Evaluating a Deceptive Dialogue with Adventists

Of all the 19th century Restorationist movements (including Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses––just to name the two most familiar to evangelicals), Seventh-day Adventism has undeniably made the most headway toward evangelical “respectability.” In Walter Martin’s famous Kingdom of the Cults (first published in 1965), the discussion on Seventh-day Adventism is relegated to an appendix entitled “The Puzzle of Seventh-day Adventism.” Martin ultimately declared Adventism to be orthodox, albeit with certain heterodox teachings. 

Also tellingly, the Wikipedia entry on Adventism describes it as a “Protestant Christian denomination which is distinguished by its observance of Saturday … and its emphasis on the imminent Second Coming (advent) of Jesus Christ.” By contrast, Mormonism is described as a “non-trinitarian, Christian restorationist church” and it is acknowledged that “[b]ecause of some of the doctrinal differences, Catholic, Orthodox, and several Protestant churches consider the church to be distinct and separate from mainstream Christianity.” Likewise, Jehovah’s Witnesses are described as having “nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity.” Although the word cult is nowhere used, the contrast between Adventism and the latter two movements could not be more distinct. 

Such a situation was not the case many decades ago, when most evangelicals clearly regarded Seventh-day Adventism as a cult. While there are many important historical reasons for the changes that have led to the present situation (and much has been said elsewhere about this), it would be helpful to provide a recent illustration that demonstrates just how readily and easily evangelicals can move to embracing Seventh-day Adventism as orthodox. Just last week, Matt Whitman, who runs the popular YouTube channel The Ten Minute Bible Hour, released a video titled “An Outsider Learns About the Seventh Day Adventist Church” (link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtaK9dtIa_U&t=372s). This video is part of a series in which Matt visits other churches from various denominations in order to gain some perspective about their beliefs and practices (thus far, for example, he has visited Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches, among others). 

The video shows how two Adventist church leaders and popular YouTube vlogger Justin Khoe (himself an Adventist) show Matt around their church (located in Oregon) and explain to him some aspects of Adventism. Importantly, the church’s pastor (Greg) is accompanied by an official representative from the denomination (Dan). I believe that the way Matt’s questions are answered provides some insight into understanding why Adventism has come to be seen as orthodox by so many uncritical evangelicals. In many ways, the shallow understanding of Adventism on the part of evangelicals, in combination with the eagerness of Adventists to be perceived as “normal”, proves to be disastrous. 

Bible translations

Early in the video, Matt asks about the denomination’s preferred Bible translation(s), if any. Greg (the pastor) states that Adventists do not have an official translation and that preferences vary widely among members. At no point do any of the Adventists mention anything about The Clear Word version, a paraphrase by Seventh-day Adventist Jack Blanco with many demonstrably heretical renderings. For example, John 10:30 (“I and the Father are one”) eliminates the consubstantial nature of the Father and the Son, replacing it with a tritheistic understanding: “You see, my Father and I are like one” (1990), or “You see, my Father and I are so close, we’re one” (current version). 

Now, I personally view the whole debate about whether or not this version should be characterized as the “official” version of the Seventh-day Adventist church as something of a red herring. The very fact that such plausible deniability is built-in to the denomination is only one further piece of evidence (among many) that the Seventh-day Adventist organization is deceptive in its portrayal of itself. The official Adventist bookstores (ABC) have The Clear Word as one of three Bible headings/categories in their online store. There one can find audio versions (read by prominent leaders in the church, no less), Basic English versions, and even more premium leather versions of this heretical translation. Would any orthodox or honest church ever allow such a book to be distributed in its official stores? If Matt had perhaps probed a bit deeper, and if the Adventists he had been interviewing had been more honest, he could have discovered that only a 15 minute drive away from that church (Pleasant Valley SDA church) is an Adventist Book Center (alongside the official Oregon SDA conference), carrying a Bible translation filled with idiosyncratic Adventist theology.

