How many years have you been an Adventist?

[NightEternal]

I thought it would be interesting to see where people here are coming from in this area. I also want to get an idea of who the seasoned members are on this forum.

For those who are former Adventists, just specify how long you were in the Adventist faith before officially leaving.

Yay, my first attempt at formulating a poll!

 

[mva1985]

oops didn't see the poll at first.

 

[StormyOne]

oops.... saw the poll and voted... though I am not a former sda...

 

[Sophia7]

Wow, I guess I'm getting old. I'm in the 36-40 category now.

I've been an Adventist my whole life.

 

[sentipente]

My mother joined when I was only two. First schooling was in the Adventist pre-school.

 

[freeindeed2]

Whole life.

 

[StormyOne]

Whole life.

me too... I was baptized at 9, however I was taken to church from the very beginning of my life....

 

[IntoTheCrimsonSky]

Oh wow...*noting that she's the only one that's in the first few ranges*

I feel like a total newbie now...

 

[moicherie]

My mum got baptised when I was 2 so for me 37 years.

 

[honorthesabbath]

I'm wondering if a newborn or a very young child can be considered an Adventist when they don't even know who they are yet? lol

Wouldn't one be considered an SDA with either baptism or confession of faith? Can we really count from birth or the baptism of a parent? Just curious.

 

[sentipente]

Whole life.

That sounds like insurance.

 

[sentipente]

Wouldn't one be considered an SDA with either baptism or confession of faith? Can we really count from birth or the baptism of a parent? Just curious.

The OP could have specified. Unfortunately, it did not. Not that it would necessarily help. Many people who are baptized into the SDA church don't have a full idea as to what they are being baptised into.

 

[moicherie]

I'm wondering if a newborn or a very young child can be considered an Adventist when they don't even know who they are yet? lol

Wouldn't one be considered an SDA with either baptism or confession of faith? Can we really count from birth or the baptism of a parent? Just curious.

The question did not ask how long has one been an official member of the church. I was raised in a Adventist household and lived an Adventist lifestyle until I chose to make it official.

 

[NightEternal]

Sorry for not being clearer.

The poll is addressing how many years one has spent in Adventism. Not necessarily starting from the point of baptism. People are in Adventism sometimes years before they get baptized. Yes, that would also include being born into the faith.

So, Moicherie is correct in that I am coming from that understanding.

 

[honorthesabbath]

Sorry for not being clearer.

The poll is addressing how many years one has spent in Adventism. Not necessarily starting from the point of baptism. People are in Adventism sometimes years before they get baptized. Yes, that would also include being born into the faith.

So, Moicherie is correct in that I am coming from that understanding.

Perhaps then you should reword your OP for clarity. I'm sure that if one was to check with the GC as to the date one became an official Adventist, it would be the date of baptism or profession, because they would not recognize a new born or a child of a registered member as a member yet.

 

[Sophia7]

I'm wondering if a newborn or a very young child can be considered an Adventist when they don't even know who they are yet? lol

Wouldn't one be considered an SDA with either baptism or confession of faith? Can we really count from birth or the baptism of a parent? Just curious.

I was an Adventist long before I was baptized at age 10. I knew and accepted the beliefs and lifestyle practices that my parents and teachers taught me for as long as I can remember. When people asked, I identified myself as an Adventist. I grew up being different from everyone else, even other Christians, and having to explain to my friends why I didn't do certain things, and getting used to having people think that my beliefs were weird. That's not easy for a young child.

Being an Adventist is more than officially becoming a member of the church. Adventism is a culture as well as a belief system. Those of us who were raised in it from infancy couldn't cast it off completely even if we tried. And those who have left aren't really as "former" as some people may think.

 

[freeindeed2]

That sounds like insurance.

At one point in time I probably thought it was.

 

[moicherie]

Perhaps then you should reword your OP for clarity. I'm sure that if one was to check with the GC as to the date one became an official Adventist, it would be the date of baptism or profession, because they would not recognize a new born or a child of a registered member as a member yet.

The church used to (not sure if it still does) record Prospective members as part of Sabbath School memberships. These were people and especially the children of Adventist families who attended Sabbath School but were not yet official members. So to suggest that category is not considered by the church is a mistake. Hence Sabbath school membership is expected to be larger than Church membership.

 

[freeindeed2]

I was an Adventist long before I was baptized at age 10. I knew and accepted the beliefs and lifestyle practices that my parents and teachers taught me for as long as I can remember. When people asked, I identified myself as an Adventist. I grew up being different from everyone else, even other Christians, and having to explain to my friends why I didn't do certain things, and getting used to having people think that my beliefs were weird. That's not easy for a young child.

Being an Adventist is more than officially becoming a member of the church. Adventism is a culture as well as a belief system. Those of us who were raised in it from infancy couldn't cast it off completely even if we tried. And those who have left aren't really as "former" as some people may think.

I agree. I was born on the Sabbath and was in church the very next Sabbath. Most people are the religion they are because they were born that way. They had no choice in the matter. The same is true for those of us born into Adventism. The roots run deep.

 

[JonMiller]

I am much less culturally adventist then most. Mostly because before college I was asocial, and during college/after I didn't go to church much (only the last 18 months).

JM