vie spiritual content of our music intel-

opportunity nor even the d .

pgible to the people in the pews.
co~e such musical gourme:~ire to be-
l Only the Best? Among profes-
sionally trained Christian musicians, it ~ave never been one to believe that
is quite common to hear someone say, ~~assical music (as popularly defined) is
"Only the best is good enough for God." e answer to the church's need CI .
cal music· and church m . • assi-
At first hearing, such a statement seems . usic are not
necessarily the same True th
to make good sense. Malachi was in- . · , ere are
some classical pieces whi'ch
spired once to express God's disap- 1 ·· can
egitimatel~ be considered effective
pointment, even anger, at being offered
church music, _but there is also a large
a lame sacrifice (see Mal 1). But what
bod~ of musical material of great
do we musicians mean by "best?" Most
quality which is very useful and estheti-
often, the person using the term is
cally satisfying which would not be
speaking of sacred music written by the
classified by some musicians as classi-
master composers. I am sympathetic cal music.
with this concept. However, must we The test for worship music must al-
not realize that only a very small seg- ways be, "Is the language of this music
ment of the population speaks that musi- compatible with the message of the
cal language? Can we fairly expect our words it accompanies, and are the words
congregations to respond to a language and music spiritually nourishing to this
they don't understand? congregation at this point in time?"
Consider the pastor who takes· a Growth-and Hymns. So long as
leave of absence to study at a theologi- people are choosing among spiritually
cal seminary and in the process becomes healthful music items, musicians should
deeply involved in some particular allow them the right to enjoy their own
aspect of Old Testament study. When he taste. But I also believe that a minister
returns to his pulpit, his people find of music must at the same time cherish
themselves listening to a vastly different a desire to help the congregation grow,
style of preaching from what they had not merely in numbers but also in
grown accustomed to. It is much more maturity. The Christian life is about
sophisticated, its content is much growth, isn't it? There really is some-
deeper-and now most of the people thing to the idea that we should bring
cannot understand what the pastor is . our best to the Lord.
talking about. Unhappy and confused, Simple, childlike choruses have their
they start to complain. Their pastor has place, but surely they should not be al-
lost touch with them and no longer feeds lowed to take the central role in an adult
them, because he now speaks a lan- worship service. The hymnbook should
guage that few of them can understand. not be neglected. My observation is that
Those of us musicians who have ad- some people are getting by on ~r~tty
vanced degrees or many years of ex- thin diets with precious little nutrition.
perience and personal study have joined Surely our hymns are not too challeng-
an elite group that loves the language of ing for our congregations. If they are,
the master composers. It is easy for us what does this say about us? Would we
to forget that large numbers of our want our pastor to feed us baby food
church members have had neither the week after week?

ADVENTISTS AFFIRM SPRING 1999 PAGE 53

 ----------
2: 14 can be ou~. We can be transfo
. re for all phases by the renewing of. our minds [:1ect
Our point of departu ·ptural 12:2) until we even thmk like Jesus (Po~
. t be the scrt
of worship mus d h0 w sinful :S). h11
presentation of God ~n . resence. 2
Why do. I_ sing ~hat I sing? As a
humans shoul? be?ave in;;1s ~piritual
d
If we maintain a d t 'thfully,
church mus1c1an, I smg what I sin b
cause I believe both that it is ggOod e-
motivation, study the hWorhts ~nd mo-
music, worthy of my God, and that i't 1S.
and surrender all ou~ oug ill lead us ·
tives to the Holy Spint, He w .. tual music my congregat10n can und er-
into all truth (John 16: 1_3). The ~pin_ s stand. I

==-:----------:---:--=~---
discernment promised m 1 Corinthian

Did Luther Adopt a Drinking Song for "A Mighty

Fortress"?
The Experts Say, "No, He ~id Not." ..
It is sometimes argued that for "A Mighty Fortress . ~uther adopte_d a dnnkrng
song, and that therefore it is all right to accompany rehgrous words with pop-rock
music today. This argument is absolutely false. . .
1 Even if Luther had used drinking songs, in his day secular songs were
mel~dious and free from rock's syncopated backbeat. Rock music didn't appear
in Germany until tour hundred years after Luther died. In Luther's day, secular
music was strongly influenced by church music, rather than the other way
around as is the case today. "Protestantism, preserved the medieval classifica- 1
tion of the world, with secular art subj!3cted to ... piety and churchliness."
2. One fourth of Luther's upper-division doctoral studies was devoted to
music (seep. 9, above). Luther knew music theory and played well on the lute
(a kind of classical guitar) and the flute. "Luther undoubtedly was a musical
genius of high rank, who would have become a great comgoser, 2
had not
Providence destined him to become the prophet of a new age."
3. In r_espect to the tune of "A Mighty Fortress," says a foremost Luther
sc~olar, "1t would be foolish to dispute certain reminiscences of the music with
wh1~h L~ther had grown up. No creative genius lives in a vacuum; he cannot
avoid using all, sorts of ready-made idioms for his building blocks. The value of
t~e melodr for Ou~ G?d He Is a Castle Strong' [a literal translation of the German
title] cons1st_s _not m its absolute originality . . . but •in its basic integrity and
strength. ~his is no patchwork of bits and pieces taken from here and there but
1
~~ aJ~~r~=~:;, b~~;:~:~ ~f f
;~;~~ytn/~e elody r~flects n?t only,the ge~er8:J
ti~c
0
2. Groves Dictiona of M • mic~. emp~as,s to the important words."
is known beyond a d6ubt nd
a MusJCtans l~sts 13 hymn tunes that Luther
Mighty Fortress."4 ave composed himself. This list includes "A
1 • • NOTES
Friedrich Blume, Protestant Church Music.. A History
. .
~- 29. (New York: W.W. Norton, 1974),
Paul Netti Luther and M .
~er~, 1948), p. 62. us,c, trans. Frida Best and Ralph Wood (Philadelphia: Muhlen-

