"Why I still choose the SDA Church instead of other sabbatarian churches"

[Your Neighbor]

The regular responders of my posts are welcome to begin. (This concerns you as an individual.)
Thanks in advance.

 

[Your Neighbor]

Does it go without saying that this thread would be for those who still are members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (but have an issue with the beliefs of the church, past or present)? not formers!

 

[StormyOne]

Two dimensional thought in a multi-dimensional world.....

 

[JonMiller]

If the SDA churchs I had to choose from in my area were similar to other areas, I wouldn't attend an SDA church at all.

Second, there aren't very many other sabbatarian churchs.

Third, I don't feel that any group of people agrees with me on all points of theology, I don't feel the need to group myself based upon agreement on theology. It is just enough that the church rarely preaches things that I dsiagree strongly with and that I feel it supports my Christian walk. I like to see the spirit of God work in the church that I am attending.

Fourth, I am a member of the SDA church.

Fifth, I was raised in the SDA church, and am more comfortable with it's idiosyncrathies than with other denominations.

Sixth, I mostly agree with some interpretations of the SDA fundamental beleifs (I think that EGW was a prophet, I do not think that everything she wrote or said was from God, even when she thought so).

Jon Miller

 

[Your Neighbor]

Thanks for being first, Jon.

 

[Your Neighbor]

If the SDA churchs I had to choose from in my area were similar to other areas, I wouldn't attend an SDA church at all.

What then?

Second, there aren't very many other sabbatarian churchs.

But there are some. You could start a new one. Expect big things. Read Ben Carson.

Third, I don't feel that any group of people agrees with me on all points of theology...

Honest admission. But why isn't there a group?

Fourth, I am a member of the SDA church.

That's a pretty good answer. I guess I am asking why.

Fifth, I was raised in the SDA church, and am more comfortable with it's idiosyncrathies than with other denominations.

Matter of comfort? http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2 Corinthians 11:24-28;&version=9;

 

[Moriah_Conquering_Wind]

Does it go without saying that this thread would be for those who still are members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (but have an issue with the beliefs of the church, past or present)? not formers!

No, it does not, nor does it go with saying, either.
This subforum includes progressive, moderate AND former SDAs, and you do not have the right to demand any legitimate member of this subforum refrain from participating therein. If you post a public thread it bes for whomever chooses to respond to it. If you wish to limit participation you might want to find a different subforum where "formers" do not get included, or start an exclusive club over in the Christian Clubs section for sabbatarians only, or PM a select group of persons with your inquiries.

It will now move on to responding to the question.

Having left the SDA church it no longer finds any need to limit itself to only sabbatarian fellowships as if those meeting on Sunday bes somehow tainted or evil. Leaving the SDA church means leaving behind all that ugly negative programming against Christian brothers and sisters who think differently from oneself or understand the scriptures differently. It also completely annihilates the ridiculous and unfounded fear of becoming "contaminated" somehow by associating with "them".

The delusion that there bes nothing better or more "real" spiritually than the SDA institution bes one of the particularly heinous and cultic aspects Moriah encountered during its time there, and it has no desire to retain notions that shipwrecked its faith and destroyed its connection with God.

 

[JonMiller]

What then?

I would check out the churches attending on Sunday. In fact, I think that I will do that anyways as I haven't found a wife in the adventist church.

But there are some. You could start a new one. Expect big things. Read Ben Carson.

What is the point of starting a new one? If I felt that none of the churches were following God I probably would (or would worship by myself). However, many of the churches have members who are following God. What is wrong with me worshiping with them?

Honest admission. But why isn't there a group?

People are naturally unique and differencing, each having different experiences. When a large group says that they think exactly the same what actually is occurring is that most aren't thinking at all.

That's a pretty good answer. I guess I am asking why.

Over 15 years ago I accepted Christ. I was attending the SDA church at the time. I read over and studied with a pastor the 27 fundamental beliefs, and I agreed with my understanding of them.

Matter of comfort? http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2011:24-28;&version=9;

Sure, I mean in how we do things. It actually took me ages to get comfortable with clapping. I am use to our hymns... I am use to the order/etc of service. I don't consider these things to be of importance, just of comfort.

Jon Miller

 

[Sophia7]

Sure, I mean in how we do things. It actually took me ages to get comfortable with clapping. I am use to our hymns... I am use to the order/etc of service. I don't consider these things to be of importance, just of comfort.

I can relate to that. I've had to get used to a lot of things that are done differently in non-Adventist churches. Not all of it has been comfortable for me, but most of the discomfort has been over things that I don't consider to be of importance either.

 

[Moriah_Conquering_Wind]

I can relate to that. I've had to get used to a lot of things that are done differently in non-Adventist churches. Not all of it has been comfortable for me, but most of the discomfort has been over things that I don't consider to be of importance either.

You might want to visit a Methodist church. They have a pretty standard service with some elements very familiar and similar to those of the SDA service. For example, a children's story, hymns at various points, a group prayer request time, and familiar refrains like the doxology ("praise God from whom all blessings flow ..." etc.). The one place we have visited a few times takes all the smaller children OUT of the main sanctuary after the children's story and off into classrooms for their own kids' church, lessons and activities. The adults can then actually hear the sermon. And no one resents this -- everyone loves it.

Intelligent life ... Fancy that.

 

[moicherie]

Some Adventist churchs also have Childrens services for Divine service that is not unique to Methodists. Considering some of the Adventist pioneers were Methodists I'm not surprised we copied their format.

