| Author | Message | ||
| Tealeaves Registered user Username: Tealeaves Post Number: 124 Registered: 5-2004 |
I was at the fair today and there was an exhibition booth with NATIONAL SUNDAY LAW pamphlets, that Passion/EGW ripoff book(DofA in disguise, I hear), and a whole bunch of other propaganda including info on Doomsday Seminars. (no Bibles either, I might mention.) The sign read "Will America Always Be Free?" But there was no mention anywhere of them being SDA. They were just pushing all the free books on everyone, with no mention whatsoever of who they represented. It really really bugged me. Is this a standard tactic? | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 454 Registered: 3-2004 |
I do not know if that is a standard tactic, but do they ever say it is SDA when a seminar is advertised?? It is trickery, deception or whatever else one can call it and in my mind is not ethical. And using trickery and deception seems to be a common practice with them. It would bug me also. Did you ask them it they were SDA? Diana | ||
| Tealeaves Registered user Username: Tealeaves Post Number: 125 Registered: 5-2004 |
I didn't ask them if they were SDA, because i could tell just by the material. I also didn't trust myself to speak to them, because what I felt like saying was "you know I find it really deceptive and irreproachable of you not to state clearly that you are Adventists." And since there would have been no point in saying this, I just passed by. Plus, they dressed like pilgrims or something. As one of my friends would say, "they look like they have gone Ellen-G." They had an austere, spaced kind of look to them that was kind of creepy. I literally got goosebumps, and just wanted to get away as soon as possible. Around the corner there was an Adventist Community Center booth, and that didn't bother me nearly as much, because they clearly advertised who they were. In fact, we stopped there and had one of their free smoothies. The community center people were very friendly, just said hi to the kids, and didn't push anything on us. All their literature was about the services their center offers to the community. The difference in their countenance makes sense, since the Adventist Community Center does some great work with the poor in their area, and the people there really are good-hearted Christian people. (I did part of my community nursing practicum there in college, and found that nobody talked about EGW, or mentioned Sabbath more than casually. They actually talked to clients about CHRIST instead of SDAism.) -- I could tell that the volunteers there really do have a heart for being in the service of God. But I haven't been able to shake the creepy, angry feeling that I got at the creepy booth all day. The last time I got that weird feeling was in high school when I was at a sleepover and some kids brought out a Ouija board. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 455 Registered: 3-2004 |
Yes, I can identify with wanting to say something to that one group. They probably would not have believed you any way. I am convinced there are SDAs who are Christ followers and will be in heaven. I think the same way about Catholics. It sounds like you had a good experience with the Adventist Community Center as a studen nurse. When I hear things like what you wrote about I have to tell myself that God will prevail. He is in charge. He is awesome. Diana | ||
| Bb Registered user Username: Bb Post Number: 17 Registered: 7-2004 |
Tealeaves, I always get that creepy feeling when I see those pilgrim looking Adventists. One time I saw some in the mall. Long cotton dresses, buns, etc. But on closer observation I saw a thin gold necklace on her neck, so obviously they were of a different sect. But it just brings all those thoughts of Sunday laws, diet laws, and weirdness that just makes me feel so angry and yucky. I always thought there was something wrong with me because it bugged me so much. | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 839 Registered: 11-2002 |
I doubt that the people running the creepy booth are part of the main body of sda's. The sda religion lends itself towards offshoot fanitical groups. Keep in mind David Koreh and Jan Marcussian, just to name two. And, that nut in Arizona. The problem as I see it is that the denomination actively incourages these nutty groups. I think these groups should be discouraged. At the same time though that Passion book is printed by Pacific Press so we do know whatever group it is they are getting encouragement from the sda organization. The local sda pastor here did his sermon last week on The United States in Prophecy. I kept wanting to get up and walk out. You know that sickening urge to gawk at an auto accident while passing one on the freeway? That is the only thing I can compare it to how come I sat through the entire sermon last week. I can't go to sda websites or even look at sda magazies anymore because a bad feeling comes over me. I think I am entertaining demons so I avoid that stuff. What you said about their clothing is how the only white couple dressed at the Puna sda church where I went. I felt so sorry for them. It was 85 degrees and raining and they were dressed like Puritans. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 567 Registered: 12-2003 |
Nothing's wrong with you for being bugged. You are perceiving spiritual darkness. It really is palpable. | ||
| Krista Registered user Username: Krista Post Number: 1 Registered: 8-2004 |
Hello Tealeaves & Flyinglady, You are so right - the SDA church is so sneaky! I'm withdrawing my membership after just 2 years, and that is one of the *many* reasons. They don't identify themselves on the Clear Word Bible, and the book: Bible Readings for the Home, and I couldn't even find their name on amazingfacts.org! But what really got me was when my church told me about bibleinfo.com. At the time I believed it was a nice Bible info site. But then recently when I saw it again, after what I know now, I immediately knew it was the sly SDA's at it again! Why won't they be honest and call it sda-info.com?? Actually, I was proud that I immediately knew it was "them" LOL..... I appreciate all your posts - God Bless! Krista | ||
| Magpie Registered user Username: Magpie Post Number: 7 Registered: 7-2004 |
Tealeaves, I always wondered that too.(why they are so sneaky). They held a seminar here in central Texas many years ago and my nephew and his brother and another guy went the first 2 nights and loved it! Then the 3rd nite they went, the SDA finally "fessed up" and told them who they were. The boys were so incensed that they stood up in the middle of the meeting and told them they could keep their books, and that they did not appreciate being deceived, and walked out in front of God and everybody! Praise the Lord!! Love you all in Jesus, Magpie | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 70 Registered: 7-2004 |
