I was a Seventh-day Adventist for 3+ decades. I am not currently an SDA. In the interest of fairness, I though it reasonable to share my history with SDAism before I begin to answer your questions as my history most certainly shapes my perspective on your questions.
1) How do you guys feel about Ellen G. White?
In my opinion, Ellen G. White was a false prophet who taught a number of good things that line up with Scripture and also a number of dangerous things that directly contradict Scripture. In many cases, she even contradicted herself on certain issues. For example, she writes in certain places that it is by the power of God that man is changed and in other places that it is left with us to cleanse the soul temple.
In my opinion, some of the more dangerous teachings of Ellen G. White include the following:
(1) Man forms the character;
(2) Man's character is not changed at the second coming of Jesus Christ; rather, man must be sinless prior to the second coming so that he can stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator;
(3) The seal of God is a future event, not a past event, and it is based upon a man's law keeping;
(4) The mark of the beast will be applied in the future to non-sabbatarians;
(5) The blood of Christ was not for the purpose of cancelling sin; and
(6) Christ's act of atonement was not completed on the cross.
2) Can explain Investigative Judgement to me?
According to SDAism, Christ entered the Heavenly sanctuary in 1844 and began reviewing the book of life to determine who is of God and who is not of God. Many SDAs refer to this as "cleansing the sanctuary." Specifically, in Christ's investigative judgment, He is reviewing man's law keeping (or lack thereof). At some point, Christ's review of an individual person will cease and that person's probation will close. According to SDAism, man must be entirely without sin prior to his close of probation in order to be able to maintain salvation and to meet Jesus in the clouds at His second coming.
According to SDAism, the doctrine of the "investigative judgment" is built on the book of Daniel (largely Daniel 8). Much of Christianity views Daniel 8 not as a prophecy of future events, but a prophecy of events that have already transpired. A number of Christians believe that Daniel 8 was fulfilled by the life and choices of Antioches Epiphanes, and that Daniel 8 does not attach any significance whatsoever to 1844.
3) What stance does the church typically take on war?
Traditionally, SDAs were pacificists. They were permitted to join the armed forces only for the purpose of serving in non-combatant roles (such as medics).
Meanwhile, abortion on demand is currently offered at certain SDA-owned hospitals. Go figure!
4) What would you tell someone who has a job which requires them to sometimes work on Saturdays?
In my opinion, the sabbath was given, along with the rest of the law, to Jews (see Deut. 5 and Exodus 31). It was added because of transgressions 430 years after Abraham and only until the Seed had come (see Galatians 3). The law is represented by the slave woman, Hagar, and someone was supposed to get rid of the slave woman (see Galatians 4). If we seek to serve both the law and the Spirit, we commit spiritual adultery (see Romans 7:1-7).
Although I would acknowledge that Colossians 2 and Romans 14 do not extend to me the right to judge a person based on his observance of special days, I would wonder why a person would choose to honor the seventh-day sabbath but not the annual sabbaths. Why, for example, would a person rest on the seventh day, but not also observe the passover, the feasts and the new moons?
5) What exactly is the SDA view on how we should eat? Are some vegetarians whereas other just abstain from unclean foods?
SDAs vary widely on whether or not to eat "clean meats." Many do; others don't. However, much of SDAism (and there are certainly exceptions) avoids any "unclean meats" (such as pork and seafood). It is interesting to note that SDAism teaches that "ceremonial laws" are no longer binding, but somehow makes an exception for the dietary laws contained in the book of Leviticus. I've never understood why SDAism makes this exception.
6) Is there a certain Bible translation that the church supports?
I believe SDAism esteems the KJV highly. However, I don't believe that SDAism has ever forbidden its members from consulting other versions.
An individual SDA prepared a paraphrase of the Scriptures known as The Clear Word. Although the paraphrase is not officially endorsed by SDAism, it is printed on a well-known SDA publishing company and is used by many SDAs. It contains the words of Ellen G. White intermingled with the words of Scripture in such a way that one cannot tell which words are Mrs. White's and which words are from Scripture. I wouldn't recommend it.
7) How does the church feel about christians and drinking?
SDAism basically forbids the consumption of alcohol. For most of its existence, the baptismal vows included a statement regarding the consumption of alchohol. Further, SDA fundamental belief #22 contains a statement against the consumption of alcohol.
It is interesting to note that SDAism frequently takes a stand against certain behaviors that the Scriptures do not prohibit. Alcohol consumption is merely one of them. One might wonder upon whose authority SDAism has made such prohibitions!
8) What is the philosophical and Spiritual implication of Cremation and embalming?
Both as an SDA and as a former SDA, I see none.
9) How do you feel about organ doning?
Both as an SDA and as a former SDA, I would have concluded that this is a personal decision that has no spiritual implications.
These are merely my perceptions and my opinions. If you'd like to discuss them in more detail, I'd be happy to do so.
BFA
