The Story of Adventism

A play was recently produced at Pacific Union College which highlights some issues I have been thinking about for some time. The play is entitled "Red Books" and it explores the attitudes of Adventists over several generations toward the defining role of Ellen White and her writings in the history of the movement. For more information on the news item; click here. What particularly caught my attention was a statement by the producer in an on line interview that a key element in the creation of this play was the observation that there is a four-generation relationship to a prophetic figure like White.

The first generation in a new religious movement led by a charismatic person appreciates the spiritual gifts displayed in that person and at the same time recognizes them as a human being. The second generation puts the person on a pedestal after they are gone. The third generation tears down the pedestal and the fourth generation is left with nothing but a misunderstood and ill-defined wound or void.

If this is true (and I think it is, in one way or another) about the role of Ellen White and her legacy in the Adventist movement, then it is more largely true about the history of the movement altogether. What is the story of Adventism as you have heard it? What generation are you in?

I have been increasingly made aware by my own daughters, their spouses and friends, and many other friends and acquaintances under 40, that there is a hunger to hear the real history of the Adventist movement and what it means in the larger context of life. Too much of what has been written about Adventist history is either too academic to be relevant or too myopic, usually focused on debates and proving points unrelated to the reality of life for almost all young adults.

I recently had the challenge and opportunity of presenting three papers in one day to an ecumenical council of bishops on the history, theology and communal life of Adventists. A 30something colleague who was with me that day asked me for a copy of my notes and when I told me wife I had about 45 pages of notes, she suggested I revise the manuscript into a small book. What are your thoughts? Where should I put this in terms of priorities among the several book manuscripts I am working on intermittently?

Comments

[David Hamstra]

I think your sense of the fourth generation wanting to hear the real history without theological point scoring is spot on, Monte. If you could do this in a concise way, it would become very valuable. I sense that George Knight comes close to this, but even he can't resist taking theological pot shots as his adversaries.

[chris]

I fondly remember learning about the history of Adventism through the gripping stories
Of Ron Graybill on Sabbath afternoons in Takoma Park. Would re-purposing these notes into a series of interviews maybe with your daughter be a possibility? Can this needed material be packaged in a manner that resonates with the learning portals of this generation? I love books, but I think MP3 files and podcasts would afford a greater appeal for this precious legacy to be widely embraced.

[Trevan Osborn]

I like Chris' idea of doing some podcasts and basically doing the presentations again while sitting in front of your laptop. What about putting up the manuscripts online for people to read as several articles?

[Monte]

Great ideas. I appreciate the creative thinking. This leads me to think more about the media that might be involved.

Any other ideas or reactions? I don't want to close the dialog too soon.

[Kevin Kuehmichel]

Monte, not being a multi-generational Adventist I cannot speak to those in that state. But, as an adult convert I had to come to grips with EGW for myself. I was extremely skeptical of a modern prophet and wanted to know the truth. I finally decided to read the originals for myself to prove her one way or the other for myself. She sold me as a godly woman who wrote things that burned in my heart. The second thing that impacted me was the six volume set on EGW by Arthur White. I felt that set did a great deal to help me understand her as a human and not an idol.

One thing I'm doing in my church is skipping the quarterly and reading a chapter a week in an EGW book. Right now we are going over a chapter a week in the book Christ's Object lessons. Those who attend love it and they are being won over just as I was.

FYI

Kevin

[Alexander]

I like your idea, but it's got to have an original perspective.

I attended the REDbooks play at PUC and there's no doubt that significant numbers of this generation care about the roots of our culture.

[Ryan Bell]

Monte,

What if you teamed up with a documentarian and did a documentary on "The Untold/Little-told Story of Adventism?"