| Author | Message | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 3117 Registered: 7-2007 |
For those of you who live in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho and I think, Alaska); you're aware of the SDA magazine that goes to that area called "Gleaner." (My name is apparently "on the books" because I still get that magazine.) Anyway on the cover is the name of an article inside called: "Why Members Leave and What Could Bring Them Back." Apparently they want to make sure that the average Adventist in the pew doesn't have a clue about the fact that Adventism is a cult because the article says that 3 out of 4 leave because of bad relationships with the people in the church. It says that less than 1 in 5 leave because of doctrinal differences. Of course if a member is inclined to look into the church doctrines versus what the Bible says, to see why so many members leave, this article will put them at ease so that they may never look and get saved. It's really frustrating. Do they think we former Adventists try to tell them the gospel because we like conflict or something? http://www.gleaneronline.org/gleaner-june-2013/ | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 3118 Registered: 7-2007 |
A little later in the article it says that "certain people give the strong impression" that the SDA church teaches that a person's behavior, such as Sabbath-keeping is involved in one's salvation, but that the church doesn't teach this. I'd like to ask him; "What about Ellen White? Could she possibly suggest that a person's behavior is involved in salvation?" "The Great Controversy," in the chapter called "In the Holy of Holies," she says: quote: "Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God's people upon earth." I suspect that the "certain people" he's refering to are us who are trying to tell people what the Adventist church believes, but here Ellen White definitely fills those shoes! (Message edited by Asurprise on June 12, 2013) | ||
| Foofighter Registered user Username: Foofighter Post Number: 288 Registered: 7-2005 |
I read that too. I threw it away...wish I had held onto it a bit longer. The article said that 46% would try it again. If that is the case, they obviously haven't studied into anything. I was just thinking how many SDA's in our area will call us and try to win us back. I can guarantee it will be zero! They always amaze me with the claim that most people leave because of bad relationships. If that is the case, it seems there must be something really bad going if that many people have such bad relationships. It's funny how that issue isn't addressed. | ||
| Mjcmcook Registered user Username: Mjcmcook Post Number: 1122 Registered: 2-2011  |
I left because I had a "bad relationship" with the cultist doctrines of the adventist church  Not because of my relationships with the people! I am Thankful every day I answered the call of the HOLY SPIRIT and left the "pew".  ~mj~ | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 2017 Registered: 7-2004  |
There are many people who leave because of bad experiences and relationships. Some of them move to other churches but keep feeling guilty about not being SDA. Some can't bring themselves to go to any church because they still believe that SDAism is the True Church. And some end up going back to the SDA church because they don't believe they have any other alternative. These are other reasons why our voices are so important, why we need to speak out about SDAism. The Good News of the True Gospel can set them free from this hold that SDA still has on them. | ||
| Benevento Registered user Username: Benevento Post Number: 327 Registered: 4-2005 |
I also read the article and compared to some of the letters to the Editor of Proclamation! I thought it was at least concilatory--it is the same article that appeared in the Review and was discussed here. Interestig it came out when it did as I attended a memorial service for a relative at one of the local churches this last Saturday and we were all invited to the home of one of church members and a friend of the family, for a lovely meal and restful visiting. The subject came up about why people leave the church and one man said because of the way they are treated, so I mentioned the study in the Gleaner article, and the Review where they said that the majority leave because of disagreement with the doctrines. I think the web site for the Gleaner is gleaneronline.org if you want to retrieve the article. June issue. I rather enjoyed telling them of the latest study published in their own papeer! They suggest offering to study the Bible with formers, good idea! Since that was what led me out . |
