Currents and formers . . .

[Byfaithalone1]

How do current SDAs view former SDAs? Are there current SDAs, for example, who believe that former SDAs are controlled by demons and that such demons seek to use former SDAs to destroy the faith that current SDAs have in God? How do you view this?

BFA

 

[AndrewK788]

How do current SDAs view former SDAs? Are there current SDAs, for example, who believe that former SDAs are controlled by demons and that such demons seek to use former SDAs to destroy the faith that current SDAs have in God? How do you view this?

BFA

I don't believe formers or progs are demon-possessed. (I think I have a hunch what thread this is responding too.) I believe that the devil works hard to sow turmoil and dispute everywhere he can, so the focus is on conflict and not on Christ.

I have no prejudice against any other SDAs. As long as Christ is first it really doesn't matter (to me).

 

[freeindeed2]

I don't believe formers or progs are demon-possessed. (I think I have a hunch what thread this is responding too.) I believe that the devil works hard to sow turmoil and dispute everywhere he can, so the focus is on conflict and not on Christ.

I have no prejudice against any other SDAs. As long as Christ is first it really doesn't matter (to me).

What about so-called 'former' SDA's (Christians who once were SDA members)?

 

[Byfaithalone1]

I don't believe formers or progs are demon-possessed.

OK. Thanks for responding.

(I think I have a hunch what thread this is responding too.)

I have no hidden motives. I'm simply curious as to how current SDAs (be they trads or progs) view former SDAs.

I believe that the devil works hard to sow turmoil and dispute everywhere he can, so the focus is on conflict and not on Christ.

I agree. Perhaps a day will come when we can stop talking about FSGs and start talking about the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, although I am still a newbie here, it seems that some healing is required before that can happen.

I have no prejudice against any other SDAs.

Do you have any negative impressions or feelings toward any non-SDAs?

BFA

 

[AndrewK788]

OK. Thanks for responding.



I have no hidden motives. I'm simply curious as to how current SDAs (be they trads or progs) view former SDAs.



I agree. Perhaps a day will come when we can stop talking about FSGs and start talking about the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, although I am still a newbie here, it seems that some healing is required before that can happen.



Do you have any negative impressions or feelings toward any non-SDAs?

BFA

I didn't mean you had a hidden motive. I was just referencing someone else's post, but if you didn't see it than nevermind.

No I don't have negative impressions of non-SDAs. My only impression is oftentimes I have seen more of a Christlike spirit among them than in an SDA church. I have plenty of non SDA friends so I promise I am entirely unbiased.

 

[AndrewK788]

What about so-called 'former' SDA's (Christians who once were SDA members)?

I have nothing against formers either.

I thought I mentioned them too though. Well, I'll just say this: I don't hold anything against anyone, and certainly never against a church congregation as a whole.

 

[Moriah_Conquering_Wind]

No one who has ever experienced being controlled by demons for real, or been close to someone who has, would ever even dream of throwing such terms around glibly as merely a matter of trying to discredit or "dead-agent" someone else. Ever. Period. The fact that anyone even uses those words in such a trivial, self-serving and paranoid context ALL BY ITSELF proves those doing so haven't a freaking CLUE what they bes talksy about. NARY a clue.

Kind of reminds Moriah of those who use words like "retarded" and "crazy" much the same way. Anyone who had to tend a retarded or mentally ill loved one, or who had to suffer mental illness themselves, would never even dream of throwing those kinds of words around so casually as epithets and devices to discredit others as human beings.

It bes an insult on both sides of the coin, as stated on another thread here with a similar theme.

 

[JonMiller]

How do current SDAs view former SDAs? Are there current SDAs, for example, who believe that former SDAs are controlled by demons and that such demons seek to use former SDAs to destroy the faith that current SDAs have in God? How do you view this?

BFA

lol

JM

 

[Moriah_Conquering_Wind]

There bes Christians everywhere, mind you, not just SDAs, who believe that demons control anyone who does not think like them. Just look at the whole fundy flap about the "gay agenda" for example. Just because people who bes gay want to be treated equal with heterosexual people in our society, the fundies think they have some secret agenda to "spread gayness" to others and/or to make being gay "acceptable" with some nefarious design in mind in terms of corrupting others' souls, consciences or discernment or whatever.

It's all bullocks. They just don't want to be harassed and persecuted, bes all, and they don't think their orientation bes reason to believe they should be. but that does not stop the paranoid conspiratists from making up all kinds of foul imaginary crap.

A lot of confused supposed "Christians" have similar ideas about occultists and atheists, too. Moriah sometimes wonders (tongue in cheek but with a point) if this genre of "Christian" itself bes not actually a satanic infiltration designed to discredit the true people of Christ and distract from the true message of Christ. Cuz HEY, those who smelt it dealt it!! Right??

 

[BGMCFAR]

There bes Christians everywhere, mind you, not just SDAs, who believe that demons control anyone who does not think like them. Just look at the whole fundy flap about the "gay agenda" for example. Just because people who bes gay want to be treated equal with heterosexual people in our society, the fundies think they have some secret agenda to "spread gayness" to others and/or to make being gay "acceptable" with some nefarious design in mind in terms of corrupting others' souls, consciences or discernment or whatever.

It's all bullocks. They just don't want to be harassed and persecuted, bes all, and they don't think their orientation bes reason to believe they should be. but that does not stop the paranoid conspiratists from making up all kinds of foul imaginary crap.

