At the Toronto General Conference Session, Dr. George Knight gave a talk titled, "If I Were the Devil." His presentation has stimulated considerable discussion and reflection. This must be seen as a positive element of the speech, especially since some presentations put the saints to sleep.

While Knight in his speech portrays a more "conservative devil" who attempts to undermine the Adventist church by attacking traditional polices and practices, John McConnell, proposes "a liberal devil," who undermines the church by promoting his liberal agenda. The end-result is the same: the weakening of the church. We thought you might be interested to read this liberal version of the devil. I discovered this item in Samuele Bacchiocchio's most reent newsletter, and reproduce it here with brother McConnell's permission.

"Ten Ways a Liberal Devil can Destabilize the Adventist Church"

1. If I were the devil I would denigrate the musical taste of teenagers with voo-doo type gospel rock music so that traditional church music and great hymns are considered boring. I would have youth leaders promote this type of music for the worship service with the excuse that it is the only way to "hold the youth in the church."

2. If I were the devil I would divide the church over the question of the ordination of women to the priesthood. I would cause pseudo-intellectual theologians to encourage modern Eves to push for equal rights in the ministry. I would cause wimpish church administrators to acquiesce to these demands in direct opposition to the official action of the world church.

3. If I were the devil I would introduce divisive forms of worship, especially celebration and pentecostal type of services that stimulkkates people physically, rather than elevating them spiritually. I would subsidize young avant-garde pastors to attend celebration-type seminars conducted by non-Adventist lecturers. This has been a very effective method of splitting up churches.

4. If I were the devil I would influence church leaders to embrace ecumenism and become buddy-buddy with other church leaders in order to improve the Adventist church image in the religious world. This can result in the blurring of the distinction between the Remnant Church and Babylon.

5. If I were the devil I would espouse the higher-critical method of Bible interpretation and thereby alter the time honored Adventist commitment to the authority of Scripture as the basis of faith and practice.

6. If I were the devil I would enamor the youth with the amateurish dramatization of trivial Bible topics instead of engaging in serious Bible study.

7. If I were the devil I would gauge the success of evangelistic campaigns by number of baptisms, and measure the success of the evangelistic thrust of the world church by numbers of converts. This emphasis on numbers would encourage the admittance of many new members into the church without proper instruction in the doctrines and beliefs of the church. This can result in widespread apostasy and/or backsliding.

8. If I were the devil I would introduce into the church manual non-biblical grounds for divorce and remarriage and thus weaken the sanctity and permanence of the marriage covenant.

9. If I were the devil I would redefine sin as a broken relationship. Thus people would not feel the need for repentance and reform. People would not consider the Law as a guide, and their assurance of salvation would be based on a warm, fuzzy feeling of love for Jesus.

10. If I were the devil I would introduce into the worship service elements of the entertainment world such as applause, drama, dancing, and other theatrical features that can destroy the solemn dignity and reverence appropriate to the worship of the Almighty.

In conclusion, if I were the devil I would encourage the Seventh-day Adventist church to think, live, and act as the rest of the world, so that ultimately her identity and mission would be largely lost.