Fundamental Beliefs

Seventh-Day Adventists hold certain fundamental beliefs that were first outlined by church founder Ellen Harmon White. These remain the central pillars of SDA belief today. Most of the following is taken directly or adapted from Church resources.

Imminent Return of Christ

The second coming of Christ (the “Advent”) is imminent. It is the great hope of the church, the grand climax of the gospel and plan of salvation. His coming will be literal, personal, and visible. Many important events will be associated with His return, including the resurrection of the dead, the destruction of the wicked, the purification of the earth, the rewarding of the righteous, and the establishment of God’s everlasting kingdom. The exact time of His return has not been foretold, so believers should always be “ready” to be judged.

The Sabbath & God’s Eternal Laws

God’s will regarding moral conduct is outlined perfectly in the Ten Commandments. The Commandments are unchangeable precepts, binding all people across all ages of time. This is why Adventists observe the seventh-day Sabbath; it is required by the fourth Commandment. The holy institution of the Sabbath is a memorial of creation and a sign of sanctification, a sign of believers’ rest from their own works of sin, and their entrance into the soul rest that Jesus promises to his followers.

Upon the Second Coming

The condition of humans in death is merely one of “unconsciousness.” All people, good and evil alike, remain in the grave from death to resurrection. God, in the time of judgment, will send forth a proclamation of the advent of Christ symbolized by three angels. Their message will bring to view a work of reform to prepare His people to meet Him.

Both the just and the unjust will be resurrected. The resurrection of the just will occur at the Second Coming, and the resurrection of the unjust will take place a thousand years later. At that time the impenitent, including Satan, will be reduced to a state of nonexistence, becoming as though they had not been, thus purging God’s universe of sin and sinners.

Christ is the Holy Priest of a sanctuary in heaven. In October 1844 (a date of much importance in the SDA Church – CLICK HERE TO LEARN WHY), Christ began his work of investigative judgement in preparation for his Second Coming. This judgment will determine who of the myriads sleeping in the dust of the earth are worthy for the first resurrection.

Lifestyle: Body and Spirit

Believers should recognize their bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit, and therefore they should clothe that body in neat, modest, dignified apparel. Furthermore, they should eat and drink as is proper for followers of the meek and lowly Master. Therefore they should abstain from all intoxicating drinks, tobacco, and other narcotics, and to avoid every body- and soul-defiling habit. Adventists are also known for promoting a “health message,” recommending vegetarianism and adherence to kosher laws in Leviticus 11. In addition, many Adventists avoid coffee, tea, soda, and other caffeinated beverages.

Masturbation & Sex

The SDA has a long history of opposition to masturbation, in keeping with its lifestyle proscriptions. According to one scholar, Ellen Harmon White “never wrote a positive word about sex.” She referred to masturbation as self-abuse, and to excessive marital intercourse as spouse-abuse, because these and other sinful activities drained the body’s “vital force” permanently. Moreover, youths’ increasing engagement in “solitary vice” would lead to widespread disease, deformity, and death – quite in keeping with the doom-obsessed Final Days theology of the Adventists.

A famous example of the Adventist attitude toward masturbation is that of John Harvey Kellogg, a Michigan-based SDA physician whose work helped launch the Kellogg cereal company. He abstained completely from sex and never consummated his marriage (and may have actually spent his honeymoon working on one of his anti-sex books). He and his wife kept separate bedrooms and adopted all of their children. In Plain Facts for Old and Young: Embracing the Natural History and Hygiene of Organic Life, he cataloged 39 different symptoms of a person plagued by masturbation, including general infirmity, defective development, mood swings, fickleness, bashfulness, boldness, bad posture, stiff joints, fondness for spicy foods, acne, palpitations, and epilepsy. Kellogg’s solution to all this suffering was a healthy diet. He thought that meat and certain flavorful or seasoned foods increased sexual desire, and that plainer food, especially cereals and nuts, could curb it. The Kelloggs’ now-ubiquitous Corn Flakes, in fact, were originally intended to prevent masturbation.

