Why Adventism?

[JoeMo]

I am an avid fan of frontier missionaries who go where "no Christian has gone before". I am thankful for a church that spreads the full gospel to the whole world - no matter how dangerous that work might be.

My question is, should those missionaries be trying to bring people to Christ, or should they be trying to bring people to Adventism? Isn't bringing people into a relationship with Christ more important than bringing them into a relationship with a denomination? I realize they can both be done at the same time; but shouldn't bringing them into the Kingdom of Heaven be more important than bringing them into the Kingdom of Adventistan? Of course, by asking this, I am assuming that sincere believers from other denominations will be allowed into heaven.

[cricket]

It is my personal belief that missionaries ought to be solely trying to bring people to Christ.

[Naomi]

I must admit that I am a bit confused about your feeling that perhaps missionaries only try to bring people to Adventism.

Many, many dedicated missionaries have spent much of their lives in developing countries, living in substandard conditions, citizens of these environments have been treated medically, educated, given cooking classes, etc to many who never accepted Christ ... not to mention Adventism.

However, if you are working with people, educating them and practice our denomination belief it stands to reason that many of those with whom you work would also become members of the Adventist church. Cant you agree with that?

Quote:

but shouldn't bringing them into the Kingdom of Heaven be more important than bringing them into the Kingdom of Adventistan

How in the world could a person be brought into the Adventist faith if they have NOT accepted Christ?

Quote:

Of course, by asking this, I am assuming that sincere believers from other denominations will be allowed into heaven

I have been an Adventist my entire life and have NEVER heard anyone suggest that Heaven would only be filled with Adventist.

Now I ask you, why would anyone go and work with a person to bring them to Christianity and send them on their way with no denomination to nurture the new believer as they began their divine journey?

[OzarkWoman]

I am an avid fan of frontier missionaries who go where "no Christian has gone before". I am thankful for a church that spreads the full gospel to the whole world - no matter how dangerous that work might be.

My question is, should those missionaries be trying to bring people to Christ, or should they be trying to bring people to Adventism? Isn't bringing people into a relationship with Christ more important than bringing them into a relationship with a denomination? I realize they can both be done at the same time; but shouldn't bringing them into the Kingdom of Heaven be more important than bringing them into the Kingdom of Adventistan? Of course, by asking this, I am assuming that sincere believers from other denominations will be allowed into heaven.

In one word...YES, but of course SDA isn't here to honestly bring people to Christ, unless one is willing to join the denomination because it seems to be about numbers and money and not the true love of Christ.

[JoeMo]

Thanks for your comment, Naomi. I support and follow several ministries. In their periodicals, it just seems like they are focusing on bringing people to Adventism. Even I have never heard it stated from the pulpit, but I have perceived that some people may quietly believe that one must be an Adventist to get into the Kingdom. I have heard it said that if someone is disfellowshipped from the church, their salvation is in danger.

I never meant to imply that someone can be brought to the SDA church without coming to Christ. If I left you with that impression, I'm sorry. That would be plain wrong.

FYI, growing up in the Catholic Church in the 1950's and 60's, one Sunday per year was set aside to pray for our hell-bent non-Catholic brethren. I don't know if that is still the case.

You ask "Now I ask you, why would anyone go and work with a person to bring them to Christianity and send them on their way with no denomination to nurture the new believer as they began their divine journey?" Just my experience, but several non-denominational revivals I have attended are held in denominationally neutral places (like a secular university auditorium), and encourage people to find a church where they feel at home (doctrinally and for fellowship), regardless of denomination.

[ClubV12]

Even the "heathen", for lack of a better word, can find salvation EVEN if he's never heard of Jesus. He can use Gods second book, the book of nature. He will not steal the arrows of another man. He will help another man, even if that guy is not from his tribe. He will be honest in all his doings. Like the woman who took in Elijah was not a Jew, she did not know the Jewish religion, but she was living up to all the light she had.

Jesus healed people and then walked away, leaving them to contemplate what all this meant! Jesus was FIRST a "medical missionary", second a member of the Jewish Church. Medical Missionary, thats anybody who HELPS his neighbor without wanting something in return. Fixing a car for someone is medical missionary work.

