| Author |
Message |
Bob
Registered user
Username: Bob
Post Number: 108
Registered: 7-2000
| | Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 8:52 pm: |     |
Skip, check your email for my message.
Bob |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 1528
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 9:41 pm: | |
Welcome, Seekstruth. I will pray re: your children and school. I'm convinced that every situation is unique. It's true that we did have a Christian school alternative near us when we transitioned out, but I know others who are moving their children to public school.
It became really clear to us that we had to take our kids out of SDA school. There was such disrespect for active Christianity and such subtle but powerful discrimination against non-Adventists at the school our boys were in. Our older son was a mess--I finally realized that he was living with such congnitive dissonance because of what we were learning and discussing at home and what the kids were doing at school that he couldn't reconcile the two. One of the guys that hung around him would joke about "having his Christian experience" and sneer about prayer, etc.
Both boys began to thrive in different ways when we took them out of SDA school.
Dd and Lindylou, it's possible that your kids are better off at SDA school in your situation. God really does provide what your kids need, and He will make it clear to you where they should be.
Just today I was talking with a friend who (with her husband) is enrolling their kids in public school next year. She has been praying about this transition for months, and God is confirming the public school route in profound ways for her--and her kids are happy about the change. (They're going into first and ninth grades.) The older girl, in eighth grade, has been holding forth with great confidence in class, arguing the New Covenant position of the Sabbath in discussions, etc. She is quite confident, and she's not afraid to say she's no longer SDA and to explain her beliefs.
The mom, meanwhile, has been receiving the quiet disapproval and the hints of being shut out from the other moms. She said that this school transition has been the hardest and most doubt-producing part of leaving the church for her.
Every child and situation is different, and God loves our kids more than we do. He will direct you to the places where yours should go to school.
Colleen |
Riverfonz
Registered user
Username: Riverfonz
Post Number: 11
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 3:24 am: | |
Skip, Welcome to FAF. Are you the Skip Baker that discovered the secret letter featured in the '84 Adventist Currents? That was a great find. That article can be found at www.ellenwhite.org. Stan Ermshar |
Susan_2
Registered user
Username: Susan_2
Post Number: 1637
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 7:29 am: | |
Seekstruth, you said in your first entry that your child is being taught that to worship on Sunday pays homage to the pope and therefore one gets the mark of the beast. Well, as a child I was taught this very same thing. Then I woulsd be a thorn in the side at MBA because I would tell the staff they sure weren't putting into practice what they were teaching the students as we had morning chapel in the dorm on Sunday as well as a large church service at the main church that included both the boys and the girls in the evening. And, at campmeeting they have dozens of church services on Sundays. Recently my mom said a comment to me about going to church on Sunday. I told her she watches Amazing Facts, Faith For Today and The Crystal Cathedral all on Sunday and those are church. I was told I should not compare, she is not actually going into a church, she can still do her chores while having those programs on. Even EGW said that when the Sunday laws come to give the day to the Lord, do wittnessing or other good for God. There were Sunday laws in Australia while EGW was there and she got her gang to go along with them. |
Pw
Registered user
Username: Pw
Post Number: 334
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 7:49 am: | |
This is the same exact message I was taught in the Revelation Seminar regarding the Sunday Keeping/Mark of the Beast teaching. So, I guess I'm not surprised that they are also feeding this info into the heads of children. On another forum, it angers me to hear SDA's defend their claim that they do not teach or endorse this doctrine in order to make themselves look innocent. They gloss it over by saying "it's possible that this could happen, but no one has the mark now". B.S.! This is the very heart of their sabbath message and they are flat out lying about it. |
Schasc
Registered user
Username: Schasc
Post Number: 9
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 10:55 pm: | |
I know that alot of people feel like it is very important to get ones kids out of the "adventist mold"(ha ha I just realized the pun!) However speaking as a teacher it is refreshing to see kids in a school that know what they stand for and are not afraid to speak it. While I think that times have changed since I was in academy and students today seem more free and open to talk about their love for Jesus and developing a relationship, alot of these kids are still social adventists and carry around alot of adventist baggage. When I see peers of theirs that are happy in Christ, I think it has a big impact |
Seekstruth
Registered user
Username: Seekstruth
Post Number: 3
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - 6:45 pm: | |
Keeping children in Adventist schools----should we or should we not? Thank you everyone for your comments on this most important subject.