Countercultism

The Christian countercult movement of certain Protestant ministries who oppose religious sects they consider “cults.” Even particular Christian sects whose beliefs they deem to be partially or wholly not in accordance with the Bible can be considered cults. Ironically, for Elder Babcock at least, Seventh-Day Adventism is controversial among countercult activists, with many countercult activists split over whether the church should be considered a cult.

Rebirth

In order to attain salvation, every person must experience the new birth; this comprises an entire transformation of life and character by the recreative power of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Baptism an ordinance of the church and should follow repentance and forgiveness of sins.

Creationism & Original Sin

The General Conference has traditionally supported (and recently upheld) the doctrine of young earth creationism, i.e., that the creation story in the Bible is literal and factual. Moreover, Seventh-Day Adventists have historically preached a doctrine of inherited weakness, but not a doctrine of inherited guilt; Adventists believe that humans are sinful primarily due to the fall of Adam.

Cremation

Seventh-day Adventists have never taken a position on cremation, because their understanding of death and resurrection makes the matter not significant. They don’t believe in the separation of soul and body, but rather that humans have a physical existence both before death and in resurrection. The logic goes: the God who created us in the beginning is equally capable of re-creating us from ashes of incineration or from dust that results from slow decay. All things organic return to their basic elements, the real difference being only in how long it takes.

Society

Ellen White’s main goal was never the reform of American society. Although she denounced the evils she saw in the world, she nurtured loyalty to divine law. She wanted her followers to be known for Christlike benevolence and healing in their interactions with society rather than theatrical confrontations. Her pacifism about important issues in society has drawn much criticism, but reflected her pragmatic theology of an impending Kingdom of Christ – a government that “would use no force” and whose “subjects would know no oppression.”

Sources:

“Corn Flakes Were Invented as Part of an Anti-Masturbation Crusade.” Mental Floss. http://mentalfloss.com/article/32042/corn-flakes-were-invented-part-anti-masturbation-crusade

Ellen Harmon White: American Prophet. Eds. Terrie Dopp Aamodt, Gary Land, and Ronald L. Numbers.

“Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-Day Adventists.” SDANet.org. http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/books/qod/q-fundamental.htm

http://dialogue.adventist.org/articles/17_3_reid_e.htm

Roots of Adventism & Ellen White

History of the Church & the Beliefs of Ellen White

The SDA Church sprang from the Second Great Awakening in the mid-19^th century, which saw many new Christian groups reemphasizing the Second Advent of Christ. A particularly notable group were the “Millerites,” followers of Baptist preacher William Miller who predicted the dates of Christ’s return on October 22, 1844. He gained a wide following, and Ellen White’s family came into the fold when she was only thirteen.

After October 22 came and went, many Millerite splinter groups formed; Ellen White was the head of one of these groups. She claimed to have visions and began to be regarded as a prophet (although the modern church downplays the importance of the word “prophet”). She wrote thousands and thousands of pages about how Christians should act in accordance with her visions, and her writings and ministry became the foundation of the SDA Church.

The modern Church is very large and is structured like a corporation. The General Conference corporation owns church property, employs and pays ministers, and receives tithes from members. The ministers or pastors are a single level of ordained clergy and there are no bishops; elders and deacons are lay ministries. Polity is very hierarchal. By the numbers, the Church has (as of 2014): 78,810 churches; 18,479,257 members; 260,181 active employees; 1,807,693 total enrollment in schools; and $3,276,600,259 yearly income from tithe and offerings.

Below are some summaries of the beliefs outlined in White’s writings along with their cultural context; the context of the Church’s founding the Victorian Era sheds light on why the SDA believes as it does today. [Much of the following information is taken or adapted from Ellen Harmon White: American Prophet, eds. Terrie Dopp Aamodt, Gary Land, and Ronald L. Numbers.]

Science and Medicine

“Mental and moral power is dependent on the physical health.” – Ellen White

White had a love-hate relationship with science. She viewed nature as a book authored by God, so therefore studying this “book” is a noble pursuit. But she only advocated for “true science,” i.e., those findings which did not conflict with her theology. Many of her visions were on “scientific” topics: she claimed to have extensive visions of flying around the planets, including visits to distant galaxies and encounters with extraterrestrial beings.

The huge health reform movement in the Victorian era informed White’s theology greatly. She was also a fierce supporter of the growing temperance movement. White and her followers eagerly highlighted the similarities between White’s writings and the popular health literature of the day in order to lure more followers.

