| Author | Message | ||
| Alison1 Registered user Username: Alison1 Post Number: 103 Registered: 10-2010 |
Hey, I wonder if anyone has the list of the different types of adventism. I know that someone had posted a long thread on the moderate, traditional and progressive adventists a while back and I can't seem to find it. I was trying to explain this to a friend the other day and got lost in trying to remember everything. I told my friend that I will try to get a copy for her research. Plus it is good to have on hand . Whoever posted it also had a link within it to the original that goes back to the Christian Forums group. Thanks for the help. | ||
| Kelleigh Registered user Username: Kelleigh Post Number: 161 Registered: 7-2011  |
Hi Alison Ministry Magazine discuss the thread in Christian Forums here http://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/2010/december/theological-diversity-a-threat-an-asset-or-what There's a link to the original comment in the bibliography however was unable to access the forum. Maybe you'll have better luck! | ||
| Cloudwatcher Registered user Username: Cloudwatcher Post Number: 595 Registered: 5-2009  |
This is the one I remember: An excellent description of the major theological groupings of Seventh-day Adventists by NightEternal (http://christianforums.com/member.php?u=185580) LIBERAL ADVENTISTS: This group is mostly centralized in southern California, but they can be found almost anywhere in the world. These are Adventists who have accepted the liberal Christian concepts where just about anything goes. Do not hold to literal interpretations of Scripture from Genesis through the Gospels as well as the remainder of the New Testament. Scripture is regarded as a collection of myths or stories and historical exaggerations used to teach moral lessons. Some may hold other Gnostic ancient books as on the same level of importance as the Bible. They do not believe in the literal creation account, world-wide flood, or miracles, including the resurrection of Jesus. Many have accepted evolution in some form into their belief systems. Beliefs can range from no after-life to Universalism. Homosexuality is accepted as another lifestyle alternative and impulse that God created people with. Ellen White means nothing to them and they have all but discarded most of the distinctive fundamentals as well as orthodox Christian fundamentals. They are often ‘cultural’ Adventists who still enjoy the oppourtunity to discuss with others philosophical ideas concerning the Sabbath. They may enjoy church services of various kinds or none at all, from high church to celebrationn services. Will often call themselves Christian Agnostics or Agnostic Christians. In fact, the only SDA feature many liberal Adventists have retained is the Sabbath. Almost all attend movies of any sort, wear jewelry, eat meat, drink coffee and caffeinated pops, some partake of unclean foods, many drink alcoholic wine, especially in the areas of California where vineyards are found. Women’s ordination has never been a question and the SCC implemented it years ago against the official stand of the conference. Key Adventist Figures: Steve Daily PROGRESSIVE ADVENTISTS: Highly regard science, logic, reason and the historical-critical method. Will adopt any modern means of Biblical interpretation available. Want to do away with many of the fundamentals, especially the Investigative Judgement/1844/Heavenly sanctuary doctrines. Believe Ellen White is a woman of her times whose works may contain inspirational material that may be used in a pastoral way. Do not believe she has doctrinal authourity. Some hold to a literal creation account, world-wide flood and miracles. Others see the Genesis story as non-literal and consider other methods of creation possible. The post-modern movement can also be traced to this group. In understanding post-modern philosophy, they desire to have the church be relevant in the present time and do not regard the history and legacy of the Adventist pioneers as the embodiment of religious truth. Some have adopted the views of the moral influence/larger view Adventists and rejected penal, legal atonemt. Others hold to such atonement theories as Christus Victor, Federal Head and Recapitulation. There may be an amalgam of several atonement theories. A credo would probably be reason over tradition. Spreading like wildfire in many European countries. Key Adventist Figures: Riendeer Bruinsma, Alden Thompson, Richard Rice, Fritz Guy, John McLarty (Adventist Today), Spectrum Magazine MORAL INFLUENCE/LARGER VIEW ADVENTISTS: Also found mostly in Southern California/Loma Linda area, this group denies that God will destroy the wicked in the end. They believe that sin itself will consume them without any intervention on God’s part. Absolutely deny legal/forensic/penal atonement. Heavy emphasis on the love and mercy of Christ to the exclusion of His anger and justice. Revere Ellen White, but they only pick and choose that which reflects thier unique views. Heavily influenced by the views of Peter Abelard. You can find many of them on the website Heavenly Sanctuary. Key Figures: Graham Maxwell (Pine Knoll), Dan Smith, Ty Gibson (Light Bearers), Michael Klute. EVANGELICAL ADVENTISTS: Champions of Reformation justification by faith and the closest segment to the positions of Luther and the reformers. Bitterly fight against sinless perfection/final generation theology and the belief in the sinful nature of Christ. Consider both full-blown heresy. The most user-friendly Adventism and the one subgroup that presents the most acceptable Adventist face to mainline Protestantism. Believe the atonement was completed at the cross. Stand firmly behind Questions On Doctrine as representative of balanced Adventist thought. Have realistic views of inspiration and completely reject verbal inspiration for both the Bible and Ellen White. Ardent holders to thought inspiration. Ellen White highly regarded, but do not believe she has doctrinal authourity and believe she is subject to the New Testament apostles. Some Evangelical Adventists have abandoned EGW, but not all. Completely reject traditional understanding of the Investigative Judgement as detrimental to assurance of salvation. Hold to pre-Advent judgment where the salvation of God’s people is not under question. Very firm and uncompromising in their opposition to Rome. Worship services are predominately contemporary with CCM as well as heavily influenced by Willow Creek seeker-services. Key Figures: George Knight, Graeme Bradford, Hans LaRondelle, H.M.S. Richards Sr. (Voice Of Prophecy), Raymond Cottrell, Desmond Ford (Good News Unlimited), Edward Heppenstall, Frank Phillips MODERATE ADVENTISTS: The largest subgroup by far, this constitutes the majority in the pews. Standard Adventist beliefs, hold to the fundamentals. Avoids either extreme and and tries to be balanced. High regard for Ellen white but do not hold to verbal inspiration nor elevate her above the Bible. Mainline believers who support official church mission ardently. Stay very close to offical GC policy, mandate and standard Adventist worldview. Key Figures: Mark Finley, Dwight Nelson, Keavin Hayden, Marvin Moore, Roy Adams, Ed Christian, Morris Venden, Jack Sequeira (Vineyard Ministries), Shawn Boonstra (It Is Written), Steven Mosley, Steve Wohlberg, Lonnie Melashenko (Voice Of Prophecy), George Vandeman (Voice Of Prophecy) CONSERVATIVE/TRADITIONAL ADVENTISTS: Close to moderate Adventists, but with a little more lean to the right. Bitterly oppose women’s ordination, CCM, meat-eating, justification by faith as taught by Luther. Very high regard for Ellen White, borderline verbal inspirationists. Revere the law and the Ten Commandments and have sinless perfection tendencies. Many are heavily involved in Jesuit/Catholic/Masonic conspiracy theories. Staunch defenders of the 28 fundamentals and lovers of pioneer, 1800’s style Adventism. Major representation in third world countries such as Africa and South America. Key Figures: William Johnsson, Cifford Goldstein, Doug Batchelor (Amazing Facts), Sam Bacchiocchi (Biblical Perspectives), Sam Koranteng Pipim, Herbert Douglass, Ed Reid, Kenneth Cox, Richard O’Ffill (Revival Sermons), Danny Shelton (3 ABN), Walter Veith (Amazing Discoveries), Jan Marcussen, David Asscherick, Leo Schriven, Bill Tucker (The Quiet Hour), Robert Weiland and Donald Short (The 1888 Message Committee), C.D. Brooks ULTRA-CONSERVATIVE/TRADITIONAL ADVENTISTS: Historical Adventists who represent the far right. Believe in the sinful nature of Christ, righteousness by works, have a hatred for the Reformation gospel. Sinless perfectionists who believe Christ merely set the example we can follow until we reach the condition of Adam before the fall-all before glorification, which they believe only changes the physical and nothing else. Bitterly oppose Questions On Doctrine, consider it the most hated book ever published in Adventism. Heavy emphasis on I.J., traditional style and making oneself worthy to pass inspection by Jesus. Strict diet reform emphasis, all are vegetarian, most are vegan. Borderline deificaiton of Ellen White, verbal inspirationist leanings. Most regard EGW as equal to the Bible in authourity and the final say in all matters not addressed in Scripture. Many can be found on such websites as Revival Sermons, Great Controversy, Adventist Affirm, SDA Defend, Temcat’s House Key Figures: M.L. Andreason, Kevin Paulson, Larry Kirkpatrick, Joe Crews, Vance farrell, Dennis Priebe, Stephen Lewis EXTREMIST ULTRA-CONSERVATIVE TRADITIONAL ADVENTISTS/FFSHOOTS/INDEPENDENT MINISTRIES: About as far right you can go in Adventism. The most disturbing, frightening Adventism available. Ultra-strict, unyeilding dress reform, diet reform, mind reform, any reform you can think of. Hyper-vegan, believe diet is a salvation issue and meat-eaters are lost. Heavy, extreme emphasis on historic Adventism and the pioneers. Agenda to purify the Adventist church and get back to 1800 style Adventism. Shepherd’s Rod believe they will be the instruments of destruction God will use to cleanse the camp of modern-day Adventism at some point in the future. Have their own communes, schools, churches, camp meetings, etc. Deify Ellen White, all but have included her in the Biblical canon. Fringe groups who believe that only a literal 144,000 are going through to the end. Hatred for corporate Adventism and conference structure. Believe the GC is the seat of the beast, riddled with Jesuit infiltrators. Hatred for any modern expressions of Adventism, believe they are the only true Adventists and the rest are lost. All believe the mainline church is in apostasy and is fallen Babylon, and so a call for as many as possible to come out is needed. Many use cultish fear-tactics and brainwashing to recruit and retain thier followers. Key Groups/Figures: Shepherd’s Rod (Victor Houteff), Branch Davidians, SDA Reform, Remnant Of The Remnant, Our Firm Foundation/Hope International (Ralph Larson), Hartland Institute (Colin and Russell Standish) | ||
