by Tom Norris
Although discussion about the future of Adventism has been taking place for some time, the recent events of the Damascus Road Community Church ("DRCC") loom large, like an ominous sign reminding us that Adventism is in serious trouble. Could major schism be ahead? Is Adventism in danger of collapse on the eve of the new millennium? In his November article about the Damascus problem entitled, "When the Family Splits," the Editor of the Review speaks to these questions with both a loud "no" and a more subdued "maybe". Of course he first takes the "no" position by reminding us that one church does not represent a denomination. After all "only several hundred Adventists" are affected "whereas worldwide we number about 10 million". So rest easy we are told, "let's not blow up the Damascus split to exaggerated dimensions...." The Advent ship is not sinking.
But after the obligatory denial, comes a more muted- but realistic- 'yes', Adventism could actually be in danger of collapse. After all, it doesn't take a visionary to figure out that if lots of local churches decide to exchange outdated methods for new models that work, like Willow Creek , the Denomination could be decimated within a very short time period. To underscore the possibility of such a collapse, the Editor candidly admitted that the cultural climate today is ripe for such a possibility because of the widespread ecumenical climate combined with the "rejection of authority." These and other factors--like money--could push the Adventist Church "erlong" into "disintegration." This is an alarming public admission from the Church's leading Adventist Editor. One that is no doubt quite true. But now that the obvious is up for discussion, just how did the Advent movement get into such a potentially fatal crisis and, more importantly, how can it be resolved so that the Church can focus on its true mission and move forward?
One obvious suggestion is to let the DRCC stay officially within the Advent community. This was the suggestion of the At Issue editor in her "Open Letter Regarding the Situation at Damascus Road Community Church and Christ Advent Fellowship". This is a worthy suggestion that merits study within the context of a holistic strategic plan to reform Adventism. Such a Master Plan was presented to the NAD in 1989 and re-printed in 1992 under the title "Adventism in Crisis-A discussion on the state of the Adventist Church". Had that Plan been put into action, the Church could have been years ahead in understanding the crisis and resolving its numerous complex and growing problems.
The paper called for a 10 year strategic plan to reposition the Denomination in an orderly and comprehensive manner. There was frank discussion about the Gospel and the fundamental theological issues that had to be corrected before the Church could move forward. Following those minor adjustments to the present Adventist paradigm, the Plan further showed how to meaningfully address the numerous problems--ranging from salvaging the terminal health message-including the Church's last place health magazine-Vibrant Life- to reversing the massive exodus from the Denomination and making evangelism and church growth a priority. The strategy also called for an improved, democratic form of church Government as well as the development of a new local church model--one that is historically Adventist, Biblically defensible, gospel friendly, and financially viable. Although the document was briefly discussed at the highest levels of the General Conference, the leadership choose to ignore its recommendations and follow another course. After almost a decade, the present deteriorating situation speaks sadly for their decision.
The DRCC situation as well as other reoccurring problems, only demonstrate the fact that Adventism is in the grip of a potentially fatal crisis that needs real solutions and leadership. Disfellowshipping gospel-believing SDA congregations will not solve the fundamental problems that plague the crumbling Adventist empire. How can this action help the Church achieve its spiritual destiny? It will only cause more pain, bitterness, and bewilderment to the weary Advent people and waste more limited resources. After all, the denomination has probably invested close to one million dollars by way of salary and benefits in Pastor Fredericks alone over the past 22 years. So why waste such a good resource? And why disenfranchise scores of good Gospel-believing Adventist members? Isn't there a better way? While it is true that the DRCC and other evangelical Adventist congregations avoid many traditional Adventist themes like the Sabbath and the Second Coming, they are sincerely trying to present of "first importance" (1 Corinthians. 15:3) the Gospel to the Adventist community--specifically to those that were weary of the theological battles that were never resolved or rationally explained.
Moreover, it is not fair to blame honest Adventist preachers--like Pastor Fredericks-- who focus exclusively on the Gospel when the Church itself--with all its resources and mighty institutions of higher learning--has failed to develop a modern Adventist eschatology that complements the Protestant Gospel. In fact, the Church should be grateful that the Gospel is being preached so successfully within their community at all. If the leaders wish to promote the church's eschatological traditions--which they certainly should and must--then they should work to develop a meaningful eschatology -- one that is historically Adventist, Biblically defensible, Gospel-friendly, and economically sound. Until this is done, the Church cannot move forward.
In order to focus on real solutions, the leadership must first admit the truth that neither the Nineteenth- or the Twentieth-Century paradigms of the Third Angel's Message are now working--or will ever work in the Twenty-first Century. Adventism needs to change if it is to survive. However, this doesn't mean that the baby should be thrown out with the bath water. There is no reason to take the position that the Gospel cannot stand along side a Biblical eschatology. In fact, the point of the gospel is eschatology. The Second Coming, a bodily resurrection and eternal life on the earth made new, is the ultimate goal of the Gospel (Hebrews 11:13 and 12:2). The Apostle Paul knew this well as evidenced in his writing to the Corinthian church (Corinthians 15:12-19). If Adventism ever hopes to move forward, it must first develop an eschatology that works in tandem with the Gospel, not against it.
Today, the Church must reposition itself by supporting the correct gospel and then move forward to develop a workable and harmonious unity between the Gospel, Adventist eschatology and Denominational control. Such a theological package, if properly developed, has the potential to unite the Advent movement and revitalize the Church, preparing it for its Twenty-first Century mission to prepare the world for the great day of judgment. However, by declaring these new "gospel models"--such as DRCC--outside of the Adventist orbit, the Church stops the dialogue and short circuits the vital research and development process that must take place in order to create the much needed and improved local church paradigm.
Regardless of one's viewpoint about the future of Adventism, it is a forgone conclusion that the Church will change. In fact, since the introduction of the Gospel and the 'Righteousness by Faith' debates in the 1970's, the Church has already changed dramatically and there is no doubt that even more change is ahead. The only question remains is what kind of change will it be. Will the Church follow its present course of schism and self destruction or will the Adventist community rise up and make the necessary effort to deal honestly with its fundamental problems before its too late?
The solution is simply this: The church must now develop a new and improved version of Adventism--before it is too late. The DRCC model is not complete by any means, but if developed properly, that model, and other variations of it, could be an important part of the solution to bring true revival and reformation to the Adventist community first and then to the world. Considering the precarious position of the Advent denomination today, what other alternative is left?
The full text of the 1989/1992 Adventism in Crisis; including a Strategic Plan to Reposition Adventism is available from the author, Tom Norris, an Adventist Businessman and Consultant who can be reached at 301-439-1068; E-mail: tlgroup@erols.com.
Tom Norris