Reviewing the Review: Is Church Discipline Still Needed?
30 April 2008
Reviewing the Review: Is Church Discipline Still Needed?
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April 17, 2008
Vol. 185, No. 11
GENERAL COMMENTS
I awarded the previous issue a "10" for overall excellence. This issue rates a slightly above average "7". The topics chosen were not the problem; it was the writing. With the exception of Why I Don’t “Abstain”, articles and essays lacked clarity and crispness of expression, an original point of view, and economy of style. And some of the letters got "under my skin".
COVER STORY
Is Church Discipline Still Needed?
The short answer is, “Yes”, according to Dan Serns. Only the local church can "discipline" church members. Discipline can range in severity from a mild reprimand from the church board to expulsion. This article cautions against "harsh discipline" if only a reprimand is required, but failure to discipline "is absolutely essential [according to Dan Serns] if we are to be faithful to our calling and help the church be faithful to hers".
While this article did not reference the Church Manual’s reasons for disciplinary action, I have included them without comment.
Chapter 14 of the Church Manual, pages 184 and 185, lists the sins for which members shall be subject to church discipline.
1. Denial of faith in the fundamentals of the gospel and in the cardinal doctrines of the church or teaching doctrines contrary to the same.
2. Violation of the law of God, such as worship of idols, murder, stealing, profanity, gambling, Sabbathbreaking, and willful and habitual falsehood.
3. Violation of the seventh commandment of the law of God as it relates to the marriage institution, the Christian home, and biblical standards of moral conduct.
4. Such violations as fornication, promiscuity, incest, homosexual practice, sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults, and other sexual perversions, and the remarriage of a divorced person, except of the spouse who has remained faithful to the marriage vow in a divorce for adultery or for sexual perversions.
5. Physical violence, including violence within the family.
6. Fraud or willful misrepresentation in business.
7. Disorderly conduct which brings reproach upon the church.
8. Adhering to or taking part in a divisive or disloyal movement or organization.
9. Persistent refusal to recognize properly constituted church authority or to submit to the order and discipline of the church.
10.The use, manufacture, or sale of alcoholic beverages.
11.The use, manufacture, or sale of tobacco in any of its forms for human consumption.
12.The misuse of, or trafficking in, narcotics or other drugs.
“The church cannot afford to deal lightly with such sins or permit personal considerations to affect its actions. It must register its decisive and an emphatic disapproval of the sins of fornication, adultery, all acts of moral indiscretion, and other grievous sins.”
ARTICLES
Spiritual Emergencies
This essay by Robert L. Ramsay provides "a spiritual survival kit, and the essential components are similar to those we need for a practical emergency".
Why I Don’t “Abstain”
Editors, this would have been my cover story. In this beautifully crafted, positive, and thoughtful essay, Chris Blake proclaims himself to be "pro-life, pro-health, pro-peace, and pro-planet". He doesn't abstain from drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco, or eating meat. He boycotts those practices. "Whenever we can be known for what we do in a life enhancing way instead of what we don't do, it seems to me that yields a better introduction and the best conclusion."
When We Prayed for a Drummer
As far as I know, the illustration for this story is the first Review article in which a light-skinned subject has extensive body tattooing. Tony Yang makes the point that discipleship is all about service and character. It has very little to do without appearance.
DEPARTMENTS
Letters
A number of letters in this edition of the Review bothered me both emotionally and intellectually. I feel badly that at once again people of my generation are moaning about the sins of Adventist young people. It's the sins of our generation that we conveniently forget: bigotry, segregation, religious arrogance, political corruption, and social irresponsibility. From what I've seen, this generation of young people is to be commended for their brave attempts to remind us that Adventists are Christians first, and that the Gospel message is inclusive, peaceful, and loving.
Bookmark
The 30-Day Diabetes Miracle by Drs. Seale and Newman "is chock full of practical information, myth busters, statistics, to-do lists, and Adventist health principles", according to an unnamed reviewer.
Kingdom Business
Stand Up Now is Frederick A. Russell’s appeal "for leaders who not only know the times, but also know what to do, and act with courage and conviction to do it". It sounds to me like he has some specific issues in mind. I look forward to his next editorial.
World News & Perspectives
The Adventist Study Centers program is designed to build understanding and fuel research that targets postmoderns and unreached groups. Five study center directors "met for a semi-annual discussion in March at the world church headquarters. . .The church has started 48 centers to minister to postmoderns in Europe, North America, and elsewhere". Other study centers focus on Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. No study center director pictured was female.
Joel Mosher drowned while participating in a mission project in the Philippines. He was the head deacon at Rest Haven Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sydney, British Columbia.
