Pulse Issue 3

A COLLABORATION OF ADVENTIST ACTIVISTS

JUNE 2024

THE STRONGMAN FALLACY

A CALLING BEYOND CULTURE

ISSUE 3 MY MONEY IS ABOUT MORE THAN ME LET’S TALK RENEWABLE JUSTLOVE LETTERS

WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?

THE STRONGMAN FALLACY

Strongman rule is a fantasy. Essential to it is the idea that a strongman will be your strongman. He won't. In a democracy, elected representatives listen to constituents. We take this for granted, and imagine that a dictator would owe us something. But the vote you cast for him affirms your irrelevance. The whole point is that the strongman owes us nothing. We get abused and we get used to it

Another pleasant illusion is that the strongman will unite the nation But an aspiring dictator will always claim that

some belong and others don't. He will define one group after another as the enemy. This might feel good, so long as you feel that you are on the right side of the line. But now fear is the essence of life. The politics of us-and-them, once begun, never ends.

We imagine that a dictator would owe us something.

We dream that a strongman will let us focus on America But dictatorship opens our country

to the worst the world has to offer. An American strongman will measure himself by the wealth and power of other dictators. He will befriend them and compete with them. From them he will learn new ways to oppress and to exploit his own people.

At least, the fantasy goes, the strongman will get things done. But dictatorial power today is not about achieving anything positive. It is about preventing anyone else from achieving anything The strongman is really the weak man: his secret is that he makes everyone else weaker

Excerpted from “The Strongman Fallacy and Dictatorship in Real Life” in “Thinking about . . . ” by Timothy Snyder, March 17, 2024

The Bible has much to say on issues of poverty and justice but it is not just a list of ideas or wise sayings. Proverbs 31:8, 9 says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get ” We are not expected to be silent about the injustices going on around us There is a definite call to action

The specific type of action cannot be prescribed, because each situation is unique But, when someone is a victim of injustice, violence and abuse, they are not able to stand up for their rights For example, among the common effects of child abuse is total withdrawal Children who have been victims of sexual abuse do not know how to trust The nature of the evil done to them impairs their ability to resist or escape it

The Bible makes it clear that those of us who see the afflicted and needy should fight for their cause. In practice and in many places, there are numerous national and international laws that protect the rights of each human being. But unless these laws are implemented and monitored, their mere existence will not change the situation. The oppressed need people who will stand for them and with them.

As human beings and perhaps even more so as people of faith, we have a moral duty to protect other people from injustices “when it’s in your power to help them” (Proverbs 3:27). Often, we decide not to act because we want to take the easy route In every situation where there is abuse and violence, or any other injustice, the question we need to ask ourselves is, “What is within my power

to do?” If it is a famine in a faraway land, sending my money might be the best and most practical action. There are cases in which reaching out to the victim could be the appropriate action The critical thing for us to do as Christians is to refuse inaction. That one life saved is worth it.

When we read the book of Amos, we will notice that the prophet went to great lengths to condemn leaders who were failing to practice social justice. God expressed His displeasure at these leaders and warned that He would withdraw His blessings from them (see Amos 5:7–15). To not act in response to injustice is sin.

Often, we decide not to act because we want to take the easy route.

God expects a deeper level of Christianity from us, a type of spirituality that will move our hearts to act against injustices and work to bring comfort to those suffering (see, for example, Isaiah 58:6–8).

This is what God promises to bless. Micah 6:8 concludes the matter beautifully by saying, “O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” We are being called to do what is right to do justice

Throughout the Bible, we receive instructions on what we should do in many different situations and, having received the instruction, we are asked to act accordingly We cannot be indifferent We cannot use the excuses of ignorance or culture. We cannot ignore Whatever are circumstances or our culture, as we do this, we are fulfilling one of the greatest commandments, loving others as we love ourselves (see Matthew 22:39)

Zivayi Nengomasha Excerpted from Do Justice: Our Call to Faithful Living (Signs Publishing, 2014)

InterAct

Let’s Talk Renewable

Which country had the highest percentage of growth in renewable energy over the past five years? Extra credit if you can name the source of that “clean energy.”

