An Ash Wednesday service at an Adventist church...Love it!

Wish I were in LA tomorrow.

I wish you were, too! Thanks Zane!

Bravo, I am delighted you are celebrating Ash Wednesday. I always tell my people "it is time to get your ashes in church."
Fr. Jim

Father Bell:

Since you seem intent on adopting a pagan practice that was started by the Roman Catholic Church in the seventh century, perhaps it would be good to change your title to Father as opposed to Pastor. Father Bell, being the bright young man that you are, you know very well that the tradition of Ash Wednesday was started by pagan Rome, and indeed the practice of putting the ashes on ones forehead in the sign of the cross is an adopted pagan practice. I have read your blog for some time now, and I know that if I were you, I would be ashamed to take my paycheck from a church (Seventh Day Adventist) whose teachings I didn't agree with. Why don't you start your own Sabbath keeping church, and stop pretending to be something you are not. I seriously doubt if many of your members up there in Hollywood (Especially The New Ones) even know what the Adventist church believes and teaches. Apply your pagan ashes tomorrow, but please Father Bell, don't call the practice christian!

Don,

The 'pagan' influences in the way we as Adventists continue to 'do church' run much deeper than some ashes placed on a forehead to remind us of what God did for us. As Viola and Barna write in their book Pagan Christianity, "If you spend time searching God’s Word for most of the common practices in conventional churches, you will rarely find them. If you go further and spend time tracing the history of those practices, you will soon discover that most of our religious habits are man-made choices." Not that this in and of itself is an evil thing. As they go on to write, "just because a practice is picked up from culture does not make it wrong in and of itself, though we must be discerning. As author Frank Senn notes, 'We cannot avoid bringing our culture to church with us; it is part of our very being. But in the light of tradition we need to sort out those cultural influences that contribute to the integrity of Christian worship from those that detract from it.'" It seems to me the deep meaning that Ryan brings out of the Ash Wednesday service would indeed contribute to the 'integrity of Christian worship.'

But, you are hinting at something even deeper that I have been thinking about today. You suggest that Ryan should give up his Adventism and I think you are on to something!

Are you giving up anything for Lent? I ask because I recently met Peter Rollins and he offered a rather provocative idea for what they are giving up at Ikon. They are giving up God at Lent which strikes me as oddly appropriate. Although, that is probably just my postmodern ethos showing. Then again, it was the pre-modern philosopher and mystic Meister Eckhart who prayed, "I pray to God to rid me of God."

Perhaps (if for just a moment) we could give up (or even just pretend to give up) our Adventism, Christianity, Conservatism, Liberalism, and yes even our very concept of God, we might open up a space in which we could see things from another's perspective and make room to experience God in a new way.

"please Father Bell, don't call the practice christian!"

Surely, you jest. Did you intend to say Adventist? It is most assuredly a Christian practice, as are most of Adventism's practices and doctrines which were adopted from the one catholic church. Read your history of the church.

Elaine:

No, I do not jest. Perhaps you are the one who needs to read up on church history. While it is true that there are some churches who claim to be christian who observe Ash Wednesday, it is nothing more than baptized paganism! Elaine, be sure of one thing, the distinctive doctrines of the Seventh Day Adventist church were not adopted from the Roman Catholic Church. Keep studying!

Don,

Take it easy. That you call yourself an Adventist is proof enough that you yourself have adopted tradition. "Seventh-day Adventist" isn't a biblical idea. Consider the great irony of criticizing a pastor for implementing what he considers to be a helpful Christian practice that you consider unbiblical or pagan (which, by the way, it isn't; unless you consider Judaism pagan), and using another church tradition to support your claim.

Is your concern that Ryan pass on the tradition of Adventism as it was handed onto him? That is irrational. And it asks others to share in that irrationality. If theology and church practice cannot be dialogical and self-reforming then there could be no basis for your claim that its practices are pagan. That is to say, your very conclusion demonstrates that the church is a living organism that changes.

If you want to follow your logic to its necessary end, stop calling Jesus "Lord," stop calling the gathering of Christians "Church," and stop calling the message about Jesus "the gospel," because all of those (and many more!) were borrowed by the Romans. Unless you think that Paul was a pagan...

"Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:6

"So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes." Daniel 9:3

""Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes." Matthew 11:21 and Luke 10:13.

Don, what were you saying about history?

"Father." Oooh!

The ultimate late 18th and 19th century anti-moderate Protestant dig.

"Croppies lie down" y'all!

Forget those Bible verses showing that the Jews and Jesus employed ashes in religious mourning. Don't you understand Monsignor Ryan: it's "ashes" on a "Wednesday?"

That mixing of a Biblical action and a time period will awake the Zeus and the Athena and the whoever liked the Wicker Man and they will sneak into our hearts just like they do every day of our pagan-named calendar year and every December 25 and Easter. It's so hard to follow Christ with all these traps reminding us of Him.

Also, teaching children the pagan names of the planets should be avoided.

You're totally right Historian Don "Alexander Hislop" Molander. It's time for us to really believe this stuff and get Babylon (traceable to Nimrod) out. No more wax candles. Were they in the Bible? Nope. Pure paganism.

http://www.piney.com/His55.html

And the list goes on. . .

http://www.piney.com/HislopTOC1.html

I wanted to use Google to help set the tone for today, Ash Wednesday, and came across your page. I think it is wonderful that you observe Ash Wednesday as an Adventist. It is one of the most powerful services in the Christian tradition and Lent can also be a powerful time to reflect on our human ways--and be open to allow God to work in our lives. The first time I participated in this service was a very moving experience for me and I now look forward to having this time each year. I think if you look at quite a few of "traditions" in the Christian church, a lot of them predate the "Church of Rome". It is fascinating to think that some of these services have an origin in a time when John the apostle was still alive and definitely those he mentored and discipled. Yes, it is a tradition--but if it is a powerful tradition that focuses our mind on the Divine, then let it work in your life. God uses human traditions to illustrate concretely His work that needs to occur in our lives. Giving up our pre-made concept of God, perhaps is a great way to start--to allow Him to begin the mysterious work that needs to occur in us.