A lot of confused supposed "Christians" have similar ideas about occultists and atheists, too. Moriah sometimes wonders (tongue in cheek but with a point) if this genre of "Christian" itself bes not actually a satanic infiltration designed to discredit the true people of Christ and distract from the true message of Christ. Cuz HEY, those who smelt it dealt it!! Right??

MCW you are correct, there are people in other religons who feel the way some SDA's do Theold expression They wonderd away from the church Satan has led them astray and so on sound familiar.

 

[Moriah_Conquering_Wind]

Well a big hearty Psalm 139:7-8 for them!
[bible]Psalm 139:7-8[/bible]
Even if you lay down with Satan God bes there anyway

 

[BGMCFAR]

Well a big hearty Psalm 139:7-8 for them!
[bible]Psalm 139:7-8[/bible]
Even if you lay down with Satan God bes there anyway

Thats right cause when He is in your heart and soul He goes everywheree with you and thats what its all about

 

[Moriah_Conquering_Wind]

wise words, friend.

 

[Byfaithalone1]

lol

JM

. . . . what's funny?

BFA

 

[Ryft]

Although I am a former Seventh-Day Adventist, I can nevertheless remember the mindset I had back then and that of my church peers. There was not a pronounced belief in demon possession at the churches I attended; we believed that possession was possible, of course, but it was something understood as specific and unique. So no, there was not a general attitude that former Adventists were somehow demon-possessed and tasked with destroying our Adventist faith.

How did we view those who left the Adventist faith? The general attitude was one of compassionate concern, ultimately for their eternal fate. We felt a need to minister to them, to understand their obstacle and engage it with the hope of bringing them back into the fold and the security of salvation that can be found only in Christ's true church. (I blush today when I recall the convictions I had back then.) I understand that there are more extreme Adventist strains exhibiting a more rigid and fundamentalist attitude who probably would view former Adventists in that light, but that was not the character of the churches I had attended during my time as an Adventist. Nor was it my character.

And now, ironically, I am likewise a 'former Adventist'.

 

[Moriah_Conquering_Wind]

"The nature of Christ’s salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day evangelist,
[who] announces a Savior from hell rather than a Savior from sin. And that is why so many
are fatally deceived, for there are multitudes who wish to escape the Lake of Fire who have
no desire to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness."
-- A. W. Pink

Interesting signature quote.
There also bes multitudes earnestly desiring to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness (among other afflictions) what bes just as earnestly refusing to pretend to be already merely to suit the druthers of those who insist there bes no real deliverance, no real Saviour from sin -- only the constant, tireless, "noble and moral" efforts of man to pull himself up by his own bootstraps and clean up his own flesh. Save that, for the religious sort in particular, this gets conflated with the notion of a Saviour doing it for us when the reality of such a thing bes the furthest notion from their minds. Galatians 5:16 they stand on its ear, practically insisting that the only way to walk in the Spirit bes to make oneself not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. With the cart before the horse and the fruit mistake for the root, no wonder they dwell in unremitting misery and seek every opportunity to spread their pernicious false gospel of human will-worship that they may, in their misery, have copious company indeed.

 

[Moriah_Conquering_Wind]

Although I am a former Seventh-Day Adventist, I can nevertheless remember the mindset I had back then and that of my church peers. There was not a pronounced belief in demon possession at the churches I attended; we believed that possession was possible, of course, but it was something understood as specific and unique. So no, there was not a general attitude that former Adventists were somehow demon-possessed and tasked with destroying our Adventist faith.

How did we view those who left the Adventist faith? The general attitude was one of compassionate concern, ultimately for their eternal fate. We felt a need to minister to them, to understand their obstacle and engage it with the hope of bringing them back into the fold and the security of salvation that can be found only in Christ's true church. (I blush today when I recall the convictions I had back then.) I understand that there are more extreme Adventist strains exhibiting a more rigid and fundamentalist attitude who probably would view former Adventists in that light, but that was not the character of the churches I had attended during my time as an Adventist. Nor was it my character.

And now, ironically, I am likewise a 'former Adventist'.

Well met, Ryft. Hopes you bes sticksy round here.

Your summation there makes Moriah to think of some of the much better folk it met at the local church when it first joined up with the SDAs in its teenage years. That would have been their view as well, and while it may makesy blush, it nonetheless speaks well for the intention of the heart. The heart counts with God.

When the rift (ha!) actually came for this one, though, it had gone off to college and encountered plenty of the harsher sort, and that in a variety of styles to boot.

aNyways glad you bes here.

 

[JoeyWhiteshoes]

BFA, God to see a familiar name or two over here...

My own sda wife has accused me of having satan control my Bible study as I am being led in a different course than adventists follow.

And I have been acused of going to hell because I eat meat.

And she refuses to pray with me as she worships God and I don't. (according to her)

Pretty harsh but probably a mainstream sda view.

Joey

 

[Moriah_Conquering_Wind]

For people who claim to hate, despise and be opposed to him, the SDAs sure love their devil. The writings of EGW refer to him so often one could call it an obsession.

 

[DRL]

When my name was taken off the church books in the early 1980s, no one contacted me and I had not moved or changed my address. No one tried to bring me back into the SDA church. So there was no show of love or compassion with me back then. I was informed of my name being taken off the church books by an elder I knew and whom I saw at the Giant grocery store. This was 2 years after it was done. By that time I did not care and still no one tried to contact me. So when one leaves, the majority of times, as I have seen from my years in the SDA church, no one pays attention.
I was the same way when I was SDA, so I am speaking of myself also.
DRL