Expert: Anthony - 6/18/2009

Question
My question is more of a concern for both my husband and my salvation. We are both baptized Seventh-Day Adventist, but in our recent studies we have found the many verses and have seen the disputes for each of them (I'm sure you have seen them all). Since finding these verses we have felt like a stone was lifted from each of our backs, like we are no longer the slaves in Egypt. Although we now feel like we are free, we both have started a closer and much more blessed relationship with Jesus. We continue our studies daily and are sure that if we have questions we try our best to research.

Being that we truly feel God's presence in our studies directly from the Word of God our families have become concerned and immediately do not want to talk about it, being that they are SDA. Wondering how we could have wrote off something that could be so good, when we saw it as a list of rules that the pharisees made to discourage us.

If we have reasoned with God and found our understanding through prayer and study, is what we are doing really considered wrong as long as we stand strong in Christ?

Answer
Dear Rebeca, here is something you might want to watch.

Greetings!

The ADVENTISTS, the new one-hour documentary film from Martin Doblmeier and Journey Films, focuses on the Seventh-day Adventists and explores the history and contemporary story of a faith group whose members are some of the healthiest and longest-living people on the planet.

Will air on most PBS stations the week of April 5th  

The suggested broadcast date celebrates the Easter Holiday and National Public Health Week, connecting faith and health. If your local station hasn't programmed it, urge it to do so. The ADVENTISTS DVD will be available beginning March 1 online from Journey Films and April 1 at various retail outlets. Journey Films is scheduling special screenings nationwide for February and March.
  
"Adventists are a fascinating mix of conservative religion and state-of-the- art health-care and healthy living," says filmmaker Martin Doblmeier. He adds, "where so much of our current health care debate is framed around economics, Adventists start from the belief that the body is the temple of God and needs to be cared for. For Adventists, hospital and health care work is sacred work and this can bring a fresh - even revolutionary - approach to our public health care discussions today."
 
Filmed on location at hospitals and health care facilities in Florida, Ohio and California, the film also contains a re-enactment of the 1844 event called The Great Disappointment which gave birth to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and a profile of the charismatic figure John Harvey Kellogg whose Battle Creek Sanitarium set the standard for progressive health care in the early 20th Century.
  
Formed on American soil in the mid-19th Century, Seventh-day Adventists are, by their own description, a conservative religion that holds as a central tenet that Jesus Christ is returning again, soon. At the same time, Adventists are pioneers in medical technology and health care exploration. For them, waiting for the Second Coming is not a time of fear, but for preparation and hope. The ADVENTISTS is produced in HD by Journey Films of Alexandria, VA. It is written and directed by Martin Doblmeier, produced by Dan Juday and edited by Gayle Anonuevo. It is a presentation of South Carolina Educational TV and will be distributed to public television by American Public Television.




I’m glad that you and your husband are continuing your study in scripture.  Today there are so many allurements in the world to take a person’s mind from the word of God.  As you know the most important thing is to stay close to the Lord because as Jesus stated “without me you can do nothing.”  This is so true.  In our own strength we are powerless against the forces of Satan.  This is because he conquered the human race so no human can resist the devil’s power.  Only by allowing Christ into your life and heart is one able to overcome Satan.  This is because Christ while on earth overcame Him and He will do the same in each individual if they are willing.  But now concerning your question(s), I’m not sure exactly what you are requesting.  Would you care to rephrase those questions because I don’t think I fully understand what you are asking?  i.e. the part where you said your families do not want to talk about it –about what? And also where you mention “how we could have wrote off something that could be so good.”  Again, sorry for needing clarification of your question.  Talk to you soon, anthony