WHY I LEFT SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISM
Don Hawley
From time to time someone asks me why, after devoting my entire life to the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, in 1991 I chose to drop my membership. It wasn't a decision lightly made, and I'd like to explain what prompted my action.
I should point out that neither my theology nor my lifestyle has changed appreciably. But for the first time in my life I have a peace and assurance in Christ that I never before experienced, even as an ordained minister.
Let me begin by saying that I love Adventist people; most of them are sincere, dedicated, and lovable. They also embrace some very important Bible doctrines that most Christians do not understand or accept. And they hold high standards. They deserve better than they've gotten.
Some Seventh-day Adventists will not comprehend what I'm about to say. Although Christ spoke very plainly, the mental processes of the Pharisees were blocked by certain rigidly held beliefs.
* They were the only true remnant
* They alone had the truth
* They were the only ones upon whom God bestowed his supreme regard
* When the Sanhedrin met, it was the highest authority on earth
* All other people were merely Gentiles, and mingling was dangerous
* God would do nothing significant outside their group
* Salvation was through being Jewish
* Traditions could be even more important than Scripture
* All who wanted to be saved would eventually have to join their ranks
If you want to know what is happening today, just reread the Gospels; history is being relived. Due to the prevailing attitudes mentioned above, God was unable to get through to most of the Jews.
Not only Moses' face was veiled, but his people's minds and understanding were veiled and blinded too. Even now when the Scripture is read it seems as though Jewish hearts and minds are covered by a thick veil, because they cannot see and understand the real meaning of the Scriptures . . . Yes, even today when they read Moses' writings their hearts are blind and they think that obeying the Ten Commandments is the way to be saved. 2 Corin. 3:14,15. (TLB)
Their only hope lay in accepting Christ and his wonderful Gospel.
This veil of misunderstanding can be removed only by believing in Christ . . . Whenever anyone turns to the Lord from his sins, then the veil is taken away. The Lord is the Spirit who gives them life, and where he is there is freedom [from trying to be saved by keeping the laws of God]. 2 Corin. 3:14,16,17. (TLB)
Unfortunately most of the Jews couldn't bring themselves to accept Christ and his Gospel. Instead they said, "We will not have this man to reign over us," and "We have no king but Caesar." They sewed up the torn veil in the temple, and are still looking for a Messiah who has already come and gone. And is about to come again.
Many Seventh-day Adventists also are unable to clearly understand Scripture because they too are wearing a veil of legalism. They are struggling to gain heaven by their own good works, instead of the blood of Christ so freely shed on Calvary. Their only hope, also, is to embrace a pure Gospel.
Following are some of the reasons I felt it necessary to leave Adventism after a lifetime of involvement.
1. THE GOSPEL FRUSTRATED
The most important theme in the Word of God, from Genesis to Revelation, is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the most important thing in the universe, and the most costly. It is our only hope of salvation.
Never in its 150-year history has the Seventh-day Adventist denomination championed the Gospel of Jesus Christ. William Miller's interest was solely in deciphering the prophecies, particularly Daniel and Revelation; he hardly mentioned Christ and his proffered salvation. Miller's spiritual descendants have followed the same path, and even today an Adventist meeting for the public is likely to be a "Revelation Seminar." The last time I checked Seminar material the Gospel of Christ was hardly dealt with, and then only in the final lesson.
In 1888, in Minneapolis, God tried to break into Adventism with the Gospel by sending as speakers Alonzo Jones and E. J.Waggoner. Principal denominational leaders, however, strongly rejected the message and held out for salvation by works. To her credit, Ellen White accepted the Gospel and accompanied Jones and Waggoner around the country for a couple of years trying to make a breakthrough. It failed. If you read Ellen White before 1888, you will find her espousing legalism and perfectionism. If you read her writings after that time, you will find the Gospel upheld in such books as "Desire of Ages" and "Steps to Christ."
In the 1950's God tried once again to inject the Gospel into Adventism. It was championed by the General Conference president and the head of the Ministerial Association, and clearly delineated in the book "Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine." Again the attempt failed, and the book was never reprinted.
