U.S. President Campaign Opens Unexpected Opportunities for Adventists to Share Their Faith
November 5, 2015: Because one of the top candidates for President of the United States is an Adventist physician and another candidate is a celebrity billionaire who questioned the doctor’s faith, opportunities to share their faith are opening up for many others. Dr. Ben Carson, a retired brain surgeon, and the well-known land developer and “reality TV” star Donald Trump are the top two candidates at the moment for the nomination of the Republican Party. Trump told reporters that he is a Presbyterian and noted that Carson is an Adventist, then said, “I don’t know about them.”
Many voices in American media have jumped in to help Trump’s ignorance. One is an Adventist who works as a journalist and has for three decades at some of the top newspapers in America. The other is the senior pastor of the church on the campus of the denomination’s Walla Walla University in Washington State. Newspapers are also interviewing Adventist spokespersons in many other communities.
Mark A. Kellner is not an official spokesperson for the denomination. He just happens to be perhaps the most prominent journalist in America who belongs to the faith. He did a column for USA Today last week in which he noted that that Trump’s comment may be an attempt to manipulate conservative Christian voters who actually have less in common with Trump’s professed Presbyterian religion than Carson’s Adventist faith.
He profiled the faith as “a Christian movement organized 152 years ago [that] has already touched the lives of multiple millions, even if they don’t realize it.” Most Americans have cereal for breakfast, which Kellner pointed out was invented by an Adventist. He did not mention that in Australia the denomination still owns the largest producer of breakfast cereal, Sanitarium Foods.
“Do you know an infant who received a heart transplant?” It is possible because of the pioneering work of Dr. Leonard Bailey and others at the denomination’s health sciences university in Loma Linda, California. Proton therapy for prostate cancer is another Loma Linda University development and it saves the lives of large numbers of men.
“The Adventist lifestyle, which encourages abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, caffeine and meat is credited with extending the lifespan. On average, studies including the famous ‘Blue Zone’ project reveal, Seventh-day Adventists who follow the guidelines live seven years longer than the general population,” Kellner wrote.
Kellner went into more detail about the Sabbath, the second coming and doctrines. He stated that he joined the denomination in 1999 in Los Angeles. He is a national reporter for Deseret News, the daily paper in Salt Lake City, Utah. He has written for the Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Christian Science Monitor and was editor of PC Portables magazine, as well as a staff writer for a number of trade journals in Washington, DC. For seven years Kellner worked for the denomination at the Adventist News Network and then as news editor of the Adventist Review. He has published three books, including the widely read God on the Internet about how religion is communicated and discussed on the Web.
Pastor Takes the Moment
At least one Adventist pastor immediately saw the opportunity and contacted his local paper, which ended up publishing a big article on page 3 headlined, “An SDA pastor’s open letter to Donald Trump.” It appeared Sunday in the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.
Pastor Alex Bryan, senior pastor at the large University Church on the campus of Walla Walla University, an Adventist institution, wrote to Trump, “since you seem sincerely curious about my religion I would like to offer a brief sketch.” And in a genuine, although perhaps hopeless attempt at really connecting, ended by offering his Email address and to travel anywhere to talk to Trump. Of course the subtle message here is for all the onlookers. Bryan would be happy to have a conversation with any of the 31,825 residents of his town or any other bystander overhearing the dialog.
Bryan began by touching on the common humanity of Adventists and everyone else in the world. “We Adventists are thoroughly human. … What we have in common with the whole of the human family far outweighs our differences: we love, we laugh, we work, we dream, we do good and sometimes we don’t.”
Adventists constitute “a Christian denomination. We are Christians. Presbyterians (your tribe) and Adventists share about 98 percent the same beliefs and values. What we have in common,” Bryan wrote, “far outstrips our differences.”
“We believe in the Deity described by Jesus Christ, a God who created the world, a God who is deeply involved in the affairs of our globe, a God who sets the highest possible moral standard for how we earthlings should live, and particularly how we should speak and act toward one another.”