Thank you, Pastor Ryan, for stepping out and leading the way to focus our hearts and minds on Jesus's sacrifice. I appreciate very much the focus on Lent. It makes the resurrection and Jesus' sacrifice so much more meaningful. I hope the Ash Wednesday practice spreads throughout all of Adventism and there is a reawakening of the meaning of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection for the entire church, one in which Easter was pretty much skimmed over.

I've always wondered why Adventists didn't celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ far above his first Advent. It seems to me that there are three Advents:

1. Jesus coming as a baby--the First Advent
2. Jesus returning at the Second Advent
3. The advent of acceptance of Jesus within my own heart--the Third Advent.

To me, Lent assists with the Third Advent of Jesus Christ becoming real in my own life.

Others can quibble over the source, I'll quietly celebrate the powerful meaning of His sacrifice and humility.

Great stuff, Ryan.

I will be participating in my first Ash Wednesday tonight. Your linking of the Wesleyan commitment of soul-searching and sanctification to Ash Wednesday and Lent seems appropriate to me.

I'm not sure how I feel about having the ashes applied to my forehead for the first time. I will surely feel a bit self-conscious when I leave church. But I see it as a humbling act, not a proof of devotion. The only proof of devotion is my behavior.

I'm just wondering: How many people on this site who believe it's alright to begin a tradition of Ash Wednesday celebration among Adventists have at the same time also expressed disapproval in regard to continuing our practice of footwashing? Both of these are religious rites, borrowed from Jewish traditions, one pointing to penitence and the other to humility or servanthood. My wife and I have participated in the celebration of Ash Wednesday in a Presbyterian church near our home, including the intinction of the ash on our forehead as a sign of our solidarity with them. The service is usually held in the evening, however, rather than in the daytime so there's probably few people who'd actually see me with the mark on my face. I believe the practice should be optional.

If Ryan wants to use the title "Father" that is fine by me lol. Maybe we can make him a Monsignor?
Fr. Jim

I would love to have been a fly on the wall and observe the the early Church at Rome as it worshiped in the 1st century with Paul, the other apostles and early Christians. I am certain we would all be blessed to follow the traditions started back then. I believe we miss a lot by feeling like we have to re-invent traditions rather than experiencing the richness of the experience that occurred with those early Christians.

In the liturgical year, I believe that Ash Wednesday and Lent are a very critical and meaningful part of the year--reminds us of our mortality, need for spiritual discipline and total dependence on God and acceptance of Christ's life (and death) as a substitution. It prepares us for The Third Advent as described above--Christ coming to live within us.

Donavan,

Worship in the early church didn't distinguish between clergy and laity. I would support the celebration of Ash Wednesday among Adventists, including intinction with ash on the forehead, provided it was done individually instead of with the mediation of a priest.

"I've always wondered why Adventists didn't celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ far above his first Advent."

For the same reason you see expressed (at least by one individual) here. If there are any SDAs here who have been in the church community for more than 60-70 years, you may recall, as I do, that Easter was simply another day. It was never mentioned, honored, but merely forgotten.
Why? Because of the "pagan" association with Rome, or maybe because the other "Babylonian" churches gave it such honor.

Ignorance of history is the only excuse: There would be no Adventists, there would be no Christian church, including the original church from which Father Jim speaks, had there not been the first Easter Sunday. Everyone here who claims to be a Christian is one for only one reason: The first Easter.

Elaine,

Isn't one's adult baptism by immersion, rather than sprinkling, one such celebration of Christ's death and resurrection?

Thanks, Ryan, for the beautiful reminder that I may, we may - today - turn to ashes. Yet this day reminds me of our trust and dependence upon the One who places enormous, eternal value in this heap of ash.

Joselito,

while baptism can commemorate the Resurrection, it is only a one-time event for an individual.

Why do Adventists commemorate the Sabbath which was only a one-time event of Creation, never given to humans then?

Easter is in honor of Christ's Resurrection for the entire church. To celebrate it individually is to greatly lessen its importance to the church. A one-time event only experienced by a single person is in no way a true celebration for which the church owes its entire existence.

Thank you, friends. I've gotta be honest. I didn't expect this much love on this issue.

This morning we had 12 people join us. We all sat in a circle. I'll post the liturgy tonight or tomorrow after our second service is over. It was amazing. Some did not receive the imposition of ashes, some opted for their hand, most the forehead. It was a wonderful time of commitment and fellowship and I've already have amazing conversations with two or three people about what they're "laying down" and what they're "taking up" for Lent. For those I've talked to so far, this is very real and tangible way for them to re-commit themselves to following Jesus 100%. I'm blown away.

And for the record, we have made an effort to increase the frequency of communion and to revive the practice of footwashing here in Hollywood as well. Joselito is absolutely right. These are all about re-sacramentalizing our lives in life giving ways that are not enslaving (to a priest or crushing ecclesiastical system).

Happy Ash Wednesday everyone!

oh and quickly on the "Father" issue. I have no problem with it. For many in my congregation, my wife and I almost literally function as parents. I understand why some are uncomfortable with the title and I am certainly not referred to as Father in my church (ha ha), but I don't think it makes a difference one way or another.

Matt:

It is interesting that you would go so far as to suggest that Seventh Day Adventist is not biblical. Are you an Adventist? Seventh day, as in the day we worship on, Adventist, as in the second advent. You can,t get more biblical than that.