| Jim02 Registered user Username: Jim02 Post Number: 1392 Registered: 5-2007 |
Hello Allison1,Cloudwatcher, That list of types of SDA was enlighting. I feel as though I are some of those.  I was wondering, When it comes to former adventists, which group do they mostly come from? or From what group do formers migrate to what church? Eg; Liberals go to Pentecostal churches, Conservatives to Baptist and so on. I think there are these categories or types of people in most denominations. We are all different with our predispostions. Jim | ||
| Joyfulheart Registered user Username: Joyfulheart Post Number: 869 Registered: 10-2006 |
I'm going to apologize for this in advance. I saw something like this on a website a while ago and thought it was funny. badventists - don't follow the adventist rules cadventists - a little bit caddy fadventists - follow the latest fads hadbeenventists - another name for formers ladventists - little boy adventists (the opposite of lassventists) madventists - adventists who discover the truth and that they have been lied to nadventists - adventists in the North American division padventists - people who like to stay home a lot radventists - very cool adventists sadventists -  well...most adventists tadventists (or tadbitventists) people who are just a little bit adventist | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 1312 Registered: 7-2004  |
Jim, I felt as an Adventist that I defied these labels. I was "conservative" in that I took what the Bible said very seriously and literally. I was progressive because I had begun to understand what the Gospel really was, which meant setting aside historical elements of SDAism. I was evangelical because I didn't believe that SDAism was the only church. I was liberal, since understanding the basics of the Gospel, I knew that there was no more need for all the silly rules. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13097 Registered: 12-2003  |
Rick, that is so interesting and well-said. I was a little bit more "Adventist" than you describe above--probably because I was raised in it, and you had been a Christian before converting to Adventism. But for sure I related to several of those labels. Jim, there are "former Adventists" that leave from all the nuances of Adventism. But I don't believe their destinations are determined by what sorts of Adventists they were. Rather, their destinations are determined most profoundly by what kinds of "formers" they are. Those who leave because intellectually Adventism doesn't "add up" may go all sorts of places...perhaps more towards mainstream churches, but not necessarily. Many just wander in the "world". On the other hand, those who leave because they have met Jesus and have been born of His Spirit—no matter what sort of Adventist they had been—pretty unanimously gravitate toward churches where they will hear and learn the word of God. The dividing line is not the brand of their Adventism but their reason for leaving. Meeting the Lord Jesus and being born again produces true Christians according to Jesus' definition in John 3. Leaving for reasons such as disagreeing with the political/financial structure of the church or intellectually disagreeing with the SDA rigidity does not yield Christians; that sort of leaving produces people who are as vulnerable to confusion as they were within Adventism...they're just finding new philosophies to fill their still-empty, still spiritually dead hearts. Colleen | ||
| Loneviking Registered user Username: Loneviking Post Number: 837 Registered: 7-2000 |
What is amazing to me is that the SDA denomination continues to exist with so many different factions within it. The only other church I can think of that has so many different philosophies or approaches to their doctrine would be the Roman Catholic church! | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13099 Registered: 12-2003 |
Very astute observation, Loneviking! Significant, really... Colleen | ||
| Jim02 Registered user Username: Jim02 Post Number: 1398 Registered: 5-2007 |
