BY JOHN GRAZ

Are Seventh-day Adventists indifferent to the wider community? Are they disengaged from the world and doing their best to flee from social responsibilities? Are they citizens only of the kingdom of God?

FEW YEARS AGO A WELL-known judge was invited to speak to our youth in Italy. It was at a time when corruption overwhelmed the country. He said: "I have a great admiration for you. You don't drink alcohol. You don't use drugs. You have a high system of values. . . . But I have one reproach: You do nothing for the community." (He did not say that the Seventh-day Adventist Church does nothing; he was talking about the individuals within the church.) How many times have the civil authorities reminded us that we are also citizens of the world and that we should share part of the burden?

Does this mean that Seventh-day Adventists are not committed enough to the community? What about bearing the burden of public security, community management, public schools, public welfare, and transportation? Are we really concerned about improving the daily lives of millions of people?¹

If we are the salt of the earth, shouldn't our neighbors taste it?

The Limits of Our Commitment
Crossing through a small town founded by Adventists a long time ago, I was pleased to see our beautiful Adventist hospital, college, academy, book and health center, and primary schools. But I was shocked to see the poor conditions of the roads and the housing. My friend who had lived there for several years said: "It is a pity to see how this little town founded by our fathers has been degenerating for the past 20 years." The little town had no vision for its general well-being.

When problems emerged, the Adventist population began to leave. Why did they not stay and strive to improve their environment and build a city that would demonstrate their faith? What a great testimony it would have been! In 1914 Ellen White wrote: "There is a cause for the moral paralysis upon society. Our laws sustain an evil which is sapping their very foundations. Many deplore the wrongs which they know exist, but consider themselves free from all responsibility in the matter. This cannot be. Every individual exerts an influence in society."²

Why do we lack individual commitment? The following causes are not exhaustive, but are related to the way we relate to society in general.

Eschatology: We believe and preach that the world will not last long. Jesus will return soon, but before that, the big challenge is to survive. If things around us are getting worse, it is not bad news for us. It confirms that we are right.

Everyone understands why we build hospitals and schools and help the poor--it's part of our mission. Service to our community, however, is also a sign of the kingdom we belong to. Without losing sight of last-day events, we must not neglect our civic obligations.

Theology: We must preach the truth. But preaching the truth involves more than just speaking about the truth. Preaching the truth also involves living the truth in all aspects of our lives, including our community life.

Ecclesiology: Many of our local churches are full of activities and special programs. Church life consumes the time and energy of many members. That's very positive. We can understand why our most qualified people are involved in their church programs and have little time to serve their own community. But in every local church a few people see their mission as serving the community in one way or another. Bridges should be built between the local church and the community.

Individualism: Although part of a larger Protestant family, we have a strong inclination toward individualism. It is a real challenge to encourage Protestants to work together. Our church is taking up this challenge. Community service requires humility and sacrifice. Faith helps us to see beyond our own interests to the general well-being of the community.³

Underestimation: I have often seen talented Adventists who did not dare work outside of the Adventist circle. They thought that they would be unable to work with others not of their faith, and they would not feel welcome in some parts of the world. Why would they try to join others if they may feel rejected because of their beliefs? In our secularized society, discrimination against Christian believers is a fact, and we are not spared. But we should take up that challenge and lift our voices for the well-being of all.

Why should we be more involved?
Adventists give many reasons to jump off the community service bandwagon. Are those reasons good and acceptable? Or are they merely a pretext to mask the fear of becoming involved? There are many good reasons to become more interested in being part of the community and in working with others for the general well-being of all.

1. To be the salt of the earth. Jesus never said we have to live in a ghetto. He met people everywhere, and He recommended for us to be the "salt" and the "light." The meaning is very clear. The salt and the light are to do their best when they face opposition. In order to be seen or heard, they have to connect with others in one way or another. Working for the community is one way of bringing light into darkness and salt into the food.

2. To break prejudices. Prejudice against religious minorities is worldwide. Working with others for the common good is the best way to break down prejudice.

3. To make friends. We need to make friends outside of our fortifications. A good network of friends is good for the church also because friends may become interested in what we believe.

4. To promote our values. Being involved in community life is a positive way to promote, defend, and protect our values. Adventists should be more involved in promoting good health, religious freedom, honesty, and justice. Those among us who are doing that are very often alone. They are more frequently criticized than encouraged.

5. To share our hope. Only a small aspect of sharing our hope is covered by traditional evangelism. I am always amazed to hear the testimony of our brothers and sisters working in high positions. They have so many opportunities to share their hope. They can open the way to the gospel. Working with non-Christian people helps to create questions about our faith and provides the opportunity to answer those questions.

6. To serve. The Christian mission involves two parallel actions: evangelism and service. We should be willing to serve others without expecting any kind of reward--to serve for the sake of serving because it is a sign of the kingdom of God.⁴

Open Your Window on Your Community
I had the privilege of leading a seminar for 350 pastors and church administrators in Romania in 2002. The theme was "How to Influence Your Community." This great initiative was part of a global project of the union public affairs and religious liberty (PARL) director Viorel Dima. Viorel has been working for several years to give our church more visibility and influence in the local community. The church's visibility at the national level has always been good. In the past, the president of the republic and the prime minister have met with our union officers. In fact, both the union president and the union and conference PARL directors have received a medal from the president. But we had a problem at the local level: our church is being almost totally ignored. This means our church officials are rarely invited by the mayor for public events or for discussions about sensitive issues, or asked for their advice.