Enslaving people in a crushing ecclesiastical system. I love my job.
Fr. Jim

Fr. Jim, I'm sure you would never do that. :) I should have added, present company excluded. Keep up the good work. Yours, in Christ, Ryan.

If anyone's uncomfortable with "Ash" Wednesday, they can maybe think of it as Charcoal Wednesday in the good ol' Adventist substitutionary, functionalist tradition :)

Eat a charcoal tablet (or for the truly brave ones - powder) on this day in place of that ash-on-the-forehead thing and detox your digestive system along the way - in celebration of Christ's cleansing power.

But, naw, as an erstwhile Ghost of Ash Wednesday, I like Ash Wednesday better. Biblical Christianity is, as I understand it, is all about sacramentalizing and appropriating the mundane, the traditional, the historical, yes, even the "pagan" into something extraordinarily meaningful.

But hey, if this Charcoal Wednesday thing catches on, you heard it here first :)

Julius!!

Sometimes I write lol just to be cute about something, but when I read what you said, I laughed audibly. It disturbed my chinchilla, who looked out of the cage wondering what was going on. If / when I become a pastor, we're going to observe charcoal Wednesday for sure.

Ryan, thanks a lot for stirring thought in a very valuable way.

When I was a Social Worker for the Country of Riverside back in the before times, I became good friends with a fellow worker who openly proclaimed to be an atheist. She told me she was four years old when her mother died and she was told that God had taken her to heaven. She decided at that young age she wanted nothing to do with a God who would let her mother look down and see all the hurt she was experiencing without being able to comfort her. I shared with her my understanding of death as a sleep and that her mother was at rest, and she would see her mother again at the resurrection. This understanding she found comforting.

She also found my Sabbath interesting. So much so that whenever anyone in the office suggested that there be an activity or work event on Saturday she would immediately say, “We can’t do that, it’s Donna’s Sabbath!”

One day she came to work with a dirty forehead and I without asking reached over to wipe her clean. That’s when I got my first lecture on Lent from a Catholic atheist.

Ryan, I was just being tongue in cheek lol.

Donna, I find our hope of heaven to be comforting. I am sure you can find an Adventist atheist out there too.

Fr. Jim

"Enslaving people in a crushing ecclesiastical system. I love my job."

Fr. Jim, you had be smiling, thinking back to my classes at the Dominican School for Philosophy and Theology.

There's just way too much happiness and sectarian bonhomie on this thread.

Thanks Ryan, for opening a door!

What happens before Charcoal Wednesday, Vege Mardi Gras? Pathfinders marching, and the sidewalks and streets overflowing with Martinelli-intoxicated revelers?

It's too late already. But next year's a'comin'
and plenty of time to prepare for a ribald Mardi
Gras! Should we throw beads? And what for?

As a child growing up in the very Protestant Deep South, my family moved to New Orleans, a very Catholic city. That was our first introduction to Ash Wednesday. A family member learned then, after trying to tell someone their forehead was dirty!

I am an Anglican (Episcopalian) for over sixty years and I never came across this practice until my present Anglo-Catholic Priest wanted to introduce it. Both my wife and I refused to attend the service (which we always used to) as we felt abhorent that we should look like our Hindu nighbour !

Don,

I am a committed participant in a Christian community whose sign reads "Seventh-day Adventist." And while the name may suggest biblical ideas like the Sabbath and the second Advent, the organization itself and the separation from other Christian organizations is not a biblical idea. Considering Jesus' prayer recorded in John 17, one is inclined to see "Adventism" over against other Christian "isms" as unbiblical.

The question still remains: is your concern Adventism or Christianity? Surely you're able to distinguish between the two, not as conflicting ideas, but in a part-whole relationship.

I participated in a "non-fat"Tuesday here in Birmingham yesterday! I even got our pastor on board...Maybe Charcoal Wednesday will happen next year!

I just have to say, "boo!" on Charcoal Wednesday. But it would be in keeping with Adventism's focus on "internal" piety and compulsion to make an Adventist version of everything. But I do love Julius and his sense of humor. :)

Activated charcoal has been used to counteract the effects of many swallowed poisons. Activated charcoal binds to the poison that is still in the digestive tract, preventing its absorption into the blood.
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec24/ch297/ch297a.html

Another use of activated charcoal is control of the symptoms of Trimethylaminuria. Activated charcoal may be taken at a dose of 750mg twice daily for ten days.

People with trimethylaminuria may also find the following to be helpful:
Behavioral counseling to help with depression and other psychological symptoms.
Genetic counseling to better understand how they developed the condition and to be aware of the risks of passing this disorder on to the next generation.
http://www.genome.gov/11508983

Trimethylaminuria has been around for centuries, but has only gained scientific recognition and support in the past 30 years.

"What have we here? A man or a fish? Dead or alive? He smells like a fish; a very ancient and fish-like smell . . ." —William Shakespeare, "The Tempest"

http://www.sciencenews.org/sn_arc99/5_15_99/bob2.htm

"Why do Adventists commemorate the Sabbath which was only a one-time event of Creation, never given to humans then?"

There are two wordings on the Sabbath commandment, both apparently written in stone by Gods hand. One is about creation, the other is about salvation. They are both worthy remembrances, apparently equally worthy.

Is putting ash on the face an act in order to be seen to fit in with other Christians - why wait to do it on the Wednesday? But it's Friday now here in Sydney, do you think it will be OK if I put ash on my own face today? Or did I miss the right day? Perhaps I think too much like an Adventist.

Or should I just wait till I personally feel ready to do it?

This thread is fun(ny).

Well, I attended my first Ash Wednesday service last evening and the pastor actually did speak of the paradox posed by the applying of ashes to the forehead with the reproof spoken by Jesus in Matthew 6 to those who attempt to make their practices of devotion visible (the particular devotion being fasting in Matthew 6).

