If there’s anything we can know for sure from all the controversy that we as Adventists create over what constitutes acceptable entertainment it’s this: we are fundamentally boring.

The fact that the appropriateness of moviegoing is considered a hot topic in Adventism is downright depressing. What have we become? Having left behind some of our original, more inspiring ideas on physical recreation and its health and work-related benefits, we have settled for endless rounds of bickering about standards for "Godly" entertainment. No wonder the world sees us as irrelevant.

It’s downright fascinating that in a time when America is at war; when a space shuttle explodes; when twenty-one people die in a Chicago club fire; and when an Adventist ex-pastor is found guilty of genocide those of us on Adventist campuses are satisfied with spirited debates on the pros and cons of competitive sports. Our concern over how best to waste our time would not be an issue if we actually found something more important to do with it.

Why not be actively Christian for a change? What have we done lately that anyone outside our cozy community of faith actually cares about or respects? What have we done to protest the use of brute military force against Iraq? How have we treated the poor around us? How are we helping the depressed and lonely in our community?

We wouldn’t have to resort to Rook cards if we had some sense of mission. Our church is full of good ideas that would be helpful to society if we decided to practice actively what we believe.

Our health message could have a tremendous impact. More and more, people are receptive to ideas on ensuring long-term health; let’s share our thoughts with them. Our ideas on holistic education would be so much more attractive if we subscribed to them ourselves and then created an environment where any student, regardless of faith background, felt equally welcome and at home.

There is so much that we are sitting on. We are used to our Adventist ideas and we don’t realize what a difference they would make in the lives of those who have never heard of them.

Let’s shift our focus from how best to entertain ourselves to how best to serve. Let’s determine to be relevant.

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