| Author | Message | ||
| 4truth Registered user Username: 4truth Post Number: 37 Registered: 2-2006 |
I know this isn't important information for any of you, but perhaps some of you can understand my newfound joy! I just was looking at my baptism certificate from November 18, 1972 and saw that I didn't sign or date the exclusively SDA baptismal vows on the back!!!!! I'm happy! Maybe I had a premonition?  | ||
| Jdpascal Registered user Username: Jdpascal Post Number: 218 Registered: 10-2003 |
Now that is thinking ahead...... Would you be able to provide, in a post, the statements/questions as they appear on your certificate? It would be interesting to see if or how they have changed/not changed, since that time. I read a discussion on another forum, where an SDA insisted that the 'new vows' only contained 3 questions and that the SDA's believe that they are only part of the remnant - not the remnant church....... ?) | ||
| Skeeter Registered user Username: Skeeter Post Number: 777 Registered: 12-2007 |
LOL :-) that is really COOL ! wonder how you slipped by without signing... ? Maybe I should dig out my old baptismal cert.. and check and see if I signed it or not,, was so long ago I assume I did, but not sure. Maybe I should dig it out and look at it and then use it to start a nice cozy fire :-) What do Formers do with our old Baptismal certificates ? save them to remind us of the "fundamental beliefs" that we no longer,, if ever believed ? throw them away ? bury them in the back yard ? send them back to the GC with a note saying "Thanks, but no thanks"? Maybe when I finally do send in my resignation letter I will do that... send it back with the letter and tell them I do not want or need it as I no longer belong to a Denomination,, but to Jesus Christ. Yea,, I like that idea. :-) Francie | ||
| 4truth Registered user Username: 4truth Post Number: 38 Registered: 2-2006 |
Let's see, I'll try to type it up fast. Please disregard errors! I. believe in God the father, in His Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit. 2. I accept the death of Jesus Christ on Calvary as an atoning sacrifice for my sins, and believe that through faith in His shed blood men are saved from sin and its penalty. 3. I renounce the world and its sinful ways, and have acceptedv Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour, and believe that God,for Christ's sake, has forgiven my sins and given me a new heart. 4. I asccept by faith the Righteousness of Christ, recognizing Him as my intersessor in the heavenly sactuary, and claim His promise to strenghten me by His indweling spirit so that I may recieve power to do his will. 5. I believe that the Bible is God's inspired word, and that it constatutes the only rule of faith and practice for the Christian. 6. Loving the lord with all my heart,it is my purpose, by the power of the indwelling Christ, to keep God's law of Ten Commandments, includung the fourth, which reqquires the observance of the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath of the Lord. 7. I believe my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and that I am to honor God by caring for my body in abstaining from such things as alcoholic beverages, tobcco in all it's forms, and from unclean foods. 8. I accept the doctrine of spiritual gifts, and believe that the Spirit of Prophecy is one of the identifying marks of the remnant church. 9. I believe in the soom coming Jesus as the blessed hope, and it is my settled determination to prepare tomeet Him in [peace, as well as to help others get ready for His glorious appearing. 10. I believe in church organization, and it is my purpose to support the church by my tithes and offerings, and by my personal effort and influence. 11. I accept the new testament teaching of Baptism by immersion, and desire to be so baptised as a public expression of my faith in Christ and in His forgiveness of my sins. 12. Knowing and understanding the fundamental Bible principles as taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, it is my purpose by the grace of God to order my life in harmony with these principles. 13. I believe that the Seventh-day Adventist church constitutes God's remnant people, and rejoice to be accepted into its membership. Name___________________ Date_____ Address__________________________ prepared by the general conference of seventh day adventists, tacoma park, washington,DC. | ||
| Jdpascal Registered user Username: Jdpascal Post Number: 219 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks, 4truth. looks like they have strengthened the #13 statement. It now says, according to the church manual....