“Adventists have a long tradition of investing in such love,” Bryan stated, “in meaningful humanitarian concern. We have built one of the largest and most respected health-care systems in the world. … We have built the largest Protestant educational system in the world [and] one of the most successful global relief agencies.”
All of this activity, Bryan points out, simply means “we wish to care for those who are sick … we wish to provide a quality education for the world’s children … we wish to bring hope and healing amid chaos and tragedy. … to fulfill the commandment of Jesus to love the world as He did (John 3:16).”
Bryan went on to point out that the key parts of the denomination’s name highlight two beliefs that are most cherished and different from many other Christians: the Sabbath and the second coming of Jesus. The Advent is about “the end of suffering and death, a dawn of immeasurable joy and limitless life,” he culminated the concise message. And then he verbally stuck his hand out to shake Trump’s hand with the offering to travel so they could talk personally and with his Email address.
An observer pointed out to Adventist Today: “These guys demonstrated something a lot of Adventists need to learn: You don’t have to go into a lot of boring detail that is over the heads of the average person or get all preachy to share the message.” Perhaps that is the reason that these things are happening as much as to make the Adventist faith more widely known.
Hooray! Ben Carson’s candidacy has given us a golden opportunity to showcase to the world what is right and good in Adventism. May God bless those who have the opportunity to speak in such positive ways.
The investigative reporters have already managed to reprint some of his previous statements. One on Huffington Post quotes him as saying the pyramids in Egypt were made to store grain by Joseph when there was a shortage. The many rooms, he said, were ideal to separate the grain so it could not be stolen.
He also calls abortion murder and he takes other positions that do no reflect the official Adventist position.
The quote about the pyramids is from a 1998 commencement address at Andrews University, so there is nothing new there, even if the SDA church has never made that claim before.
And the SDA church may have to apologize someday for not taking a stand against abortion.
“. What we have in common,” Bryan wrote, “far outstrips our differences.”
This is typical of the generic Adventism of today that either ignores or in some cases denies the differences and the importance of them. While it is true that we agree on some concepts with other Protestants, and even the Catholic church, or goal is to consider the differences and their importance. Even if we start by finding agreement on some issues, our goal must be to move to the differences and show how and why the historic SDA view is not only biblical, but present truth to prepare people for the second coming of Jesus.
As for Carson, all I can glean from the information I have seen is that he is about as generic as any politician can be to avoid any conflict over his faith and the church he claims to support. As time goes along, he just as well “man up” and state the facts of the matter, because they will “nail him to the wall” in short order about his church.
I have heard that he does not profess to be a SDA. If so, that will eventually come out clearly in the near future.
He is really not qualified to be president, but who is? Certainly not Trump or Clinton. We are in for a rocky time of it no matter who ends up trying to solve the unsolvable. What is really necessary is not an option that any would advocate or follow to deal with a problem far beyond what people will admit. The hole is deep and wide.
I received a “flyer” in the mail from this website.
http://www.evidenceofhope.org/
Nowhere in the “flyer” or on the website is the “church” mentioned.
Just the address.
So much for opportunity.
http://www.evidenceofhope.org/
I am pleased, and surprised, that some of the other more controversial SDA positions like the Mark of the Beast, Investigative Judgment, Death Sleep, and others have not yet become prominent in the campaign.
But the journalist, Kellner, will need to be corrected about the Proton treatment center. The Proton treatment was developed at Stanford in the 1970’s under a U.S. government grant. The U.S. congress removed the two prototypes from Stanford and sent one to Duke and the other to LLU, due to the relative power of congressional representatives from those districts. LLU immediately buried it 2 stories below the new Children’s hospital being built at the time. Now there are many production models of the Proton treatment equipment being manufactured and installed worldwide, and the prototype installed at LLU requires extensive maintenance and is frequently out of service for hours at a time.
