Seventh Day Adventism - Christianity or cult ?

Question

Please use scripture to argue for or against. Thanks in advance for all replies.

Answer 1

Whether or not any belief system constitutes a Christian cult is determined by examining its central doctrines, and comparing them to the accepted canon of Christian central doctrine.

The primary test is what the organization believes about Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. SDAs do not believe Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is completely sufficient to atone for our sins. Instead, they believe Jesus' work of atonement continues to the present day (and beyond). This belief is completely outside accepted Christian doctrine.

While scholars are sharply divided as to whether or not the SDAs are a cult, I believe the SDA Church is a cult based on this point alone (although there are several other un-Scriptural beliefs exhibited by the SDAs).

Here's a great source that discusses this subject rather well, with a multitude of Biblical references:

http://www.lamblion.com/pdf/2006/Lamplighter-042006.pdf

Answer 2

Having been raised a SDA myself in my deluded past let me answer...

It's hard to use scripture in this case only because there would be too much scripture to post disprove their claims.

They are a misguided sect of Christianity. They believe in the basics...

Faith in Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit.
Baptism of the believer

That's about it. The rest is crazy. They are what Paul fought against during his day, legalists...

They try to tack on all sorts of rules and regulations to salvation. They believe in salvation by works.

They believe that Sunday worship was the mark of the beast...

This sort of belief systems creates elitism. That is, look how holy I am and how dirty you are... Wrong!

Most held onto the theory that only a 144000 would make it into heaven. Wow!

They try to snare you into the fold by using Revelation Seminars. They talk about bible prophecy in the begining and finally at the end of it they reveal they are SDA's. By that time you scared of hell and join up if you're not careful.

Don't even get me started on that crack pot E.G.White. She started from the same movement that the millerites came from. Miller was wrong about 1844 and the supposed coming of Jesus. Even though scripture plainly says no man knows the hour but only God the Father.

Then E.G. White made up some daft excuse like Jesus went into the holy of holies in the temple in heaven and is actively judging people. So, 1844 was actually that and not his coming. Not very biblically sound.

I think Charles Taze Russell of the Jehova Witnesses fame came from that ordeal as well. Must have been a weird year.

Folks, if anyone tells you that you have to be a part of their specific denomination then don't join. They are full of it. Buy the bible and use a reputable translations (don't use theirs) and study for yourselves the truth. Then and only then would you have a true measure to compare something to.

Answer 3

in accordance to sociologists, a cult is purely a set of people amassing mutually because of the fact of comparable ideals. The word cult includes damaging emotions because of the fact of modern-day-day happenings of a few cults. in my opinion, being a seventh-day Adventist Christian i've got self assurance it to be a valid branch of Christianity.

Answer 4

No, it's not. Seventh Day Adventism asserts that Jesus is really Micheal the Archangel and there is nowhere in the bible that insinuates that or even comes close to saying that. For more indepth information I suggest you go here: www.carm.com (Christian Apologetics Research Ministry) They have an answer to most questions about religions and whether they are true Christian religions or not.

Answer 5

If its not big enough to start a crusade or invest in huge tracks of land or have a foot in a government then yes just a cult.

Answer 6

Must keep Shabbot when Jesus abolished the Levitical Laws.

Must be a member to get to Heaven.

Must be a Vegetarian!

Added Mrs. Whites writings to Scriptures.

A cult? YEP!

Answer 7

You may want to learn the definition of 'cult' before you make that assumption.

