| Author | Message | ||
| Nicole Registered user Username: Nicole Post Number: 18 Registered: 4-2006 |
i probably misunderstood this on another thread, but do sda vote? i always assumed they did (never heard othersie like with the JW). just wondering..... | ||
| Raven Registered user Username: Raven Post Number: 532 Registered: 7-2004  |
Some SDA's vote, and some don't. Many SDA's have never heard it's a problem, even though EGW clearly said it is. In the family I grew up in, one parent voted and the other didn't; it was never really discussed as to why that was. It wasn't until after leaving the SDA church that I found out EGW had written against it. I guess the attitude I perceived among those who didn't vote was basically that it doesn't make much difference because it's not like this world is going to last. Also, it's part of the isolationist, separatist attitude of many SDA's. It's kind of related to the issue of some SDA's I have known who don't see the point in recycling - after all, everything is going to be destroyed soon anyway, so why bother? I personally began voting the same year we left the SDA church. Suddenly it felt like we do have a responsibility to influence the world we live in for the better, or at least do our part. However, I've been so accustomed to being out of touch with what's going on around me, that I find it difficult to figure out how to decide on a vote. | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 616 Registered: 8-2004  |
If they follow EGW's counsel they generally do NOT vote, unless it is a referendum type thing, like whether to allow alcohol sales in a particular area or other particular 'matters of conscience.' As was referred to in another area, EGW teaches that every voter is responsible for the sins committed by the person they voted for while that person is in office. I wonder how thoroughly they consider this counsel in voting people for church office?  Blessings, Mary | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 2320 Registered: 11-2002 |
My immediate family has always voted. However, because EGW said that by voting the sins of the people we vote in are now our sins I have numerous kin who will not vote for people but will vote on issues. I have only missed voting in one election in all my years and that was a local election to elect new school board members. I still chide myself for missing that election because it is extremely important to have top notch school board members. Bty, EGW also said SDA's shouldn't belong to unions. Yet, when my dad around 40 years ago got a new supervisor at his work who refused to let my dad have off Sabbaths anymore after he'd gotten Sabbaths off for several years at that job my dad took the issue to the union and the union set my dads new supervisior stright and my dad then continued getting Sabbaths off. So, even though my family was mostly in sync with SDA, there are/were some things they didn't agree with. | ||
| U2bsda Registered user Username: U2bsda Post Number: 113 Registered: 11-2004 |
Wow, I never knew some SDAs didn't vote. All the SDAs I knew voted. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2758 Registered: 3-2004  |
My folks always voted and I have voted since I turned 21. I did not know about the advice of EGW. Thank you God. You are awesome. Diana | ||
| Timmy Registered user Username: Timmy Post Number: 8 Registered: 8-2006 |
I am glad you guys addressed this issue. I think Nicole might have read my statement under the "What caused you to first doubt SDAism?" Its fascinating to read about Ravens past on this subject. I was raised in the church and never knew anyone that didn't vote for religious reasons. But that brings in a whole bunch of questions, If EGW is a prophet and does speak for God, then why is this an option for some people and a requirement for others? When you bring it up to voting Adventist, they laugh at you or accuse you of being picky. So by their actions and traditional practice aren't they really denying the authority of their prophet? I don't get it. EGW also says we shouldn't play chess or checkers or play cards. But I know people that will play chess and checkers but will not touch a deck of cards because "EGW says." It's like a pick and choose smorgasbord religion. The inconsistancies drive me nuts. My Dad says his pastor told him it was O.K. if we vote because Ellen was only talking about voting in a person who will put the Sunday laws into effect. I asked him where he got that from, but nobody seems to know... My first thought when I heard this was, "We are no different than the JW's" | ||
| 91steps Registered user Username: 91steps Post Number: 81 Registered: 8-2005  |
Timmy, no different then the Catholics either!! One thing about most SDA's that galls me is that they won't take a stand for anything!! Loooooooong before I became an SDA the two things I could not wait to do were register for the draft and register to vote. I lost some good buddies who died to give us the freedom to vote and it irks me that people throw that priviledge away!!! | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 4514 Registered: 12-2003  |
Ramone, you're so right! How does a church pick and choose which messages from a prophet to obey? And why do some obey some, while others ignore the same messages? You're rightóSDAs are really much like the JWs. Of course, neither of them would want to admit that, but when former JWs talk with former SDAs, the stories are so similar, and the emotional issues are so close, that it "feels" as if they are from the same "family". Colleen | ||
| Agapetos Registered user Username: Agapetos Post Number: 291 Registered: 10-2002  |
(it wasn't me, Colleen!) | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 4519 Registered: 12-2003 |
Oops...Sorry! You're right. Tim, I'm sorry! Colleen | ||
| Jorgfe Registered user Username: Jorgfe Post Number: 264 Registered: 11-2005 |
How should I vote? http://blogs.ellenwhitenews.org/ewhite/2006/09/06/how-should-i-vote/ | ||
| Timmy Registered user Username: Timmy Post Number: 23 Registered: 8-2006  |
Jorgfe, That is beautiful. When I addressed this issue to one pastor he told me I took it out of context. He said that that "In another place" "In another book" "At a different time" EGW told people to go vote on the Sabbath for situation that had popped up at the time. He never gave me a reference but in my mind he was saying that you cannot take EGW in context by reading only one book. You have to read them all, before you can properly apply them and take them in context. At any rate, if you could find where she says to go vote, (if it exist) it would be interesting to add it to the link you posted to show yet another contradiction. Tim | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 2347 Registered: 11-2002 |
I do not have any EGW resources but it is my understanding that when she was in Australia she told the Australians to vote even if the voting was on Sabbath because they needed to put off the time of trouble for as long as possible because there was still a lot of work they had to get done before Jesus would come back. Another time though she said that the politions who are elected, their sins are on the voters that got them there. Thinking about that and I realize how relieved I am that I never voted for Bill Clinton! |
