Are we to blame for Trad converts being lost?

[NightEternal]

We have already lost more than one prespective church member because of debate between these two camps over church doctrine.
We hear the charge over and over and over again with absolutely no supporting evidence whatsoever. It is a very serious one and one we should not take lightly.

The supposed people we have alledgedly driven away from potential church membership as a result of our disagreeing with certain Trad doctrine.

Really? Who are they? What are thier names? How many were there? When did each of these alleged individuals alledgedly decide to not become SDA's as a result of the debate happening here?

I dead-on called this one about a week ago:

For some of them, this place is merely an apologist instrument, an indoctrination tool, a platform in which they can advertise and endorse TSDAism to the online world.

Simply put, it is a P.R. vehicle for fundamentalist Adventism. And, naturally, we and our area stand in the way of that agenda.

Why do you think we read them wailing and moaning about how the visitors are being 'influenced' and 'corrupted' by our views? Or that visitors are 'confused' by the two strains of Adventism they find here? Really? As if these were mental invalids who did not have the ability to discern and choose for themselves? As if these two (and MORE) types of Adventism do NOT exist in the church and HAVE NOT for years now?

Do you think it is coincidence that as soon as Crimson expressed her doubts about Adventism a couple of days ago the finger slowly turned to point at us?

http://christianforums.com/showpost....1&postcount=31

http://christianforums.com/showpost....7&postcount=35

http://christianforums.com/showpost....7&postcount=36

Oh, you had better believe they hold us responsible for that one no matter what anyone says, and even Crimson's protests won't dissuade them from that.

http://christianforums.com/showpost.php?p=44556250&postcount=13

Just waaayyy too easy to predict. Crimson has already clarified that it was not us but her own studies. Yet, the Trads are as sure as I am typing this now going to lay the responsibilty for it squarely on our shoulders.

And so, the blame game has now officially begun, just like I predicted it would. The quote in green at the top is only one of the many accusations being leveled on this issue that I have seen lately.

Apparently there are more mindless people who cannot discern and judge for themselves after looking at both sides of an issue than we thought. That is, if you actually believe the rhetoric some are spewing on this forum.

Just an FYI to the Trads: Do you know what it is called when you prosyletize visitors with your own personal TSDA theological agenda and wish you could stamp out any views or theology from other SDA's that contradicts what you believe?

INDOCTRINATION.

So, since we are obviously not going to be provided the courtesy of answering these charges and defending ourselves, we can do so here. Here is your chance to speak in your defense.

Is it true? Have there been people who have decided to not join Trad Adventism just because they were 'confused' by SDA's thinking for themselves (wow, what a concept ) and not all coming to the exact same conclusions?

Are we to blame for Trad converts being lost?

NonTraditionals only please.

 

[annie1speed]

If it is the person I think he is referring to, that person told me that after studying her Bible (imagine that!) they decided to step back and see what the Bible had to say about some issues.

If open discussion (conflict) causes one to turn to the Bible for guidance instead of being influenced by people's opinions, I for one think that is a good thing.

 

[JonMiller]

Frankly, I think that Crimson should just go to church. And judge the worth of the denomination based on that. I know that myself, if I had only CF to support my Christian walk, I would have left the
SDA church within a few months of when I started posting here.

And it wouldn't be the 'progressives' that would make me leave, it would be the anti-Christian attitudes and beleifs of some of the 'traditional' faction.

Jon Miller

 

[RC_NewProtestants]

There is a difference in the world view between Progressive and Traditional Adventism. TSDA's believe they are the remnant who has the "truth" PSDA's believe that we have some truth and we have some error and we need to progress in understanding keeping some things and removing other things.

With those two vastly different views a TSDA thinks that a person who leaves the TSDA church is lost where as a PSDA sees that person as continuing on their Christian journey assuming that they have not abandoned Christ. (though that is frequently the case when a person was indoctrinated under fundamentalist Christianity, they either move to a more progressive Christian view or they leave Christianity entirely.)

 

[annie1speed]

Well said Jon.

I made the comment that I am so glad that my only exposure to Adventism is not a particular person on this forum and all I got was reported. The point I was trying to make is the same as yours. Lots of hatefullness has been displayed on here by some so called children of God.

 

[Lebesgue]

I applaud Crimson's courage for leaving the SDA church. It is not an easy thing to do as I can attest.

I pray she will find a solid, Bible believing Chrurch, be it Sabbath or Sunday she chooses to go, and be fed with the Word.

When I left the SD church I was so HUNGRY for the Word because I went to aTrad church that preached very little Word and TONS of Ellen.

 

[Mankin]

To them we are the doubters, the Egyptians amongst the Israelites. They will blame us for every possible thing they can think of.

 

[JonMiller]

I applaud Crimson's courage for leaving the SDA church. It is not an easy thing to do as I can attest.

I pray she will find a solid, Bible believing Chrurch, be it Sabbath or Sunday she chooses to go, and be fed with the Word.

When I left the SD church I was so HUNGRY for the Word because I went to aTrad church that preached very little Word and TONS of Ellen.

She has rarely been to church ever, and definitely in the past 8 months that I have known her online. She needs to find a church family that loves her and that she feels comfortable with.

I haven't ever heard her complain about the SDA church that she has attended occasionally, it saddens me to think that we here at CF haven't provided the love and comfort that she needs.

Jon Miller

 

[AndrewK788]

Speaking from personal experience, this place can be detrimental to your faith, especially one who is new to it. I'm not talking about progs but the SDA forums on CF as a whole. One of my first posts was questioning all the antagonism on here, because these people certainly didn't seem like the godly people I had expected to find on the forum of my church. Anyway, the people haven't changed but my attitude has so it's all good now.

But to simply answer the question: the answer is yes.

What is my proof? Personal experience.