He didn't give any simple answers, other than to point out the additional paradoxes inherent in the "giving up" practice of Lent--the degree to which we may take pride in the giving up of some relatively minor thing (like meat or candy) contrasted with what the idea of Lent really represents, which is the giving up of our will including that pride of spirit likely to celebrate one's giving up of candy or meat.

He also noted the paradox represented by the ashes of death and life--that through death comes life. Jesus for example died and then rose again, and in doing so His death brought us life. Also, Jesus' frequent references to the idea that those who lose their lives for His sake will gain it, and those who seek the ensure their lives will lose it.

" paradox posed by the applying of ashes to the forehead with the reproof spoken by Jesus in Matthew 6 to those who attempt to make their practices of devotion visible."

Is there anything more visibly different about Adventists than their worship on Saturday, in contradiction to all Christian churches? Doesn't that call a lot of attention with such a contrast, even in the name? Is that intended to call attention, or merely a byproduct?

As for giving things up for Lent: with all that Adventists are asked to forego when becoming a member: no alcohol, no movies, no jewelry, no makeup, no attendance at opera or theater, no reading of fiction, no meat eating, what more could they possibly give up?

For those who may be interested, here is the liturgy we used in our morning Ash Wednesday service. Most of it is taken from the Book of Common Prayer. I edited a couple of things. Those closing prayers are pieced together from two other sources.

24 people attended one or the other, or both of our services. Three attended both services (counting me). It was an amazing day. Thanks you everyone who participated.

A scripted liturgy has merits; wish it were used more often in Adventist services. As has been our custom, my wife and I joined the Ash Wednesday celebration in the Presbyterian church near our home. Unlike on previous occasions when we just stood for the imposition of ash and prayer for each person by the pastor, this time congregants had to kneel. (Honestly, this kneeling before a priest/clergy went against the grain. I'll ask my wife to bring this matter to their worship committee. Hmm...)

I was brought up Adventist in a country that was more than 80% Roman Catholic. Each year it was the same, ash marks on the foreheads of all devout Catholics. Those, like me, who went to public schools were easily identified as infidels. Early on, I learned that genuine repentance was internal, a matter of the heart that shows itself in action.

Joselito, good stuff you've said here. I like it. It's amazing that things could turn around so much from 80% church going and the non-church goer (in their mind, bec you weren't in the mainstream church) is the outcast, to now, in Southern Cal (and elsewhere) 80+% are not church goers and don't care about organized religion and those with ashes on their foreheads are the weird ones.

I, of course, could not agree more with your statement that "genuine repentance [is] internal, a matter of the heart that shows itself in action." This is why we loved the Isaiah 58 reading that is one of the main readings for Ash Wednesday every year. Also Joel 2, which provocatively says, "Rend your hearts, not your clothes." Powerful imagery/imagination should give rise to powerful change in our lives and in society.

While taking a special time in the year to celebrate the Sacrifice of Christ is certainly not wrong, we are looking at this from the perspective of those in the early stages of adopting the practice. Historically, the end users have lost track of this and in anticipation of the period of self-denial (Lent. Hence the development in the populaces of the "farewell the flesh" (i.e. Carnival) and "fat Tuesday" (Mardi Gras) which demonstrate a degeneration into greater sin and debauchery prior to the Lenten repentance. Far better to celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ daily through Romans 6 - experiencing death to the sinful self and being raised with Christ to the newness of transformational living day by day.

A most interesting post. A few random thoughts:

1) Those who worry about honoring paganism should avoid using the days of the week or names of the months, which are steeped in paganism.

2) Scripted liturgy has a lot to say for it. Conversely, Adventist services certainly imbibe the spirit of the times (maybe not paganism) when they are structured as "programs" with "masters of ceremonies", as most of them are.

3) I'm all for more frequent communion. The practical impediment to doing this in Adventist churches is the insistence that footwashing must be done in conjunction with every communion. That is, in the minds of some,"non-negotiable". I don't see it that way. Have footwashing four times a year, have communion every month.

Don

I am just young who is interested about knowing God, Saints and etc.

I do have one question i need answered A.S.A.P.

On Ash Wednesday these words are said- Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.

My question is What are some of the things in the Gospel that jesus is reminding us about?

Don, this is exactly what we do. Communion once a month, footwashing once a quarter.

Ryan, do you also celebrate with some form of the Great Thanksgiving, or do you do the usual pedestrian thing?

I used to call it "Holy Communion" in the bulletin (never called it the Eucharist); put the chairs in a circle around the table (two rows deep--easily accommodated my whole congregation) and seated myself and another elder in the circle. That would be difficult in a large congregation.

Another very personal thing I did toward the end of my tenure there--I always used #407 Sent Forth by God's Blessing for the closing hymn.

I still have people tell me that they miss that Communion experience. Don

Great post, Ryan, thanks. It never ceases to amaze me how bent out of shape some Adventists get about borrowing and learning from other parts of the Christian tradition. I have been observing Lent on my own for several years now and find it to be a cornerstone of my spiritual practice. I usually attend Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter sunrise services at other churches (our Adventist church does do a special service for Easter Sabbath, but I find it's just not enough for me) but have not, so far, gone to an Ash Wednesday service. I would love to attend an Adventist church that paid more attention to the seasons of the liturgical year -- that particular way of viewing time is very meaningful to me, even though I realize it's not for everybody. (And yes, in response to the question Joselito posted way up this thread, I also love the ordinance of humility).

God bless you ministry, and bless your observance of Lent.

