Issue 6 - Adventist Today

28 Pages·2014·5.76 MB·English

Gold medalist The Church Adventist
mary whipple in Israel Caricatures
Adventist
Today
november-deCember 2008 • www.AT odAy.Com
every year I see my We Talk
students leave a
Need
vibrant campus, and I
to
know what’s going to
happen to them.
by ChrIs blAke
Adventist
Today
Executive Publisher
dIn esIpd Aer Tm e nT Ervin Taylor
Editor
vol. 16 no. 6 Andy Nash
Copy Editor
cover story Debra J. Hicks
Contributing Editors
8 We Need to Talk
Chris Blake, John McLarty,
David Newman, James Walters
by Chris Blake
Art Director
A college professor
Chris Komisar
shares his heart.
Online Editor
Marcel Schwantes
Webmaster
Linda Greer
Director of Development
Edwin A. Schwisow
Office Manager
Hanan Sadek
FOunDAtiOn BOArD
Larry Downing — Board Chair, Ervin Taylor — Board Vice-
Chair, Eugene Platt — Treasurer, Virginia Burley, Keith
Colburn, Elwin Dunn, Edmund Jones, John McLarty,
Chuck Mitchell, Jim Nelson, Randy Roberts, Nate Schilt, J.
Gordon Short, Dan Smith, James Stirling, Eldon Stratton,
David Van Putten, John Vogt, James Walters
rAyMOnD F. COttrEll
EnDOWMEnt B OArD
features James Walters — Board Chair, Douglass Ewing, James
Nelson, Nate Schilt, Ervin Taylor
SEniOr liFEtiME AD viSOrS ($25,000+)
Beth and Elwin Dunn, Patricia and Douglass Ewing, Kathi
and Richard Guth, Judy and John Jacobson, Betty and Al
Koppel, Joan Ogden, Lori and Thaine Price, J. Gordon Short,
12 ‘God Wants Israel Back’ departments Marilynn and Ervin Taylor, Priscilla and James Walters
Andy Nash interviews Richard Elofer, 3 Editorial lSuisFanE tanidM HEe rAnaDnv BiaSrrOosr, SKa (t$h1r0y,n0 0a0n+d) James Dexter,
president of the Adventist Church in Israel. Rosemary and Merlyn Duerksen, Patricia Hare, Judy and
4 Letters Gordon Rick, James Stirling, Nancy and John Vogt
unDErWriting AD viSOrS
6 News & Analysis ($2,500+ during last two years)
Kelli and Robert Black, Mariellyn and Edwin Hill, Tracy
and R. Craig Reynolds, Marie A. William Sandborn
“Claim L.A.” Evangelistic Series Meets Resistance
Among California Pastors, by Andrew Hanson gEnEr Al AD viSOrS ($500+/year plan)
Barbara and Almon J. Balkins, Theresa Buchholz, Diana
and Ken Bauer, Jeanne and Gary Bogle, Ginny and Todd
25 Alden Thompson Burley, Charlotte and John Cassell, Ruth L. Christensen,
Judy and Keith Colburn, Patricia and Ronald Cople, Judy
The Eye Doctor and John Curtis, John Cutts, Josephine and Joshua Dee,
Larry Downing, Mary and James Dunn, Anders Engdahl,
H.O. Engen, Sharon and Gary Fraser, Annette and Gary
26 Remnants Frykman, Karen and Brent Gardner, Sandra and Samuel
Geli, Don Halsell, Jackie and Thomas Hamilton, Sheridan
7 Questions for . . . Mary Whipple— and Richard Hannon, Linda and Lyndon Harder, Dolores
Olympic Gold Medalist and Robert Hasse, Jackie and Jim Henneberg, Jolene
and Dennis Hilliard, Sally and Russell Hoenes, Virginia
Adventist Man: Sacred Hierarchy, and Donald Jeffries, Erika and Brian Johnson, Ruth
and Edmond Jones, Marga and Elton Kerr, Dolores and
Language Vegan, Sabbath No-No Dean Kinsey, Helen and Frank Knittel, Doreen and Irvin
22 A Time to Laugh Kuhn, Carmen and Yung Lau, Darrell Litvin, Berryl and
Ralph Longway, Felix Lorenz, Florence and Ken Lorenz,
Frances and Donald Miller, Joan and Chuck Mitchell,
Adventist Caricaturist
Janet and Barton Moore, Alicia and Rick Murray, Adele
bursts onto the scene. and James Nelson, Elaine Nelson, Susan and Daniel
Paulien, Steve Pawluk, David T. Person II, Eugene Platt,
Ruthe-Marina and Gary Raines, Judith Rausch, Joyce
and Phil Reiswig, Ruth and Beryl Rivers, Dee Dee and
Adventist Today brings contemporary issues of importance to Adventist Church members. Following basic principles of ethics and Nate Schilt, Barbara amd Eldon Stratton, Betty and
James Webster, Stephanie and Tim Welebir, Anne and
canons of journalism, this publication strives for fairness, candor, and good taste. Unsolicited submissions are encouraged. Payment is
Ralph Wiseman
competitive. Send an email to [email protected]. Annual subscriptions $29.50 ($50/2 years) for individuals, $19.50 for new subscribers,
$40 for institutions. (Payment by check or credit card. Add $10 for address outside North America.) Voice: [phone] or [phone] As an independent press, Adventist Today relies on
donations to meet its operating expenses. To make a
Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected] Website: www.atoday.com.
