SOCIAL MEDIA TRUTH
ANGER MANAGEMENT
A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORLD TODAY
IN THIS ISSUE
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
MAY 2022
BECOMING TRUTH-TELLERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
With the rise of fake news and political divisiveness, how can we stand for truth? PAGE 32
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18
CURRENT
HOW TO VOTE IN AN ELECTION SEASON Knowing which party to vote for can be tricky. How can we navigate elections wisely? 40 THE ARMY THAT CHANGED THE WORLD How a pawnbroker's apprentice went on to impact millions around the world 6
WELLBEING
12 THEY CALL IT POPPY
LOVE
Exploring the realities of opioid addiction
FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 2
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26 ANGER MANAGEMENT
POST–COVID
Dealing with your anger healthily is incredibly important 60 BOOST YOUR MOOD
WITH GUT-LOVING FOODS
Your body will thank you!
CULTURE
54 WHICH MULTIVERSE ARE YOU FROM? The wild world of Dr Strange and multiverse theory
SCIENCE & TECH
52 THE CUTTING EDGE Engineering, science
and technology news
FAITH
18 TRUSTING THE SAFETY
LINE
How to fully trust God 24 ASK PASTOR JESSE Pastor Jesse answers your questions 46 WHAT IS THE CHURCH? Building, organisation, or group of people?
FUN
62 CROSSWORD AND
SUDOKU Have you been paying attention?
My daughter has just turned 2. She was a child we waited and prayed for, for seven years. So when she arrived, I was waiting for that emotional connection. Driving home from the hospital I was hit by a tsunami of emotions. Love, pride, guilt at leaving them at the hospital (I had to go home and sleep. I’d been awake for more than 24 hours), and sweetest of all, connection . . . It’s been a rollercoaster since, growing as parents while navigating the pandemic and all its isolation and upheaval. I’ve always heard parents talking about the unconditional love they’ve learned from having a child. And how they understand God’s love more. In my scenario I’d always imagined myself as understanding God’s love because I was like God, the one who gave the love to my child. Yet she’s the one I’m learning from. I get impatient, I expect things done in my way. I get frustrated when things happen more slowly or messily than I wish they would. My daughter is full of joy, exploring the world and learning with wonder every day. And while she may get upset if she falls or if she is told to stop doing something that will put her in danger, or break something, she is so forgiving. Within moments, she has forgotten my parenting misstep and is loving, laughing and hugging me. Her love is truly unconditional and comes with none of the expectations that my love does. I’m learning from my daughter, just as I’m learning from God. With Jesus as my example, I hope to get better at this love thing. And as you read this month’s magazine, I hope you commit to loving well too. God is ready to love you and to help you love others.
Jarrod
JARROD STACKELROTH Editor
VOL 137 NO 5 ISSN 1038-9733 EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER Brad Kemp EDITOR Jarrod Stackelroth ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jesse Herford COPYEDITOR Tracey Bridcutt GRAPHIC DESIGN Theodora Pau'u Talia Valderrama Nerise McQuillan PHONE +61 2 9847 2222 EMAIL info@signsofthetimes.org.au WEBSITE signsofthetimes.org.au ADDRESS Adventist Media PO Box 1115, Wahroonga New South Wales 2076 SUBSCRIPTIONS Kelli Geelan PHONE +61 3 5965 6300 Australia/New Zealand, $A26; South Pacific countries, $A41; Other countries $A51 Published since 1886, Signs of the Times is printed 11 times a year by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and is registered as a periodical. Seventh-day Adventist Church (SPD) Limited ABN 59 093 117 689 NOTE The inclusion of a person or their image within does not imply their endorsement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church or its beliefs. Unless otherwise stated, Bible verses are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, Anglicised. Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc®. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton. All rights reserved worldwide. COVER ILLUSTRATION:
Talia Valderrama, Pexels
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Breakthroughs
WHAT IN THE WORLD
IN WEIGHT
ONLY HALF OF GOLDMAN SACHS' WORKERS SHOW UP TO PHYSICAL OFFICE
AUSTRALIAN CASH RATE TO STAY PUT
AUSTRALIA
The Reserve Bank has made the decision to keep the cash rate at 10 basis points and official interest rate at 0% due to uncertainty fuelled by the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The Reserve Bank will reassess this decision later 2022. —Philip Lowe, Governer | RBA
Goldman Sachs' CEO David Solomon made a point in demanding his employees return to in-person work when their New York City offices opened up in February. To his surprise, of their 10,000 workers, only around 5000 actually returned. Goldman Sachs represents a group of organisations taking a hardline stance on in–person working conditions, with other companies such as Citigroup and UBS instead opting for a more permanent hybrid approach.—Yahoo Finance
ALCOHOL-FREE BAR FUELS GROWING “SOBER CURIOUS” MOVEMENT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The Sans Bar in Austin, Texas is part of a new movement. Dubbed the “sober curious” movement, its participants are promoting sobriety without the loss of social interaction. Whilst alcohol is the draw for many pubs and bars, community is why people stay. The Sans Bar and others like it are creating community without the negativity of alcohol abuse.—ABC News 4