Don, we do the pedestrian thing (by which I assume you mean I make my own comments and prayers). Though I am just in the past month working on putting together a more formal liturgy for our communion services. We have two people serving at the front and invite the congregation to come forward in two lines to receive the sacrament. Then we ask them to stay in the front, standing around the table, and we eat and drink together. It's really powerful.

I was just talking to my head elder yesterday and musing that it would funny, indeed, if one of the most evangelistic things we do in Hollywood is the Eucharist. Theologically, I sense that this should be true, but I've just never seen it in real life.

I don't know where you live, but you should come by sometime. Communion is the last Sabbath of every month and the last Sabbath of each quarter includes foot washing.

Trudy, et al...

Here is a brief expression of our theology of time on our website. See the related pages as well.

http://www.hollywoodsda.org/time/

Thanks Ryan. I am celebrating Lent for the first time this year. I'm finding it very meaningful---wish I could have attended your liturgy.

Hmmm, Ash Wednesday in an SDA church...... i grew up Catholic and then converted to SDA. Maybe i shouldn't have bothered! Christmas, easter, Ash Wednesday; they are all pagan in origin, a well known fact, but incorporated into church 'tradition' anyhow.

JESUS SAID...

Matthew 15:9
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Are we so far from Him that we cannot see ourselves in this statement! WAKE UP.

History repeats, but only if we let it. Prophecy foretells but as individuals we need not be part of the Laodicea movement.

A baptised SDA through choice, but now through reading God's Word for myself, without the aid of the Sabbath School Quarterly, i now know its unbiblical to be baptised into a denomination. By the way, the quarterly is another form of indoctrination into church traditional beliefs, interpreting the Bible for us and not letting God's Spirit lead us into all Truth. The process is Catholic by nature and can be quite dangerous if written by someone not being led by God's Holy Spirit. Just a thought.

Tradition - 28 fundamental beliefs...... why? Why not a statement of 'all Scripture, no tradition'. Let God's Holy Spirit sort out the rest. Or do we not trust Him to do the job properly?

Agreeing to 27 fundementals didnt stop me and countless others from going off the rails, and the church of the the 27 fundemental beliefs didnt come looking for me when i left the church. But the God of the Bible did!

Laodicea is where we are now as a church, with our ash wednesdays, Christmas easter trinity and any other pagan catholic doctrines we bury the pure Gospel message under.

But God always keeps a remnant for Himself in every age. Those
who by His Grace, will keep the Commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Simple. Unchanging.

Get real! Nowhere in Scripture does it say we need little ashes on our forehead as part of our relationship with Him, or to preach Him. Do we not see something fundamentally wrong here? Anyone?!!!

Are we not followers of Christ? For relationship and devotion to our Father, we need to follow what Christ did... Read, Pray and Fast (without anyone knowing). When we have this relationship, then we will have the desire, and courage to publicly speak His name.

In His Name.

Julie
a Christian

Just wanted to chime in here, and say that I had the privilege of celebrating communion at Hollywood SDA a few months back when I was visiting family.

The service was just as Ryan describes.

The communion followed the sermon very smoothly; there was no footwashing (I found out later that "high communions" with footwashing happen once a quarter) and we walked forward to the table to receive the emblems/sacrament. We all stood around the table singing and eating/drinking together.

I can honestly say that this one of the most powerful/meaningful communions I've shared in an Adventist church.

In my opinion, observing it this way and more frequently brings Adventist worship in closer harmony with the wider/historic Christian community in theological emphasis and praxis.

I think this, along with the observance of the liturgical calendar, is a wonderful thing for Adventism and wish this would catch on in more Adventist churches.

Julie:

Welcome to the wonderful world of the Hollyood SDA Church, where Fr. Bell and his parishoners, are forever seeking to reinvent the wheel. As I stated in a previous post, I would be ashamed to take a paycheck from a church whose teachings I did not agree with. Let me be clear on one point, I do not doubt the sincereity of Fr. Bell, however I believe that he is very wrong to knowingly incorporate a pagan practice into the Hollywood SDA Church. I am left to wonder what the good folks at the Socal Conference office think. They probably don't care. I think that it would be a very good thing if someone from the conference office were to pay more attention to Fr. Bell,s blog. He may be a Christian, (And That Is A Good Thing!) but is Fr. Bell an Adventist? I resent the fact that my tithe dollars go to pay the salary of ministers who are forever tearing down the denomination.

Note: Disagreeing is fine. Offering other points of view is welcomed. Personal attacks like those made here are certainly not appropriate. Continued attacks of this kind may result in being barred from the conversation. Please maintain respect even while disagreeing.

-Editors

Ryan,

Where in the bible does it specifically say for us to apply ashes on our head on this day (Lent) to comemorate the death of Christ.

I was looking and I can't find it. However, I do find foot washing and communion service which points us to Christ sacrifice annulling Easter as a justified holiday.

These traditions are mere impositions created by men. Whether pagan or not, what is the purpose? I see absolutely none.

The word of God should remind us of his sacrifice, not a man made holiday.

David

It might be an appropriate time to remind ourselves that many of the traditions we celebrate on Jesus' authority were also human-made (not divinely-sanctioned) activities that Jesus saw value in and filled full of significance.

Washing feet was a household chore, not entirely unlike scrubbing toilets today. The janitors' job, it was. Something that high society folks generally avoided. Then, along came Jesus and scrubbed the toilets and told his dicsiples that if they wanted to take part in his agenda, they had better get their scrub brushes and Ajax out (but no need to bother with the rubber gloves). Imagine if today during communion services, we all went to the bathrooms and took turns scrubbing out toilets!

Washing feet would have had no significance for Christian worship and practice if Jesus had not taken an ordinary thing and filled it full of meaning.

So now as I watch people get bent out of shape over another mundane thing being filled with new meaning, I wonder whether we're more invested in the tradition of our traditions than in the meaning of our traditions.