A Denmark D Netherlands

B Lithuania E Uruguay

C Namibia

Uruguay tops the list with a 7 percent annual increase over the past five years It’s primary source of renewable energy comes from wind It is followed by Denmark, 6 percent (wind); Lithuania, 6 percent (wind); Namibia, 5 percent (solar); and Netherlands 4 percent (both wind and solar). https://www.wri.org/insights/countries-scalingrenewable-energy-fastest

Only the Best

Fossil fuels have been used for centuries to power private and public industries, but at a cost. They produce the most carbon dioxide, which contributes most to climate change. Of the following renewable resources, which is most likely to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels?

A Biofuels D Solar Power

B Geothermal E Wind power

C Hydroelectricity

Trick question! The correct answer depends entirely on geography. Solar power and wind power need sustained periods of sunlight and wind to generate electricity No sunshine, no wind, no power Some places have geothermal resources that are unavailable in other parts of the world Hydroelectricity is only available where water sources can be used without harming other parts of the environment.

Let’s Get Personal

Follow the Leader

Which country leads the world in its use of renewable energy?

A. Brazil D. Norway

B Iceland E Sweden

C New Zealand

Thanks to its being located on the Mid-Atlantic Range, which includes volcanoes, hot springs, and geysers, Iceland gets most of its fuel from renewable geothermal sources. Its energy portfolio is augmented by wind and hydroelectric resources, making its use of renewable energy 86 87 percent

Rounding out the list is Norway, 71 56 percent; Sweden 50 92 percent; Brazil, 46 22 percent; New Zealand 40.22 percent. They each use a diverse portfolio of renewable energy resources to help reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. https://energydigital com/top10/top-10-countriesusing-renewable-energy

Minimizing the effects of climate change requires widespread and multilevel change, yes. But small, seemingly insignificant adjustments to our personal behavior can over the long-term make changes that are highly significant In what practical ways do you see yourself making the following lifestyle changes to realize the dream of a more sustainable planet?

A Consume a plant-based diet

B Swap, borrow, or buy secondhand clothes

C Use more public transportation

D Practice recycling

E Don’t store unnecessary data in the cloud

We often think that we’re powerless to have a lasting and significant impact on climate change. But when enough of us live simply, modestly, and sustainably, change is possible

“What shall we say the kingdom of God is like ?” asked Jesus. “It is like a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that birds can perch in its shade” (Mark 4:30-32) Behold the benefit of small things https://youth europa eu/getinvolved/sustainable-development/how-reduce-mycarbon-footprint en

Stephen Chavez

In our justice work today, love must be the foundation of justice When I say “love,” I don’t mean sentimental feelings or emotional availability. Take enemy love, for example. Enemy love doesn’t mean you actually feel something positive or warm for your enemies. You may genuinely and justifiably not like them It does mean you refuse to remove them from the human race

It means you still recognize their humanity. We may be obstructing their intention to do harm, or standing up to them and telling them “no,” or calling for them to be held accountable for the choices

they have made, but we still acknowledge that we are connected to them through our shared humanity. We hold space for them to choose to make better decisions. And, until they get there, we still hold out the option that they can experience change

Pay close attention to which vulnerable groups are being scapegoated.

As we work toward making our world a safe and just home

for everyone, love of neighbor calls us to love those neighbors who may be different from us, too This is a central theme Jesus taught when he defined “neighbor” in his own social and political context as a Samaritan As a Christian, you can’t love your neighbor and not care about the things they suffer from because of the way our society is shaped. You can’t love them and vote for policies or politicians who seek to do them harm During this election season here in the US, pay close attention to which vulnerable groups are being scapegoated or who we are being encouraged to feel fear toward as one political party

seeks to one-up or out-do the other I’m thinking of my dear trans friends and my children’s trans school friends, who are all much more at risk of hurting themselves than hurting anyone else around them. I’m thinking of political commercial after commercial on my local television stations where each politician is trying prove they are more anti-trans than the other guy.

