Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

09 Feb

MHA STUDENTS FILL CAMPUS WITH ACTS OF KINDNESS

Rebecca Berg and Denae Yuros – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … When students arrived back on campus after Christmas Break, they soon recognized that the teachers and staff had planned something very special for the beginning of 2023. Mile High Academy (MHA) dedicated the month of January to celebrating and sharing kindness on and off campus.

Preschool through 12th-grade students participated in the kick-off assembly with kindness definitions, quotes, poetry, and songs. Guest speaker, Heidi Carpenter, shared her own personal stories of kindness and demonstrated how words and actions are lasting. That same day, MHA began putting together its kindness chains in the upper, middle, and lower school buildings. Whenever anyone observed or received a kind act, they wrote it down on a paper strip and looped it to the chain. The brightly-colored chains quickly took shape as kind acts spread among students and staff.

The theme of kindness continued into the second week with all-school spirit days. Each day was dedicated to another aspect of kindness: Positivity Day, Acts of Kindness Day, Don’t Judge Others Day, and Support Each Other Day. Students showed their “kindness spirit” by wearing certain colors on designated days while worships, morning meetings, and chapels emphasized the daily themes and brought them to life.

During the week of January 23-27, MHA took part in the Great Kindness Challenge. Hundreds of schools all over the nation participate in this yearly challenge to complete various acts of kindness in their communities. MHA students passed out thank-you cards, hung “Kindness Matters” posters in the hallways, brought flower bouquets to administrative staff, gave apples and bananas to teachers, made bookmarks for others, and changed the world for good in other simple ways. In all, the MHA student body shared more than 5,000 acts of kindness during the five-day challenge.

“MHA is committed to making this an annual part of our school programming,” said Denae Yuros, lower schoolteacher. “Kindness Month inspired students and staff to uplift each other through daily meaningful acts of kindness. We hear what the world says—kindness is weakness; one cannot be both compassionate and strong. Yet, we know, as Christ’s followers, that we are called to a much higher way of living. Colossians 3:12 says, ‘Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.’ We pray that this kindness grows in our school, moves to the community, and spreads through the world.”

—Rebecca Berg is an upper schoolteacher and Denae Yuros is a lower schoolteacher at Mile High Academy. Photos provided.

06 Feb

JUDE’S BASSINET MINISTRY

Bob Reynolds – Denver, Colorado … Lana Wilson lost her one-year-old grandson in a tragic accident in 2018. As she worked through her grief and heartbreak, God planted a desire in her heart to create a bassinet ministry. Through God’s grace, Jude’s Bassinets became a reality, first as a nonprofit, and later taken over by the women’s ministry at True Life Community Seventh-day Adventist Church (TLC).

From its inception, the mission of this ministry was to provide all the items that are needed to care for a newborn baby. We serve women who are without the means to acquire the bassinet items on their own. In so doing, a connection is forged that reflects God’s love and care and becomes a way to provide continued spiritual support once the baby is born.

Jude’s Bassinets receives referrals for an expectant mother in need by partnering with a social worker from a Denver area hospital or directly from church members. For example, “my hairdresser’s daughter needs your help” or “I know a pregnant woman who is living in a hotel.” The ministry members then call the referral and complete screening that includes accurate demographics, expected date of baby’s birth, and review of the list of items we can supply. This way each woman’s gift can be customized especially for them.

Currently, the ministry can provide diapers and wipes, bath supplies (including a basin), clothing (including sleepers, t-shirts, pants, and socks—all typically in newborn size), laundry supplies, a Pack and Play or bassinet, and a new car seat (if needed). Church members also graciously donate handmade sweaters, booties, hats, and blankets. All of the items are new and unused. And most importantly, a devotional book for women and a Children’s Bible finish off the package.

A ministry member either calls the recipient, or is notified by them, when the baby is born, and the bassinet is delivered to their home. The individuals who deliver the gift are blessed by this opportunity to meet the recipient, take pictures, ooh and ah over the newborn, and pray with this new family. This encounter also provides an opportunity to invite recipients to attend TLC or other church functions. Last year, each bassinet recipient also received a Thanksgiving basket and/or a gift from the Christmas for Kids ministry. Another ministry member sends greeting cards throughout the year to recipients, and a plan is in place to begin sending a card for the baby’s first birthday.

To date, the ministry has reached 103 women including an expectant woman who just had a baby shower only to have her apartment and belongings destroyed by fire and a woman who was new to the United States with little family support whose baby had a lengthy hospital stay. We were able to serve a mother of three, expecting her fourth child, living in a hotel. These are just a few examples of diversity of the referrals that are received.

While it is true that running this ministry comes at a cost, never once has there been concern that the money would run out. Just as the widow’s jar of oil was never empty, so too with the funds that support the ministry. God simply continues to provide. Donations large and small are received. Baby items are donated. Somehow, there is always just enough!

