the
and harms—from denial of access symposium this year took place
to education to the prevalence of virtually. It attracted participants
child marriage and sexual abuse from North America and across Eu-
to different forms of economic rope, Asia-Pacific regions, Africa,
marginalization. and the Middle East.
A key to addressing these tragic In an interview following the sym-
realities, Diop said, is to recognize posium, Diop said that it’s import-
that within many social and cul- ant for Adventist voices and per-
tural contexts, women have long spectives to be heard within the
been denied recognition of their international community. “Events
full humanity. This denial has led such as these, undertaken in co-
to what Diop called one of the “over- operation with other organizations,
arching and deepest obstacles” to are not about negating differences
improving the plight of women between groups,” Diop said. “In-
worldwide—the legitimization of stead, it’s a chance to highlight the
gender-based violence. Ganoune Diop unique contributions the Adventist
“Domestic violence, societal Church brings to the table; how our
violence, the horrors of human biblical convictions about the in-
trafficking, all disproportionately “THE ADVENTIST nate dignity and worth of every
affect women and girls and reveal CHURCH[’S] . . . BIBLICAL person—as sons and daughters of
the dark side of humanity,” Diop CONVICTIONS ABOUT the Creator God—drives our global
said. THE INNATE DIGNITY advocacy for fundamental human
The themes highlighted in Diop’s AND WORTH OF EVERY rights.”
presentation were explored through- PERSON—AS SONS AND Diop also noted that the theme
out the day during panel discus- DAUGHTERS OF THE of this years’ symposium fits well
sions and question-and-answer CREATOR GOD—DRIVES with the Adventist Church’s on-
sessions with the audience. Accord- OUR GLOBAL ADVOCACY going work—through health care,
ing to organizers, the goal of the FOR FUNDAMENTAL education, humanitarian care, and
event was not just to shine a spot- HUMAN RIGHTS.” spiritual witness—to elevate the
light on current realities but to begin GANOUNE DIOP status and treatment of women
a dialogue—between governments, around the world. For more than
international bodies, faith groups, of the gatherings, which are in- a decade various Adventist orga-
and other civil society groups—about tended to amplify the voice of nizations, including the General
ways to confront these challenges faith groups within the interna- Conference Women’s Ministries
collectively. tional community and to foster Department and the Adventist
The UN event was the seventh greater collaboration on shared Development and Relief Agency,
annual symposium in a series fo- goals. Previous symposiums have have joined together to promote
cused on the role of religion and focused on such issues as reli- a global initiative called endit-
faith-based organizations in inter- giously motivated violence, ref- now, which continues to call for
national affairs. The General Con- ugees and migrants, and human- an end to violence against women
ference of Seventh-day Adventists itarian funding. and other vulnerable members
has been one of several cosponsors Although usually held in person of society.
10 ADVENTIST REVIEW | MARCH 2021 ADVENTISTREVIEW.ORG“We may do something wrong,
but people recognize a heart that
is coming to them in love. . . .
Do all you can to build bridges in
your communities.”
Gary Krause
In a prerecorded video, Adven-
INTER-AMERICAN DIVISION tist Church president Ted N. C. Wil-
EXPANDS CROSS- son greeted the event’s delegates
and thanked them for sharing the
CULTURAL TRAINING wonderful truths of Jesus Christ.
MUSLIM-FOCUSED EVENT IS PART OF AN EFFORT TO “Look to the Holy Spirit in leading
CONNECT WITH EVERY PEOPLE GROUP. you after this seminar on how to
touch the lives of people,” he said.
LIBNA STEVENS, INTER-AMERICAN DIVISION NEWS
I n an effort to continue expand-
ing mission outreach to different
people groups across the territory,
that it is time for us to work dili-
gently together, to be open and
creative in presenting Jesus, mak-
BUILDING BRIDGES
Gary Krause, director of Adventist
Mission for the Adventist Church,
the Inter-American Division (IAD) ing sure to invite unreached peo- reminded church leaders that the
recently sought to equip more than ple everywhere to follow Him.” same principles they learned during
700 of its church leaders, admin- the training symposium apply to all
istrators, pastors, and mission co- A CRITICAL TIME cross-cultural mission efforts. “Some-
ordinators to build bridges to More intentional efforts are un- times we may not know what to say,
Muslims. derway to connect with nearly half what not to say,” he said. “We may
The first-of-its-kind event, coined a million Muslims who reside in do something wrong, but people rec-
the Adventist-Muslim Relations more than 20 countries and islands ognize a heart that is coming to them
Training Symposium, sought to pro- in the territory, said Samuel Tele- in love. . . . Do all you can to build
vide new knowledge, skills, and at- maque, IAD director of Adventist bridges in your communities.”
