The professional clergy, or tribe of Levi, in ancient Israel did not receive an inheritance and was not required to pay any kind of individual tithe. Because, as Protestants, we believe in the priesthood of all believers, we should not draw direct scriptural parallels between the Adventist ministry and the priests and Levites of the Old Testament. What Jesus said on the subject of money was so radical, not only for our day but for his as well, that we tend to ignore it. Jewish literature before Christ did not directly praise either poverty or the poor. God s Spirit speaks to individual believers in local situations.
Centralized power can be dangerous.
This chronicle might well serve as a warning that even God-fearing spiritual leaders in positions of high authority need to be held accountable to a system of checks and balances. Some fear that more authority and power given to the local church will likely mean a move toward congregationalism. I for one would not like to see the church lose its world-wide sense of family and connection. I have experienced firsthand the hospitality and fellowship with other Adventists as I have traveled in more than 40 countries. But I am not convinced that giving local congregations greater autonomy necessitates the demise of our Adventist global community or world wide networking.