Moderate SDA here - happy to have this fellowship among traditional SDAs

BobRyan said:

Hi - I have posted on several SDA forums here - but I just want to say how glad I am to have this forum where Moderates and Conservatives can fellowship in the love of Christ and affirmation of scripture knowing that the Seventh-day Adventist church does not teach false doctrine but rather is a light to the world, proclaiming the truth of God's Word including the everlasting Gospel.

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What is the difference between a moderate SDA and a traditional SDA. Sorry I have no idea!

I think the congregation I go to is moderate/liberal...we have women pastors.

I think it's cool but not a big deal for me at all. I go to the church I go to because it's where I've found community, fellowship and beliefs I can agree with.

BobRyan said:

well individuals may vary but in general both accept the 28 FB.

Doug Batchelor is a good example of a conservative , vegan, against women's ordination etc.

Moderates can be vegan but a lot of times are vegetarian or even include meat for some of them, and they may or may not be in favor of women's ordination (however would all be against doing anything that is against the vote of the denomination). There was a book in the 1950's called "Questions on Doctrine" and Moderates normally don't have much issue with that book.

Both groups would be against vilifying the denomination or claiming it teaches false doctrine in anyway and you don't see people in either of these groups asking SDAs to defend their acceptance of xyz-you-name-it Fundamental belief. Some new people that are moderate also may not yet have accepted the prophetic ministry of Ellen White but over time for Moderates that goes to full acceptance that she was a genuine prophet.

"Some" conservatives will rely heavily on Ellen White for almost any discussion and will act as if everything Ellen White said at the breakfast table or wrote to a child was in the line of duty as a prophet - so never just as a mother or friend communicating as a regular person.

Moderates tend not to do either of those things.

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To a liberal or progressive SDA (and X-SDA) - a Moderate looks like a Conservative.
To some conservatives - Moderates look liberal to some extent.

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Thanks for the explanation. I always considered myself traditional Adventist, but I do eat a couple of lean meats so maybe I am moderate? I would have a hard time removing cheese from my diet, I have eaten it almost everyday since I was very little.

I am in the category where I much prefer traditional hymns. I moved to a new area and have been trying out different SDA churches and one SDA church I went to had a very different spin on music than what I am used to/prefer. It's a bummer because it is much closer to my home, but I prefer the SDA church that is 45 minutes away because it seems more traditional to me.

Thanks and Happy Sabbath!

SabbathBlessings said:

Thanks for the explanation. I always considered myself traditional Adventist, but I do eat a couple of lean meats so maybe I am moderate? I would have a hard time removing cheese from my diet, I have eaten it almost everyday since I was very little.

I am in the category where I much prefer traditional hymns. I moved to a new area and have been trying out different SDA churches and one SDA church I went to had a very different spin on music than what I am used to/prefer. It's a bummer because it is much closer to my home, but I prefer the SDA church that is 45 minutes away because it seems more traditional to me.

Thanks and Happy Sabbath!

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I was looking for a place where there wasn't a "rock concert" that lasts way too long to begin the service. My church does a combination of hymns and contemporary music but it's not loud and is 2-3 songs plus one at the end. Some of the Sunday churches I've attended have a whole rock concert type show at the beginning, complete with a light show and smoke machines. No thank you. Its not the closest SDA church to me, but it's the one that God drew me to, so I obeyed. I'm glad I did too.

I'm doing good moving to a more vegetarian diet, but you'll pry my cheese out of my cold, dead hands!!!! I buy insane amounts of cheese for being one person. We'll also have words if you try to take away my yogurt too! Now the no shellfish thing is killing me because I LOVE shrimp and crab. But, it's not a make or break deal, I can do without, mostly because here in the frozen tundra of Colorado, that stuff is seriously expensive.