If we are really invested in the meaning of our traditions, we should be able to recognize the potential value and meaning in new rituals--symbolic acts that represent rich spiritual truths.

It takes a little bit of imagination, but anyone who hasn't decided in advance that new rituals are bad can find all sorts of significance in Ash Wednesday.

Ryan has done a thorough job of illustrating the value of the ceremony for anybody who hasn't prematurely shut the door and walked off.

Jared,

Isn't our only creed the bible and the bible alone. Why are human rituals and ceremonies so important especially when not mandated by the bible. These ceremonies are man made. footwashing and communion are God ordained.

I still see no reason.

David

David,
I don't know if there is an 'ideal' Adventism... personally I do have an idealised Adventism and it is quite austere- think of the Washington N.H. SDA church (pictures) and, less so because of the (wonderful) huge paintings which make it more chapel than church, the chapel on the second floor of Founders Hall at Atlantic Union College. Did you know that the double doors at the Washington church were built one for each sex? As were the two staircases at Founders Hall?

Now, the Adventism I grew up with doesn't look like the Washington N.H. church at all. I've grown up as a member in congregations with massive organs and huge buildings and I've spent lots of time in small Hispanic congregations. Each of these have their own liturgy and for some, especially the Spanish congregations, adherence to a classic Adventist liturgy is of utmost importance- the doxology must be sung as participants enter and kneel to pray etc.

You're looking for a reason why 'human rituals' should be included? The closest theological dispute analogous to Ash Wednesday specifically I think is Christmas- I do know that there has been disagreement in our church over how we should observe this holiday.

I would also point to small ceremonies like those on mothers day and fathers day- in my church all mothers are given a flower in church the weekend of this national holiday. How about yours?

I agree that there should be a conversation about the appropriateness of Ash Wednesday service within our denomination. I think the wider issue is how we should celebrate Easter- the holi-day which Ash Wednesday is building up to. Our theology is reflected in our worship and, vice-versa, our worship has given us a theology which is almost totally deaf to the richness sacramentalism brings. Zizioulas springs to mind as a prime example.

I'll say two things which might or might not be in tension .
1. I agree with and would point to the B.R.I.'s work on Easter as a good articulation of how Adventist congregations should approach Ash Wednesday-ish services. Open but wary.
2. I agree that, for a church which rejects the dualism of spirit and body, it is ironic that we are so wary of embodied spirituality and find much common ground with Ryan on his reasons for holding an Ash Wednesday service.

As far as my 'idealised Adventism' is concerned, I'm glad that women and men can use the same doors and stairs in today's Adventism. Like the chapel above Founders Hall at AUC, it makes a great setting for filming movies on our history but, like the doors of the Washington church and staircases at Founders Hall, just because it was our past tradition doesn't make it presently true.

I think that if we insist that nothing should be done in worship services without a scriptural warrant for it, we might have to eliminate several things commonly done in Adventist churches.

And conversely, there are things that have been part of Jewish and Christian worship for thousands of years, that we do not do: most obviously, the public reading of scripture.

As far as I know, there is no scriptural warrant for insisting that only ordained elders can conduct communion services, or for that matter, baptisms. I don't think this is a big deal--I accept it as a matter of church discipline, but you don't find it in the Bible. (You don't find any sanction for two orders of elders, either.)

Maybe this crowd can find more examples. Don

Why does everybody on this forumn insist on relating everything to adventism. My only creed as a Christian is the bible. I find no justification for making a human celebration the central focus of any church service, whether Christmas, Fourth of July, easter or any other holiday

In stating that Ash Wednesday is not mentioned in the Bible I'm not saying that everything we do in its minute detail must be justified in scripture, what I am saying is there is no precedent for making a blatantly human creation into a divine service. There is a gaping chasm between human rituals and traditions which are not specifically stated in the bible.

A ritualistic service based on the human imagination is not appropriate for a church service. However traditional settings for communion or foot washing is not related to these rituals.

Please, stop attacking adventism, because what you are truly attacking is the progressive reformation, which is Christianity.

David

Julie and Don,

Some argue that the Trinity is a pagan belief and that it is not found explicitly in the Bible. Yet you believe it. In fact it is part of Tradition, which Paul said we are to hold fast too. So I guess you are only part pagan? In fact the use of ashes is found in the Bible, so apparently God doesn't mind it. Some pagans practiced rituals similar to baptism and the Lord's supper, does that make them pagan? Paul quotes the pagan poets when preaching to pagans, he is not afraid.

Customs like this do not make someone a Catholic or pagan. They do no harm. We all have rituals. They are part of the fabric of our lives. They enrich us and make the word of God become visible. Come Palm Sunday (or Saturday if you prefer) feel free to use palms.
Fr. Jim

...and this is why I DON'T take ashes. It just causes all sorts of headaches.

Regardless of the intentions behind Ash Wednesday, it causes unnecessary arguments between us. Might I direct everyone's attention to 1 Corinthians 8:13? My quote's from the American KJV:

"Why, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world stands, lest I make my brother to offend."

Perhaps Pastor Ryan was a little intemperate in applying ashes in an Adventist church. I'll agree with that, since it's obviously proved to be a stumbling block for people here. Does that make him a pagan, a Catholic, or a backslider? (Not that those things are necessarily related.) Probably not.

While I don't see Ash Wednesday as an open sign of moral corruption, I do see it as an unnecessary distraction. The argument about ashes above my comment is even more distracting.

By the way, what's everybody giving up for Lent?

Sam Sukaton

Wow, this is truly remarkable. I hardly know where to begin. I'm not going to say much, and this will be my last comment on this subject.. Thanks Johnny and others for your well reasoned thoughts.