So linked were her conceptions of the mind and the body that she grew to believe that the vast majority of illnesses grew from a “sickness of the mind.” Because the brain controlled the body with its “electricity,” it followed that a strong will and pure thoughts were the best way to defend oneself physically as well as morally.

The Battle Creek Sanitarium was a health resort based on SDA health principles.

White was a Young-Earth Creationist. Adventist belief in creationism stems from their emphasis on the Sabbath, because they reject the notion that the seven days of creation is a metaphor for immense amounts of time (which would negate the Sabbath’s importance). White discounted geological findings by citing Noah’s flood (“Flood Geology”) and she looked down upon Darwin’s findings and the teaching of evolution as science.

Culture

White had a utilitarian view of art: that it should cultivate spirituality and moral discernment. She saw no place for mere aestheticism of amusement. She was especially opposed to novels, writing that “novel and storybook reading are the greatest evils in which youth can indulge.” [She tended toward superlatives and hyperboles in her writing – there were many “greatest evils.”] As a result, unlike many religions, no artistic tradition has developed from Adventism. She was also against theatre, which she saw as “the very hotbed of immorality. … Every youth who habitually attends such exhibitions will be corrupted in principle.”

As for recreation, White preferred gentle, rural, outdoor recreations, such as long walks or travel. She was a fierce opponent of sports and other games, especially baseball, but context is again important: nineteenth century baseball venues had a male-dominated, hard-drinking, profane atmosphere. And college football was notorious for multiple deaths every year, to the point that Teddy Roosevelt threatened to ban the game.

Gender

Victorian culture upheld separate realms for the genders. Women’s realm, the home, was to be a haven into which men could retreat in order to be replenished and find refuge. The home was widely recognized as a sanctuary, the moral center of society, and it was women’s responsibility, through their childcare and domestic efforts, to keep it so. This model in many ways compatible with the Adventist emphasis on lifestyle and wellbeing.

However, within her Church she supported women’s active participation in diverse religious work, believing it was essential. Although she fundamentally believes in separate spheres of work, her call for women’s participation in religious work was unusual and progressive in its time. She even advocated for a modified reform dress for Adventist women – a long skirt with puffy pants underneath – under the pretense of creating a more healthy and safe outfit for women than stifling traditional dresses.

Conscientious Objector Status & War

In 1864, during the Civil War, the SDA Church declared their belief that the Bible was contrary to the spirit and practice of war: the fourth commandment requires them to cease labor on Saturday, and the sixth prohibits the taking of life. Historically, many Seventh-Day Adventists have refused to enlist in the army as combatants. Many, however, have participated as medics, ambulance drivers, etc.

Before a Supreme court decision in 1971, in order to attain CO status men had to demonstrate their pacifism based on religiously-based opposition to all war. (This meant that atheists, and political critics of specific wars, were exempt.) It was often difficult to demonstrate this opposition. Moreover, men who sought CO status were often seen in the same light as draft dodgers, and it was a social taboo in many conservative circles.

Source:

Ellen Harmon White: American Prophet. Eds. Terrie Dopp Aamodt, Gary Land, and Ronald L. Numbers.

“Statistics.” Adventist.org. https://www.adventist.org/en/information/statistics/

The Church

Tithe and Church Funding

The following explanation of Tithe is taken directly from an SDA website, Adventiststewardship.com.

What is tithe?

Tithe is one tenth of your increase from either money or product that is returned to God. It is holy and belongs to Him, the Owner of all of our material possessions and lives. (Leviticus 27:30). The returning of tithes is an expression of our faithfulness to God.

Is there a difference between tithes and offerings?

Tithes are returned while offerings are given. Offerings are our response of love and gratitude to God’s blessings and goodness. In giving tithes and offerings we worship God and advance His mission to make disciples in the world.

When should I tithe?

Tithe should be returned first, when the personal income or increase is received.

How is tithe to be returned?

With money, place it in a Tithe and Offering envelope and return the envelope to the church you attend. Make it an act of worship as you remember that He is your Creator, Redeemer and Lord of all your life.

