Fine Prints: August, 2006

A Little Lobbying, Please! August 5

The Search for the Superlative August 12

The Case Against G Ratings August 19

Where Two or Three are Gathered . . . August 26

A Little Lobbying, Please!

Dear Friends of Freedom,

I am writing today because a particularly pernicious piece of legislation has passed the House, and we MUST stop it in the Senate. While we at the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department at our church’s headquarters support the constitutionality of the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, we strongly oppose the so-called "Pledge Protection Act."

Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom–the model for the Federal constitutional clause that separates church and state–references the "Almighty." If Jefferson invoked God in the statute that separates church and state, how can a similar reference to God violate the separation of church and state?

Similarly, the Declaration of Independence references the "Creator." It is inconceivable that the recitation of the preamble to the Declaration of Independence could be construed as unconstitutional. If school children can recite the preamble to the Declaration of Independence and not violate the Constitution, they must be able to recite similar references to the Divine in other government proclamations and not violate the Constitution.

But the so-called Pledge Protection Act is misguided and dangerous. Why?

First, the Act would make it illegal for courts to review the constitutionality of matters relating to the Pledge. If the backers of the bill succeed, they would create a precedent that would destroy the Bill of Rights. The heart of the Bill of Rights is the idea that certain rights are sacrosanct–and therefore outside the touch of the majority. The judicial branch, by design, is the branch of government least subject to pressures from the majority. If our individual liberties are left to bodies elected by the majority, religious minorities will see their rights dissolve quickly. Our individual rights cannot be left to the whims of the political marketplace.

Second, the Act ignores that there are questions arising out of the Pledge that have serious individual-liberty implications. Arguably, the most important case regarding the Pledge relates to the religious freedom of those whose faith requires them not to participate. In particular, in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943), the Supreme Court held that Jehovah’s Witness students could not be forced to pledge allegiance in school. In contrast, Nazi Germany sent approximately half of all German Jehovah’s Witnesses to concentration camps (in part) for refusing to pledge allegiance to Hitler. In times of extreme national stress, it is vital that we retain the judiciary as a last resort for those whose religious liberty is violated in the name of nationalism.

So what we can do?

Go to http://www.religiousliberty.info, click on the link "Yes! To the Pledge, but No! To the Pledge Protection Act" (under Action Center) and send a letter standing up for the Pledge and opposing this effort to destroy our constitutional protections. It will take only a couple of minutes to send a letter–and it will be a vital step in alerting Congress to the dangers of this ill-conceived bill.

Congress is hearing from a lot of people who think this pernicious bill is patriotic. They are wrong. Patriotism starts with standing up for liberty, and no liberty is more precious than our religious liberty! Write a letter to Congress today and make your voice count.

James Standish, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department

The Search for the Superlative 

"Good interviewing is all about the search for the superlative." That’s what my college journalism teacher once told our class. "Always ask what has made the biggest impact, what was the best part of the experience, what has been the most memorable aspect of what happened."

It strikes me that true spirituality, likewise, is all about the search for the superlative. It’s about refusing to settle for less than the real thing, the best, the most fulfilling. And who satisfied that criteria more than Jesus?

For example . . .

Adam passed on biological life to all humanity. Jesus is the Giver of eternal life. Adam brought death to everyone. Jesus brought life (potentially, at least). Adam destroyed paradise. Jesus is restoring it. Adam misunderstood the character of God. Jesus came to show what God is like.

Noah was the best man in his time. Jesus was the best man ever. Noah kept preaching to a skeptical audience, even though they jeered. Jesus kept preaching, even though they eventually killed Him. Noah saved his family. Jesus will save a multitude so large that no one can number it.

Moses led the Hebrews out of physical bondage in Egypt. Jesus has broken the chains of spiritual bondage for everyone everywhere. Moses delivered a law about the desired relationship between God and humanity. Jesus lived a life that demonstrated that relationship. Moses had to leave an earthly royal court and go to the desert before he could deliver his people. Jesus had to leave a heavenly court and go into a sin-wracked world to achieve His mission of rescue.

Elijah was miraculously fed by ravens. Jesus miraculously fed thousands. Elijah called fire from heaven to consume his offering. Jesus will call fire from heaven to cleanse the entire earth. Elijah raised to life the son of a widow. Jesus will resurrect all who commit themselves to Him.

David was Israel’s greatest king. Jesus is King of the universe. David was a great warrior. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. David was a great writer of psalms. Jesus inspired of whole of scripture.

Solomon was the wisest human ruler. Jesus is the Source of all wisdom. Solomon built a temple to impress people with God’s majesty. Jesus was God’s majesty in human form. Solomon undertook a great public-works program–for his own benefit. Jesus is building heavenly mansions–for His followers.

Jonah was called to preach a message of doom to Nineveh. Jesus was called to bring hope to the entire world. Jonah was reluctant to do God’s bidding, so tried to run away. Jesus was reluctant, too–but did it anyway, because it was humanity’s only hope. Jonah’s mission was interrupted by three days in the belly of a whale. Jesus’ mission was interrupted by three days in the grave. Jonah was disgusted by the positive results of his preaching. Jesus wept because of His failure to crack through certain hard hearts.