donation, go to www.atoday.com or mail to Adventist
Adventist Today (ISSN 1079-5499) is published bimonthly by Adventist Today Foundation, P.O. Box 8026 Riverside, CA 92515-8026. Periodical postage Today, P.O. Box 8026, Riverside, CA 92515-8026. Thanks
paid at Riverside, California, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Adventist Today, P.O. Box 8026, Riverside, CA 92515- for supporting Adventist Today with your regular tax-
8026. Copyright © 2008 by Adventist Today Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering open dialogue in the Adventist community. deductible donations!
2 AdvenTIs T T odAy • november-december 2008
Adventist
Today
e dI T o rI Al
Daughters of Jerusalem
Andy Nash
We wake up earlier than planned—Ally, Morgan, they call out, “Are you Muslim?” When I say no,
and I. Our first morning in Jerusalem. they motion to continue on the road we were
I’ve dreamed about coming here all my life; what I already on. Keep walking up the Via Dolorosa, they
never dreamed was that I’d get to share the holy city say, and then take the next left.
with my two oldest daughters, ages 10 and 8. The road is cobbled and uphill, and Morgan
My youngest stayed home in Chattanooga with begins to tug on my hand. Morgan doesn’t usually
Cindy, who has traveled here before and who prayed let me carry her anymore. Like all twinkle-eyed
us across the Atlantic. daughters eventually, she has grown beyond her
Yesterday was a pulsating drive up to the Old City dad’s arms. But she keeps tugging.
and a rush through aggressive markets—Jewish, “Sweetheart,” I ask, “do you want me to carry you?”
Muslim, Christian—to the tranquil Garden Tomb. She nods and lifts her arms. She’s my little girl again.
It was everything we’d imagined. Morgan puts her arm around my neck and sips
Today is supposed to be her water bottle as we trudge along together. In time
We will do
a big day too. It’s Thursday, we turn left and find the entrance meant for us, near
anything to give
the last day of the week that the Western Wall.
our children joy, non-Muslims are allowed to We spend two special hours on the Temple
and when we visit the Temple Mount. We’re Mount. By the end Morgan is rejuvenated and her
leaving Sunday for Masada and old self. She pours her water bottle over Ally’s head.
actually have
then up to Galilee, where I’ll Only later that afternoon, as I watch the girls
the chance,
baptize my girls in the Jordan. giggle away a hot day with a cool swim, does it dawn
well, try Today is our only chance on me. The street where I’d carried Morgan was the
stopping us. to visit the place where the Via Dolorosa, the way of the cross. Intellectually
orthodox still fear to tread; they I had known this, but I wasn’t thinking of it at the
don’t want to risk walking where the Holy of Holies time. I was thinking only of Morgan.
might have been. As she had leaned softly against me, my sole desire
I had heard how beautiful it is to approach at that moment was simply to hold her, to ease her
the Temple Mount from the east, in the morning burden—the strange yet welcome love that, probably
light, hiking down from the Mount of Olives more than anything else, lets a sinful parent know
and Gethsemane, so that was our big plan for today. the heart of the Father. We will do anything to give
But our plans have taken a turn. Morgan threw up our children joy, and when we actually have the
several times last night. chance, well, try stopping us.