Colleen, I get your point. In my own case, I could identify with several categories and reasons. Longing to find peace with God. Oppression of legalism. Oppression from fear. Looking for another way since repeated burn outs mandated a need to discover a better way. As for leadership, I always had a problem with the Federal system of SDA organization. Then the confusion of scriptures. I read one thing for myself, and they teach me that is means something else. I looked at the fruits. The church had little to zero in the way of ministries to help people work through social issues. Mostly it was tow the line. On the other hand, it has many many divisions and departments, just like the Feds. Leaving pretty much nothing left at the local level. You mentioned , wandering in the world. I get that. Because, I think these people have lost so much of their frame of reference, it takes years if ever to achieve resonance. Jim | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 1313 Registered: 7-2004 |
Colleen, My description was focused on how I would have described myself in the later years of SDAism as I was on the cusp of leaving. In the early years I was far more conservative in my lifestyle. Although the church that I thought I was joining was the evangelical one, packing up to go study theology at Andrews quickly taught me what an illusion that was. But I think that you are right, having joined as an adult I could never be quite as Adventist as a lifer. I didn't grow up on Uncle Arthur and the Bible Story books. And the culture of Adventism was something new to me, not something that just seemed like the normal way because I had been raised in it. | ||
| Tfelmon Registered user Username: Tfelmon Post Number: 55 Registered: 7-2011 |
@Lone I really don't think your statement above is acurate but maybe more of your opinion or experience. Unless you've have vast expereince among many different faiths, either by study or attendeance, I don't think what you said is fair. I aggree there are differen't "levels" of SDAism only because I've expereinced them and know about them. What I do know, from my wife's expereince with many different clients (she's a therapist), she has noticed a trend along the same lines with different faiths. Here in the South she has seen first hand the ultra conservative Christian to the extreme liberal among other faiths. Additionally you'd be shocked at what some people in other faiths believe. Therefore I don't think Adventists are unique in unbiblical thinking. | ||
| Cloudwatcher Registered user Username: Cloudwatcher Post Number: 597 Registered: 5-2009 |
I think all of these factions exist because nobody is going to make a big deal about them, at the conference level and above as long as you're still an active member, giving your resources to the organization and PAYING TITHE. I can think of 2 people who were reprimanded for their non-sda lifestyles but were immediately told that they can continue to pay their tithes and offerings to the church. As long as the money is coming in, they leave you alone to your own ideas (as long as you're not threatening the status quo and potentially leaving WITH other tithe-paying members). | ||
| Loneviking Registered user Username: Loneviking Post Number: 838 Registered: 7-2000 |
Tfelmom, what I said was that SDAs are unique in having so many factions with irreconcilable viewpoints existing within one denomination. | ||
| Tfelmon Registered user Username: Tfelmon Post Number: 56 Registered: 7-2011 |
I understand,"so many factions with irreconcilable viewpoints existing within one denomination" exist in other denominations as well. -From my limited expereince. @Cloud SDA and cash is paramount! Why else would the church hold medical/dental in high regard, actively recruit them to the conferences and give them SDA medical/detal retreats all expenses paid? What I find intersting is they have never held an electrians/blue or collar retreat. Why not an engineers retreat or recuit public officials to the area? Guess thats not the "right arm" of the gospel. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13106 Registered: 12-2003 |
Right on, Tfelmon. We have a friend who is a structural engineer. Earlier in his career at an SDA gathering of family, etc., there was talk of who were docs, etc. Someone asked him what he did, and he said he was an engineer. The response was a moment of surprise followed by, "Oh--we need those, too." The mission statement of LLU is to continue the teaching and healing ministry of Christ...sigh...right. Colleen | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 1316 Registered: 7-2004 |
I get your point, LoneViking. There are always differing views within churches. And there are certainly always individuals with wacky ideas in churches. But within SDAism, all of these viewpoints are valid and acceptable. You can be an elder or pastor proclaiming any of these widely varying and contradictory viewpoints. Catholicism, before the Reformation, is the closest comparison. This is not the norm in established churches. However, I have seen this as a disturbing trend in the non-denominational circles. Obviously not every non-denomination church or even most. But common enough to deserve some attention. | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 2225 Registered: 7-2007 |
Jim; you are not going to "find peace with God" until you just turn your whole life over to Him. You need to just accept Jesus as your Savior and turn every bit of your life over to Him. |