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FERRANTRAITE—GETTY IMAGES, ADAM WILSON—UNSPLASH, MELISSA WALKER HORN—UNSPLASH, STOCK DEPOT—GETTY IMAGES
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
SWISS BANK'S EMBARRASSING LEAK LEAVES IT EXPOSED
LOSS People who are financially incentivised to lose weight are far more likely to follow through than those who have no financial incentive.—CSIRO The health and wellness industry is one of the most profitable in the world— generating more than US$4.5 trillion in 2020. It's predicted to grow to almost $8 trillion by 2030.—Precedence Research
SWITZERLAND
Credit Suisse (one of the world’s largest private banks) has had more than 30,000 clients exposed in a leak totalling around 100 billion Swiss francs. Despite repeated claims that the bank has been banning clients who make their money from dubious sources, the leak has revealed that Credit Suisse continues to be the bank of choice for human traffickers, people ordering hit jobs and politicians caught taking bribes, to name a few.—The Guardian
People who undertake low-carb diets often don't lose much more weight than those on balanced-carb diets.—Cochrane If you own a VR headset, you'll soon be able to do almost anything you can do at the gym, at home.—Wired
CU
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HOW TO
VOTE n
in a Election Season
When election season comes around, every party claims to be the best for the country and for you. In the midst of the confusion, how can you make your vote count? BY BRADEN BLYDE
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we’ve got the key to the door—and if we do, how to use it. How do I vote? Who do I vote for? What am I going to base my decisions on? These were all questions I—and many like me, I am sure—had to face as a young adult. Now, more than a decade on, and with another Australian federal election looming, I am faced with similar questions. So, I recently set out to discover a little more about how I, as a Christian, should vote this election. I didn’t want an answer to the
unanswerable question of “Who should Christians vote for?” but rather, “How can Christians best prepare and cast their vote?” Even if you’re not a Christian, some of what I discovered might help you to think through your voting process.
what does the Bible say? SERGEY TINYAKOVfiGETTY IMAGES
F
or most Australian school students, a trip to Parliament House in Canberra is an event long remembered. Its grand architecture, and a growing understanding of the decisions that are made within those walls leave a lasting impression. I, and many 12-year-olds like me, stood in awe of this, Australia’s “home of democracy”. Fast forward a few years, and at 18 we are finally granted the privilege to cast our own votes. But on reflection, the years b etween often leave us unprepared for the moment. We’ve seen the house, but are unsure whether
As the foundation of Christian faith and practical living, the Bible seemed like a good place to start my journey towards polling day. But, it was quickly apparent that the Bible definitely does not make it clear who to vote for. It does, how-
ever offer some useful insights into how we should approach elections: Be a good steward: One of the most fundamental values given to humans by God in the Bible is that of stewardship—we are to look after the things that God has given us. Reading 1 Peter 4:10 highlights that as citizens of a free, democratic country which allows us to vote for our leaders, we can—and should—exercise our stewardship by using our vote well. Promote respect: We should honour and respect our leaders—even MAY 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU
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I sent an email
Within about 10 minutes of sitting at my laptop one evening, I had gathered the names and contact details of every candidate running in my electorate. Then, I sent each of them an email asking a fairly simple question: “As a voting Christian in your electorate, what should I know in the lead-up to this election?” Making an enquiry like this to any of your local candidates is easy, and one I would encourage you to do yourself. A week or so later, I had replies from every candidate. Some were clearly copy-and-paste responses, but all had obviously taken the time to read and understand my email. Unfortunately, I was unable to get clearance to use any of these responses in this article—but in reality, the process is just as, if not more important, than the result. If all I had to do was send an email to engage meaningfully with those I was soon to vote for, so can you. And, without the need to seek permission for publication, their insights would no doubt be more meaningful than what I can offer today. 8
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policy vs personality
The most helpful way I have found to create an effective policy vs personality filter is to remove myself from the news cycle, and take the time to read and understand the policy documents available on candidate and party websites. It’s often dry and occasionally boring (at least in comparison to the razzle dazzle of television news), but if we are going to be good stewards of our vote and ensure we are voting for the policies we most believe in and not the person we most like, it's an important step to take.