However, there are times and people that need to hear a specific message. Like the woman at the well, in a false religion. For HER, Jesus spoke plainly and to the point, "Salvation is of the Jews".

Time and place must be considered. Heal, help, the physical needs, but that will pass, the spiritual needs will last for eternity. Some people HAVE to come in to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and if they refuse, their soul could indeed be at stake!

[joeb]

JoeMo,

Are you speaking about all denominations, or singling out Adventism in particular with your question?

Why wouldn't a Methodist convert a "heathen" to Methodism, for Methodist doctrine describes who he understands God to be?

Why wouldn't a Catholic convert a "heathen" to Catholicism, for Catholic doctrine describes who he understands God to be?

Why wouldn't an Adventist convert a "heathen" to Adventism, for Adventist doctrine describes who he understands God to be?

Each church's doctrine describes how the members of that church understand God, at least if the member is conversant with his church's doctrine. So, why wouldn't a missionary who understands God in terms of his church's doctrine use that doctrine to introduce the person to God?

[Gibs]

Why Adventism, why Catholicism, and why any of the protestant denominations?

In the first place did not the church of Rome fall away from the true Church Christ established? Did the total of Christ's Church fall in apostasy?

I am sure not as He told us the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it!

If you say it fell to the gates of Hell then Jesus would be a liar! No way!

Mt 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Zec 6:12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:

Who is the temple of the Lord?

1Co 3:16 ¶ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Now one that SDA's do not like,

"God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments. "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20). Where Christ is even among the humble few, this is Christ's church, for the presence of the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute a church. {UL 315.5}

Where two or three are present who love and obey the commandments of God, Jesus there presides, let it be in the desolate place of the earth, in the wilderness, in the city enclosed in prison walls. The glory of God has penetrated the prison walls, flooding with glorious beams of heavenly light the darkest dungeon. His saints may suffer, but their sufferings will, like the apostles of old, spread their faith and win souls to Christ and glorify His holy name. The bitterest opposition expressed by those who hate God's great moral standard of righteousness should not and will not shake the steadfast soul who trusts fully in God. . . . {UL 315.6}

They that will be doers of the word are building securely, and the tempest and storm of persecution will not shake their foundation, because their souls are rooted to the eternal Rock.--Letter 108, Oct. 28, 1886, to her older sister and her husband who had not accepted the Sabbath truth." {UL 315.7}

Only God could build His Church and He did by His own designated builder, Jesus Christ of whom God the Father dwelt in, in all fullness, making Him God with us.

Only He can be the Head of it! Only He can ordain in it as only He can know who has His Spirit of Truth and not be weaving in error so the gates of hell could not fall against it!

Error MUST NOT be weaved in as He MUST BE WORSHIPPED IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH!

Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

All men not ordained of Him weave in error most of the time hard to detect! Most never do detect error as their trust has become in men!

His Remnant Church is that little piece of the first, and yes a remnant is but a small piece! You can be in it!

1Jo 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

1Jo 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

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.

[scott.t]

This is interesting! I grew up an adventist, so all of my thoughts on religion have an adventist twist. An example would be not eating pork.

Now I picture myself a missionary, limited time, language, what would I find imporant to share. What is the basics I would want others to know ,hoping that they would be saved.

scott

[Gibs]

Scott, the true Gospel of Salvation, saved from sinning and not in it.

The world needs to know how to be overcomers and not from works, but the way of love and how it is the hearts desire to please God and to love our fellow man and help him find the true way!

The true Gospel is not galling or a burden!

[scott.t]

I believe you are right, salvation is not a burden. I just wonder,if under limitations, what would you find important to tell me in an attempt to lead me to salvation. How would you convince me, what would you find most important to share with me.

Scott

[skyblue888]

"Salvation is of

the Jews."

Jesus did not speak these words

for the Jews of old only but for

Modern Jews as well. It is still

true that salvation is of the

Jews within the Advent Movement.

"He is a Jew who

is one inwardly."

Rom.2:29.

The truths for this time are in

our books. The loud cry will be

given by seventh-day adventists

who have accepted these truths

and are sanctified by them.

The truths that God has entrusted

to us are "pregnant with eternal

results." T.M.397.

sky