"The Quiet Hour, a pioneering Adventist radio ministry now focused on television and overseas evangelistic campaigns, received a Milestone Award at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention [in Nashville, Tennessee] for 70 years of gospel ministry." The Loma Linda Broadcasting Network has recently launched a streaming Internet Arabic channel it hopes to expand to direct satellite transmission to the Middle East. “A lot of attendees inquired about the Arabic channel [and we] picked up 10 different partners", according to Mark Kellner. As a result of the contacts made at the convention, Adventist program selection and lineup will greatly expand in the next six months.
"Adventist businessman and pastor Claude Richli hopes his Global Tithe Index Report will provide church treasurers and stewardship leaders with a tool to measure levels of giving among countries. [While no figures were included] this report indicates some previously dependent regions of the church are now achieving financial self-sufficiency."
Tools of the Trade
Monte Sahlin reviews four Resources to “Tool” Us for Ministry. Seven Weeks to a Generous Life (General Conference Stewardship Department), Christianity and Islam (a new video resource produced by T. N. Mohan), We Believe (Pacific Press), and Unchristian by David Kinnaman are all Sahlin recommendations.
Reflections
Kimberly Luste Maran in her essay, Zeal for Real, defines Christian zeal as “honestly, truly serving the Lord with . . . heart and mind. It might not be the roaring fire of some. It may be more of a quiet storm, a gentle flicker".
EDITORIALS
An Impenetrable Mystery
Roy Adams is not successful in his attempt to shed light on an “impenetrable mystery". When one assumes that God knows the beginning and the end of all things, how is this assumption compatible with Ellen White’s statement that “God permitted Jesus to come to earth ‘at the risk of failure and eternal loss’”? Was Ellen White an Arian--the belief that Jesus was not God? And if Jesus was God--the Trinitarian position of the Adventist Church—how could He run "the risk of failure and eternal loss"?
Stop Human Trafficking, Now!
Mark A. Kellner suggests that we support ADRA, Not For Sale, and The Salvation Army in their attempts to end the sale and subsequent slavery of 800,000 women and children each year. In addition, "we Adventists can also ask our elected representatives to intervene and act. We can educate others in our churches and our communities. We must pray, without ceasing. This scourge must end; to allow it to continue his inexcusable". Amen!
____
Andy Hanson is Professor of Education at Cal State University, Chico. His blog is Adventist Perspective.
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Comments
The sins of young people is not a new topic. It is as least as old as the White Estate compiling "Messages to Young People."
I completed my first year of Dental School in the Spring of 1947 in Chicago. I hitchhiked to Union Springs, N.Y. where my dad was building a new girls' dorm. I worked as a laborer all summer. On the first Sabbath, I attended my folks Sabbath School Class. We sat on the front row. I was seated next to dad. I can't recall the topic, but the teacher, an old farmer, was ranting about the "sins" of the young people all the while staring me down. His crowning point was that young people read Life Mag. (Playboy had yet to be invented.) With that salvo, I got a real "glare". As he paused for breath, I leaned over to dad and whispered: "I wonder if he overcame or just outgrew?" Dad surpressed a chuckle. Now that I've "outgrown" young peoples' sins, Life Mag is also history. So soon old so late smart! Tom
Andy, once again, a thoughtful review.
That is so much worthy of comment, I will have to return after the work day is done, to say my piece.
Regarding though, the Church discipline article, and the church manuals criteria, it seems like everybody would warrant a severe reprimand, if not expulsion.
Who pray tell has ever been disciplined and expelled for Sabbath breaking? I can't think of anybody who meets the requirements of the Old Covenant, and there doesn't seem to be a Sabbath requirement, in the New Covenant. If there is, maybe someone would be kind enough to point it out to me.
Randy
Randy,
Many years ago my father-in-law was disfellowshipped for helping a family arrange moving on Sabbath. The pastor and elders called on him that week to tell him. He accepted their decision, continued attending church as before, and eventually was rebaptized, all the while changing nothing in his present behavior.
We will await someone who is willing to explain how the Old Covenant Sabbath command is not accompanied by its punishments for breaking; and the absence of any Sabbath command in the New Covenant. Who's up to the challenge?
What pray tell is in the new covenant but not in the old covenant? Is the Sabbath the only thing people here seem to think is in the old but not the new? If not, what things in the old are suddenly proclaimed as not bad?
"What pray tell is in the new covenant but not in the old covenant?"
Why would it have been necessary for Yahweh to say "I will make a new covenant....but NOT a covenant like the one I made with their ancestors ....when I took them out of the land of Egypt" if there was no difference? The fact that Hebrews reiterates the idea of a NEW covenant in chapters 8,9 and 10 where the writer calls it a "better" covenant; that had the first not had fault, there would be no need for a second one.
Christ brings a new covenant; He (Christ) is abolishing the first sort to replace it with the second.
All of the laws, rules and rituals demanded by the first covenant have been removed as well as all the feasts, ceremonies and special days, which Paul consistently enumerates.