As I read the emails I had received from my local candidates, and tuned in to the media appearances and campaign emails of more public politicians, I quickly realised the huge role that personality was playing. In their correspondence and media presence, some candidates presented a strong sense of confidence and dealt easily with curly questions; some had a manner of speaking that I instantly warmed too; and others told stories of family and life I could empathise with. But then I realised—though I am voting for a person, I’m not voting for a personality. My choices on polling day are about policies that will influence those our nation employs in the years to come. Whether they have a personality that holds my attention is irrelevant.
single issue is an issue
Diving into the policy platforms of each party is an enlightening experience. Sometimes, because you find the pool is next to empty. In many cases, candidates had no outline or explanation of how
they would use their position in parliament to influence a whole range of policy concerns—many of them which would impact the majority, if not all Australians (things including the budget, borders and immigration, social services and many others). This concerns me. With more and more candidates speaking vocally on hot-button topics, or single issues, but offering no clarity where they stand on other broader issues, we open ourselves to our votes being used in ways we never intended. Many of these candidates tap into the concerns and cares of voting Christians, but when we cast our vote for them, we will be expressing a view on every other issue as well. I realised that if I want to vote responsibly, I better know what the
“
Though I am voting for a person, I'm not voting for a personality
CEMILE BINGOL—GETTY IMAGES
if we don’t agree with their politics. In Romans 13, Paul writes to the early Church in Rome, reminding them of God’s ultimate control, the role of government and how a respectful response by Christian citizens will continue to reflect the character of God.
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ELL B EING
An ge r
MANAGEMENT POST–COVID
BY EDYTA JANKIEWICZ
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LJUBAPHOTO—GETTY IMAGES
Many of us struggle with anger, and the Covid-19 pandemic has only made it worse. How can you and I learn to express our anger constructively?
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is child psychiatrist Dr Ross Campbell’s “anger ladder”, which outlines concrete steps for learning how to grow toward maturity in handling anger. While it is primarily intended as a parenting tool, it is also helpful for adults who are still maturing in this area, as it describes what “in your anger do not sin” might look like. Dr Campbell suggests that, when angry, your goals should be as follows:
1 Think logically rather than allowing emotions to cloud your judgement 2 Focus on the primary complaint rather than expressing unrelated complaints 3 Focus on the source of your anger rather than displacing it on someone else 4 Be pleasant in words and actions
While these might seem like unrealistic goals if you struggle with anger management, a concept that helped me work towards these goals was the idea that anger is a secondary emotion. In other words,
“
Anger is a normal human emotion, but there are both appropriate and inappropriate ways of expressing it
5 Seek to resolve the problem
PSH.VECTOR—FREEPIK
gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22, 23). A passage of Scripture that I’ve found particularly insightful is found in Ephesians 4:26, where Paul states: “In your anger do not sin”. These words reflect the social science perspective that anger is a normal human emotion, but that there are both appropriate and inappropriate ways of expressing it. Ideally, we should begin to learn how to “be angry without sinning” during childhood, because a child’s anger is so unpleasant. Think hitting, biting, head-banging and screaming. Because anger is generally thought of as wrong or sinful, many parents (and I am no exception) try to suppress their child’s anger rather than teaching appropriate ways of expressing it. Consequently, many of us arrive in adulthood without the skills required for expressing anger “without sinning”. A resource that I’ve found helpful
PCH.VECTOR—FREEPIK
W
hile the slower pace of social distancing and self-isolation has created opportunity for families to spend quality time together—time for board games and jigsaw puzzles, bike rides and stories—living together 24/7 can also give rise to negative emotions, particularly anger. Thankfully, at this point, much of the world is opening up again, and many of us are returning to our schools and workplaces. Nevertheless, the world we are now living in is looking more hybrid than ever before. To put it simply, more of us are spending more time working from home than we ever have before. This creates obvious tension for all of us as we struggle to adapt to this “new normal”. As someone who struggled to learn how to express anger in constructive ways, I know the feeling of anger bubbling up and being expressed in unconstructive ways; and I know the feelings of remorse and shame that follow. But I also know that, with the help of God, it is possible to learn effective anger management. So, if frustration and anger are more frequent emotions during this time of stress and social isolation, you may find some of what I’ve learned over the years helpful. First and foremost, as a Christian, I’ve found it imperative to daily ask God to help me so that I might live in ways that evidence love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
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FA IT H
WHAT IS
THE
CHU RCH? The word church has a lot of associations—some good, some bad. But what did Jesus mean when He started the Church 2000 years ago?
