Still Unpacking
Oh my word! I remember very, very early in my search for the truth outside of Adventism (about 10 years ago), I had the thought that Adventists were like the Jews in that they are essentially rejecting Jesus, just as the Jews did, by continuing to follow Old Testament law! At that time, I had not read or even known, what Paul had written to the Galatians. I had no idea what any of that was all about.
I was told by many Christians I needed to read Galatians, but never had. Listening to your current series on Galatian is so eye-opening. The episodes have answered so many confusing thoughts I had about Adventism that did not seem to make any sense and were very contradictory to what I was learning. Mind you, these are beliefs, thoughts, a way of life that I am still unpacking in my head, as to why I believe the way I do, still wondering if it’s due to my Adventist upbringing, or if it came from the Bible. It seems there will always be something to unpack and undo every time I listen to your breakdown of the Adventist doctrine.
Thank you ladies!
—VIA EMAIL
You Didn’t Understand Adventism
I just wanted to write to you guys regarding your podcast. Thank you in advance for taking the time to review this email.
I identify as an Adventist. However, for me, the Bible is above any religion. I enjoy listening to all kinds of Christian podcasts very much, and even to those that reject the existence of God.
I stumbled onto your podcast. I have tried several times to listen to a full episode, but it’s impossible for me. For the vast majority of the podcasts, at least to the point I get, I hear how you guys felt regarding a specific topic as an Adventist. Of course, that is the purpose of your podcast, but they are ’way too long, and the majority of your experiences could not necessarily relate to the majority of the experiences of other Adventist. I believe that there are many things you guys misunderstood as Adventists (but that’s a whole other topic). The point is that I get to a point where I hear a lot and yet find very little to relate to or learn.
In my opinion your podcast would be more effective if you focus more on the Bible and what you believe is the truth based in Scripture, instead of expanding greatly on your experience as Adventists. And when I say more effective I do not refer to views but quality of information.
Out of curiosity , why did you guys choose to start all your podcast with “grab a cup of coffee”?
By the way, I don’t think is a sin to drink it. But that phrase is very similar to saying, grab a drink of Coca-Cola or grab a cigarette or a Red Bull. I just don’t see the benefit for the audience. I believe that a phrase used in every episode should be very intentional and related to God. It should be a powerful slogan instead of commending something many people are addicted to and others are struggling to leave.
I hope you guys appreciate the time I took to write to you. It is honestly a first; I don’t tend to do this.
May God continue to bless you and your loved once.
—VIA EMAIL
Response: Thank you for writing. I confess that your email surprises me and puzzles me a bit. We currently are going through the book of Galatians and are dedicating our podcasts to inductive Bible study, going verse-by-verse through this book. We have also made biblical content the focus of all our previous podcasts as well, including our series on the 28 Fundamental Beliefs.
I gather that you are still an active Adventist; I am inferring that your worldview is still shaped by Adventism and that you have not been bothered with questions about Adventism that seem to contradict Scripture. The fact is that Adventism’s worldview is not the same as Christianity’s worldview. Adventism’s is based on Ellen White’s interpretations of Scripture, while true Christianity’s worldview is shaped on God’s declaration of Scripture’s inerrancy and consistency. Christians read Scripture at face value, using the normal rules of grammar and vocabulary and context—just as one would read a book of history or science or literature. The words mean what the words say, and the meaning for the first audience cannot be a different meaning from its meaning for us today. Application may vary with time and era, but the meanings remain the same.
Our discussions of our Adventist experiences are not unique. Most people who question and leave Adventism have similar experiences with the religion that we have, and those experiences flow out of the Adventist worldview and false gospel established by EGW’s visions and writings. We are not talking about unique experiences; we are expressing how Adventism altered our perception of Scripture, and we then show how Scripture IN CONTEXT corrects our Adventist beliefs and changes what we know about reality.
I would encourage you to actually listen clear to the end of a podcast. You would hear in-depth discussions of Scripture as we work our way through Galatians. Don’t let your reaction to our Adventist experiences stop you from going to the end.
