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guest
Posted on Sunday, June 18, 2000 - 10:04 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

or should I say boyfriend.

adventism was unknown to me besides one friend who refused to go to church because none of them were adventist. i have been raised in a baptist denomination, but have since switched to a nondenominational approach. anyway, i was puzzled why my friend would not opt to go to a Sunday church instead of not going at all.

i had since given up when i had met my current boyfriend. he is a good Christian, and was insulted when i mentioned in some circles adventism is named a cult. since, i have scoured the internet for rebuttal of his beliefs that include ellen g white, the adherence to Saturday sabbath.

he is a son of adventist medical missionary parents and has spent his entire live in adventist schools. I have tried to point out how this angle of adventist practice excludes Christians of other denominations. he always responds emotionally and repeats many of the arguments indoctrinated into 7th adventists from since they were very young.

what is difficult when talking to him is that there is a lot of good sound doctrine mixed up with weird doctrine like soul sleep, and hell not being eternal, 'the great controversy', stuff like that.

i have e-mailed him extensively, but aside from prayer what can I do? is there anything I can mention that will sway him? i told him from the start i would not raise my children adventist. we are still together because we promised not to separate because of different practices of beliefs, but now that we are going to try to find a church together i am scared that we will be irreconcilable.
Gary
Posted on Sunday, June 18, 2000 - 11:03 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Dear Seamly (guest):

Adventism can show many types of profiles. Your boyfriend sounds quite "Traditional". Traditional Adventists are among the hardest to approach about change because they are always on guard about people trying to change them. Traditional SDA's have been warned hundreds of times before they were three feet tall that ALL other churches are of the devil and ONLY Adventism is truly Christian. Your boyfriend, if he fits this bill, sees you as a jewel in his future crown if he can change you to Adventism. You are 100 % correct that traditional Adventism is a cult. If you look at less traditional forms of Adventism, you get a religion that may look more like aberrant Christianity and less like a true cult. A few forms of Adventism are even more cultist than traditional Adventism like Charismatic Adventism, a fairly new wrinkle in the "remnant" fabric or the Mount Carmel bunch of Waco fame.

If you are in love with this gentleman, you are in for a long road ahead as you both wrestle for position to try to change the other person. I would advise you to find a nice boy in your own faith and leave your cult friend to find another cult member. On the other hand, you may be the only contact this person may ever have with the true Gospel of Christ. Pray about it. Go to the library and get a copy of this book, "Kingdom of the Cults" by Walter Martin. The largest chapter in the book is on Adventism. It will give you hours of reading about your boyfriend and the Church he calls home. Best wishes to you and your friend. Let us know how it goes. Keep in touch. Gary. truth@alltel.net
Cindy
Posted on Sunday, June 18, 2000 - 11:22 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Dear Guest, Welcome! Please go to the discussion topic, Why do Adventists Evangelize Other Christians and click on Steve's post for today (June 18). It may be helpful for you to read.

Blessings to you, may the Holy Spirit be your guide.

Because of His Mercy and Grace,
Cindy

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