The Heart of Adventism Part 4

Our 28 Fundamental Beliefs do not condone the wearing of jewelry or assimilation into worldly fashions. Fundamental Belief #22: Christian Behavior explicitly states the following:

"We are called to be godly people who think, feel, and act in harmony with biblical principles in all aspects of personal and social life ... It means that our amusement and entertainment should meet the highest standards of Christian taste and beauty ... It also means that because our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, we are to care for them intelligently ... Along with adequate exercise and rest, we are to adopt the most healthful diet possible ... [and] we are to dress with simplicity, modesty, and neatness, true beauty consisting not in outward adornment but in the imperishable ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit."

Yet, there is an undeniable silence on this subject today. In many of our congregations, these standards are absent from public expression, and in practice, a culture of "if it feels good, do it; if it's offensive, leave it out" has quietly taken root.

Why are leaders silent?

• Fear of Offending: We live in a consumer-driven church culture where we fear that preaching high standards will drive people away.
• The Drift Toward Assimilation: We want to look like, sound like, and be accepted by the evangelical world around us. We do not want to be seen as "peculiar" or "legalistic."

But scripture warns us: "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God" (James 4:4).

When we remain silent, we do not show love; we show pastoral neglect. By failing to teach the beauty of Christian simplicity, we leave our young people to be discipled by the vanity, materialism, and hyper-sexualized standards of social media and modern culture.

Dr. Paul A. Scavella

Leadership Consultant & Theologian