Every fiber in my being said “Amen.”

As they reach toward being elected to office, do they

realize how precious these kids are that they are throwing under the bus to achieve their political goals?

Years ago, I was involved in our town expanding our nondiscrimination laws to include housing, employment and public services for our LGBTQ neighbors I remember speaking with a city council woman after one of the public hearings and will never forget her words: “Do you want your child to have a place to live? Do you want your child to have employment? Do you want your child excluded from eating at a local restaurant? Well, every LGBTQ person you meet is somebody’s child.” I was already an ally when

she said this to me, but as, tears filled my eyes, every fiber of my being said “Amen.” She is now our mayor

This the central command of Jesus’ teachings, that we love each other as Jesus loved us. And in the end, by this everyone will know that we are Jesus’ disciples, “if you love one another” (John 13:35)

–Herb Montgomery

InSpire

TOO MANY IRONIES IN THE FIRE

It is ironic that in a culture so committed to saving time we feel increasingly deprived of the very thing we value.

Jeremy Rifkin

SIN BEGINS

The story starts with a sneer.

Timothy Keller

SO FAR . . .

If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all.

Romans 12:17

MAJORITY RULE

The one thing that doesn’t abide majority rule is a person’s conscience

Harper Lee

MAKING THEM “SAFE”

It’s what always happens to the saints and prophets who are dangerous: we bronze them, we drain them of their passion and life and trap them in stainedglass windows and icons, confining them safely in memories of the past St Francis becomes a birdbath, Malcolm X is put on a stamp, and Martin Luther King gets a holiday And Jesus gets commercialized, whether it’s plastic night-lights or golden crucifixes.

Shane Claiborne

GOD THOUGHTS

I’ve already shared my God thoughts as there are only a few: Not me Look up Be kind

Anne Lamott

ROUNDING UP

During 2022, charities in the U.S. raised $749 million through point-of-sale donations, in part from “round up” donations at registers. The Taco Bell Foundation alone received $42 million from more than 7,500 restaurants. The average donation was 44 cents

National Public Radio, “Engage for Good,” accessed through Christian Century, May 2024

It is not the prisoners who need reformation, it is the prisons

Oscar Wilde REFORMATION PROJECT

Compiled by Chris Blake

WHO WE ARE

Pulse is the monthly digital magazine of JustLove Collective This month’s editor is Chris Blake Design is by Jeffers Media

Unless indicated otherwise, all Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version

U L S E C O R R E S P O N D E N T S

CHRIS BLAKE

Former editor of Insight, professor emeritus, author of many books and hundreds of articles.

NATHAN BROWN

Former editor of Record and Signs of the Times (Australian edition), now book editor at Signs Publishing Company, just outside Melbourne. Has written or been editing author of 20 books.

CLINTON JACKSON

Clinton Jackson is a highschool science teacher in Brisbane, Australia.

CARL MCROY

Carl McRoy is an ordained minister, armchair historian, connoisseur of curry, shooter of pool, and writer of articles.

STEPHEN CHAVEZ

Retired after 26 years as an editor for Adventist Review, served a twoyear term as president of Associated Church Press, North America’s oldest religious press association, is now Director of Church Relations at SDA Kinship International.

HERB MONTGOMERY

Herb Montgomery is director of Renewed Ministries. Discover more: renewedheartministries com

ZIVAYI NENGOMASHA

Zivayi Nengomasha is Director of Programs and Planning for ADRA Africa.

Black Sabbath and T-Pain Join MLK’s March on Militarism

As King was silenced, a whole new band was tuning up.

While preparing for what’s now known as the “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said he wanted it to be as moving and memorable as Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address.” Why else would he begin with the line, “Five score years ago”?

Not only did “I Have a Dream” define the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, it continues to serve as a teaching model for public speaking classes. However, is it possible this speech became too memorable?

