ADVENTIST CARNIVALS !

IN the Indiana Conference, in about 1900, there occurred another almost unbelievable development in our church! Some of our churches in Indiana were worshiping "God" with "a bedlam of noise," with drums, noisy exercises, et cetera. The servant of the Lord stated that in place of the Holy Spirit being present in such raucous worship, "satanic agencies blend with the din and noise, to have a carnival!" Yes, "a carnival!" In that carnival the conference evangelist, and the president of the Indiana Conference were prominently promoting the fanaticism. And most of the ministers of the conference had joined with them.

It will be more instructive to discuss the 1900 episode in connection with present developments in our church. For in describing the Indiana carnival-like irreverent worship, Ellen White used the occasion to predict and to stress, that this same type of satanic, noisy worship would be brought into out camp meetings and repeated-"just before the close of probation! " In order for a carnival atmosphere to be brought into out camp meetings (plural), must it not first be brought into our churches, into our schools, our ministerial staffs, et cetera?

Let us now turn to the pages of inspiration. We find that conditions in the world and in the church indicate that we are now living in the time "just before the close of probation." Therefore, the following prophecy should receive our most careful attention. In a letter written to Elder Haskell who had attended the Indiana meetings, and had written a description of them to Ellen White, she wrote:

It is impossible to estimate too largely the work that the Lord will accomplish through His proposed vessels in carrying out His mind and purpose. The things you have described as taking place in Indiana, the Lord has shown me would take place just before the close of probation. Every uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit never reveals itself in such methods, in such a bedlam of noise. This is an invention of Satan to cover up his ingenious methods for making of none effect the pure, sincere, elevating, ennobling, sanctifying truth for this time. Better never have the worship of God blended with music than to use musical instruments to do the work which last January was represented to me would be brought into our camp meetings. The truth for this time needs nothing of this kind in its work of converting souls. A bedlam of noise shocks the senses and perverts that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. The powers of satanic agencies blend with the din and noise, to have a carnival, and this is termed the Holy Spirit's working. Selected Messages, book 2, 36

When the camp meeting is ended, the good which ought to have been done and which might have been done by the presentation of sacred truth is not accomplished. Those participating in the supposed revival receive impressions which lead them adrift. They cannot tell what they formerly knew regarding Bible principles. No encouragement should be given to this kind of worship... .

I will not go into all the painful history; it is too much. But last January the Lord showed me that erroneous theories and methods would be brought into our camp meetings, and that the history of the past would be repeated. I felt greatly distressed. I was instructed to say that at these demonstrations demons in the form of men are present, working with all the ingenuity that Satan can employ to make the truth disgusting to sensible people; that the enemy was trying to arrange matters so that the camp meetings, which have been the means of bringing the truth of the third angel's message before multitudes, should lose their force and influence. Selected Messages, book 2, 37

The manner in which the meetings in Indiana have been carried on, with noise and confusion, does not commend them to thoughtful, intelligent minds. There is nothing in these demonstrations which will convince the world that we have the truth. Mere noise and shouting are no evidence of sanctification, or of the descent of the Holy Spirit. Your wild demonstrations create only disgust in the minds of unbelievers. The fewer of such demonstrations there are, the better it will be for the actors and for the people in general. Selected Messages, book 2, 35

Please note that this worship-style invented by Satan, with its raucous music, and with "erroneous theories and methods" would be brought into our camp meetings `just before the close of probation," and that "the history of the past [referring to the post-1844 and Indiana experiences] would be repeated." And once again the promoters of the false Pentecostal-like worship, would call their "uncouth demonstrations" "the moving of the Holy Spirit," but God says it is rather "like the poison sting of the serpent."

Are these experiences being repeated today? Do we find any evidences now of this fifth carnival-like fanaticism in the church? Dear readers, yes, we do! The predictions made in this prophecy are even now being fulfilled! Beginning in the 1980s such worship services as Ellen White described in Indiana as being a carnival surfaced in our midst, and in the 1990s they are multiplying rapidly before our very eyes and ears! These churches call themselves Seventh-day Adventist Celebration-style churches!