—Bob Reynolds is pastor at True Life Community Seventh-day Adventist Church. Photo supplied.

01 Feb

TWENTY YEARS OF BROADCASTING IN PUEBLO

Anton Kapusi – Pueblo, Colorado … Twenty years ago, Pueblo First Seventh-day Adventist Church had the vision of saturating the radio waves over Pueblo, Colorado, with the Three Angels Message. The church felt a great need of having a 24/7 outreach ministry to the city and surrounding area.

Through much sacrifice, work, and education, the church started broadcasting on January 11, 2003. Under the dedicated leadership of the first radio president, Ron Cothran, and with only a few staff members, the first programs were lined up, and long-lasting collaborations were established with Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN), Life Talk Radio (LTR), and Adventist World Radio (AWR).

On January 21, 2023, Hope Radio of Pueblo celebrated its twentieth year broadcasting with Robert Peck, AWR representative, thanks to numerous local radio pioneers and supporting staff. During this time of memories and praises, Ron Cothran stressed the God-given unity that transpired as the church came together to purchase the frequency for Low Power (LP) radio broadcasting from the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). There was no lack of funds or dedication from church members to catch this opportunity.

Cotran commented, “On the day the switch was flipped and the broadcasting started, there was no outstanding debt for the radio.” Dan Hewill also reminisced about the beginnings of Hope radio station, saying that “[he is] not anymore the same person from twenty years ago,” and that he saw [the radio station] as an opportunity to demolish the “wall of separation” between us and the community that surrounds us as a church.

Michael Baldauf, the broadcast engineer who faithfully served the radio station’s technical challenges through the years, emphasized how he was able to see God’s hand in the two-fold blessing of bringing the satellite down link and having the broadcast start on time come together in a miraculous way.

Delbert Hayden, current radio president, joined the celebration via ZOOM due to the health isolation his family is under. He said he couldn’t agree more with all the previous speakers, further emphasizing God’s leading hand in sustaining and supporting the radio station. He further commended more than two dozen individuals who were and continue to be directly involved in the support and running of the radio station. Furthermore, he said that none of what happened during the last twenty years was possible “without the sure guidance and love of the Heavenly Father, whose desire is that all would be saved.”

The celebration culminated in the presentation of awards and gifts of appreciation to all involved through the years, followed by an inspiring talk by Robert Peck (AWR) on the impact of the radio ministry throughout the world and a fellowship meal we all thoroughly enjoyed.

During the last three years, the radio station team has worked hard on creating a recording studio, upgrading the production side of the station with all new equipment and better software, and receiving professional training. Solomon’s proclamation is true, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18, KJV). Yet where there is vision for God’s mission to reach all for eternity, people are revitalized, revived and recruited into God’s mission. We pray here at Pueblo that many more will be reached for Christ through the radio waves. And we hope our story inspires others to do the same.

—Anton Kapusi is pastor of Pueblo First Adventist Church. Photos supplied.

01 Feb

CAMPION STUDENTS TASTED THE GLIMPSE OF UNION COLLEGE

Ciara Felix – Loveland, Colorado … Getting up at 5:30 a.m. on January 22 for a seven-hour road trip by bus to Union College offered Campion seniors a fun beginning to get a taste of life in college with Preview Days.

Following dinner at Union Market, the group engaged in a scavenger hunt around downtown Lincoln. Their first day included free time in the Student Center with participation in activities such as pool, ping pong, and catching up with Campion alumni now attending Union.

Ana Segawa, one of the Campion students, commented, “I really enjoyed the scavenger hunt because it was a great opportunity to see what it was like outside of the college campus. I was curious since I had never been to Lincoln before, and the fun thing was that we got to see so much of downtown in such a short period of time, while running around like crazy and competing to win the game.”

The seminars they attended the next morning gave them tips on how to pay for college and they met with professors and advisors based on their individual interests. “I enjoyed talking to the different professors and learning more about the career I might study in the future. They gave me great advice and helped me out a lot,” said student Nimsi Quinonez.

The fun of Preview Days at Union ended with lunch in a popular HuHot Lincoln restaurant, and the final leg of their trip included a seven-and-a-half-hour-long bus ride back to Campion.

“Although the trip to Union College was fast and furious, it was a great experience spending more time bonding with our class, getting to see Lincoln, and to experience college life up close,” concluded student Haley Beckermeyer.

—Ciara Felix, Student News Team. Photos supplied.

01 Feb

PUEBLO ANGELS OF KINDNESS ENLARGING THE IMPACT

Anton Kapusi – Pueblo, Colorado … Angels of Kindness ministries at Pueblo First Church started out of love and care for the homeless in our city. Ernie and Carol Reynolds were inspired to provide hot meals, warm clothes, water, and toiletries to those on the streets or other underprivileged in Pueblo.