Is there a potential problem when so many people’s knowledge of Dr King is 30 seconds worth of quotes from a 16-minute speech? Does remembering the line about “content of their character” lead us to forget the crowd had “come to our nation’s capital to cash a check”?

It seems MLK’s ministry has been reduced to a one-page comic strip of him at the Lincoln Memorial with a few speech balloons coming from his mouth Blurbs that omit lines like, "The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.”

A dream devolved?

Why would anyone kill a Christian minister for describing such a dreamy dream in such a sing-songy way? Was MLK’s demise due to the nightmare he shared in a May 8, 1967 NBC interview?

“I must confess that dream I had that day has in many points turned into a nightmare Some of the old optimism was a little superficial and now it must be tempered with a solid realism.”

What realities were tempering his optimism? How did the dream devolve into a nightmare in 3½ years? And what led 72% of White Americans and 55% of Black Americans to view Dr King unfavorably by the end of his life?

On April 4, 1967, Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, delivered a speech called “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence.” He argued that the war in Vietnam undermined the War on Poverty and subverted nonviolence as a means of problem solving Dr King also diagnosed America with three interrelated diseases: racism, extreme materialism, and militarism.

These comorbidities were displayed in living rooms everywhere:

“We have been repeatedly faced with the cruel irony of watching Negro and white boys on TV screens as they kill and die together for a nation that has been unable to seat them together in the same schools. And so, we watch them in brutal solidarity burning the huts of a poor village, but we realize that they would hardly live on the same block in Chicago.”

Dr King further explained the “Three Evils of Society,” a few months later in August, 1967. He spoke from “a common concern for the moral health of our nation.” He and others had “seen through the superficial glory and glitter of our society and observed the coming of judgment ” They had “read the handwriting on the wall” and “seen our nation weighed in the balance of history and found wanting.”

This prophetic rhetoric wasn’t from a sense of celebration or vindication, but that of lamentation. King’s dissident patriotism sought to redirect a nation he believed was on the highway to hell.

Drum Major dies, but the beat goes on

The nation whose soul King sought to save reacted to the diagnosis with denial and anger. Many civil rights advocates abandoned him; President Lyndon Johnson called him that “gdd--n ni**er preacher;” and over 150 newspapers published scathing rebukes of their formerly preferred civil rights spokesperson.

Dr King was assassinated on the one-year anniversary of “Beyond Vietnam ” However, as the “drum major for righteousness” was silenced, a whole new band was tuning up

Early in 1968, they called themselves The Polka Tulk Blues Band Then renamed themselves Earth In September, they permanently branded themselves after the horror movie “Black Sabbath ” These heavy metal pioneers seemed to thrive on being called satanists They kept the tension alive by rejecting it verbally and feeding it through album art, song titles, and other stunts.

Only God knows if they are practicing Satanists, or merely perceptive marketers using controversy to sell music Either way, one of their most well-known songs is an 8-minute, eschatological critique of the military industrial complex

They kill and die together for a nation that has been unable to seat them together in schools.

Ironic ministry?

Black Sabbath’s 1970 song, “War Pigs,” attacked two of the evil triplets identified by Dr King, militarism and economic exploitation:

Politicians hide themselves away They only started the war Why should they go out to fight? They leave that role to the poor Treating people just like pawns in chess Wait til their judgment day comes

Isn’t it ironic that this band would prophesy a judgment hour warning on warmongers while many American clergy remixed “praise the Lord and pass the ammunition”? There will be war protest songs as long as there are wars, but few have ever preached fire and brimstone lyrics like these:

No more war pigs have the power Hand of God has struck the hour Day of Judgment, God is calling On their knees, the war pigs crawling

Light from the darkness?

Does God sometimes speak through the darker corners of society to enlighten those who claim to see? Is it too scandalous to think God could use such profane means to make a point? What’s more sacrilegious, a metal band calling for an end to industrialized invasions and commercialized killing, or followers of the Prince

of Peace conjuring up reasons for war?