Sam, just because some people (specifically, two) are having a hard time with the idea of our church celebrating Ash Wednesday does not mean it is a distraction. It certainly wasn't in my congregation, and that's all that I care about. You'd also have to assume that my role, as a pastor, is to keep the peace, keep everyone happy, and not subvert people's assumptions.

David, worship services that begin at 11 and end at 12 is not in the Bible. Collecting offering and sitting in pews and studying the General Conference approved Sabbath School Quarterly are not specifically commanded in the Bible either, but just try to change those things in the average church and just see what happens. Conversely, practices such a raising hands in prayer, clapping and shouting are specifically "commanded" for worship and yet just try to do that in your average Adventist Church and see what happens.

We read the scripture selectively just like everyone else.

Ryan,

I know you won't be responding to this, but I feel I should just post once more for clarity. I did make an assumption about your role as pastor - namely, I neglected to note the pastors do subvert expectations. I have a slight bias towards church pastor as moderate "shelter" and evangelist as radical "subversive." I didn't catch that blind spot at first, and I apologize for the misunderstanding.

Also, your mention that (very) few people have an issue with this comforts me as well. I was under the impression that the controversy over ashes was larger than it is, apparently.

Sam Sukaton

It has been interesting to read the comments here and amusing at times. As a preachers kid, I remember the trials my father had over any minute change in the order of service on Sabbath. Any change, no matter how minute, was always met with significant, passionate resistance by someone in the church--the issue of human tradition is not something that "others" do but alive and well in all churches that humans attend.

Personally, I kind of like the thought that I am worshiping in a way that the early Christian church did in the years after Christ ascended. God has a way of taking normal physical aspects of life and infusing them with spiritual meaning--we are created as physical beings and God in Christ became fully physical as well as divine to redeem us. A physical symbol of salvation is what the whole sanctuary service was all about and Christian traditions such as Ash Wednesday fulfill the same purpose with a focus on Christ and living life as a Christian.

One other random thought about past biblical behavior--dance was definitely part of the Jewish traditions and David danced in celebration of the ark of the Covenant returning to Israel--perhaps even nearly naked judging from his wife's, Michal's reaction. So if we want to be biblical, perhaps we should all return to dancing down the aisle of the church--in celebration of God being with us. Will leave the near-nakedness as an option for those brave enough.

Ryan,

there you go again. What does clapping or divine service have to do with an Ash Wednesday celebration taken from a presbyterian manual of common prayers. Absolutely nothing. There is a big difference.

Also, appealing to popular opinion is not a measure of correctness. If you are correct then defend what you are doing using the bible, which clearly tells us not to go to the right or to the left or we will fall and applies this to copying the worship styles of pagans. You are obviously in the wrong according to the bible.

Because it is very apparent to anyone who has read the bible you appeal to completely outlandish and exaggerated details such as clapping and raising hands to cause division and confusion.

Honestly, I could care less what you do in your church, I obviously would not be a regular attendee to that church. However, when writing in a public forum you are advocating a replication of what you are doing.

One opinion in scripture was called "You troubler of Israel" but I don't think that an appeal to the number of those who opposed that opinion was used to justify the wrongness of the opinion of the majority against the rightness of the minority.

I'm not claiming to be absolutely right, what I am claiming is that you are not on solid ground. Its okay that you are not on solid as long as you do not expect everyone to fall in line with your wrong opinion. Scripture informs us to stay away from the ways of the pagans in detail, over and over again. Do you really believe that those of Israel, from the very start blatantly subverted God's law. No, it always started from a reformation then a relaxing of those standards.

You are on shaky ground. At least admit it and stop attacking adventism. It will not help you nor does it make you right.

I know you won't respond but at least, my brother, think about it.

David

Sad :(

How is it we won't clamour to celebrate the God ordained, OT Festivals but fall over ourselves to participate in heathen rituals? i know the answer to that one, we want to be part of mans traditions and not under God's Teachings. (lets go back to Egypt mentality!)

OT teachings are beneficial for us TODAY!

Jesus came not to do away with the OT teachings, but to un-bury them from the man made dross they had been hidden beneath. In effect, Jesus taught nothing new. What He did was to Faithfully reproduce what the Israelites were taught.

Why therefore, do we repeat the dross process, which Jesus came to clean up?

Check it out. What new thing did He teach which cannot be seen in the OT?

Nothing new, just deeper in meaning. His death was a realisation of the ceremonial law - not a new teaching. Footwashing was a cleansing practice for that culture, which He deepened with the message of humility, etc etc.

Put crudely, OT teachings were outward lessons which should have been realised internally by the Jews but weren't; Jesus taught us to internalise those teachings.

The ashes thing is outward and meaningless, its a step toward idolatry.

Zenit is a daily catholic email newsletter. In the March 5th edition was an artical titled:

Theology's Visual Side

Artist Explains How Icons Lead to Prayer

By Claudia Soberón Bullé Goyri
ROME, MARCH 5, 2009 (Zenit.org).- To learn the art of icons is to learn the art of prayer that leads to communion with God, according to an iconographer and teacher who just finished imparting a specialized course in Rome. End quote.

Icons lead to prayer; ashes leads to deeper experience... hmm i notice cohesion here, and it aint good! :(

i have no problem reading this in a catholic publication because the devil is in charge of its course, but to find this sentiment in the SDA church, led by a Pastor and being accepted by his congregation is just proof of what a fantastic deciever this devil is.

To whom much is given, much is expected.

Why do people leave the Truth and follow error. Let God tell us. His Word tells us, 'they recieved not a love of the Truth'. What does God do we with these people. He sends them strong delusion that they would believe a lie.

How do we guard against this pathetic state in our Spiritual lives? The word says, we should neither go to the left, no the right, but FOLLOW what we have been taught in His Word!

