Mainstream Protestants, Adventists Make Efforts to Remove 'Stereotypes'

Steve Jepson »

Thu Sep 06, 2007 2:30 am Agree: 7   Disagree: 0

dgnymn,

“traditional belief” ?

Would you state which “traditional belief” about Jesus Christ you hold that is different than the Seventh-Day Adventists?

What is your religious affiliation, religion, denomination…?

Does it base its beliefs on “tradition”, the Bible only, or both?

Mainstream Protestants, Adventists Make Efforts to Remove 'Stereotypes'

Steve Jepson »

Thu Sep 06, 2007 2:17 am Agree: 9   Disagree: 2

dgnymn,

Please be specific. What “viewpoint of Christ” held by 7th Day Adventist’s “is far different”? Different from what?

This is what Seventh-Day Adventists believe about Jesus Christ.

God the eternal Son became incarnate in Jesus Christ. Through Him all things were created, the character of God is revealed, the salvation of humanity is accomplished, and the world is judged. Forever truly God, He became also truly man, Jesus the Christ. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived and experienced temptation as a human being, but perfectly exemplified the righteousness and love of God. By His miracles He manifested God's power and was attested as God's promised Messiah. He suffered and died voluntarily on the cross for our sins and in our place, was raised from the dead, and ascended to minister in the heavenly sanctuary in our behalf. He will come again in glory for the final deliverance of His people and the restoration of all things. (John 1:1-3, 14; Col. 1:15-19; John 10:30; 14:9; Rom. 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:17-19; John 5:22; Luke 1:35; Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 2:9-18; 1 Cor. 15:3, 4; Heb. 8:1, 2; John 14:1-3.)


Also, do you think it is “almost legalistic” to observe the other 9, or just the 4th, the one he said to remember? Exodus 20:8-11

Mainstream Protestants, Adventists Make Efforts to Remove 'Stereotypes'

Steve Jepson »

Wed Sep 05, 2007 11:08 am Agree: 8   Disagree: 0

JJ22854,

I liked your observations about what the Seventh-Day Adventist’s, Mormon’s, and Jehovah’s Witnesses all have in common. There is a difference (sometimes) between what they are able to imply in very carefully worded, and broadly defined statements of belief, and how that translates into the actual practice and expression of this belief by it’s members.

Sadly, this is true of all churches, and all Christians. We do not always represent Jesus or his teachings very well. I think it would be safe to say the no one has done more to undermine the cause of Christ than those of us who claim to be Christians. Think of all the evil that has been done in the name of Christian’s.

This does not make our beliefs any less valid, just because some one has created a bad reputation for us?

I think these three churches have many extremists who miss represent their churches and may have had more influence in the formulation of public opinion about them, than the main body does. Actions speak so much louder than words.

I am a Seventh-Day Adventist (reluctantly at times) I know that what you have said is true (sometimes). The example you gave of the Mormon’s passing out KJV Bibles is a perfect illustration of this sort of thing.

However, I remain a Seventh-Day Adventist because it’s teachings (as officially stated that is) are the most consistent with the Bible and basic tenants of Protestantism of any other church I know about. I would jump ship with out hesitation if I did not believe this.

What church do you belong to?

How do it’s teachings compare to what the Bible says?
Is it based on the Protestant principles of sola scriptura, or does it teach that this is not even a Biblical concept, as the Catholic’s do?
Could we dig up some obscure paper written by one of your members that is not representative of your faith, and use it to spread lies about you?

Personally, I am not at all happy with the liberal progressives (as they like to be called) in my own church (flam’n liberal's I call’m) who are undermining the traditional Protestant values of the Seventh-Day Adventist church with the more psycho-social gospel of today’s Evangelical churches.

Mainstream Protestants, Adventists Make Efforts to Remove 'Stereotypes'

Steve Jepson »

Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:44 am Agree: 6   Disagree: 3

Some will choose to believe their own imagination, even if God himself were to come down out of heaven and speak to them in his own voice, or even go so far as to write with his own finger, in tables of stone!

If he did that, and he asked us to “Remember…” would you do that? Or would you choose to re-write what he said and forget it?