titudes as mission leaders engage Mission and main organizer of the For Clive Dottin, director of Ad-
in dialogue with their Muslim friends. symposium. “This is a critical time ventist Mission for the Adventist
The six-day virtual symposium on in the history of the IAD as a new Church in the Caribbean Union, head-
Islamic studies began on January vision for cross-cultural mission quartered in Trinidad, the lessons
11 and ended with a certification gains strength, as a new era of mis- learned during the symposium will
ceremony on February 1, 2021. sion to show genuine love for our prove to be a blessing for mission
“It is a great day for the Inter- Muslim friends,” he said. leaders and ambassadors across
American Division today,” Elie Henry, Petras Bahadur, director of the the region. “This combination pro-
president of the Adventist Church Global Center for Adventist-Mus- vided the synergy that guaranteed
in the IAD, said as he addressed lim Relations (AMR) of the Adven- the success of this amazing cross-cul-
hundreds of leaders during the tist Church, was one of the keynote tural training program,” he said.
online ceremony. “You have a new presenters during the training. He The next step in cross-cultural
way to look at cross-cultural min- applauded the IAD leadership for outreach is for church leaders to
istry.” It’s just the beginning, he the initiative and congratulated establish an Adventist Mission Board
said, but part of the broader plan the hundreds who completed the in each of the 24 unions in the IAD
to reach every corner of the IAD 20 hours of training. “God has a territory, Telemaque said. The board,
with the message of hope. vision, and we must have vision he said, will assess the needs of
“We are working really hard [in and mission for people in our ter- the people groups, facilitate daily
the IAD] to present God in all the ritory,” Bahadur said. He encour- dialogues, establish unique wom-
different cultures throughout the aged leaders to pray for immigrants en’s ministries, and identify neutral
territory,” Henry said. “We believe and to understand them better. places for worship.
MARCH 2021 | ADVENTIST REVIEW 11NEWS
Center for Adventist Research staff Jim Ford
and Tamara Karr, along with student workers
Daniele Fantoni and Fabio Siniscarchio,
pause for a brief thumbs-up after unpacking.
PHOTO: CENTER FOR ADVENTIST RESEARCH
the Atlantic Union Conference made
several efforts to find a way to
reopen and keep it functioning.
After that was no longer possible,
the leaders of the union were look-
ATLANTIC UNION COLLEGE ing into the possibility of estab-
LEGACY WILL LIVE ON lishing a museum that would fea-
ture Adventist artifacts and other
AT ANDREWS UNIVERSITY historical resources held by the
AND BEYOND college. Seventh-day Adventism
began in New England, and it
HISTORICAL ITEMS OF ADVENTIST HISTORY WILL BE seemed appropriate to continue
PRESERVED TO BE SHARED AND EXHIBITED. to maintain the historical resources
CENTER FOR ADVENTIST RESEARCH, ANDREWS UNIVERSITY, AND ADVENTIST REVIEW
in that part of the country.
U nloading a tractor-trailer full
of boxes on a hot and steamy
August day in Berrien Springs, Mich-
tive assistant at CAR, said, “I was
excited to be able to help. It turned
out to be a wonderful time of team-
It soon became clear that the
cost and logistics to accomplish
that plan, however, would be too
igan, United States, is not ideal. Still, work and fellowship—one of the high. Merlin Burt, then director of
there was anticipation in the air as first times we were able to work CAR, together with James Nix, the
several staff members and student together in person in months. We now-retired director of the Ellen
workers from the Center for Adven- carried items and stacked boxes G. White Estate, and its vice direc-
tist Research (CAR) and James White all day. It was truly a team effort. tor, Tim Poirier, along with Markus
Library unloaded the vast yellow We are very grateful that the AUC Kutzschbach, executive director of
Andrews University trailer filled with items are finding a home here at Adventist Heritage Ministries, led
roughly 30,000 pounds (13,600 ki- Andrews University. They represent out in the collaborative effort. The
lograms) of materials. a great faith heritage.” team assisted the Atlantic Union
The shipment included books, Conference officers, and through
artifacts, tracts, periodicals, and A PUSH TO them the union executive commit-
other resources from the Atlantic PRESERVE HISTORY tee, in assessing how best to pro-
Union College (AUC) Heritage Room The historical materials made ceed with preserving the valuable
and other locations on the cam- the 18-hour trip from the AUC cam- Adventist historical artifacts, books,
pus of the now-closed college that pus in South Lancaster, Massachu- and other materials.