From the very beginning, the vision was that this ministry would be supported by individual donations from church members and willing hearts. After acquiring the necessary permits for the use of Mineral Park, the ministry began, and for the last sixteen years, it has been running strong, serving as many as a hundred and twenty individuals a day.

Covid19 considerably interrupted the ministry of the Angels of Kindness, but, under the new leadership of Mike Marquez and Joey Perrin, the ministry not only revived, but expanded into a new area of the city. Bessemer Park, in the downtown area of Pueblo, has become the second area of outreach for the Angels of Kindness. The new area allows for meeting new people and impacting even more lives. The new leadership has also purchased a twelve-foot-long enclosed trailer and incorporated the ministry with that of Adventist Community Services (ACS) while welcoming more volunteers and willing donors.

Presently, the ministry is at Mineral Park every second Saturday and at Bessemer Park every fourth Saturday of the month. As lines form and people wait, the volunteer staff serves not only a hot meal and a sack lunch, water, toiletries, socks, underwear, blankets, sleeping bags, and tents, but also engages in conversations, prayers, and even Bible studies with those in need. As some staff serve, others sit down at tables and eat with the guests listening to their stories as they open up and get ready to receive Christ.

Speaking of judgment day, Jesus expressed in one of His parables how the King (God the Father) will measure one’s faithfulness: “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ ” Matthew 25:34-36. While the primary goal of the ministry is to feed and care for the homeless, it can’t shy away from sharing the bread and water of life that is Jesus Christ. This is another victory for Christ and His Kingdom, as we serve our neighbors while serving God.

—Anton Kapusi is pastor of the Pueblo First Adventist Church. Photos supplied.

31 Jan

DREAMING SERIOUS DREAMS

Let me share a dream from a long time ago. Memory takes me back. My head was bent over homework—third grade stuff or so. There I was thinking my serious, though childish, thoughts. Daydreaming a bit but it was all very serious.

I imagined that my life would be very fast and filled with much fun. I would work, of course, but it would be the management-type stuff.

Plus, I would have a fast car. Red or black or yellow and so low, that even now I wonder how these cars manage the bumpy streets of your town.

And she by my side. I would marry her, and she would be the prettiest woman in town. Dressed in fashionable clothes.

What else?

The house—yeah, the garden in front and back.

The church—yeah, no steeples, just an A-frame would be enough, with all sorts of good people in it.

The bank—no need to worry about it.

Oh, yes. Those were the dreams. Full of hazy images with plenty of fashion, mystique, and soothing feelings. Later, I pondered why such a dream. I was just a kid.

Then, the soapy bubble of pretty and exciting future burst. As I later reflected, all went in different directions—some true, the rest going completely astray. Who could have anticipated it would turn out like that? After all, I had thought about probable outcomes.

Now, I am in our Colorado home. While looking through my cluttered drawer in my desk, a thought passes that, in all honesty, my place belongs just where the clutter is. Such clutter seems to be my addiction. And it dawns on me that the whole matter has little to do with nostalgia or sentiment.

Today, my dreams connect me with reality, a reality dotted with experiences, happy moments, and occasional tears. My relationships, family ties, emotions, and desires show me that though much has changed, much more needs to change. And my understanding of what I believe and how my faith took me through life connected me far beyond my personal preference. Now, I have my thoughts and desires under the controlling power of Jesus. No change needed there.

Looking back, and pondering the present, my thoughts and life itself continue to change. My life was meant to be different from those childhood dreams. And when in church, I wish to be challenged to move always forward, but without ignoring the present concerns. Like a brief exchange I had with Michael one Sabbath years ago. I asked him, “Why have you stopped going to church with us?” His words were simple. “I would love to be treated as who I am. The Hope church has an ashtray at the entrance. There, we welcome everyone.”

As a Christian, I am fully awake and aware that though life has its turns, with Christ, I can navigate! And a healthy relationship with God means that I am focusing on him and others more than on me. For with Him, I realize that the world of childhood dreams gives in to the world of mature results. Often different, yet full of meaning.

No need to look for another leading option. No need to be stuck with only one version of religious/church life or the preferred doctrines. You know the truth. Jesus is at my life’s steering wheel!

Rajmund Dabrowski is the RMC communication director and editor of Mountain Views. Email him at: [email protected]

31 Jan

RELIGION AS ADDICTION: WAIT, WHAT? I COULD BE ADDICTED TO RELIGION?

Religious idolatry for us Christians, at its core, is when we love our beliefs about God and people more than we ever actually love God and people. – Ben Cremer

Has this happened to you? You get blasted by someone from your “faith group” because the way you showed up (in person or on a social media post) didn’t meet their expectations of what a “good Christian” should be. It happened to me just this week. It could be about something you’re wearing, eating, or drinking, or about some “code language” you used … You’re attacked by someone who, as Ben Cremer notes, loves their beliefs more than they love you. You just encountered someone with a Religious Addiction!

