Seventh Day Adventists and Baptism

They don't

 

I think the Seventh Day Adventists are as different from church to church as are the Baptists, or any other denomination. They all seem to have a hang up on the ten commandments and Old Testament rituals, especially some laws established by Israel, but aside from that I found little difference in the worship services I have attended.

Since retirement from ministry, I have taken opportunities to visit various denominations in practice. It has been quite enlightening, compared to getting my information from books, often quite prejudiced against the various denominations.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Carpro,

Sorry, I have not. I did talk at length with a neighbour who is Adventist, and I saw no difference to what he said and what a baptist would say. Not once did Ellen White enter the picture.

cheers,

Jim

 

Sorry - about being away from the computer for the past week. I am back!

SDAs are rqeuired to accept this teaching of scripture. Notice that the text does not say "someday - 1900 years from now - the people of God will keep His commandments and at that time hold to the testimony of Jesus - but not until then".

Because of that - many SDAs have joined holding to this truth of scripture without also holding that Ellen White was among those given the 1Cor 12 gift of prophecy that is promised here.

 

Jesus is the spirit of Prophecy

:type:

Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy, not Ellen White. They are asking if you believe in Jesus and future Prophecy. Not do you believe in Ellen White. There is a difference, and I'm sure if that's what they meant they would say that. (Especially in the privacy of their church or the Pastors office.)

However, they are not quick to talk about Ellen and her writings unless you ask.

If you ever go to one of their churches and hear this phrase "one of my favorite authors" they ARE talking about Ellen.

Peace,

Tam

 

True - but more specifically God the Holy Spirit is "the Spirit of Prophecy".

So the doctrinal statement is simply that the 1Cor12 gift mentioned in Rev 19:10 would always be part of the church. It is not a "prediction that some day in the future the 1Cor 12 gift of prophecy would exist".

Having said that - it is "also true" the SDA church does admit that Ellen White was given that 1Cor 12 gift.

It is also true that she wrote an early set of books compiling visions she was given and titled the book series "The Spirit of Prophecy". Not as a claim that "books ARE the Spirit of Prophecy" but rather as a claim that God the Holy Spirit had inspired the visions reported in those books. In the same way that we would say that God the Holy Spirit authors the 1Cor 12 gifts and the giftst found in the Church of Corinth in 1Cor 14.


Given that many Adventists admit that Ellen White was among those in the NT church given that gift over the ages - it is not surprising that they make that connection. Belief #17 points to that fact in the 27 Fundamental Beliefs is stated in this way.

Belief #17
One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White. As the Lord's messenger, her writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested.—Fundamental Beliefs, 17


However that belief is not in the standard 13 baptismal vows published in 1990.

Interestingly - the first example of this gift given in that chapter is this --

That is true. In fact from the 1800's Ellen White herself was very adamant that acceptance of the gift she had been given was not to be a "Test of fellowship" such that no person could be denied membership for rejecting the fact that Ellen White had been given that 1Cor 12 gift.

Hence the wording in vow #8 is broad enough to "include" all prophetic gifts in the NT church for the past 2000 years - but does not specifically single out Ellen White.

In Christ,

Bob

 

New Baptist church members or new SDA ones?

The SDA model is to go through the 27 FB (which are much more detailed than the Baptismal vows) prior to baptizing members. So while they are only required to "agree" with the 13 statements in the 1990 set of vows to join-- they are in fact "informed" on all 28 beliefs. If that is subterfuge then I missed the lecture on that definition for subterfuge.

In Christ,

Bob

 

Nice "spin" Capro -

My point is that the Baptismal vows do not require that one admit that the 1Cor 12 gift of the Holy Spirit that refers to "prophecy" is one that was given to Ellen White.

The point remains.

What of the NT prophets in 1Cor 14 - never named but all admitted too by Paul - do you deny them as well? Agabus? Philip's daughters?

"Desire earnestly spiritual gifts but especially that you may prophesy 1 Cor 14:1. Is that also one to "deny"?

How much of the NT does one need to "deny" to be a Christian in your view?

What are your thoughts?

In Christ,

Bob

 

Yes I accept that she had the 1 Cor 12 gift of prophecy. I also admit that the gifts of the Spirit continue in God's plan for the Church as Eph 4 states.

But back to your OP - I do not agree that the language of statement 8 in the SDA Baptismal vows requires that a new member accept the fact that God gave Ellen White the gift of prophecy. IT DOES require that they accept the Eph 4 continued viability of the 1Cor 12 gifts and even the text of 1Cor 14:1.

Ellen White conforms to the test of a prophet the FIRST of which is that the visions and doctrines coming from those visions are in complete harmony with scripture.

In Christ,

Bob