Hi world,
I just came up with a very interesting idea for blog posts. Since I am very interested in God, spirituality and belief systems (especially Christian religions) I would give brief introductions plus Wikipedia links to a belief system in every post. I would give a brief personal view of what I think of that belief system and what I think of it. I’m starting with Seventh Day Adventists (Wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh_Day_Adventists)
Seventh Day Adventist is a small Christian denomination that has had an explosive growth in the recent years, especially in the developing world. This denomination has captured my attention like no other for one simple reason: this is probably most aggressive (yep that’s the word) in exploiting all forms of media (broadcasting, internet, publishing) . SDA is also very active through their own charity and relief organizations, partnerships and missionary activities. When I lived in Asia and was very much into shortwave radio listening (in the 90s) I used to bump into Seventh Day Adventist broadcasts all the time. And some of them were quite interesting!
Now I live in the South Island of New Zealand in a city called Christchurch, near University campus. Not very far from here is an Adventist church. In New Zealand it is legal for people to run small powered FM stations without applying for a license. This adventist church has been (almost secretly) operating an FM transmitter that rebroadcasts audio stream of famous Adventist TV channel 3ABN :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3ABN ) for the last one year or so!
So, even in the South Island of New Zealand I exclusively get to hear Adventist broadcasts! Adventists have the good fortune of having some real energetic and eloquent speakers such as Doug Batchelor who is often featured on 3ABN channel runs a very energetic, persuasive and interesting ministry and his website http://www.amazingfacts.org/
Distinct Beliefs of Adventist– The secret of Adventist success story in my opinion is their conservatism and ability to stand out with distinct beliefs and claims that they’re the ”Remnant Church” from the true disciples of Jesus. They are as much known for their bitter hatred of Roman Catholic Church who they accuse of being Mystery Babylon etc. Adventists claim exclusivity even among protestant and believe they’re the only church and only Christian belief system that will earn you salvation and heaven.
Apart from exclusivity and claims of being the only true church Seventh Day Adventist mostly based their belief system on just one dogma or belief: The Sabbath Day, which Adventist strongly believe is Saturday as stated in Old Testament. Saturday, they claim, is holy and the seventh day of the week (Sunday being the first day of the week). Accordingly, SDA have their church services on Saturdays.
Another belief of Adventists which again draws on Old Testament is that when people die they do not go to Heaven straight away. They rather go into a state of unconsciousness and sleep. They will remain like that until they’re resurrected on the judgment day at the second coming of Christ. Only then some will be condemned for eternal hell and others will be given a place in heaven forever.
For a male dominated conservative church it is rather strange that Seventh Day Adventists based most of their religious teachings on the writings of a woman named Ellen G. White: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_G._White. Interestingly, now Seventh Day Adventist televangelists rarely mention her but echo her views as the views of the true ”remnant church”.
Even more distinct character of this church is their emphasis on human health and wellness. Adventists discourage meat eating (that must win some folks from PETA!) and use of caffeine (That would lose Adventists all support from coffee lovers!) and especially Tobacco and smoking (This is really some popular stance to take in this modern world) I just learned that Seventh Day Adventists own big company in Australia that sells Wheat biscuits as breakfast cereal and another company in New Zealand that sells health foods and their popular product of brewer’s yeast (Perhaps richest- some may say yuckiest- source of B- Vitamins) called Marmite (Very popular in UK)
Adventists also own many publishing houses, relief agencies, many schools and educational institutions (second only after Catholics) They have their presence in almost all the countries of the world, making SDA a truly global church.
In short this is a lot of weight for a church of only about 14 million. But SDA are also growing very fast. What would happen when their numbers get really big? Hmmmm…
It would be interesting to have comments from people who have anything to do with Adventists, who are Adventists or who have Adventist friends or relatives. Feel free to express your views and add to this post/article.
