Need help with seventh day Adventist

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I am running a bible study and my friend has invited his girlfriend who is seventh day adventist. I don’t have a problem with her coming because I think it is good that she is interested, but I don’t know where she would be coming from, So is there any material on this site or other sites or references that would be helpful? Thanks.
 
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Learner:
I am running a bible study and my friend has invited his girlfriend who is seventh day adventist. I don’t have a problem with her coming because I think it is good that she is interested, but I don’t know where she would be coming from, So is there any material on this site or other sites or references that would be helpful? Thanks.
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Give the Catholic.com search box a whirl. Here are some starters:

catholic.com/library/Seventh_Day_Adventism.asp
catholic.com/library/Sabbath_or_Sunday.asp
 
There are different groups of Adventists and not all believe the same things to the same degree. Most Adventists I’ve dealt with seem to be pretty fixated on the Sabaath being Saturday rather than Sunday. That seems to be their main issue, but there are a few others such as their belief in “soul sleep” and the non-existence of a permanent hell. In addition to the links DeFide provided, go to the Catholic Answers main page and type “Seventh Day Adventist” in the search feature. You’'ll get several articles. Here’s a couple to get you started:

**Seventh-day wondering **
catholic.com/thisrock/1991/9109prot.asp

**CHANGING THE SABBATH **
catholic.com/thisrock/1993/9312chap.asp

BECAUSE HE LOVES ME
(An Adventist Conversion Story)
catholic.com/thisrock/1997/9705conv.asp

A PRIVATE VERSION OF HELL
catholic.com/thisrock/1997/9705convsb.asp

And from the *Catholic Insight * website:

Do Souls “Sleep” After Death?
cathinsight.com/apologetics/adventism/sleep.htm
 
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Learner:
I am running a bible study and my friend has invited his girlfriend who is seventh day adventist. I don’t have a problem with her coming because I think it is good that she is interested, but I don’t know where she would be coming from, So is there any material on this site or other sites or references that would be helpful? Thanks.
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The most important thing is for her to see that your a Christian who loves GOD! When I was SDA I saw Catholics as basically a bunch of folks who didnt know anything, were superficial Christians at best, and who were more worried about Mary than God. Let her see your spirituality and Love for Christ… depending on her temperature in Adventism this alone could create questions… ie. how can this person be part of the Anti-Christ if the love Christ so much… etc…etc…etc. Encourage questions, then let us know if we can help you!! 🙂

Brandon
 
SDA2RC said:
The most important thing is for her to see that your a Christian who loves GOD! When I was SDA I saw Catholics as basically a bunch of folks who didnt know anything, were superficial Christians at best, and who were more worried about Mary than God. Let her see your spirituality and Love for Christ… depending on her temperature in Adventism this alone could create questions… ie. how can this person be part of the Anti-Christ if the love Christ so much… etc…etc…etc. Encourage questions, then let us know if we can help you!! 🙂

Brandon
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Just because you had these ideas about Catholics when you were “an SDA” does not mean that other Adventists would be like that too. This was simply your experience, and it does not prove anything about the Adventist Church, as a denomination.

As an Adventist; I have never seen any of this “spirituality and love of Christ” in anyone who wants to tear down my church or my beliefs. I know Adventists who will talk about nothing - if it does not have Jesus in it; and I know Catholics who are the same.

To be Christ-like does not mean one has to belong to a certain denomination.

If you need help with an Adventist; just get to know them like you would any other person. Truly show them acceptance and friendship; and don’t act like a shark; out to slash them with the latest hardest-hitting “apologetics” you can muster.

If you give ANYONE the idea that you are circling them like a Condor, waiting for a weak spot to develop that you can move in on; and “build on” you will most times turn the person away.

I don’t know what kind of group you mean when you say you have a Bible study group; but I have attended some Catholic study groups, some I liked, some I wasn’t too fussy about. The ones I would never go near are the ones where you can sense that the whole group has been “prepared” in advance for my attendance. The cold selfish treatment from such groups is not something I would wish on my worst enemy…(whoever that is 🙂 ). I have also been to some “Protestant” groups who treated me like this - you could cut the rejection in the air with a knife.
 
Learner said:
I am running a bible study and my friend has invited his girlfriend who is seventh day adventist. I don’t have a problem with her coming because I think it is good that she is interested, but I don’t know where she would be coming from, So is there any material on this site or other sites or references that would be helpful? Thanks.
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I recommend the following link:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=108169

I also recommend taking a look at the links below my signature.

The most helpful thing you can do, besides praying, is be a living example of your faith. Treat her the same way you would treat anyone else. Be prepared to discuss how Catholic teaching is Scripture-based. She might have been taught that Catholics do not “know the Bible” and do not read it and live it. You can explain that Catholics follow God`s written word (the Bible) along with his oral word (passed down though Tradition.) It might be helpful to also explain the difference between Tradition and tradition. I would also be prepared to explain the history of the Bible, so you can explain why and how Luther removed some books from the Bible.

I would not bring up differences between Adventism and Catholicism unless she asks. Letting her see Christ act through you is an important first step, as Brandon noted. Sometimes, non-Catholic Christians are surprised by our relationship with our Lord, and our committment to HIm.

Sincerely,

Maria1212
 
Hi Learner, what book of the bible are you studying? It would be good idea to have those filmiliar with sda to read it to point out problem passages to do exegesis on.
 
I have debated with SDA in the past and had much experience with other religions as well.

One conversation I had with an SDA was concerning Michael. She insisted the arch angel Michael was Jesus in heaven. After several days and a lot of conparing Jesus to Michael, she admitted there was no clear verse showing Michael and Jesus were one in the same.

My advice is to do your Bible study and not worry about where she is coming from.

Let the Holy Spirit prepare her heart. The Lord may speak to her thru this study without you doing anything else.

When and if she should ask a question or gives an opinion counter to sound Biblical teaching, then you can say, “Let’s look that up and see what the Bible says.”

That way it doesn’t feel like you are putting her down, but that you are interested in finding the answers to solve your differing opinions.
 
SDA, in my experience, have a very narrow view of history and tend to think of the USA and Western Europe as being the prophetic center of the universe.

Once I was talking to an SDA about Orthodoxy and her history, and he said, “If what you’re saying is true, what does this do to the Adventist interpretation of Bible prophecy?” I replied, “You said it; I didn’t. What i’ve told you can be verified in secular encyclopedias. I challenge you to see if what I’m telling you is true, and if it is, are you willing to re-evaluate the Adventist interpretation of Bible prophecy?” He was silent for a minute and replied, “No.”

In other words, don’t confuse him with facts; his mind is already made up.

FWIW, if an SDA becomes Orthodox, s/he most be received by canonical Orthodox Baptism, and NOT by Chrismation.
 
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