GOD'S CHRISTMAS LIST
I read "What God wants for Christmas" (Dec. 2002). Is this not a Seventh-day Adventist publication? What has Christmas to do with us?

I dove into the matter some years ago and found that Christmas is a purely pagan tradition that the Roman Catholic Church wrapped in a Christian cloth. It reeks of the devil when one looks under the table. Christ was not born on the day that most pagan religions celebrated the birth of the sun god. By celebrating Christmas one celebrates the sun god: Lucifer. We should not take the traditions of the world and peddle them as truth, but expose the lies.

If God wants anything, He wants His people to wake up and be like virgins, not mixing paganism with His teachings. It may not be popular, but we should aim to please God.

Don't put Christ in Christ-mass, He was never there.

Heiki Henrichsen, Jr.
Stavenger, Norway

WILD ABOUT HARRY
Surely a mistake has been made by the editorial staff at the Adventist Review. As a former adherent of the occult, I am absolutely shocked that the Review would publish a Yes/No perspective on the Harry Potter series of books ("What Do We Do With Harry Potter?" Nov. 21, 2002). The very titles of the Potter books tell exactly what they're all about. Paul clearly warned us, "Abstain from all appearance of evil" (1 Thess. 5:22). There is no godly reason whatsoever to put in print an opinion that occult fiction is appropriate for Adventist children.

Will Baron
Norwalk, California
author, Deceived by the New Age

I can't help but believe that the Review is doing more harm than good by printing anything about Harry Potter or other fiction, especially anything that involves witchcraft, necromancy, etc.

I don't believe our church (or its publications) should try to establish detailed rules about what is right and wrong (e.g., how to keep the Sabbath holy, specifically; what books, movies are OK). But, our church does believe in the teachings of the Bible and its commandments and principles (e.g., Philippians 4:8). Does it really matter whether the book is "well written" about an "underdog"? I nearly choked when I read Soraya Parish try to justify the "extraordinary" things in Potter by making a comparison with David and Goliath.

Too bad Parish thinks it more important to quote Charles Colson and J.K. Rowling (of all people) about a Potter-type book than quoting anything about the guidelines/principles found in the Bible or Ellen G. White's writings. It is also too bad that Richard Abanes believes we need to know on exactly what page of each Potter book we can find objectionable material, and can save the trouble of reading those things ourselves by just buying his book.

If anyone wants to know that much about these books, and wants his book, fine. However, they may decide they need to read the stuff for themselves. It should be more than enough if we have just seen or read even one advertisement about the Potter books, and if we study God's counsel and pray for His Spirit to lead us in everything we do, say/write, read/see, and think. I don't believe we should take up the valuable space in the Review for this kind of discussion.

I would guess that those who wish to read and/or see this stuff will find reason to do so in your article. (Will they then say: "It's OK for us [the whole family?] to see/read these stories, because a writer in the Review said so"?) Those who aren't interested will find a reason not to, unless the articles arouse someone's interest who previously had none and now wants to "see for myself." That's why I think it is less than harmless to have such articles in the Review.

Robert N. Knickerbocker

I agree that Harry Potter isn't the best choice for our children to read or watch. Why do you include Lord of the Rings in this mix? The article barely mentions Tolkien's work, but pictures from the movie are featured throughout. I think one should be careful lumping the two authors together in this way.

Don't misunderstand me, I would not encourage children to see the "Lord of the Rings" movie. But the movie was not marketed directly to children as Harry Potter was. Also, one cannot argue against the literary excellence of Lord of the Rings. As a young Adventist Mom, I am curious about your stance on the trilogy since you do not state one in the article.

Thank you for an excellent and well balanced article concerning fantasy and our children. I wait with anticipation for your reply about Tolkien.

Beki Schmidt

The article on Harry Potter was well done and much needed. Why did it take so long for the Review to publish such an article? Why not a prompt publishing back when the craze for Harry began?