 

[Sophia7]

You might want to visit a Methodist church. They have a pretty standard service with some elements very familiar and similar to those of the SDA service. For example, a children's story, hymns at various points, a group prayer request time, and familiar refrains like the doxology ("praise God from whom all blessings flow ..." etc.). The one place we have visited a few times takes all the smaller children OUT of the main sanctuary after the children's story and off into classrooms for their own kids' church, lessons and activities. The adults can then actually hear the sermon. And no one resents this -- everyone loves it.

Intelligent life ... Fancy that.

I've visited a Methodist church a few times, and its worship services were similar in many ways to Adventist services (even down to a focus on asking for money all the time ). There are some things about Methodism/Wesleyanism that I'm not sold on, though. And the Methodist church in the town that we're living in now is much more contemporary in its worship style than most Adventist chuches. That's not that big a deal to me, though. The non-denom church that we're going to is, also.

 

[Sophia7]

Some Adventist churchs also have Childrens services for Divine service that is not unique to Methodists. Considering some of the Adventist pioneers were Methodists I'm not surprised we copied their format.

Yes, there are several similarities that are not surprising considering EGW's Methodist background. I don't know if Methodists had children's church in her day, though. They did have Sabbath School (on Sunday, but they originally called it Sabbath School), for both adults and children, which Adventists followed their example on.

In one of our Adventist churches, we used to have children's church sporadically. I really liked it, but a lot of Adventist churches aren't big on it. I seem to recall someone quoting Ellen White as being against it, but I can't remember exactly what she said. The church that we are going to now has children's church every week.

 

[Your Neighbor]

and you do not have the right to demand any legitimate member of this subforum refrain from participating therein.

I didn't bother to read a word after this. I would expect someone to read the thread title.

 

[Moriah_Conquering_Wind]

I didn't bother to read a word after this. I would expect someone to read the thread title.

It read the thread title. So?

 

[Your Neighbor]

...What is wrong with me worshiping with them?

Nothing, if it were only that. http://christianforums.com/showpost.php?p=46044710&postcount=15

 

[Moriah_Conquering_Wind]

I've visited a Methodist church a few times, and its worship services were similar in many ways to Adventist services (even down to a focus on asking for money all the time ). There are some things about Methodism/Wesleyanism that I'm not sold on, though. And the Methodist church in the town that we're living in now is much more contemporary in its worship style than most Adventist chuches. That's not that big a deal to me, though. The non-denom church that we're going to is, also.

Well this bes the first time in a long while Moriah has actually been able enter any such building at all without completely going catatonic or other unsociable flavours of weird. The disruption levels bes mild enough to be managable and it believes successfully hidden from the humans anyway.

We've visited there 3 times. It does not particularly favour the liturgical routines itself; we bes visiting there because they bes doing a series on world religions and the discussions bes interesting.

It does not know nor pretend to know all the Methodist flavoured groups believe or teach for doctrine. That kind of thing bes something of a luxury right now. Just being able to enter the building and spend an hour there without becoming completely disoriented, frozen, or drowning in the Abyss = amazing enough. A few holding breath, gritting teeth, breathing deep, closing eyes -- manageable. The people seem nice, if a little reserved, but maybe that bes preferable to having them want to know your whole life story on the first date.

Whether we continue going after the series ends or not, bes up to its fiance. This bes his idea, and it bes not wanting to discourage him from exploring matters of faith and spirit in any sense.

Oh, P.S. they bes not asksy money allatimes. Just one offering time of plate-passing.

 

[Your Neighbor]

"Why I still choose the SDA Church instead of other sabbatarian churches"
Tell the world. Why?

 

[Moriah_Conquering_Wind]

Who here does? Some probably do.
Inquiring minds would like to know.

 

[VictorC]

"Why I still choose the SDA Church instead of other sabbatarian churches"
Tell the world. Why?

The title appears as a statement rather than a question, so naturally it piqued my interest (and I'm not allowed to say anything on the Trad SDA forum).

You can choose whatever church fellowship you want to.
We have lots of texts that I would have no trouble dragging out to show that we don't have the right to judge another servant of the Lord.

So the criteria should be one of selecting a church fellowship based on doctrinal views rather than the label affixed to the door. I personally have a preference toward churches that assemble on Saturday rather than Sunday, because of the historic tradition that the early church has in common with our Judaic roots. Because of this I have been within a couple of Messianic Judaic congregations, and have learned a great deal there. However, since each congregation operates as an autonomous entity, I wouldn't recommend this path for everyone. There is a great deal of variance within MJ congregations regarding legal requirements versus grace.

I would raise the question "why a sabbatarian fellowship?". One of the reasons it is so hard to find a comfortable home in any sabbatarian fellowship is because of the roots of the rationale that caused them to be sabbatarian in the first place. Most sabbatarians are so because of the belief that there is still a binding sabbath ordinance from a covenant long ago retired and replaced with a better covenant (Hebrews 8:6) mediated by Christ. In simple terms, sabbatarians are usually driven by the incorrect assertion that the ten commandments still have jurisdiction over their recipients (and Gentiles, as well).

Saturday meeting churches are rare and few. Fortunately, the day we meet isn't grounds for judgment, and having openess to experience many different fallowships enables one to receive the emphasis that various groups have (keep the good, toss the bad, and definately prove all things). We have liberty, not a bondage to a day of assembly.

Bottom line is that I am non-denominational, and I don't place import on a day of the week.

Victor