Do we need a clearer understanding of reverence as technology enters church worship?
What reasons would you give for not participating in a church drama? This is an issue for me at the moment as it is a requirement of one of my subjects.
Arthur White (Ellen's grandson) wrote an excellent article on the use of drama in SDA institutions back in the 1906s. It clears up the context of his grandmother's statements regarding Christian drama, and points out that she did not universally condemn its use. Of course, those who regard Sister White as an unbending interpreter of her own writings would probably dismiss his study as 'creeping compromise'. But dramatic talent is a definite gift. And what were the great visions of the prophets but mini-dramas (visual presentations, if you will) that illustrated divine truth?
The issue of drama has caused more contention in the Seventh-day Adventist Church than probably any other issue because:
1. it is such a link-up with wordly elements that most of the global population have been shown to like: Hollywood, and;
2. because of the undying and intolerant agenda for those who demand it be practiced even during the divine worship hour.
It came into the church first with a dramatic announcement for the necessity of TOLERANCE in our religious ideas. It then began to be pushed relentlessly to the sacrifice of many souls who did not want its interference.
It REFUSED to start churches of its own and demonstrate its benefits there. It is a parasitic movement concocted to demand that the Seventh-day Adventist Church CONVERT. It was under secret corporate sponsorship and it went around pretending to be a tolerant movement but proved all the time that it was not. There would be much less trouble if it agreed to operate on its own property and authority so we can see its benefits and decide. It always has been very insensitive to the trouble it has caused and accused the Church, being what it always was, of causing all the trouble, telling the Church she MUST accept it.
It then made the Adventist population into classes. Throughout history you were either Adventist or you were NOT. Even before the drama movements was officially concocted the Adventist people were divided into classes in preparation for its entrance. Adventist believers were then called, Traditionalists, Evangelicals and Liberals.
3. It is deeply ecumenical, but it knowingly hides these colors. Wherever it goes it, at a time like this, suppresses the special study of the special messages given to the Adventist Church. It shows that it resents any separating off of the Adventist Church and any highlighting of its differences from the other churches and its special gifts given to it by God.
4. Virtually ever enemy we know of on the internet who hates the Adventist Church and who are trained to attack it, loves the movement since they also are ecumenical. Consequently all of these attackers of the Adventist Church always seem to find some complaint about the so-called "inconsistencies" of Ellen G. White. They labor day and night to show that she was not reliable and should not be trusted BEFORE then then tell us constantly what course the Adventist Church MUST take.
There are more points, but to say that the issue is merely a disbanding of reverence in the house of God DURING THE DIVINE SERVICE, does not touch the half of what this movement is all about as it screams to those who reject it, "WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL ANYWAY!" as it then sacrifices everything to force its way through and cannot answer that same question for its very existence.
We are still waiting for those who demand the Seventh-day Adventist Church be transformed into their "unknowns" to stop causing the trouble, utilize their "Holy Spirit" and show that it can put them in churches of their own instead of the unwaffling, unwavering, unflip-flopping agenda to CONVERT Adventism to their "pure, pure gospel" that FORCES itself on the property of believers who originally built and sustained it.
For opposing this movement many true Adventist have been expelled, and the movement has shown that it already has illicit ties to all church property and authority.
The Arthur L. White article, 'Dramatic Productions in SDA Institutions', can be found on the Ellen G. White Estate website. It is a wonderfully balanced, commonsense presentation of the subject.