Should I join my local adventist church?

[tou2009]

Hello all, I'm sure you have heard this one before so don't expect the most original post from this undecided agnostic!

Basically I would like some of the posters on these boards to enlighten me on Adventist beliefs, what separates SDA's from other Christian groups and whether you think my attitudes would be welcome in your community. The last thing I want is to join and not be interested in the grander aims and objectives of the church.

I will try and separate my values spiritually and socially, you will probably notice I care a great deal about social standards but at the same would class myself as undecided on a lot of religious/spiritual issues;

• I am agnostic as previously mentioned but do lean towards a Incorporeal Creator/Supreme Being.
• I believe Jesus existed and was a special person but I struggle to believe in incarnations if I am completely honest.
• In terms of the origins of the universe, I lean towards a creator but again I am unsure.
• I have no idea what happens after we die, but I am aware that SDA's have a belief in some sought of unconscious death, is this true?

• I am against Abortion in all but the most serious exceptions.
• Homosexuality is something I am also against but it doesn't repulse me.
• Promiscuity is a big no-no for me, I am from the UK where I think liberalization of sex and teenage pregnancy has really damaged the country.
• I am a vegetarian, it's one of the reasons I first started reading up on the church. I care a great deal about health and would be perfectly willing to give up drinking if required (I haven't drunk in half a year anyway).
• I am quite a conservative person.

Thanks for your time.

 

[David Conklin]

We believe quite a bit the same. See here for the Fundamental Beliefs: Adventist.org: The Official Site of the Seventh-Day Adventist World Church

 

[Stryder06]

Hello all, I'm sure you have heard this one before so don't expect the most original post from this undecided agnostic!

Basically I would like some of the posters on these boards to enlighten me on Adventist beliefs, what separates SDA's from other Christian groups and whether you think my attitudes would be welcome in your community. The last thing I want is to join and not be interested in the grander aims and objectives of the church.

I will try and separate my values spiritually and socially, you will probably notice I care a great deal about social standards but at the same would class myself as undecided on a lot of religious/spiritual issues;

• I am agnostic as previously mentioned but do lean towards a Incorporeal Creator/Supreme Being.
• I believe Jesus existed and was a special person but I struggle to believe in incarnations if I am completely honest.
• In terms of the origins of the universe, I lean towards a creator but again I am unsure.
• I have no idea what happens after we die, but I am aware that SDA's have a belief in some sought of unconscious death, is this true?

• I am against Abortion in all but the most serious exceptions.
• Homosexuality is something I am also against but it doesn't repulse me.
• Promiscuity is a big no-no for me, I am from the UK where I think liberalization of sex and teenage pregnancy has really damaged the country.
• I am a vegetarian, it's one of the reasons I first started reading up on the church. I care a great deal about health and would be perfectly willing to give up drinking if required (I haven't drunk in half a year anyway).
• I am quite a conservative person.

Thanks for your time.

Thanks for your questions. Honestly I think your best option would be to visit your local Adventist church and possibly speak with the Pastor. We do seem to have similar views from what you've posted, and our health message is second to none
I think you'll find exactly what you're looking for within the SDA church, and should you have any questions specific to what we believe, please don't hesitate to ask.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

• I am agnostic as previously mentioned but do lean towards a Incorporeal Creator/Supreme Being.

This good as it means you are listening to the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart. God put a desire to know Him in all of us... sadly most ignore this.

• I believe Jesus existed and was a special person but I struggle to believe in incarnations if I am completely honest.

The belief in Jesus as the Son of God is important but not necessary to coming to the church to learn. A desire to know the truth and having an open heart/mind will be your biggest asset.

• In terms of the origins of the universe, I lean towards a creator but again I am unsure.

We all have come from different places of understanding and through prayerful study and a desire to know the true character of God, His truth will be revealed to us... it's a journey that lasts our entire life. The more we learn the more we realize there is to learn.

