LIBERAL CONCERNS
I just read Bonnie Dwyer's essay, "Current Concerns of a 'Liberal' Adventist" (June, 2003). Much of what she says is true, but I object to the use of Galatians 2:27, 28 to prove that we should have a female General Conference president, or any other officer. Those texts simply do not support any such idea. Salvation is open to all, and every person needs it, both men and women.

Men should never dominate women, and I do not believe that is done in this denomination. I have a church full of women, many of whom hold church offices. But none of them believe they should be the elder or the pastor. Each one is a committed Christiandetermined to honor God whether they hold office or not. They are free to make suggestions, give advice, and such, but the elders and the pastor are recognized as the senior leaders of the church.

God's true church will not be successful in spreading the gospel until we stop trying to force or coerce any positionliberal or conservativeand get on with the work at hand.

My calling requires me to preach the good news, tell of the love of Christ, call for repentance, revival, and reformation. I can do that without holding any church office. The greatest office one can hold is that of Christ's messenger. You don't have to be ordained to carry out that duty.

Jim Cox, pastor
Cohutta, Georgia

I would not consider myself a "bleeding-heart" liberal, nor a conservative; only an Adventist. I read "Current Concerns of a Conservative Adventist" (Oct. 24, 2002) with a heavy heart because it seems that the Adventist Church just doesn't "get it."

In his essay, Tom Huson stated, "It may surprise you that many conservatives like me see much good in some of the 'new' music in our churches." He goes on to question whether or not music that, in his opinion, contains substance, or if it only offers trivial, repetitive lyrics, and a heavy, hypnotic beat.

On the day of Pentecost there were individuals from Africa, Asia, and other parts of the world who received the Holy Spirit. People were keeping the Sabbath in Africa long before there was an America, long before Seventh-day Adventism. The music Mr. Huson is speaking about is very much a part of African culture, so why would it not become part of our worship services?

In an attempt to remove everything that perpetuated slaves' ties to Africa, the slave masters (many of whom were "good, church-going, God-fearing men") outlawed a lot of those things that made Africans African. But they couldn't take away what was in their mindstheir music, their memories, and their God. Why continue to perpetuate this cultural puritanism in the Adventist Church? Are we saying that those things of European descent are better than that which comes from anywhere else in the world? Is the Adventist Church only for those who believe the White Anglo-Saxon Protestant culture is the culture from which all worship activities should be derived?

My God likes variety, which is why He made humans different shades, made varieties of animals, fowl, and fish, flowers, trees, and grasses. Even bird songs are different.

There are some things in the church that are too much like the world, but music isn't one of them. Psalms 150 says, Praise the Lord with all instruments, not only with those instruments that you find "non-offensive."

We've gotten so caught up in trivial things like "Should we allow drums in the church?" that we are losing the battle against the evil one. How can we win souls if we can't stop bickering amongst ourselves about things of little importance? How can we call ourselves a world church if we embrace only one culture?

I like the variety in the Adventist Churches I've visited. I can go to one church and hear singing from Africa, go to another church and hear traditional hymns, go to yet another and hear songs from Asia or Latin America. Everyone is praising God in their own language, in their own tradition.

Until we get past our own cultural biases and begin to embrace all the cultures of the earth, we will not see the true beauty of diversity.

There will be music in heaven; and just as God likes variety in all the things He has created, He loves variety in music. So music "purists" are headed for a big disappointment if they are planning to make heaven their eternal home.

Stacy L. Burnside

Here in Oregon I have observed both "liberal" and "historical" Adventists. I hope we can start being known as people of prayer, and our churches known as houses of prayer.

Bill Hoard

FAMILY FRIENDLY CHURCHES
Thank you, Noelene Johnsson and Willie Oliver, for the cover story, "Creating a Family-friendly Church" (June, 2003).

Our own children are now in their twenties, but I remember a time when they were quite young that our church could have been a little more family oriented.

We had a high profile minister in the college church we attended who would simply stop right in the middle of his sermon if an infant was making noise. Often the mother was so preoccupied by the child that she had no idea he had stopped until she noticed hundreds of faces looking in her direction.

I remember once watching one young mother I'd never seen in that church, and who I never saw again, go through this "holy" hazing. A week or two later a deaf couple who sat not too far in front of us went through the same ordeal. I really enjoyed the messages this pastor delivered, but to my way of thinking, this course of action was uncalled for.

Finally, the day arrived when our 6-month old son, Matthew, took his turn at church disruption. As my wife was exiting the large sanctuary, the pastor's wife didn't even wait for the sanctuary door to close before she started reprimanding my wife and child for interrupting her husband's preaching.

As a young Adventist, I was ready to give up on church. But fortunately, my wife took us to a small church about seven miles away that was "family-friendly." We had three children of our own at the time, plus we were also taking care of two nephews. One of the church members, Maggie Hoagstrum, noticed our dilemma, and started sitting by us in church, helping us with the noise control problem. She'd bring a large bag of puzzles and felt books to help us keep the children quiet, which also helped them to learn to enjoy church.

Ron Reese
Canton, North Carolina

KILLING GRACE
Years ago George Vandeman, in Sail Your Own Seas, recalled a conversation in C.S. Lewis' book, Screwtape Letters, between two demons on how best to ensnare human beings. "The key," one of them said, "is to have them running around with fire extinguishers whenever there is a flood."

Sadly, Jonathan Gallagher's recent article, "Killing Grace" (May, 22, 2003)like so much of contemporary Adventism encourages and nurtures this destructive tendency.

By focusing on the pointless extremism of pharisaical piety, such as the man-made rules of Sabbath observance breached by our Lord, the author proceeds to draw contrasts that the Bible does not sustain.