Like all addictions, Religious Addiction (RA) hurts both the addicted person and the people around them.

I have good news (and I have bad news) about Religious Addiction!

First the bad news:

RA is possible, it’s real, and it’s quite prevalent.
Like all addictions, RA distorts life and complicates relationships.
Like all addictions, RA can turn something good into a destructive process.
Addiction always links a legitimate problem to an illegitimate apparent solution.
Like all addictions, RA is built on an illusion, the illusion of control and certainty.

Now the good news:

Addiction always links a legitimate problem to an illegitimate apparent solution (yes, that’s both bad and good news!)
Like all addictions, RA points out our places of “arrested development.”
Giving appropriate attention to our arrested development helps us grow, heal and thrive, and brings unexpected joy.
Recovery is possible, desirable, and makes life better, for us and for those around us.
Recovery is both inside us and in healthy, vulnerable, and trusted relationships.
Recovery involves love and overcomes fear.
Recovery helps us stop MISUSING a good thing, returning it to a state of mutual blessing for us and those around us.

Definition of Addiction:

“Addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences.” (American Society of Addiction Medicine).

Let’s notice these keys:

There are “substance” addictions that involve both legal and illegal substances like drugs and alcohol; these are the kind of addictions we’re most familiar with, where someone can’t stop using something others can “take or leave” as they choose.
There are “behavior” addictions (“process addictions” is another term) where someone can’t stop doing a behavior that others can “take or leave” as they choose.
Both types of addiction involve chemistry, specifically our electro-chemical “brain circuits;” people experience both a “high” and an anesthetic effect related to the spiritual/emotional/existential pain in their life; the point of this pain is where the “arrested development” lies, usually grounded in fear and/or trauma.
The clear difference between addiction and non-addiction is NOT the use/non-use of a substance or behavior; it is the fact that the addicted person can’t stop in spite of the negative consequences of the substance or behavior. The non-addicted person can adjust their action according to the consequences.

As a healthcare chaplain specializing in Behavioral Health (addiction and psychiatric treatment) for 40+ years, I have come to understand that “the taproot of all addiction is control,” or more specifically fear and anxiety related to the sense of being “out of control,” feeling powerless and/or being extremely uncomfortable with “uncertainty.” I understand this personally as well as professionally.

While I was in training, my Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor wrote in one evaluation “Glenn lives and thinks and acts as if every little decision carries eternal consequences of ‘being or not-being,’ [you could read ‘heaven or hell’ or ‘salvation or damnation’ here] as if he has to be right or suffer the consequences.” That was really difficult for me to read! But it was also life-giving, because it pointed to a place of “arrested development” in my spiritual/emotional life: I had not learned to “love myself” and therefore could not “love my neighbor as myself” either; I had to disagree with others if I thought they were “wrong” about something!

That painful discovery started a “new life” experience for me; I was “transplanted” from living “grounded in fear” to being “grounded in love” from the God “who first loved us.” The beauty of this is that it brought unexpected joy to my life, and even more, it brought joy to others around me as I began to channel love to them instead of dishing out judgment. Could this be what Jesus meant when he said “By this, all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another?”

Religious Addiction is a puzzling and elusive addiction. Religion is considered a “good thing,” about which there is commonly a “more is better” belief. No wonder people who feel powerless turn to religion for comfort rather than to self-love. Those most uncomfortable with “uncertainty” are most attracted to religions that create the illusion of “certainty” with encompassing belief systems, high parochial boundaries, specific behavioral “standards” or expectations, and definitive prophetic/apocalyptic visions of a certain future storyline.

I’ll conclude with wisdom I treasure from two psychiatrists and a psychologist who each came to study, appreciate, and teach healthy spirituality.

“Life is difficult. This is a great truth … because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it … Life is a series of problems. Do we want to moan about them or solve them? Do we want to teach our children to solve them? What makes life difficult is that the process of confronting and solving problems is a painful one. Indeed, it is because of the pain that events or conflicts engender in us that we call them problems. Yet it is in this whole process of meeting and solving problems that life has its meaning. Problems call forth our courage and our wisdom. It is only because of problems that we grow mentally and spiritually.” Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled, p. 1.

I cannot prove to you that God exists, but my work has proved empirically that the pattern of God exists in every man and that this pattern in the individual has at its disposal the greatest transforming energies of which life is capable. Find this pattern in your own individual self and life is transformed. – Carl Jung

The most important ministries require suffering, because it is through suffering that we acquire the capacity to help others who suffer. – Leland Kaiser

Glenn Sackett is a Seventh-day Adventist ordained minister and Board Certified Chaplain. He lives in Denver, Colorado. Email him at: [email protected]

31 Jan

UNDERSTANDING ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS

Content Warning: This article mentions substance use which may distress some individuals.