Answer 8

Cult
The SDA's Hebrew Scholar, Dr. Ray Cottrell showed "17 Anomalies" in their interpretation of Daniel 8: 14 and the '2300 days'? (evening-mornings)
The SDA denomination defrocked Dr. Desmond Ford for showing these very things which Dr. Cottrell has now proven to be true.
The SDA leaders now admit their prophetess Ellen G. White copied from other writers profusely, but without giving any credit while claiming she saw them in holy vision from God.
The SDA denomination fired their own Dr. Walter Rea for revealing these very things which they admit to be true.
Former SDA Pastor, Des Ford has shown some 22 bad links in their' "chain of truth" that upholds their 1844 Sanctuary and Investigative Judgment doctrine.
He also showed 17 different methods the SDAs deal with "Lumps under the rug", to avoid correcting error?
The SDA leaders admit that from copying from other writers, Ellen White included their errors and contradictions.
The SDA scholars, made hundreds of changes in the prophet's book 'The Great Controversy' to make it more palatable, and less offensive to the Roman Catholic church. These included adding their own words, or deleting the material she had copied from one writer, and replacing it with other writers quotes.
They still hold that all she wrote was Divinely Inspired, though knowing she copied profusely from other writers -- even Catholics and The Book of Mormon.
They admit knowing there are 'serious - errors' in their authorized books, yet making no special effort to correct them. They let their ministers quote from these trusting them to be accurate and true, while their own scholars know they aren't.
Ellen White gave numerous false predictions or prophecies which they have denominationally minimized or suppressed so they may yet claim her a 'True Prophet' while knowing she's not!
Ellen White and the SDA evade her false predictions by teaching 'conditional prophecies" -- that all of God's promises and threatenings are alike conditional. So any time her prophecies failed the "conditions weren't met". Yet they don't allow this for other cult's false prophets!
Ellen White contradicts the Bible scores of times, like denying Jesus' Deity, and giving money for sin offerings, and if you eat meat. God won't hear your prayers?
She taught that Jesus' atonement on the cross was not complete, so that He will yet make another special and final atonement in heaven, after their 1844 investigative judgment has been finished.
The SDA's best scholars searched the Bible scrupulously for years to prove their "1844 Cleansing of the Sanctuary and Investigative Judgment" teaching, but in vain, so concluded it could only be upheld by accepting Ellen White as their inspired authoritatative re-interpetrer of the Bible, to make it mean what it cannot be shown to say by grammatical exegesis?
Ellen White contradicts herself in scores of places, & her contradictions cannot be resolved. So by finding the uninspired sources she copied, they hope to shine added light in grappling with her errors?
E G White's views were used to establish Bible doctrine, and no one may use the Bible to refute any position which has been established by her "Holy Visions".
Since the SDA Church has to accept as true everything Ellen White wrote, and since she has many contrary statements, the SDA has many conflicting positions in their doctrines, as the Sabbath, Who is Christ, etc.?
Since they hold Ellen White was equally inspired as the Bible, and since they've now admitted she's copied other writers including their contradictions and errors, the SDA now teach the Bible has, and must have errors and contradictions just as Ellen the 'spirit of prophecy`?
The SDA church is God's remnant church for they have Ellen, as a 'true prophet' and they have the 'seal of God' by keeping the Sabbath. Is she? And, Is it?
You must believe Ellen is a True Prophet, and the SDA is the remnant church, and belong to their church to be finally Saved --- for you cannot know you're saved until Jesus comes, and gives you eternal l Iife.
Though the Bible says we should worship God continually, or every day, yet if you do this on Sunday, you will have the "mark of the Beast'" according to Ellen White.?
Ellen White and the SDA teach that Jesus is Michael the Archangel, or a "Mighty Angel" (Clear Word Bible) and had a fallen sinful Human nature.
Ellen White & Deut 18:20-22 say if a prophet's predictions fail, they are a false prophet. The former SDA pastor Sydney Cleveland's book "White Washed" proves over 10 of her false prophecies, which couldn't be, and were not conditional!
Ellen White and Isaiah 8:l9 +20 say if her writings disagree with the Bible, there's no light in them. Isa 8:19 shows the inspiration is from a familiar spirit. Ellen has said it's either all God , or the Devil. there's no half-way in the matter. As she contradicts the Bible scores of times, and God speaks ONLY TRUTH, then Ellen and the Bible show she's not of God!

Also her many contradictions show she's not of God!
Would God tell her to take other peoples writings and say He showed her these in 'holy vision'? (Ex.20:15+16)
Their conditional prophecies and unmet conditions leave the SDA no reason to believe or even hope that Christ will soon return for them though they are called "Adventist"!

Answer 9

"Christianity or cult" is like asking if Frosted Flakes is "cereal or breakfast food"?

It's the SAME THING

Answer 10

I don't follow any christian religion. So, I'll just say cult like any other.