Seventh-day Adventist religion a cult

Answer 1

The word cult is used to imply movements that do not fall in line with the beliefs and practices of the mainline churches. Even Jesus would have been considered a cult leader in his day by the Jews because he taught something contrary to the established norms and traditions of the Jews. Adventist share common beliefs with the mainline churches such as Salvation by grace only, baptism by immersion, Trinity, bible only etc. Although Adventists do differ in certain teachings such as on soul sleep, no eternal torment, the literal second coming of Christ with the mainline protestants today, however these were doctrines well shared and believed by the early protestants during the reformation times in the middle ages. Therefore Adventists have much more in common with the historic Protestantism than the current mainline churches who really have diverted away from the historical protestantism. The doctrines unique to Adventists are the Investigative judgment and Spirit of prophesy (Ellen White) and Adventists believe that they have support from scriptures to hold to such teachings. Adventists are NOT a cult. Cults are exclusive, Adventists are not exclusive, etc.

Answer 2

That depends a great deal on how you define the word "cult". In it's broadest definition it just means a system or community of religious worship and ritual. Some churches are fond of labeling any group that doesn't adhere to their way of thinking a cult - to them the SDA qualifies as a cult. A bit more broadly, a cult could be a group of people who live in a manner that others consider weird or extreme and dangerous. Characteristics that are most associated with cults are:

• a charismatic leader
• isolation from those not part of the cult
• leadership controlling most, if not all of the actions of cult members
• once you are in, you are not allowed to leave

By these characteristics, no - the SDA church is not a cult.

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No, we are just sometimes portrayed as such because even though we follow most of the same beliefs as other Christian denominations and even read from the same Bible, we go to church on Saturday and we follow both the Old and New Testament. This is nothing out of the ordinary but because we are "different" people say we are a cult.

Another answer:

There are a few distinctive beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but most of their beliefs are shared by at least one other mainstream evangelical church. For example, Adventists go to church on Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, because they believe that that is the correct day of worship, set apart during creation week and mentioned as part of the law of God in the Ten Commandments, which were never changed. But this belief is shared by the Seventh-Day Baptists, among a few other groups. In spite of the fact that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is similar to many other churches, and the fact that it does not do things that cults often do (such as cut off contact with the family of a person who joins it), it is still sometimes labeled as a cult. One really only has to learn a little bit about Adventists to realize that they are not a cult. There have even been one or two famous studies of this question which came to the conclusion that Adventists are definitely not a cult, but only a Protestant church with a few distinctive beliefs.

ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW:

All religions are cults. Far too often the word 'cult' is misused and mistaken for an 'occult'. The word 'cult' merely refers to a system of religious beliefs which is what a church teaches. Seventh-day Adventists, like any other religion, teach their own system or doctrine. Yes, they are a cult.

There are more definitions of cult than one and I suspect that the author of this question was referring to: A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.

Seventh-day Adventism is considered a cult, under this definition, by some and not by others. They do not have a charismatic leader and they are not that extreme unless you are into the minutia of Christian ideology. Walter Martin in his book "Kingdom of Cults" does not consider Adventists a cult. The best way to find out is to visit a church and see for yourself.

The factual answer is found in the sociological defining of religious groups as churches, denominations, sects or cults. And the Seventh Day Adventists are listed as, and have the characteristics of, a denomination.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a legitimate and presidentially-recognized protestant denomination. Many rumors of cult status come from the offshoot of former members calling themselves the "Branch Davidian Seventh Day Adventists". The Seventh-day Adventist Church has publicly and privately denounced the actions of this group and was involved with litigation in ending this group's use of the Seventh Day Adventist name.

The seventh day adventists are not a cult. They are a group generally targeted by people who do not want to adhere to all of God's 10 commandments and who would prefer to believe that God's 10 commandments were abolished and/or believe that Jesus changed them from 10 to 2 - to just love God and one another. Yet how do we do that? The 10 commandments instruct us on how to do that so they are still very much relevant. Jesus came to uphold the law not to change it. In Revelation (the last book of the Bible) John looked up into the temple and saw the 10 commandments. They still stand as God's law, and are actually a representation of God's character. In the very last part of Revelation it is clearly states that if anyone tries to change or remove any of the teachings of the Bible (the 10 commandments fall within the teachings of the Bible) that there is no light in them - meaning those that would seek to change or remove the teachings of the Bible are not inspired of God but side with those who oppose God and his teachings.

No one human is perfect and can follow the 10 commandments perfectly so "legalism" (seventh day adventists are commonly accused of being "legalists" - where the rules of the 10 commandments are more important than the acceptance of Jesus's sacrifice) is essentially impossible. Jesus was the only one able to follow the 10 commandments perfectly making him able to be the "spotless lamb" that could be a sacrifice for all of mankind's sins/violation of the 10 commandments. All humans are tempted to sin/break God's law/the 10 commandments, and so it is of utmost importance to accept Jesus's sacrifice for eternal salvation which provides "grace" or forgiveness for the sin of ALL who accept it, but trying our best not to sin in the first place should be the aim.

If we have no sin then we don't need a savior and Jesus's sacrifice for us is not considered important. Many people who want to abolish the 10 commandments and want to sin also want to abolish Jesus as God or demean him to just being a man or a teacher and make themselves their own God - which was the desire of Lucifer in the Bible. So those who fall into this self worshiping group are reflecting the character of lucifer. It's this simple: If you are selfish you're on lucifer's side. If you're selfless you're on God's side.