Regarding Carson’s qualifications, if he is being called by God to this stage, he doesn’t need any more qualification than that, and maybe some of the unsolvable issues will find a solution. Perhaps the SDA church needs a rocky time to wake it up from its self-induced stupor. If God is behind Carson’s campaign, the deep, wide hole (i.e. Haman’s gallows) will be for those that have tried to oppose and criticize him.
We recently purchased a book with John Knox’s selected writings. Here is one of the publishers we considered when purchasing, Still Waters Publishing. They are Presbyterian. Based on many of the titles and themes of what they publish I am delighted to see that they do have a great deal in common with Adventism. They have a title dealing with the rise of the papacy, the antichrist and the corruption of worship. They have many writings along those lines I was quite surprised to see in the many emails I receive from them. I could easily believe their titles could be from an Adventist publisher.
We certainly do care more about “peace and safety” for ourselves on this earth, rather than looking for that heavenly city. 🙁
“Perhaps that is the reason that these things are happening as much as to make the Adventist faith more widely known.”
That when our stories are investigated it is found that we fabricate things, as now reported on the news? Not just one story which could possibly be explained away. Not just two stories, which could also, possibly, be explained away. But more. So, the Adventist faith requires the fabrication of past events that never happened.
This makes SDAs look good, how exactly? What low standards we have. smh
Oh the foolishness of those who are so blind, they cannot see deceptions even when they slap them in the face.
What are SDAs doing in the midst of an election? The same people who make no attempt at sharing the gospel with their next door neighbour would run to share it with Donald Trump. Think we can educate him? people, Donald’s not knowing is like Pharoah: he neither knows nor cares and Ben Carson is definitely not our best ambassador in this forum. So instead of running hot and sweaty to get a little publicity which will definitely return to haunt us, our leaders should be following the advice of Sis. White to keep out. Become known to all who are desperately in need of the gospel and Donald and all others will be educated.
well patricia, are we going to be part of the problem or part of the solution?
Alex Bryan is a sower of the word, I have witnessed him all over the world sharing the love of christ and watched with my own eyes as the angles of heaven and the holy spirit blast his hearers into the 4th demention. That is our job to go out and sow. Ellen White said argueing Theology is useless! What is the 4th demention? Come to the One Project in Seattle and I will tell you….I’ll try to come with something really good.
Many are watching this play out, why not take the golden opportunity to be a part of the world stage Adventism is being offered? I have never seen this quote of Sister White’s but I have been told that before the end, everyone would have a chance to learn of the Sabbath and decide for or against. Is this happening now? When Joe Lieberman wrote his book about the Sabbath I wondered if that was it. We might want to go with Heaven’s flow since we’re told he puts in leaders, we don’t. On a personal level I expect Hilary to win, but I PRAY that I am wrong. Ahab and Jezebel I believe are a type for a latter day fulfillment, facing off with the latter day Elijah, Whom I believe to be the Holy Spirit. We know Who wins ultimately. What an exciting time in prophetic fulfillment! Please pray in a concerted way for Doctor Ben Carson and his family to be protected.
The 2016 American Presidential election will be interesting to say the least, yet not as interesting as the revelation of our own believers.
A lot of theory being proffered this this comment thread about the implications of the circumstances of the current presidential election run-up. The intrigue is substantially heightened by the fact that one of the widely embraced candidates is a Seventh-day Adventist, and another candidate is married with a Seventh-day Adventist.
Headline “… unexpected opportunities for Adventists to share their faith”
Let’s forget the candidates. Let’s forget the possible plight of one’s local congregation. Let’s forget trying to figure out who a’real’ Seventh-day Adventist may be.
Anyone care to get practical and personal here.
“Seventh-day Adventist” somehow shows up on the political radar of someone who knows you are a Seventh-day Adventist … the proverbial ‘neighbor’ who may be a cubical neighbor at work, a nursing team member at the hospital where you work, a backyard fence neighbor, someone on the street in front of your church this morning.