Worl<s
A "' American Ed't' gr.
Ulrich S. Leupold Utur,
3
and Hymns vol 53 · H Im) ut T. Lehman, gen. ed., Luther's
1 ion (Philadelphia: Fortress'~
9 5
4
rt. Luther," Grove's Dicti ·' , pp. 283-284.
onary of Music and Mus,c,ans
.. (3rd. ed., 1941), 3:255-256.
ADVENTISTS AFFIRM SPRI-
, NG 1999 PAGE 54
 Bow Much Is He Worth?
The Acting Editor

Angels by the thousand million join

''Worship" is the way we the elders and Ii ving creatures and sing
respond to what we think another song, "Worthy is the Lamb who
someone is worth. was slain, to receive power and wealth
A young man stepped into a florist and wisdom and might and honor and
shop to get his girl a corsage for the high glory and blessing!" (ch. 5:12).
school banquet. His eyes roamed be- Worship Is Joyful Praise. So how
tween the affordable daisies and the are we to worship God and the Lamb?
1,~vish orchids in the display case. He First, by joyfully praising Them, giving
Them thanks for who They are and what
weighed his affections against his
They've done-for what They're
poverty. He was hoping to have some
worth.
money left for his bike. God knows that when we praise Him
The florist helped him decide. "Well,
for what He's worth, wonderful things
son," he asked after a while, "how much
happen to us. "The joy of the Lord is
is she worth to you?" your strength" (Neh 8:10).
As the lad walked out with an orchid, In the last days of time we'll need all
he could only wonder what had hap- the strength we can find to resist the
pened. pressures of the dragon, the beast, the
How Much Is God Worth? How false prophet, and the beast worshipers.
much is God worth to you? The question Remembering joyfully that God made
is relevant, because in the three angels' us and Jesus died for us will give us the
messages of Revelation 14:6-12 the faith we'll need to go through anything.
final issue in the countdown of the great "In the world you have tribulation;
controversy is one of worship, whether but be of good cheer, I have overcome
we worship God and the Lamb or wor.. the world" (John 16:33).
ship the beast. And "worship" is our Praising God, joyfully giving thanks,
response to what we think someone is is a custom, a way of life, a habit if you
worth. please that we ought to be observing
In Revelation 4 and 5 we look now. Now, today, every day, when con-
through an open door at Cosmic Con- fronted with life's ordinary tribulations
trol, God's throne in the heavenly we ought_to be in training for the last
sanctuary. And what do we hear? We days.
hear songs, marvelous songs, happy When the bills are too high, the boss
~ongs. Living creatures and elders sing- too demanding, our spouse or parents
ing, "Worthy art thou our Lord and seemingly unbearable, should we not
G , remember that the God who made
od, to receive glory and honor and
power, for thou didst create all things, everything is still alive and that Jes~s,
who lives for us (Heb 7:25), once died
and by thy will they existed and were
for us? Shouldn't we enjoy the privilege
created" (Rev 4:11 RSV).

