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Letters to the Editor

False Sins from a False Prophet

After reading the “We Got Mail” in last week’s Proclamation! on dealing with reoccurring “sin”, it brought to mind the struggle that most, if not all, former Adventists also have to work through. 

In Adventism, besides the usual list of sins, we also had another category of sins defined by the “prophet”. Some of these include but are not limited to playing chess, playing cards, smoking, going to the movies, reading novels, eating unclean foods, swimming or watching TV on Sabbath, so on and so on, insert yours here. 

I was taught activities such as these are what shaped our characters, and the character shaped here is what we would take to heaven. After leaving this false denomination and studying the Bible, none of these secondary “sins”, in my understanding, have any bearing in our salvation. These secondary “sins” in false denominations are used primarily to control the masses. 

Frankly it is SPIRITUAL ABUSE! For some these tapes are very hard to erase, and even years later, they will occasionally raise their false accusations. Praise God, they now fall harmlessly, because we are secure in Christ.

—VIA EMAIL

 

Sins of the Fathers

I’m currently in the middle of listening to the latest podcast and keep having thoughts which I consider sharing with you. But I couldn’t resist a quick note concerning the importance of checking all things against Scripture and how it will protect the descendants of a family from living under cultish beliefs.  

My grandmother was a farmer’s wife in the hills of West Virginia, relatively uneducated. Sometime around 1920 an Adventist sold her The Great Controversy, a book which ended up causing a division in the family. Her husband refused to “believe” until after her death many years later. Only two of her children were still young enough to be influenced by her new belief system. They happened to be my father and my uncle. And that is how I ended up in Adventism.  

It is a classic story and may be a very real example of how the sins of the fathers (or mothers) are being visited upon children to the third and fourth generation.  

—VIA EMAIL

 

Help! I Married and Adventist!

I am almost 40 years old and I married an Adventist. Being a “Sunday church goer”, I always thought the difference between Adventists and non-denominational churches was the fact that they believed in Sabbath, the Sunday law, and that the pope (or the papal system) is the antichrist.

I didn’t think much about his Adventism. I believed that it just involved a few differences and that in spite of those, we still love the “same Jesus”, and it was a great match.…

We get along great and have so much in common. He’s good to me as a husband should be, but then there are these “differences”.

He started talking to me about the fourth commandment and how we are still under the law. I have tried to explain to him that it’s grace now, and that fourth commandment is fulfilled in Jesus now, not the day. ITS NOT ABOUT A DAY! Jesus is our Sabbath Rest now. 

This belief that the fourth commandment is the seal of God seems such wrong doctrine to me. 

Nowhere can I find that it is. I can find that Jesus and the Holy Spirit in Scripture is the seal of God, but I can’t find anywhere that it’s Sabbath. 

I was sitting in their Sabbath school service (Saturday, Nov 13, 2021), and they were talking about “The law and Grace”.

They used so many Scriptures—Romans 7, Hebrews 4, and so on—trying to prove that Paul talks about Sabbath and that we need to still uphold the law. 

I’ve stumbled across your podcasts, and I’ve been listening very closely. I love how you both are former Adventists and dismantle all the Scriptures that the Adventists use wrongly as well as the 28 Fundamental Beliefs. 

I’ve come to learn even though they say the commandments don’t save you, they still push the fourth commandment and make it sound like, in fact ,the only way you’re really saved is if you practice the Jewish Sabbath. 

So where is Jesus in salvation then? 

I was wondering if you have any advice on how to communicate this to my husband. I can’t teach him. He’s the head of the home. 

All I can do is pray. I do NOT want to come under Adventism as I believe Ellen ( with further digging) is a false prophet. 

I believe our rest is in Jesus now, not in the fourth commandment. 

I don’t believe Sabbath will be in heaven, nor do I believe Sabbath started at creation or will there ever be a Sunday law!

I’m reaching out for guidance and help. I really do love my husband very much, but this all seems like very wrong hermeneutics and not led by Holy spirit. 

Thank you, and I hope to hear from you soon!

—VIA EMAIL

 

Response: Thank you for writing! I understand what you are describing and resonate with your growing concern. I also rejoice that the Lord is showing you what is true.

First, I want to remind you that, as a Christian, you answer first to the Lord. You cannot join what you know to be a false religion in order to please your husband when you know the Lord. Second, would your husband be willing to study the Bible with you, using no outside sources but just reading Scripture in context, one chapter at a time? I suspect that simply studying Scripture with no outside commentary might be the best way for your husband to have a chance to see what the Bible says.

I can’t guarantee that he will see and agree, but contextual Bible study is something Adventists are not taught. It was reading through books of the New Testament in context that began to open my husband’s and my eyes as we studied with our Christian neighbors.

No, Scripture never says that Sabbath is the seal of God. That idea is completely from Ellen White. If your husband is willing to sit with you and read through the Bible, the truth will “show up”. If he is willing, I would start with Romans, perhaps, or Hebrews. I would also move to Galatians as well. Adventism truly is a false religion, as false as Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is also the most deceptive of the “Christian cults” because it most closely mimics Christianity. 

Meanwhile, I believe you might find some comfort and strength in 1 Corinthians 7. Paul speaks about a believing spouse with an unbelieving spouse. He stresses that if the unbeliever wishes to live with the believer, there is a sanctifying effect from that choice from the unbeliever. But if the unbeliever wishes to leave, let him go in peace because God’s will is that we live in peace. 

I will give you some links that may help you understand the background of Adventism and their arguments a bit better:

Videos:

I pray the Lord will show your husband his need and lead him to repentance, and I pray that He will grant you wisdom and comfort and words from Him to say.

Colleen Tinker
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