Pulled Back From the Brink

Editorial by Jerry Lutz

The early years of my public school education, from kindergarten through junior high school, consisted of the traditional state-mandated curriculum of the three “Rs” (Reading, Writing, Arithmetic), along with evolutionary science taught mostly by avowed atheists and agonistics. The only time “God” was ever mentioned in my school was first thing in the morning during the required student recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, as we stood next to our desks facing the American flag with hand-over-heart. Which, yes, was ironic (if not altogether confusing), though I would not come to know the meaning of that word until my sixth-grade year of spelling and grammar. Adding to my evolving confusion (pun intended), through the years was the fact that I grew up in a creationist, Seventh-day Adventist home and faithfully attended an Adventist church in which creationism was regularly taught in Sabbath School and preached clearly from the pulpit.

Despite all this, and the extra measures my parents took to try to insulate me from the corrosive effects of the steady, force-fed diet of openly anti-creationist science at school, a belief crisis was inevitable, which I experienced in my seventh-grade year in a profound, rude awakening to the awareness that I was becoming a theistic evolutionist, though I would not come to know that term, nor its meaning, until much later when I was in an Adventist college studying theology for the ministry.

It was when I was 12 years old that I suddenly realized I was seriously confused, and it scared me. I loved Jesus with all my heart and believed that He was the Creator of all things, but I also believed in macroevolution as taught in my public school as truth, not just theory. I had felt a strong call to ministry at an even younger age, which also added to my confusion. Nonetheless, I concluded that both world views, taught by well-meaning adults in my life whom I respected and loved, could not be reconciled. My parents would have enrolled me in a church school if there was one where we lived. But under the circumstances and to their great credit, they did the best they could. When they came to realize I was struggling to harmonize opposing cosmic views, they carefully and prayerfully addressed the matter with me and, over time, successfully guided me onto the one, correct pathway. It wasn’t until later, after I learned to drive, that I attended an Adventist academy located many miles from my home. And what a tremendous blessing that was! Without a doubt, it changed my life, literally, for eternity.

Even now, as I look back on those years and realize how close I was to losing my way, I shudder, and then I am so very thankful that I was pulled back from the brink just in time. The Holy Spirit’s influence, faithful, loving parents and Adventist education saved me.

Another school year is beginning. Please, do not think twice about where you will enroll your children (or grandchildren) this year. Whatever it takes, choose Adventist education.