As for the Sabbath command, it is NEVER part of the new covenant, and there is no command or instruction by Paul to the new gentile believers that they first must be circumcised and observe the Jewish days. On the contrary, Paul explicitly says (Romans 7 where he explains the Law and those in Christ are now dead to it), Romans 8 where those in Christ Jesus are set free from the law of sin and death; In the letter to the Galatians, chap. 3, the Law was only our guardian until Christ came and we are now no longer under that guardian; and his letter to the Colossians, Christ has overridden the Law; and no one is to decide on annual festivals, and the Sabbath (which is excluded as an annual festival).
It is always surprising when anyone who evidently has knowledge of the Bible and the New Testament, to be unaware of the plain teachings of Paul who founded and established the Christian church to the Gentiles. Incidentally, there is no mention of the Jewish Christians following the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D.--the Gentile Christians were THE Christian church from that date forward and they were never told to adopt the Jewish customs.
When it comes to covenants one real should consult reform theologians: i.e. Berkhof et al. Before the foundation of the earth the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit entered into the Covenant of Redemption also know as the Everlasting Covenant: in which if Adam should fail, Christ would become both the surity and the New Federal Man. That was accomplished at the Cross. Because of that completed work, we have available the Covenant of Grace of which Paul is the primary apologist. The covenant in the desert is known to us as the Old Covenant in which the Children of Israel pledged: " All that thou sayest we shall do!" We know the sorry history of that pledge. Yet we try the same foolish boast and pretend that time will evolve a final perfect generation. Because the Godhead prevailed, we are under the Covenant of Grace and our lifestyle is consequential on covenantual.
Our behavior is to gain converts not to gain heaven. We are witnesses and as such should give unimpeachable testimony to the Finished Work of Jesus Christ as both necessary and sufficient for the salvation of each person who shall declare and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord and Master. We rest in Him and not in time. Tom
Elaine, you have brought a big smile to my face today, with your previous post.
I recently entered the world of Facebook, and have listed in my "Favorite Quotes" section, a few of the Scriptures that have influenced my journey of late.
"Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what eat or drink, or with regards to a religious festival, or a New Moon celebration, or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things to come; the reality, however is found in Christ Jesus". Colossians 2:16-17 (NIV)
"Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law" Galatians 3:23-25 (NIV)
Truly truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but passes out of death into life" John 5:24 (NASB)
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" Romans 8:1 (NASB)
Along with each of these verses, I have linked multiple commentaries that address the context and further add to the understanding of these wonderful promises.
Most of my friends and family remain Adventist, and I have received queries as to the meanings of these texts, and then questions, as to why as Adventists they had never heard them emphasized.(Like That isn't painfully obvious.)
Some here might suggest, that I cherry picked the verses, that suit my theological understanding. To this my response is, these are but a mere reflection of the whole of the New Testament, as while these were chosen, I could have picked hundreds of others that presented this, the "Good News" of the Gospel.
The question was asked above about what is so different about the Old Covenant vs the New Covenant.
The Old Covenant was given to Moses, to point out our sin, and to show how utterly hopeless, and helpless we are without a Saviour. We could never meet the demands of the Old Covenant. It was given, as the Galatians text reveals, UNTIL faith was revealed in the personhood of Christ on this Earth. The Old Covenant was meant to be, and was FULFILLED at Christ's Sacrifice. It had served its purpose AND its mandate. It was given, not for "all" time, but rather for a "specific" time.
The Colossians verse, also points to the rules on foods and religious days, as being a SHADOW of things to come. Again, transitioning from the Old Covenant, to the New Covenant of Christ.
The New Covenant is one of faith, it is a Covenant of Grace, and it is vastly better than the Old, which has been termed a Covenant of Death.
Some might asked, whats an old guy like me doing on Facebook? Hey its fun, its addictive, and it has become a great way to share my faith in Jesus. Itis a ministry that has literally fallen into my lap, and is a way to reach those seeking freedom in Christ, be they Adventist or not.
There are no scary beasts on my page, just one on one discussion about the Good News, freedom from bondage, and Salvation by Grace through Christ alone, plus all the other nonsense us Facebookers get into.
Any Facebookers out there? Would love to hear from you.
Randy Gerber
The vast dichotomy between Old and new covenant sounds like the Lutheran and the dispensational view. It is also what I've encountered in the writings of Dale Ratzlaff.
While I agree that Adventism has not done a great job of preaching the Pauline gospel, for many other reasons, which I do not have time to go into, I do not totally agree with this radical covenental split. I believe there is both continuity and discontinuity between the Old and New, something I've found that Ratzlaff, and dispensationalism does not seem to handle in a nuanced enough fashion. And there are unwanted upshots that can result from such a dichotomized view, such as replacement theology, which has plagued the Christian church, and was in a sense alluded to in one of the posts on this thread.
For a different view of the covenants than this, Skip MacCarty's "In Granite or Ingrained?" is a good read.
Thanks...
Frank
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