If you look at the NAD Counselors Directory, there is only one Adventist Licensed Addictions Counselor in Colorado.

That’s me. I’m that Addictions Counselor. And I dream of a church that talks about addiction differently.

If you were also raised in the Adventist church, you likely learned about the dangers of drug and alcohol addiction through church ministries. Don’t get me wrong; I fully appreciate that I could define temperance by the time I was 12 and recite 1 Corinthians 6:19 in both English and Spanish. The Adventist Health Message was ingrained into my bones through Adventist education, Pathfinder clubs, Summer Camp Ministry, and more. And I was so ready for the day I would feel peer pressure to smoke a cigarette. I knew to say no, and when I was called uncool, it was cooler to say no to drugs.

Oh, and the stories of those who had said yes to that cigarette instead of no? I knew what had happened to them. Their lives were destroyed; they would soon leave the church, drop out of school, and maybe even end up in jail. Others got sick, had lungs that looked like black cottage cheese because of all those smoked cigarettes, and died young. And then there were the miracle stories of those who left the life of addiction, found Jesus, and shared a testimony of deliverance from sin and their victory over drugs. “Phew,” I would think. “I’m glad that’s not me because I always said no to drugs.

And perhaps you think this way too. Phew, not me. Never me. So why does our church, which promotes abstinence, need to talk about addiction differently? Because when we limit the conversations about addiction to avoiding drugs or alcohol, we miss out on the more extensive discussion of developing a healthy relationship with our pleasure-seeking brain. Understanding addictive behaviors has less to do with successfully avoiding all the wrong things and more about reflecting on the things we don’t avoid—the behaviors we constantly seek and crave that we find rewarding, despite their consequences. None of us is exempt from this.

Let’s say you think that chocolate ice cream is the most incredible dessert of all time. And you know it’s not healthy to eat in large portions, but you find yourself overeating even though you’re full, so you start misusing this tasty treat. Your brain begins to get used to the taste of chocolate ice cream, so every time you eat it, you feel like you need more chocolate to get the same level of satisfaction. So, you begin building tolerance. If too much time passes without eating chocolate ice cream, you begin to experience withdrawal by craving it and feeling restless. You go on that late-night chocolate ice cream run. And, when you finally have that scoop of ice cream again, you feel a sense of relief. You have developed a dependency on a pleasurable activity that can lead to negative consequences.

Perhaps this is a silly example, but this pleasure cycle is how our brains function. When we like something, we repeat it. When we dislike it, we are unlikely to repeat it. We want to do things we enjoy, even if it’s not always the best for us. It becomes harder to stop if you get into a repetitive pattern of seeking these activities. Welcome to the life of having a brain. Sometimes, we do what we shouldn’t because it feels good and is hard to stop. And when we experiment with excessive misuse of psychoactive drugs, substances that alter our central nervous system, it disrupts the healthy functioning of our brain. This can lead to severe addiction. In short, a simplified definition of addiction is a “primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, and memory.” ¹ And these scientific, evidence-based treatments are continuing to promote an integration of spiritual wellness and integrating faith-based practices to recovery.²

These pleasure-seeking behaviors, whether misuse or dependency, can be more challenging to identify when unaware of the signs. So, give the following exercise a try. Read these questions and fill in the blank on something that gives you pleasure or purpose. This is a list of the negative consequences of a repetitive pattern of seeking out that activity.

Am I spending a significant amount of time on it?

Has it led to persistent social or interpersonal problems?

Am I having trouble controlling or cutting it down?

Do I feel a strong desire or urge to continue it?

How important are the obligations I set aside to engage in it?

Have I given up any important social, occupational, or recreational activities to engage in it?

Do I need an increase in it to feel at peace or normal?

Has it led me to be in any risky situations?

Does it lead me to be in any harm?

Did any of this sound familiar? I am sure you have answered yes to one of these questions at some point in your life. You’re a human with a brain that seeks pleasure—and, of course, you have! If you have answered yes to more than one of these questions, consider the health of your relationship with that thing. Why are you engaging in constant repetition despite these negative consequences? What are you gaining or losing?

The pleasure-seeking activity could be your relationship with food, social media, work, sex, or even ministry. Could you be misusing any of these activities? Could you depend on achieving specific outcomes to feed your self-interests? What is motivating you, and to what extent? It may not be that you’re getting high or drunk, but you could be wrapped up in your self-interests and feel trapped and unable to get out.

So, let’s consider religious beliefs and behaviors for a moment, such as Sabbath observance or adhering to our health message. Keeping these behaviors is what makes our church distinct and unique. Could it be that we are hyper-fixated on carrying out these behaviors despite negative consequences? That we are misusing, dependent, or even addicted to them?

A recent global study on the Adventist Church showed that 47% of our world church thought that if they kept the Adventist health message, it would ensure salvation.³ Almost half of our church!

