| Author | Message | ||
| Jrt Registered user Username: Jrt Post Number: 74 Registered: 10-2008 |
Hi gang, I just thought it would be interesting to pose the question - what words spoken in church or Bible study cause a "reaction" in you as a former SDA? You feel something in your gut? It was mentioned on a different thread that 1.) Law 2.) Obedience What others have you found? I'd like to take those words we come up with and then see where the "scars" come from in Adventist teaching? Also, I think it would be valuable to compile a list that might be shared with pastor's who are serious about ministering to former Adventists. JRT | ||
| Honestwitness Registered user Username: Honestwitness Post Number: 794 Registered: 7-2005  |
Ten Commandments Sabbath Obedience Tithe Daniel Revelation Those are mine. Honestwitness | ||
| Indy4now Registered user Username: Indy4now Post Number: 417 Registered: 2-2008 |
Hi JRT~ I know that you are looking for words, but there are some verses that give me that same reaction: If you love Me, you'll keep My commandments. Faith without works is dead. I understand those verses now that I've read them in context. They still give me that initial reaction of nausea... Even when a non-Adventist uses them. ~vivian | ||
| Raven Registered user Username: Raven Post Number: 977 Registered: 7-2004  |
In addition to the above, and related to obedience, is Discipline. The idea that it's our fault we aren't becoming more Christ-like or aren't doing the works God intended us to do, that all it takes (on our part) is discipline. That hits too close to home, from EGW quotes about "the right action of the will":
I've become so much more monergistic in my viewpoint since leaving the SDA church that I have a very strong reaction to anything suggesting I'm supposed to do anything. Isn't God the author and finisher of our faith and the One who works out His will in us? This has recently caused a very strong reaction in me because our church just started 40 Days of Purpose. The introductory sermon was saying it takes three things to fulfill God's purpose, and one is Discipline. Arghh!! I can't go there! But then what do we do with the verses in the Epistles that call for holy living, such as Titus 1 and 1 Peter 1? | ||
| Stevendi Registered user Username: Stevendi Post Number: 420 Registered: 10-2006 |
Beast Sunday Remnant Last days Truth Apostate Persecution Babylon 3 angels Lucifer Michael Presumption False Temperance Most Holy Place Judgement Saved Book of Life Seventh Day Adventist Witness Testimony Prophet Visions Tracts Review Herald Signs Blah, blah, blah. Steve | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 658 Registered: 7-2007 |
The statement where Ellen White said that no one should say or feel they are saved. That was the most damaging to me when I was a Seventh-day Adventist because then I couldn't put my WEIGHT down on verses like Ephesians 2:8,9 where the apostle Paul is telling BELIEVERS they HAVE BEEN SAVED. Since I couldn't put my full weight down on what the Bible said, I wasn't saved, because I wasn't really accepting Jesus' total FINISHED WORK in my behalf. I felt I had to do stuff in order to be saved. Anybody who feels like their salvation is up to their efforts - or in my case, I felt that it was just a little up to my efforts. (I just wasn't sure what effort was required.) I had no idea that when a sinner turns to God and repents, depending ENTIRELY on Jesus' FINISHED work, God does it ALL. (All the false churches say "Do" "Do" "Do" and "Don't" "Don't" "Don't." The gospel says DONE.) Another is "separation of church and state." I was totally shocked to find out that this country ACTUALLY WAS a Christian nation to begin with. They actually taught out of the Bible in all public schools in the earliest years of this country. You won't hear about this in public schools now, but George Washington was shot several times when he was a military officer (before he was president), but there were only holes in his coat and none in him. These examples might be off the subject. I don't hear about things Ellen White taught in church now. I'm SO glad to hear just from the Bible now!!! | ||
| Spudw Registered user Username: Spudw Post Number: 67 Registered: 8-2008  |
immortal soul i'm still trying to wrap my mind around this. I've barely begun to grasp this concept and the implications seem to be so huge. | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 659 Registered: 7-2007 |
Raven, I've heard that "40 days of purpose" are from the book "The Purpose Driven Life." I've heard that the author of this book was a student of Robert Fuller, who was into "new age" and "name it and claim it." You could probably look it up on the internet. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 6523 Registered: 3-2004  |
The Purpose Driven Life was written by Rick Warren. I have mixed feeling about him as the Celebrate Recovery program was started at his church. It is a fantastic program, a Christ centered 12 step program that has brought many people to Christ. Sorry for the diversion. Now back to our original subject. Diana L (Message edited by Flyinglady on February 22, 2009) | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 9424 Registered: 12-2003  |