JOSHUA ECKSTEIN, JOHN TOWNER—UNSPLASH
BY RYAN STANTON
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how did the church begin?
When all the history and modern traditions are stripped away, the role of the church is surprisingly simple. The word itself comes from the Greek ecclesia which means “an assembly of people.”, With this understanding, it is clear when the Bible refers to the church, it is simply referring to a gathering of people who share belief in Jesus Christ. This is highlighted by Jesus’ own words, that “where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them” (Matthew 18:20). The church is a community built to support people with common faith beliefs. Throughout the Bible, various authors work to highlight different ways in which this community can support each other. 1 John 4:11, for example, notes the importance of loving one another, while 1 Corinthians 14:26 and Hebrews 10:24, 25 highlight the necessity
to provide encouragement and support to those who we surround ourselves with. Members of the church are not perfect, but the Bible clearly outlines that this should not cause division. Instead of attacking or creating conflict over the flaws of members, the church is a place where support can be found. God understands the difficulty present in being solitary (as we can see in the story of the creation of Eve for Adam) and has provided the church as a way of easing the burdens that life brings, whether you are a new believer or a lifelong one.
who runs the church?
JOSE LLAMAS—UNSPLASH
W
hat do you think of when you hear the word church? Perhaps your mind conjures up images of ancient cathedrals, resplendent with gothic spires, stained glass windows and vaulted ceilings. Maybe you think of the image of the church from centuries ago— people who resemble the stereotypical Amish kneeling between uncomfortable pews. It’s even possible that you have a more negative image that springs to mind—perhaps the Westboro Baptist Church whose message seems to be solely focused on spouting hate and division. No matter which image comes to mind, it’s fair to say that people have many different opinions on the church. In many countries in the West today, the church is an Institution—with a capital “I”. When journalism is referred to as the “fourth estate”, it is building on a theoretical view of the world which positioned the clergy (and by extension the church) as the first. But while the church as we know it is considered a core pillar of modern society, this was not always the case. To explain what I mean, we must turn to the Bible and the foundation of the church.
You may have a better idea of what the focus of the church is now, but there are likely questions that remain—including who runs the church. The first image that may come to mind for many is the pope, who is the head of the Catholic Church. Catholicism has a defined hierarchy for the church, with bishops,
archibishops, pontifexes and more all reporting to the pope who sits at the head—and is believed to be God’s voice to the world. But the authority of the pope is limited to that of the Catholic church. Many forms of modern-day Christianity broke away from Catholicism in the 16th century due to its perceived straying from the mission presented to believers in the Bible. This event was known as the Reformation and is where many expressions of modern Protestantism originated. One of the key issues that Reformers like Martin Luther had with the church of the time was the corruption in leadership. Church leaders had exploited the faith of believers to line their own pockets and live a life of decadent excess. As a result, many churches in the present day aim to put the focus back on Christ as the ultimate head of the church and rely on biblical principles to manage the running of it. The Bible tells us that Jesus established the church, giving His followers—the apostles—leadership authority to help and guide the people. In this way, Jesus provided an outline for how the church should function—with leadership working to benefit all members of the congregation, and not themselves. Many churches today, including the Seventh-day Adventist Church, elect members to leadership positions, with a larger organising body working to provide administrative oversight. MAY 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU
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