Introduction
The Seventh-day Adventist Church has witnessed a significant exodus of its members in recent years. This trend has been attributed to several factors, including differences in doctrine, dissatisfaction with the church’s leadership and administrative practices, and other issues. This has raised concerns among scholars and leaders within the church who recognize the importance of addressing the root causes of this exodus.1 Efforts are being made to identify these underlying issues and develop effective strategies to address them to ensure the long-term health and vitality of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
As a devout Seventh-day Adventist, I firmly believe in the church’s teachings and mission to proclaim the three angels’ messages to the world. The Adventist church has a rich heritage and a unique prophetic identity that sets it apart from other Christian denominations.
Consequently, this paper endeavors to elucidate the reasoning behind my choice to embrace the Adventist faith and attest my steadfast dedication to its tenets and principles, thus precluding any possibility of renunciation.
Spiritual Journey
Many Seventh-day Adventists’ spiritual journey commences in childhood, as they are nurtured in Adventist households and attend Adventist educational institutions and congregations. However, some may encounter the Adventist faith later in life through personal inquiry, evangelistic campaigns, or the witness of acquaintances and family members.
My spiritual journey is an indispensable aspect of my existence, which began when I was eleven. Nonetheless, as time passed, I realized that my spiritual voyage was not restricted to a singular event but an ongoing progression of expansion and metamorphosis. I am committed to intensifying my relationship with God, studying His Word, and seeking counsel from the Holy Spirit. Although I am cognizant of my imperfections, I believe in God’s steadfast grace and love in instructing and moulding me into the individual He created me to be. The spiritual journey is about discovering happiness, serenity, and purpose through my relationship with God and embracing His principles in my daily routine.
Theological Convictions
The theological underpinnings of Adventist doctrine are grounded in the biblical portrayal of God’s essence, character, and redemptive work accomplished through the sacrificial death of his son, Jesus Christ.
The centrality of the cross of Jesus Christ is the bedrock of my faith as a Seventh-day Adventist. It serves as a constant reminder of God’s boundless love and infinite grace, which He demonstrated through the selfless sacrifice of His Son. The cross of Christ is the conduit through which I derive hope, forgiveness, and redemption for my sins. Unfortunately, little or no emphasis is given to the cross of Christ in Adventist theology and preaching.2 Seventh-day Adventist theologian Jiri Moskala laments:
“This unwitting and unintentional distancing of the cross and the pre-advent judgment (the ultimate event in popular Adventist thinking for the determination of people’s eternal destiny) is the cause of frustration for many sincere Adventist Christians. This disconnection is for them almost like a divorce from Jesus when they think they have to make it through the judgment on their own.”3
As a Seventh-day Adventist, I ardently embrace the message of the cross and strive to propagate it to others so that they, too, may experience the life-transforming power of God’s love. All doctrines revealed in the Scripture are best understood when viewed from the perspective of the death of Christ. Eschatology (doctrine of last things), ecclesiology (doctrine of the church), and all the other doctrines of the Church find their most accurate meaning when we penetrate the event that transpired on the cross. Ellen White emphasizes the importance of the cross of Christ as a central aspect of her teachings:
The sacrifice of Christ as an atonement for sin is the great truth around which all other truths cluster. In order to be rightly understood and appreciated, every truth in the Word of God, from Genesis to Revelation, must be studied in the light that streams from the cross of Calvary. I present before you the great, grand monument of mercy and regeneration, salvation and redemption, the Son of God uplifted on the cross. This is to be the foundation of every discourse given by our ministers.4
The death of Jesus unified two alienated worlds: the natural and the supernatural. Christ’s sacrificial death instantaneously engenders a new existence. Analogous to how the sinful act of one individual brought about death for all, the death of the God-man brings about a new life for all, thereby liberating the soul.
I also affirm the authenticity of Ellen White’s prophetic ministry. I hold her in high regard as the most significant and influential personality in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. For us, Seventh-day Adventists, she serves as the channel through which God communicates His prophetic message. Although her writings are not on the same level as the Holy Scriptures, they are regarded as divinely inspired and authoritative.5 As a result, her perspective on theological matters carries immense weight for Seventh-day Adventists like me.