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| Angelcat Registered user Username: Angelcat Post Number: 151 Registered: 11-2008 |
I just watched a video of some firend of mine joining hte Adventist church. The vows were verysimilar. the order was somewhat different, 13 was exctly as Jdpascal posted. Th alcohol one also said to not particiate in the manufacture or sale or profit by...or words to that effect. oh, and same with tobacco. I dn't recall if I had to sign anything, but i didn't have to publically agree with each one as my friends did. They had to raise their right hand after each one. Well, one of them raised her left hand...hmmm, does that make a difference? It was sooooo sad though. They didn't look happy, and the girl looked like she was just going thru the motions. There's a group of 4 young people, (2 couples) who have now joined this SDA church. 3 of them were part of my parents group. So I know this feels like a step toward freedom, to them, but it's an illusion. I know that one girl (not the one who most recently joined) is VERY unhappy and really struggling. I've tried to help, but hasn't worked, so I'm backing off. Still praying, that's all I can do. | ||
| Jdpascal Registered user Username: Jdpascal Post Number: 223 Registered: 10-2003 |
The ultimate conclusion of affirming the words of vow #13 is that the new member is actually agreeing with the full extent of the SDA churches assertion about supposed Ellen Whites prophetic ministry - it is one of the two signs that they are "the remnant church of Bible prophecy" and they don't even realize it until it is too late. How deceptive is that???? Pray that your friends unhappiness will lead her to find real rest in Jesus. | ||
| Raven Registered user Username: Raven Post Number: 1132 Registered: 7-2004  |
Looks like they are constantly tweaking #13. I was baptized in 1975 (age 12) and #13 of my baptismal certificates says:
Almost exactly like the current one, but slightly different. I didn't sign mine either, but I don't think any of us kids were ever asked to sign it. I wonder if signing it was reserved for the adults coming in from outside the SDA church, but kids raised SDA from birth were already considered loyal to and accepting SDA beliefs. | ||
| Hec Registered user Username: Hec Post Number: 1059 Registered: 3-2009 |
They'll probably tweak the whole thing again in Atlanta. Hec | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 2152 Registered: 5-2007  |
This is how #13 reads in the year 2000 edition of the SDA church manual:
Notice how "people of every nation, race, and language" are welcome to join the "remanant" church. Fearless Phil | ||
| Martin Registered user Username: Martin Post Number: 117 Registered: 11-2008 |
I got baptised in the SDA church in 1997 and don't remember signing mine either... Actually, the whole thing is quite blurred in my mind. Can't seem to remember if I had the long or short list of vows. Now, what I remember very well is that my head didn't get completely covered with water... My hair remained dry :-) Interestingly, that always made me think that, perhaps, my baptism hadn't been completely "acceptable"... Troubled me quite a bit a few times. Also, I remember being sort of happy after that, but nothing amazing. I got baptised because the pastor said that he would love to baptise me before he was transferred to another church. We had a couple of bible studies before that, from which I can not remember much, and then he pulled that... If Philip baptised the eunuch right there, without more preparation, why not me? I said 'yes' and, if my memory doesn't fail me now, my mom asked me later if I really wanted to do it... I said that I wanted, but a part of me might have agreed with my mom back then, thinking that I might have done it more due to pressure, to please others. My certificate is in a box back home in Spain, so I guess I won't be able to check about the signature until I go there in holidays. In any case, this is something that has been on my head for some time now. Yesterday a Chinese friend of mine got baptised in the church I attend and THAT was really amazing. Two years ago she didn't know anything at all about Christianity, and finally last Summer she became a Christian. I'm considering talking with the vicar of my church and see what he thinks about being re-baptised or, at least, participate in one of the confirmation services. | ||
| 4truth Registered user Username: 4truth Post Number: 39 Registered: 2-2006 |
Most of the vows aren't so bad. The tobacco and alcohol prohibitions are unbiblical. The "Spirit of Prophesy" (Ellen White) is unbiblical. There is some wording that is kinda suspect in others. Probably the worst vow is #13. I don't remember many of the exact details about things, but looking back I'm happy I neglected signing it! I would never be rebaptized, that was done by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. If others feel differently, I understand. | ||