This morning she says she’s feeling a little better I’m so grateful for this experience—when carrying
and that she wants to see the Temple Mount. I my daughter felt lighter than not carrying her. It
quickly deem her fit enough, and we slip into the helps me to understand.
required long pants and skirts, respectively. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and
We take a taxi to the Lion’s Gate and enter perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him
the Old City on foot. Immediately to our left I see endured the cross, scorning its shame . . .” (Heb.
a Temple Mount entrance. As we approach security, 12:2, NIV).
www.AT odAy.Com 3
l eT Te r s
the total amount of the Social Security are required to be available for work six
premiums, whereas employees in other days a week. Again, I think this is asking
areas (such as secretaries) have half of their more than should be required.
premiums paid by the denomination. It ChArlES W. gODFrE y
Ravenna, Ohio
is interesting to note that Adventist
pastors are not considered self-employed,
however, for federal tax liability because Big Apple greeting(s)
they receive a W-2 at year’s end. I appreciate the way Adventist Today is
When I was a pastor in the Carolina keeping me connected with my church.
Conference, I was also required to sign Thank you for your hard and creative
a letter that authorized conference per- work.
sonnel to “audit” me to make sure I was I am buried in work here in Manhattan,
Adventist Salaries returning tithe. As I recall, the Levites sharing life with Muslims, Jews, atheists,
I must say that “At What Price” (Sept.- were not required to “tithe,” and I think it and a plethora of other Christians, away
Oct.), by Edwin A. and Edwin D. is wrong to require this of any pastor. from mainstream Adventism. Greetings,
Schwisow, raises my blood pressure. I also believe that a pastor should and Shalom, and Salaam, and Peace of
My ministry is among non-Adventists. bbeo 8ab0l6e5 t_oT daot outmh_eArD t.hqinxgds: tLoa myoakuet an1 10/1C9/h0ri8s t to1 :y2ou2 frPoMm NPeawge Y o1rk!
Among other denominations, salary income as long as it is done on his own SAMir SElMAnO viC
time (his day off, for example). Pastors New York, New York
determines the “quality” of clergy they
get. I consistently boast that Adventists
pay ministers of small, rural churches KnowaKidFilled
virtually the same as ministers of large
city churches. I even told the hospital WithPassion?
board on which I serve that the pay scale
for Adventist healthcare workers is equal
HaveWeGot
to that of ministers. Obviously, I was
mistaken. theBookforYou!
FElix A. lOrEnz, Jr.
Northville, Mich.
AndyNashhelpskidslearntouse
I read with interest “At What Price?”
theircharactertraitstoglorifyGod
In comparing Adventist pastors’
astheywatchTatumandhertiger,
salaries to other denominations, it is my Passion,havelotsoffunatthe
understanding that many of the other springpicnic—untilthe
Protestant denominations provide housing gunnysackrace.ThenGrandpa
for their pastors at no out-of-pocket cost sharesawonderfulsecretthat
to the pastoral family. Add that to the makesTatum(andhertiger,
Passion)laughandlaugh.
salary of a non-Adventist pastor.
Hardcover,32pages.$9.99
Adventist pastors also get a large
reduction in their annual salary for tax
purposes. The “housing allowance” allows 3Ways •VisityourlocalAdventistBookCenter®
them to have a deduction of their annual to •Calltoll-free1-800-765-6955
salary that reduces their potential tax Shop •OrderonlineatAdventistBookCenter.com
liability considerably.
Adventist pastors are considered to
be self-employed for Social Security Priceandavailabilitysubjecttochange.
PricesshowninU.S.funds.
purposes. This means that they must pay
4 AdvenTIs T T odAy • november-december 2008
Adventist Woman? 92515-8026. Please include full name and location.
a message from the economic downturn, which is now spreading into
Adventist Man. Is he for real? I wonder the European and Asian markets. There now seems
executive publisher
if the “historic Adventists” will bring out to be no question that our economy has slipped
the tar and feathers? What about equal First, the good news. All Adventist Today into recession. Like many non-profit organizations,
time? Where is his counterpoint, Adventist stakeholders can be justly proud of what has Adventist Today has experienced—particularly within
Woman? been accomplished over the last two years at the last 60 days—a sharp reduction in the level of
I have enjoyed Adventist Today. Keep Adventist Today. As the result of the dedicated donations. Since approximately 50 percent of our
efforts of the Adventist Today team and with the income is derived from this source, this has made an
up the good work.
financial support of members of our Board and immediate impact on our financial condition.
