| Author | Message | ||
| Nancy Registered user Username: Nancy Post Number: 18 Registered: 6-2004 |
Can anyone give me some advise as to what to do with Adventist books/commentaries. My husband and I have been out of the SDA church for 11 years and I've just hated to throw them away but my husband says he doesn't want to poison anyone else w/ them. Should I give them to the church or what? We have a lot of reading. Just about everything Ellen White and those big red and green commentaries. I've used them for fillers in my big wall unit. Ha!! I know my mother thinks by them still being there that someday I will be brought back in to the "Fold" by keeping them. Fat Chance!!!! Just needed some advise as to what I should do. Thanks | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 756 Registered: 10-2004  |
Don't give them to anyone!  Burn them! Seriously, that is probably the best option. At least you know they are totally gone and destroyed that way. And I know others have said that they had such a feeling of relief and freedom when they burned their EGW books. They probably shouldn't be out in the open, since that can give false impressions like you mentioned, etc. Jeremy (Message edited by jeremy on June 16, 2005) | ||
| Belvalew Registered user Username: Belvalew Post Number: 513 Registered: 7-2004 |
Jeremy has probably given you the best option, because as he said, you will then be certain that those books will not be allowed to poison anyone else's mind(s). Having been raised a good SDA and not wanting anything to go to waste, I erased all evidence of who they belonged to, boxed them up, and left them on the steps to a local SDA Church's pastor study. I also included a couple of bibles that had been marked with the special doctrines of the SDA church, you guys have probably seen them--the little stickers that you put by specific verses that allow you to move from one proof-text to the next--I simply wanted to start fresh, so I bought new bibles and started marking them as I studied, but none of that "one text leads to another" type of thing. | ||
| Jwd Registered user Username: Jwd Post Number: 33 Registered: 4-2005 |
Nancy, You could dig a hole and bury them. Make a ceremony out of it, saying some things that are meaningful to you as you thank God for the good they provided, and for the victory and new enlightenment God's Spirit of Truth has given you regarding the error and false teaching you received from them. Let it be a ceremony of burying your past, and praising God for the new life and resurrection He has granted you in Christ Jesus. Just an idea. Jess | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 425 Registered: 3-2005 |
I know of people who have used old EGW books for fire kindling for their fireplaces, but I keep them for reference, and to remind me of the joy and freedom I have in Christ. Stan | ||
| Nancy Registered user Username: Nancy Post Number: 19 Registered: 6-2004 |
Jeremy, Well I ask and you told me so guess that's what I'll do. My husband said the same thing. I was just curious as to how others have handled this. On another note, my husband left for me to see this am, a Prophecy phamplet that came in the mail. You know, the Revelation Seminar w/ no name attached of who they are. I always wondered why they did that when I was younger but now I know. It's really called deceit. This really gets under our skin now that we know the "real truth". The title is Power Points of PROPHECY Seminar, Enjoy the Freedom to Focus on the Future. What do they know about Freedom. I thought that was very amusing. We have told them to take us off their mailing list but this was made out to the resident. They probably saturated the whole city with this stuff. They always have a curious bunch at first and then it starts dwindling away towards the end of the meetings. It was always gloom and doom, scary and confusing. I'm so thankful that I am where I am today--- | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 415 Registered: 4-2000  |
After my children and others kept asking me why I still had SDA books in my library, I decided one night to round them all up and throw them into our large garbage dumpster. We had so many SDA books that the lid would not close. These books represented a significant financial investment on our part. I remember having a difficult time wheeling this extra-heavy load to the curb for pickup the next morning. While Sylvia and I were enjoying breakfast the next morning, we suddenly heard a very loud noise as our SDA books were hoisted and dropped above the garbage truck to their crashing fate. This "curbside earthquake" sounded like heavenly music to our ears. We certainly didn't want anyone else to read them. We don't have a fireplace and burning anything outdoors is illegal in our city. Newly-acquired Christian books have now taken up the space that the SDA books had previouisly occupied. I am most grateful for my Christian library--including more than 30 Bibles. This includes a copy of the German Bible translated by Dr. Martin Luther in the old German script that is now obsolete. Books are like friends, you can't have too many good ones. Dennis Fischer | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 263 Registered: 7-2004  |
