SDA's and suicide Log Out | Topics | Search
Moderators | Edit Profile

Former Adventist Fellowship Forum » ARCHIVED DISCUSSIONS 7 » SDA's and suicide « Previous Next »

  Thread Last Poster Posts Pages Last Post
Archive through April 20, 2008Mommamayi20 4-20-08  7:16 pm
  Start New Thread        

Author Message
Freedom55
Registered user
Username: Freedom55

Post Number: 2
Registered: 3-2008
Posted on Friday, December 19, 2008 - 7:39 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I have read all of the above posts with much pain. I was 19 years old when my 16 year old brother committed suicide - hanging himself in the basement of our house. My mother found him and dad had to cut him down. Not a day goes by that I don't think about him. And I ask, would it have happened if we had not become Adventists? I'm not sure, but now having become convinced of the heresy of Adventism the thought has crossed my mind. When a person loses all hope, nothing is left but the darkness. Oh, how I miss my brother. . .
Philharris
Registered user
Username: Philharris

Post Number: 1244
Registered: 5-2007


Posted on Friday, December 19, 2008 - 8:40 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Freedom55,

Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing what was really painful for you to have experienced. Back when this thread was first posted I didn't add to it because the topic was also painful for me, but with a major difference...The Lord prevented me from ending my life...I shudder when I think back to that time...only one person has ever heard my story and even he never understood why because I didn't know the answer myself...at the time.

The spirit behind Adventism is the root cause.

Phil
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker

Post Number: 9166
Registered: 12-2003


Posted on Friday, December 19, 2008 - 11:41 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Freedom55, thank you for sharing your painful experience. As Phil said so aptly, "The spirit behind Adventism is the root cause."

Absolutely true.
Colleen
Joyfulheart
Registered user
Username: Joyfulheart

Post Number: 391
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Saturday, December 20, 2008 - 6:04 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Freedom55,

Your story touched me deeply! I so agree that Adventism takes the good news of the gospel away and strips people of the hope found in Jesus' total payment for our sin. I can only imagine the pain those memories bring up.

I prayed for you and your family today.

Again, welcome to the forum! I'm so glad you're here!
Freedom55
Registered user
Username: Freedom55

Post Number: 5
Registered: 3-2008
Posted on Friday, December 26, 2008 - 5:33 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I appreciate all of your comments. Its not been an easy road. I always wonder what I could have done differently that would have prevented it. I blame myself in so many ways. When you say the spirit behind Adventism is the root cause, could you clarify this? I want to get it right. I don't want to assume what you mean. But you all have been so kind in your comments. Thank you. It will be 36 years on January 2...
Philharris
Registered user
Username: Philharris

Post Number: 1264
Registered: 5-2007


Posted on Friday, December 26, 2008 - 6:14 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Freedom55,

What I have to say here is hard for me to share but I am glad you are asking.

Below is a paragraph from my testimony which is posted in the 'Our Stories' section of this website:


quote:

So, at age twelve, I completed all the requirements and joined the church. However, inside I found that I was still the same defeated sinner and I was never going to be free of my sins. It became a nightmare and I was terrified. I then moved on to doing good works. I helped build one of the classrooms at our SDA school on Pine Street and even help build the new church on the corner of "G" and Brown Streets, both in Napa. None of these things made the slightest change of how I felt on the inside. Finally, a visiting preacher made the statement that changed everything. He said; "At least 90% of you, out there today, are going to hell". My response was to give up the struggle and try to become a 'happy sinner'. For the next ten years that is what I attempted to do.




The part I have been reluctant to share, up to now, is that three years after walking out of the Adventist church, I was a nineteen year old Marine station on Adak, Alaska…..and very despondent. Adventist training had not prepared me on how to deal with the situation I was in. And this, on top of all the other reasons I 'felt' worthless and without hope was overwhelming. So, I took my 45 out, jack a round in and held it to my face. In the process, I flinched but let off a round and blew out the window in my guard shack.

Normal healthy Christians know they have a Savior who cares and watches over them. They know they can pray or seek help from fellow Christians. Above all, a Christian knows that they are of great worth to their Creator.