When that craze hit I was boarding a plane for some meetings in Washington, D.C. some three years ago. No less than four passengers (all adults) had the first volume of the Potter series. The chatter among passengers was, "What's the book like?" Or, "It's a great read, lots of fun." In the snippets of conversation I could easily overhear, it was obvious that Harry Potter was the devil's tool to engross the mind with things worthless to the soul. I voiced opposition to it in my church and church school back then, but it seemed for the most part our church was silent.

But we are beyond Potter. We are back to Tolkien and the Ring, Potter's competition. That trilogy Christians are praising is a toned down version of wizardry, etc. That three-volume series took me from the benign fun of fantasy to full blown evil tomes from the likes of Stephen King before I met Jesus. To tout the merits of a fictional book by saying it is a analogy between good and evil is weak and useless. Most any adventure/fantasy book could fit that category.

The question is: Does the author lead the mind of his or her readers to heavenly, pure thoughts of God and His character, will and purpose? Anything less than that is suspect.

Pastor Kevin James,
Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Director
Nevada-Utah Conference
Ogden, Utah

The article by Anita Oliver was written diplomatically. Seventh-day Adventists have confidence in prophecy and they should, therefore, speak with authority, warning parents not to join the deceived millions who are treading on dangerous ground. These books and the Left Behind series are the devil's last attempts to thwart God's plan of salvation.

The sale of these books by the millions should remind us that the devil is now relentless at aiming his poisoned shafts toward children. God in His mercy has given us books by Ellen White to be our guide in all things; she has much to say about the reading of novels: "Works of fiction . . . contain statements and highly wrought pen pictures that excite the imagination and give rise to a train of thought which is full of danger, especially to the youth. The scenes described are lived over and over again in their thoughts. Such reading unfits the mind for usefulness and disqualifies it for spiritual exercise. It destroys interest in the Bible . . . Through its exciting, intoxicating power it is not infrequently a cause of both mental and physical disease. Many a miserable, neglected home, many a lifelong invalid, many an inmate of the insane asylum, has become such through the habit of novel reading...Never should books containing a perversion of truth be placed in the hands of children or youth" (Messages to Young People, pp.445-447).

Latifa F Jabbour

I was quite pleased with the article regarding Harry Potter. Ms. Oliver presents a well written, balanced presentation. I have been concerned about the proliferation of spiritualism and the occult in the media, music, children's literature, toys, and games. I have been in the process of developing a seminar/presentation to inform and educate those in our churches and other churches of these increasing dangers.

I became an Adventist after some incredible supernatural events. Our dear and precious Lord Jesus plucked me out of the fire of the occult and New Age. I know the extent Satan will go to gain footholds in our lives and the lives of our children. We must be wide awake and prepared to meet these challenges to our faith.

I urge all fellow believers to hold firmly to our doctrines and truths regarding the condition of the dead and to carefully scrutinize what we view, listen to, and play.

Renee Jensen

NONSENSE IN GOD'S NAME
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Mr. Adams for your thought-provoking editorial regarding the Middle East ("Nonsense in God's Name," Dec. 2002). We know that Christ's return is soon, we have the Advent hope--but that does not mean that we promote the end, or try to hasten it. God does things in his own time. If we, the human race, try to "help" God along, all we do is create chaos and disaster.

God does not want us to kill in His name; He does not want us to defame others in his name. What God does want is for us to love one other and take care of those less fortunate. I am afraid there are many in our churches who have become politicized and listened to these "conservative" Christians promote their own agendas.

That is not our business. Our business--our only business--is to pray for those in these war-torn countries and do what we can to relieve their misery and suffering and give them the hope we have, the Advent Hope of salvation in Jesus. It is for all of us, Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, no matter our color of skin or difference in culture.

Thank you for standing up and speaking what is right. May God continue to bless you and the Adventist Review for reaching out to all of us, for making us think, whether we agree or disagree with your point of view.