If our religious motivations lead us to confuse our salvation through Christ alone, is the persistence in keeping a set of behaviors or beliefs worth it? Could it lead us to the most negative consequences, which is losing out on the heart of the gospel message?

Certainly, a severe addiction to a drug requires extensive treatment. But for the sober Adventist, I urge you to consider the activities you choose to engage in that don’t lead to the best outcomes. If you’re reading this and wondering how to overcome religious addictive behaviors, here are some practical steps toward change. First, admit to yourself the unhealthy pattern you’re in and the motivations behind that behavior. The second, which can be the hardest step, is to tell someone. Choose someone you can trust and pray about it. Avoid sulking in silent shame or guilt because I can assure you that you are not alone. And finally, take steps towards gaining a deeper understanding of Scripture and spend time listening to God’s voice. With God’s grace, it’s never too late to change.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has a National Helpline that is 24/7, free and confidential for those seeking treatment. Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for more information. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Vanessa Alarcón, MSW is a Licensed Addictions Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the Denver metro area. Email her at: [email protected]

¹Bill Cote and Mita M. Johnson. Basics of Addiction Counseling: Desk Reference. (NAADAC, 2017, pg. 18).

² Amanda Navarro, et al. Recommendations for Future Efforts in Community Health Promotion. Centers for Disease Control, 2006.

³ Duane C. Mcbride, et al. Health Beliefs, Behavior, Spiritual Growth, and Salvation in a Global Population of Seventh‐day Adventists. Review of Religious Research, 2021.

31 Jan

THE BELIEF NARCOTIC

Not for us the silver needle through which flows euphoric highs … and death. Not for us the innocent-looking pill which tempts overdose. Not for us the bubbly drink delivering magic mood alteration. No, we have a unique belief system that works for us.

Seventh-day Adventists are not immune from addictions or obsessions. In particular, we may be susceptible to addiction to our belief system.

Religious addiction is a phenomenon that has recognition among therapists and researchers as a real emotional and mental dysfunction.

We are perhaps most familiar with addiction to substances. But there is growing acceptance of the concept of behavioral or process addictions. This form of addiction shares characteristics with substance addiction. Anticipation. Cravings. Mood ups and downs. Dependency. Withdrawal. Skewed attention.

This is because behavioral or process addictions and substance addictions overlap in a key way. Both activate the brain’s reward network. They deliver payoffs that addicts seek. It could be a high. It could be relief from pain. It could be euphoria. It could be release from guilt. All of those are rewards for behaviors that can become addictive.

“This process is mood altering due to participating or not participating in religious experiences, associating only with like-minded persons and withdrawing from others, and attending church with like-minded persons.” ¹

At this point, we must be careful. Religious activity often delivers rewards to the brain in legitimate ways. But there is a point at which seeking the reward out of a need for another “hit” can become a mood-altering necessity.

The proposition of this article is that Adventists sometimes display characteristics of being addicted to the belief system, the doctrines, and prophetic interpretations. Some have a tendency to idolize our beliefs. We tend to focus on our beliefs more than we do basic Christian realities. I am personally doubtful that a single soul will be saved through doctrinal and prophetic correctness. And yet …

For example, we might experience a sense of safety, specialness, and harmony with God because we know the right day to worship. We might feel we have inside information about the future because we know how last day events will unfold. We might find comfort because we know better than the other 2.5 billion Christians what death is really like. We might find euphoria because we think we understand the codes of Daniel and Revelation.

On the downside, we may experience anxiety and/or fear because we feel compelled to monitor the activities of the papacy or watch the economy with an eye to looming end times or seek to discern signs of the last days in international relations. We are given to making prognostications about end-time events based on reading signs and omens even though neither we nor Ellen G. White have ever been good at predictive fervor.

Adventism began with a particular set of prophetic interpretations and doctrinal beliefs that set it apart from other Christian brands. Part of the culture became a continuous emphasis on the Adventist belief system. When you are a minor sect, you have to keep reinforcing your uniquenesses.

So, this focus on truth has come down to us through 180 years of reinforcement. We see it in Revelation seminar after Revelation seminar. Daniel seminars. Prophetic reviews. Ongoing focus on, and speculation about, signs and times. Getting ready. Perpetual focus on end-time schedules and events. 2,300 days. 1,260 days. 1844. 1798. Three angels. Last generation theology.

And more.

It seems to this writer that there is a tendency to focus on these things to the exclusion of other matters more crucial to Christian life. We tend to overlook core Christianity while obsessing about our doctrine, prophecy, the future, and Ellen G. White.

In short, focus on the apocalyptic and eschatological can, and in many cases does, distract us from the reality that the kingdom of heaven is among us now. We are encouraged by Elizabeth Esther to “offer the gift of our presence in the present, allowing God to take care of our afterlife.” ² Instead, we tend to have our eyes on future events.