Seventh-day Adventism is mainly growing in Third World countries today (akin to Mormonism in this regard). In short, their evangelistic endeavors are most successful where information technology is not readily available (i.e., Internet). SDA membership records are also highly inflated. As a former Adventist, I once was a member of two SDA churches simultaneously due to their sloppy record-keeping. I have even known of cases where the dead are not deleted from their records. Many former Adventists are still on their membership lists as well. Moreover, in some Third World countries, it often difficult to get your name removed from their membership roster. I have known of former Adventists trying to get their names removed for several years without success. Indeed, friends don’t let friends become Adventists.
I believe that you have some of your information wrong. I am not aware of a “bitter hatred of the Roman Catholic Church”. It is true that the church strongly disagrees with the Catholic Church. People take offense when seminars identify the RCC with the beast power or the antichrist as described in the book of Revelation. The antichrist simply means a church that stands in place of Christ. Sadly most people don’t study but get a Hollywood image of this subject.
As an Adventist I look to Christ for my salvation, not a human being who believes that he has the authority to change scripture, ie: Sabbath worship changed to Sunday worship. If you read the Catholic Catechism they freely admit that the RCC has that authority. I respectfully disagree.Most adventists that I know hate no one but rather strongly try to point people to the bible as our rule of faith in Christ. Not the decrees of man. That is not hate when you don’t want someone misled. Adventist look to the bible for our doctrines, not Ellen White as those who try to post misinformation about the church.
SDA “dogma” does not consist of only Sabbath keeping but to follow all of God’s commandments as found in the entire bible, old and new testament. The Sabbath is found also in the New Testament as Jesus states that He is the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8)(many other NT references of the sabbath)
SDA’s do not “earn” salvation” Salvation is a free gift from the Lord who died on the cross for our sins. I have never heard that other churches do not have people that will be saved. From what I understand the mission of the SDA church to be is to point people back to the bible and away from all of the man made teachings that have crept into Christiandom.
It is true that SDA televangelist don’t spend a great deal of time speaking about Ellen White as she is not the subject of our message, but Christ. She is not hidden either. She is one of the founders of the church and wrote prolifically. Why? To point people back to the bible, not to her.
You mention the health teachings of the church. Why? to keep peoples minds free from disease and anything that would make it hard to to learn about God. The cereal industry in Battle Creek was a result of one of the health teachings advocated by the church.
You mention that the SDA teaches that it is the remnant. You are correct. It is the last part (remnant) that has a message to return people back to the bible with emphasis on the Ten Commandments, not nine as most others teach . I don’t see many churches doing that, but just that small part, remnant.
We keep His commandments because of John 14:15. The first chater of John identifies Christ as the Creator. He created the commandments.
I can go on much longer but I would recommend that you go directly to the source to understand what the SDA church teaches. A web site that I am familiar with is Battlecreektabernacle.com This has a lot of information about the church and what and why it teaches so. Please study for yourself and not just what wikipedia has.
I noticethat your blog has the theme of FREEDOM WATCH. I believe that freedom is best protected by everyone being fully informed and looking for themselves. Thanks for allowing me to give my two cents worth.
Dennis- Many thanks for your comments. Actually you refresh my earlier impressions of Seventh Day Adventist as a manipulative and cultist church that would hound any dissenters, pretty much like any cult (Scientology comes to mind:http://emberglow.wordpress.com/2007/06/29/foggy-brain-and-scientology/)
But I guess as SDA grew in popularity- like any cult or small sect- they started sounding more and more like mainstream Christianity and evangelicals. Initially, SDA resembled pretty much like Mormons as a prophecy and doomsday cult. Remember that some early SDA followers were quite deranged and went on to form their own offshoots like Branch Davidians (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branch_Davidians) led by David Koresh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Koresh).
But still, I have no problem considering SDA as a Christian church with its own brand of Old Testament traditions. Conservative Christianity is more like Judaism with Jesus in the mix. However, I still would have problem with Latter Day Saints or Mormons being considered a Christian church. A while ago this post (http://emberglow.wordpress.com/2007/11/08/rudy-giuliani-and-pat-robertson-and-mormons/) raised quite a hell on my blog.
At last I am glad you are able to find your own way of relating with God. Good luck.