ADVENTISTS AFFIRM SPRING 1999 PAGE 55

 "I offered him to the Ganges as a
of remembering that God cares a?out ~; sacrifice to my gods," she replied
(I Peter 5:7)? Shouldn't we enJOY t without looking up.
.
happiness of applymg eaveH n's power ? So it was true! The missionary
nd
and love to this very moment a nee~· and in his horror blurted out
g~Ped . . '
Worship Is More than Praise. Tots "But mother, your baby girl 1s about to
. worship,
1s . respon d'mg with 1· oyfuld
die and girls don't count for much in
praise to what we think about God a~ . India. If you felt you had to sacrifice a
the Lamb. And it's good for us to do it, child, why didn't you give her to the
for the "joy of the Lord is your
Ganges instead?"
strength." . . . For a moment the anguished woman
So worship is joyful prruse. But it ts
fixed her eyes on the Christian. "Sir,"
also something else; much else.
she said scornfully, "my gods are wor-
According to a well-known story, a
Christian missionary, walking beside thy of my best."
the Ganges one morning years ago, Surely the Christian God is worthy
passed a Hindu mother sitting of our best.
crosslegged near the river bank, cra- Surely the Lamb is worth everything
dling a baby girl in her arms and rocking to us. Far from expecting us to offer our
back and forth. A handsome little boy children in human sacrifice, He
played nearby. sacrificed Himself in their behalf! He
As the missionary drew close, he left heaven, grew up misunderstood,
noticed that the woman was in distress. suffered anguish in Gethsemane and ex-
Her baby was dying. Hinduism teaches cruciating ,pain on Calvary. For us.
that we live many lifetimes on earth, one To know Him is to love him. To love
lifetime after another. The woman Him is to devote our all to Him.
feared that some sin, committed either Worship Is Loving Obedience.
in her own previous existence or in that Said Jesus, "If you love me, you will
of the child's, had aQgered the gods and keep my commandments" (John 14: 15).
brought on the disease. When we love someone with all our
The missionary tried to comfort her, hearts, we want to please him or her,
but she didn't know the Christian's God make any sacrifice requested, do any-
and couldn't understand. thing,we're asked.
Toward evening the missionary Jesus asks us to keep His command-
returned along the same path, the
ments. The God-worshipers in Revela-
mother of the morning momentarily for-
tion keep the commandments.
gotten. He was startled to see her in the
What do the commandments say to
same place, in the same posture still
us? They say to "love your neighbor as
holding the baby girl and rocking' back
yoursel~' (Matt 22:39). Not to "bear
and forth. She was more weary now-
false witness" (Ex 20: 16). Not to lie to
~nd there was another difference. The
httle boy was gone. p~ople or gossip about them. Not ·to
In hls mind the missionary guessed mislead them in any way that might d
what had taken place. Unwilling t them harm. To remember that Go~
believe it, he greeted the woman an~ created everyone and Jesus died for
asked about her son. everyone, and so we ought to treat
everyone honestly.
ADVENTISTS AFFIRM SPRING 1999 PAGE 56
 Not to "commit adultery" (Ex
heaven and earth, the sea and th .c
zo:14). Th~t is, not to enga_ge in sexual ·
ta1ns e 1oun-
of water" (ch 14 .7 ) Th
ctivity with anyone outside of mar- · · • e first
~age-or even to think about doing so a~g~l, w~o has himself sung the song a
(see Matt 6:28). To remember that God mtlhon
• . times in the heavenly ch01rs .
made our spouses and died for them and invites us to join in the happy song with
wants us to be true to them and care for t?~ other angels and the elders and the
hv1ng creatures.
them genuinely.
Not to "covet" (Ex 20: 17). This . The words of the first angel's invita-
means that in an age of crass tion come right out of the Sabbath com-
materialism we are not to be greedy but mandment, adapted a bit, like most of
should make sure we always have some- Revelation's quotations of the Old Tes-
thing to share with the less fortunate; for tament.
God created and Jesus died for people God's Sabbath "according to the
who live in slums just as much as for the commandment" is the seventh day (see
wealthiest of us. Luke 23:56) and is to be kept "holy." It
The commandments also say to is not a day for ordinary recreation or
"love the Lord your God with all your ordinary fellowship or even ordinary
heart" (Matt 22:37), and not to "take the attendance at meeting. It is preeminent-
name of the Lord your God in vain" (Ex ly a day for holiness. "Remember the
20:7). How unfitting it is when we're Sabbath day to keep it holy," God asks.
irritated to demand that the God of love The seventh-day Sabbath is a day of
"damn" someone! If we truly love Him, joyful remembrance of God's creative
we won't even want to use His loving love and of Christ's redeeming love. It
.qame in anger, or in a light and joking is a day for singing with the angels of
mood, or in a trivial, repetitious way Revelation 4 and 5. It is a day to renew
when singing praise. our strength for the week ahead and for
But not to take God's name in vain the time of trouble that lies ahead.
also means not to claim to be one of His "If you love ip.e, keep my command-
followers without acting like one. How ments."
often Christians, by the way they be- The great issue in the countdown of
have, lead people to dislike our God! the great controversy is worship. Will
. "Remember the Sabbath day to keep we worship the beast, or will we wor-
It holy" (Ex 20: 8). Sabbath is the day ship God and the Lamb? Worship is
every week when we remember in a more than praise; it is also obedience to
special way that God is the Creator of God's loving will. Worship is our
heaven and earth and of everything and response to what we think someone is
everyone in them.
worth.
!his is what the heavenly choirs Isn't our God worth our very best?
praise God for. "Worthy art thou, our Daisies are pretty; but how much is
Lord and God ... for thou didst create God worth to you?
all things" (Rev 4: 11 ).
This is what the first angel's message
urges us to do: "Worship him who made Adapted from God Cares, 2:394-399.
 How Satan Stopped
the Singing
and Jesus Started It Agai1/

Ellen G. White
The Lord's Messenger

The sound of harmonious reverence and holy awe before the

singing angered Satan-but presence of the eternal God.
he couldn't stop it for long. Could he be again as he was when he
was pure, true and loyal, gladly would
Sa~ in Exile from Singing. The he yield up the claims of his authority.
hour for joyful, happy songs of praise to But he was lost! beyond redemption, for
God and His dear Son had come. Satan his presumptuous rebellion! And this
had led the heavenly cho~r. He had was not all; he had led others to rebel-
raised ~he first note, then all the _angelic lion and to the same lost condition with
host united with him, and ,glorious himself-angels, who had never
strains of music had resounded through thought to question the will of Heaven,
Heaven in honor of God and His dear or refuse obedience to the law of God
Son. But now, instead of strains of till he had put it into their minds,
sweetest music, discord and angry presenting before them that they might
words fall upon the ear of the great rebel enjoy a greater good, a higher and more
leader. Where was he? Was it not all a glorious liberty. This had been the
horrible dream? Was he shut out of sophistry whereby he had deceived
Heaven? Were the gates of Heaven them. A responsibility now rests upon
never more to open and admit him? him from which he would fain be
released.
The hour of worship draws nigh,
when bright and holy angels bow before These spirits had become turbulent
the Father. No more will he unite in with disappointed hopes. Instead of
greater good, they were experiencing
heavenly song. No more will he bow in
the sad results of disobedience and dis-
ADVENTISTS AFFIRM SPRING 1999 PAGE 58
t.
regard of la~. Never more would these that his love for God .
unhappy bemgs be swayed by the mild since his fall that t hlad so increased
1·