While we speak of the celebration excesses as a "carnival," readers should note that we did not first apply that word. It was Ellen White herself who attached that name to the similar fanatical movements in her day-even to those very ones she said would be repeated "just before the close of probation" See Selected Messages, book 2, 36

Concerned members have long expressed grave misgivings over the introduction of ecumenism, New Theology and other teachings borrowed from the evangelicals. But the most startling of all, is the recent introduction into some of our worship services of spiritualistic sentiments and pentecostal-like actions!

When a video is viewed by staid Seventh-day Adventists of the goings-on in these church services, it leaves them aghast with disbelief! Can it be possible that an actual rock band with its din and confusion, and with an offbeat that appeals to the physical body in a sensual fashion, would actually be used to accompany so-called gospel songs in Seventh-day Adventist Church services? Under the influence of the music, some in the congregation raise their hands heavenward and sway their torsos back and forth as is done in pentecostal churches. Some congregations act as if they were attending a carnival rather than a service of divine worship.

Concerned members are openly wondering how much support should be given to such local churches with their wild cacophonous music, worldly dramatics et cetera practices which have been spoken against in the Tesirnonies. In addition to this they teach "erroneous theories!"

We recently learned of an established church, which spent $40,000 to remodel and widen their platform into a "stage" that would facilitate theatrics and on which modern rock music could be accommodated just as in the "holiness" churches! Should financial support be given to such projects and to their ministers?

The children's story time which we have viewed on video, is usually a drama, with children acting out parts, and/or running to an fro during the story, playing "hide and seek," et cetera in the sanctuary. Though the following passage speaks of little children running about, playing, talking, and manifesting their tempers during regular church services, the principle could surely apply to celebration confusion and activities:

The place that should be holy, where a holy stillness should reign, and where there should be perfect order, neatness, and humility, is made to be a perfect Babylon and a place where confusion, disorder, and untidiness reign. This is enough to shut out God from our assemblies and cause His wrath to be kindled, that He will not be pleased to go out with the armies of Israel to battle against our enemies. Selected Messages, book 3, 257

The celebration format (music, drama et cetera) does not contribute to a "holy stillness," but rather resembles "a perfect Babylon" of confusion.

The following was taken from a taped message given by a celebration pastor to a Seventh-day Adventist congregation as he was promoting celebration-style churches:

We get letters and phone calls from people, who say that you can be a member of Celebration Church and do anything you want! And, you know what? You can.... We have to let people be in sin, and love them, and help them understand it's destructive. I won't put up with the traditionalist! I'm sick and tired of the traditionalist.... I go to other [non-SDA] churches. I don't need to go there to learn doctrine. But I need to go there to learn other things. I went to another church one day, and I worshiped God for the first time in my life! [He has been an SDA pastor for 21 years.] It was just the most wonderful worship experience in my life.... Over a period of time, I studied the other churches and tried this and that....

I use the New English Bible; I have not used King James Version in years. I refuse to read anything in the King James Version. We use drums.... We've had lots of drummers-12 or 15 since April.... I'm out to get people, and whatever it takes is all right with me.... And it's working! ... I went to another [non-SDA] church and went forward and they laid hands on me. So now we do it.... We have music, lots of it, and drama!... We played Moses crossing the Red Sea-the whole church! The water came up, and we told the people to stand and wave their hands: they were the waves of the sea! Oh, it was wild! It was wonderful! It was the waves of the sea! Ph.Ds from Loma Linda! It was wonderful! Physicians! ... And the president [of the Conference] was standing there by the aisle. And so the audience was terrific! They just came down on those soldiers! Whoosh! ... It was just super. He [the president] told me afterward, "I'll never forget that!"