were once a part of its historical setts, to Andrews University over The decision was made to first
materials collection. two days, stopping at the Historic find places within the Atlantic Union
Also included were selected ad- Adventist Village in Battle Creek, Conference for some of the arti-
ministrative and organizational Michigan, to drop off items from facts and materials. Next, many of
records, documenting the most AUC going to Adventist Heritage the more significant artifacts went
recent 20 years of the college. AUC, Ministries. Securing the AUC ma- to the Ellen G. White Estate in Sil-
opened in 1882, was the oldest Sev- terials was an extended process ver Spring, Maryland, and to the
enth-day Adventist educational that encompassed several years. sites of Adventist Heritage Minis-
institution operating on the same Since 2011, when AUC was forced tries. The bulk of the historical and
site where it was founded. to close its doors for a variety of research materials came to CAR
Judymae Richards, administra- reasons, leaders of the college and at Andrews University. Much of
12 ADVENTIST REVIEW | MARCH 2021 ADVENTISTREVIEW.ORGphysical preparation of the heri- The physical objects and docu- contributions to the mission of the
tage materials and their transport ments of a long-gone era were all Seventh-day Adventist Church and
to their new locations was done by within reach. Preserving that her- to the world.
Jim Ford, associate director of CAR. itage will help the Adventist past
“The entire Seventh-day Adven- come to life for thousands more UNIQUE TREASURES
tist Church owes a debt of grati- in the future.” TO BE DISPLAYED
tude to the many faithful believers The plan further allows the op- CAR will preserve multiple diverse
who preserved and cherished these portunity to show objects associ- objects for Adventist research, such
artifacts and records,” says Merlin ated with those stories. As the say- as, for example, original Commu-
Burt. “It’s very difficult for modern ing goes: “A picture [or an object, nion glasses from the church at
Adventists to grasp the real lives in this case] is worth a thousand Washington, New Hampshire, where
of those who founded this move- words.” Particular appreciation is the seventh-day Sabbath was first
ment more than 150 years ago, and embraced in the spring of 1844,
the collection housed for so many and materials from Adventist
years at AUC helps us do that. Look- “THE ENTIRE pioneers James White, Stephen N.
ing at James White’s writing desk SEVENTH-DAY Haskell, Uriah Smith, and F. C. Gil-
or studying the ingenious contrap- bert. Other materials include the
ADVENTIST CHURCH
tion that Stephen Haskell invented Ottilie Stafford poetry/literature
to pull great iron stakes when evan- OWES A DEBT OF collection; records from the former
gelistic tents had to be moved— GRATITUDE TO THE New England Sanitarium; paintings;
these bring the world of our pio- MANY FAITHFUL class banners; chairs from the AUC
neers much closer.” BELIEVERS WHO Board Room; and administrative
White Estate vice director Tim records documenting the college’s
PRESERVED AND
Poirier grew up in New England, last years. Also, the periodical col-
CHERISHED THESE
attending Greater Boston Academy lection from the Heritage Room of
and Atlantic Union College, from ARTIFACTS AND the AUC library is a particularly rich
which he graduated in 1980. RECORDS.” trove of materials. It is expected
Throughout his college career Poir- to expand the resources available
ier attended religion classes in through both CAR and the Adven-
Founders’ Hall, the first structure due Elias Zabala, treasurer of the tist Digital Library.
built by the fledgling campus in Atlantic Union, and Barbara Fuller, “Moving the AUC collection to
1884. He also worked in the school’s the AUC campus manager, leaders Andrews University was bittersweet
library, spending many hours in said, as they showed great respon- for me,” Tamara Karr, collections
its treasured Heritage Room. sibility in preserving the materials associate at CAR, said. “I grew up
“Attending AUC shortly after this during the uncertain years since in New England, and most of my
famous building was renovated the school’s closing. It should be family attended Atlantic Union Col-
and began serving as a center for noted that the historical materials lege. AUC’s closing was very sad,
heritage materials was a bit like entrusted to CAR and other enti- and moving items that represented
going to school in a living museum,” ties are to continue the memory, its history made the closing final.
