Comments of the Week Oct 28–Nov 3
“As a church musician, I wish Sister Pedersen luck. After all, one purpose of good music should be to bring people together. My own personal hope is that one day I will have an opportunity to do what one Church of England organist in the UK once did – at a Very Important Church Occasion, when the Very Important Church Dignitaries proceeded solemnly up the aisle looking Very Important, he played a slow and dignified arrangement of ‘Send in the Clowns.'” –Aldona Jones on one of the satire pieces
Comments on the editorial, Adventist Labels, two satire pieces, and Aunt Sevvy
EDITORIAL: When Things Don’t Go Our Way
“I think one more thing we can do as Christians is to check ourselves when reciting the platitudes of our faith (God is on His throne, this world is not our home, it’s a sign of the end times, etc.).
If we are saying this to ourselves when we are in pain, afraid, or have been harmed? That is the beauty of faith and the way that it can bring us personal comfort, peace, and hope.
But if we are saying it to others who are in pain, afraid, or have been harmed – especially when that harm is being caused by Christians – then we should be very careful that we are not using those platitudes as a way to minimize or dismiss their experience – spiritual bypassing that can easily slip into spiritual abuse.”
–Kristen Jarnes Browning
What Label of Adventist Are You?
“For me, growing up in the SDA Church in Australia, being ‘liberal’ meant listening to contemporary Christian music rather than hymns, not worrying too much about Ellen White, emphasizing grace, and being pretty open re lifestyle.
Now I see these same ‘liberal’ Adventists embrace dominion theology, prosperity Gospel, and vote ultra-conservative at their state election. I also have very progressive non-Christian friends who think it is outrageous that one would emphasize grace, when Christians emphasize intolerance to others on issues of, say, gender or sexuality.
Some modern Adventists who are open to tattoos, alcohol, and playing an electric instrument in a Christian band are ironically more likely to have a go against an LGBT person.
In the Anglican-Episcopalian community, the most theologically liberal churches are the most liturgically conservative.
Donald Trump’s Christian power base is increasingly people we would have considered ‘liberal’ years ago, in terms of theology and liturgy and lifestyle. He is backed by celebrity rocker megachurch stars, while it is your local, hymn-playing small church who is most worried about him.
None of that is to suggest ‘liberals’ or ‘conservatives’ are good or bad, past, present or future.
Just that I agree it is all a bit bizarre and it makes trying to categorize people as ‘liberal’ or ‘conservative’ increasingly difficult.“
–Steve Ferguson
Adventist MAGA Fan Delighted to Witness Second Coming
“I realize this is satire. But I know Adventists whose response to the election results is not that far removed from Brother Johnson.”
–Patti Purdy Hansen Tompkins
“As a church musician, I wish Sister Pedersen luck. After all, one purpose of good music should be to bring people together. My own personal hope is that one day I will have an opportunity to do what one Church of England organist in the UK once did – at a Very Important Church Occasion, when the Very Important Church Dignitaries proceeded solemnly up the aisle looking Very Important, he played a slow and dignified arrangement of ‘Send in the Clowns.’”
–Aldona Jones
“So much grief today.
Kamala would have governed for all Americans.
Trump has promised to send the military out against those he sees as enemies. When someone tells you who they are, believe them. When they tell you how they will erase governmental norms, believe them.
But what hurts most of all is that so many Americans want to see Trump take out those they disagree with.”
—Sari Fordham