How very frivolous! No wonder the Lord's servant said such services would produce "confusion! "

Perhaps some would inquire, have these carnival-like styles and messages been brought into our camp meetings as predicted by Ellen White? They most assuredly have! In the camp meeting, in the large youth tent this summer (1990) as well as in the "teen" tent, we saw this prophecy fulfilled! On video tape-an avenue of journalism that does not lie-we witnessed this with our very own eyes and ears! We could scarcely believe what we saw and heard!

A large sign that covered the entire front entrance of the youth tent read: "Outrageous Youth Celebration." And indeed this was an accurate description of what was transpiring inside! It was indeed outrageous! As stated in the prediction, "every uncouth thing" was "demonstrated." Ellen White said there would be "shouting, with drums, loud music and dancing." This resulted in a "bedlam of noise," and "a din of confusion!" The saddest part of all was that some of the instrumental musicians on the stage who were leading out, we have been told were conference ministers!

During such a service one can readily understand why the "senses of rational beings [would] become confused" so that they would be unable to "tell what they formerly knew regarding Bible principles!" What? Are not our camp meetings places where Bible principles should be more firmly imprinted into the minds of our young people? Yes, they should be. But sadly, as stated in the prediction in Selected Messages, book 2, these youth, upon leaving such a camp meeting could surely not be trusted to make right decisions! (We know not in how many other camp meetings this prophecy met its fulfillment this past summer. Nor do we know in how many it may have been fulfilled in previous years.) We do know that many of our schools and colleges, junior camps and youth meetings, feature the carnival-type activities.

A large, lengthy, and at times raucous musical theatrical program-a drama-was enacted in the teen tent at camp meeting (1990), in which many teens from the audience took part. A dramatic play such as this would surely be spiritually disturbing and confusing to teen-age youth. As a believer beholds such activities, he can only "sigh and cry" for all the abominations that be done in our church! See Testimonies, vol. 5, 210

Whereas in 1900 the Adventist carnival activity was mostly limited to one conference (Indiana), in the 1980s and 1990s there are hundreds of Adventist congregations in North America that either feature the whole carnival show, or are practicing various aspects of the celebration format. This is true, not only in the United States and Canada, but overseas as well! According to church reports it is fast becoming a worldwide phenomenon.

Both the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy warn of these apostasies. Speaking of the last days, Jesus said:

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Matthew 24:11

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Matthew 24:12

And Paul said:

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron. 1 Timothy 4:1-2

Are not these verses descriptive of developments occurring today?

Besides the Scriptures, how thankful we can be for our latter-day prophet! Our warning from God through her is explicit. We have even been given an example so that we can know and recognize a similar apostasy to the 1900 fanaticism, and reject it!

God would not permit anything as dangerous as this celebration fanaticism to come into the midst of His remnant church without first warning His people:

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets. Amos 3:7

All four earlier episodes incurred the distinct displeasure of God. All four were inspired by Satan. We dare not forget that we have been warned that the fifth similar apostasy would also be inspired by Satan. See Selected Messages, book 2, 36. The history of the present Celebration apostasy is still being written. The final verdict is not yet in.

CELEBRATION Church programs lean heavily toward the practice and use of theatrics and drama. Their sponsors claim to be glorifying God thereby. But Inspiration tells us that theatrical performances do not glorify God, even under the best of circumstances. We read:

The work in the large cities is to be done after Christ's order, not after the order of a theatrical performance. It is not a theatrical performance that glorifies God, but the presentation of the truth in the love of Christ. Testimonies, vol. 9, 142

Can the Lord Jesus accept the theatrical exhibitions as service done for Him? Can He be glorified thereby? No. All this kind of work is done in the service of another leader. Manuscript Release 909, 3

The world is teeming with errors and fables. Novelties in the form of sensational dramas are continually arising to engross the mind; and absurd theories abound, which are destructive to moral and spiritual advancement. Gospel Workers, 281

God has revealed that:

There an abundance of theatrical performances in our world, but [even] in its highest order it is without God. Manuscript Release 909, 5

Even in their most dignified form, drama and theatrical performances do not have the blessing of God upon them. Rather than being a blessing, "All this kind of work is done in the service of another leader."