The question … always the question: “So, I hear you are a Seventh-day Adventist and this candidate Carson is, too. Put it in a nutshell for me. What in the world is a Seventh-day Adventist? More to the point, perhaps, how do you think of yourself as different than if you were, say, a Presbyterian, like Trump claims to be?”
Anyone actually field this question already? Anyone hope they will? What did you or will you say?
Bill,
I mentioned this on another thread but in case you missed it…
I was contacted by a reporter for the New York Times who was working on an article about Dr. Carson.
I defined the advent movement as being dedicated to
The nature of the kingdom as an heavenly kingdom, not an earthly one.
The manner of the second advent as supernatural, cataclysmic and visible to everyone on Earth and
The purpose of the second advent as to resurrect the sleeping saints and take them with us (the finally penitent) to be with Jesus where he is.
I mentioned the list of SdA “Fundamental Beliefs” AND that the preamble states that it is not a creed AND that I think Dr. Carson is a thinker–not merely a reflector of other men’s thoughts.
Last evening a lady (I think she has a Lutheran background) about my age (71) brought up the subject of Dr. Carson’s candidacy. After she made two or three statements about him, I told her about my reply to the NYT reporter.
She said, “Good for you.”
I wonder how much damage will be done by people (well-meaning though they may be) who will be glad to tell the world what they think Dr. Carson SHOULD believe.
Interesting that you didn’t mention Sabbath observance, one of the first things both in the name and people’s knowledge of Adventism. Belief in the Second Coming is certainly not exclusive to Adventists, while the seventh day as sacred is unique in Christianity.
Elaine,
You usually seem quite knowledgeable so your response surprised me.
There are two reasons that I didn’t think it necessary to mention sabbath observance. 1) There is hardly any doctrine more obvious in the Bible than the seventh-day-ness of the sabbath. A couple of months ago I met yet another person who, upon learning of our family’s Adventist heritage, commented that he has been telling his parents for years, “we should be attending services on Saturday.” He got that from reading the Bible and without–to his knowledge–any previous contact with Seventh-day Adventists. 2) As you yourself observed, it is the first part of the name of our denomination. Need I state the obvious?
I’m also surprised that you seem unaware that our denomination is only one of several that encourage seventh-day sabbath keeping.
If you are acquainted with old hymns, you might well get the impression that many Christians share “belief in the Second Coming”. What you seem to fail to realize is that many professed Christians today are not expecting an heavenly kingdom; nor are they expecting a cataclysmic second advent. One Baptist Sunday school teacher even misquoted Jesus “in order to make the text easier to undersstand, “…that where you are, there I may be also.”
To my eye (and the Internet’s) seventh-day Sabbatarianism is on the uptick, at least in North America. For example, it appears that many who observe the Old Testament Sabbath, do so while attending church services and Bible school on Sundays. Case in point an Adventist-believing relative of mine whose husband is a Presbyterian; she in turn accompanies him to services. The couple does not “observe Sunday,” but does faithfully attend Sunday services, and they do observe a rest on Saturdays, at home.
Secondly, many Americans caught up in the Patriot and Christian Identity radical movements also observe the seventh-day Sabbath. It’s debatable whether or not this element of radical Christianity is growing anymore, but there is little doubt that in the past 20 years more from this element of the country have become Sabbatarian.
I was reared in an Adventist home where we were taught that one’s attitude and reverence for the Sabbath of Exodus 20 would be a line of demarcation between the Remnant and those with the Mark of the Beast. It appears to me that far from clarifying who’s in which team, the Sabbath seems to put us Adventists in some very “interesting company,” among people who are known to be violent and unmindful of the welfare of others. In this way, Adventism could be expected to be “framed” between “two thieves” whose habits and demeanor contrasted starkly with that of Jesus on the cross, praying for those who were slaying him that early afternoon.