Poirier says. “The full-length 1850s legacy, and story of AUC. Thousands However, knowing that the collec-
portraits of William and Lucy Miller of students attended AUC over tion is here at Andrews made me
hung in the chapel where theology the years, and many of the stu- happy. I know it will be preserved
students practiced their sermons. dents went on to make significant and shared.”
MARCH 2021 | ADVENTIST REVIEW 13NEWS
Students collected a bunch of string beans
and green peppers in December 2020 after
they worked on the garden in St. Eustatius.
PHOTO: GENE HERBERT
In-person classes resumed in
October, Duggins said, and “al-
though the planting area is small,
if we specialize in just a few crops,
it would help us accomplish our
objectives.”
The program’s four objectives
include teaching a greater appre-
AGRICULTURE ciation for the field of agriculture;
CURRICULUM ADDS VALUE encouraging students to begin
planting at home; encouraging them
TO ADVENTIST SCHOOL to grow what they would like to
ON CARIBBEAN ISLAND eat; and helping them become
aware of the nutritional values of
STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT SOIL PREPARATION, the various foods they have har-
PLANTING, AND CARING FOR PLANTS. vested, Duggins explained.
ROYSTON PHILBERT, FOR INTER-AMERICAN DIVISION NEWS
The intention is to produce
D ozens of students at the Sev-
enth-day Adventist school in
St. Eustatius, an island in the north-
of the pandemic, students were
given seeds to plant at home and
were asked to document their ob-
goods to the point where they can
sell the produce to the commu-
nity, Duggins said. “This will give
ern portion of the Leeward Islands servations in a journal daily, Dug- the students experience in the art
in the West Indies, learned to plant gins said. “Some classes planted of marketing and selling their
and grow seeds at the start of the on school premises, as teachers produce.”
new school year, thanks to a new helped clean and keep up the veg- Gerene Joseph, education direc-
agriculture focus included in the etable gardens,” she added. tor of the North Caribbean Confer-
school’s curriculum. The curriculum focuses on tools ence, congratulated the school for
“Food production is critical for and their proper use, soil prepa- its excellent and exemplary demon-
the St. Eustatius community, so we ration, planting seeds and seed- stration of true education.
must double our efforts to teach lings, irrigation, caring for the “The Adventist philosophy of
the younger ones to do so,” said plants, and recognizing when the education, the wholistic develop-
Laverne Duggins, principal of the fruit is ready for harvesting. ment of the student, is evident in
St. Eustatius Seventh-day Adven- “It has been very touching to this undertaking, and it is a joy to
tist Primary School. see the pupils’ excitement toward see students partaking of the fruits
Since the school year began in the program,” Duggins said. “One of their labor,” Joseph said. “The
August 2020, the entire school, child from group 8, or grade 6, lessons learned will certainly im-
made up of 85 students ranging asked, ‘Why are they just starting pact students now and in the
from early childhood and kinder- the program now that we are mov- future.”
garten to grade 6, planted and har- ing on to another school? It is not St. Eustatius Seventh-day Ad-
vested watermelons, sweet pota- fair.’ ” ventist Primary School was estab-
toes, string beans, papayas, sorrel, Students posted pictures as the lished in 1997 and is the only Ad-
sweet peppers, and pumpkins. seeds germinated and grew and ventist church school on the island,
When the school shifted to on- were thrilled to feast on their which is part of the Caribbean
line learning in September because produce. Union church region.
14 ADVENTIST REVIEW | MARCH 2021 ADVENTISTREVIEW.ORGNyaluak, 13, has a goal of becoming her South
Sudan village’s first female doctor. ADRA is
supporting her and others to make their dreams
come true PHOTO: ADVENTIST DEVELOPMENT AND RELIEF AGENCY
afterward; I know so well how much
she wants this. You are somehow
not allowed to take the dreams
and hopes away from children and
teenagers,” Haugen said.
SHE WANTS TO BE THE FIRST “I think with concern about all
DOCTOR IN HER VILLAGE the girls who will never return to
school again because they will be
ADRA IS HELPING TO GIVE SOUTH SUDAN’S
married off or placed with domes-
NYALUAK AND OTHERS A NEW HOPE.
tic tasks. At the same time, I think
INTER-EUROPEAN DIVISION NEWS AND ADRA EUROPE
it’s not hopeless for Nyaluak. ADRA
T he area of Maiwut has been
strongly affected in recent years
by the civil war in South Sudan. Many
Maiwut in the state of Upper Nile in
South Sudan in February 2020. The
country is one of the poorest in the
is working very actively to ensure
that girls also receive an education
as soon as the schools in South
people have had to flee, including world and has been hit for years by Sudan reopen, and ADRA also pro-
Nyaluak and the rest of her family. a civil war that has sent parts of the vides some teaching in smaller
Nyaluak says that her family did population on the run across bor- groups,” Haugen explained.