How should we worship God with music? It is clearly revealed that "The Holy Spirit has nothing to do with such a confusion of noise and multitude of sounds" (Selected Messages, book 2, 37), as in the Indiana meetings. Regardless how good the words may be, the music which appeals to the physical part of a person always wins out over the words. Its influence predominates.

God has not left His remnant church without counsel concerning music, noise and confusion.

Some think that the louder they sing the more music they make; but noise is not music. Good singing is like the music of the birds-subdued and melodious. Evangelism, 510

The peace of Christ is not a boisterous, untamable element made manifest in loud voices and bodily exercises. The peace of Christ is an intelligent peace, and it does not make those who possess it bear the marks of fanaticism and extravagance. It is not a rambling impulse but an emanation from God. Faith and Works, 87-88 ':

When believers speak the truth as it is in Jesus, they reveal a holy, sensible calm, not a storm of confusion. Selected Messaged book 2, 36

The Lord desires to have in His service order and discipline, not excitement and confusion.... We need to be thoughtful and still, and to contemplate the truths of revelation. Excitement is a not favorable to growth in grace, to true purity and sanctification of the spirit. Selected Messages, book 2, 35

How can the leaders and laity of Celebration-type churches ignore all of these clear counsels sent to us from our God? How can they continue to exhibit "boisterous and untamable" attitudes with "bodily exercises" in their music, theatrics, and drama? These exhibitions do not resemble the peace and joy that passeth understanding spoken of in the Scriptures. It is a fact that in all five episodes of fanaticism worldly music has played a prominent part.

In the Spirit of Prophecy we are repeatedly urged to ; produce only "pure heavenly music" (Amazing Grace, 251). Music that is rich and majestic (The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vo1. 7, 988), ,enrapturing and melodious" (The Great Controversy, 542). "At one time Lucifer led the heavenly choir in glorious melodious "happy songs of praise to God and His dear Son. Since his fall, instead of sweet music, he sponsors discordant, raucous, cacophonous music. See Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, 62

For many years we have been signally blessed by the majestic organ music and solemn vocal words recalling the passion and death of the Son of God on Golgatha, as set forth in the memorable oratorio of the "Crucifixion" composed by Sir John Stainer many decades ago. There is no way his awe-inspiring music can be compared with the shabby "music" of the celebration carnivals. One can only contrast them.

Presently we are enjoying listening to the majestic musical recordings of the Pacific Union College a cappella choir of two generations ago. Their beautiful melodies and perfect harmony lift one's thoughts heavenward in praise and prayer to God. What a contrast this is to the current Celebration music we hear coming from our educational institutions today-with their rock-like bans, rap groups, operatic musicals with actors depicting witchcraft et cetera. The angels must fold their wings and weep, when they hear the hypnotic cacophonous repetitive "noise" that is today called music! Can true Christians lend their influence or material support to these carnival-like activities? God tells us that, "No encouragement should be given to this kind of worship. Selected Messages, book 2, 37

This would, of course, include our attendance at their meetings as well as our giving to them our financial support. Remember: "No encouragement should be given to this kind of worship."

The modern Celebration carnival-like format can be traced far into antiquity. Had the believers in Indiana heeded the lessons from the records of ancient Israel and the lessons from the post-1844 experiences they would not have gotten into their own carnival-like fanaticism in 1900. Likewise, had our church of today heeded the warnings concerning all the experiences of the earlier believer, as well as those of 1900, we would not now be into the fanaticism o the Celebration-like churches of the 1990s. Would we?

Brethren and sisters, it is time that we wake up and heed al the lessons and warnings of our history, lest we make ever more ghastly errors and mistakes than did our forefathers Similar fanaticisms are evil whether they occur around the golden calf at Horeb, at Baal-Peor, shortly after 1844, it Indiana in 1900, or in the 1990s!