SCOtt M. PArMElE
Coos Bay, Oregon Advisory Council, we embarked two years ago on Adventist Today has been at the forefront of
what we called a Quantum Leap. As a result, our providing unbiased and honest reporting of stories
Adventist Man (page 27) seems to have subscription numbers have risen by 40 percent that other church media either could not or would
upset about everyone at some point. over the last 12 months, and the traffic on our web not publish. This is the time for those who value
Adventist Woman is an intriguing site has almost doubled. In 2007, donations rose to Adventist Today to vote with a contribution that
possibility. We’ll keep an eye out for her. their highest level in 10 years. will assist us in weathering this storm. You are
Now, the less than good news: Unless you have invited to mail a contribution in the reply envelope
Letters poLicy not had access to a newspaper or have not looked inside this issue, to donate online at www.atoday.
B08057_Gifts_For_Friends_family_Ad:Layout 1 10/21/08 8:28 AM Page 1
Send to [email protected] or to Letters to the at your 401k statement recently, you are aware com, or to email me at [email protected].
Editor, Adventist Today, P.O. Box 8026, Riverside, CA that the United States is experiencing a serious Thank you. —Erv taylor
GGiiffttss ffoorr FFrriieennddss && FFaammiillyy
The Perfect Gift byLeeVenden
GodwrappedHisextravagantgiftinhumanity.Catchaglimpse
ofthatChildandwatchthatMangiveHimselftosaveyou.
Hardcover.Regularly$14.99,ChristmasSpecial$10.99
The Story of Christmas Advent Calendar
OpenthegateofthisuniqueAdventcalendartofind
25smallnumberedbooksthattelltheamazingstory
ofthefirstChristmasusingBibletexts.$19.99
SSttoocckkiinngg SSttuuffffeerrss
BibleBoardBooksbyNoelleHuntington
PAANRGAEBLLSESINOTFHTEHBEIBBLIBELE SPAAlsNoISinH
STORIESOFTHEBIBLE$6.99each
NESTFamilyEntertainmentTM
AnimatedStoriesDVDsandRead-A-Long
SingA-LongDVDStorybooks
StoriesfromhistoryandtheBiblearebroughtto
lifeintheseaward-winningDVDs. Seethelarge
selectionavailableatAdventistBookCenter.com
$14.99each
3WAYS•VisityourlocalAdventistBookCenter®
TO •Calltoll-free1-800-765-6955
SHOP •OrderonlineatAdventistBookCenter.com
Priceandavailabilitysubjecttochange.PricesshowninU.S.funds.
www.AT odAy.Com 5
n e w s & AnAl y sIs
“Claim l.A.” Evangelism Project Meets resistance Among California Pastors
Pastors say that conference administrators should have consulted
better with local churches in planning joint effort with It Is Written .
By Andrew Hanson
A major evangelistic project is being Memorial Church in Los Angeles, previously sent a letter to Adventist Today
questioned by a number of Adventist knowing that the conference had already responding to some of the criticism of
pastors in Southern California. committed the pastors to participate in the Claim L.A. in the blogosphere. Cirigliano
Claim L.A. will combine the resources project. The meeting was chaotic and filled cited several meetings going back to
of the Southern California Conference with tension, said the pastor, adding that 2006 between the Southern California
and the It Is Written evangelistic team input from the area pastors wasn’t taken as Conference, It Is Written, and area
to conduct public meetings in several seriously as they had hoped. pastors, and said the communications
locations around the greater Los Angeles “It’s not the way I’d have chosen to do it,” will be ongoing. “During 2009 and
area in 2009 and 2010. The cost is added another pastor. “Our administrators 2010,” he wrote, “there will [be] a strong
projected to exceed $1 million and will decided it was the right thing to do. [But] emphasis on retaining new members
involve more than 40 Adventist churches. it’s not the best use of the money.” through small groups, retreats, training,
The Claim L.A. concept originated Funding for Claim L.A. comes from a and other methods.”
when Shawn Boonstra, It Is Written single donation, not from the conference Pastors have also expressed concern
Speaker/Director, telephoned Larry budget. And several pastors affirmed about the demographic focus of the
L. Caviness, president of the Southern Caviness for his leadership in rescuing the meetings and the expected emphasis on
California Conference, outlining what financially stressed conference over the prophecy. “Statistics show that people
an evangelistic campaign had to offer past few years. Their concern, they said, is come to Christ before age 32,” one
the Conference, whose membership has not with Caviness personally or with his pastor said. “Boonstra’s meetings are
dropped from 50,000 to 40,000 over the desire for membership growth in Southern addressed to the 55 and older.” Several
past decade. Boonstra offered to conduct California, but with how the Claim L.A. pastors expressed their concern that their
an outreach in Los Angeles similar to project is being handled. neighbors might connect them with the
those conducted by It Is Written in Several local pastors said that the plans handbills that are mailed out.