not have time to pack anything, but ders. One of those who made the ADRA believes that every child,
suddenly had to escape into the biggest impression on Haugen was everywhere, has the right to go to
bush and eventually went to Ethi- 13-year-old Nyaluak, who once again school. There is an urgent need
opia, a neighboring country. They has had to put her dream on hold. for education for children in South
lived in cramped and poor condi- “Nyaluak’s sister was married Sudan. ADRA works in cooperation
tions in a refugee camp for two years off when she was 15 years old, with communities to provide
before finally returning to a com- and Nyaluak is very worried that teacher education, school mate-
pletely destroyed home. Nyaluak the same thing will happen to rials, hygiene teaching, and psy-
herself dreams of becoming the dis- her,” Haugen said. chosocial work.
trict’s first female doctor. “The work of ADRA is especially
“I hope to be able to finish school ENSURING GIRLS’ important in areas such as this one
so that I can follow my dream of EDUCATION in South Sudan, where there are
becoming a doctor,” she told ADRA. When the school in Maiwut re- not many other organizations on
After the civil war at the begin- opened after the war in autumn the ground,” Haugen shared. “Nat-
ning of 2020, things looked prom- 2019, things looked brighter than ural disasters, civil war, and pan-
ising. For her to reach her goal, Ny- they had had for a long time. But demics hit hardest on those living
aluak would be challenged by many then COVID-19 crossed the border in extreme poverty and those with-
obstacles. The school system in into South Sudan and changed lives out education. The coronavirus cri-
South Sudan has a shortage of again. sis came on top of a number of other
equipment and teachers without “What a disappointment. We can challenges in South Sudan. Now we
education. Nor is it something that complain here where we live, but will work to improve educational
is prioritized by parents, especially Nyaluak! The schools had to close conditions and provide training in
not for their daughters. Many girls again, and the children are once infection control so that Nyaluak
are married off at a young age and again prevented from continuing and other children in her situation
never get an education. with their education. I have thought will receive an education and an
Gry Haugen from ADRA visited a lot about Nyaluak and her dream opportunity for a better life.”
MARCH 2021 | ADVENTIST REVIEW 15NEWS
tion, anchoring in church history,
GERMAN ADVENTIST and sharp systematic-theological
THEOLOGIAN JOHANN analysis, his theological thinking,
teaching, and writing established
‘HANS’ HEINZ DIES AT 91 standards in Adventism in the
FROM COVID-19 German-speaking world still
unequaled.” His main areas of
HE WAS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL research were soteriology (the
THEOLOGIANS IN GERMAN-SPEAKING ADVENTISM. redemptive work of Christ), Martin
ADVENTISTISCHER PRESSEDIENST, AND ADVENTIST REVIEW Luther, and engagement with Cath-
olic theology and the ecumenical
F riedensau Adventist University
near Magdeburg in Germany
and Bogenhofen Seminary in
movement.
Johannes Kovar, head of the
library at Bogenhofen Seminary,
Austria, both institutions of the called Heinz one of the “most
Seventh-day Adventist Church, important theologians of German-
mourned the death of Johann (Hans) speaking Adventism.” Like no other,
Heinz on January 27, 2021, in he has shaped entire generations
Braunau, Austria, at 91, as a result of preachers, he said.
of a COVID-19 infection. In 1990 Heinz founded the theo-
Hans Heinz, born on April 30, logical journal Spes Christiana, at
1930, is considered the first prom- what was then Friedensau College.
inent German-speaking Adventist The total circulation of his books
systematic theologian, according and writings, with translations into
Johann Heinz (1930-2021) to the Board of Trustees of Frie- more than 20 languages, reached
PHOTO: JOAS FICKENSCHER/SEMINAR densau Adventist University. He millions. According to Höschele,
SCHLOSS BOGENHOFEN was a theology teacher at Bogen- Heinz chose Phillip Jacob Spener’s
hofen Seminary from 1957 to 1978; words “Theology is a practical dis-
a lecturer in systematic theology cipline” as his life’s motto.
and director of the former Marien- Heinz combined his faithfulness
höhe Seventh-day Theological Sem- to the Bible and the Confession
inary in Darmstadt, Germany, from with a passion for evangelism. He
1982 to 1995; and a visiting lecturer saw theologians and pastors as
at Friedensau College (now Frie- commissioned to stand by people
densau Adventist University) from when facing extreme situations of
1991. He shaped several genera- their lives and call them to follow
tions of Adventist pastors. Jesus. Until the end, he worked on
Stefan Höschele, dean of the theological questions and gladly
Department of Theology at Frie- shared his knowledge. Heinz re-
densau, said that “through the tired in 1995 and lived with his wife
combination of biblical founda- in Braunau am Inn, in Austria.