There is no need to speculate and spread lies about what the Seventh-Day Adventist’s believe. You can go to their website and read it for your self.
http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/index.html

Remnant and Its Mission:
The universal church is composed of all who truly believe in Christ, but in the last days, a time of widespread apostasy, a remnant has been called out to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. This remnant announces the arrival of the judgment hour, proclaims salvation through Christ, and heralds the approach of His second advent. This proclamation is symbolized by the three angels of Revelation 14; it coincides with the work of judgment in heaven and results in a work of repentance and reform on earth. Every believer is called to have a personal part in this worldwide witness. (Rev. 12:17; 14:6-12; 18:1-4; 2 Cor. 5:10; Jude 3, 14; 1 Peter 1:16-19; 2 Peter 3:10-14; Rev. 21:1-14.)
Unity in the Body of Christ:
The church is one body with many members, called from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. In Christ we are a new creation; distinctions of race, culture, learning, and nationality, and differences between high and low, rich and poor, male and female, must not be divisive among us. We are all equal in Christ, who by one Spirit has bonded us into one fellowship with Him and with one another; we are to serve and be served without partiality or reservation. Through the revelation of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures we share the same faith and hope, and reach out in one witness to all. This unity has its source in the oneness of the triune God, who has adopted us as His children. (Rom. 12:4, 5; 1 Cor. 12:12-14; Matt. 28:19, 20; Ps. 133:1; 2 Cor. 5:16, 17; Acts 17:26, 27; Gal. 3:27, 29; Col. 3:10-15; Eph. 4:14-16; 4:1-6; John 17:20-23.)

Mainstream Protestants, Adventists Make Efforts to Remove 'Stereotypes'

Steve Jepson »

Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:37 am Agree: 9   Disagree: 6

Simon61161,

Seventh-Day Adventists are NOT "cut from the same cloth" as Jehovah's Witnesses.

http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/index.html

Seventh-day Adventists have always accepted the Bible as their only creed.

The Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, are the written Word of God, given by divine inspiration through holy men of God who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. In this Word, God has committed to man the knowledge necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are the infallible revelation of His will. They are the standard of character, the test of experience, the authoritative revealer of doctrines, and the trustworthy record of God's acts in history. (2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; Ps. 119:105; Prov. 30:5, 6; Isa. 8:20; John 17:17; 1 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 4:12.)








http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/index.html

Mainstream Protestants, Adventists Make Efforts to Remove 'Stereotypes'

Steve Jepson »

Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:17 am Agree: 12   Disagree: 2

Simon61161,

When you say “in fact” you should be more careful to make sure what you are going to say, is indeed fact.

If you were even vaguely familiar with the remarkable revival of prophetic study and interest in premillennialism that took place after the French Revolution, you would know that (as you said) “the whole trend of setting date after date for Christ's return” did not begin with William Miller. Prophetic study was widespread then and included all denominational groups—Presbyterians, Congregational, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Reformed, Methodists, Baptists, and many others as well.

I am looking at a chart here in a book I am reading “The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers” Froom, vol. 4 that shows the names and the denominational affiliation of about 80 of the worlds most eminent expositors of the book of Daniel who also wrote about what they expected to take place at the end of the 2300 days spoken of by Daniel.

Mathew Henry (Presby.), Thomas Scott (Angl.), Bishop Thomas Newton (Angl.),
Adam Clark, (Wesleyan) just to name a few.

William Miller wrote his first book on prophecy in 1836. It was already a widely excepted view that the 2300 prophetic “days” were in actuality literal years, due to end about 1843-1847, and that the period of the 70 weeks of years, extended to the death of the Messiah in the 70th week.
This book documents some 78 prominent and respected writers who published there works prior to William Miller. The documentation is very well done too. This volume is over 1,200 pages.

Also, I would like to point out that you have used the term Adventist very loosely.

Every one in William Millers day and our own, who is preaching about the eminent return of Jesus could be called an Adventist.
I think you may have ment Seventh-Day Adventist for some of your comments, however, William Miller was not a Seventh-Day Adventist. Although rooted in what was called the Millerite movement, that denomination was established in 1863. William Miller died in 1849.

In contrast to the Jehovah’s Witnesses you mentioned, who have set “date after date” this is certainly not true of the Seventh-Day Adventists.

I have always wondered how those who get caught up in setting dates for the Second Coming understand these words of Jesus.

“But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.”