Tom- Thanks for you detailed comment. Some of the things I would’ve liked to mention are already in the first comment in response to Dennis. I stand for freedom as in freedom of speech and expression. Which also includes freedom of or from religion. It is very important for me to give chance to everyone to express their opinions (Even Mormons and Scientology folks are welcome!)
As I say, I consider SDA as pretty much mainstream evangelical church now. I do enjoy listening to some of SDA sermons that are broadcast on air or on internet. And I find some of SDA exposition of Bible interesting.
But having said that many mainstream Christians feel uncomfortable with SDA claims of being the only true church. In fact some have very factual and Biblical grounds for rejecting SDA. For example these sermons from Sermonaudio.com raise their strong objections of SDA church : http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?keyword=seventh+day+adventist&selectsearch=
I listened to this one: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=93002184813 by Rev. Ian Goligher of Cloverdale Free Presbyterian Church in British Columbia, Canada (http://www.freepres.org/church.asp?vancouver)
Maybe you and other Adventists would like to listen to these and write to them and also post their comments on my blog.
Cheers,
Ember.
Thanks for your kind reply. I can understand why some people feel put off. Sometimes some of our overly zealous members don’t help much with their attitude. Most people that I have spoken with that have left the church have admitted that it was over how someone treated them, not that they found fault with the doctrines.
While I believe that the SDA church is the remnant church I do not believe that anyone should preach that we are the “Only true church”. What I have learned over the years is that there are many fine christians in other churches. No one should lord it over someone in that way. That has never been the mission of the SDA church as I understand it. As the remnant we have a duty to be a light to those around us and help as many as possible understand what the bible actually teaches so that people will truly begin to understand the character of God. There are too many people today that want no part of God because He has been misrepresented. Being the remnant does not give us superiority but rather a duty. Jesus while on this earth was truly God but he took on being a servant to mankind. If anyone had a right to act superior it was Him. If we claim to be Christian we should emulate Him. That is what being the remnant entails. I guess we still have a long way to go before we get that message across.
I appreciate that you inclued those links. I enjoy hearing other peoples perspective as long as they are sincere and not out just to trash us because of prejudice or hatred. While I believe that the SDA church has a great deal to offer I do realize that God works with sincere Christians regardless of affiliation. I still have a lot to learn and I can also see why others may disagree. This also helps me to find answers that I can use to help those that may sincerely be walking down the wrong road.
I wish you well with your project.
I have listened to one of the sermons from Ion Goliger. I see now where you are coming from in your post. I am hoping that he is just mistaken in his interpretations of Adventist doctrines as much of what he says is inaccurate. The teachings about the sabbath, state of the dead, judgement, the final destruction of Satan and sin (and sinners who chose to hold on to their sin and reject Christ) are clearly supported by scripture. The bible is what we believe and not based solely on what Ellen White had claimed. Her writings support the scripture. I would really recommend that you check out the website that I mentioned previous and go to the Bible Study section. You will find there the scripture that supports these teachings. I really believe that if you read all of the verses that are cited and pray that the Holy Spirit show you if it is true that you will come away with a different point of view. That is why you do not see a lot of Ellen White quotes when there is an Adventist bible seminar. The purpose is to get people to see for themselves from scripture and not take anyone else’s word for it.
Pastor Goliger claims that the RCC is not the authority that changes the Sabbath to Sunday. Please go to the Catholic website and look at their catechism and other writings.These are all on-line. See for your self and don’t take his word for it. A teaching that the SDA church really harps on is Check it out for yourself and don’t take our word for anything that we teach. We have never that I am aware of claimed a teaching and then used an Ellen White quote to support it and used it as a hammer to shut down dissent. There are many Adventist forums that constantly debate, haggle and argue. You will find those on the web freely and no one is being forced out of the church because of differences of opinion. The incident about Pastor Ford that Golliger mentions is not about him simply having a different opinion. This is something you would have to check out yourself as it is too involved for me to write about it in this post. I think that you will find that most if not all churches have similar problems if not worse that they have had to deal with.
