Abstract:
The mission over the last few decades, especially of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, has
focused on “confessionalism”. In this specific sense of mission growth—numeric growth—
has been a priority, and, unfortunately, not caring for “broken” people. The emphasis has
been placed on the age-old proclamation of the “truth”, at the expense of social involvement,
as it seems that “truth” transcends the needs of people, even of Christians. This has led to the
restricting of the scope of pastoral care, and has limited it to an “applied theology”, where
the Old Testament and New Testament studies have dictated its structure and methodology.
Within Adventism its view and use of Scripture has dominated its ministry, indicating a
number of different methods and approaches. These differences in both the conservative and
the liberal orientations only represent their own possibilities. These approaches are the result
of a basic understanding of Scripture as a body of divine teachings that needs to be accepted,
believed, and obeyed. Consequently, this perception has moved the focus away from caring
to the “so-called” correct doctrine of “truth” and proclamation.
Postmodernism, however, is challenging the assumptions of modernism and is now
confronting us with the understanding that there is no “objective truth”, and that there cannot
be a completely detached observer. We observe reality, experience and Scripture not
objectively, but rather discern them through the eyes of our own context, experience and
history.
The thesis, therefore, postulates as useful, just and proper that we experience reality in a
narrative fashion within a secular postmodern world. It is through stories that we grasp and
appreciate the important factors in our lives. Consequently, a narrative approach is appraised
as being a more meaningful tool in approaching Scripture and pastoral care. Narratives are
like rituals, they preserve the memory of past events in a way that they still have power for
us in the present. As Jesus is a servant of everybody His narratives are transposed and they
become accounts of our involvement in the lives of our fellow “sufferers”.
