I had to smile, however, at the line in which he described himself as being "reshaped into something that could jive with Adventism." Following a hunch I consulted Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary. Does Goldstein really aspire to "dance or play swing music"? Or engage in "glib, deceptive, or foolish talk"? Knowing him as I do, I think not.

I believe the word he sought was "jibe," "to be in accord, agree." Even this is only the third of three definitions for jibe. The first has to do with sailing. The second is a variation of gibe, which means "to handle roughly, or to tease or deride with taunting words."

Perhaps he meant simply "fit," which he used appropriately later in the paragraph.

Lorne Vernon

Clifford Goldstein has once again thrown down his gauntlet and apparently yawped: "Believe with me, or else." While he so easily divides the church into cultural tares or his wheat-stalk-state of Adventism, he might pause to consider the biblical story of the priest and the publican. It wasn't the correctly believing and behaving Pharisee who Jesus commended. I certainly don't know who is a wheat or a tare, but I will keep thinking and learning and caring about my church. Let God sort it out.

If we accept Goldstein's definition of a non-cultural Adventist, then the church is full of cultural Adventists who were not pulled into the church via strange miracles or an empty life. They grew up here. And so did their parents, friends, lovers, teachers, and even a few heroes of faith.

It's understandable that someone who didn't grow up in our culture would find in our days of mixing faith, friends, family, and intellectual growth an incomprehensible experience. But to separate us as tares, seeing that "we're who we are only because of what we believe," remains beyond belief--the distillation of a terrible myopia.

Alexander Carpenter
Rocklin, California

The irony of Goldstein's editorial is that he is the cultural Adventist in the friendship. The overwhelming majority of Adventists are cultural Adventists in the same way that the overwhelming majority of Christians are cultural Christians.

What makes them cultural is that they do not search for truth, because they believe they have the truth by virtue of the denomination to which they belong. To them, it is inconceivable that there could be any significant point of departure from ultimate truth in anything that their denomination believes. Not even the Master could change their minds, a point tragically demonstrated in the life of Jesus Christ.

Darius A. Lecointe
Leesburg, Virginia


CHANGE FOR WHAT PURPOSE?
Once again I am left bruised and bleeding after reading Cesar Gonzalez' article, "Something Has to Change" (Apr. 21, 2005). To be angry with the church is an immature way of escaping reality by putting blame elsewhere than on one's self. Anger misplaced is dangerous and should be recognized for what it is.

When my first husband died at the age of 54, I asked a coworker if it was all right to be angry with the devil. I didn't want to be angry with anyone, but by saying that I put the blame where it belonged, and left it there.

Maybe this article was cathartic for Gonzalez and he can now help young people make the church their mission field by coming back in and nurturing those of us they see as causing their abandonment.

Maybe Gonzalez can help young people escape from their "what's in it for me" thinking and see something other than the warts. Life is full of disappointments--in and out of the church. To mature spiritually one must learn how to deal with them. Isolation is not the answer.

Does Gonzalez think my generation never reacted negatively to things that happened to us along the way? We did, but we kept going to church because we believed the Lord is still in His sanctuary, even though the devil was slithering around trying to short-circuit our communion with Him and lead us into alternative lifestyles outside the church. Everything for our happiness is embodied in the Ten Commandments, and the church should not be castigated for upholding biblical standards.

I am afraid young people nowadays are loath to recognize the other gods out there attracting them away from the church and thereby weakening their characters.

Jesus is the Way and the Life. Our concept of Him should bring us to a church that is open to all and not into our own little world living as we choose and think is OK. The church is not an entertainment center; it is God's sacred meeting place, where we learn to know Him by worshipping Him and nurturing each other.

Genevieve C. Bothe
Loma Linda, California


WHAT'S REAL ABOUT TV?
Nathan Brown offers an interesting perspective in his column, "Reality or TV?" (Apr. 21, 2005). Suzanne and I have opted to have TV out of lives altogether right from the start in our marriage 31 years ago. Reading has always been a way of sharing and discussing history, sciences, music, Bible topics, and home schooling. What a blessing it is to live without one. Solitude brings reflection to one's soul.

For the elderly, isolated, or shut-in, TV can bring companionship and a feeling of being part of a body of worshippers. Many great evangelists, musicians, and story-tellers share what has been done to an audience that transcends cultural barriers. In such an environment, people can invite their friends to watch the great truths that will transform their lives.

I also appreciated the article, "Why Can't Christians Stay married?" by Stacey Hamby (Web exclusive: www.adventistreview.org/2005-1514/story5.html). Often we don't know more than a couple dozen friends who have stayed married. They have all gone different ways and some are on their third relationships. The American materialistic culture does not lend itself to having a partner for life.

The author offers good points, but the bottom line is to make marriage more romantic. Count your blessings and bring an enthusiastic attitude to the relationship, even in the face of differences. We are not all the same, but one thing we have in common is a merciful Savior who can mend and heal broken relationships.

I was blessed to attend some lectures by Paul Tournier. I still remember him saying that one must express their feelings or show them in a tangible way. We have to learn to safeguard our vows to keep persevering when we feel like quitting.

Michel Kordas
West Bend, Wisconsin


CHRISTIAN KIDS
I just read Bonita Joyner Shields' article, "Kids Are Christians Too!" (April, 2005). What a statement! I have been involved in children's ministries for some 50 years, and I am still amazed at the many times our most important members--the children--are overlooked.