Church Governance

The governance of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is based on democratic representation, and therefore resembles the Presbyterian system of church organization. The organizational structure of the church consists of the following levels:

• The global church is called the “General Conference”, composed operatively of 13 “Divisions.”
• Each division is composed of “Union Conferences” and/or “Union Missions” (112 total). Union Conferences are self-supporting financially, while Union Missions are not.
• Each union conference is composed of [local] “Conferences” and/or “Missions” (572 total). Local Conferences are self-supporting financially, while Local Missions are not. Certain unions are composed of local congregations. They do not have local conferences/missions.
• Each local conference/mission is composed of local churches (congregations). Often a number of local congregations are grouped operatively as a district, led by one senior pastor.

Each level of organization holds a “general session” at certain intervals, when elected representatives gather to vote on general decisions and church business. The president of the General Conference, for instance, is elected at the General Conference Session every five years.

Local Church Offices

There are a number of church offices that are elected by the church body as specified by the Church Manual. Positions must be filled by baptised members who attend regularly. Offices are never elected permanently, although persons may be reelected.

Pastor

The most prominent church office is that of the pastor or minister. Adventists believe that pastors are divinely called to ministry and they are ordained by the church for their ministry. The position of church pastor is not elected by the local church, but rather appointed by a local conference. When the minister transfers to the local church for pastoralship he also transfers his membership to that local congregation. Adventists believe in clerical marriage and not a celibate priesthood. In the majority of cases the pastor works with the head elder of the church and is responsible for guiding the church’s spiritual direction, chairing the church board and leading out in services.

Elder

Working with the pastor in the local church is the elder who is appointed by the local church and ordained by the local pastor. The elder is seen as a religious leader in the local church and is able to conduct ordinances. The elder, or elders in some cases (who are led by a “head elder”), is largely responsible for the running of the church and the distribution of responsibility in the church. In the Adventist Church “elder” is not a title. It’s a function. The term “pastor” is a function and often used as a title. The local elder’s position of authority is limited to the local church they are serving, while the pastor’s authority is universal. The local elder gets their authority from the pastor they are serving under or otherwise from the field administration. The pastor’s authority is inherent in their position as pastor.

Deacon

The deacon, like the elder, is an elected and ordained role. The deacon’s primary roles are the assistance in running of services, the visitation of members, the care of the sick and the maintenance of church property.

Criticism of Structure

Critics of Seventh-day Adventist church governance have frequently pointed out that the denomination has a superfluity of church structure, and spends a great deal of its resources maintaining four levels of administrative structure—a structure which is frequently redundant, and per member costs more than that of any other Protestant denomination. Meanwhile, local churches may struggle for funds. Pastors named to denominational positions beyond the local congregation may achieve a virtual sinecure in administrative posts, some of which have few defined duties. Members’ appeals for the denomination to simplify its structure have generally been poorly received, resisted by leaders in administrative posts, and others hesitant to change established tradition.

Loma Linda University

Loma Linda University (LLU) is a Seventh-day Adventist coeducational health sciences university located in Loma Linda, California, United States. The University comprises eight schools and the Faculty of Graduate Studies. More than 100 certificate and degree programs are offered by the schools of allied health professions, behavioral health, dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and religion. LLU also offers distance education. It is a part of the Seventh-day Adventist education system, the world’s second largest Christian school system. Loma Linda University had its beginning in 1905 when Seventh-day Adventists John Burden and Ellen G. White worked together to purchase the property and develop what became known as the Loma Linda Sanitarium, which evolved into the modern institution.

Sources:

“Polity of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.” Wikipedia.

“Adventist Stewardship Ministries: Frequently Asked Questions.” http://www.adventiststewardship.com/article/4/frequently-asked-questions

Psalm Wars

In Part One, the Chance family gets into arms when Everett tries his hand at saying grace at the dinner table. Later, Mama and Everett spit psalms — and mock psalms — at each other from across the house. Here are the full passages they are quoting:

Mama’s Psalms:

Psalm 26: “Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. For thy loving kindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth. I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.”

Psalm 27: “Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.”

Psalm 35: “With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.”

Everett’s Psalms:

Psalm 27: “When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.”

Psalm 28: “Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.”

Psalm 140: “Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man; Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.”