Sabbath schools

The conversation soon drifted to the topic of Sabbath schools, another Seventh-day Adventist distinctive. Matt found it a bit odd that such a feature was so prevalent in the denomination (even though comparison was made to Sunday schools). He asks: “Why do you have church and Sabbath school?” Justin (the Adventist vlogger) mentions the Sabbath school quarterlies, essentially admitting to one of the primary reasons for the existence of Sabbath schools in Adventism: it is important that the church be theologically united. The caveat that Justin offers (some churches do not make use of the quarterly) does not do much to mitigate the plain fact that Adventism is a highly centralized organization (both institutionally and doctrinally). Having heard this, however, Matt remarks that it seems to him that Adventism does not have a “top-down, hierarchical approach” to its teaching. The Adventists readily assent to this characterization, which is almost comically ironic, and downright false, given the extremely hierarchical structure of the global church (second only to that of Roman Catholicism). Matt’s final takeaway to this: “That feels very evangelical to me.” 

Hymns

At one point, Dan (the Adventist representative) grabs an Adventist hymnal and shows it to Matt, explaining its contents. He emphasizes that it contains many hymns that would be familiar to most Christians. Of course, the Adventists never mention the many subtle changes in those traditional Christian hymns that illustrate a concerted, deliberate effort on the part of Adventist leaders to downplay or otherwise alter basic, core Christian beliefs such as the Trinity and the condition of people in death. If Matt had turned to “Holy, Holy, Holy,” for example, he would have discovered that instead of the words “all the saints adore thee,” the Adventist hymnal reads “angels adore thee.” Apart from being theologically disastrous, this desire to subtly alter words in order to promote the Adventist belief in soul-sleep is itself very deceptive.

In examining the hymnal, Matt flipped to “I Surrender All,” and chuckled, asking whether Adventists have anything like an altar call song (while mentioning an old Baptist standby, “Just As I Am”). The Adventists laughed along, but one gets the sense that they didn’t know exactly how to respond. Although the traditional evangelical altar call approach can (and should) be criticized on several grounds, in its own way, it also illustrates how great the gulf between evangelicalism and Adventism is (thanks to the faulty anthropology and defective gospel that is part and parcel of Adventism). At the end of the day, the new birth is simply not understood by Adventists. Again, however, Matt seemed so impressed by the apparent commonalities between evangelicals and Adventists that he remarked, “Wow, this seems completely familiar” and said that this was “an interesting indicator” in terms of where both groups were, theologically. Yet again, superficial similarities misled him into making an incorrect conclusion.

Other Adventist Distinctives

Much more could be said about many other things in the video interview. Greg’s characterization of his main emphasis as an Adventist pastor certainly sounded evangelical: “Our center, which we are aiming at every week (speaking as pastors here), is that we lift up the gospel of Jesus Christ every single week, no matter what we’re talking about. That it’s rooted and based in the gospel of Jesus, the cross of Christ, and proclaiming the resurrection.” There could be no way, humanly speaking, that an uninformed evangelical could correctly appreciate such an isolated statement (what gospel is being spoken of here? Which Jesus is being proclaimed?). 

The practice of foot-washing, while not in and of itself sinful, tends to subtly and ironically take away the real emphasis of what Jesus did on that night: He came as a servant for our sake, and He came to die on our behalf. Of course, many things are debated by Christians with regard to communion, including its proper frequency. However, it is probably not coincidental that the paltry quarterly observance of the Lord’s Supper on the part of Adventists is one indicator of what kind of value is truly placed on the cross of Jesus Christ by the denomination (this along with the conspicuous absence of crosses on many of its church buildings). 

When asked by Matt whether someone who wasn’t a Christian could receive communion, the Adventist representative seemed genuinely confused by the question: “I don’t see that as a problem. If they feel moved by the service to participate in communion, I don’t think there’s anything that says you have to be baptized in order to participate.” Too high a view of baptism (and conversely, too low a view of the new birth) also came through when the representatives discussed the general procedure (Seventh-day Adventist church membership following the baptism).

Strikingly, but perhaps understandably, no mention was made of any core Adventist doctrines: the Great Controversy theme, the sanctuary, the mark of the beast, soul sleep, annihilationism. Given the desire of the Adventist representatives to present their church in the best possible light and Matt’s ignorance of Adventist history, this omission is not surprising. The Methodist roots of Seventh-day Adventism were emphasized (in particular, Ellen White grew up Methodist), while nothing was stated of its troubling Christian Connexion links.