Adventist theology has none of this. Adventist 'rules of conduct' are non-functional. That is why I say; "The spirit behind Adventism is the root cause."

Phil
Joyfulheart
Registered user
Username: Joyfulheart

Post Number: 405
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Friday, December 26, 2008 - 10:36 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi Freedom55,

Those anniversary dates sure are hard aren't they. I think it's normal to think you could have prevented it. The truth is probably though that if you could have - you would have. I'm praying for you now and will be sure to on January 2.

I'll share what "the spirit behind Adventism" means to me, but please understand that others may have vastly different ideas. First, what is the source of Ellen White's visions? If not God then who? The enemy of our souls comes to steal, kill and destroy. Satan is the prince of the power of this world. We are rescued (redeemed) from his kingdom and tranferred to the kingdom of God when we turn to Jesus in repentance understanding that Jesus took our whole punishment on the cross.

Who was really behind all those visions? I believe it was satan.

Next, all the rules for food, sabbath keeping, dress etc. are enough to make someone crazy! How many thoughtful hours was I spending? Was I giving enough to combined budget? I didn't have enough time (or was simply too exhausted from everything else) to help every night at the seminar and they needed more help. Was I disobeying God? All those rules without a relationship with the living Lord leave one hopeless.

Who was behind all that?

We weren't supposed to say we're saved, but that we "Hoped" to be saved. What was that hope based on? Not that Jesus had taken our punishment as a substitute on the cross, but that we had confessed every sin and perfected our character enough to be safe to save. I doubted that I would ever make it.

Who robbed people of the hope found in the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross for all my sins - and yours?

Bible believing Christians have not only hope, but an assurance of salvation based on a life transforming belief in Jesus. We live by and walk by the Holy Spirit as He prompts and guides us. It's a loving walk with Jesus that is not based in fear. I do fear disappointing Him, but life in Christ is full of joy and peace and rest. Adventists can't have this kind of hope as long as Ellen's testimonies are an authoritative source of truth. They can't have hope with the Investigative Judgment and the close of probation looming over their heads.

The Bible just does not teach those things. I needed to come to terms with the fact that my church was lying to me - sometimes intentionally, sometimes not, but that lies were being told.

The new covenant is really a remarkable thing! It's no wonder God kept telling us it was coming!
Adventists believe it's just the ten commandments written on a heart. It's so much better than that! I'm way off topic now, but suffice it to say that without Christ as my substitute and with Ellen's testimonies, I was without much hope.

Who robbed me of the hope found in the new covenant? I believe it is the enemy of our souls - satan.

I needed to read and reread the gospel of John and Galatians and Hebrews over and over. In the process, I discovered a Jesus that brings life and hope and destroys hopelessness.

I hope this helps. Anyone else - feel free to add or disagree.
Philharris
Registered user
Username: Philharris

Post Number: 1265
Registered: 5-2007


Posted on Saturday, December 27, 2008 - 8:04 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Joyfulheart,

At least for me, I don't think your statement "others may have vastly different ideas" applies because you picked up where I left off. You did a wonderful job of expanding on what has been already said. And, you have focused on the central point, the source of SDA theology.

Yes, Satan is the 'spirit' behind Adventism and why it has no answers for those who are desperate to escape their bondage.

Thank you for your thoughts. Your words reveal Godly wisdom.

Phil
Joyfulheart
Registered user
Username: Joyfulheart

Post Number: 408
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Saturday, December 27, 2008 - 8:37 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hi Phil,

Your story touched me deeply! Praise God that you are still here and that God intervened!

I hadn't seen your response when I began typing. I started a response and then got busy with other things and people. It took a few hours before I got back to it when everyone was in bed - except me. (It was almost 1:30 when I finished! I live in Michigan - eastern time zone.) I guess I never checked to see if someone else had already written something.

Anyway, you did clearly tell the difference between the hope of Adventists and non-Adventist Christians. I think your story tells it so plainly.

Fulfilling all the requirements for baptism doesn't make a hill of beans of difference if someone doesn't know Jesus or understand the good news of the gospel - and those things are notoriously missing in prophecy seminars and baptismal studies. All the rules without the good news of Jesus can't help but leave a person hopeless.