The earthly work of all of the Old Testament heroes is over. But, because of His resurrection, the work of Jesus will go on and on and on.

If spirituality is all about the search for the superlative, I believe the search has ended–in Jesus.

Jim Coffin, Senior Pastor

The Case Against G Ratings 

Aristotle said that those who would find the right answer must first ask the right question.

His statement came to mind recently when I read about a brouhaha on Capitol Hill over the PG rating given to the movie Facing the Giants—allegedly because of its religious content. Lawmakers are demanding explanations. And I agree that some clarification is in order.

Of late, a lot of Christians have argued that Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world. Political correctness seems to apply to all faiths but one. The complaints aren’t without merit.

"This incident [the PG rating] raises the disquieting possibility that the MPAA [Motion Picture Association of America] considers exposure to Christian themes more dangerous for children than exposure to gratuitous sex and violence," said House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, in a letter to the MPAA.

While MPAA personnel argue that the rating is because of (among other things) "a mature discussion about pregnancy," the movie’s producers allege that religious content was included in the original list of reasons given for the movie’s rating.

I haven’t seen the movie. And I haven’t even read any reviews. Nor do I have any insights into the facts of the controversy—beyond what I’ve read in a couple of newspaper articles. But it seems to me that giving a PG rating because of pervasive ideological themes isn’t a bad idea—as long, that is, as all ideologies get treated evenhandedly and Christian themes aren’t singled out for special negative treatment.

If I were the parent of a young child, I’d like to know in advance if a movie is going to promote an ideology of any sort—socialist or communist, ascetic or hedonist, evolutionist or creationist, Republican or Democrat, Buddhist or Christian, Roman Catholic or Seventh-day Adventist.

If only some ideologies evoke certain ratings, that issue needs to be addressed. But the general concept of warning parents that a movie that’s seemingly for the purpose of entertainment is actually promoting a specific worldview seems quite appropriate to me.

In fact, I suggest that there should be no G-rated movies. Who does the Motion Picture Association of America think it is to imply that certain movies viewed by little children don’t require any parental oversight and involvement? Do I want some dollar-driven, movie-industry-influenced analyst in Hollywood making that kind of decision on my behalf? I don’t think so.

One of the problems that old-time Adventists have with movies is that our historic stance has been that venue trumps all other factors in determining what’s acceptable. A movie that has been approved by the church and is shown in the church hall is, by definition, OK. The same holds true if the movie is shown on television. But let the movie be shown in the theater, and it automatically becomes unacceptable.

Interesting, isn’t it?

I suggest that it’s time for parents to take back the responsibility for all that their children watch. And while we’re at it, it would be a good idea for Adventists in general to start accepting moral responsibility for their viewing—and not just to let the venue make the decision for them.

Jim Coffin, Senior Pastor

Where Two or Three are Gathered 

About four months ago, a group of people began meeting at our church for a prayer session every Sabbath morning at 8:30. The purpose of this time together was to seek God’s blessing on the worship services, the pastors, the entire church family, and any other entity that was in particular need.

Typically, each participant would say a short prayer requesting a specific blessing. The benefits of the gathering were obvious to those participating: It’s really hard to be passive about the activities of the church when you’ve just asked God to bless all its functions. People become part of the process when they commit themselves to it through prayer.

Attendance ranged form a high of eight to a low of two. Most recently it was just two or three.

Some ventures are based on good ideas but bad logistics. Or good intentions but bad timing. Maybe even noble thoughts but impossible mechanics. In the case of the early-morning prayer meeting, it seems that all of the above were true. The idea was noble. The results were rewarding. But the venture couldn’t overcome the negatives of the time slot.

Consequently, the last Sabbath of July was the last formal 8:30 am prayer session. However, the need for prayer hasn’t diminished just because the time slot posed problems.

In place of the early-morning prayer time, the group asks that each Markham Woods member devote some time on either Friday night or Sabbath morning to pray for the church’s events of that weekend–specifically for the pastor and the message spoken, for each one who hears the Word, for those in need of healing, for those in need of encouragement, for God’s children around the world.

Obviously, God knows our needs–and those of others–even before we pray. So why bother to pray? The short answer: Because we need it.

Prayer doesn’t change God, as one writer has noted. Prayer changes us. Prayer doesn’t bring God down to us. Prayer lifts us up to God. Prayer doesn’t convince God of the worthiness of our requests. Prayer helps us to determine what type of requests are worthy to be passed on to Him.

Prayer is a form of total focus. It’s complete engagement. Prayer, at its best, isn’t just a passing reference, a mere word or two, on behalf of someone else. Rather, prayer is truly visualizing what the experience of another may actually be. Prayer is the ultimate empathy.

Prayer doesn’t just ask God for an answer. Rather, prayer asks God for guidance in discerning the answer. Prayer is laying before God our concerns and our options, then asking Him to provide the right lighting and the correct line of sight so that we see things as they really are.

Prayer isn’t passing the responsibility to God. Rather, prayer is the act of equipping ourselves so we can truly accept our responsibility.

Prayer isn’t something that we need just at 8:30 each Sabbath morning. It’s something we need all the time–wherever we happen to be. Thus this special invitation to prayer.

May God bless each one of us as we make prayer an ever-increasing component of our spiritual life.

Jim Coffin, Senior Pastor