Phoenix and Portland. Caviness viewed for evangelism could have been improved Another pastor cited a July 2008 article
Boonstra’s call as providential—an answer if they had been more closely consulted. in Ministry magazine reporting that 0.5
to his prayers. On many occasions, “Is the It Is Written staff going to sit percent of Adventist growth in America
Caviness told his pastors, he had climbed down to learn what’s going on in the local comes from evangelism, while more
the hill behind his Glendale home to pray churches?” asked one pastor. “Does It Is than 70 percent comes through personal
for the city of Los Angeles, seeking God’s Written assume that one message fits all? relationships. “This is what churches do on
direction in sharing the gospel with those Do these people assume that we don’t the local level,” he said. “Why do we put so
who live there. know anything? If we were given the much of our resources into a method that
But interviews with Adventist pastors resources and support, we could bring has such a small return and so little into a
in the Greater Los Angeles area reveal the gospel message to our communities method that is effective?”
widespread unease with the decision- in ways that are tailored to meet specific The Southern California Conference has
making process that led to adopting needs. Can’t we be trusted to achieve a made $109,000 available to Los Angeles-
the Claim L.A. project as the primary common goal?” area churches that support Claim L.A.,
conference evangelistic program for the Following their complaints, said several according to conference pastors.
next two years. The pastors have requested pastors, Conference Vice President James One pastor expressed his concern that
not to be named because they are Lee apologized for not having involved the those who critique traditional evangelism
employed by the conference. According to pastors more closely in the planning. are branded as foes. “I care about people
these pastors, Caviness made the decision Phone and email messages requesting and I want people to come into God’s
without sufficiently discussing the plans interviews with Lee and Caviness haven’t kingdom and be God’s people,” he said. “I
with the pastors. been returned. Co-speaker and It is have no desire to tear down the church.
One pastor said that he attended a Written Evangelism Coordinator for But if I’m not on the bandwagon, then
Claim L.A. meeting held at the White North America Joe Cirigliano, however, I’m labeled as anti-evangelism.”
6 AdvenTIs T T odAy • november-december 2008
www.AT odAy.Com 7
C O V E R S T O R Y
we
need Talk
To
We co ntinue to lose our next generation. But we don’t have to.
By chris BLake
8 AdvenTIs T T odAy • november-december 2008
need Talk
To
We co ntinue to lose our next generation. But we don’t have to.
Every year I see my students leave a vibrant
campus, and I know what’s going to happen to
them. Many will walk inside a small Adventist
church, where they expect or hope to encounter
excellent preaching; soul-stirring music; honest,
deep friendships characterized by open dialogue;
and attractive, imaginative, courageous discipleship.
Soon they will be disappointed. Soon after that,
they will bolt.
Every Adventist college sets up graduates for this
sad exodus. We do it by offering years of excellent
preaching, soul-stirring music, and honest, deep
friendships …
Yeah.
If you haven’t yet heard the stories or witnessed
firsthand the Adventist young adult hemorrhage in
North America, you are not plugged in to current
realities.
Unfortunately, today’s young adults are not being
trained to thrive in hostile and sterile spiritual
environments as tough disciples of the Carpenter
from Nazareth. Students are instead recruited,
targeted, coddled, and wooed like discriminating
indie music fans.
They emerge from college unprepared to face
older Adventists who believe, deep in their hearts,
that most contemporary Christian music is from
the devil. That only a traditional order of worship
is sacred. That God honors entitlement. That the
week exists to point us toward the Sabbath. That
church is a denomination or building. And that
what ultimately matters most to God is what
happens inside that denomination or building.
Younger Adventists believe, deep in their hearts,
that virtually all musical styles can laud God. That
Jesus handed down no specific order of service.