“they do observe a rest on Saturdays, at home.”
With the majority of Americans working 40 hours/week with weekends off, everyone has the privilege of resting on the seventh as well as the first day. So what is the problem? When the Sabbath law was given to the Israelites and no others, they had been slaves working 24/7 with no rest. God gave them freedom from slavery and the Sabbath was given as the first rest day they had experienced. The Jews have observed Sabbath since then.
But Christians should look for their guides to the instructions found in the NT, not the Hebrew Bible. Christians no longer observe all the Jewish laws, why return to Judaism when there was a change in the law because of Christ’s death?
Elaine,
I’ like to think I’d be willing to risk death in the defense of your right to “look for (your) guides to the instructions in the NT, no the Hebrew Bible.”
I refer to that as “the principle of most recent reference”–the principle that earlier revelation should be evaluated and interpreted by later revelation.
Personally, I see a problem with that. If a person uses the principle of most recent reference, what is to prevent him from interpreting the Bible by Joseph Smith or Ellen White?
Some people who use the principle of previous reference reject Jesus as the Messiah but it is because they have misinterpreted the writings of Moses. I believe their misinterpretation of the writings of Moses is because of their preference for an earthly kingdom.
What kind of kingdom do you anticipate? What kind of kingdom do your prefer? Is your decision about how to interpret scripture determined by whether you prefer an heavenly or an earthly kingdom?
Rhetorical questions. No reply is required.
The NT is the latest book to determine what Christianity should be and Protestant Christians agree. All later works were not contained in that canon and cannot be universally agreed upon.
\
As a Seventh-day Adventist, it is very EASY to respond to a neighbor who asked me why I did NOT support the candidacy of Ben Carson for U.S. President. Here are my top three reasons.
1. 5. Prison Proves That Being Gay Is A “Choice”
Carson told CNN host Chris Cuomo that prisoners “prove” that homosexuality is a choice, because “a lot of people who go into prison, go into prison straight, and when they come out, they’re gay.”Science says Carson is wrong, and that evidence overwhelmingly suggests that sexual orientation is inborn. On the other hand, religion undeniably is a choice. After all, a lot of people who go into prison go into prison Christians, and when they come out, they’re Muslims. Yet, it never occurs to Carson that the same argument applies. So, on that basis, why should religion be a protected status? Carson later apologized for his remarks and promised he just wouldn’t talk about gay issues anymore. How likely is that to last out the GOP primaries?
2. Obamacare Is Like “Slavery, In A Way”
In a speech at the 2013 Values Voters’ Summit, Carson said that Obamacare was “the worst thing that has happened in this nation since slavery,” and described the law as “slavery, in a way.”
3. The President Can Ignore The Supreme Court
Carson told Newsmax TV that the president can ignore the Supreme Court on marriage equality. Unless he’s re-written the constitution, Carson is wrong.
I respect those who may agree or disagree with my decision.
It is so tempting, Earl (smile).
On prisoner becoming homosexual: Correlation is not causality. I know a prison worker for many years that homosexuality is practiced in prisons as well as the military. Deprivation of female company is the one cause. When prisoners leave, and when soldiers return home, the return to heterosexuality if that was their normal practice. Neither prisons or military service “makes” homosexuals. Where are studies confirming your statement?
That many prisoners may turn to Islam is a CHOICE. But true homosexuality is no chosen, but as in ancient times it was DOMINATION, which is the atmosphere in prisons. A young boy going into prison is offered “protection” from others by agreeing to become his special “boyfriend.” Otherwise, the big bullies will force themselves on him. My daughter, an RN tells that when an inmate comes to the clinic, one look on his face reveals that he has been abused sexually by another inamate. It happens all the time. Just as in Sodom: the men wanted to show their domination on the angels within. This practice is as old a military conquests and making slaves.
