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By Jeff Gang, November 5, 2010 8:00 am

Social Darwinism

There’s a debate raging in the Seventh-day Adventist Church about creation vs. evolution, particularly as its taught in higher education, e.g. La Sierra University.  I am not about to get into that issue here.

I am presenting a theology of justice tomorrow at CrossWalk U. titled, “Justice Isn’t a Four Letter Word”. In preparing, I came across an idea in N.T. Wright’s Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church. Wright points out an irony in the creation vs. evolution debate. Keep in mind Wright isn’t talking about Seventh-day Adventists specifically.

The irony is that those American churches that protest most vocally against the teaching of Darwinism in their schools are often, in their public policies, supporting a kind of economic Darwinism, the survival of the fittest in world markets and military power.

- N.T. Wright
Surprised by Hope, p. 219-220

So my question: If the church won’t “flinch” in our stand for creation, will we be consistent? If we stand against Darwinism, will we stand against it in all forms, even social Darwinism? If not, it seems to me our convictions about creation have little real world significance other than a house of cards, propping up our beliefs.

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By Jeff Gang, October 22, 2010 7:05 pm

My denomination, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, was conceived in disappointment. It happened one-hundred and sixty-six years ago today, October 22, 1844. That morning, thousands of Christians gathered together around the United States (mostly New England) to await the second coming of Jesus. People called them Millerites, because of the movement’s leader William Miller, they came from many different churches at the time—from Baptists to Presbyterians. Many of them forced to leave their churches because of their radical ideas.

Ironically, the Advent movement, as it eventually became known, happened because our forefathers were wrong (Most of my life this event was explained away or treated like the odd cousin no body wants to talk about at family reunions).  Like or not, I wouldn’t be here today if the Great Disappointment didn’t happen.

This year I am grateful for a group of innovative young Adventists who decided to look at our failures from a different perspective, something Christian’s don’t like doing very often. Tonight small groups of us around the country will be gathering to reflect on what this event means for us in the 21st century, and where we go from here together. My friend Ryan Bell, pastor of the Hollywood Seventh-day Adventist Church, and one of the founders of Great Disappointment Day, captures the spirit of tonight best:

“Being faithful to our original calling does not mean saying and doing the same things we said and did in 1844 or 1863 or 1905. It means remaining faithful to the spirit of those crucial moments: the radical pursuit of truth, the courageous challenging of long established norms, and faithfully following the Lamb where he goes.” – Ryan J. Bell (Adventist Today, Summer 2010)

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By Jeff Gang, March 4, 2010 1:27 am

I enjoy Good Magazine’s infographics. This recent one is interesting, mapping income levels in the USA among different religious groups. You can check it out here at The Almighty Dollar: Mapping Distribution by Religious Belief. Is there any truth to stereotypes? Just asking. Wish my Seventh-day Adventists had made it on this one. My guess, our average income is fairly high (at least in the USA). It’s been awhile, but I think Malcolm Bull and Keith Lockhart (not SDA’s) touched on this issue in Seeking a Sanctuary: Seventh-day Adventists and the American Dream. Premise, becoming an SDA was a way to move up the socio-economic scale for many people. Any thoughts Sevies?

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By Jeff Gang, December 31, 2009 2:03 pm

It’s the time of year when we like lists—especially at the end of a decade (depending on how your counting). If you’re interested in the Seventh-day Adventist tradition, check out The Top Ten Adventist Stories of the Decade: a North American Perspective by Bonnie Dwyer over at the Spectrum Blog.

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By Jeff Gang, December 31, 2009 8:31 am

Some more good stuff from Jan Paulsen, President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists:

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By Jeff Gang, September 21, 2009 6:38 pm

I have to mention Ryan Bell again (No, I am not his press secretary), he just posted a phenomenal article on the Spectrum blog, An Adventism I Can Believe In. It’s based on the article I blogged about yesterday from the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist President Jan Paulsen. Good stuff, but make sure you read Paulsen’s article first.  Ryan says, Paulsen’s article is one to print out and read over and over again. I agree, but so is An Adventism I Can Believe In. Thanks Ryan!