Today there are some Adventist leaders and writers who are clear on the Gospel, but it is difficult to draw members away from a legalism that has been championed since the organization began. In 1991, the Adventist Review reported on a careful survey indicating that between 80 and 90 percent of Adventist young people do not understand the Gospel of Christ. They still believe, to some degree at least, in salvation by works. Since those young people get their mind-set from their parents, pastors, and teachers, it is reasonable to assume that the same percentage applies to adults.
Now most Adventists know the right answers. If you ask one if he believes in the Gospel, you'll probably get an enthusiastic "of course!" I have yet to meet an Adventist who says, "I believe in salvation by works; I believe in legalism." The problem is that most Adventists simply do not comprehend the truth about the Gospel. Most of them believe, as I did, that the Gospel is vegetarianism, not wearing jewelry, and believing in the Investigative Judgment--those beliefs that are peculiar to Adventism.
Since so many do not understand the Gospel, I want to clarify the matter right here:
Now do you see it? No one can ever be made right in God's sight by doing what the law commands. For the more we know of God's laws, the clearer it becomes that we aren't obeying them; his laws serve only to make us see that we are sinners.
But now God has shown us a different way to heaven--not by "being good enough" and trying to keep his laws, but by a new way (though not new, really, for the Scriptures told about it long ago). Now God says he will accept and acquit us--declare us "not guilty"--if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like. Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious ideal; yet now God declares us "not guilty" of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins. Rom. 3:20-24. (TLB)
That, my friend, is the pure, unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ. Does that bring a shout of praise to your lips--or do you find yourself saying, "Yes, but . . ." The "yes,but's " can trip us up. Although good works properly result from our salvation, they have no part to play in gaining our salvation. To think otherwise is to declare the precious blood of Jesus insufficient.
I am not one of those who treats Christ's death as meaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping Jewish laws, then there was no need for Christ to die. Gal. 2:21 (TLB)
Paul issues a most solemn warning to anyone who says that salvation is the blood of Jesus plus something.
I am amazed that you are turning away so soon from God who, in his love and mercy, invited you to share the eternal life he gives through Christ; you are already following a different "way to heaven," which really doesn't go to heaven at all. For there is no other way than the one we showed you; you are being fooled by those who twist and change the truth concerning Christ.
Let God's curses fall on anyone, including myself, who preaches any other way to be saved than the one we told you about; yes, if an angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him be forever cursed. I will say it again: if anyone preaches any other Gospel than the one you welcomed, let God's curse fall upon him. Gal. 1:6-9.
Strong language, indeed. When it comes to sharing the most vital message in Scripture, Adventism falls short. But there is more.
2. PERFECTIONISM PREVELENT
Too many Adventists believe in perfectionism, the idea that we can, and must, develop perfect characters prior to the time of Christ's return. I'm not going to quote the appropriate Scriptures, but this is one of the most pernicious of all heresies and it has caused many to give up on God altogether. Others have been led to put up a facade of holiness that in their heart they know is not true. We're all merely sinners saved by grace, and will be until Christ changes us in the "twinkling of an eye" at his coming.
3. SCRIPTURE SUBORDINATED
Again, most Adventists know the right answers. If you ask a member to explain the relationship between the Bible and the writings of Ellen White, he will without hesitation reply, "The latter is a lesser light to lead us to the greater light, the Word. " And yet throughout its history Adventism has always done exactly the opposite. Scriptures were always judged by EGW, not the other way around.
After spending a lifetime studying Ellen G. White and her writings, I recently did an in-depth paper on this influential woman. (Read about it under "EGW.")
4. POOR THEOLOGY
SDA's need to understand that doctrines such as the Sabbath, the non-immortality of the soul, and the annihilation of the wicked are not Adventist doctrines. They are Bible doctrines that were given to Adventists. In fact, there is only one truly Adventist doctrine and that is the Investigative Judgment which, unfortunately, is not Biblical. Time won't permit the discussion of that matter here, but the facts are available for all who are interested and open-minded.
