What are Seventh-day Adventists (SDAs) REALLY like?

I couldn't really find the exact category to place this post in, and for that I apologize. I would like to begin by saying that my father is a Seventh-day Adventist pastor and is a good man. I also am a Seventh-day Adventist, practicing, and attended Southern Adventist University and attended Union College here in Lincoln, Ne. We are not a large denomination but still management to help others with what we can, when we can. Ellen G. White (considered by SOME SDAs to be a prophet(ess) - but not BY the CHURCH as a whole) is often brought up by people followed by the assumption that SDAs are a cult. A cult puts a human being's teaching over the Bible, over God's teachings. I won't argue that many SDAs really thump people over their heads with her writings. It happened to me growing up, as well. I don't recall the last time I attended church and heard her name mentioned. People are seeing that she was simply another person trying to do others well. Most of her writings were note-takings or letters intended to individual people and not by the masses.


I don't hate Catholics, I don't dislike Catholics. I have many friends that are Catholic and we get along just fine. Freedom on conscience is a wonderful thing - we are free to choose how we believe. And for the record, SDAs do NOT believe that Catholics are the anti-Christ. We believe the anti-Christ will be ONE individual. Not all SDAs are conservative. In fact, I just finished watching Family Guy and I love that show. In the episode it showed a man on the street corner that was a Methodist and he described his beliefs and the SDA said he was SDA, believes the same as the other man, just goes to church on Saturdays.


I love watching Metallica concerts. I've been incarcerated, more than once. More than twice. I've been in and out of rehab centers multiple times. I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that I am better than no man, and that NO SDA is better than ANY man. I read the same Bible that most denominations read. I read the KJV, NKJV, and sometimes the NIV. Frequently, people will bring up that SDAs "have their own Bible." The Clear Word. In truth, it is only a paraphrase written by a professor of Andrew's University (named Blanco) who just happened to be an Adventist. The Church does not endorse this version over any other version. In truth, I literally never see The Clear Word Bible when I go to church, nor hear it mentioned.


There was a period of years in my life that I was a practicing Alexandrian Wiccan and people at the SDA church knew I was, yet when I showed up at the church, they showed me nothing but love. I wasn't preached AT. I wasn't told to leave. I wasn't told I was going to Hell. I just want to encourage all of us to not judge an entire group of people , regardless of ANY religion or ANY denomination because of misconceptions or because of some people claiming to be SDAs, yet treat people harshly. Our denomination is quite Protestant. We are very similar to most Protestant denominations and do not think that "we" are the only ones that will be saved.


It really is too bad that some people have to claim to be SDAs and then act superior to others. When I was incarcerated and got back on track I was receiving visits from an SDA chaplain. He encouraged me in a non-denominational way, never said "Oh, you gotta go to church on Saturday," etc. He simply showed me love the way the Bible instructs many of us (all Christians) to. I am sorry if an SDA has offended you. That is not what the church teaches to do. A TRUE SDA is accepting, non-judgmental, forgiving, generous, kind. Not discriminatory or UN-accepting of others. And human May we all co-exist peacefully together!

Matt

reply to post by mickd1337


I recommend seperating paragraphs as it is easier for the reader to follow.


Sorry for being fuzzy.

Wow, first off.... that is a blue ribbon text wall...
who seperates their thoughts into readable chunks anymore..

More on topic, I think they have a website, and I am sure most of it is very close to other beliefs, the main thing is that saturday is the day of worship, continuing with the jewish sabbath that the christian religion grew from.

Well Sat(u)r(n)day vs Sun-day

SDA is a cult... they are like the Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses and are all demonically inspired. The devils law is to COEXIST because he doesnt want you to accept the TRUE love from Jesus Christ, the Good Lord and Savior through a relationship of prayer and reading His Word.

He would rather present a religious system to lock you in with happy feelings and man made doctrines.

I have to say that most of the SDAs I know are among the most humble and genuine people out there.

In my personal opinion, the fact that they restored Saturday as the sabbath makes them probably the only valid christian faith there is. Anyone recognizing Sunday as the sabbath clearly haven't read the commandments nor know by whom and why it was changed.

Christianity isn't my way but if it was, I can respect the SDA tradition above all others, including what I was born into.

reply to post by mickd1337

"We move from Christian to cultic when we make costly what God has made free." Dave Breese

SDA's are intrinsically cultic because to them salvation ultimately depends on human behaviour.

reply to post by STEADFast


i was raised luthern k-8 and i wholly agree with the sda's including saturday is seventh day and the sabboth.
you sounded harsh

reply to post by STEADFast


"Deny Ignorance" Please explain to me your belief in similarity between SDAs and Mormons and JWs? Where are you getting your source of information for such a comment?

reply to post by STEADFast


CO-EXIST - that is not to say that any way is the right way. it means get along. it means don't create unnecessary rifts with others.

My mother is not religious at all, never was, but she often is invited to go along with SDA groups to 3rd-world countries to do humanitarian work. She gets along famously with them. While they are obviously religious, there were no ideological barriers erected between their beliefs and those of people around them. Just nice, down-to-earth people according to her.

