Do all SDA's agree?

[freeindeed2]

From personal experience I have seen many different issues divide a church often either to its demise or sometimes just a split. The initial issue has been from "what is the soul", to "how should the Sabbath be kept", to "why did you turn off my acoustic guitar during praise and worship", to "you're really not going to let us bring that for potluck!?". It seems there's division on virtually every subject, whether it be EGW, or the nature of Christ.

What beliefs are ALL SDA's (historical, traditional, progressive, evangelical, etc.) united on?

Are there any beliefs that ALL SDA's believe across the board and are united in their interpretation and application?

In other words, if all of the side-issues and divided issues are boiled away, and all the SDA church is left with are some core essentials that ALL SDA's are united on, what are those core essentials?

This may be the only post I put here, and reddogs, I'm not looking for confrontation .

Thanks!

 

[Dasdream]

not really, if by all you mean every SDA member in the world then clearly no. The same can be said for every religion in the world. In this world it seems people would much rather debate then agree. I can't even say that all Christians actually believe in Christ, that's just how it is, we can all agree on soemthing, but we won't agree on ALL things. Which are the ones we do agree on? I have no idea.

 

[freeindeed2]

not really, if by all you mean every SDA member in the world then clearly no.

I don't mean EVERY SDA member. The question was asked from the perspective of the different 'divisions' of SDAism (historical, traditional, progressive, evangelical).

The same can be said for every religion in the world. In this world it seems people would much rather debate then agree.

Exactly my point. Even SDA's debate their beliefs among themselves. But which beliefs are all facets united on?

I can't even say that all Christians actually believe in Christ,

If they don't believe in Christ they're not even Christians in the first place.

that's just how it is, we can all agree on soemthing, but we won't agree on ALL things. Which are the ones we do agree on? I have no idea.

Thanks for trying.

 

[Sophia7]

I would say that there is division on almost every subject. Even on something like the Sabbath, not all Adventists are united across the spectrum (historic, traditional, evangelical, progressive, liberal). They may disagree on whether Sabbath-keeping is required for salvation, whether it's required at all, the biblical justification for Sabbath observance, the interpretation of certain Bible passages, how to keep the Sabbath, etc.

Some say the core pillars of Adventism are the six or seven (not everyone can even agree on that) Ss: Sabbath, state of the dead, sanctification and/or salvation (I've heard it both ways), sanctuary, second coming, Scripture, Spirit of Prophecy (some leave this one out).

Adventists don't all agree even on a short list like that. I don't think all facets are united on much of anything. Maybe we can all agree that the Bible is important and that Jesus is coming again?

 

[catlover]

I would say that there is division on almost every subject. Even on something like the Sabbath, not all Adventists are united across the spectrum (historic, traditional, evangelical, progressive, liberal). They may disagree on whether Sabbath-keeping is required for salvation, whether it's required at all, the biblical justification for Sabbath observance, the interpretation of certain Bible passages, how to keep the Sabbath, etc.

Some say the core pillars of Adventism are the six or seven (not everyone can even agree on that) Ss: Sabbath, state of the dead, sanctification and/or salvation (I've heard it both ways), sanctuary, second coming, Scripture, Spirit of Prophecy (some leave this one out).

Adventists don't all agree even on a short list like that. I don't think all facets are united on much of anything. Maybe we can all agree that the Bible is important and that Jesus is coming again?

What does sanctification mean to an Adventist?

 

[OntheDL]

What does sanctification mean to an Adventist?

Sanctification means to make holy.

This is the process of character transformation: dying daily, submitting our will to Jesus, letting Him work in us. So by the end of our walk with the Lord, Christ's imputed righteousness is imparted to us. Our character is transformed to the likeness of Christ's character: law written in our hearts. Man now are made holy by the divine grace.

 

[Adventist Dissident]

these are the things that the historics, Traditional and Evanglicals agree on

1. the bible as the inspired word of God
2. The creation of the Earth about 6000 years ago.
3. Sabbath, begnning sundown friday and ending sundown saturday
4. Man is unconcious in death.
5. the Visible second coming of christ
6. 2300 day prophecy, althought the Evanglicals interpet the event just a little different.

I am unsure what the progressives do and the liberals?

 

[Sophia7]

What does sanctification mean to an Adventist?

This is what sanctification means to me:

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
​

Sanctification means being made holy by the grace of God and by the power of the Holy Spirit living in us. It's something that God does, not something that we do ourselves.

 

[Windmill]

We are oftentimes divided on specifics of issues, but in general we all have similar beliefs.

The belief on what is the soul is actually not one I've really heard. Pretty much all Adventists believe there is no soul, aka other living spirit inside of you that can exist separately that is your "personality" or whatever.

Nor is there much division on the state of the dead. I think we all pretty much believe in the fact that when you die you just cease to exist until the resurrection etc etc.

Of course, you have those that stray from the 27 fundamental beliefs, but in general, adventists are quite united on issues. At least, compared to other denominations.