Introduce yourself if you are new to the Seventh-day Adventists section of CF.

[VictorC]

Well; I agree, we do need to know and love God. (John 17:3). I just find it a challenge to know which Adventist forum to post on because I don't consider myself either one of the two. I am just an Adventist. Plain and simple.

Yes, I know what you mean, but if you look into it deeply, you would find quite a lot of differences within our ranks. There are many discussions regarding the "right" kinds of music, dress, jewelry, ordination of women, etc, etc.

The administrators of CF don't often visit the congregational and faith group subforums, or else they have so much on their plates that they don't have the time to answer questions such as these. Please permit my intrusion to welcome both of you to CF and offer a short explanation.

At least a couple of years ago the faith-group subforum for seventh day Adventists was split into two groups - with the "traditional" forum as a haven for those who accept the 28 Fundamental Beliefs of the SDA church, and the "progressive/moderate" for those who identify with Adventism but not some of the Fundamentals codified by the church. This division reflects the reality of the SDA church, where many are drawn to Adventism because of their habit of meeting on the weekly Sabbath, but reject the Investigative Judgment and Ellen White's claim of inspiration as a prophet. Other variations exist as well, but this is probably the most common dividing line between the "traditional" and "progressive" members.

CF decided to provide a safe haven of sorts for members of a congregation, so that those sharing the same beliefs would have a place where they could fellowship. That's the reason these subforums exist. CF is also a place where open debate happens, and other subforums are better tailored to provide that purpose. Safe havens and constant challenges to personal opinions are usually antithetical to each other, and the division between the "traditional" and "progressive" led to frustration among members who could not get along. CF divided the two camps of thought as a solution to the bickering.

Your personal emphasis on the SDA Fundamental Beliefs or sola Scriptura will determine which of these two subforums will suit your goal of fellowship with like-minded believers in a safe haven away from open debate.

BTW can anyone tell me what all this "Reps" and "Power" stuff comes from I see in top right of all my posts? Who gives this stuff to us and why?

I also would like to know about all this "Reps" and "Power" stuff. I have almost none!

The "blessings" still eludes me to some extent, but the number increments with the number of posts you contribute, and other members can also add to them. I don't place very much emphasis on that number.

*EDIT* I confused "power" with "blessings". I changed my reference above to reflect the role of "blessings", and "power" simply indicates what your addition to another member's reputation points would be if you add to them; it is a fixed percentage of your own reputation points.

The "reps" are reputation points, awarded by peers for posts they feel deserve recognition. They are given by clicking on the symbol that looks like a light bulb in the upper right corner of individual posts. They aren't used very much in the forums designed as safe havens, but are more commonly used in places where debate and challenges occur. Some of us are motivated by a goal of our unity in the one faith given to us (Ephesians 4:1-16 and Jude 1:3-4 are inspiration for this goal), and those of us who think like this aren't sympathetic to the concept of a safe haven. Divisions in the Body of Christ are challenged and hammered out for the unity we aspire to attain. Posts written in this vein of thought in the Theology forums often receive the most recognition - but the reputation points awarded by peers are given for reasons that differ with each person who decides to recognize another's efforts.

I do consider myself more traditional than progressive, because I know that God never changes. I do believe that if something was wrong 100 years, or even 50 years ago, that it's still wrong today.

You might be surprised that this is a common goal of those who have no interest in the Adventist message. I encourage you to step out of the congregational forums when you want to see what others have learned, and are ready for the open challenges that they will corner you with. Scrambling for answers when challenged is where the rapid learning experience happens, and in my opinion that is the real benefit of a discussion forum such as CF.

Again, I want to welcome both of you to CF as a member who isn't related to the administration of the site, and I hope my comments answer some of the questions you have about this place.

 

[MartyS]

VictorC,

Thank you so much for all this information. It is quite helpful. I agree that to step out of the congregational forums from time to time is a good idea. I just may do that!

 

[VictorC]

VictorC,

Thank you so much for all this information. It is quite helpful. I agree that to step out of the congregational forums from time to time is a good idea. I just may do that!

You're very welcome

 

[Eagle55]

That's funny! No, we don't need any puppies. My husband is a dog trainer, and we have all the dogs we need. The pups in my avatar are not ours, but they do represent what we do for a living.

What kind of puppies are you expecting? You never know. . .sometimes people ask us where they can get a puppy?

I also would like to know about all this "Reps" and "Power" stuff. I have almost none!