If we don't place importance on the 10 commandments (which is what our court system is based on - and if removed our society would unravel) then we would have no definition of what sin is which is very attractive to those who desire to sin and don't want to have to feel as though they should have to correct their actions. Those who desire to sin/violate the 10 commandments don't want to feel guilt (which is the Holy Spirit letting one know they've violated the law/God's 10 commandments) , and if they can remove the 10 commandments from their lives/society/the Bible then they could get rid of that uncomfortable feeling. However ask anyone if they would like to be stolen from, lied to, murdered, be cheated on by their spouse etc. and they would most likely say they wouldn't - so they do like the 10 commandments to stand in society as law to protect them, but many break the law and hurt others and don't care as long as they don't get caught by the police. God however sees everything so even if the police don't catch a sinner God knows what law a person has broken and that person is always "caught". The good news is that no matter how many sins you've committed God will forgive you if you accept the sacrifice that Jesus made for everyone. Each sinner is condemned to eternal death, but by Jesus dying in our place we can be redeemed and his blood will cover all sins.

It's interesting how lines are drawn between peoples - how one group is considered different and in some eyes "less than" another group whether by skin color or belief, etc.. The Bible clearly teaches that we are all his children - the descendants of Adam and Eve and we are all brothers and sisters of one another - one big family on earth. Most would not steal from their mother or murder their father and so any sin committed to any other human being is a sin against your own family. If people adopted this point of view then racism, hatred, and crime/violation of the 10 commandments would decrease dramatically. The true Christian - meaning one following in the footsteps of Christ removing the selfish desires of self and replacing the self by inviting Christ's character to rule one's life cannot be a biggot, nor can they condemn others for their sins. A true Christian cannot judge but simply love their fellow man, and gently point them towards God's law - which is how Christ operated while here on earth.

God's 10 commandment law was never abolished or "nailed to the cross" - what was nailed to the cross were the additional Jewish laws and customs that were written by man and not inspired by God that were written to help remind God's people to follow the 10 commandments and to not sin. The customs of the earthly temple were a model for the activities of the temple that is in heaven. Before Jesus (who is our high priest in the heavenly sanctuary now) died for sin, those duties were appointed to God's people or the "Jews" . When Jesus died the duties performed in the temple were no longer needed to be performed by the Jewish people and that system became void as Jesus took over those duties in heaven.

According to the Bible anyone who follows God is considered a Jew (or one of God's people). The Jews were called God's "chosen people" not because they were more special than any other people on earth (as we are all equal in God's eyes) but they were called "chosen" because they were chosen by God to spread God's love and message to those who did not know God. When one converted to becoming one of God's people they were then grafted into the "Jewish family" and were then called a "Jew".

The term "seventh day adventist" came about in the 1860's and described a group of Bible believing people who felt it important to follow ALL of God's commandments including the Bible "seventh day" sabbath (which occurs from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown) and to accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and looked forward to the "advent" of his return. God's 10 commandment seventh day sabbath has been attempted to be changed by man to the pagan day of sun worship - Sunday - but was never changed by God. The mark of the beast is following man versus following God. The mark is what you think/believe (in your forehead - the frontal lobe of the brain), and what you do (your hands are used for what you do). You can follow God and have faith and receive the seal of God in your forehead or you can follow what man dictates and receive the "mark of the beast (a beast is a creature - we (man) are all creatures)". Historically certain organizations have attempted to change God's laws and the way God marks time by changing God's sundown to sundown system to a midnight to midnight system. Those who "change times and laws" according to revelation are not of God and are in opposition to God.

The seventh day adventists allow God to interpret himself or allow the Bible to interpret itself and do not inject their own opinions into what a thing means in the Bible.

No human in perfect and thus no group of humans are perfect however the seventh day adventist church and their dedication to following God according to his leading via the Bible leaves this group one to investigate. If you want to follow God, measure the teachings of any one person or group to the teachings of the Bible - they should always match perfectly. If they do not match perfectly, then the teachings and group should be rejected as being "of God". The Bible and its teachings are what Christians/Jews/Catholics/people that love God should follow if they want to follow God.

ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW:

All religions are cults. Far too often the word 'cult' is misused and mistaken for an 'occult'. The word 'cult' merely refers to a system of religious beliefs which is what a church teaches. Seventh Day Adventist's like any other religion teach their own system or doctrine. Yes, they are a cult.

There are more definitions of cult than one and I suspect that the author of this question was refering to: A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.

Seventh-day Adventistism is considered a cult, under this definition, by some and not by others. They do not have a charasmatic leader and they are not that extreme unless you are into the minutia of Christian ideology. Walter Martin in his book "Kingdom of Cults" does not consider SDA's a cult. The best way to find out for is to visit a church and see for yourself.

Short answer: Yes! It's a 'cult of Christianity' just as 'Mormons/LDS' & 'Jehovah Wittness' are. Most in cults do not admit the cult membership, hence the term "cult".

In a sense, one might say that the SDA church is a form of "Armenianism". or those who say it is possible to live a sinless life on this earth. Otherwise, why would God command his people to "Be ye Holy, for I am Holy". As far as keeping the Ten Commandments, they are correct, when it is emphasized that obedience can only be achieved through the power of the Holy Spirit, by the grace and mercy of God.

Answer 3

no, they just believe in some very obvious teachings that are found in all prodestant bibles such as the 7th day sabbath in exodus 20:8-11 and Isiah 58:13, also the advent of Jesus which is stated in many places. If you disagree please comment.

Answer 4

Absolutely not! Cult by it's definition means a religion devoted toward a specific figure or object. We adventists know worshipping idols is against 1 of the 10 Commandments.

NKJV Exodus 20:3-6 "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image - any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments."

Answer 5

"Cult" is a pejorative term used by religions to insult religions other than their own or whose ideas they do not agree with. As consequence the Seventh-day Adventists are simply another region whose basic premises are satisfactory to its members.