Today I am staying home because I'm having another "silent migraine". Not a whole lot of pain but plenty of double vision, dizziness and stomach upset. Not a great idea to get behind the wheel. I'll email Pr Sandy later today or tomorrow and let her know. I'll watch church online and do my usual of AFV Tv and 3ABN. Its insane, before I couldn't stand watching anything religious on TV, now it's all I watch!

Oh...Happy Sabbath (how could I forget??)

Enilorac said:

I was looking for a place where there wasn't a "rock concert" that lasts way too long to begin the service. My church does a combination of hymns and contemporary music but it's not loud and is 2-3 songs plus one at the end. Some of the Sunday churches I've attended have a whole rock concert type show at the beginning, complete with a light show and smoke machines. No thank you. Its not the closest SDA church to me, but it's the one that God drew me to, so I obeyed. I'm glad I did too.

I'm doing good moving to a more vegetarian diet, but you'll pry my cheese out of my cold, dead hands!!!! I buy insane amounts of cheese for being one person. We'll also have words if you try to take away my yogurt too! Now the no shellfish thing is killing me because I LOVE shrimp and crab. But, it's not a make or break deal, I can do without, mostly because here in the frozen tundra of Colorado, that stuff is seriously expensive.

Today I am staying home because I'm having another "silent migraine". Not a whole lot of pain but plenty of double vision, dizziness and stomach upset. Not a great idea to get behind the wheel. I'll email Pr Sandy later today or tomorrow and let her know. I'll watch church online and do my usual of AFV Tv and 3ABN. Its insane, before I couldn't stand watching anything religious on TV, now it's all I watch!

Oh...Happy Sabbath (how could I forget??)

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I agree about the rock concerts! You typically do not find that in SDA churches, but I have found an exception and ended up not going back.

I am very happy for you that God drew you to the church you’re going to. God has a way of doing that. The new church I am going to is really small compared to the Pastor Batchelor (AmazingFacts) church I am used to. His new church I think can fit 2000-3000 people. He keeps outgrowing his churches. I miss my old church with Pastor B. but I am really appreciating my new church despite how tiny it is. Everyone is so friendly and I like the pastors sermons too.

You and I are on the same page when it comes to cheese. I can honestly say I don’t think I have gone more than a week or two max in my entire life without cheese. It may be less than that. We probably won’t have cheese in Heaven, but if I make it there and will be with Jesus I am sure I won’t miss it.

Hope your headache went away.

God bless and Happy Sabbath!

The church I'm going to has less than 300 people. I LOVE it! Its small enough to build relationships within the church and Pr Jose knows everyone by name! I watch Pastor Batchelor on AFTV like I'm an addict!

I'd been around large, mega-churches and never really felt at home. Even smaller churches were uncomfortable...now I know why!

I'm on the tail end of the headache, the double vision seems to be calming down. I probably should go see a doctor but I can't afford it even with insurance. But, that's a rant for another time.

Enilorac said:

The church I'm going to has less than 300 people. I LOVE it! Its small enough to build relationships within the church and Pr Jose knows everyone by name! I watch Pastor Batchelor on AFTV like I'm an addict!

I'd been around large, mega-churches and never really felt at home. Even smaller churches were uncomfortable...now I know why!

I'm on the tail end of the headache, the double vision seems to be calming down. I probably should go see a doctor but I can't afford it even with insurance. But, that's a rant for another time.

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I think Pastor Doug is an anomaly, most SDA churches do not hold 2000-3000 people. I have gone to his church for 20+ years (took time off in there when I fell away, so glad I found my way again). Doug’s church used to hold around 300-400 people and every chair was taken, so he moved to several churches while he was building the new church he just moved into right before I moved. It’s huge, but he has managed to still make it very comfortable and not overwhelming. The first Sabbath inside the church was packed. Pastor Doug is one of my favorite speakers and he brings many to the Lord. I like that he talks to you and not at you. My husband really likes him too.

My new church has around 50 people. It’s the smallest church I have ever been to, but the people and pastor make up for it.

