I was raised a
strict SDA, and while I attend the churches, I have not become a member - due to the fact that:
1. I don't believe in some of the doctrines: majorly, the chief one regarding the 'state of the dead' is biblically false (read Ecclesiaties 3:21 and 12:6-7). Verse 6 describes a 'silver cord'. This is what attaches ones spirit to ones body. I believe that when God breathed the Breath of Life into Adam, that is when his spirit was created, which is beyond ordinary death as the body dies, but subject to God nevertheless...In the resurrection, the spirit, soul and body come together again ie: 'and her spirit returned to her' : Luk 8:55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
2. I don't believe EG. White was a true prophet of God, by the biblical definition of a 'prophet'...She may have had some 'prophetic moments', but a substantial amount of her prophesies hidden under the carpet by her husband James White were false. ie: Message to the little flock, the angel who spoke 'King James english' who told her that Sabbath started 6pm every Friday and ended 6pm every Saturday 'changed his mind' to sunset to sunset...Remember, I was brought up with this 'insanity' regarding EG. White and it took a long time to decondition my thinking from believing every word from her mouth was 'gospel'... Its worth looking at:
The White Lie by Walter Rea and although some of the statements may be exaggerations and/or extrapolations, there were some historical facts regarding her documented which were interesting reading.
3. I did not want a group of humans dictating to me whether I belonged to Christ or not, based in their 27 fundamental principles..., so I found a 7th day Baptist pastor who baptised me just purely into Christ - no man/woman - no creed - getting in the way..., as it should be...
Apart from these issues, I like the SDA's, as they seem to be the 'cleanest' biblically, that follow the bible word for word (as they best understand it) ... some don't believe in EG. White that look into it more deeply, and look more to the bible etc...I think they need to revolutionise some of their core beliefs and discard EG. White as a 'prophetess' and see her more as a mixed person who may have had some prophetic moments, but at other times did not ...
...It was quite amusing when documented facts came up, that her son was looking everywhere for her, and they eventually found her in some restaurant behind a screen consuming copious amounts of oysters with vinegar (made from scotch whisky then). She spoke of the evils of being addicted to vinegar, and I wondered how on earth can anyone be addicted to vinegar, and why is was 'evil'..., later I found out it was made with scotch whisky in those days....lolol...so funny....
...then there are plagurism issues where much of her alleged works were really by those of others..., it really does make one quite angry reading the truth about her...I just don't take notice of her ramblings pretty much.., I have seen how destructive the fanatical EG. White element can be...,
but the SDA majority of principles are actually good and biblically sound, and they
ARE good people ..., they just don't know the entire truth.
EG. White also believed 'black people' were the result of humans hybridizing with animals according to historical accounts, and this was apparently one reason they were not to be 'elders' or something along those lines. Similar to Mormon attitude on black people, early on in their history..., so I just don't have time for that kind of discrimination..., although the typical SDA does not have a clue about much if any of this..., you have to dig deep for this info...
I feel they are closest to Israel in a Christian sense as far as the common denominations go. I did go to some Messianic groups which was fabulous, even better --- as I love the feeling of 'true Israel' of God and love the Messianic worship, but unfortunately some did not keep Shabbat nor have a kosher diet, of the penticostal types that frequented these meetings, and some of the jews were very lasse faire with regards to principles involved, while others seemed more in keeping with them...
Pretty much these days, its hard to find an authentic church along the lines of a true Messianic Israel that is not into jew worshipping, that keeps the Word as written and/or understands it properly: and that is alive in Spirit and not part dead where the sermons just drag on...
Then you have the alleged 'spirit-filled' churches that negate the Word of God with words of the man Paul..., and who knows what spirits prevail in such churches, as there seems to be quite a mixture of true and false ones...., and one has to be wary. I cannot imagine the True God is speaking to them prophetically, that would not tell them about His true Principles and to keep them..., so I don't take any notice of alleged 'prophetic words' as being truly of God...
...really, in a way - there is a spiritual wilderness occurring, where the true Church is comprised of those seeking here and there for the Truth and fellowship accordingly, but never truly finding it - except in circumstances where God brings like minds together...
...
however I do truly pray for a revival in the SDA movement,
as I still feel a kinship with them, and they are
good and Godly people overall...
Operation Global Rain was a fabulous idea. A pity it was not supported by the SDA conferences globally....