Fortunately, for my daughter there are several Christian schools in the area where we live. But I have to say, if there wasn't, I would put her in a Public School, because I think she would be better off.
We don't realize how absorbant our minds are at this age (my daughter is 13). She has been in SDA Schools since Kindergarten. I went to SDA Schools from 1st to 12th myself and the brainwashing is very real! Even now, I have to remember to think outside the Adventist box! And I still sway back and forth----maybe the Sabbath is right or maybe I do have to be perfect and remember every sin I ever committed from the womb or if I don't eat any meat, I will be a part of the 144,000!!!!! Well, OK, the last one definitely not (where did they come up with some of these things!).
The point is, by not subjecting my daughter to this type of information any longer will put her that much ahead of the game. We're talking about eternal life or eternal death here---why wouldn't I do whatever I could to help get her on the road to heaven! If you ask me, Adventist Youth are miserable, just like their parents---how can you be happy if you are afraid of having a relationship with Christ?!
By the way, Susan2---Amazing Facts is where the info from my daughter's Bible Book came from---if you worship on Sunday your're worshipping the beast, etc.
Thanks again for the shared stories! We owe it to our children to put them on the right track and not have to figure it all as we did---and are still doing!! |
Carol_2
Registered user
Username: Carol_2
Post Number: 283
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 09, 2005 - 5:58 am: | |
If I had it to do over again, I would never have had my daughter in an SDA school. And the fact is, we actually belonged to the most liberal, gospel-focused SDA church in the entire metropolitan area.....the church that most of the sda churches scorned because they spoke the gospel, and never mentioned EGW. The families in the church and school were among the most liberal you'd see in this part of the country, the worship was "celebration" style, most wore jewelry, would eat out in large groups after church each week, drank wine, etc.
But still! After being in this church school for K through 8, we left the church early in my daughter's 10th grade year at a private non-SDA high school. My daughter is now a freshman in college. She still gets e-mails from old friends from the SDA school that "warn" her she's going to be lost because we've left the church. It just makes me sick.
On another note, in line with what Richard said about the Adventist young people. Even in this large SDA church with more on-fire adults than you would typically see in an SDA church, and large group of teens, the youth were so dead! Before leaving the church we'd been attending another non-SDA church, and the teens and young people there were so involved in worship and praise. It blew my mind watching these kids....then we'd go each week to the SDA church and the kids seemed so miserable. They wouldn't sing, seemed embarrassed to even be in "youth" church.
One week my step-son (non SDA) and his Christian band came to lead the youth church praise service. Matthew and his friends were accustomed to being in non-SDA churches where the kids were excited and would really sing and praise the Lord. I was soooo embarrassed. They couldn't get the SDA kids to do anything! They were dumbfounded....they'd never experienced anything like it. Finally they promised the kids they'd do a "cover song" if they'd sing along. They still didn't really join in, but when the service was over the band played REM's "It's the End of the World as We Know It." Well, at this same time the adults were heading into the gym after their church for potluck, and witnessed these boys playing a "secular" song. The band was never invited back to lead the youth.
Sorry for rambling all! |
Marcell
Registered user
Username: Marcell
Post Number: 4
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 09, 2005 - 9:47 am: | |
Please consider freeing your children from the adventist educational system. I attended SDA schools through the first year at college, and my daughter attended only 5 years - but the scars are still there. I see my grandaughter, who is only in first grade at a non-sda Christian school, the joy they have, the excitement for worship, her freedom in prayer, the focus on Jesus and scripture. It is like night and day. We sacrifice greatly to keep her at that school, it is worth every penny! There are kids from Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic and other backgrounds/churches there - it isn't an issue at all, because it's all about Jesus.
Good for your kids in percieving that they will always have to decide what is right and wrong - that is so true. How to support them in having as much joy and peace in their lives is the question we consider as parents. I am so thankful my own daughter only attended SDA schools for a short time, and that my grandkids son't be exposed to it. I'll pray for you all.