That God honors creativity and accountability
and love. That the Sabbath exists to launch us into
the week. That church is a community of uneven
believers. And that what ultimately matters most to
God is what happens on streets, in schools, and in
homes outside any denominational building.
www.AT odAy.Com 9
C O V E R S T O R Y
Can these two heartfelt perspectives merge and flourish? What n Prefer casual and comfortable to formal and stiff.
other differences exist? Moreover, what about those who are not n View life in a nonlinear way; they don’t mind contradiction
in the church? and ambiguity.
In analyzing research results, Kinnaman and Lyons refuse to
emerging portrait sugarcoat the situation. ”The title of this book, unChristian, reflects
In their riveting book unChristian (Baker Books, 2007), outsiders’ most common reaction to the faith: They think Christians
David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons document a three-year, no longer represent what Jesus had in mind.” As one outsider
groundbreaking study from The Barna Group using thousands observed, “Christianity has become bloated with blind followers
of interviews with people who are outside of Christianity— who would rather repeat slogans than actually feel true compassion
“outsiders.” The researchers focused their questions on 16- to and care. Christianity has become marketed and streamlined into a
29-year-olds—parts of Busters (born between 1965 and 1983) juggernaut of fearmongering that has lost its own heart.”
and Mosaics (born between 1984 and 2002)—highlighting Many outsiders hold negative opinions of Christians “not
distinctions, as shown in the following table. because of any specific theological perspective. What they react
Percent outside negatively to is our ‘swagger,’ how we go about things and the
Generation Age (in 2007) of Christianity Size in U.S. sense of self-importance we project. … We have become famous
Older Mosaics and 16-29 40% 24 million for what we oppose, rather than who we are for.” In other words,
Young Busters we’re barking up the wrong tree of life.
Boomers 42-60 27% 21 million The book spotlights six broad, objectionable themes raised by
Elders 61+ 23% 12 million outsiders:
Hypocritical. Christians “pretend to be something unreal,
Because they have been the target of more marketing and conveying a polished image that is not accurate.”
media than any previous generation, Busters’ and Mosaics’ Too focused on getting converts. Outsiders too often “feel like
mindset is “incredibly savvy and unusually jaded.” Relationships targets rather than people.”
(think mobile phones, texting, blogs, MySpace) are their driving Anti-homosexual. Christians “show disdain for gays and
force, with one of the highest values “being loyal to friends.” lesbians.”
Furthermore, they: Sheltered. Christians “do not respond to reality in appropriately
n Engage in a nearly constant search for fresh experiences and complex ways, preferring simplistic solutions and answers.”
new motivations. Too political. Christians are “overly motivated by a political
n Disdain self-proclaimed experts and “talking head” agenda.”
presentations. (“Being skeptical of leaders, products, and Judgmental. Outsiders doubt “that [Christians] really love
institutions … they do not trust things that seem too perfect.”) people as we say we do.” We are too quick and too willing to
n Quickly move on if not permitted to participate in the judge.
process. What appear as self-evident truths to Christians are anything
no more making crazymakers
By Chris Blake the Pseudoaccommodator. the Benedict Arnold. Arnolds “get back at” the
Because they can’t or won’t discuss feelings and Pseudoaccommodators pretend nothing at all is church or God by ridiculing, failing to defend from
beliefs openly, people can become “crazymakers”— wrong. When the going gets rough, however, they attackers, and sabotaging united efforts.
using (often unconsciously) passive-aggressive leave, explaining, “It was never good.” In the final analysis, the antidote to passive-
techniques to vent their resentments. Crazymakers the Joker. Because they are afraid to face reality aggressive behavior exists in enabling direct,
employ a variety of indirect tricks and sneak attacks. squarely, jokers constantly kid around. This behavior responsible communication, in creating
The following five crazymaking characteristics blocks expression of important feelings. Eventually, sanctuaries—safe places—for open, caring dialogue.
appear in many Adventist young adults when they jokers opt out for something more “real.” Ironically, too many church sanctuaries are
intersect with their church. the Blamer. Blamers would rather point out anything but safe.
the Avoider. Avoiders refuse to discuss or faults than solve problems. Through a torrent of When a church offers safe, honest, redemptive
engage. No vital, deepening friendship can develop criticism, they place everyone else on the defensive— avenues for expression, it stops making
because they simply won’t show up. then are sorely wounded when others strike back. crazymakers.
10 AdvenTIs T T odAy • november-december 2008