LOL, well we are not quite sure how to tell if she is pregnant, but she sure looks it. She is a purebred Chocolate Retriever, but she broke loose from one of the kids a while ago when going for a walk and by the time we found her and got her back; we were told by a neighbor that she connected with their small dog - if you know what I mean...Going by what I read on the internet, we should know in a week or so whats up!

 

[JCMJ friend]

Hi everyone Im Tina pleae call me Teens,was bought up an adventist since age 3,was baptised at 17 in the sda church,Im a believer in the sabbath but i dont agree with all sda doctrine and im not a strict adventist but i enjoy the christian love and fellowship and love Jesus with all my heart,im 34 now and i enjoy all the sda socials and potlucks,sdas are the nicest people i knowI enjoy going to church on sabbath ,i been to pentecostal churches too,but i find the sdas are the most nicest friendly warm welcoming people x

 

[StandingFirm]

Hello Tina. Welcome to the group. Hope to see you in the discussion forums. Be blessed.

 

[JCMJ friend]

Hello Tina. Welcome to the group. Hope to see you in the discussion forums. Be blessed.

thankyou i look forward in getting to know you all,you all seem lovely people on here x

 

[stinsonmarri]

Greetings to all SDA family:

My name is Marrian and I have been in the church since I was five almost six. I have been to both church school and Oakwood that is now a university. I graduated at Georgia State with a Degree in History specializing in the Bible and Afrikan history. I have wandered away from my roots but there are certain things I could not do and that is to eat unclean meats. I have three older brothers and one baby sister, they ate the mess all of them. My dad died when I was seven leaving my mother to struggle and raise us all alone and she did. She found out about the Sabbath while she was pregnant with me. She then search up until I was five having BS with every denomination you could think of to find any Sabbath keepers. She did and she question each group including the Sabbath keepers until they told her they kept all of the commandments.
My mother worked but also sold SDA books and we had from uncle Arthur to the Commentaries in my house during the 50's. My mother came out of the Missionary Baptist Church so we already had evening and morning worship in our home. It was a dream that we saw on the screen to that was a sign because mother had dreams about the truth. So I have seen the SDA church change their standards and come up with the 27 Fundamental beliefs and now this new thing a split in the church wow and I don't agree with this traditional and progressive stand. Either you obey what the Bible says or not. You will not be lost if you don't believe in EGW but I do but not her opinions. I believe that when she had her visions she was in the presence of the Savior. The reason that there is this split is we are neither hot nor cold the church has become lukewarm. Now I have my spiritual battles and I left but I always came back. This last time I came back for good because of my mother's prayers.
This is what happen, we as a people have stop studying and we become stuck in the mud. Some want to hold on to things that once we thought were right but are totally wrong and then other have come in changing and conforming to be more like the first day churches. Here we have advance technology to learn for your own self but most won't do it. The progressive to aggressive and the traditional to stubborn and now you have Rev 3:15-17
I do not celebrate Christmas, New years, Easter, Valentine, Halloween or St Patrick holy days because that is what holiday mean go look it up. I keep the Sacred names and I have been accused of being a part of the Sacred Movement. I lived in Israel years ago and Adventist Jews there always called the Father Yahweh and the Savior Yashua in 1982. I just realize that we shouldn't be calling the Holy Spirit a ghost! A Pentecostal preacher spoke about that and I being a Biblical historian came to my senses. I have been keeping the Feast Days since 1983 because I had problems with Cols 2:14 back then and Yahweh open my eyes because of Lev 23:1 which states they are His Feast Days and not the Jews. I have been looking for a ceremonial sabbath for years in the Bible and I have not found it yet though I heard it preached over the years. I do not keep the passover as a Feast as most honor (it was nailed to the Savior's cross), who keep the Feast Days. I do not go alone with the Jews, papacy (the Catholic's feast days), SDA or any doctrines or traditions only according to the Bible. I do agree with EGW that the Bible has been tampered with, I do believe that the 144,000 will come out of the church but the church is not the remnant. When all who accept the truth during the Time of Trouble and that's the great multitude no man can number that along with the 144,000 is the remnant. There is nothing wrong with jewelry Daniel, and Joseph wore a necklace. The patriarchsand their family wore jewelry but the problem was some represented pagan deities. Here is the problem with jewelry today it is costly and people worshiped it when you could have used that money and put it to good use and also wearing it on the Sabbath it is our pleasure. Isa 58:13 Simple, plan jewelry is not a sin but what you do with is a sin. I cannot tell you over the years including me of the watches I claim was to tell time but cost a mint-and it look like a bracelet. Matter of fact that's what we wanted it to look like! Don't let me get started on the hair, clothes, hat, and shoe because Adventist have it bad!
Now please don't tell me that you celebrate Christmas because of the Savior's birth, that's a lie. A lie is a lie and you can't make a lie the truth simple. Don't tell me about Easter either because I used to boil the Easter eggs and hide them on Sunday too! Easter is a pagan goddess and you should be asking how did this name get in the Bible? New year is a lie and the Bible tells exactly when the New Year begins! I don't believe in the Sunday Blue law doctrine because first it is not in the Bible and asked me what else and I will tell you. The Papacy is the harlot and not the beast. The beast (the son of perdition) will come out of the Catholic Church but he will leave everything that he once believed in and hate the Papacy. Armageddon is the war those two will fight and the beast will win with the help of the false prophet USA (the two horned beast). Islam will come in the picture with the beast but folks it is not Obama okay!!!! He is the man for the time and after this next election I hope you all are getting your house in order!
Finally, now where did I get this from would you believe EGW oh yes she pointed the way but preachers, teachers, scholars will not provide this truth to you but it's there right under your noise and the Bible backs up every word she stated.
Well you got an ear full from me but that's how I come with truth and justice and I am one that has become a repairer of the breach. I'm not a judge that's the Father's job, I'm not going to force or say believe this or that because that's the Holy Spirit job to lead you into all truth, and I don't have a place to put you that's the Savior's job, what I have is providing you the tools to learn the message for yourself. Don't believe anyone but study for yourself because we all have to work out our own soul salvation.