I worked with the Child Evangelism Committee in the Southern California Conference under the leadership of Clarence Kott. Often we were criticized for attempting to make Sabbath schools more interesting and Christ-centered. Now that conference has zero workshops for the leaders of the children's divisions. Yet Ellen G. White wrote more than once about the importance of Sabbath school being an evangelistic tool.

Just now many of our churches are selecting nominating committees to fill church offices for the coming year. Where do they start? They begin with local elders, deacons, and adult positions. Lastly, almost as a necessary evil, they attempt to fill leadership positions in the children's Sabbath School divisions. What a shame! Children get the crumbs. It's no wonder that a leader in a Beqinners division in one of the largest churches in the Pacific Union is unaware of the purpose of the mission offering, and uses these funds to buy supplies for the division. One college graduate in religious studies recently told me he knew nothing about VBS until he was in college. He, with his family, regularly attended Sabbath school and church since a child.

We must see that our children have a personal relationship with Jesus. Let's begin today and let it start with each conference, union, division, and General Conference employee. Then it will filter down to the lay workers in every church around the world.

Lois R. Whitaker
Temecula, California


A PRODIGAL'S RETURN
Regarding "Return of the Prodigal Pastor" (Apr. 2005): What a powerful piece! Thank you for sharing this very personal and agonizing story.

Unfortunately, this is an all too common event in our church. I, too, left the church in frustration and disillusionment for well more than a year. I had been heavily involved and visible in the local and national church management and ministry. Week after week I wanted and waited for anyone to visit, call, or make any attempt to contact me--nothing. I even watched my church leaders (who knew my home well) pass right in front of my home each Sabbath (I live one block from my local church). Thankfully, because of the prayers and the love that my family and a few friends (who do not attend my church) showed me, I've found my way back.

Never again will I count on my church family to provide me with love, support, and encouragement to bolster my faith in the Lord. I now count only on Him; He never fails.

Milton Nebblett, Jr.
Lanham, Maryland

I praise God that a prodigal has returned. There are never any excuses for sin or for rejecting one of God's children, but there are often "reasons."

Perhaps "Natasha," like many of us, lost friends and loved ones to the rebellion of a trusted leader. Most of them never came back and may be forever lost. As for some of the other cold treatment, many of us have seen the repentant return only to organize a new rebellion and lead a new flock to perdition.

In Mr. Sellers' case it was first the philosophy of Brinsmead, then it was "anything that didn't fit within our view of what the new covenant gospel meant was swept away. Eventually that meant Adventism too."

My dear friend, a former bank robber, has repented with tears. But the teller who faced his gun is still gun shy, even though she has forgiven him. I'd trust him with anything I own, but I wouldn't recommend him for the position of bank manager.

I have forgiven and befriended the man who tried to kill me, but I will do my best to avoid tempting him to try again.

As children we learned the verse, "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams" (1 Sam. 15:22). We should also heed the next verse, "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry" (verse 23).

Perhaps some who seemed uncaring or even bitter were busy trying to reclaim some of those who had been led astray by the rebellion. It is a compound tragedy that we can lose someone to the church and not work to bring them back.

The fact that we are only human and fail our in duty to love someone enough to at least try has no excuse, but perhaps the returnee can forgive our weakness as we ought to forgive his.

Newton States
Emmett, Idaho


MORE THAN A MESSAGE
I read the article, "It's Not the Message" (March 2005) and it struck a chord with me. I was one of those people who left the church when I was about 20 years old. It is only by the power of God that I now attend church; not the actions of any person, but the power of God.

There's so much truth to what Gary Hopkins and Renee Drumm wrote. When I left the church I knew the message: I could spout memory verse after memory verse. You would've been hard-pressed to pull a story out of the Bible I didn't know. I knew that leaving the church and doing the things I was doing were wrong, I just didn't care. That was the limitation of the message. I knew the message by heart, but I didn't see any love in action. I didn't want to be a part of the church because of the lack of love.

If we try to be the church of the people who don't smoke, don't drink, don't dance, and don't eat meat, we won't matter. Those things do not matter. If a person who does those things comes to church, we shouldn't care. As a church, we only have a couple chances, if that many, to show them God's love. Love in action, God's love and ours, is what will reach their hearts.

The statement, "If we are true Christians, we won't tell people to change their behaviors before they become one of us," should be required reading in the Adventist church. If we can show people God's love, we won't need to tell them to change. The Holy Spirit will take care of that. After all, He is an all powerful, all-knowing, and loving God who wants everyone in heaven with Him.

Showing everyone God's love will make a difference.

Adam Withey


APPEALING TO THE EYE AS WELL AS THE MIND
In reading the comments of the dear sister who wrote about the "waste" [of space dedicated to art and design] in the Adventist Review, I feel compelled to respond.

Granted, the Bible is not filled with pictures. However, even though the Review is intended for Adventists, they are not the only ones who read it. Many Adventist homes have a non-Adventist living in them. The Review's attractiveness causes them to pick it up and to read it.

Thanks to a variety of attractive Adventist materials, the love of members of the Adventist church, and the pleading of the Holy Spirit, my husband became an Adventist. Let us not do anything to stifle that possibility. Keep up the good work! The Review can hold its head high for producing a high quality magazine.

Peggy West
Greeneville, Tennessee