7th Day Adventists and Pacifism

[Michael Snow]

Do SDAs still hold to their pacifist witness?
Is there any official statement or quotes like these?
Pacifist Quotes | Christian Pacifism

 

[Castaway57]

Do SDAs still hold to their pacifist witness?
Is there any official statement or quotes like these?
Pacifist Quotes | Christian Pacifism

What exactly are you referring to when you say "Pacifist Witness?" It would be good for us to know that before we answer.

 

[E.T.Elijah]

I believe He is probably referring to military duty. I would think it is up to each individual. Although I know that some prefer to go into the medical divisions in the military. But I don't know if there is an official church stance regarding the issue. I know Adventists who have served in active combat and others who have chosen to take the medical route.

 

[stinsonmarri]

I believe He is probably referring to military duty. I would think it is up to each individual. Although I know that some prefer to go into the medical divisions in the military. But I don't know if there is an official church stance regarding the issue. I know Adventists who have served in active combat and others who have chosen to take the medical route.

Good answer Elijah!

Blessings,
stinsonmarri

 

[Frenchfrye]

God had an army as long you aren't fighting for evil and persecution but america doesn't do that very often.

 

[REDBEAR]

Found a good summary on FB, Facebook, on SDA and guns and war roles. Have a look.

Proposed-29th-Fundamental-Belief-SDA-NBW-Adventist-Do-Not-Bear-Weapons

Has alot of history - like when in Germany the SDA ch there split and those who were anti war were thrown out. More on that web page.

Support it.

 

[Jake1958]

Have you considered the Sabbath? Impossible to keep in the military.

Do Christians fight? Yes ...

"fight the good fight of faith" 1 Tim. 6:12

It also depends on how we define PATRIOTISM. Let us be christian patriots, if you will. The word Patriotism has become a huge stumbling block since 911, especially for the "nominal christian" world.

A simple definition for patriotism is "love of country of his or her birth." Where is the christian's birth? The christian birth is being "born again" or "born from above" (John 3:3).

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal," yet they are: "mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

"If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:29).

And to Abraham it was said, "Get thee out of thy country, . . . into the land that I will show thee." "He . . . obeyed," and thenceforth he and all his: "confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He hath prepared for them a city" (Hebrews 11:13-16).

Where is our citizenship?

"For our citizenship is in heaven ..." (Phil. 3:20).

I grew up in an agnostic home, full of emotional and spiritual abuse and then I joined the Navy to get as far away from home as possible.

Let me say this in a tame manner, the emotional and spiritual abuse to a christian in the military is horrific in language, attitude and very anti-christian that I was worse for the wear after 4 years. But thank God for His incredible LOVE!!! Where sin abounds grace does much more abound. He saved me from that pit of hell into His new kingdom of light!

To keep the Sabbath is impossible and going to assume it's the same now.

Jake