Years ago Elder Daniels, who was General Conference president longer than any man, stated that the doctrine of the 2300 days and the Investigative Judgment make up the real foundation of Adventism. If that platform goes, he said, Adventism goes. It's easy to understand the difficulty of giving up the doctrine that was the answer to the great disappointment of 1844, but my Bible says:
No one can ever lay any other real foundation than that one we already have--Jesus Christ. 1 Corin. 3:11.
5. CULTISM
Not too long ago Ruth Tucker wrote a book "Another Gospel" that "Ministry Magazine" admitted was fairly and kindly written. In it the author gives the classical description of a cult:
"A 'cult' is a religious group that has a 'prophet'-founder called of God to give a special message not found in the Bible itself, often apocalyptic in nature and often set forth in 'inspired' writings.
"In deference to this charismatic figure or these 'inspired' writings, the style of leadership is authoritarian and there is frequently an exclusivistic outlook, supported by a legalistic lifestyle and persecution mentality."
This definition, of course, applies with perfection to Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science; and Seventh-day Adventism.
Tucker goes on to note that Adventism is not as totally "cultic" as the others, because it holds to many orthodox Christian beliefs. However, that could be a problem. The teachings of the other three mentioned above are so aberrant that careful students can detect the falsehood; but not so easily with Adventism. As Mary Poppins said, "A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down."
6. DENOMINATIONALISM
The splintering of the Body of Christ into hundreds of competing parts is a disgrace. When Christ returns he's coming for a Bride, not a harem. The spirit of denominationalism reared its head early on; read about Paul's attempts to stamp it out in 1 Corin. 3:3-9. As long as the spirit of denominationalism prevails, the Body of Christ can never do its work with power. Fortunately the former is today rapidly losing ground, while the latter is gaining the ascendancy.
Some groups are more standoffish than others, tending to live in denominational ghettos. Adventism believes itself to be the Body of Christ; all others are really "outsiders."
Since leaving Adventism I have been thrilled to get acquainted with many of my brothers and sisters who are also a part of the Body of Christ. There is no higher membership offered in this present world; any other is a step down, not up.
7. HOLY SPIRIT PARANOIA
Generally speaking, Adventists are quite uninformed about the work of the Holy Spirit, and they fear his ministry. Although the movement began with the fullness of charismatic gifts, that part of Adventist history has been carefully edited out. Leadership is not enthusiastic about sharing control with the Holy Spirit, and he is only welcome in Adventist congregations if he behaves himself. That is a dangerous attitude as the Holy Spirit is sovereign God, and according to Scripture he has often behaved "strangely." That was true at Pentecost, when the disciples were accused of being drunk at nine in the morning.
Seventh-day Adventists believe there will be a "latter rain" when the prophecy of Joel will be realized once again. It will, of course, fall on their group first if not exclusively; all they have to do is wait. The timing for the latter rain is always future. The denomination could end up still waiting forthe Holy Spirit after he has already come, just as the Jews are still waiting for their Messiah. It is time for true worshippers to worship him in Spirit and in truth.
8. UNREFORMABLE
Even among Adventists knowledgeable about the aforementioned problems, many feel the need to stay by and work for reform. Remember that conditions today are amazingly parallel to what pertained in the time of Christ among the Jews. Jesus spent three and a half years trying to reform Israel, and failed. He finally proclaimed, "Behold, your house is left to you desolate," and moved on. When Jesus himself failed, are mere men today going to succeed? I doubt it. More than 150 years of history haven't even produced a clear Gospel. Jesus said that new wine must be put into new wineskins.
If you haven't already done so, may I suggest you read the book "Toxic Faith" by Felton and Arterburn?
Already, independent, charismatic, Sabbath-keeping fellowships and congregations are springing up to meet the needs of denominational members who thirst for Living Water. Time is running out. Laodicean fence sitting is more and more precarious; the Body of Christ is being more clearly defined. Jesus says, "He that is not with me is against me." Now is the day of salvation.