CONSERVATIVE CONCERNS
I rarely write. It takes an article that really disgusts me, or one that produces strong agreement to get me motivated. This time it's the latter. I refer to the article "Current Concerns of a Conservative Adventist" (Oct. 24, 2002) by Tom Huson. I've been waiting a long time to see someone articulate my views.

I couldn't agree more with what Huson had to say; I just wouldn't be able to articulate it nearly as well. Many of us have been frustrated by the subtle errors we see creeping into the church, but we often don't know quite how to present well-reasoned, scriptural objections. Subtle error, by its very nature, does not lend itself to easy refutation. I would like to see more articles of this nature in the Review, especially those that aid in using well-reasoned biblical methods to combat the devil's clever but subtle methods of bringing worldliness into the church.

We have more to fear from within the church than from without, and we need to know how to deal with it in a Christ-like, biblical-based (not culturally-conditioned, or politically correct) manner.

Thank you for this timely article.

Walter Sumner
Canaan, Maine

Since I seriously doubt that the Review will publish an article by a "progressive" Seventh-day Adventist, please allow me to express some thoughts about the article by Tom Huson.

Labels should not be despised; they are useful in defining where a person falls in relation to his or her opinions. Only the misuse of labels should be despised. If one willingly acknowledges a label, it is a useful tool. I agree with the article that neither side is the sole repository of truth. I would also like to add that neither is the Seventh-day Adventist Church the sole repository of truth. Churches outside our denomination are not the enemy, neither are they, as the article said, "churches of the world." This type of exclusive expression is one of the large differences between the "progressive" and "traditional" Adventists. We are all hopefully searching for truth, but there is no reason to allow the expressions of other Christians to even be considered as long as we proclaim them "worldly," or "apostate Christianity."

We must make wise presuppositions and not allow ourselves to be swayed by false suppositions.

The "progressive" Adventist does not try to tell other Christians how they should worship or what music is the most refined or acceptable to heaven. We are all different; our cultures and our tastes define who we are. But that does not make the worship service of a "high church" any more refined than the worship offered by those who use modern praise music. There is certainly trivial praise music, just as there are trivial hymns. To brand one by the poorer examples of the genre is faulty logic, whether used against hymns or contemporary Christian music. Those hypnotized by contemporary Christian music must some how deal with their situation, but it is not necessary to abandon something because other tastes or experiences have distracted them. I have yet to find a group of people who agree completely about music. It is doubtful that such a group will be found in the Adventist Church either.

Yes, we need to return to godliness. But godliness is not found in the traditions, whether Seventh-day Adventist or other denominations. It is found by seeking after truth, understanding the love of God, and restoring our relationships with Him. To this end the "progressive" Adventist does not desire to place stumbling blocks in the way of others as they pursue Christ. This is not a carte blanche acceptance of everything, but a reasoned response to others, their needs, their backgrounds, and yes, even their tastes.

Ron Corson
Clarkston, Washington

This article was the best I've seen in the Review for some time. A hearty thank you for publishing it.

Bill Eichner

Congratulations for printing Huson's article; it is spot on. From what I've seen in the Adventist literature of many years, it must have taken real courage to print his article. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Darryl Martin

SENDING YOUR PASTOR PACKING
Loren Seibold's article "How to Send Your Pastor Packing" (Oct. 2002) was a long time coming. Sometimes parishioners do forget to appreciate their pastors for the skill and dedication it takes to be a successful minister.

Siebold's article gives birth to a related issue. While on one hand almost all Adventist ministers deserve praise, on the other hand there are some who are unqualified to continue as ministers. It seems by the time local conference administrators respond to these situations, too much damage has occurred to a local church's spirituality and reputation.

Perhaps the Adventist Review could address in a future article how the church monitors the fidelity and professionalism of its local church pastoral leadership.

Lynton Hurdle
La Habra, California

How dare the writer put the blame on the congregation for the plight of the pastor! On the planet I'm from, pastors are doing the congregation a favor by being there at all because of the great sacrifice they are making, which permits them to have second jobs and wives to run businesses, etc.

Complaining to the conference has never been a temptation, after a conference official remarked that when he calls a mandatory meeting, 10 percent of pastors show up. That indicates to me that the sheep do not have any influence over what the shepherd does.

Read Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 336-338. Ellen White wrote about "Sleeping preachers preaching to sleeping people." May God wake us all up.

Ed Cheneweth
Coronado, California

I am truly sorry that something of that kind happens in our churches. My daughter gets only the North American Division edition of the Review, for she has joined another denomination, but she was spellbound at the whole article and said the exact thing happened at her church just a month ago. She is making a copy of the article to send to the pastor who was packed up and sent off, and putting a copy on the church bulletin board. She was so pleased to find it at this time in her need to understand. I appreciated its truthfulness even though it is painful to admit it happens.

Kathy Turner

We found the article to be totally inappropriate. Before you dismiss this e-mail as from individuals who simply read the title and were disturbed, please be assured that we read it in its entirety. We found it inappropriate for its tone, not its subject matter.

While sarcasm and irony have their place in writing and conversation, they should never have any place in a publication whose purpose is to uplift and inform. Mr. Seibold's article may have been intended to be a humorous take on church growth, but it failed to take into account that, yes, there are times when the best step toward an improved atmosphere for church growth is the changing of pastors.

We speak from experience. Our little church has experienced pastors led of God as well as pastors whose calling was certainly in doubt. We have even experienced periods when the lack of a pastor was more conducive to a Christian atmosphere. Ultimately our focus should not be on church growth as much as on the Christian experience and lifestyle. Our duty is to live a life that is Christ-like both in attitude and action, and allow God to worry about filling the church pews and rooms of heaven.

Beverly and Christopher Dickerson
Hima, Kentucky

I would respond to Loren Seibold's condescending and sarcastic article with an equally creative top ten list but for a couple of reasons. First, I obviously do not approve of his tone. Second, my "tips" might be a little too specifically related to a recent conflict with my pastor.

I will pass one along, though, in the hopes it is sufficiently general: be sure to side with elders against other "lesser" church members in conflicts, based only on the elders' side of the story. After all, elders must have more light and truth, otherwise they wouldn't be elders.

Like Siebold, I could go on in this vein, but I prefer a more direct method of communication. To quote Harry Truman, and paraphrase James 3:1: "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."

George M Jempty
Scottsbluff, Nebraska

A WORD FOR THE KIDS
Our family appreciates the new KidsView pullout. I had to laugh when I read William Johnsson's editorial about the project (Sept. 19, 2002). In it he said that I wrote every so often to let him know that I "wouldn't give up" until I "saw the Review for children."

Anyone who knows Mr. Johnsson or me knows that he was very diplomatic in his choice of words, since I hounded him with my own personal letter-writing campaign. I am thankful that everyone who publishes the Review was willing to catch a vision of trying to get our kids connected to our church through something aimed at them.

My children have enjoyed what they've seen so far. It was interesting to show them the picture of Jesus that Ellen White said most resembled Him; it was fun to discuss how alike or different our own image of Him was compared to the picture. As a parent I was thrilled to see my 11-year-old pick up the "adult" Review to read more about Trevor Bullock, the baseball player who gave up his career rather than compromise his relationship with God.

Now, when the regular Review comes, it's a race to see who can get it first and flip to the middle to look for KidsView; we've had more than a few rumpled pages to show for our enthusiasm.

I'm thankful that the staff at the Review is willing to take a chance on new things. It seems now, that as the readership, it falls to us to determine whether this project for our children continues or ends. I, for one, eagerly look forward to a time when KidsView comes more often than once a month!

Paula Vogler
North Easton, Massachusetts