I'd like to offer you an invitation. Are you interested in joining a new group called "Good-Looking Adventists"? Let me explain.
A few months ago I happened upon a publication put out by sincere members of the Adventist church. From time to time I peruse this publication to get a feel for what they are thinking. It's always good to stay informed, after all.
There was an article in this particular issue that caught my attention, however. It was talking about being an "Intellectual Adventist." Now, forgive me for being a little slow, but it was the first time that it had been brought to my attention that there was such a group. Reading the article was intriguing, though, and left me quite impressed.
Presumably, the author believed himself to be a part of such an "elite" group. I'm not sure the criteria by which a person can belong to such a group, but I sure wanted to find out. I resisted the urge, however, to write a letter to the editor and inquire how I could become a member of such a group. Instead, I got my undergraduate transcripts from college - complete with my 3.21 cumulative GPA from prestigious Andrews University - and was prepared to send them in as my ticket to becoming an "Intellectual Adventist."
Strangely, the General Conference didn't have any information about this prestigious group when I scoured the church's website. This left me baffled. I could only conclude that it was not an official subsidiary of the church. It must be a self-supporting group.
But before I could proceed any further with my endeavor, something suddenly dawned on me. Why don't I start my own group - something that is more relevant to who I am as a person. Why not start a "Good-Looking Adventists" club? I mean, after all, my wife tells me I'm good-looking semi-frequently.
No, I've never been on the cover of GQ magazine - or the Adventist Review, for that matter - but it's not as though we would need to check any one's GQ quotient before they became a member, anyway. All anyone would have to do to become a member is to think that they're good-looking, and that would be good enough for me.
So what do you say? Are you interested?
"But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty. . . . Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God" (1 Cor 1:27; 3:18, 19).
5 comments:
The brain is a classifying machine, and we tend to like to group up. How do we not group? As far as "intellectual Adventists" go, the rest of us are rough-and-tumble dunce Adventists. Proof that there really are only two types: Goodventists and Badventists, with Goodventists making up the majority and thinking they are very rare indeed.
I'm glad we have some intellectual adventists left. If I didn't have ADD I would like to think about Christ more intently, maybe even make the club.
And that is not even broaching the topic that Adventists already have a challenge with thinking they are better than other Christians.
Seth,
Thanks for your thoughts, buddy. I agree that it is a good thing we still have "Intellectual Adventists." Through my sarcasm, I would really like to be one.
My only issue with "them" (whoever "them" is) is that they seem to have an attitude of self-congratulations. Maybe I'm just reacting to the idea that people would actually label themselves "intellectual" (much the same as someone labeling himself good-looking). It's a little vain, don't you think?
It seems to imply that those on the outside are not "intellectual," and that anytime there is a disagreement between the two camps, the "intellectuals" win because, well, they're intellectual and seemingly have a much higher IQ and reasoning ability.
It reminds me of two verses by our buddy Paul, "And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know" (1 Cor 8:2), and, "For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself" (Gal 6:3).
May Christ humble us all.
Shawn,
I will sign up if I do not need to post my picture!!!!!!!!!
Perky
Hey Shawn,
Good seeing you're good-looking mug again!
I'm glad that you bring this up because I really cringe when some folks -- usually embattled -- feel like they have to resort to calling themselves holier, or more intellectual or more empathetic. It's pretty hard to take someone like Daniel Dennett seriously when he calls everyone who agrees with him "the brights."
Two of the best ideas that humans have had are the priesthood of all believers (church) and that all humans are created equal (state).
My guess is that the fella who slapped his fellow "intellectual Adventists" on the back might object to other Adventists crowing about being the remnant.
But wait, weren't you named a "top Adventist?" : )
You write very well.
Post a Comment