Please clarify

[Seeking Truth]

I need help understanding some of the basic challenges people say about SDA. As a new convert to the SDA faith, this article told of the firing of a police officer when she proceeded to observe the Sabbath.

Some of the posters there have wrongfully criticized our faith and the woman, so can you please go to the Cayman News Service website and post a brief comment regarding some of the SDA fundamental beliefs in support of this Sister? I don't think some of the people understand our beliefs and others who may be interested may be swayed from becoming members if they listen to the misinformation.

http://CaymanNewsService.com/local-news/2011/11/29/Religious-rights-don%E2%80%99t-trump-job-contracts-says-Coles

Thanks, Brothers and Sisters!

[ClubV12]

It's been an issue for 150 years or so for Adventists. It's CURRENTLY an issue in California right now where some Federal Employees who are Adventists could be loosing their jobs for refusing to work on Sabbath.

See this link for more:

http://www.adventistreview.org/article.php?id=4418

[Seeking Truth]

Thanks, ClubV12! Can you please go to the Cayman News Service website and post a brief comment in support of this Sister and being a SDA in general? The Enemy is busy and we need to have all that visit this site know the Truth, not just what the uninformed believe.

http://caymannewsservice.com/local-news/2011/...

Thanks again!

PS-Can you direct me to other SDA sites and forums to get the word out so that we can get as many Adventists as possible to post on the CNS website in support of this Sister?

[Gibs]

There may be a question here that needs to be taken in consideration.

That is if you saw a neigbor being robbed or something on that order on the Sabbath would you call the cops or would you wait til Sabbath was over.

Or if your electric went off would you expect the power put back on on the Sabbath or would you rather wait until Sabbath was over.

Wonder if people you have taken up a livelihood in public service aren't placed in about the same as the pastor etc.

Or would it possibly be on the order of saving a drowning person or on that order.

Should or should not someone be on duty to protect the public same as a week day?

I can't decide this for anyone, it has to be a choice of ironing it out to be right with God.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[phkrause]

That is if you saw a neigbor being robbed or something on that order on the Sabbath would you call the cops or would you wait til Sabbath was over.

I don't know of any SDA that would wait until the Sabbath was over before calling the cops, not only would they call asap, but probably try to help anyway they can.

[phkrause]

Or if your electric went off would you expect the power put back on on the Sabbath or would you rather wait until Sabbath was over.

Would definitely want it back on asap, but would have no problem waiting till they have it fixed, whenever that would be.

[phkrause]

Wonder if people you have taken up a livelihood in public service aren't placed in about the same as the pastor etc.

Have no idea what's being said or asked here????? Maybe the wording is off or I'm just not understanding something?

[phkrause]

Or would it possibly be on the order of saving a drowning person or on that order.

And what would be wrong about saving a drowning person? Its that what Jesus was trying to tell his countrymen? That wouldn't they pull a cow out of a ditch if had fallen in?

[phkrause]

Should or should not someone be on duty to protect the public same as a week day?

Absolutely, as long as we are on this earth there will have to be people that have to work on the Sabbath. But it doesn't have to be an Adventist, there are many non Sabbath keepers that can handle this.

[ClubV12]

There IS room for work on the Sabbath that involves life and safety. Doctors, nurse, depending on position, fire fighters and I can see policeman being on that list as well.

Lifegaurd at a public beach? Hmmmm, starting to push the envelope there. UNLESS it was a rotating shift with minimum number of gaurds and your really putting the other guy in a tough spot. Peoples live are at stake, but it's still borderline.

I used to pull a rotating shift for fire alarms all over town, once a month for a week. On call 24/7, sometimes I'd get that 3 AM call, on the weekend! I wasn't an Adventist then, but I'd still do that. Put my phone and pager on "vibrate", go to church and hope no calls came in. If they did, I'd respond.

Now of course you do your best to make other arrangements, but for a cop, I would understand if they chose to work. If they refuse to work, I might understand that as well. I think it depends on the circumstances. Is that desk job "mission critical"? Are there lives at stake IF that job was NOT filled on Sabbath by somebody? When lives and safety are not directly tied to your position, I couldn't work. But I won't make that call for whose job is or isn't tied to life in some way. Thats something each will have to resolve in their heart.

A recent thread asked about the postman delivering mail on Sabbath. I wouldn't do that, personally, because it's not a life and safety issue. My heart certainly goes out to them, but you have to draw the line somewhere and suffer the consequences if thats what it takes.

Driving taxi? Janitor at Walmart? Buying and selling "stuff"? Nope, can't do it, clear violation without extenuating circumstances on a rare occasion for due cause.

[phkrause]

I can't decide this for anyone, it has to be a choice of ironing it out to be right with God.

Exactly, there are quite a few SDAs that find it there duty to work and help those in need on the Lord's Sabbath. I believe this was his example that he left behind.

[ClubV12]

When the Adventist church was first forming there were some pig farmers who converted. Sister Whites counsel on that was move slowly. The church has an obligation to help folks like that. Secure other employment or something, but don't rush in and judge them. I think that basic counsel applies today for those with a Sabbath job that NEED/HAVE to give it up. We, the church, has to be super sensitive and super helpful to those folks.

[Gail]

When the Adventist church was first forming there were some pig farmers who converted. Sister Whites counsel on that was move slowly. The church has an obligation to help folks like that. Secure other employment or something, but don't rush in and judge them. I think that basic counsel applies today for those with a Sabbath job that NEED/HAVE to give it up. We, the church, has to be super sensitive and super helpful to those folks.

Not only did she say to move slowly on that but also upon abstaining from pork as food. The health counsel on this came later than that of abstaining from alcohol, tea and coffee.

I learned about this recently when listening to a history of Joseph Bates, who was the early health reformer in the church.

Think about that- today we are quick to jump on those who might use pork but slower on those who use coffee.