Carson is very poorly informed on such matters and is a political novice that cannot handle the constant questioning.
In my not-so-humble opinion, Dr. Carson is “wrong” about a number of things.
At the same time, I’m not yet convinced that anyone else currently listed as “a presidential candidate” is any less “wrong” than he is. At this point, I have trouble imagining myself voting for Dr. Carson. But then I have trouble imagining myself voting for any of the other “presidential candidates” too so this election may turn out as many previous elections–voters choosing whoever they think is the least objectionable candidate.
T have only voted in one “primary” election in my life. I am usually content to let each party chose its own candidates. The one time I voted in a “primary” election it was to try to eliminate the candidate I considered the “worst choice” among the candidates. She won anyway.
This forum is not the best place to tell me about what ideas each of you have for solving problems in this country (or the world) but I’d be interested in any ideas you have (except the usual party lines).
I think one reason Dr. Carson has remained as popular as he has for as long as he has is because many people see him as a problem solver.
Interesting.
Will there someday be more states with California that allows one to vote split parties? This is a great choice: one Democrat for this office, and a Republican for another: the best candidate is chosen, not the party. As in the deep south, the only party since the Civil War were the Democrats until Civil Rights, but in many ways the appear divided in ideology, if not party.
These people are in the churches, now, and on sites like this.
“As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position, and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbath-keepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them.” GC 608
Do SDA pastors or elders give ideas in church on HOW “share your faith”?
What does it specifically mean to “share your faith” or share Jesus or share the 3 angel’s messages?
What is the “faith” we are supposed to share?
Do SDA even know what the gospel is? Ask this question at church and watch the variety of responses. Ask them what grace is and same reaction. Ask them what salvation is and ditto.
I recently visited an SDA church 40 miles away from home and discussed with a few, right before potluck, on how to outreach on the internet using Youtube and other internet sites and ended up being challenged by the pastor and 2 elders. They said I should talk to them before trying to “recruit” outreachers.
Do your local church leaders even emphasize outreach?
On the matter of outreach, there seems to be a conundrum in at least some Adventist churches I have attended. On the one hand, there is a desire to “purify the Church so the Lord can return,” and on the other, a fear that in bringing in new converts, “we may be contaminating the Church with under-sanctified recruits.” There seems to be, at least in these situations, a Latin American standoff that leads to a great honking of Adventist horns, but little measurable progress of any kind….
BarelyAdventist caught on to this dilemma and says the GC is begging Carson to say he is a Baptist! And they are allowing him to drink coffee! http://barelyadventist.com/adventist-church-exempts-sleepy-ben-carson-from-caffeine-ban/
I was born and raised in the SDA Church and attended its schools through college. In the past couple of years, I have to come to understand that there is no “one true church.” Any church claiming to be the “one true church,” and focusing on a list of doctrines (more than a love relationship with Christ) and seeking to micromanage its members’ lives, is a cult.
Now I understand that the SDA church, and others like it, are business enterprises similar to multi-level marketing companies, where the real goal is to increase membership in order to bring in more tithe money. In order to inspire other Christians to join this tithe-generating system, the SDA church tries to convince them that they will be lost if they don’t join this “one true church.” Then it tries to scare them from leaving, by fostering an “us vs. them” attitude where the world is divided into SDA and “non-SDA”–and everything “non-SDA” is bad. This is a cultic strategy.
I am glad to be in a non-denominational fellowship now, where the focus is on falling in love with Jesus, loving God with all my heart, and loving my neighbor as myself. I have found the freedom of grace and Christ’s promise: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
I just looked at the bulletin, for my local church, for this Sabbath’s service. The scripture reading is one single verse in Matthew.
I share “my faith” with aCatholic at work and do any Adventists know how many bible verses are read at a Catholic (“BEAST”) mass on SUNday?
If you are reading this, you know you can easily Google it if you even care to see how much more the bible gets exposure in a Catholic service compared to an Adventist service.