Vicki McIntyre

I so much appreciate your Internet edition, having moved to Europe from the United States nearly six years ago. Roy Adams' superb article, "Nonsense in God's Name," was an answer to my prayers for clarification on this issue, having earlier this year stumbled upon significant confusion among us on this time-honored Adventist position held by our pioneers, including Ellen G. White.

Hans K. LaRondelle, emeritus professor of Theology at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, is, to my knowledge, the leading champion of our traditional theology, with his 1983 groundbreaking book, The Israel of God in Prophecy, and its popular sequel, besides other lectures and articles. I was pleasantly surprised to find his work promoted on various non-Adventist Internet sites as the ablest challenge to this greivous dispensationalist error which I believe contributed to the tragedy of 9/11/01.

Vilis I. Lietuvietis
Estonia

HEAVENLY MATTERS
In "Is The Heavenly Sanctuary Really Real?" (Nov. 14, 2002), Angel Manuel Rodriguez rightfully admits, "The nature of the heavenly sanctuary is beyond our full comprehension." The earthly sanctuary is only a limited anthropomorphic description of an infinite reality. To materially depict the heavenly sanctuary on the basis of its earthly type is like trying to describe a person on the basis of his shadow. The Bible definitely reveals a functional relationship between the two, but not a definite spatial or material correspondence.

I concur with Niels-Erik Andreasen: "The resultant correspondence between the two sanctuaries is not a strictly material and spatial one . . . . The relationship between them is functional rather than spatial and material" ("The Heavenly Sanctuary in the Old Testament," The Sanctuary and Atonement, Frank Hoolbrook ed. [Collegedale: The College Press, 1989], p.79).

To protect mortal and sinful priests from exposure to God's presence, the earthly sanctuary had to have a structural barrier that our sinless and immortal High Priest in heaven wouldn't need. Whether He was doing the first phase (intercession) or second phase (judgment) of His priestly ministry, Jesus' access into the Father's presence was not limited as were His earthly counterparts. That's why at His ascension Hebrews 6:19 assures us: "We have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil [most holy place]." And, "We have such a High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens" (Heb. 8:1).

With profound insight Roy Gane points out that although Christ did not begin the cleansing of the sanctuary (second phase) at His ascension, He "entered the heavenly equivalent of the most holy place" (Roy Gane, Altar Call [Berrien Springs: Diadem, 1999], p. 174). He goes on to explain: "Restricting Christ to one part of the sanctuary does not work, especially after the beginning of the judgment . . . Christ carries out holy place [intercessory] and most holy place [judgment] functions during the same period of time" (ibid., p. 181, emphasis his).

It is wonderful to know that our Savior has always been "standing on the right hand of God" (Acts 7:55) on our behalf since His ascension, without spatial restrictions. When we get there, we will see the infinite grandeur of the heavenly sanctuary. For now, let's get excited about seeing our great High Priest soon.

Diego D. Sausa, Jr.
Fort Myers, Florida

ENCOURAGED AND DISCOURAGED
There have been many encouraging reports in the Adventist Review about the progress of the work and the wonderful success of evangelism in many places. Most of us, if not all, want to know that our contributions are making a difference.

It is disturbing to read Jan Paulsen's quotes in the report by Jonathan Gallagher ("Paulsen Points to Mission," Nov. 14, 2002). When I hear that 80,000 names have to be deleted from the records of our church in one country simply because they came en masse, they cannot be traced, they do not come to church, they may not even exist--that troubles me greatly. When I learn that after one of these mega-campaigns with an imported team, they don't even bother to write down the names of those baptized--"we'll do it after they have been baptized for the third time"--something is wrong. Evangelism in these circumstances becomes a carnival.

Those conducting these campaigns ought to be accountable. We believe in mission, but we want to know that our contributions are bringing in members who have been properly prepared for baptism. It makes us wonder, Where should we put our emphasis as we give our financial support?

Martin R. Davis
Woodbury, Tennessee