Throwing away books was very hard for me. I am serious booklover. But once we were willing to voice that we believed EGW was a false prophet, there was really no choice. Her books had to go. Giving them away would only continue spreading the error. We considered burning a little "overkill" so we gathered them all up and placed them in the trash. I figured that any "research" I might need to do could be accessed online. But I did keep a number of theology books by SDA authors other than EGW, particularly on the Sanctuary, for reference in my online debates with SDAs. | ||
| Bmorgan Registered user Username: Bmorgan Post Number: 42 Registered: 7-2000 |
Sorry!! Nancy, let the books go. BURN them. Like Dennis, we spent a fortune on SDA books, and I hate to see any thing go to waste. However, we braced ourselves and made a bon fire. I sat close by the heap and felt the heat as I poked, pushed and stirred the pile until every last page was reduced to ashes. NO Regrets! Remember the expensive Bible Stories by Arthur Maxwell? Even those were atop the rubbish heap and reduced to cinder. | ||
| Raven Registered user Username: Raven Post Number: 254 Registered: 7-2004  |
Unfortunately we still have the Bible Stories by Maxwell and several other books sitting in our house (out of sight), because we still need to return them to their rightful owner. That should happen later this summer, and I can't wait to get them out of the house! | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 2140 Registered: 12-2003  |
Nancy, we burned ours. We reasoned that people could always retrieve them from a dump, and we wanted to be sure no one else could ever use them. Like Ric, I LOVE books; I'd never have thought I could ever burn one. I cannot tell you what a relief it was to watch those things go up in flames. Wow, did that purge ever open up a lot of shelf space for some great new books! Dennis, I'm just picturing your overloaded dumpster and the giant crash as those books went into the truck--That's a pretty dramatic memory! Colleen | ||
| Nancy Registered user Username: Nancy Post Number: 20 Registered: 6-2004 |
My husband will be glad to hear this response b/c that's his feelings as well. He has no patience w/ the SDA's and what they have intentionally done and are continuing to do to deceive the people. We wondered why it took so long for us to see. I guess things happen at the right time for all. I would have never thought this would happen to us, that is, leaving the church, beings I was raised from chilhood in it. My husband joined the church when we married. He was really searching for a church and home that would fill his emptiness growing up as a child. My father was his connection to that. Even though my Dad was Adventist and mother too, there were things that disturbed him, but he would just push things under the rug b/c he was always told "We don't question the authority of the church." because that's what they would tell him. BULL!!! I would always wonder---well why not. Who are they that they should not be questioned and be confronted on issues. Well we found out. When things started unraveling and my husband boldly started asking questions on information he was reading, it was like we had murdered someone w/in the church. We were shunned immediately. How nice!!!! That was enough for me. Here they claim to have the so call "truth" and then they treat people that way. Don't think so. The more my husband and I read, the madder we got. He was so furious when he found out about Ellen White and the cover up along w/ everything else. We immediately had out names dropped and wanted our names off the mailing list for sure. Everyone of you know what I'm talking about. It's taken years to get over the pain and hurt of it all but God has led me to a place of real rest as before I tried everything to keep myself convinced that if I do this and be a good little Adventist, I will have a place in heaven. I feared everything in my life and I know it's b/c of my long exposure to them. I have to admit there are times I have those little doubts and then I get in the word for reassurance. Am I the only one that has those feelings? Endoctrination is something that one doesn't just get over in a short time. I appreciate everyone's comments and enjoy the reading. I usually don't have much to say, I just read and shake my head b/c been there done that. We were all in the same boat at one time. I never knew I could be so happy and free from such bondage. | ||
| Patriar Registered user Username: Patriar Post Number: 41 Registered: 3-2005 |
Nancy: Yes I have found that the only time I am truly restful and peaceful is when I'm in the Word. What a blessing. It truly is a living Thing. Patria | ||
| Belvalew Registered user Username: Belvalew Post Number: 514 Registered: 7-2004 |