Let God's people act so that the world will see that Seventh-day Adventists are an intelligent, thinking people, whose faith is based on a surer foundation than the bedlam of confusion. The people are hungry for the bread of life. Do not offer them a stone. Selected Messages, book 2, 24

We should offer the people of the world the bread of life Offer them illumination and repentance instead of a stone bedlam of confusion and noise!

In my very first labors, the message was given that all theatrical performances in connection with the preaching of present truth were to be discouraged and forbidden. Men who thought they had a wonderful work to do sought to adopt a strange deportment and manifested oddities in bodily exercise. The light given me was, "Give this no sanction." These performances, which savored of the theatrical, were to have no place in the proclamation of the solemn messages entrusted to us.

The enemy will watch closely, and will take every advantage of circumstances to degrade the truth by the introduction of undignified demonstrations. None of these demonstrations are to be encouraged. The precious truths given us are to be spoken in all solemnity and with sacred awe. Manuscript Release 1377, 1

SOME have assumed that the passage in Selected Messages, book 2, 36-37 is a condemnation of the use of musical instruments in worship services. We should all realize that this is not true. It is only the manner in which the musical instruments were played, the dance "beat" and the "noise" in the Indiana episode that she condemns.

Perhaps the following letter, written by Sister S. N. Haskell, who attended some of the Indiana meetings with her husband, may help to clarify just what the problem was with their music:

"We have a big drum, two tambourines, a big bass fiddle, two small fiddles, a flute and two comets, and an organ and a few voices. They have "Garden of Spices" as the songbook and play dance tunes to sacred words. They have never used our own hymnbooks, except when Elders Breed or Haskell speak, then they open and close with a hymn from our book, but all the other songs are from the other book. They shout Amens, and "Praise the Lord," "Glory to God," just like a Salvation Army service. It is distressing to one's soul. The doctrines preached correspond to the rest. The poor sheep are truly confused." -Mrs. S. N. Haskell report to Sara McFnterfer, September 12, 1900. (From Music-Its Role, Qualities, & Influence, 13)

These people were playing "dance tunes with sacred Words!" And like the modern rock music of today they played it loudly. So loud it was distressing and confusing, such as is the rock music we have seen and heard on videotape being played in the Celebration churches.

Note that according to Sr. Haskell's letter, in Indiana they preferred a "spicy" non-Adventist songbook unless the General Conference representatives were to speak-then they would open and close with the regular Adventist hymnal.

This reminds us of a minister, who this very year (1990) was attempting to introduce Celebration format into his church. '. He was using the typical Celebration choruses projected on the screen. However, he explained to a minister's wife that he always uses one hymn from the church hymnal to pacify the conservatives in his congregation. Attitudes have not changed very much since the Indiana episode, have they?- Whether the hymnal is used merely to impress visiting ministers, or to pacify conservative members in our day makes little difference.

The music in the Indiana episode of 1900 compared in its nature to Salvation Army church music. But the rock-like Celebration music of our day does not trace its origins to the Salvation Army. Rather, as we will show elsewhere, it traces its origins to worldly modern rock and country western, which in turn go all the way back to the jazz played in houses of ill fame in New Orleans. Shame on us, for having allowed such musical forms to displace majestic church music.

Let us not allow this important prophecy (Selected Messages, book 2, 36-37) with its warning against adopting worldly dance music into our worship services, to be made of none effect by dwelling merely upon the musical instruments themselves, such as drums et cetera, as if these were the issue. the real punch-line that should arrest our attention is the incorrect use being made in Celebration churches of instrumental music. It is the loudness and confusing dance beat that are the offenders today-'Just before the close of probation! " Not an exact replica of 1900-No! But the same satanic musical principles are being repeated!

After the Lord gave her a view of the Indiana hysteria, Ellen White said it would be far better never to worship God blended with music, than to use instruments to do such a work as that shown to her in vision had been conducted in Indiana, and that would be conducted again in our camp meetings "just before the close of probation."