16 ADVENTIST REVIEW | MARCH 2021 ADVENTISTREVIEW.ORGNEWSBRIEFS
ANDREWS UNIVERSITY “RISES” FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH. Inspired by
Maya Angelou’s literary work “Still I Rise,” Andrews University, a Seventh-day Adventist
institution in Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States, focused its 2021 Black History
Month celebrations under the theme “Rise!” The program used vespers services, short
courses, and the film series Black Boys to explore ways of overcoming the odds of
injustice and celebrate Blacks throughout American history who were able to rise.
INTERNATIONAL CAMPOREE VOTES CHANGES. January 26, 2021, the 2024
International Camporee Executive Advisory voted the dates and location for the 2024
“Believe the Promise” International Pathfinder Camporee. New camporee dates are August
5-11, 2024. The new location will be Gillette, Wyoming, in the western United States. The
Gillette complex boasts the largest campground of full amenities in the world, and the
Western location provides more than 25 new additional activities unique to the region.
ADRA DONATES PROTECTIVE MASKS TO HEALTH SYSTEM. Loma Linda
University Health (LLUH) in California, United States, recently received 1.6 million
medical-grade masks from the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), to
support the organization’s ongoing battle against COVID-19. The state of California has
among the highest infection rates in the United States. Use of the three-ply masks is
divided between protecting frontline workers at LLUH’s COVID-19 campus-based
vaccine clinic and supplies at international mission hospital sites around the world.
ADVENTHEALTH UNIVERSITY LAUNCHES FIRST THEOLOGICAL DEGREE.
AdventHealth University (AHU) has added an online Master of Science in Spiritual Care
[MSSC) degree, its first theological degree, to operate in collaboration with Advent-
Health, a national, faith-based health system. Key AdventHealth leaders who played an
instrumental role in developing and launching the program include Ted Hamilton, chief
mission integration officer; Jay Perez, vice president of mission and ministry; and
Ramona Reynolds, executive director of ministry education and research.
SOUTHERN ASIA-PACIFIC REGION LAUNCHES YOUTH GROUP FOR
MISSION. The Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) Adventist Youth Ministries has
launched a new program to involve young people in the world church’s faith-sharing
efforts. The four-phase program of training and execution is called Voice of Youth
(VOY) Ignite, and includes (1) launching, (2) certification, (3) ignition, and, finally, (4) a
Voice of Youth celebration during a year-end prayer convention (December 5-11, 2021).
Nearly 200 persons registered during the launch, January 15, 16, 2021.
SECOND STORM IN TWO MONTHS STRIKES MOZAMBIQUE: ADRA
RESPONDS AGAIN. One month after providing disaster relief in Mozambique
following tropical storm Chalane in December 2020, the Adventist Relief and Develop-
ment Agency (ADRA) has again responded to the country’s devastation by another
tropical cyclone. Cyclone Eloise made landfall, January 23, 2021, in Beira, Mozambique’s
fourth-largest city by population, destroying nearly 50,000 acres (more than 20,000
hectares} of agricultural produce and thousands of homes. ADRA deployed relief aid
teams in the Chibuto, Guija, and Massangena districts of Gaza.
HINSDALE, ILINOIS, ADVENTIST MEDICAL CENTER RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS
AWARD. AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center Hinsdale in Illinois, United
States, has received the 2020 Triumph Award for Clinical Excellence. The award
recognizes AdventHealth facilities that achieve the high standards for clinical
excellence set by three different organizations—the U.S. Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services, the Leapfrog Group, and Premier, Inc., a leading health-care
improvement company. Kristine Gleason, director, Quality and Patient Safety, AMITA
Hinsdale, La Grange, and Bolingbrook, credited the hospital’s physicians, staff, and
executive leaders for supporting the efforts to achieve clinical excellence.
MARCH 2021 | ADVENTIST REVIEW 17I
GERALD A. KLINGBEIL n the beginning—there was change.
