Should We Keep the Name ~ Seventh-day Adventist?

Should We Keep the Name ~ Seventh-day Adventist?

With all the compromising and apostasy taking place within the Seventh-day Adventist church, should you refer to yourself as a Seventh-day Adventist?  How closely should we identify with them, today?  Should we leave our names on the Church Rolls? These are some questions that trouble the minds of some.

I believe the following statement is just as true today as the day Ellen White penned it ~

“We are Seventh-day Adventists. Are we ashamed of our name? We answer, No, no! We are not. It is the name the Lord has given us. It points out the truth that is to be the test of the churches…. The name Seventh-day Adventist carries the true features of our faith in front, and will convict the inquiring mind. Like an arrow from the Lord’s quiver, it will wound the transgressors of God’s law, and will lead to repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.  {FLB 304.4&5}

 If the Lord has given us this name, then we should keep it!

Seventh-day Adventist

The // Between the Rainbow & the Name ~ Seventh-day Adventist

There is a // between the name, “Seventh-day Adventist” and the Rainbow.  Just as God gave Noah and his family the RAINBOW as a promise of no more universal floods, with the command that every time they saw the rainbow in the future, they were to teach their children what the rainbow stood for, so God has given us the name of Seventh-day Adventists, and we are to stand tall and teach the world what that name signifies. And, just as the Homosexual Movement has done their best to change the meaning of the rainbow to something that represents a sinful life, so the leaders in the SDA Church have done their best to lower the standard, compromise and bring in apostasy and do away with the parts of our faith that make us distinct from other denominations.

What the Homosexual movement has done to the beautiful rainbow doesn’t stop Christians from loving the rainbow and the promise it symbolizes and honoring God by teaching our children what the REAL meaning of the rainbow is. And neither should what the leaders of Seventh-day Adventism have done to blacken the name, “Seventh-day Adventist” cause true Seventh-day Adventists to “haul down our colors” and be afraid or ashamed to identify as Seventh-day Adventists.

Qualify What Kind of Seventh-day Adventist You Are ~

I do believe it is wise though, when someone asks you what faith you belong to, that you qualify “Seventh-day Adventist” with OLD-FASHIONED Seventh-day Adventist.  I even tell them that I’m NOT a member of the worldly Seventh-day Adventist Church of today. I explain to them that the leadership has changed and the new leaders have lowered the standard and changed many things, and that I’m an Old-Fashioned SDA ~ what the Seventh-day Adventists were 100 years ago.

Do You Still Identify As a CHRISTIAN?

Another way to look at it is the word CHRISTIAN.  Because the vast majority of those who call themselves Christians today are not following the Bible and neither are they purifying their lives from sin, and in many cases, they are even leading the way in sin, should we then stop identifying as CHRISTIANS? Of course not! Rather we should be the more inspired to give the world an example of TRUE Christianity!  So it is with the name, Seventh-day Adventist.

There Should Be a Clear Contrast Between the Seventh-day Adventist Church and True Seventh-day Adventists ~

Just as there should be a clear contrast between us and the world, so there should be a clear contrast between us and TODAY’s SDA Church, as she is very much a part of the world, and to be close to her, is to be close to the world.

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,”  2 Corinthians 6:17.

That verse does not just apply to coming out from and separating from those in the WORLD.  If the CHURCH is living like the WORLD, it applies to the CHURCH, too.

Deuteronomy 13 is Very Applicable ~

Recently I read Deuteronomy 13.  The setting is, BELIEVERS, SO-CALLED CHRISTIANS, BROTHERS & SISTERS in the FAITH, your own RELATED BY BLOOD FAMILY. We don’t live in a Theocracy any longer, so it’s not our place to destroy these people who are willfully trying to lead us into sin.  But we are called to separate from them, and have nothing to do with them…and remember, these are not those in the WORLD…these are religious people.

 “Suppose someone secretly entices you—even your brother, your son or daughter, your beloved wife, or your closest friend—and says, ‘Let us go worship other gods’—gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known.  They might suggest that you worship the gods of peoples who live nearby or who come from the ends of the earth. But do not give in or listen. Have no pity, and do not spare or protect them.” Deuteronomy 13:6-8.

Should We Leave Our Names On the Church Rolls?

To me, that is an easy answer. No.  We should only be members of organizations, whether they are churches, clubs or business networks, if we are in harmony with not only what they stand for, but also what they DO. You most likely are in harmony with the 28 Fundamental beliefs of the SDA Church, so am I.

But are you in harmony with the Pro-Abortion stand the Church takes? Are you comfortable with them donating one million dollars to the Homosexual monument of the Pulse nightclub killing?  Do you approve of them sponsoring a NASCAR events that runs on Sabbath? AdventHealth encourages people to drink a little wine and eat shrimp, are you comfortable with that? Are you OK with the SDA hospitals using the conventional drugs of today and ignoring the counsel we’ve been given about using drugs in our hospitals? Is the low standard of dress and morality in the SDA Churches & Schools acceptable to you?  And there are many more compromises.  If you are OK with all these and MANY MORE compromises, then keep your name on the Church Rolls….but if you are not OK, have your name removed.

“Is My Name Written There?”