As a Seventh-day Adventist, I believe in the ongoing ministry of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary and the doctrine of the Investigative Judgment. While the death of Christ on the cross provided atonement for sins, His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary is indispensable for applying that atonement to individual believers. My belief in the Second Coming of Christ is firmly grounded in biblical prophecies that prophesy His literal, visible, and personal return to establish His everlasting kingdom. The Investigative Judgment, a pre-advent judgment, determines the worthiness of individuals for salvation based on the records of their lives, and it serves to vindicate God’s character and demonstrate His justice in the plan of redemption.6 The emphasis on the imminent return of Christ and the importance of preparing for His coming is manifested in my beliefs regarding the Second Coming and the Investigative Judgment. These foundational doctrines inspire me to live a life of holiness and service and to share the gospel message of God’s love and grace with a world that desperately needs it.
As a faithful Seventh-day Adventist Christian, I believe in the Holy Trinity. This belief posits that God exists as a triad of co-equal and co-eternal Persons, namely the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, all of whom share a singular divine essence. This concept is predicated on the teachings of the Bible, which bear witness to the organic unity and plurality of the Godhead.7
Value System
As a Seventh-day Adventist, I espouse specific values which inform my beliefs and actions. The Scriptures, in particular, are the ultimate source of truth and guidance for my life, and I wholeheartedly affirm all the doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventist church. Moreover, I place a high premium on adhering to a wholesome lifestyle, one that includes abstinence from alcohol and tobacco, regular exercise, and a vegetarian diet.
I also subscribe to the values of education and service, which are integral to my worldview. Education is essential for personal growth and development, and I have always endeavored to expand my horizons by pursuing knowledge. Additionally, I deem it my duty to serve others, and as such, I have volunteered at various levels of the church and engaged in a range of community service initiatives.
I ascribe great value to the notions of community and family. I am convinced that individuals flourish best within a supportive community, and I cherish the relationships I have cultivated within my family and church community.
Furthermore, I appreciate the Adventist Church’s commitment to social justice, humanitarian aid, and community service. As a Christian institution, the church recognizes the importance of addressing individuals’ and communities’ physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. This holistic approach to ministry reflects Christ’s love and compassion.
Conclusion
My decision to embrace the Seventh-day Adventist faith is not merely a product of my cultural background or upbringing but a conscious choice rooted in my theological convictions and spiritual journey. I firmly believe in the centrality of the cross of Christ, which serves as the foundation of my faith and the fountainhead of my hope, forgiveness, and redemption. I am deeply committed to the diligent study of sacred Scripture, guided by the Holy Spirit, and to sharing the gospel message of the cross with others.
Moreover, I wholeheartedly affirm the authenticity of Ellen White’s prophetic ministry and her writings as inspired and authoritative. As an unwavering Seventh-day Adventist adherent, I am devoted to upholding the church’s teachings and mission, which entails proclaiming the three angels’ messages to the world. My unwavering commitment to this faith precludes any possibility of repudiating it.
By Dr. Devron A. Thomas
1 David Trim, Director of the Office of Statistics: Report- October, 2015, at the SDA General Conference annual council.
2 See Richard Rice, Reign of God: An Introduction to Christian Theology from a Seventh-day Adventist Perspective, 2nd ed. (Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 1997), 328- 346.
3 Jiri Moskala, “Toward a Biblical Theology of God’s Judgment: A Celebration of the Cross in Seven Phases of Divine Universal Judgment (An Overview of a Theocentric-Christocentric Approach),” Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, 15/1 (Spring 2004): 142.
4 Ellen G. White Gospel Workers (Washington: Review and Herald, 1915), 315.
5 Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual (Doral, FL: Inter- American Division Publishing Ass., 2010), 161.
6 For a detailed study on the Seventh-day Adventist understanding of the investigative judgment, see, Roy Adams, The Sanctuary Doctrine: Three Approaches in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Andrews University Seminary Doctoral Dissertation Series 1. (Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 1981); M. L. Andreasen, The Sanctuary Service (Washington, D.C.: Review & Herald, 1947); John n. Andrews, The Sanctuary and the 2300 Days (Battle Creek, MI: Steam Press, 1872).
7 Seventh-day Adventists Believe: A Biblical Exposition of Fundamental Doctrines (Silver Springs: MD, Ministerial Association, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 2005), 23.