On what biblical basis, for example, can Gallagher insist that "those who see themselves as keepers of the faith, observers of the law, and guardians of the received truth don't see themselves as sinners"? Is he implying that those who obey the scriptural commands to "show My people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sins" (Isa. 58:1), and to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3), are somehow not able to see their need of Jesus? If so, why are these commands included in the Bible?

Gallagher's "liberal" Jesus is not at all the Jesus of Scripture, who told the woman caught in adultery, not simply "neither do I condemn thee," but went on to say, "go, and sin no more" (John 8:11).

Perhaps the Review staff should go back and read the cover article, "Let's Give the Pharisees a Rest" of the June 10, 1976, issue of the Review and Herald. Reading Gallagher's piece, I sense an even greater need for the common sense and clear thinking demonstrated by this article from long ago.

Kevin D. Paulson
New York, New York

My heart rejoiced as I read Jonathan Gallagher's devotional. Legalism let the Jewish leaders see themselves as triumphant defenders of the faith at the foot of the cross. Legalism keeps the Laodicean church tragically blinded to her own needs as we approach the end. It was in defense of legalism that our church representatives turned their backs on the "most precious message" brought to the 1888 General Conference in Minneapolis that Ellen White described as a victory won by the devil.

How can the Lord convince us to give up "the foolishness of a religious system" that makes "observance more important than relationship?" Are we presenting a pure gospel to the world, one untainted with legalism, or could it be that we don't know the difference?

DelJean Spykstra
Siloam Springs, Arkansas

PRAYERS OF THE FATHERS
I just finished reading "Daddy's Last Prayer" (June, 2003). I couldn't help but think of one of my father's last prayers.

He had just been diagnosed with a brain tumor and was telling everyone how blessed he was in life. He gave all of us such courage and hope. He told all the nursing staff in the hospital, "Jesus is real, and He loves you." He made such an impact on so many who worked there.

One Friday night, after our lay pastor had left, a family friend and I were in the room. We were saying good night after getting Dad all tucked in. I said a prayer, as did our friend. Then Dad said he wanted to pray. The tumor had affected his speech, so he would often slur, mumble, or say the wrong words.

His prayer that night was sweet but incomprehensible. Because we still had our heads bowed, we didn't even know he was finished until he started laughing. He managed to say, "Well, Jesus knows what I said. So, it still counts."

It wasn't eloquent or dynamic, but I think it is one of the only prayers of Dad's that I remember. He passed away about six weeks after that, but I'm so glad I have the assurance of seeing him again. My last words to him were, "I'll see you soon, Dad. I'll see you soon!"

Elizabeth Meyer

THE PATH TO THE FUTURE
Regarding, "Positioning the Church for 2020" (May 15, 2003), I see us as a people and a church taking the moral lead with clarity and simplicity, articulating the principles of God's kingdom and how they should be applied when making decisions, be it in one's personal life or when determining public policies. I can hear these timely relevant commentaries being broadcast on radio many times a day around the world.

Let us enter the national and local debates, not with pat answers but by proclaiming the principles that must be brought to bear if the solutions are to work. Let's remind people that these principles are but a reflection of who God is and what we can be should we allow Him to heal our damaged thinking and doing. Freedom is of paramount importance to God. Let us be champions of freedom.

God is Love. Let us define love in its many aspects: integrity, responsibility, forthrightness, honesty, thoughtfulness, compassion, forgiveness, etc. Let us demonstrate this love; that would make for a real peculiar people. Let us be the salt, the light, the voice, so when people make their choice to follow God, they will know with whom to associate, for they will know God's boldest champions.

This calls for a new mind set, a different kind of evangelism, an involved of leadership. Let's do it now!

Al Corson
Bend, Oregon

REACHING OUT TO OUTCASTS
Why does John Witherspoon not use his real name in the article, "Dealing with Outcasts" (May, 22, 2003)? Is it possible that there are other reasons for people not to contact the "outcast?"

Witherspoon is right that we should reach out to others, including the outcasts. I have had others reach out to me. The main thing is not to point fingers, unless we're ready to talk to God about the three fingers pointing back at ourselves. God, am I not reaching out to others? Is my attitude getting in the way of friendship? Is there something else I need to learn? When we don't like something, we need to explore why in God's presence. Quite often we will see that there is something we have not done, like forgiving another who may have hurt us.

We should be reaching out to others as Jesus did by being inclusive rather than exclusive. It takes time to develop a friendship; and if we've been successful, we will be blessed to have developed several friends over the years.

One thing that has stuck with me for the last 30 year is the difference between the terms "come" and "go." When have we used the word "come," as an invitation, with warmth and sincerity?

Florence Capron

POP CULTURE
Regarding "Pop Culture: Moving Beyond the Meaningless" (May 15, 2003), what an incredible article, especially by such a young writer. Edward Hichez has given us all hope for getting God "on our side." I was warmed as I read, "God already is on our side. It's up to us to go to Him." And then when I read, "We must despise the sinner in us so much that instead of falling into temptation, we fall helpless at the feet of Jesus!" It reminded me that my Savior who died for me will surely save me. While He hates the sin, He loves the sinner. Soon we will be physically "safe at Jesus' feet." Maranatha!

Sidney Allwein
Portsmouth, Virginia

Thank you for the cover story, "The Mission Pilot" (May, 2003). Although Maranatha Flights mission work is often mentioned in the Review, we don't always hear the background stories. Therefore, the story about the medical school in Kabul was an eye-opener.

I am moved by the way God has worked with Karl and Katie Schwinn and used their talents to accomplish so much good for humanity in so many places. Praise the Lord for the way Karl's talents, insight, and input were used for the medical center in Kabul. All of it revealed God's protection and leading.

Angélique Hornis
Emmen, The Netherlands