Ultimately, a right assessment of Seventh-day Adventism depends on a proper value being placed on historic Christian orthodoxy. Former Seventh-day Adventists should not merely encourage other evangelicals to critically examine Adventism, but to also cherish the biblical distinctives that make the difference between life and death: the nature and character of God, the nature and character of man, and a robust, biblical gospel. History has proven time and time again: when the fundamental truths of Christianity are taken for granted by one generation, it is but one step from there to a gradual abandonment of those truths by the next generation. †

Kaspars Ozolins
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8 comments

  1. Great summary and analysis! I, too, was frustrated by the veiled truths and obfuscation by the SDAs in this video. I’m partly looking forward to, and partly dreading, the follow up video, which is supposed to consist of more of a “sit down interview” type of conversation, where Matt says he addresses some of the distinct doctrines. I am hopeful that he got to the heart of these matters, but experience tells me that no one is more of a prime target for SDAs in their campaign to be seen as “evangelical” than an evangelical/protestant eager to find common ground and “have an open conversation.”

    1. Thanks, Kelsie. I didn’t know that there is a follow-up planned. Based on what we have seen, it’s hard to see that more truth will be shined on Adventism.

    2. People were taking him to task about not asking about Ellen White and other hot topics. He said he did ask, and that it would be covered in the next video. The problem is that most of these types of interviewers are not expecting (and why would they be?) the people they are speaking with to be dishonest, so they take the answers they are given at face value, when they really need to ask “one more question” as a follow up to see the true meaning of the original answer they were given. It all comes down to Adventists using a different dictionary and being only somewhat forthcoming in their answers. They take advantage of the good will they are shown.

    3. I can just imagine the dialogue: “So I hear you have this special prophet.” Response: “Yes, we don’t think her writings are equal to Scripture.” Takeaway: “Oh, good to know!”

  2. Excellent article! Every since I was delivered from the scourge of Adventism, it has caused me much consternation at the caliber of deceit, fraud, willful ignorance and pathological vice which has characterized Adventism from it’s inception till present day.

    The ability of Adventism to proliferate it’s nefarious theological toxins on the unsuspecting and vulnerable, is a function of it’s ignoble and heretical endowment.

    The rank hypocracy of Ellen White and pioneering Adventism and the sophisteries employed by their contempoary incarnations in effecting the diabolical redefinition of Christianity is a clear and present danger.

    Unlike other counter professions, Adventism does not represent a frontal attack on Jesus Christ and the bible. My inquiry into the ministry of Ellen White leads me to unfortunately conclude that her work represents a subtle yet effective attack on the bible and on Christ.

    Adventism while employing the vernacular of ecumenical Christianity subtly twists the definitions of christian theological registers till a throughly unrecognizable hue of Christianity is achieved, relative to it’s biblical rendering.

    I do not and will never have perfection to offer, thank God that as miserably inept and imperfect as I am, I have an assurance and a hope beyond the grave, as well as a standard to confront the challenges which assail humanity.

  3. Thanks Kaspar for your astute analysis (and you too, Kelsie, for your comments). Somewhat off-topic, I was most intrigued by your statement about the frequency of communion. I personally believe that the Bible gives the most support for a weekly observance, but so few churches do that anymore. The church I attend now hasn’t celebrated the Lord’s Supper for over a year. “However, it is probably not coincidental that the paltry quarterly observance of the Lord’s Supper on the part of Adventists is one indicator of what kind of value is truly placed on the cross of Jesus Christ” (and on His personal command to “Do this in remembrance of me”). This can be said of many mainline evangelical churches as well, unfortunately.

    1. Great comments! You’re right, I think the diminishment of communion could be one indicator (among many) of the situation in many mainline (and also evangelical) churches. It’s very sad, and very difficult also for former Adventists to comprehend.

  4. I have just listened to the video. Just a couple of comments: Firstly I noticed on entering the church a small cross with a crown of thorns on it near the open bible in the case. Interesting! Secondly if you carefully look you will notice that as soon as the folk move into the church sanctuary another cross is visible on the left side of the rostrum. However in the next several shots of the same area it has disappeared. Interesting! The answers to the baptismal questions are vague and incorrect. There are now three statements which a new member must acknowledge. The answers relative to the Sabbath School lessons and study were very evasive. There was no mention of a world wide production of the same material is set for study. True, some charismatic SDA (?) churches avoid the use of the SS lesson but most churches that I have been to use the SS pamphlet. The members and the pastor seemed very ‘on edge’ during the whole exercise. Kaspars Ozolins comments were very perceptive.

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