Marcell |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 1560
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 09, 2005 - 11:03 am: | |
I've discovered that it's impossible to know until AFTER one exits the SDA school system exactly how tainted it is. If you have your kids in a Christian church youth group and are openly studying the Bible at home, I believe that either Christian school or public school are options that usually are better than Adventist school.
I'll grant that there may be some circumstances in some geographical areas where SDA school may have the edge, but in general I'd say not. When I want to sum up my reasons for believing this I ask, "If Mormon schools were available, would you send your child to one of them just to avoid public school? Why or why not? Would you send them to Catholic school? Why or why not?"
Adventism is not just doctrines--although those ARE taught at SDA schools. It's a culture, a lifestyle. If a child is not SDA but is Christian, there's always the confusion of seeing the need to separate "Christian" from "Adventist". Children will make their friends--sometimes life-long--from an Adventist pool. Think of your kids becoming old enough to get interested in dating. Do you want them dating Adventists because they really don't know others well?
I realize there are kids at public school that you don't want your kids being friends with, either! But at public school there's not the numbing pretense of Christianity to blind one to the dangers of making close relationships with people who claim to understand you but really have a completely different worldview and even a different view of Christ.
I just know that taking our boys out of SDA school was the best decision we could have made.
Colleen
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Tisha
Registered user
Username: Tisha
Post Number: 2
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 09, 2005 - 12:16 pm: | |
I had my daughter in a SDA school for about two months when she was in first grade. She started having terrible nightmares, and I soon discovered that she had witnessed on several occasions, the physical abuse of another student by the teacher. She had so looked forward to starting school that she just couldn't admit to that abuse! When I confronted the principle, I was told that this was just a misunderstanding of the teacher's "discipline". I was appalled. I took her out immediately and sent her to the public school. She later said "Mommy, there are so many more Christian here!" She was told by her SDA friends that she wasn't really a Christian because she went to public school! They shunned her at Church and made fun of the public school friends she brought to Church because of how they dressed, etc. It was so hard for her to understand all this.
Since I have left the SDA Church and found a true understanding of Christianity, I have grieved so for her "abuse" at the hands of supposed fellow Christians. I pray for her daily, that she will come to know the true Joy of Jesus Gift of Grace.
She is married and has a baby now. She does not go to church, but occasionlly will go with me. I take my grandbaby sometimes, also. So she is seeing firsthand the difference this true underatanding makes in Christian's lives.
I have a son also - that is another story though! I regret every minute they spent being brainwashed by the SDA's, both at school and in church. I wish I could start all over again!
Please keep my children in your prayers. They are good kids and give me so much pleasure as I see them in adulthood, making good choices. But - I want them to know our Lord as I have come to know Him, and to find the JOY that KNOWING I am saved has brought me!
Tisha |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 1562
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 09, 2005 - 1:25 pm: | |
Tisha, I will pray for your kids and grandkids. I feel for you as you look back at things; God will not waste those experiences in your children's lives. He can redeem the brokenness and the years the locusts ate.
Colleen |
Seekstruth
Registered user
Username: Seekstruth
Post Number: 4
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, March 10, 2005 - 7:14 pm: | |
Tisha, I will also pray for your children and grandchildren. I was raised in the Adventist Church, went from 1st-12th grade in SDA Schools and as soon as I graduated High School, I bolted. I lived a wild life until the time I was 36 years old. Then my mother died at the age of 58. She was one of the reasons why I ran away from church. At the time she came into Adventism, legalism was rampant and so she did what she thought was right at the time. She softened a little over time as she saw she was driving me futher and further away.
You're not like this at all---you have only shown love and concern in a healthy way. So if I can come back after what I've gone through, I'm certain you're children can too! |
Flyinglady
Registered user
Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 1177
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 5:38 pm: | |
Tisha,
I will pray for your family. I was raised SDA, 1st grade through college. I tried to do the same for my son, but God saw otherwise and stopped it. God can redeem what ever has happened in your past.
Welcome to FAF.
God is awesome.
Diana |
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