I watch/listen to a lot of sermons too and pretty much cut out most secular TV. I don’t miss it either.

Glad to hear your headache is getting better. Those are never fun.

There is a fairly large SDA church where I used to live, they have 600-700 people. Here, I will stay at the church until and unless God says "go". I'm still praying to know that this is where God wants me but so far the answer has been "yes, this is what you need."

I now rarely watch secular TV at all. And, if I do, it's more like documentaries.

Now I have to go wash my bathroom rugs...I've been lazy about doing the cat little box so now the felines are not happy. My girl kitty is the one who is a pain in the rear end...boy kitty just wants to be petted, have a full food bowl and somewhere comfortable to sleep.

Enilorac said:

There is a fairly large SDA church where I used to live, they have 600-700 people. Here, I will stay at the church until and unless God says "go". I'm still praying to know that this is where God wants me but so far the answer has been "yes, this is what you need."

I now rarely watch secular TV at all. And, if I do, it's more like documentaries.

Now I have to go wash my bathroom rugs...I've been lazy about doing the cat little box so now the felines are not happy. My girl kitty is the one who is a pain in the rear end...boy kitty just wants to be petted, have a full food bowl and somewhere comfortable to sleep.

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I have cats too so I know! They are amazing animals. God bless!

@BobRyan I know what is causing my headaches and there's pretty much nothing that can be done. Its an aftereffect of a car accident I was in about 4-5 years ago. I have something called "Facet Joint Syndrome", where the nerves that come out the sides of the vertebrae in my neck and lower back get pinched if I move wrong. It causes everything from headaches to numbness to the pins and needles feeling. I also have the same thing in my lower back that causes everything from pain to numbness to pins and needles that can go down my legs. So...thanks for the help but beside a new spine, there's not a whole lot they can do. My next option is a pain management doctor but that has to wait until my financial situation gets better...I have insurance but it doesn't cover much and the budget won't stretch to the copayments and deductibles and stuff.

I was born and raised into a small Adventist church in a small town. Most of the time the church had regular attendance of fifty to sixty members.

The Adventist church in the city I currently live is about as close as you can get to my old home town church experience. The congregation is quite small, about twenty five or thirty in attendance. The pastor rotates between three churches, so you only see him once every third Sabbath, unless you want to travel along with him.

I was raised as a meat eater, but also ate a lot of vegetarian meat substitutes growing up (as it was a church thing). I don't consider meat eating as being moderate per se. I went vegetarian for the betterment of my health, but admittedly, I do allow myself meat on occasion. Cheese is one of those foods I find hardest to let go of. I will occasionally buy it, even though I know it's not good for me. It's not something I eat regularly though; it's not something I need for my meals.

I consider myself a traditional conservative Adventist (food habits aside). I prefer hymns and minimal instrumentation in music and a traditional reverent service. It's what I grew up on, so it's my preference. My grandmother was a Godly woman who was a pillar in the church but also the glue that held our family together in the faith. And so, much of my own preference comes from her influence and my experiences in my church growing up.

Freth said:

I was born and raised into a small Adventist church in a small town. Most of the time the church had regular attendance of fifty to sixty members.

The Adventist church in the city I currently live is about as close as you can get to my old home town church experience. The congregation is quite small, about twenty five or thirty in attendance. The pastor rotates between three churches, so you only see him once every third Sabbath, unless you want to travel along with him.

I was raised as a meat eater, but also ate a lot of vegetarian meat substitutes growing up (as it was a church thing). I don't consider meat eating as being moderate per se. I went vegetarian for the betterment of my health, but admittedly, I do allow myself meat on occasion. Cheese is one of those foods I find hardest to let go of. I will occasionally buy it, even though I know it's not good for me. It's not something I eat regularly though; it's not something I need for my meals.