Thank you for sharing a very painful part of your past. You are now a living testimony of the power of God to change a life!

Your words are always so sweet and encouraging. They mean a lot to me! Thank you!
Joyfulheart
Registered user
Username: Joyfulheart

Post Number: 409
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Saturday, December 27, 2008 - 9:03 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Freedom55,

As I was thinking about and praying for you this morning, a thought came...

You know Adventists claim they have "the truth" and that other Christians are missing out because they don't have Sabbath truth. The reality is that Adventists (in general - not all)are missing the best and most important part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.

They are so busy keeping the Sabbath, eating the right things, giving the right amount of money and spent the right amount of time in church on the right day that there is no time for the purpose of it all - giving people what they really need - release from bondage and a daily, intimate, personal,life changing relationship with Jesus. Jesus came to give people good news and freedom from the penalty of the broken law.

Adventism just gives them more law and more rules and more penalty. It would suck the hope out of anyone.

Ironically, it is only now that I see this. Even six months ago, I was still defending parts of Adventism to people. I knew Ellen White was a false prophet and that the IJ wasn't true. I knew I could eat anything, but I still loved the church for many of the things it was providing in my life. I haven't shared my story publically, yet - but will soon!

The spirit behind the Adventist church is certainly not a good one!
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker

Post Number: 9193
Registered: 12-2003


Posted on Saturday, December 27, 2008 - 12:21 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Freedom55, I remember the day vividly when I realized that Adentism was founded on a lie, and lies come from only one place: evil. Satan is the father of lies. Because Adventism is founded on a lie and deception has been the operating force behind it all these years, because they have never acknowledged much less renounced the lies at the foundation and the reality of a false prophet, a spirit of deception—satan—has a claim on Adventism.

When Richard and I realized this fact, we knew we had to renounce it. We got our two sons together (they were 11 and 15 at the time), and Richard simply prayed for us. He asked God to remove the spirit of Adventism from our hearts and to place the Holy Spirit in the place where Adventism had been.

Mind you, we had met Jesus by this time and were in the process of leaving. But both of us had so much emotional baggage. I kept wondering what people would think of us. I was a regular "Lot's wife", looking back over my shoulder, always aware of what my SDA acquaintances would say and think and concerned about what I did and how I did it and whether or not to "tell" people.

After we prayed that day, I realized that all of my emotional attachments and backwards glances just went away. I knew I no longer had any tie to Adventism, and I could simply follow Jesus and allow Him to be in charge of what my Adventist friends would think. He was in charge of any contacts I had; I could trust Him, and I didn't need to be calculate everything I said. I could simply speak the truth when asked.

Richard said when he prayed that prayer, he had the experience of knowing he was born again. Adventism was gone. Only Jesus was there.

The spirit of ADventism is real—but it is a defeated spirit. We simply have to submit ourselves to the authority of Jesus and surrender the part of ourselves that is "Adventist" to Him. Our worldview remains warped until we can give up to Jesus all our attachment—emotional, spiritual, intellectual—to Him and give Him those places Adventism claimed.

He is faithful. And Phil, your story and your insight are so powerful. Thank you.

Colleen
Freedom55
Registered user
Username: Freedom55

Post Number: 8
Registered: 3-2008
Posted on Saturday, December 27, 2008 - 4:47 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Phil, I'm so glad you flinched and are here today to share that experience.

From what you and others have said, I'm beginning to see what you mean. Since Adventism is built on lies, and since Satan is the father of lies, it logically follows that the spirit of Satan is behind Adventism. Since Satan's sole purpose is to turn people away from God, how best to accomplish this than by creating a system that would trap people in a web of deception while all the time claiming to be the remnant church. I have known many people over the years who have given up on God altogether because they became discouraged in trying to live up to the extreme demands of EGW's teachings. Which brings us back to what happens when a person loses all hope? Unfortunately, they give up on life itself.

So I guess that bottom line is that we need to be messangers of hope.

Add Your Message Here
Posting is currently disabled in this topic. Contact your discussion moderator for more information.

Topics | Last Day | Last Week | Tree View | Search | Help/Instructions | Program Credits Administration