If we do this, we can stand before God on the day of judgement, knowing that Christ will cover us. If we are disobedient to this simple, but deep, command, thereby willfully sinning, how can we claim the Blood of our Saviour?

This may sound boring and old fashioned to an increasing number of SDAs and other Christians nowadays, but its the reason why so few SDAs and other Christians are gonna be in Heaven!

Julie
a Christian

Salvation through works (faithfully observing OT festivals and avoiding all contemporary ways of reminding us of our relationship with God)?

If this is the kind of god we have, I wouldn't want to spend eternity with him because that would be hell.

Henry

Salvation through works (faithfully observing OT festivals and avoiding all contemporary ways of reminding us of our relationship with God)?

If this is the kind of god we have, I wouldn't want to spend eternity with him because that would be hell.

Henry

That's what people don't understand it's not the works that produce salvation, it's the faith that leads to the good works. The key word you use is CONTEMPORARY. God is never changing, even though we like to thing that "he will understand." Julie is pretty spot on what she says. It is sad to see one of our SDA churches practicing these type of "religious ceremonies." Many people will be lost because of that very sentence you added at the end. "If this is the kind of god we have, I wouldn't want to spend eternity with him because that would be hell." Alot of people don't want eternity with God because they fear Sanctification and Holiness the way HE requires it, not the way we feel we should render worship to him.

Information for you :
Don K. Molander passed away March 8,2009 in Yuma after a sudden illness.

Mona,

Thank you for informing us of that sad news. Sincere condolences to Molander's family and those he knew and who knew him.

Is there any more that you might be able to share with this community, who only just began to know and interact with him?

Mona: Perhaps you can tell me where I'm supposed to be buried?

Don K. Molander

Well, that was certainly a surprise (although I suppose if I had paid closer attention to dates, there would have been less surprises). Someone is pulling someone's leg here.

Don, certainly glad to hear that you are alright and still communicating with us!!! Reports of your demise are clearly exaggerated!

Mona, whoever you may be, is there anything else you might add while we're talking?

Is there another Don Molander?

Man looketh on the outward appearance, God looketh upon the heart. To some ritual is all Pomp and Circumstances, to others it is outward expression of an meaningful inner experience. Who but God can tell?

Some even find their fulfillment through a 30 year pin from perfect attendance at Rotary.

If twelve people gathered on a Wednesday in God name, the Holy Spirit was there ashes or no. If they gathered to celebrate their piety--Ichabod. Tom

Don, that was the best barking-surprised laugh I've had in awhile.

Lazarus, come forth!

(Glad you're on this side of the soil.)

I was attempting to make sense of why Mona might have thought you were dead, and then I parsed her name and figured it out:

Mona saw yer hill.

There is a celebration with biblical background besides baptism that does not occur only once in the life of a Christian, and that reminds us of Christ death and directs our attention to his soon coming: COMMUNION, THE LORDS SUPPER, or any other name you want to apply.

We do not need to re-adopt pagan practices to remind us of our relationship with the true God. If we follow the reasoning set forth to celebrate ash wednesday, we might as well bring idols to "remind us" that "God is present in His church"

Mi wife teaches in a school administered by Salesian Brothers (catholic) and never participates on pagan "reminders" of our condition... but her relationship with God is never questioned.

It is easy to argue back and forth, but PLEASE... do not dress up Zeus and say he is one of the Apostles. any Greco-Roman goddess and call her virgin Mary, or pagan practices and argue that they are christians means of devotion.

Pr. Elenes

Father Bell:

So sorry to have rained on your Catholic parade, but it does seem that there are others who alos agree with me.

Thank you for informing us of that sad news. Sincere condolences to Molander's family and those he knew and who knew him.

I challenge Don to produce evidence that:

"the tradition of Ash Wednesday was started by pagan Rome"

"the practice of putting the ashes on ones forehead in the sign of the cross is an adopted pagan practice"

In fact, both of these claims are fabrications.

Oh no, I missed the piece about Don's death. +Eternal rest.

Ash Wednesday, as its name implies, is the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads. This custom has no Biblical basis but rather originated in ancient pagan religions and was brought into Christianity by the Roman Catholic Church.

This custom is not the same as the Biblical symbol of humility/repentance for e.g. where Job says, "Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:6.

The custom of putting ash on the forehead is similar to the "tilak" - that Hindus and Zoroastrians place on their forehead.

According to Hinduism, the tilaka symbolizes the third eye, or mind's eye, that is associated with many Hindu gods and the idea of meditation and spiritual enlightenment. In the past, tilakas were usually worn by priests, ascetics, or worshipers, but is now a common practice for most Hindus. It can express which Hindu tradition one follows. It may be made with sandalwood paste, ashes, clay, or other substances.

The tilak is a mark created by the smearing of powder or paste on the forehead. Occasionally it extends vertically and horizontally on a large part of the forehead and may cover the nose also. ... The other major tilak variant consists of three horizontal bands across the forehead with a single vertical band or circle in the middle (Wikipedia).

In conclusion, it might be well for all to heed the words of Christ, "Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Matt:15-7-9.

Ash Wednesday is pagan in origin. Moreover, does putting ash on the forehead change the heart? My Bible says that Christ is looking for a repentant heart not ash on the forehead.

What is happening to true Seventh-day Adventists and how far will we go?
Eze.5:11 Wherefore, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish [thee]; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.

Are we accepting Catholic traditions in our church to become cultists, or will we follow the word of God as did the Millerites when they answered the fourth Angel's message of Rev. 18 to "Come out of her My people"
Our problem is we no longer understand the correct views the pioneers had and many have lost the way in our Laodicean condition. We must once again become Philadelphians.
See Rev.3:7-13