Hi, I am an SDA who has been away from the Church for a very long time and was planning on going back till I happened on this site. I have had doubts about EGW and had noticed in the past the lack of a “spirit filled Church” when I had attended so I guess my question is do the former SDA’s on this site go to a different Sabbath keeping Church, worship at home or what? I came on board with the SDA Church in 1986 after attending a Revelation Seminar (I was already a Christian by the way) and after a few years I gradually slid away and am trying to figure out what has happened while I have been gone.

Sincerly in Christ,

David Y.

Hello, David

I am a former “new alliancer” and I learned when a child in Sunday School in Brazil a song that said at a certain point that “he who works on Sunday is robbing from God”. That made me aware of the importance of the Sabbath commandament, but later on, as a Seventh-day Adventist, I understood that the principle is right, but the day WRONG.

I see that you still think on that line, regarding the Sabbath commandment, but if you want instruction here regarding this, you will be confused. They all agree AGAINST Ellen White, but as to the other points, there are Calvinists, anti-Calvinists, Sunday advocates, No-dayism advocates, Seventh-day Sabbath advocates, defenders of the immortality of the soul and the eternally burning hell, opponents of these ideas. . .

I even commented about the World Soccer Chapionship which in South America is a great popular fever, and how Christians ignore the principles of their confessions of faith watching the games on Sunday. But these documents tell them that on the “Christian Sabbath” they are not supposed to practice either secular or recreational activities. That is what Baptists and Presbyterians teach clearly in their confessional documents for centuries, being that confirmed by the classical Bible commentaries of Adam Clarke (Methodist), Albert Barnes (Presbyterian), Jamieson, Fausset & Brown (Baptists).

Somebody here told me that the Churches had decided that these rules are no more valid for our time. When I asked WHEN and WHERE there were the respective denominational international councils to decide on that, I got a BLANK as a response.

As to Ellen White, I would say that if you read some criticism of the Scriptures even by some “Christians” who adopted some modernist views (not to speak about the open unbelievers, atheists, secularized minds) the same situation of finding discrepancies, contradictions, false predictions that they point out in the Bible applies to the EGW’s writings and her critics.

David - 14 August 2010 03:30 PM

Hi, I am an SDA who has been away from the Church for a very long time and was planning on going back till I happened on this site. I have had doubts about EGW and had noticed in the past the lack of a “spirit filled Church” when I had attended so I guess my question is do the former SDA’s on this site go to a different Sabbath keeping Church, worship at home or what? I came on board with the SDA Church in 1986 after attending a Revelation Seminar (I was already a Christian by the way) and after a few years I gradually slid away and am trying to figure out what has happened while I have been gone.

Sincerly in Christ,

David Y.

Hey David. The simple (and somewhat sad) answer is that ‘nothing much has changed’. I’ve been SDA for over 26 years now and other than widerspread existence of liberals and progressive and that their deviating beliefs from the norm of the SDA status quo seems to be tolerated more, the church hasn’t changed in theology.

As for EGW, I understand your doubts. I have had doubts too. Unfortunately, I have found that too many have a lousy understanding of EGW. Sites such as this and anti-SDA sites view her as a false prophet and in some cases demonically influenced. Other apologetic pro-SDA sites practically label her a saint and to deny her or not heed her words is the same as denying the Word of God as the same Holy Spirit inspired both.

I have taken the way of AG Daniells, WW Prescott, Willie White (her son), Heppenstall, Des Ford, Bacchiocchi, Knight, Alden Thompson and Fritz Guy in my view of EGW. I strongly recommend (despite the vehement protests you will experience from both anti-SDAs and historic SDAs) to read Graeme Bradford’s book, “More Than a Prophet”. Both historic SDAs and former/anti SDAs HATE Bradford’s book because it challenges them on their stagnant, all or nothing approaches they take to EGW when it was not supposed to be so.