God always preserves a witness in the world, often in unconventional ways God spoke through a bush to Moses. God spoke to Balaam through a donkey Jesus declared rocks would cry out when people don’t have the courage. Why not an irreverent rock band originally named after the brand of talcum powder the lead singer’s mother used on his bum as a baby? Is God allowed to have a sense of humor?

Since war persists, this “joke” isn’t going away Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” videos have over 250 million views on YouTube and over 100 million streams on Spotify In 2023, T-Pain proved he could sing without autotune by covering “War Pigs”. The original lead singer, Ozzy Ozborne, called T-Pain’s cover the best ever. Black Sabbath’s song was suddenly known to audiences of different generations and musical preferences than their original fans

Same sheet, different singers I haven’t asked Ozzy or T-Pain what they think about the song’s overlap with “Beyond Vietnam” (since they don’t know me from Adam) Nor do I

imagine Dr King thrashing his head to “War Pigs ” However, these diverse messengers had a similar message.

God always preserves an unconventional witness in the world.

From pulpits in the late 1960s, to rock concerts since the ‘70s, to a rapper in the 2020s, to the online replays and reactions, all shared the same sheet of music Crucifying one Messenger, shooting another, and discrediting others, won’t make the judgment’s fierce urgency go away. To everyone capitalizing off of wars and rumors of war, the searing question of the last 20 centuries is reprised: What does it profit to gain the whole world and lose your soul?

Carl McRoy A version of this article was previously published at https://threefifths online/2024/04/08/blacksabbath-t-pain-join-mlks-march-on-militarism/

INSPIRATION

COLLECTIVE

A House on Fire: This Adventist Peace Fellowship podcast series is based on the excellent book on race and racism

Adventist Voices: Weekly podcast and companion to Spectrum designed to foster community through conversation

Red Letter Christian Podcast: Christian commentary on the way of Jesus in the world today

Adventist Pilgrimage: A lively monthly podcast focusing on the academic side of Adventist history

Renewed Heart Ministries talks about the intersection of Jesus, faith, and social justice today

Just Liberty: A fresh, balanced take on religious liberty where justice and liberty meet

Youjustfoundout Youjustfoundout yourchildisgay. yourchildisgay. Wheredoyougo Wheredoyougo fforsupport? orsupport?

MY MONEY IS ABOUT MORE THAN ME

Do you have a favourite Nestlé product? It might be hard to choose as the company owns more than 2000 different brands For me it is a nice, comforting, warm bowl of Maggi twominute noodles Despite the ubiquity of its products, Nestlé has a string of controversies to its name: added sugar in baby food (but only in developing countries), pumping water from rivers in drought-prone areas, plastic pollution from discarded products (17% on one beach in Philippines), lead contamination in Maggi noodles, concerns over slave and child labor, and so many more that there is a Wikipedia article devoted to Nestlé controversies. As someone who tries to be a responsible consumer, it seems that I might be best to avoid products made or owned by Nestlé. But what if I was making money from these practices? If I am trying to be careful with how my money is being spent, perhaps I also need to be careful with how my money is invested.

As part of living out my Christian faith, I consider that I need to have a greater view than

just profit when investing my money. As part of this greater view, I want to:

- honour the image of God in my fellow humankind. Believing that all humans are created in the image of God means that all humans deserve respect, dignity, and safety How I treat others reflects how I treat the image of God. By extension, if my money is being used in ways that endanger people and the places they live and work, then I am not honouring the image of God in those people. - treat the natural world with the respect and care that it needs I believe that God takes the material world seriously, so seriously in fact that He sent His Son, in physical form to die a material death and to have a physical resurrection. If God takes the material/ physical world that seriously, then so should I. As such, I have a Christian duty to be concerned about the physical world, inclusive of the health of my fellow humans and the health of the plants, animals and systems that make up the physical world

Applying these Christian principles means that I don't want my money invested in companies that make or sell tobacco or alcohol, or in companies that misuse animals in the development of their products, or who pollute the environment, or who extract so much from the environment that nothing is left behind, or who create products that are difficult to dispose of, or create weapons that harm and maim, or who treat their workers as disposable, or make them work in unsafe conditions, or who are not committed to treating all of their employees with dignity.