Blessings,

stinsonmarri

 

[StandingFirm]

Welcome to the group Stinsonmarri. Thank-you for sharing.

 

[stinsonmarri]

Thank you and it is great to be here. I have been on the progressive forum trying to explain to someone about the Investigated Judgment and he is truly upset with me now. One minute he state I not like any Adventist he has ever met and the next minute he says I am like the Adventist and we are an occult. It is sad that so many people hate us because we not them want to obey the Government of Yahweh. I told him that's my choice and not his but he still don't get it oh well. Thanks for inviting me.

Blessings,

stinsonmarri

 

[StandingFirm]

Greetings everyone, just stopping by to say hello. Be blessed and be a blessing.

 

[Servant of the Lord]

Happy Sabbath !

 

[Shrewsbury]

Hi! I am new both to this forum and the the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

I went to my first SDA church yesterday (5th February), at my local church in my home town of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, here in the United Kingdom.

Although a Christian since 2003, I had not gone to any church for around 6 months, but felt God leading me in recent times. I found Him lead me to SDA and after finding a church close to my home, I contacted the pastor who invited me to visit.

Anyway, I went yesterday and loved it! Everyone was so friendly and warm, and I really enjoyed the preaching and the teaching.

I am definitely going again next week.

On a personal note, my name is John, I am 42 years old, and a carer.

Thanks!

 

[StandingFirm]

Welcome John. I hope you are being blessed here. Have a great day and trust in Christ.

 

[Shrewsbury]

Hi! Thanks for the welcome!

 

[StandingFirm]

Be richly blessed!

 

[stork321]

Hello to everyone!

I've been here for about 2months but I did not introduce myself yet..

I'm stork321...just call me stork...from Philippines

I've been adventist for about 20years (adventist since birth..lol)

But I can say that I'm still not that mature to defend our beliefs when someone questions me..

Hoping that I'll learn lot in this forum and have more friends in here!

thank you and God Bless us all!

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

Stork, you'll definitely get an opportunity to shine your armour in here... opposition makes us dig into the Word to seek out and share the gems we know in our hearts,

 

[stork321]

Stork, you'll definitely get an opportunity to shine your armour in here... opposition makes us dig into the Word to seek out and share the gems we know in our hearts,

thanks ECR..

BTW I still can't reply to your message, I need 15 posts to be able to reply..

Thanks!

 

[stork321]

Hi! I am new both to this forum and the the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

I went to my first SDA church yesterday (5th February), at my local church in my home town of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, here in the United Kingdom.

Although a Christian since 2003, I had not gone to any church for around 6 months, but felt God leading me in recent times. I found Him lead me to SDA and after finding a church close to my home, I contacted the pastor who invited me to visit.

Anyway, I went yesterday and loved it! Everyone was so friendly and warm, and I really enjoyed the preaching and the teaching.

I am definitely going again next week.

On a personal note, my name is John, I am 42 years old, and a carer.

Thanks!

hi! Welcome aboard..I'm also new to the forums