unning head: Seventh Day Adventist Traditions 1

 

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The Seventh Day Adventist Traditions

Bolanle Adegoke

Molloy College

December 5, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

The seventh day Adventists traces its origin in the Millerite movement of the 1840s during the era of the second great awakening. It was officially founded in 1863. The early pioneers of the church include William Miller, a Baptist convert who preached the second advent of Jesus Christ purported to occur on 22nd October 1844. The prediction resulted to a great disappointment, as Christ did not come despite the fact that people had prepared adequately for the occasion. The Adventism is anchored on the hope of the second coming of Jesus Christ and therefore, the entirety of the doctrines, practices and the dogma is anchored on the knowledge and pursuit of the coming of Christ.

The doctrine of the sanctuary forms a critical component of the Adventists believes. The heavenly sanctuary refers to the ministering position of Jesus Christ as the high priest for the atonement of the human sins. The sanctuary comprises of the courtyard, holy place and the holiest place. The sanctuary doctrine provides a vivid description and explanation of the event of the Great Disappointment of 1844. The disappointment resulted from a misunderstanding of the bible whereby they expected Christ to come the second time. The sanctuary message justifies the disappointment through the explanation that Christ at this point of time moved from the holy place of the sanctuary to the most holy place where he started ministering as the high priest. This was a replica of the earthly sanctuary.

The spirit of prophecy entails a fundamental doctrine of the Adventism. The spirit of prophecy emanates from Gods revelation to Ellen G. White. White organization and the promotional skills resulted in the formation of the General Conference, which acted as the highest organizational and authoritative body of the Seventh Day Adventism. However, she did not claim the leadership of the church. White claims divine inspiration in writing the enormous pieces of literature, which she claims, is a lesser light that aims at leading the people into the greater light, which is the Bible. Her writings are considered authoritative in shaping the action and the thoughts of the people.

The health principles and practices comprise critical dogma of the Adventists. Great emphasis is accorded to the divine healing through faith but they rarely condemn consumption of medicine. The Millerite movement records instances of religious fanaticism resulting in intense emotional experience. The reports depict cases of mental illness and other emotional related dysfunction. The problem arises criticisms on the church doctrines taught to the members. The indisputable connection between the emotional aspect and the mental illness depicts the underlying reality despite denial from the subjects that the movement is responsible for the skyrocketing mental cases in the American asylums.

The health reform and health temperance movement form an essential consideration in the Adventism. In full realization of the second coming of Christ, people are called upon to observe a temperate and a healthy lifestyle free from any form of body intoxication. The healthy practices include consumption from drugless medicine, sexual chastity, denunciation of all forms of stimulants, fresh air, exercise, meat-free diet and decency in dressing. The vegetarian diet is highly preferred as it involves less risk to diseases. The embrace of the natural healing methods of diseases comprises a major stride in the health reform initiative. The substructure of the adoption of a healthy lifestyle involves ensuring the purity of the body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, the healthy lifestyle free from diseases ensures the clarity of the conscience thus making it possible to observe the commandments of God in preparation for the second coming of Christ.

The doctrine of the immortality of the soul comprises the belief the Adventists. They refute the belief of the consciousness of the dead, life after death and the assertion that the wicked burn forever. Their belief postulate a state of unconsciousness of the dead waiting for the first resurrection for the righteous and the second resurrection for the wicked upon the second coming of Jesus Christ.

The Ellen White vision on health reformation comprises a significant practice of the Adventism. The heath vision entails the moral obligation of the Adventists as it emanates from divine authority through the revelation to White. The health reform message is given primacy and coupled with the third angel message to fear God and give him glory for the hour of his judgment is come. It emphasizes the importance of natural remedy and healthy lifestyle in prevention and cure of diseases as the drugs have contributed immensely to death of people due to its side effects. The health practices are practiced through the Medical Missionary where diverse institutions are founded to practice the teachings of Adventism.

Ellen white vision on sex comprises the standard of morality on seventh day Adventists. The vision denounces the sexual relations such as the masturbation, which obliterates the moral, mental, and the physical entirety of the people involved. She discusses the abuse of sexual relations, abortion, and use of contraceptives among other sexual related issues. The discussion on meat consumption has raised serious question in regard to diet but nevertheless, the rationale toward the abstinence of meat include its prevalence to diseases as meat comprise the leading cancer-causing agent. Further, dress reform among the women is highly postulated as the women need to dress decently and appropriate with utmost respect to nature and God.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the second coming of Jesus Christ comprises the focus and goal of the Seventh Day Adventists. Therefore, the entirety of their doctrines, practices and dogmas which are subjected to full compliance and believe aims at directing one’s conscience to the Second Advent of Christ. The doctrines obtain its authority from the Bible, which is the larger light and the spirit of prophecy, which entails the lesser light. Ellen G. White comprise an important figure in the Adventist movement since he received Devine revelation from God to write enormous literature that defines the standard of orthodoxy in the church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

Banta, J., Lee, J., Hodgkin, G., Yi, Z., Fanica, A., & Sabate, J. (2018). The Global Influence of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church on Diet. Religions, 9(9), 251.

Jacobs, D., & Tyler, C. (2018). Adventist Millennials: Measuring Emerging Adults Connection to Church