If you want to be confused about EGW, if you want to develop animosity towards her, if you want to keep accepting the traditional, historic line of SDAs despite the glaring errors and confusion, keep looking on sites like this and others like greatcontroversy.org and sdadefend. It will not make your SDA experience better that’s for sure.  If you want to find the medium as it should have been placed, if you want to realize the presence of inspiration without having to accept the ‘all or nothing’ approach you experience in both anti and pro-SDA viewpoints, you NEED to read this book! It changed my whole way of thinking on EGW and it floored me that so many of our pioneers felt the same way!

You can access and read the entire book here:

http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/books/bradford/index.htm

Hope that helps! God bless!

Darrell

David - 14 August 2010 03:30 PM

Hi, I am an SDA who has been away from the Church for a very long time and was planning on going back till I happened on this site. I have had doubts about EGW and had noticed in the past the lack of a “spirit filled Church” when I had attended so I guess my question is do the former SDA’s on this site go to a different Sabbath keeping Church, worship at home or what? I came on board with the SDA Church in 1986 after attending a Revelation Seminar (I was already a Christian by the way) and after a few years I gradually slid away and am trying to figure out what has happened while I have been gone.




Sincerly in Christ,

David Y.

Welcome David. Thanks for sharing your experience.

There are many fine churches out there who are truly preaching the Word of God. These churches hold up the Bible as the only rule of faith and practice.

I respect my good friend Guibox and I also think Bradford’s book is helpful in what it admits about the so-called prophetic gift of EGW. But , it presents an ongoing apology for still accepting her writings in some way.

The whole SDA theological system is so permeated by the influence of EGW, that it will never be able to break away from her. It is not likely that a cultic system can be reformed. Especially with the latest election of TC WIlson, who wants to elevate EGW to a position as a doctrinal authority.

I suggest David that you visit other churches in your area. Feel free to send me a private mail message about where you are located, then I would be glad to give you some referrals of good churches in your area.

Continue to examine the resources on this site, but most importantly, read the Bible and pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Stan

Hi Guibox

You make very good points. I haven’t read Bradford’s book but I read what Bacchiocchi (whom I much admire) says about not only Ellen White, but also THE BIBLE INERRANCY FALLACY. It helped me a lot to have that balanced view that you advocate. I follow the same line of thought.

The prophetical guidance of Ellen White has been and is a blessing to the SDA Church. Just compare SDA’s with SDB’s (I mean, Seventh-day Baptists). I have a friend who lives in California, had some doubts about our doctrines and decided to join the SDBC, even reaching there a position of associate-pastor in a congregation near his home, I even visited the congregation he served, a very nice building in a Mexican “mision” style, in Riverside, Cal. However, after a time, he got bored with the lack of dynamism, no evangelization efforts that come the least close to the “finish the work” mindset of SDA’s and, to make a long story short, he is back in SDA’ism.

We have to see the OVERALL PICTURE, and not get stuck with these little things, as others do (which could apply to the Bible itself, as there are tremendous critics of its “discrepancies” and “contradictions"). See who is in the news for their “Adventist Adventage” of the “health reform"--better health and greater longevity. See who has the largest educational private system in the world, second only to the powerful Roman Catholic Church. See who has the largest clinic and hospital network, and the over 200 countries reached, and the unequaled editorial work. . . Where are the SDB’s, who had beginning to proclaim the Sabbath message over one century before the SDA’s?  And all the other “Adventist” movements that stemmed from millerism? What made the difference? No doubt, it was the EGW factor. . .

Now, see this video about the “wonderful” preachers who are the most popular in so many churches and a few who decided to speak out their subtle deceptions, dedicated servants of God who came to the conclusion that enough is enough. Aren’t they preparing the terrain setting the stage for some powerful demonstration of the TRUE operation of the Spirit in latter rain proportions?! Somebody said that the SECOND highest hope of Seventh-day Adventists (just second to that of the “blessed hope” of Jesus’ coming) is this future event of revival and manifestation of the Spirit.

We already see “mercy drops ‘round us . . falling”, but for the showers we plead.

The video is in English, having Portuguese captions, which will not affect anything for English speakers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPjbDgilmCc&feature=player_embedded