There is one ROLL that you want to make sure that your name is on.

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book” (Daniel 12:1). Let everyone inquire, “Is my name written there…” 1SAT 310.2.

Let us sing the song, “When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder, I’ll Be There…”

The “Seventh-day” Part Is Disappearing ~

Have you noticed that when it comes to the NAME of many of the Seventh-day Adventist ministries, businesses or organizations, that often the “Seventh-day”part isn’t there anymore?  The bookstores are no longer, “Seventh-day Adventist Bookstores” but they are Adventist Book Stores. It’s no longer the Seventh-day Adventist Review & Herald, it’s the Adventist Review.  The Seventh-day Adventist Hospitals are now Adventist Health Care. Then there is AdventistToday.org.  I can’t help but think of this statement ~

Men will employ every means to make less prominent the difference between Seventh-day Adventists and observers of the first day of the week. A company was presented before me under the name of Seventh-day Adventists, who were advising that the banner, or sign, which makes us a distinct people should not be held out so strikingly; for they claimed that this was not the best policy in order to secure success to our institutions. But this is not a time to haul down our colors, to be ashamed of our faith. This distinctive banner, described in the words, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus,” is to be borne through the world to the close of probation. …{6T 144.1}

The Time To Separate, Has Come

There is very little difference today, between the SDA Church & the World.  It’s impossible to direct new converts to the world-loving, compromising SDA Church and have any confidence that they are going to not be led right back into the sinful world that you just helped them leave.  It matters not that the Church still teaches the correct doctrines. It’s “by their fruits” that we KNOW them.

Christians have always been called to separate from sin and sinners. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”  2 Corinthians 6:17. We should actively look for opportunities to witness to those living in sin, but we shouldn’t fellowship with them or be in close friendship with them. If the Church is living like those in the world are living, which she is, then it’s time to cut ties with her, too.

“It is impossible for any one to become a true follower of Jesus without distinguishing himself from the worldly mass of unbelievers. If the world would accept of Jesus, then there would be no sword of dissension; for all would be disciples of Christ, and so in fellowship one with another, and their unity would be unbroken. But this is not the case. Here and there an individual is true to the convictions of his conscience, and he is often compelled to stand alone in the family or in the church to which he belongs, and perhaps finally, because of the course of those with whom he associates, to separate himself from their companionship. The line of demarkation is made distinct. One stands upon the word of God; the others upon the traditions and sayings of men.” BEcho April 9, 1894, par. 5

Where Two or Three Are Gathered…

I’m very thankful for this promise ~ “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”  Matthew 18:20.  Most of the time, there are only two of us who meet together for worship and fellowship, but that is OK!  As long as Jesus is meeting with us, we are blessed. True Christians have always been in the minority. As the World and the SDA Church progress in the downward spiral they are in, the less we have to do with either of them, the better. That doesn’t mean we should cut off those who are members of the Church who are earnestly trying to walk the narrow way, just because they are members of the Church. It just means we shouldn’t be connected with the organization in any way, or fellowshipping with those in the Church who are not serious about getting ready for Heaven.

Enoch’s Example ~

We are told that Enoch is an example for us in these last days ~

Enoch, separating himself from the world, and spending much of his time in prayer and in communion with God, represents God’s loyal people in the last days who will be separate from the world. Unrighteousness will prevail to a dreadful extent upon the earth. Men will give themselves up to follow every imagination of their corrupt hearts, and carry out their deceptive philosophy, and rebel against the authority of high Heaven.” 3SG 58.3

Enoch Would Remain With the Ungodly As Long As He Could Benefit Them ~

“Enoch faithfully rehearsed to the people all that God had revealed to him by the spirit of prophecy. Some believed his words, and turned from their wickedness to fear and worship God. Such often sought Enoch in his places of retirement, and he instructed them and prayed for them, that God would give them a knowledge of his will. At length he chose certain periods for retirement, and would not suffer the people to find him, for they interrupted his holy meditation and communion with God. He did not exclude himself at all times from the society of those who loved him and listened to his words of wisdom; neither did he separate himself wholly from the corrupt. He met with the good and bad at stated times, and labored to turn the ungodly from their evil course, and instruct them in the knowledge and fear of God. He taught those who had the knowledge of God to serve him more perfectly. He would remain with them as long as he could benefit them by his godly conversation and holy example, and then would withdraw himself from all society—from the just, the scoffing and idolatrous, to remain in solitude hungering and thirsting for communion with God, and that divine knowledge which he alone could give him.” 3SG 56.1

It doesn’t matter where the SIN or SINNERS is to be found…whether IT or THEY be found in THE CHURCH or in the WORLD….our response should be the same….  Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin….Do what we can to enlighten and reform those caught in sin, but, like Enoch, we shouldn’t linger in their atmosphere, risking contamination of our own souls.

The Faithful Few ~

As we come closer to the end, we should accustom ourselves to small churches, home churches and networking online with like believers.  The Faithful Few have always been just that ~ FEW. How many made it out of Sodom & Gomorrah?  How many made it into the Ark?  The vast majority have never been on the side of TRUTH.  May God bless you as you strive to follow Him in the Narrow Way that leads to Heaven.

 

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