Great thread! Stevendi, I'm totally laughing over and relating to your list! Sermons on "good works" agitate me unless they're clearly in the context of having the life of Christ and His working out His work through us. Speaking of which, I think you'd love Gary's sermon from last weekend on James 2:14-26. It was amazing, and providentially perfect for the FAF weekend! (Yes, Gary is preaching through James. It's not the James we were taught as Adventists!) You can download it here:http://www.trinityonline.org/cgi-bin/MediaList.cgi?section= Colleen | ||
| Agapetos Registered user Username: Agapetos Post Number: 1718 Registered: 10-2002  |
JRT, At different stages there have been words that caused an unpleasant reaction, but later on the Lord redeemed them for me. "Commandments" is the main example that comes to mind. And "law", for that matter, too. I used to dislike them, but when He showed that "commandments" refers to 1 John 3:23, and "law" is one of three things (1- whatever He says, 2 - the Torah, 3 - the Law of the Spirit), well, He redeemed that one, too! Oh, another word that comes to mind is simply "truth"!!! He redeemed that one, too! I wrote about it here: http://formeradventistjapan.blogspot.com/2007/05/love-and-truth-in-adventism.html So yeah, my three were: COMMANDMENTS LAW TRUTH "Were" is the key word, because all the words that God had spoken and Adventism had corrupted, all those words He has redeemed or is still redeeming or will redeem for me! He is AWESOME. On the other hand, when non-Adventist ministers end up skirting close to Adventist ideas or teachings, or just Adventist-style reasoning or interpretive principles, that causes a sickening feeling in me. In that case, however, it's not because of the words, but because of the same kind of usage, the same kind of reasoning, the same flirting with the enemy but not knowing it. Bless you in Jesus! Ramone P.S. to Asurprise: The words "separation of church & state" come directly from Thomas Jefferson. And about Washington, you can visit his Masonic museum in Virginia to see pictures of GW wearing his pentagram belt -- he was a high-ranking freemason. It is likely not coincidental then that his monument in D.C. is an obelisk. Many of the founders of the U.S. were not "Christian" in the sense we nostalgically wish they had been -- most were deists, likely including Washington himself. Mind you, I think a lot of them were truly great people who were trying to do the right thing. I personally like Jefferson in particular, but deplore what he did to the Bible. Many Christians today have and even preach a very rose-tinted view of America's founding & history which sees America & its flag as a sort of champion of the cross. Sadly, it's just wishful thinking for the most part, and even if it were true, it would not affect the hearts of unbelievers or change the state of morality in the nation -- only new hearts, being filled with the Spirit, and walking in Christ's agape love can change that. So I love the irony in how we actually call the flag, "Old Glory", because it's so significant of how the only "glory" that is lasting is the one of the New Covenant! All other glories will fade, but His alone will remain! (Message edited by agapetos on February 23, 2009) | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 6526 Registered: 3-2004 |
It is interesting that the SDA church in Alexandria, VA is just about 1 mile from the Masonic Museum. I have visitied the museum many times and I passed it every Saturday going to church. Diana L | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 1414 Registered: 5-2007  |
"Enema" bag The memory of the *@^% bag hanging in our bathroom still brings nightmares to me. It was the "cure", along with cod liver oil, for everything that ailed me, thanks for the water cure training my mother received at the St Helena Sanitarium. P.S. I once worked as an aid in a veteran's hospital. My nurse was SDA and reintroduced me to "it". I quit and went to work at the shipyard. Fearless Phil | ||
| Agapetos Registered user Username: Agapetos Post Number: 1719 Registered: 10-2002 |
LOL!!! | ||
| Psalm107v2 Registered user Username: Psalm107v2 Post Number: 93 Registered: 10-2008 |
judgement and sabbath Even after studying my way out of the SDA church I still sometimes get "flashbacks" | ||
| Joyfulheart Registered user Username: Joyfulheart Post Number: 509 Registered: 10-2006 |
Sunday keeper We have the truth. tithe quarterly | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 661 Registered: 7-2007 |
Agapetos, there's a video you might be interested in. It's on the "WallBuilders" website. Click on the tab called "Library" and then scroll down "Issues and Articles" and then down to "War on God in America." It shows how the U.S. has been taking the mention of God out of things, more and more. | ||
| Agapetos Registered user Username: Agapetos Post Number: 1721 Registered: 10-2002 |
Asurprise: If you'd like to discuss, it'd probably be good to start a new thread. Check out the links I posted above as well. Blessings! -RR | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 6529 Registered: 3-2004 |
Phil, Now I know where my Dad got the idea that the enema was the cure for all ills. He did not convince my Mom. She had other problems. It was good ol adventism. Diana L | ||
| Stevendi Registered user Username: Stevendi Post Number: 421 Registered: 10-2006 |
Yeah Phil & Diana, I think I get it now: Adventism = enema bag = cure-all. steve |