In 2001 Viorel organized symposiums and seminars in 35 cities. Mayors, members of the city council, chief of police, representatives of the army and main public institutions, and religious leaders attended. Now our church leaders are invited to attend all the official events, including some commissions of public interest. These are the first tangible results.

In this context the national evangelistic campaign, led for the first time by a Romanian evangelist, became a public event. It was a very successful campaign, according to the response of our friends who are not Adventist.

Must Adventists Be Involved in Politics?
Even if politics can be found in every aspect of life, there are many ways to be involved in the community without becoming a politician.⁵ I do not encourage our young people and members to be involved in politics, but I understand that God can and does call some to serve in such a way.⁶ Working in politics is a great responsibility and requires a special commitment to God and to the community. The Bible gives us great models: Joseph, Daniel, Nehemiah, Ezra. In some ways we are proud to have Adventist mayors, members of Parliament, ambassadors, governors, and ministers of governments. Ellen White wrote positively in favor of young people who have high aspirations. She wrote: "Have you thoughts that you dare not express . . . that you may sit in deliberative and legislative councils, and help to enact laws for the nation? There is nothing wrong in these aspirations. You may every one of you make your mark. . . . Aim high, and spare no pains to reach the standard."⁷

It is interesting to notice that in so-called developing countries there are Adventists at every level of government. It is not rare that the police officer who welcomes you at the airport is an Adventist, and so is the member of Parliament, the chief of the cabinet, and the senator who introduces you. Today the highest authorities in the world know our church because some Adventists have been entrusted with a high-ranking position. What impresses me the most is that these church members are proud to be Adventists.

Ambassador Bienvenido Tejano, a former pastor who became ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, and Congressman Harlin Abayon, are very helpful in the Philippines. Both of them helped prepare the way for us to meet the president of their country, the senate president, the speaker of the house, members of the senate, and other members of the government who are not Adventist. One day a Secretary of State of the Romanian government said to me, "John, two years ago I had a lot of preudice about your church, and taught them to my students at the university. I want you to know I changed my teaching and now respect your faith."

I should also mention Sir James Carlisle. Sir James said no to Queen Elizabeth II, who had invited him to be knighted in a ceremony held on Saturday. He told her he had another appointment with the King of kings. Her Majesty respected his religious convictions and invited him to Buckingham Palace on a weekday. When she saw him, she exclaimed, "Finally, I caught up with you!" There is no doubt that the queen knows about Adventists.

Who can evaluate the positive influence of those who serve people in the community? The mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, John F. Street; Congressman Roscoe Bartlett from Maryland; Dr. Ben Carson; Dr. Leonard Bailey; former Rear Admiral and current U.S. Senate chaplain Barry Black--there are so many. When I travel in Africa and in South America I meet top-level authorities who are Adventists who can open doors for the church. How often have such members helped us to solve problems!

Before Beginning a Political Career
Christians can hold high positions and exert a positive influence in the government; they can also help protect the people of God. However, Adventist Christians should be clear about their motivations and values before beginning a political career. It is necessary to remind such individuals of the following points:

1. A Christian is before all a servant.
2. The Christian's motivation is love.
3. The Christian works primarily for the glory of God (see Col. 3:23).

The Seventh-day Adventist Church also makes its position clear toward politics: (1) it is actively neutral in party politics; (2) it is not neutral on moral issues; (3) it does not dictate how to vote; and (4) it stands for separation between church and state.

We know that what happened to Queen Esther could happen again today. "Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14, NKJV). This question is always valid. God can use His children to help His people.

Ambassadors of the King
The Bible has given us good advice on how to be part of the world without being like the world. We are visible signs of the kingdom of God on earth. This is why our journey on earth has meaning. We are heralds and ambassadors of the King, who is coming soon. "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:20, NIV). We are citizens of heaven first and foremost. But being citizens of heaven does not mean we are not citizens of a nation on earth. "It is just a matter of priority."⁸

When Adventists are silent about injustice, persecution, and immorality, they are no longer representatives of the kingdom of God. They are no longer the light of the world and the salt of the earth.

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¹ B. B. Beach and John Graz, "Do Adventists Reach for Pie in the Sky rather than improving the world in which they live?" 101 Questions Adventists Ask (Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 2000), p. 43.
² Ellen G. White, in Review and Herald, Oct. 15, 1914; E. G. White, Gospel Workers, p. 387.
³ Zdravko Plantak, The Silent Church: Human Rights and Adventist Social Ethics (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1998), p. 49.
⁴ Beach and Graz.
⁵ B. B. Beach, "The Christian and Politics," Dialogue 9, no. 1 (1997): 5, 6; Beach and Graz, p. 47.
⁶ "Is the Religious Right Finished?" Christianity Today, Sept. 6, 1999.
⁷ E. G. White, Messages to Young People, p. 36.
⁸ Beach and Graz, p. 48.

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John Graz is director of public affairs and religious liberty at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.