A number of years ago I decided to move my in Australia, compulsory retirement fund into exclusively ethical options. Apart from wanting my funds invested in a way that reflected my values, my logic was that by the time the fund manager assessed if a company was ethical they would also have a pretty clear idea if it was a profitable investment To date, I am satisfied that my saved money is growing at least as well as comparable funds and that my chosen fund is actively working to improve the ways companies operate and to build a better world I am fortunate that I have been able to find a B-Corp Certified retirement fund manager that not only actively screens against certain investments but also, in carefully considered situations, remains invested in companies in order to agitate for change via shareholder meetings

But there is another biblical principle that serves as a warning for companies and investors only seeking profit: “A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction” (Galatians 6:7, 8, NIV) In the short term, companies can make a lot of money by not making responsible and ethical decisions, but eventually government regulations and fines, and consumer sentiment, can make a seemingly financial attractive investment turn into a financial liability The way we use our “treasure” here on Earth affects other people and, as people who consider our ultimate treasure to beyond this Earth, we should be intentional in our financial actions and choices

https://www livemint com/companies/news/ne stl-controversies-from-sugar-in-baby-foodto-maggi-ban-we-look-at-top-8-concernsin-india-and-abroad-11713417236611 html 1 https://measurepnw com/blog/what-isgreenwashing-a-nestl%C3%A9-case-study 2 https://en wikipedia org/wiki/Controversies of Nestl%C3%A9 3 –Clinton Jackson

Faithful Reflection to Shape our Public Action

Michael Wear shared many of his experiences and insights as a young White House and campaign staffer for President Obama in his first book, Reclaiming Hope Some six years later, his new book The Spirit of Our Politics is less about the “war stories” of political engagement and more a reflection on the kind of spiritual focus that can support a faith-based activist and all of us as citizens and voters to engage in public issues in ways that matter, but that are also sustainable and faithful

Spiritual formation in politics is about the kind of people we are becoming.

As the language of his subtitle suggests, Wear’s book and his own faithful politics are influenced pre-eminently by the spiritual disciplines and kingdom theology championed by Dallas Willard. Indeed, one of the criticisms that could be levelled at The Spirit of Our Politics is that it spends quite some pages rehearsing material from Willard, albeit adapted to the political contexts it addresses

However, for those who have not committed the requisite time and reading effort to The Divine Conspiracy, Wear’s summaries might act as a useful primer to the thinking of this contemporary philosopher of discipleship, which is a worthwhile role in itself. For those who are familiar with Willard’s work, Wear does some thoughtful application of this to the seemingly unlikely realm of politics and the public work of justice

Wear is adamant that the role of spiritual formation in our public engagement is not about a particular political outcome. Instead, it is about

the way in which we engage and the kind of people we are becoming, even amid the challenges of our times. His insights into the story of six-year-old schoolgirl Ruby Bridges and her place in the history of school integration in 1960 in the final chapter of the book are perhaps worth the read in themselves with their reminder of the call of Jesus to child-like faith, even in the most challenging circumstances

Public engagement in politics and the issues of justice is difficult and holds many distractions and temptations even for those who seek to do it faithfully. As someone who has been there as a younger person and continues to engage and work in this space as a more mature thinker, believer and founder of the Center for Christianity and Public Life, Wear challenges us to be shaped by our faith and to grow in our faith in working for the good of our society, particularly for the poor and disinherited. As such, The Spirit of Our Politics is worth some of the reflection that shapes our actions in the world around us

Nathan Brown

The Spirit of Our Politics Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life Michael Wear (Zondervan Books, 2023, 231 pages)

What have you watched, read, listened to or otherwise engaged with that changed your mind, gave new insights, told a good story or again inspired you for the work of justice? Write a review of 300 to 399 words and send it to Pulse to share with our JLC community. Send your submissions to

JUSTLOVE LETTERS

MORE SUMMIT FEEDBACK

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