Then again the only SDA I know is a condescending Ahole... but they can't all be winners I guess.

Originally posted by KingAtlas

Well Sat(u)r(n)day vs Sun-day

Hmm your on to something here. Also is the actual sabbath day mentioned in the bible? Givin how the devil is known for lieing and men are known for hiding information wouldnt surprise me if both these days happen to be wrong.

Not being a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist church, but having examined their doctrinal teachings closely, has brought me to the conclusion that the SDA's are the most "Biblically" accurate.

On a side note: The actual Sabbath Day is mentioned quite often & prominently throughout the Bible, starting with the account of creation, found in the book of Genesis.

The Sabbath (day of rest) is the 7th day of the week, from "even unto even."
Meaning; it begins at sundown on Friday (preparation day) and continues through to sunset on Sabbath.

Originally posted by vaelamin

Originally posted by KingAtlas

Well Sat(u)r(n)day vs Sun-day

Hmm your on to something here. Also is the actual sabbath day mentioned in the bible? Givin how the devil is known for lieing and men are known for hiding information wouldnt surprise me if both these days happen to be wrong.

First, and this is just my personal opinion, I really don't think God (whatever you believe that to be) would nitpick about which day you set aside for worship (again, whatever you believe that to be). For some reason I doubt God has any need for calendars.

Second, why should it only be one day of the week? If all of God's creation is sacred, shouldn't every day be sacred as well?

Just my two cents. Saturday, Sunday... Wednesday. It doesn't really matter.

reply to post by NthOther


What does God even consider to be a day?

I do believe they're right about Saturday.......

Sadly, those I've known personally weren't too apt to practice what they preached, other than that one thing.

Originally posted by vaelamin
reply to post by NthOther

 

What does God even consider to be a day?

The answer is found on the first page of the Bible, in "The Beginning."

Genesis Chapter 1 -
"And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day," "And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day," "third day," etc...

Then, something different/unique/special happens on the 7th day.

Genesis 2 -
And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

reply to post by SkyLiner


Hmm thats always confused me. Evening is first and then morning is last? Does that mean are day system is backwards. Or does morning just mean the start of a new day?

Interesting topic. I'll toss in 2 cents. I consider myself to be Non-denominational Protestant Saved By Grace Sinner or NDPSBGS (jk), but I know a thing about the Seventh Day Adventists.

First, on the topic of when/where to worship. Reminds me of a piece of scripture in Luke when Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman. She asks him where the proper place to worship is, on Mount Moriah; as her people claimed, or in Jerusalem, as his people claimed. He responded "new time is coming, and it his here now, that men would not worship at either place. They would worship God in spirit and truth." God cares only about the heart, and if you are worshiping on Tuesday at 2:00 am in a 711, God hears you according to scripture.

I recently moved to Houston, Texas and I decided to learn a little bit more about the slaughter at Waco. The Branch-Davidians were an offshoot of the Seventh Day Adventists, however from my understanding they were much more fascinated with Biblical prophecy found in the book of Revelation, or at least, David Koresh's interpretation. I do not believe the BD's were a cult, much more of a commune than anything. Nor do I believe they committed "mass-suacide," but the facts against that piece of propaganda are fairly well publicized.

Every SDA I have met have a heart for the Lord, a passion for scripture, and a moral home. I don't see anything cultish about that.

Originally posted by MarlboroRedCowgirl
Interesting topic. I'll toss in 2 cents. I consider myself to be Non-denominational Protestant Saved By Grace Sinner or NDPSBGS (jk), but I know a thing about the Seventh Day Adventists.

First, on the topic of when/where to worship. Reminds me of a piece of scripture in Luke when Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman. She asks him where the proper place to worship is, on Mount Moriah; as her people claimed, or in Jerusalem, as his people claimed. He responded "new time is coming, and it his here now, that men would not worship at either place. They would worship God in spirit and truth." God cares only about the heart, and if you are worshiping on Tuesday at 2:00 am in a 711, God hears you according to scripture.

I recently moved to Houston, Texas and I decided to learn a little bit more about the slaughter at Waco. The Branch-Davidians were an offshoot of the Seventh Day Adventists, however from my understanding they were much more fascinated with Biblical prophecy found in the book of Revelation, or at least, David Koresh's interpretation. I do not believe the BD's were a cult, much more of a commune than anything. Nor do I believe they committed "mass-suacide," but the facts against that piece of propaganda are fairly well publicized.

Every SDA I have met have a heart for the Lord, a passion for scripture, and a moral home. I don't see anything cultish about that.

www.macgregorministries.org...

This link should make it clear to you. If there is a devil to be found always look at the details. The easiest way for evil to hide, is in a robe made out of light.

My experience with those strange people is that they hate to loose an argument, I used to do my damnedest to think of a question they had not thought of first, my second son is brilliant at tying them in knots, just wish I had his brains at times.
Anyway, when they call, just keep asking them to explain their answers to your questions, they will, in time start to question their own answers!