It has been suggested in an Adventist Review article, November 1, 1990, that because of the opposition to the "drums," that it may be well for Celebration churches to consider leaving out their drums. But the problem is far deeper than that! As long as there are synthesizers, bass guitars, amplified guitars, et cetera even if the drums were eliminated, the beat of the rock music could still ring out loud and clear! There would still be rock-like "dance music with sacred words."

Musical instruments in themselves are neither "right" nor "wrong." Even drums and cymbals have their proper place in good music-marches, orchestras, et cetera. Cymbals, harps and tambourines were used in Bible times. Many quote a few Bible verses in an attempt to substantiate their musical preferences. There is no way that we can today extract an audio tape recording from the pages of Holy Writ so that we can hear exactly how these Biblical. instruments were then played. But let us remember that all musical instruments can be played in a "right" way as well as a "wrong" way! And it is the "wrong" use of musical instruments that is a part of the prophecy in Selected Messages for our time.

As stated above, we must not allow ourselves, through arguments regarding various musical instruments, to make this warning message of none effect. Our acceptance or rejection of its message will have eternal results!

The next two chapters will answer the question, Is musical preference a safe guide?

HOW were musical preferences formed in the modern Christian churches of the world? A brief history of popular Christian music might be helpful before we consider the type of music preferred by some Adventists.

For centuries Christian music was for the most part stately, majestic, solemn and awe-inspiring. But shortly after the turn of the century, syncopated music with a jazz-like beat began to gradually intrude into sacred music. It is a well-known fact that jazz music had it beginnings in the bordellos of New Orleans about 1900.

When syncopation became generally accepted in worldly churches, then it was that the country western beat with guitars was introduced into some of the Protestant churches. The devil was so successful with this, he next introduced "gospel rock" into religious services. All these types of music which came to be preferred by church goers, could appropriately be called, "dance music with religious words," as described by Sister Haskell concerning the Indiana crisis.

About fifteen years ago, Lloyd Leno, associate professor of music at Walla College, wrote a series of articles on church music in the Review and Herald. One of his articles on "Music and Morality" traced the development of immoral music from

New Orleans jazz, through its various stages of boogie-woogie, swing and finally rock which he stated is a "mixture of negro rhythm, blues and country western" (Review and Herald, February 26, 1976). He cites these words from the book Rock From the Beginning, published by Simon & Schuster, in 1970.

Professor Leno pointed out from the same source book that stimulation of sexuality was a prime purpose to be accomplished through the din and noise of rock music, effected largely by the "beat" of the drums, guitars, and the repetition of the musical phrases.

Whichever type of current "gospel music" is used, they all have in common varying degrees of syncopation and a beat that appeals to bodily movement and sensual responses. The words, religious terms though they be, are only a weak accessory to the dance-like melodies which penetrate the minds and captivate the millions.

A couple of years ago we heard a young Washington State composer and singer of western gospel music being interviewed on television news. She seemed conservative. But when the host asked if she ever composed dance music, her reply was, "Oh, my music is danceable!" Clearly, the object is to get a swinging type of music with a beat and attach some semi-religious words, and that qualifies it as modern "gospel."

By contrast, a reader writing to the editor of the Adventist Review some years ago stated it thus, "The primary purpose of our worship, including our music, is to glorify God." Surely country western music, or sexually-oriented "church rock" with its "bawdy-house" beginnings does not glorify God in the least. It merely glorifies the god of this world!

Thus we have traced a brief history of the formation of the preferences that many of the church goers of the world have acquired from the introduction of modern "gospel" music into their services.

It boggles the mind when some of our ministering brethren try to defend the church-rock music of Celebration as being simply "a matter of preference." Do they not realize that they are in effect saying that they prefer music which developed out of an unsavory past? They claim that those who object to this "wild" type music, which they refer to merely as "lively" music, are only expressing a "personal preference." These apologists need to read the Review and Herald articles by t Professor H. Lloyd Leno referred to above.

We will turn now to study the history and formation of the musical preferences of Seventh-day Adventists.

CONTENTS