rule of Jesus Christ. Never more would wou d lead to h

fu1submission and ha . c eer-
their spirits be stirred .by the deep, His law wh' h h PPY obedience to
ic ad been d ·
earnest love, peace, and Joy, which His wretchedness he realize ~sp1s~d. The
presence had ever in~pired in them, to sweet light of H d m losmg the
be returned to Him in cheerful guilt which forc::~:~1~:dp~~e:.ense of
obedience and reverential honor. the disap · im, and
. pomt~ent he experienced him-
Satan trembled as he viewed his self
work. He was alone in meditation upon · dm not finding his expectat'10ns real-
ize ' were the cause of his gr· f
the past, the present, and his future 1 b ie.
o e commander out of H
plans. His mighty frame shook as with was vast~y different from bein;a;;;~
a tempest. hono~ed m Heaven. The loss he had
An angel_ from Heaven was passing. sustained of all the privileges of Heaven
He called him, and entreated an inter- se_emed too much .to be borne. He
view with Christ. This was granted him. wished to regain these.
He then related to the Son of God that . This great change of position had not
he repented of his rebellion, and wished m~reased his love for God, nor for His
again the favor of God. He was willing wise and just law. When Satan became
to ~ke the_ place God had previously f~l~y- convin~ed ~at there was no pos-
assigned him, and be under His wise Sibibty of his bemg re-instated in the
command. favor of God, he manifested his malice
with increased hatred and fiery
An angel from Heaven was vehemence.. ..
passing. He called him, and Attack on Our First Parents An-
entreated an interview with n~unced. His followers were seeking
Christ. him;_ and he aroused himself and, as-
suIIllng a look of defiance, informed
Christ wept at Satan's woe, but told them of his plans to wrest from God the
him, as the mind of God, that he could noble Adam and his companion Eve. If
never be received into Heaven. Heaven he could, in any way, beguile them to
must not be placed in jeopardy. All disobedience, God would [he reasoned]
Heaven would be marred should he be make some provision whereby they
received backt for sin · and rebellion might be pardoned, and then himself
and all the fallen angels would be in a
originated with him. The seeds of rebel-
fair way to share with them of God's
lion were still within him. He had; in his
mercy. If this should fail, they could
rebellion, no occasion for his course,
unite with Adam and Eve; for when
a?d he had not only hopelessly ruined once they should transgress the law of
himself, but the host of angels also, who God, they would be subjects of God's
would then have been happy in Heaven wrath, like themselves. Their transgres-
had he remained steadfast. The law of sion would place them, also, in a state
God could condemn, but could not par- of rebellion; and they could unite with
don. Adam and Eve, take possession of Eden,
He repented not of his rebellion be- and hold it as their home. And if they
cause he saw the goodness of God could gain access to the tree oflife in the
Which he had abused. It was not possible
ADVENTISTS AFFIRM SPRING 1999 PAGE 59
,
They told them tha~ Satan PUrposec1
their strength 1t was neces
. f the garden, I to that of to do them hann, andd d sary
midst o ht be equa If for them to be gu~ e ' for they lllight
Id
wou , they thoug ,
nd even God Himse
h holy angels, a come l·n contact with the fallen foe•, bUt
~o:ld not expel t:m; 'th~ thought of h could not harm them While the
He shuddere a pair into the ~elded obedience to God's conunanJ:
· holy happy · If - ror, if necessary, every. angel ftolll
plunging the ~e he was h1mse ~n
misery and remo d . a state of m- Heaven would come Id.
to their help rather
eme in
~:i.
d h that he shou m any way do them
during. He se e time firm an
decision; at ohn ·tating and waver- But if they disobeyed the com.
. d then es1 h .
determme ' king him, t e1r mand of God, then Satan would have
ing. His angels we~\s~m with their po Wer to ever annoy, perplex, . ed and
leader, to acqu?l1ln nite with Satan in trou ble them. If they . .remam . steadfast
fS
. . They w1 u . st the first msmuat1ons o atan '
dec1s1on. 'th hi bear the respon- qrun
h' Jans and w1 m h were as secure as the heavenly
is p , the consequences. t ey ls . But if they yielded to the
sibility, and s~arel Counterattacks. ange
God Lovmg Y tempter, He who spared not the exalted
God assem e bl d the angelic host to take
·1 I angels would not spare them. They must
the threatened ev1 • t . .
measures to av ert . £ suffer the penalty of therr transgression;
was dec1'ded i·n Heaven's council thor £ the law of God was as sacred as
angels to visit Eden and warn Adam at
he was in danger from the foe ....
;f mself, and He required implicit
obedience from all in Heaven and on
They [the angels] also gave them earth.
[Adam and Eve] the sad history of
Satan's rebellion and fall .... They told
Adam and Eve that God would not com- Satan heard the sound of
pel them to obey-that he had not their strains of joyful adora-
removed from them power to go con- tion to the Father and Son.
trary to His will; that they were moral And as Satan heard it, his
agents, free to obey or disobey. There envy, hatred, and malignity
was but one prohibition that God had increased.
seen fit to lay upon them as yet. If they
should transgress the will of God, they The angels cautioned Eve not to
would surely die. They told Adam and separate from her husband in her
Eve that the most exalted angel, next in employment; for she might be brought
order to Christ, refused obedience to the in contact with this fallen foe. If
law of God which He had ordained to separated from each other, they would
govern heavenly beings; that this rebel- be in greater danger than if both were
lion had caused war in Heaven which together. The angels charged them to
resulted in the rebellious being expelled closely follow the instructions God had
therefrom, and every angel was driven given them in reference to the tree of
out of Heaven who united with him in knowledge; for in perfect obedience
questioning the authority of . the great they were safe, and this fallen foe could
Jehovah; and that this fallen foe was then have no power to deceive them.
now an enemy to all that concerned the God would not pennit Satan to follow
interest of God and His dear Son. the holy pair with continual. tempta-
tions. He could have access to them only
ADVENTISTS AFFIRM SPRING 1999 PAGE 60
J
 e tree of knowledge of good and
at th Now was Satan's opportunity. He ad-
evil. d~e~sed her as though he was able to
Satan Plans to Stop the Singing.
d1~me her thoughts: "Yea, hath God
Adam and Eve assured the angels that
said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the
they should never transgre~s the expre~s
garden?" Thus, with soft and pleasant
mmand of God; for 1t was theu
co d H. . words, and with musical voice, he ad-
highest pleasure to o 1s will. The dressed the wondering Eve. She was
ngels united with Adam and Eve in
aholy strains ofh armoruous . . and startled to hear a serpent speak. He ex-
music;
tolled he~ beauty and exceeding loveli-
as their songs pealed forth from blissful ness, which was not displeasing to Eve.
Eden, Satan heard the sound of their But she was amazed, for she knew that
strains of joyful adoration to the Father to the serpent God had not given the
and Son. And as Satan heard it, his envy, power of speech.
hatred, and malignity increased, and he Eve's curiosity was aroused. Instead
expressed his anxiety to his followers to of fleeing from the spot, she listened to
incite them [Adam and Eve] to dis- hear a serpent talk ....
obedience, and at once bring down the It was not the will of God that this
wrath of God upon them, and change sinless pair should have any knowledge
their songs of praise to hatred, and cur- of evil. He had freely given them the
ses to their Maker.... good, but withheld the evil. Eve thought
The Deception. The serpent was a the words of the serpent wise, and she
beautiful creature, with wings; and received the broad assertion, "Ye shall
while flying through the air, his ap- not surely die; for God doth know that
pearance was bright, resembling bur- in the day ye eat thereof then your eyes
nished gold. He did not go upon the shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods
ground, but went from place to place knowing good and evil" -making God
through the air, and ate fruit like man. a liar. Satan boldly insinuates that God
Satan entered into the serpent, and took had deceived them to keep them from
his position in the tree of knowledge, being exalted in knowledge equal with
and commenced leisurely eating of the Himself. God said, If ye eat "ye shall
fruit. surely die." The serpent said, If ye eat
Eve, unconsciously at first, separated "ye shall not surely die."
from her husband in her employment. The tempter assured Eve that as soon
When she became aware of the fact, she as she ate of the fruit she would receive
felt that there might be danger; but again a new and superior knowledge that
she thought herself secure, even if she would make her equal with God....
did not remain close by the side of her She· then plucked for herself of the
husband. She had wisdom and strength fruit and ate, and imagined she felt the
to know if evil came, and to meet it. This quickening power of a new and el~vated
the angels had cautioned her not to do. existence as the result of the exhilarat-
. Eve found herself gazing with ing influence of the forbidden fruit. ~he
nungled curiosity and admiration upon was in a strange and unnatural exc1!e-
the fruit of the forbidden tree. She saw ment as she sought her husband, w1!11
it _was very lovely, and was reasoning her hands filled with the forbidden fruit.
With herself why God had so decidedly She related to him the wise discourse_of
prohibited their eating or touching it. the serpent, and wished to conduct him