| Skeeter Registered user Username: Skeeter Post Number: 778 Registered: 12-2007 |
I have debated back and forth with myself about being re baptized .. mostly because of my problem with the Baptismal "vows" on the Certificate,, the "Fundamental Beliefs", but now, after thinking about it for quite a while,,, I feel when I was Baptized even though I was baptized in a SDA church, the Baptism itself was very real and THAT was between myself and God. So, I may or may not be Baptized again. If I feel the Holy Spirit move me to do so at some point, I will. The "Vows" I agreed to in the Fundamental beliefs statement no longer bother me because... since there is nothing in the Bible about needing to take "vows" before baptism,,, all that stuff was, just an agreement between the SDA denomination and myself and not between myself and God. Since I am no longer a member of that denomination, I am no longer subject to their rules of membership. If any denomination has certain "rules" for membership then they need to have people UNDERSTAND what their rules are and they should make it clear to people that the "rules" are theirs as a denomination and NOT "God's rules". As for their rules about not smoking or drinking alcohol, even though the rules are not "Biblical" I think it is a good idea to abstain from both for health reasons,, but the church should not make either one a moral issue. Someone can have an occassional drink, and can use tobacco and still be a very strong Christian. Alcohol in EXCESS is bad as it dulls the brain and I feel can lead to loosening of moral values...and we are all well aware of the results of smoking... but those are things that should be left between each individual and God. Francie | ||
| 4truth Registered user Username: 4truth Post Number: 40 Registered: 2-2006 |
Good thoughts on the vows and the SDA church. I've been a Lutheran for many years and have had it drilled into me that Baptism is not a work, but is totally something that God does for us, therefore my viewpoint, I guess. No doubt a person is better off not drinking or smoking at all. Probably better off not eating pie, too. Alcohol in excess in not only detrimental, it is expressly forbidden in the Bible. FYI, I don't smoke and rarely drink. I've blown the unclean meat rule all to smithereens, though! | ||
| Skeeter Registered user Username: Skeeter Post Number: 779 Registered: 12-2007 |
LOL ,, I hear ya on the unclean foods.. In fact yesterday on my way home from church I stopped at Subway and got a 6" sub with the Black Forest Ham... was pretty good and I dont think it effects my relationship with God any more than if I would have had the total Veggie sandwich instead. :-) I tried smoking ONCE when I was in 7th grade... one of my friends kept a pack hidden out on their ranch and she was gonna teach me... I took one deep inhale of it and thought I was gonna die ! That was enough.... As for drinking,, maybe once every few months when I go visit my sister I will have a glass of wine with her before bedtime (sweet wine diluted greatly with orange juice and lots of ice. ) Just never aquired a taste for it.. instead, give me a glass of ice cold (unfermented) Welches grape juice any day :-)But for those who like it and want to drink in moderation I see nothing wrong with it. :-) Francie | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 8230 Registered: 3-2004  |
I have blown it too. Last night my son and family took me to eat at a steak house. He continues to be vegetarian, but has agreed with his wife to raise their son to eat all meats. That is beside the point. I had a filet mignon steak wrapped in bacon. The steak was delicious and so was the bacon. No alcoholic drinks last night, but I do have one occcasionally. Diana L | ||
| Ninanish Registered user Username: Ninanish Post Number: 24 Registered: 5-2010 |
I don't know if I will ever get re-baptized. I've just left the Adventism, and I don't have a community of Christians that I can join. So I don't think about re-baptism right now, and I don't know if I will ever do it again in the future. Right now I am letting the Lord to lead me to the new community of mine. If I ever feel the need or urge to get re-baptized, I will ask God to approve that first, before I do it again. I think that whatever we do, we must consult the Holy Spirit first. If He says it is necessary for us to be re-baptized, then of course we should do it! | ||
| Sunnimoreno Registered user Username: Sunnimoreno Post Number: 105 Registered: 10-2008 |
I never saw my baptismal certificate since my baptism at the age of 10. I guess my mom kept it together with my dad's love letters to her. I wonder how the certificate of 4truth smells now after lying hidden for almost 40 years. lol |