Darkness became light; chaos was miraculously transformed
into order; emptiness turned into fullness—and beauty and
wonder and life.
The Creation account found in Genesis offers a startling introit
to the topic of change. It gives us a prime view of God’s ability to
change. Day and night, dry land and sea, flowers, trees, grasses, and
all other types of vegetation, together with myriads of different
animal species, illustrate God’s attention to detail and aesthetics.
Have you ever looked at the colorful wheel a peacock makes to
impress his mate and wondered if all this splendor was really nec-
essary—for peacocks?
Creation, however, also offers us a good perspective on God’s
unchangeable nature, the life and love that are the very essence
of the Creator and the foundation that Creation is built
upon. Later biblical authors return to this point
repeatedly: “God is not human, that he should
lie, not a human being, that he should change
his mind. Does he speak and then not act?
Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Num.
23:19; cf. Mal. 1:6; James 1:17).
The Bible unapologetically makes
the case that God does not change. Yet
something profound changed after
Creation, and it wasn’t a good
change. While Genesis 1 and 2
communicate to us the wonder of
God’s creation, Genesis 3 hints at
the mystery of sin. Free choice is
the evidence of God’s goodness
and His love, and it makes
humanity distinct from plants
THE
ANATOMY
OF CHANGE
18 ADVENTIST REVIEW | MARCH 2021
A biblical
perspective
ADVENTISTREVIEW.ORGand animals and everything else created. First Eve, (see John 17:15-21). They have become committed
then Adam, chose to distrust the motives of their game-changers, for their hearts are anchored in Jesus.
perfect Creator. Their choice introduced a profound
change into God’s creation, expressed in falling PAINFUL CHANGE
leaves, growing distrust, increasing enmity, Sometimes change is painful. Change requires
and—ultimately—death. us to open ourselves to something new. We have
God’s perfect creation was suddenly changed into to step out, not knowing the outcome, and often
an imperfect reality hurtling on a downward bent have to leave long-cherished ideas and concepts
toward ultimate (self-) destruction. God, however, behind. Jesus Himself recognized that His kingdom
did not leave His creation in free fall. His grace was different from the values espoused by Phari-
becomes visible again and again as He engages with sees and Sadducees. In response to a question
humanity—on a mountain as floodwaters are reced- about fasting, He used two images to illustrate the
ing (Gen. 8:15–9:17); on the shore of the Red Sea radical change He envisioned: “No one sews a piece
with a well-equipped Egyptian army pounding of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise,
toward them (Ex. 14); on another mountain where the new piece will pull away from the old, making
He reveals Himself and offers to Moses a tangible the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into
representation of His character (Ex. 19; 20). This list old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the
could be added to significantly. But it was another skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will
dark moment that ushered in the ultimate change. be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wine-
skins” (Mark 2:21, 22). Jesus didn’t come to do
CHANGE THAT MATTERS quick fixes on hearts and minds. He came to make
The coming of Jesus as a helpless babe in a dirty them new. He was no “patchwork Messiah,” but
manger in Bethlehem represents this ultimate turn- invited (and sometimes demanded) radical change.
ing point in history. Neither heaven nor earth could Even following His ascension, change became one
really understand it. How could God become human, of the guiding principles of Jesus’ followers. Prodded
grow up in a sin-sick world yearning for change, and by the Spirit, the early Christians soon realized that
then offer Himself as the ultimate sacrifice to mission was not cipher for staying at home and
destroy sin and the dark forces behind it? focusing on Israel only. Salvation was for Gentiles,
The Gospels offer a window into the dire lack too, they realized, even though it took them time
of comprehension of the real nature of the Mes- and serious mental recalibration to catch this vision.
siah. When Jesus spoke plainly to His disciples We often struggle to understand the radical nature
about His death and resurrection, Peter rebuked of Peter’s experience described in Acts 10. “I now
Him with strong words: “Never, Lord! This shall realize how true it is that God does not show favor-
never happen to you!” (Matt. 16:22). Jesus’ itism,” Peter told a mostly Gentile audience, “but
response is as shocking as Peter’s assertion: “Get accepts from every nation the one who fears him
behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to and does what is right” (verses 34, 35).
