As long as there have been church institutions, there have been befuddled cries asking why young people are leaving the church. Twice a year we get social media posts designed to “start a conversation,” or a panel discussion asking this question. Interestingly enough, the only participants missing from this discussion are young people. The question […]
It is likely that Adventist Today readers aren’t typical of most Seventh-day Adventists around the world. But inasmuch as we represent a rather significant portion of the church, it would seem in the denomination’s interest to make room for us. But can that happen? I’m not sure. Even if it were possible, it would be risky—and […]
9 November 2024 | A thing recently happened that didn’t go the way I wanted it to. I suspect I’m not the only one. What I want to do is crawl into a hole and stay there for a while. Or perhaps put my fingers in my ears and sing “lalalalala” whenever anyone tries to […]
Imagine you are visiting a church for the first time, the sermon has ended, the postlude has concluded, and members approach you to extend an invitation to potluck. You accept and are ushered downstairs to an abundant array of food. The room is filled with people of all ages mingling. The atmosphere is jubilant and […]
A few weeks ago a commenter responded to an Aunt Sevvy column, Most, if not at all, of the issues that garner so much feedback—like the current questions about The Great Controversy, the role of Ellen White, perfectionism, what you eat and wear—are so much white noise in the light of the gospel. Unfortunately, it […]
Item #6: “Unauthorized or improper disclosure of information–unauthorized or improper use or release of personal, confidential, private, or proprietary employer or denominational information by any means.” Serious wide-ranging, and concerning new communication rules for church clergy and church employees were discussed this week at the General Conference (GC) Autumn Council in Silver Spring, Maryland. This […]
I am unimpressed by “John 3:16” unfurled from a fan’s seat along the front tier of a baseball stadium, or graffitied on a wall or stall. Yes, believing in Jesus is important. It’s a first step. But John 3:16, taken out of context and presented as the whole picture, means little. I don’t want to […]
When I wrote that we Adventists shouldn’t condemn Roman Catholics just because our Victorian pioneers said that church was identified by beasts in Daniel and Revelation, someone sent me a note and demanded, “Okay, Loren: if those beasts aren’t the pope, who are they?” And I responded, “I don’t know.” Most scholars who have looked […]
It took me 28 years to realize I was an Adventist nepo baby: a child born to a famous Adventist family. My grandfather is Dr. George W. Brown, the former president of the Inter-American Division of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and a renowned author and public figure. His daughter, my mother, has been on executive committees […]
There is a theory I’ve heard about the Bible. It is one I suspect is widely believed. The idea is that the Bible unfolds, easily and accessibly, a simple, pure, and complete truth, untouched by the cultures or experiences of the authors, and the culture and presuppositions of the reader. If one opens it with […]
A friend of mine, when asked what makes him an Adventist, declares emphatically that the foundation of his belief is the parallel identities of Rome in Daniel 2, 7, and 8, along with the beasts of Revelation 13. He finds in these the confirmation for the existence of our church, and the truth of our […]
I’ve recently begun working in a skilled nursing facility as Director of Social Services and it has introduced me to some really beautiful people in the form of the patients. These lovely people who have lifetimes of experience and wisdom are experiencing a difficult time in their lives. Most of them have some form of […]