Nancy, I liken the moments when all of the old indoctrination rears it's shaggy head to having someone walk across my grave. It's a momentary shiver, then on I go with my life. Jesus loves me. I am confident of that fact now, like I never was as an SDA, and that keeps me centered. It is amazing to come in contact with family/friends who are still buried in all of that mumbo-jumbo. My freedom and confidence compared to their suspicion and fear (while they maintain an uppity attitude) is almost laughable. Does anyone else identify with that? I'm not trying to be mean or superior, and have never gotten into it with anyone I know who is deeply involved with SDAism. I simply continue on my way, knowing that God loves them, too, and is working with them to help them open their eyes. All I know is that when I'm with them I recognize some of their behaviors as being the way I used to respond to life, and I'm so grateful that I no longer have to live by the law of "do do this, and don't do that." I'm finally clear that the action that opens heaven for me was taken by Jesus. His faith in the Father to bring him forth from the grave where my sins are buried makes it possible for me to rejoice in my salvation. Jesus did it all, then he gave me Life. Hallelujia! Belva | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 2145 Registered: 12-2003 |
Nancy and Belva, I relate to both your feelings--those of momentary doubt and those of the interactions with still-SDA friends/family. Patria, I have come to see the Bible as the source of truth, peace, and reality. Isn't it amazing how we missed that all those years? I am so thankful for the word of God! Colleen | ||
| Lydell Registered user Username: Lydell Post Number: 688 Registered: 7-2000 |
Nancy, we burned ours and had a great time doing it. We decided that if we should drop dead, we didn't want the garbage laying around our house for our kids to see. Mind you our kids were teenagers. One son came out to see what we were doing and said, "it's about time!" Then "can I help?" For those of you who have found a new church home, you might check out your church's library to make sure none of the books are there either. We were at a quilt guild meeting at a local Baptist church when I discovered a set of the Bible Story books in their library. Talk about a baaaad feeling! I was able to make contact with the librarian and filled her in on the origins of the books. She was most appreciative and had them removed. Other than the thief on the cross story, I can't remember erroneous stuff. But my thought was that someone could get hold of the more innocuous volumes, decide they like the illustrations, look for the publishers name(as I was inclined to do when my kids were young and we were homeschooling....always on the lookout for good books), then be willing to swallow the garbage when a colporteur comes to their door someday. Belva, I know what you mean. I run into an SDA friend occassionally. All is friendly until I mention something about how great church is, or just something the Lord has done, and you can feel that wall shutting down between us. | ||
| Noticeofappeal Registered user Username: Noticeofappeal Post Number: 5 Registered: 6-2005 |
Being a bit younger when we left the church (early twenties) we didn't have the expensive commentaries and such... but what we did have we donated to good will. I agree about poisoning others, but I couldn't pass up a good tax write-off ;-). Burning/recycling now seems like a better option. If you pull the spines off and recycle the pages, nobody will ever put them back together and find the wrong path. | ||
| Dane Registered user Username: Dane Post Number: 110 Registered: 4-2004 |
I'm back, at least for the moment. Life is still very hectic with trying to recover from MIL's death, youngest going to Basic, and starting a new quarter of teaching. I had to jump in here about the EGW books. Years ago we trashed most of ours, but I kept certain very old editions for research purposes. BTW if anyone has an early edition of Early Writings I would be interested. We agree that these books should not get into unsuspecting hands. Several have mentioned the momentary fears that come back from time to time. In our case that happened for a number of years but for me has not occured in about 10 years. Hopefully those of you have have left recently will eventually experience the same. Those of us with family still in SDA need to recognize that the tension in dealing with them will never go away. I personally believe that the best thing we can do is love them and continue praying. Dane | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 2146 Registered: 12-2003 |
Great to hear from you again, Dane. You make very good points. Thanks for your insights about family as well. With continuing prayers for you, Colleen | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1622 Registered: 3-2004  |
I threw away all my SDA books just about a year ago. I put them in a trash sack and put that sack in another sack, so it would not break and someone would find the books and read them. I discovered, just recently, some of the children's books, I bought for my son when he was young. I threw those away with no guilt. Now, I am a lover of books. Books are like an old friend that I visit over and over. But when it came to the SDA books, after God got a hold of my mind, I dumped them. I am slowly replacing them with Christian books, that I will read over and over. I thank God for redeeming me and for Jesus. They are so awesome. Diana |