When was the last time your church had a 1 Corinthians 13 seminar? Can you recall a seminar on the sheep and goats of Matthew 25?

Have you ever attended a series to discuss Jesus’ statement regarding the great two commandments (love God and your neighbor)? Even though Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13 that being a loving Christian is more important than just about anything, we are addicted to studying prophecy, times, signs, end-time events, and Ellen G. White.

“If I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:2 [ESV]).

A brief story illustrates the dilemma. Loren Seibold, editor of Adventist Today, tells a story. He went to pastor a new church, committed to preaching only about Jesus and the gospel. He was soon approached by a church member.

Church member: “What we’re really missing is the meat.”

“I preach the gospel every sermon.”

“No, we mean the prophetic meat. The signs of the end, the persecution, the Catholics, the Great Controversy, the things we have to do that set us apart like eating right and dressing right and keeping the Sabbath. You don’t mention those things.”

“I thought Jesus was the meat of the message.”

“All churches preach Jesus. The meat for us is all these other things.”

A real risk of obsession with our belief system is that we will be deluded to believe our standing with God has to do with beliefs. Our standing with God has to do with His gift, not doctrine or prophecy. Let us focus on the gift!

There is another problematic aspect of addiction to our belief system: the need for certainty. We may feel safe only if there is certainty about the correctness of the truth we hold to.

“… The development of extreme religious beliefs, like extreme political ideologies, occurs out of a need to simplify and find black-and-white answers … straightforward answers where ambiguity generally exists … a conviction that one’s views are correct … and that other views are wrong. The belief that one is right allows a person to think in a reductionist manner and undermines one’s ability to critically assess different points of view. Extreme ideological belief systems are based on the view that one’s beliefs are universal and right while opposing views are wrong.” ³

Our belief system is, for the most part, not the problem. It is our obsession and preoccupation with our beliefs to the exclusion of weightier matters that is the problem. Jesus pointed out the risks of lopsided religious focus.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith.” ⁴

Commenting on the issue at hand, Renee Notkin, said “Our witness is not right doctrine; it is our relational orientation … As friends of Jesus, we love one another—and that includes people different from us. In fact, no one can be an ‘other,’ because in Christ we belong to one another … Instead of being people who stink with judgment and criticism, we are to be an aroma of blessing, hope, joy, peace, and love.” ⁵

The first step to conquering an addiction is to admit it exists. It is a tough first step, but necessary. Perhaps we should contemplate our spiritual priorities.

Edward Reifsnyder is a healthcare consultant, president of The Reifsnyder Group, and senior vice-president of FaithSearch Partners. He and his wife Janelle live in Fort Collins, Colorado, and have two daughters. Email him at: [email protected]

¹ Thomas Roberts. Religious Addiction: A Disease or a Misnomer? https://www.Abstract elephant.com

² Elizabeth Esther, Spiritual Sobriety, p. 15.

³ Thomas Roberts. Religious Addiction: A Disease or a Misnomer? https://www.Abstract elephant.com

⁴ Matthew 23:23 NRSV.

⁵ Renee Notkin, Co-Pastor, Union Church, Seattle. Quoted in New York Times Opinion essay, Why Jesus Loved Friendship by Peter Wehner, December 23, 2022.

31 Jan

PHARISAICAL ADDICTION TO RELIGION: WHAT DID JESUS DO?

Can you “have too much religion”? Depends on what you mean by religion, of course, but from one perspective, the answer is surely, “Yes!”

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines addiction as “a compulsive, chronic, physiological or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, behavior, or activity having harmful physical, psychological, or social effects.” Could this apply to the way we approach religion too?

Say what you like about the Pharisees, but at least they were totally committed to their religion. All too often we paint a caricature of these God-fearing believers, labeling them as just bunch of legalists, hypocritical, and self-righteous.

But let’s look a little deeper. Their name comes from the Aramaic word for “separated,” since they wanted to live different lives from others, more committed to the truths of Scripture. They were a lay-led movement who wanted to help others take their faith more seriously. This led them into the role as the main religious teachers in the country.

After the disaster of the Exile to Babylon, those who returned to Judea determined to follow God better, and not to make the same mistakes that had led them into captivity in the first place. The Pharisees were an extension of this perspective, wanting to do all that God had said in the most detailed manners.

In many ways then we can identify with the Pharisees. They were doing what they thought was right. And there’s the problem, right there. The concentrating on doing. Jesus’ criticism of the Pharisees was that they only did what they understood God wanted and thought that it didn’t matter who they were. In the words of Francis Chan, “If God cared only about religious activities, then the Pharisees would have been heroes of the faith.” They concentrated so much on religious actions that they didn’t even consider inner principles and motivations.