• I have no idea what happens after we die, but I am aware that SDA's have a belief in some sought of unconscious death, is this true?

Yes, we believe that when a person dies, their breath departs from them and there body remains in a state of 'sleep' until one of the two resurrections.

• I am against Abortion in all but the most serious exceptions.

All good... God is the Creator of life and we should not be the ones determining the ending of it.

• Homosexuality is something I am also against but it doesn't repulse me.

The bible teaches that this behaviour, like all sinful behaviuor is repulsive to God. God still loves the person but cannot accept them with this or any other unrepentent and unforsaken sin in their lives.

• Promiscuity is a big no-no for me, I am from the UK where I think liberalization of sex and teenage pregnancy has really damaged the country.

Intimacy was a gift that God gave for man and woman in a marriage relationship. As you stated, we can all see the results of going against what God has ordained for us.

• I am a vegetarian, it's one of the reasons I first started reading up on the church. I care a great deal about health and would be perfectly willing to give up drinking if required (I haven't drunk in half a year anyway).

The Adventist church indeed does have a health message that includes vegetarianism, however it is not, as some in the church would like to believe, a salvational issue, but rather a choice for a healthier lifestyle. Just like abstaining from smoking and drinking.

• I am quite a conservative person.

As Stryder has said, you should go to an Adventist church in your area to talk to the pastor. If there is more than one that is close enough to you, check as many as you can. While there shouild be unity within the church, there is a general split between traditional and progressive Adventists. From you brief description, you should seek out a traditional minded congregation. From my perspective, traditionalists have a closer understanding of the original message of our church as opposed to the progressives, who are trying to bring in more 'wordly' modern practices into the worship service...


Thanks for your time.

We hope that you continue to join us, asking as many questions as you can. I have some resources that I can send to you to help you along in understanding more of what we believe.

Thanx for posting!!

 

[SoldierOfTheKing]

This reminds me of why I became Christian in the first place. I reckoned Christianity couldn't be all that absurd since Christians seemed to generally have better sense about things than the unbelieving world.

 

[Joe67]

Hello all, I'm sure you have heard this one before so don't expect the most original post from this undecided agnostic!

Basically I would like some of the posters on these boards to enlighten me on Adventist beliefs, what separates SDA's from other Christian groups and whether you think my attitudes would be welcome in your community. The last thing I want is to join and not be interested in the grander aims and objectives of the church.

I will try and separate my values spiritually and socially, you will probably notice I care a great deal about social standards but at the same would class myself as undecided on a lot of religious/spiritual issues;

• I am agnostic as previously mentioned but do lean towards a Incorporeal Creator/Supreme Being.
• I believe Jesus existed and was a special person but I struggle to believe in incarnations if I am completely honest.
• In terms of the origins of the universe, I lean towards a creator but again I am unsure.
• I have no idea what happens after we die, but I am aware that SDA's have a belief in some sought of unconscious death, is this true?

• I am against Abortion in all but the most serious exceptions.
• Homosexuality is something I am also against but it doesn't repulse me.
• Promiscuity is a big no-no for me, I am from the UK where I think liberalization of sex and teenage pregnancy has really damaged the country.
• I am a vegetarian, it's one of the reasons I first started reading up on the church. I care a great deal about health and would be perfectly willing to give up drinking if required (I haven't drunk in half a year anyway).
• I am quite a conservative person.

Thanks for your time.

tou,

I am not an active member but I was from the age of 12 - 40. I attended SdA academy (high school), liberal arts college and attended the seminary for a few months.

The Lord blessed me in the experience in the SdA understanding. It is part of the full blessing of God.

Joe

 

[Princessdi]

I have to concur with who ever that was who suggest contacting the local church and speaking with the pastor there.

 

[Airman424]

Yeah, go and visit the church you are thinking about and see if you would feel comfortable fitting into that church's community. Check it out, talk to the pastor, see if you feel right with the spirit. You may also want to read the Great Contraversy as well.