ADVENTISTS AFFIRM SPRING 1999 PAGE 61

 After Adam's transgression he at first
at once to the tree of knowledg~. She
imagined that he felt the rising to a new
told him she had eaten of the fnut, and
an d higher existence. But
instead of her feeling any sense 0 ~dea~, thought . soon. the
of his transgression temfiec1
she realized a pleasing, exhilaratmg m-
him ... ·
fluence. As soon as Eve had disobeyedh The Singing Stops. Satan exulted in
she became a powerful medium throug his success. He had now temp~ed the
which to occasion the fall of her hus- man to distrust God, to question His
band. W? dom , and to seek to penetrate His
WIS
I saw a sadness come over the coun- all-wise plans. And through her he had
tenance of Adam. He appeared afraid
1 0 caused the overthrow of Adam,
and astonished. A struggle appeared to :~o, in consequence of his love for Eve,
be going on in his mind. He told Eve he disobeyed the command of God, and
was quite certain that this was the foe
fell with her.
that they had been warned against; and The news of man's fall spread
if so, that she must die. She assured him ugh Heaven-everyth harp was
t hro
she felt no ill effects, but rather a very hushed. .
The angels cast err crowns
pleasant influence, and entreated him to from their heads in sorrow. All Heaven
eat. ... was in agitation. The angels were
Adam regretted that Eve had left his grieved at the base ingratit~de of man,
side; but now the deed was done. He in return for the rich bounties G~ had
must be separated from her whose
provided. A council was held t? deci~e
society he had loved so well. How could what must be done with the gmlty pair.
he have it thus? His love for Eve was The angels f~ared that they would put
strong. And_in utter discouragement he forth the hand, .and eat of the tree of life,
resolved to share her fate. Eve was and thus perpetuate a life of sin ....
before him, just as lovely and beauti(ul,
and apparently as innocent, as before
this act of disobedience. She expres~ed The news of man's fall spread
greater, higher love for him than before through Heaven-every harp
her disobedience, as the effects of the was hushed.
fruit she had eaten. He saw in her ~o
signs of death ..... He seized the fruit Sorrow filled Heaven, as it was real-
ized that man was lost, and :the world
and quickly ate it, and, like Eve, felt not
that God created. was to be filled with
immediately its ill effects.
mortals doomed to misery,.sickness, and
Eve had thought herself capaple, of
death, and there. was [Link] of escape
deciding between right ~nd wrong. The
for the offender. The whole family . of
flattering hope of e~tering a higher state Adam must die.
of knowledge had led, her to thi~ that
Jesus Volunteers to Be the Saviour.
the serpent was her especial friend,,pos- I saw the lovely Jesus, and beheld an
sessing a great interest in her_ welfare. expression of sympathy and sorrow
Had she sought her .l}.usband, and they upon His countenance. Soon I saw Him
had related to their Maker the wpr~s of approach the exceeding bright light
the serpent, they would have been which enshrouded the Father. Said my
delivered at once from his artful tempta- accompanying angel, He is in close con-
1