They took this to such extremes that they could readily be classified as being addicted to religion. What they thought they needed to do for their faith influenced every aspect of their lives. From the moment they woke up to the time they fell asleep, their primary concern was making sure they kept all the religious rules. Their self-worth depended on such religious affirmation just as much as a drug addict depends on their latest “fix.” To help with this, they looked for the approval of others by being called “Rabbi” in the marketplace, praying on street corners, or looking miserable when they were fasting.

Let’s ask a few questions. Was it compulsive? Yes. Was it chronic behavior? Yes. Was it habit-forming? Yes. Did it have “harmful physical, psychological, or social effects”? Yes. So, by definition they were addicts, addicted to religion.

Now comes some questions: How do you deal with such people and such behavior? What do we learn from the way that Jesus treated them, remembering that “sometimes we emulate the Pharisees more than we imitate Christ.” (R. C. Sproul). How does Jesus speak to us if we exhibit such thinking?

Interestingly, he identifies with them, at least in their role of teaching God’s truth! He tells both the crowds and his disciples, “The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees are the authorized interpreters of Moses’ Law. So, you must obey and follow everything they tell you to do …” (Matthew 23:2, 3 GNT).

But then he gets to the heart of the matter when he continues, “Do not, however, imitate their actions, because they don’t practice what they preach.” (Matthew 23:3 GNT). Here’s the problem with such a religious addiction. You are so caught up with all the doing that you don’t really do things with meaning and proper perspective. You just go through the motions. Nor do you stop to consider the fundamental question of why you’re doing what you do. You have the requirements, so you just follow them. In this, they were just like the people God addressed through Isaiah (1:11, 13 NLT): “‘What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?’ says the LORD. ‘I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened cattle. I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls and lambs and goats … . Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting—they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings.’”

This from the God who spent so much time describing in detail the sacrificial system! Yet if you’re a religious addict, you think that’s what is required so you concentrate on just doing that. So how did Jesus deal with these people who are too often so much like you and me?

The first point to make surely is that even though he had some tough words for them at times, Jesus wanted them to respond to his offer of love and salvation. He told them “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Of course, the Pharisees saw themselves as righteous and healthy when they were not. His call, repeating Hosea 6:6, was a reminder that God wanted care for others, justice for the marginalized, and heartfelt love for those in need so much more than he wanted religious observance in the form of sacrifices. But if you are sure that you are on God’s side doing what he wants, why do you need to worry about that?

So that’s one example. Jesus is trying to get them to think. In the over eighty instances in the gospels of Jesus’ interacting with the Pharisees, that is primarily what he is attempting—to break through the outward shell of religious duty to get to the inner person and develop a relationship with them. Generally, he failed because they were so sure they were right. They were so addicted and had invested so much in their “system” that to admit they were wrong was to them an impossibility. Yet there were a few who responded, such as Nicodemus, who is identified as a Pharisee.

In Matthew 23, Jesus pronounced seven woes on the Pharisees, calling them hypocrites, blind guides, and even snakes! He catalogues their errors and speaks truth to power. This shows that, at times, direct interventions are necessary in dealing with addicts, especially religious addicts. But even here it is done in love, for Jesus weeps over them and all the people of Jerusalem who would not come to him (Matthew 23:37, 38).

These hyper-religious people cannot even see anything wrong in plotting murder after Jesus heals a man with crippled hand in synagogue on Sabbath (see Matthew 12:14). They are so furious about him “breaking” the Sabbath by healing, they don’t see that they are breaking the commandment by trying to kill him.

So, let’s bring it home and ask ourselves some pointed questions. In what ways may we Adventists be guilty of believing some alternative to the true good news of God? Getting obsessed over the furniture in the Sanctuary? Identifying the toes in the image of Daniel 2? Preaching salvation through vegetarianism? Being preoccupied with the King of the North? Being addicted to apocalypticism? Arguing over the 28 Fundamentals? Taking up the cudgels to beat one another over the role of women? Making tithe-paying the passport to the kingdom?

We all have our hobby-horses when it comes to the kind of Adventists we are. The problem for the Pharisees was not just their rule-keeping but they were so totally confident in their system. In the end they crucified the Lord of the Sabbath and then went home to keep the Sabbath. Jesus says to all of us, “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20 NIV).

It’s a whole different kind of righteousness Jesus is talking about—it’s not about being so sure you’re right. It is righteousness that breaks the chains of pharisaical addiction to religion as a system and legalistic obedience to become more of a loving person who is focused on others more than focused on self and the rules that could easily cause the death of a Savior on Friday so that they could observe the celebration of Sabbath.

The questions remain: how can the pharisaical addiction to religion blind us to pursue God’s desire for us to be God’s hands and feet and heart in the broken world today? Do we contribute to brokenness by being stiff religious addicts or do we work on healing the world in the spiritual and physical realm by loving our God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and loving our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39)?

Zdravko (Zack) Plantak, PhD, is a professor of religion and ethics at the School of Religion at Loma Linda University. Email him at: [email protected]

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