I will listen to some of the other sermons that you have posted when I have a little more time. I suspect that the arguments will be similar with the main disagreement stemming from a misunderstanding of the purpose of Ellen White and not involve comparing actual scripture. That is all that I’m trying to accomplish. Read the actual scriptures , attempting to be as complete and inclusive of all pertinent texts before forming a conclusion. I don’t mind people disagreeing with me. Just read your bibles with an open mind and try to avoid any pre opinion beforehand.
[...] Ian Golligher (I had provided link to his sermon on my Seventh Day Adventist Post) states in his sermon on Christian Science- in his amusing Irish accent- the utter frustration he [...]
I spend part of my life in a SDA home. Today, i don’t want to know anything about this religion, they shine outside their homes and inside is a mess.
In regards to believes, they are very strong toward Catholics; is like they have the need and responsibility to let everyone know that catholics, and any other religion, but specially the Pope. are wrong. They make you memorize the bible, and moral, shame, and rules is a big deal in this cult.
I experienced abuse where i lived and everything was done in the name of “Jesus”.
I believe that because they are so secretive there are a lot of things that happens and nobody talks about it.
Ramdon- Thanks for your comments. I notice the same level of abuse or abuse or power wherever a religion, cult, institution, community or even a family becomes domineering and unaccountable. There is something about secretive, walled conservatism that stinks like hell.
I’m glad that you’re free now and have control over your life. It is also good that you can give your testimony or warning to the rest of the world.
Thank you emberglow, what surprise me is that sites like The Ross Institute (one that I have respect for) don’t have the SDA church as a dangerous church.
They really use the guilt to keep a smile out of home in every one.. while hell is at home.
ohh well.
Interesting blog, however l would like to respond to some of the issues raised as an Adventist.
Firstly, Christianity is growing fastest in 3rd world countries & least in developed states so its not surprising that it is where the Adventist church is growing stronger. 2nd, Information technology is dominated by non-Christians & the non-religious so it is not surprising that where IT tech dominates influence, Christianity(adventism) lags behind. The Adventist world church has presence even in the remotest parts of the world contrary to most Pentecostals who do enjoy worldwide appeal ie are only found in small groups of independent churches. The secret to our phenomenal growth is in the structure of our organisation, Pastors & church leaders are not permanent, every year local leadership is elected & every 3yrs local Pastors are re-assigned, every 5yrs the worldwide church leadership changes so that means theres renewal & constant assessments of progress.So it means dead wood, over-domineering leaders, leaders stifling growth, destructive leadership etc is constantly kept in check, whilst good leadership is recognised & promoted up the rank to further the gospel. That constant renewal of life maintains the church growth at high levels. Beat that!
hI ,WAS WONDERING HOW COME YOU ARE O BENT ON MAKING aDVENTITS WRONG AND YOURSELF RIGHT ..COULD IT BE YOU ARE TRYING TO APEASE YOUR OWN ACTION AND LIFE TYLE
Alfred- Thanks for your comments. I did not know about the rotational election of Adventist leaders. That’s interesting. But I have to disagree with the link between Information technology and weak influence of church. Most churches including SDA very successfully exploited technology-broadcasting, satellite transmissions, internet, new electronic media like Podcasting, CD, DVD and so on.
I am very much aware that Christianity is mostly spreading in the third world. I think it is simply because populations in those regions are still very receptive of mythological gods, religious systems and of course superstitions. I call their conversions as totally phony and fake. You can take some of the Pacific Islands in the South Pacific as examples.
They’re almost completely Christian and are actually living in old time Christianity days of ritualism, strict church attendance and literalism. But this sticking to literal Biblical commands and rules does not turn them into some kind of idyllic Christian heavens. Their little countries are full of corruption, sexual promiscuity, inefficiency, shabby work ethics and all the squalor and chaos that ensues as a result.
I would much prefer life in non Christian but peaceful Japan or a Sweden with non legalistic Christianity.
Dedee- I am just making some honest observations. We all have right to express our opinions. In no way, I am spreading hatred against any religious groups or wish that they disappear or are outlawed. But any institution, philosophy or religious system must be open to honest and conscientious criticism.