tion .... verse with His Father. The anxiety of the

ADVENTISTS AFFIRM SPRING·1999 PAGE 62
angels seemed to be intense while Jesus Jesus Starts the s· .
was communing with His Father. Three Then ·o . . mg1ng Again.
times He was shut in by the glorious J y, Inexpressible joy, filled
Heaven. And the heavenly host sung
light about the Father, and the third time song of p ·
Be came from the Father His person touched their raise and adoration Th a
harps and · ey
could be seen. His countenance was h. sung a note
calm, free from all perplexity and igher than they had done before, for the
trouble, and shone with benevolence ~re~t m~rcy and condescension of God
and loveliness, such as words cannot m y1eldmg up His dearly Beloved to die
express. for a race of rebels. Praise and adoration
He then made known to the angelic wer~ ~oured forth for the self-denial and
host that a way of escape had been made sacnf1ce of Jesus; that He would con-
for lost man. He told them that He had sent to leave the bosom of His Father,
been pleading with His Father, and had an~ choose a life of suffering and an-
offered to give His life a ransom, and gmsh, and die an ignominious death to
take the sentence of death upon Him- give His life for others.
self, that through Him man might find Taken from rhe Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1,
pardon; that through the merits of His c~s. 3-4, repnnted in The Story of Redemp-
blood, and obedience to the law of God tion, pp. 25-45.
they could have the favor of God, and'
be brought into the beautiful garden, Letters
and eat of the fruit of the tree of life. (Continued from p. ~)
At first the angels could not rejoice,
for their commander concealed nothing I am head deaconess of an Adventist
from them, but opened before them the church that is usually conservative; but
plan of salvation.... this year an attempt was made to have
With a holy sadness Jesus comforted the deaconesses ask for the offering and
and cheered the angels, and informed take it up. My ladies declined, and I
them that hereafter those whom He agreed with them. Keep up the good
work!
should redeem would be with Him, and
Kathy Reed
ever dwell with Him; and that by His
Belton, Missouri
death He should ransom many, and
destroy him who had the power of Keep up the good work! You are truly
death. And His Father would give Him a "voice crying in the wilderness" of
the kingdom, and the greatness of the modern Adventism's liberal wander-
kingdom under the whole heaven, and mgs.
He should possess it forever and ever. W. Forrest Zill
Satan and sinners should be destroyed, Apopka, Florida
never more to disturb Heaven, or the
purified new earth. Jesus bade the We really appreciate your
heavenly host be reconciled to the plan straightforward publication, and espe-
that His Father accepted, and rejoice cially the Fall 1998 issue on women's
that fallen man could be exalted again "commissioning."
through His death, to obtain favor with Robin Korponay
God and enjoy Heaven. Castle Valley, Utah

ADVENTISTS AFFIRM SPRING 1999 PAGE 63

 Leona Wettstein
u, ldn't want to miss a single
vve wou t im Winfield, Canada
issue of what we consider the mos -
SDA J. ournal published today.
portan t k God's We feel for you. It is hard. But We
Thank you for helping to eep remember that Jesus attended
people in the Lord's strai?ht and narrow
synagogue weekly (Luk 4: 16), even
way, and for doing so with such a firm
though He perceived many faults in
but kindly attitude. Judaism and its leaders. Malachi was
Jim Hayward, Sr.
inspired to tell people to pay tithe even
Colton, California
though he had to describe the priests, in
After many years of appreciation in his book, as lazy, greedy, prone to
finding assurance of our message divorce their wives, and so on. Paul
through the articles in ADVENTISTS A~- (Rom 13) told Christians to honor the
FIRM, the Fall 1998 issue has left me m government and to pay taxes willingly,
a quandary. You advise us not to support even though the government at the time
the present move to ordain women pas- was corrupt. Testimonies for the
tors. At the same time, you urge us to Church, 9:249, says to let leaders know
support, by loyalty and finances, the our complaints but to pay our tithes
very ones who are promoting this. It anyway. God can give us grace suffi-
seems to me that ADVENTISTS AFFIRM cient!
is "straddling the fence" this time. You
have blown my mental fuses. (Continued on p. 66)

