It is amazing to see how narrow we are in our arguments for or against something.
I am not opposed to discouraging the use of ornamental jewelry, but let's make
sure that our arguments are sound.
I refer to a statement in the on-line article “Adventists and Jewelry,” and
quote: "For instance, military officers usually display on their uniforms
insignias and medals that serve to identify their acts of courage and their
social role. This is a well-accepted cultural practice and the church should
consider this type of jewelry as functional. Another example: The graduation
ring appears to serve only to signal our superiority over others, who, for a
variety of reasons, could not accomplish what we did in the academic world.
Is this a piece of functional jewelry? Hardly."
Having attended Adventist schools almost my entire academic career, I never
had a graduation ring, nor do I desire to have one. However, for those who do
wear one, I would suggest that there are much more similarities in their minds
to the military ribbons than there are differences. The class ring certainly
indicates that they have attained academically. It shows loyalty to their school,
as a ring identifies the school from which the wearer graduated. At the same
time, the ribbons signify certain acts, characteristics, or accomplishments,
that others could not accomplish, or rank which others have not attained. Cultural
acceptance of one is probably not greater than cultural acceptance of the other,
and I fail to find a reason why culture should define Christian practice or
the church's standards.
My purpose for writing this is not to diminish the standards, but to encourage
the church to be sure its reasons for the standards are consistent and valid.
We have lost much credibility through the years by setting up a standard and
defending it with arguments that are weak or faulty.
Merlin Starr
Texas
We should stop trying to develop principles that apply to small metal items
of apparel, and start looking at all the ways that we adorn ourselves. These
include expensive clothes, expensive shoes, expensive cars, large houses, large
properties, and exorbitant vacations, etc. Until the statement covers all of
the above, the whole area smacks of legalism, sexism, and imposing cultural
rules across cultures.
Bevin Brett
Nashua, New Hampshire
WHERE’S THE JOY JOY JOY?
I grew up in the Adventist Church. The message I got as a child was I had to
be good enough to merit going to heaven. I don't remember anyone telling me
what really was important - which is having a geniune, growing relationship
with Jesus. Perhaps it was because I allowed my focus to be shifted from the
Person to the behavior.It took about 20 years for the Lord to finallyget through
to me that all I needed was Him. I consider my generation (Generation X) the
lost generation. I don't see very many of my generation left in the church today.
How sad! Kimberly's article (“Where is the Joy?,” November 16) is probably right
on target on explaining why this generation is missing from our congregations
today. We need less religion, more Jesus.
Lynn Golden
CONFUSING TIMES
Thank you, Roy Adams, for your splendid article, “In A Time of Confusion”
(November NAD edition). The article is an unqualified masterpiece. Reading
your penetrating critique of Dr. Fritz Guy's latest book, Thinking Theologically,
was a most delightful and intellectually refreshing experience for me. Doubtless,
it spoke with equal persuasion to the heart, soul and intellect of all your
readers.
I found your critique to be theologically sound, intellectually stimulating,
literarily exquisite and spiritually edifying and enriching. My warmest congratulations
to you and the Adventist Review for such an illuminating and incisive
analysis. At the earliest convenience I hope to secure a copy of Dr. Guy's Thinking
Theologically for my personal perusal. Continue to keep the saints thinking
theologically with Christ as the cohesive center.
George W. Brown
Florida
HOW SOON
Thank you for your brave and "timely" article (“How Soon Is Soon,”
October 26) on the perceived delay in Jesus' 2nd coming. I too have been struggling
with this issue. Publicly, I shout amen when you say "Jesus is Coming Again!."
Privately, I admit that I will be dead and buried for years if not decades before
Jesus returns.
It is this perplexity that causes me so much difficulty. In a separate but
related article, one of your authors dealt with the issue of money and how much
of it we should give. I do practice tithing but I'm not faithful in giving,
though I often exceed 10 percent. But, I have difficulty giving since Jesus'
second coming looks more and more like it will occur in 20, 50, or 100 years
from now. I don't want to sound selfish, but I know Adventist men and women
in their 80's and 90's who are living in abject poverty because they gave "much"
to the Adventist Church. Their families abandoned them, died off or are living
far away. I salute these faithful men and women, but I can't justify my own
level of offering for the simple fact that we are living longer lives. I don't
want to spend my golden years living in poverty because I gave all of my financial
wealth to the church.
Please pray for me as I struggle with this issue. I don't want to harbor an
attitude of greed, but I do want to be smart and practical with my money.
John Williams
Hawaii
TYING THE KNOT
In reading "Learning the Ropes Before Tying the Knot" (October
19) I read the alarming "fact that almost 50 percent of all first‑time
marriages end in divorce has not deterred many from matrimony." This "fact"
is often quoted, but the source is never given, due to the "fact"
that it is incorrect.
According to pollster Louis Harris, "The idea that half of American marriages
are doomed is one of the most specious pieces of statistical nonsense ever perpetuated
in modern times. It all began when the Census Bureau noted that during one year,
there were 2.4 million marriages and 1.2 million divorces. Someone did the
math without calculating the 54 million marriages already in existence, and
presto, a ridiculous but quotable statistic was born." Harris concludes,
"Only one out of eight marriages will end in divorce. In any single year,
only about 2 percent of existing marriages will break up."-‑J. Allan
Petersen in Better Families, quoted on the
Christianity.Net home page, "Preaching Resources," Copyright©1996
by Christianity Today, Inc./LEADERSHIP journal ‑ Summer 1996 Vol.XVII,
No.3, Page 69. Let's get our facts straight before we quote them!
Paul Kramer
Sacramento, California
IN DEFENSE OF GOD
I enjoyed the article "In Defense of God" (February 24, 2000) very much. There is one
point, however, that I disagree with. I believe that there is a possibility
that creation, of at least "free moral agents," may indeed have ended
with the creation of man. Not based on the premise that "once sin occurred,
it would make no sense to continue creating." Obviously, creation would
have halted at Lucifer's rebellion if that were the case.
I would like to suggest two bits of information in defense of the viewpoint
that we are God's last Creation.
First, Ellen White tells us that "man was the crowning act of creation."
(R&H June18, 1895). Granted, this statement is open to some interpretation.
However, I would take this to mean that "man" was God's ultimate and
last creation. Second, any beings created after the plan of salvation was carried
out, would not have the benefit of observing first hand the ultimate act of
God's love. We are told that "The plan of salvation provides an eternal
safeguard against defection in unfallen worlds, as well as among those who shall
be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb” (ST Dec. 30, 1889). If Adam and Eve sinned
"under the most favorable circumstances" with the privilege of holding
"communion with God and Angels"(see 1SM Chap 39) then doubt, leading
to rebellion, would seem to be a possibility among those created after the plan
of salvation was complete.
Certainly this issue is not a salvation issue. I present this viewpoint as
a possibility. There is one that we know for sure: Eye hath not seen, nor ear
heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him (1 Cor 2:9).
Dennis Seely
Hot Springs, North Carolina
