Editor's Corner
Whatever Happened to the Remnant?
By William Fagal
Director, White Estate Branch Office & Research Center, Andrews University
Why is this issue of Adventists Affirm devoted to the theme of the Remnant? Is this a "hot topic" in the Adventist Church today?
Well, no. But perhaps it ought to be.
The church has been growing rapidly, especially outside of North America, and even in this country one wonders whether the people joining this church have a real sense of the special calling and task God has given us. Are we passing on to the next generation a vision of why God has called this church into being—what we are here for? The flame can die just from our neglect to stoke it.
When we do talk about the Remnant concept today, have we come to mean something quite different by it?
Did we lose something of our own soul in the process?
Have we become more acceptable to other Christians only to become less acceptable to God?
And then there's another concern. When we do talk about the Remnant concept today, have we come to mean something quite different by it? A shift in meaning in our discussions about the Remnant started to take place some forty years ago. In some of our publications we began to define the Remnant differently than we had for the previous one hundred years. As we became better acquainted with Christians in other faiths, we found the new definition of the Remnant more comfortable, less confrontational, more attractive.
"It is to concerns like these that our current issue of Adventists Affirm is dedicated."
Did we lose something of our own soul in the process? Have we become more acceptable to other Christians only to become less acceptable to God?
It is to concerns like these that our current issue of Adventists Affirm is dedicated. As we pointed out when we chose this name, it is a sentence name, with a subject and a verb: Adventists exist to Affirm the truths of Scripture and to proclaim them with a strong, clear voice. That's hard to do if we're not sure what those truths are.
It is our hope that this issue of Adventists Affirm will help you to look with fresh vision at this time-worn concept of our church. Let's take it down from the shelf, blow the dust off it, and see what significant things might have been lying hidden there. With a new appreciation for the value of what God has given us, we can go on to polish this truth to a rich luster, whose beauty will encourage us to fulfill God's high calling.
In This Issue
Dr. Gerhard F. Hasel
Our keynote article is by Dr. Gerhard F. Hasel, who is just leaving the deanship of the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary to return to more classroom teaching in the seminary's Old Testament department. Dr. Hasel wrote his doctoral dissertation on the Remnant, and we are pleased to have him distill some of his interest in this theme to set the tone for this issue.
Dr. C. Mervyn Maxwell
Dr. C. Mervyn Maxwell reminds us how our church's expositors handled this theme for a hundred years, and calls our attention to the ways in which some now are downplaying or changing this emphasis. Dr. Maxwell also enjoys writing poetry; read his prayer for our pastors, and for us all.
Laurel Damsteegt
Laurel Damsteegt explores the Remnant theme further with an article highlighting the consequences to our mission if we forget who we are and what God would have us do. Mrs. Damsteegt, whom we introduced in our last issue, brings an impressive set of qualifications with her, having served actively with her husband in pastoral, evangelistic, and mission work.
John Fowler
John Fowler contributes "Preaching Present Truth." Besides his administrative duties, Elder Fowler is working on a Ph.D. degree in preaching at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Not just preaching, but preaching the truth is a special concern of his.
Shirley Holmes
We have asked Shirley Holmes, who wrote for our previous issue, to share with us some of her personal experience and thoughts of what the Remnant concept means to her. Mrs. Holmes became a Seventh-day Adventist while married to an active Lutheran minister. Such a decision requires deep conviction. Today her husband is still an active minister, but now he ministers for the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Ellen G. White
Ellen G. White has much to say on the Remnant theme, but we have chosen just one passage that spotlights the high calling that God has given to His people, unworthy though they be.
Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi
Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi shares with us a thought-provoking article on the lifestyle of the Remnant. What manner of persons ought we to be as we wait for and work toward Jesus' return?
Dr. C. Raymond Holmes
Dr. C. Raymond Holmes (Shirley's husband) reviews a book that should provide a warning to us of what can happen to Adventism if we do not hold together doctrinally. Other churches have tried pluralism, and some in our church are encouraging us in that direction. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
A Word About Timing: We need to say a word about the timing of this issue's publication. It's late! As many scholarly journals can attest, this is an occupational hazard of publishing a paper in an academic community where everyone is quite fully employed with something else. But we hope we can maintain a more timely schedule from here on. If we miss it sometimes, be patient with us. We will do our best!