Previous Issues of ADVENTISTS AFFIRM

Prices: Unless otherwise noted, cost is $3.00 each; 3 for $7.00; 10 for $15.00;
25 or more, $1.30 each, postpaid in the USA. Outside the USA, please add 15%.
[Link] only, please. VISA and MasterCard accepted for orders o/$10 or more.
Women's Ordination Special. Vol. I, No. 1 (Spring 1987). An 8-page Q&A
study: Old and New Testament, Mrs. White, fundamental questions. In USA,
$1.00; 4 copies, $2.00; 30 copies, $10.00; 100 copies, $25.00:
Church and Family. Vol. 1, No. 2 (Fall 1987). Explores relationship between
church and family in God's plan for unity and harmony in the home and church.
Christian Marriage. Vol. 2, No. 1 (Spring 1988). Why are even Adventist
marriages falling apart? Identifies trends and principles to strengthen homes.
Remnant. Vol. 2, No. 2 (Fall 1988). What does the Bible say about the
Remnant? What does it mean to be a part of God's remnant people?
Adventist Education. Vol. 3, No. I (Spring 1989). Educational mission, teacher's
influence, academic freedom, Bible teaching, required chapel, and more.
Feminism. Vol. 3, No. 2 (Fall 1989). The modern feminist movement chal-
lenges how we interpret the Bible, which affects every Adventist doctrine.
Temperance. Vol. 4, No. I (Spring 1990). Is temperance just a health issue?
Why are some Adventists drinking? Does the Bible speak with one voice on this?

ADVENTISTS AFFIRM SPRING 1999 PAGE 64

 Standards. Vol. 4, No. 2 (Fall 1990) Wh t ·ct -
. . .. · a gu1 ancedo w h
quesuons, such as movies, television, music, jewelry? e ave about lifestyle
Future of Adventism. Vol. 5, No 1 (S . ·
? M' · · pnng 1991) Wh t' .
evangelism. d ead . 1ss1ons? Faithful Bible i'nterpretallon? . ·
M h
a s m store? Is
·
Worship. Vol. 5, No. 2 (Fall 1991) Whati. . · ot ers at home?
· s genuine Ad t·1
are the basic issues concerning new worship st 1 d v~n st worship? What
· v
Second oming. ol. 6, No. 1 (Spring 1992) s·
C Yes an music?
· .
[Link], and warnings against time-setting. Also t · Igns a?d ce~amty of Jesus'
., V 16 N wo worship articles
Sanctuary. o . , o_. 2 (Fall 1992). Daniel 8, the ear-da . ·.
the judgment. What does It mean for today? Wh . hy Y~nnc1ple, 1844,
• ere 1s t e gospel m it?
The Church. Vol. 7, No. 1 (Spring 1993) Ho t I .
. h h h . w o re ate to problems ev
apostasy, m t e c urc . Be loyal still? What about "new light"? ' en
People of Prophecy. Vol. 7, No. 2 (Fall 1993) Wh 0 th. R
, • are e emnant? What
do the Three Angels Messages mean? Also read "Two D d d D • ·
: . · , a s an amel 2."
The Tip of an Iceberg. Vol. 8, No. 1 (Spring 1994) Dr c R dH I ,
. .. . . . · • • aymon o mes s
mc1s1ve book on Bible authority, interpretation, and ordination of w ·
ministry. $7.00, 3 for $15; write for pricing on larger quantities. omen m
1844. Vol. 8, No. 2 (Fall 1994). William Miller's study, his conclusions, and
what they mean for Seventh-day Adventists today.
The Sabbath. Vol. 8, No. 3 (Year-End 1994). The Sabbath doctrine in
Adventist history and in practical living today.
Preserving Unity. Vol. 9, No. I (Spring 1995). How would the NAD's
proposal about ordaining women affect church unity? What are the issues?
Searching the Scriptures. Samuel Koranteng-Pipim's book on women's
ordination and biblical fidelity. $5.00 each. Write for quantity pricing.
Preparing for the Second Coming. Vol. 9, No. 2 (Fall 1995). Delay, doctrine,
missions, racial harmony, gender unity, preparing children, other issues.
Bible Interpretation. Vol. 10, No. 1 (Spring 1996). Is Scripture trustworthy?
What methods of interpretation shall we use? What about new light?
Victory in End Times. Vol. 10, No. 2 (Fall 1996). How to stand finn, key end-
time events, what's happening now, plus encouraging stories of God's leading.
Spiritual Gifts or Spiritism? Vol. 11, No. 1 (Spring 1997). True gifts and
counterfeit, recognizing spiritism, God's plan for exercising His gifts.
Death and Immortality. Vol. 11, No. 2 (Summer 1997). The Bible's message
about death and life still speaks. Immortal soul? New age? Facing death?
Sanctification. Vol. 11, No. 3 (Fall 1997). Is holy living necessary or even
important? Is it possible, especailly when facing moral dilemmas? . .
Music. Vol. 12, No. 1 (Spring 1998). What music is suitable for the Christian
and for worship? On what basis should we decide? . ,
Great Controversy. Vol. 12, No. 2 (Summer 1998). What d~~s Mrs. Whites
"great controversy" theme mean to us? Does the Bible support It·
Women Pastors. Vol. 12, No. 3 (Fall 1998). A report on the NA~;s efforts to
expand acceptance of women pastors. How should believers respon ·