Hi Krista, Welcome! I want to hear your story. Only 2 years!? How did you become involved and what were the reasons for leaving? I am highly interested! It took me a long time to realize the deception of those Revelation Seminars. I was always embarressed about the TV ads (fire and dragons), the general bulk mail fliers to the city population (more fire and dragons) and I never went to them (as an adult) because I HATED the scary stories and those painful alter calls. What I didn't realize until just a few years ago was the open disception. The SDA church I attended had a RS at the state university in town. I just happened to pick up the university paper and read an article about the coming seminar. There was a direct quote from my pastor (at the time) in it that stated the meetings would last at the university for 5 nights and after that they were not sure where it would be held! The pastor was a personal friend of mine and I asked him why he said that when he knew after the first 5 nights that the meetings would go to the SDA church. He gave me two reasons - first he did not lie because they would evaluate after 5 nights if the participants would be "ready" to move to the SDA church (if not they would rent the room from the university for another week) and second if some people knew it was affiliated with a Christian church they wouldn't even come. I asked my dad the same question (he is a retired church administrator) and he gave the same answer - must be standard? After all these years of tried and tested RS, I do not understand why they go on...I know...it's thier source of "power"...but if they really wanted their church to grow why not have JESUS Seminars!!?? Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, And the righteous will walk in them, But transgressors will stumble in them. Hosea 14:9 | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 456 Registered: 3-2004 |
Dd, They would have to know Jesus to have seminars about Him. Then they would have to give up EGW to have seminars about Jesus. They cannot have both. Right now they cannot give up EGW, so they do not have Jesus. The sad thing is, is that they think they have Jesus. That is so sad. To know Jesus is so awesome, one does not need EGW as a supplement. Jesus is all we need. Diana | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 841 Registered: 11-2002 |
I really like your Jesus Seminar idea. I have attendd several ALPHA series and they truly are Jesus seminars. The sda's are doing a Revelation Seminar in a town around 40 miles from me. Around here they have them at the sda churches. It's nearly only sda's that attend. I think it's to keep then in the sda denomination. To not keep the fear going the folks might drift away. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 458 Registered: 3-2004 |
Here in Las Vegas this past December the SDAs were going to have a Revelation seminar at the Mandalay Bay Casino in one of their huge conference rooms. They could not get enough sponsors for it, so they had a seminar at the church instead. That was at the time I was considering rejoining the SDA church. Thank God and praise Him I got out of the church at that time. I am ever so thankful God got me out. The DiscoveryE class I am taking at the church I now attend could be called a Jesus seminar. From what I have read, it is like an ALPHA series. God is so patient with us. He is so awesome. Diana | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 459 Registered: 3-2004 |
Krista, I meant to welcome you and got so caught up with what I was writing I forgot. So, Welcome to the FAF. Please tell us about yourself. What got you into the SDA church and what brought you out besides their deception and sneakiness? God bless you. Diana | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 71 Registered: 7-2004 |
Susan, I had never thought of it before but I think you are on to something...the real purpose of Revelation Seminars is to keep the SDA "truths" alive and well for their own members...they always begged and pleaded for church members to attend to help everyone (the non-SDA attendees) feel comfortable...it's a SDA Pep-rally!! Rah! Rah! | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 462 Registered: 3-2004 |
Dd, As I read your post I laughed out loud. But you and Susan may be on to something there. I can just picture an SDA pep rally with pom poms and all. Diana | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 842 Registered: 11-2002 |
Krista, Welcome. I, too am looking forward to learning from you and about you. Tealeaves, How does the sda's justify having their meetings in a casino? I thought going to casino's was forbidden to sda's. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 464 Registered: 3-2004 |
Susan, that was not Tealeaves who wrote about the SDAs using a casino for their meetings. That was Diana. How they justified it??? I can only guess the reason was there are a lot of people at the casinos and maybe between or after gambling some of them would come to the meetings. They were going to have businesses/doctors sponsor them and those that sponsored the meetings could have a booth there to tell about their business. They charged, if I remember correctly, $200 for a person to sponsor and have a booth. You have to look at this as an SDA. Ready? People come to Las Vegas to gamble and not go to meetings. So why not take the meetings to the casinos? Jesus went to where the people were, so why not the SDAs? Logical is it not? But, they could not get enough sponsors to have the meeting at the casino, so it was held at the church. I think they used a different evangelist than the one that was going to be at the casino. That is about the time I quit going to the SDA church. Again, I can only guess that casinos are taboo to SDAs along with drinking, staying up all night (not living a healthy life style), eating at all hours of the night and just carousing around. I am only guessing, because as I said, I quit going to church about that time. Diana | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 845 Registered: 11-2002 |
Dians, I'm sorry about the mistake. Sometimes I read something above and by the time I get to the comment area I don't have my facts right. Hey, I might even attend the sda meetings at a casino, providing drinks are on the house. I sure woud like to get over to L.V. during the next year and go hear Elton John. I understand he's singing somewhere there now. I sure enjoy his singing. Gambeling holds no intrest to me. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 467 Registered: 3-2004 |
Susan, If you come to Vegas, let me know and we can get together and meet each other. It would be so nice to meet some of you on this forum. We could meet at a casino and toast each other. Just a suggestion. Diana |