I consider myself a traditional conservative Adventist (food habits aside). I prefer hymns and minimal instrumentation in music and a traditional reverent service. It's what I grew up on, so it's my preference. My grandmother was a Godly woman who was a pillar in the church but also the glue that held our family together in the faith. And so, much of my own preference comes from her influence and my experiences in my church growing up.

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Thanks for sharing Freth. I can relate to a lot of what you wrote. I grew up on Morning Star foods and still eat them to this day. Do you have other brands you like for meat substitutes?

God bless and Happy Sabbath!

SabbathBlessings said:

Thanks for sharing Freth. I can relate to a lot of what you wrote. I grew up on Morning Star foods and still eat them to this day. Do you have other brands you like for meat substitutes?

God bless and Happy Sabbath!

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I grew up on Loma Linda (Worthington Foods) canned veggie meat, which are/were original SDA brands that used to be sold at the SDA book stores as well as the local grocery stores. These days you have to find a specialty store, order from Amazon, or directly from the company. I order from Amazon.

Of my Loma Linda favorites that I still eat to this day:

• Big Franks (hot dogs)
  
• FriChik (breaded chicken pieces)
  
• Swiss Stake (beef in gravy)
  
• Choplets (patties)
  
• Skallops (meat chunks, similar to scallops)
• Nutolene (formerly Nuteena; a creamy subtle peanut flavor)

I get the 96 oz Big Franks can and separate the 30 hot dogs into baggies of four and freeze them. For Swiss Stake, 2 per bag, since 12 patties come in a can. Same for the others; I typically freeze most of the contents of the can, then pull out a baggie to thaw as needed. All of these have a unique taste and texture and are completely different from each other.

I buy mostly Morning Star on a regular basis at the local grocery:

• For hamburger/sausage recipes:
  • Griller Crumbles (crumbled hamburger)
    
  • Chorizo Crumbles (crumbled Mexican sausage)
  • Italian Sausage Crumbles (crumbled Italian sausage)
• Corn Dogs
• Various patties, the best of which are the buffalo chik'n patties
  
• Chik'N Nuggets, which I'll make with tater tots
• Their pizza bites are good, but have a taste that's on the verge of being rank.

Other brands I've tried and like:

• Gardein
  • A great variety of meat substitutes ready for recipes. Some even come with sauces. Their meatballs are great with spaghetti.
• Quorn
  • Probably the best turkey substitute I've found. They have a turkey roast that's really good.
• Dr. Praeger
  • Probably the best veggie burgers you can buy, but expensive.
• Lightlife
  • Sausage in a tube, like real sausage, that I buy for my baked bean recipe.

The one I like the least:

• Boca
  • Most of their food tastes bland to me.

Aside from these, I buy vegetables, beans, fruits and nuts and use almond milk for my cereal.

I've been on a Mexican kick lately. I've been making fresh-made guacamole. I just bought more avocados, limes and cilantro on Thursday for making more. I also bought some fresh tomatoes and onions (and peaches) from the local farmer's market for making pico de gallo. I buy tortillas and make burritos out of chili beans or refried beans, and other fixings. Simple delicious meals. I keep sauces on hand like sriracha and some Korean style "Bibibop" sauces to make veggie bowls and what not.

I make soups and chili frequently, as well as a baked bean recipe with veggie sausage. I buy dry mixes like Sloppy Joe and pepper gravy and use veggie burger to make sandwiches and open faced sandwiches, which I accompany with potato salad (for instance) from the local grocery.

My former church had a rich heritage of home-made vegetarian meat substitutes, so I have recipes that I make for oatmeal burgers, lentil loaf, cottage cheese loaf, etc.

Those are some of the veggie things I eat on a regular basis, but I try to mix it up and eat fresh, not just meat substitutes. I'll go a few days between eating the veggie meat, eating some homemade veggie concoction instead. I think what's key for vegetarianism is being able to pull from a menu of possibilities and be content with those flavors and meals.

Happy Sabbath!