ADVENTISTS AFFIRM SPRING 1999 PAGE 6S

 STAFF
0 000 to give you! Acting Editor
I wish I had $10,00 ' ciate your little
That is how much I app;:eavenly origin.
C. Mervyn Maxwell
booklet, full of gems o every thought,
Associate Editor
May God bless your Betty Lou Hartlein
word, and dee~. EDITORIAL BOARD
Henrietta Kita . Genevieve Bothe, Samuele Bac-
Queensland, Austraha
chiocchi, Carl Coffman, Hedwig
for this excellent
Than k yo U I · Jemison, Betty Lou Hartlein, c.
. I believe you are he pmg Raymond Holmes, Rosalie Haff-
magazine. f: · h d
ands to develop a firmer a1t an ner Lee, C. Mervyn Maxwell, Dol-
thous th 0 seem to
clearer perception of tru · ~ ores Slikkers, Stephen V. Wallace
be like a voice crying in the wild~rnes~.
May the Lord richly bless you m this MAILING ADDRESS
ministry. How I wish all members of the Address all correspondence to
Seventh-day Adventist church could ADVENTISTS AFFIRM, P. 0. Box 36,
receive this magazine. Berrien Springs, Michigan 49103
Mrs.A. Macintosh U.S. A. Phone/Fax: 616471-2300.
Bloemfontein, South Africa SUBSCRIPTIONS
I am so thankful for your magazine! ADVENTISTS AFFIRM is published
Isn't it possible that you could publish it three times a year. For a one-year
every month instead of only three times subscription, send your check for
per year? I was contemplating leaving $9 .00 to ADVENTISTS AFFIRM at the
the church I have loved from my child- above address. Outside U.S.A.,
hood. But the very day the problems send US $12.00.
seemed the worst, here came your Additional copies of this issue are
magazine. Its message, from ·Elder availablefor$3.00each. Quantity
Maxwell's editorial (telling about the pricing is also available: 3 copies,
problems in the history of our church $7.00; 10 copies, $15.00; 25 cop-
and how God has blessed in spite of ies and above, $1.30 each, post-
them), through Elder Santee's article, to paid in the U.S.A. All proceeds go
Sister White's spoke to my heart! Thank into defraying the costs of produc-
you so much! I will not leave my church, tion.
even though at times my heart is so ADVENTISTS AFFIRM remains a vol-
pained I can hardly stand it. Knowing unteer effort and a venture offaith~
that others who are experiencing the Your efforts to promote its circula-
same things are ,Standing "though the tion and, if possible, to contribute
heavens fall" encourages me much. I to its content or its financial base
pray for you and for our church. will help to assure its continued
Name Withheld publication. The editors welcome
your suggestions.
_May God continue to give you
gmdance and perseverance to keep on Contributions to AovENTISTS
keeping on. AFFIRM are tax-deductible in the
Ted Torkelson U.S.A.
Blackfoot, Idaho .,Articles © 1999 ADVENTISTS
. AFFIRM
ADVENTISTS AFFIRM SPRING 1999 PAGE 66
 Statement of Mission~
ADVENTISTS AFFIRM is dedicated church as appointed servants of
to upholding the fundamental be- the Lord.
liefs of the Seventh-day Adventist While the articles published in
church and supporting its leader- ADVENTISTS AFFIRM seek to follow
ship in upholding those beliefs. the principles of sound scholar-
Together with many other churches, shi~, they are in~ended to appeal to
the Seventh-day Adventist church a wide readership. The editors so-
is feeling the impact of liberalizing licit the support and encourage-
trends eroding confidence in the ment of perceptive constituents
authority of the Bible for defining educators, pastors, and church'
belief and practice. leaders in affirming the validity
The refore, a group of scholars and contemporary relevance of his-
and other interested people began toric Adventist beliefs and prac-
this publication in the spring of tices.
1987. Positive response has been ADVENTISTS AFFIRM is offered to
so strong and so widespread, com- its readers with the prayer that God
ing from church leaders, pastors, will use it to help Adventist believ-
and concerned constituents alike, ers resist the temptation to "let the
that the conviction has deepened world squeeze you into its mold"
that a conservative approach to (Rom 12:2, Phillips).
issues facing the Seventh-day Ad- "God will have a people upon
ventist church is not only needed the earth to maintain the Bible, and
but welcome. the Bible only, as the standard of
The purpose ofADVENTISTS AF- all doctrines and the basis of all
FIRM is to address issues involving reforms. The opinions of learned
doctrine and practice faced by the men, the deductions of science, the
church, and to do so on the basis of creeds or decisions of ecclesiasti-
the Bible and the writings of Ellen cal councils, as numerous and dis-
White. The intent is to affirm the cordant as are the churches which
fundamental beliefs of our church they represent, the voice of the
as confessed in the "Fundamental majority-not one nor all of these
Beliefs ofSeventh-day Adventists," should be regarded as evidence for
affirm the Bible as the inspired or against any point of religious
Word of God, affirm the Spirit of faith. Before accepting any doc-
Proph~y writings as inspired coun- trine or precept, we should demand
sel and illumination on the Bible, a plain 'Thus saith the Lord' in its
affirm the Bible•based lifestyle and support" (The Great Controversy,
piety of Seventh-day Adventists, p. 595).
and affirm the leadership of the

ADVENTISTS AFFIRM SPRING 1999 PAGE 67

E