I am going to encourage you to do three things. First, I am attaching a link to an article that explains the differences between the Adventist worldview and a biblical worldview. Ask the Lord to teach you what He want you to understand, and read it from start to finish. What Is Seventh-day Adventism?
Second, I am giving you a link to the page where our podcasts discussing the 28 Fundamental Beliefs are collected, and we show how the Bible teaches differently from the doctrines taught by Adventism: https://blog.lifeassuranceministries.org/2021/10/04/inspecting-adventisms-fundamental-beliefs/
Finally, I am urging you to listen clear to the end of our Galatians podcasts. After we discuss our Adventist understandings of each section of Galatians, we go verse-by-verse through a section of Galatians in each podcast. You clearly have never listened far enough to hear us read and discuss the actual text!
I assure you that we have not misunderstood Adventism. We have been well-taught, and we lived it from inside the organization as third and fourth generation Adventists and attended Adventist schools and universities. We have worked in a variety of Adventist organizations and churches, and we know Adventism intimately from the inside. Adventism does not teach the gospel of the Bible.
Here is a link to the podcasts; you can subscribe to them wherever you listen to podcasts, and you will receive a notification each time a new episode goes live on Tuesdays. I encourage you to listen to this week’s episode clear to the end! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/former-adventist/id1482887969
As for “Grab a cup of coffee”, Scripture tell us that in the new covenant, Jesus declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19). Paul tells us that false teachers will forbid the eating of foods that God gave us to eat with thanksgiving (1 Tim. 4:1–6). Furthermore, Genesis 9 records God’s covenant after the flood in which He declared to Noah that He was giving him everything that moves to eat. All that God has made is for our health and sustenance. Coffee is one of those plants God made that provides for us in ways that enhance our mental acuteness. In fact, science has shown much research in recent years that coffee has many health benefits. Ellen White’s counsels against coffee and tea (which reflect Joseph Smith’s teachings to the Mormons) are nowhere found in Scripture. We must compare all the instructions we receive with the Bible. Coffee (and even alcohol in moderation) are not prohibited in the Bible.
If someone is struggling to leave coffee, it is possible that their reasons for the struggle are NOT God’s instructions but that the struggle is with guilt for going agains the teaching of Adventism and its prophet. We must never allow the voice of an extra-biblical prophet to shape our practices. Only God’s eternal word recorded in Scripture has the authority to shape our lives.
Afraid To Know
I am a Christian who believes that one is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. My heart aches for four of my lawn-mowing customers who are staunch Seventh-day Adventists. As you know, they have no assurance of salvation. I have given them a book by Colin S. Smith. It is entitled Heaven, How I Got Here; The Story Of the Thief On the Cross. Though the book is only 90 pages, I find them being very slow to read what clearly shows that one is not saved by works. I feel like they are afraid that they may discover truth that is antithetical to their beliefs. Are most Seventh-day Adventists afraid to read books outside of their own so called approved readings?
I have purchased several books from you such as: The Sabbath and The Lord’s Day, and White Washed: Uncovering the Myths of Ellen G White. In addition I also read from your free on line books, Truth Led Me Out. My question is this: do you have any tips on how to start a conversation with Adventists that would give me opportunities to share the true Gospel message? Would giving them your books be advised?
—VIA EMAIL
Response: Yes, many Adventists are afraid to read books outside their approved materials. They do have a deep fear of discovering truth that is antithetical to their beliefs.
I believe that Dale Ratzlaff’s book Truth Led Me Out is a good first book for an Adventist to read. It is his story of discovering that Adventism didn’t match Scripture, and he gives details and names people who admitted they couldn’t answer his questions but advised him to preach Adventist doctrines on the basis of tradition even if he couldn’t support the doctrines biblically. This particular book has led some Adventists to pursue their own searches for truth resulting in their leaving Adventism.
Finally, prayer is the most powerful thing you can do for your Adventist friends.
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