me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, Change doesn’t come easy. In fact, conflict and
but merely human concerns” (verse 23). change seem to be two melodies constantly inter-
Jesus Himself spoke often about change. This twining. There are a number of illustrations of
change began with individual hearts and would conflicts as the result of impending change in the
penetrate societies and cultures and, ultimately, the New Testament. Acts 15 describes what has been
entire world. “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the termed the Jerusalem Council, when the early
VLADIMIR RAZGULIAEV/ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS
kingdom of God unless they are born again” (John Christian church found itself in conflict about the
3:3), He said to Nicodemus. On a scale measuring issue of circumcision as a prerequisite of member-
change, a birth from above must rate very high. ship for Gentiles joining the movement. Verse 7
While rebirth is personal, the resulting change affects tells us that there was “much discussion.” The Greek
every aspect of society. Jesus’ followers, while living term used here suggests a dispute or a controversial
and serving in the often-dark places of this world, debate. However, led by the Spirit (verse 28), a
recognize their changed citizenship (Phil. 3:20). dispute becomes the vehicle for a clearer vision of
They are “in the world,” but not “of the world” God’s mission and His inclusive grace.
MARCH 2021 | ADVENTIST REVIEW 19in His sermon on the mount (Matt. 5) offers a good
Change can also be painful. Change example of progressive revelation.
requires us to open ourselves to
THE NEED FOR CHANGE
something new. We live in troubled times. We knew that already
before the arrival of COVID-19 and the turmoil
associated with this pandemic. Can we speak about
change right now? We knew that living in history’s
last period would mean facing serious challenges.
We experience these challenges daily—individually
and corporately. Fear and turmoil are part of this
CONTINUOUS CHANGE world’s DNA. We are afraid of getting sick, of losing
Conversations about change often reference terms loved ones, of finding ourselves jobless, of being
such as truth, tradition, or renewal. The biblical concept alone, of death and dying—and some of us also
of change does not stand in opposition to truth, worry about living in these last days of history.
especially absolute truth. The God who changes Jesus knew about fear. He Himself faced fear,
chaos into order and darkness into light also reveals especially the ultimate fear of being separated from
His character in the Word—both the written and the His Father.2 While fear is real, Jesus diagnoses
living. Biblical truth is based on the self-revelation something more sinister in His end-time church:
of God and is unchangeable and eternal. It is possible, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor
however, that this truth is forgotten or overlaid by hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So,
levels of tradition. because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I
Consider the truth of righteousness by faith. The am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I
sacrificial system of the Hebrew Bible clearly illus- am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a
trated daily that salvation was not to be found in thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched,
what we do for God or what we bring as an offering. pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (Rev. 3:15-17).
Each sacrifice ultimately pointed to the true “Lamb Do we recognize that we are truly “wretched,
of God” (John 1:29), the Messiah, whose sacrifice pitiful, poor, blind and naked”? Do we know that
brought atonement and redemption. Righteousness we are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold? Jesus
by faith was a key part of the transformative message offers only one solution—and it involves change:
of early Christianity that distinguished it from all “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the
other religions. fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to
The next centuries, however, introduced layers wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness;
of tradition, emphasizing works, alms, prayers, and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see”
and much more, resulting in a warped understand- (verse 18). Gold, white clothes, and eyesalve all
ing of the character of God and His plan of salva- point to our dire need of His righteousness instead
tion. Luther’s rediscovery of this truth in Scripture of our own; His goodness instead of our own; His
represented a marked change from prevailing recognition instead of our own perception.
theology and interpretation—but it didn’t embody If change marked the beginning, change will
new truth. also characterize the end. As we permit Him, God’s
Theologians speak about the concept of “pro- Spirit will work a change in a lukewarm church
gressive revelation,” which is well illustrated by so that we can joyously anticipate our “blessed
Hebrews 1:1-3’s suggesting a progress of revela- hope”—the glorious appearing of our God and
tion from Old Testament prophets to God’s own Savior, Jesus Christ (cf. Titus 2:13).
Son. This doesn’t mean that God’s continued rev- 1
Richard M. Davidson, “Biblical Interpretation,” in Handbook of Sev-
elation throughout the ages contradicted or nul- enth-day Adventist Theology, ed. Raoul Dederen, Commentary Reference
Series (Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 2000), vol. 12, p. 66.
lified previous revelation. Rather, it highlights the 2
I have written about this in more detail in “The One Fear,” Adventist
fact that “later revelation illuminates, clarifies, or World, July 2020, pp. 11-14.
amplifies truths presented previously.”1 Jesus’ Gerald A. Klingbeil serves as an associate editor of Adventist
discussion of some of the laws of the Decalogue Review.
20 ADVENTIST REVIEW | MARCH 2021 ADVENTISTREVIEW.ORGYou can also read
