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[ED NOTE: This article is a perfect example of why Bible-believing Christians fall into the ditch by following worldly magazine and newspaper articles. That is precisely how we ended up in Mormonism . A magazine article described the "Chritian"/political correctness about the Latter-day Saints, the wonderful Mormon pioneer history and the social construct of the church as "Christian." That is basically all the information we had which influenced us to join. The media has a tremendous influence on our lives if we let it. When considering joining a church there needs to be a full investigation of the doctrine taught in that church versus what the Bible teaches. The following article tries to convince us that it is okay to be a member of the Seventh-day Adventist church because it is doing what the Christian Right Revivalists, Dominion Theologists would encourage. They supported and encouraged the Faith-based Initiative strategists which advocates: Go to church on Sunday, it doesn't matter which one as long as they produce solid citizens who are kneeling in prayer, smiling mentors, well-dressed families, Generation-X black entertainment okay, vegetarians, Moses' Law abiding, no crosses, three tithe offerings, bettering the world through publications and a world-wide healthcare network, etc.. .] By the end of 1844, ancestors of the Seventh-day Adventists faced a big problem. How could they stay credible after predicting the world would end October 22, 1844? Today, that issue is faced confidently by every Adventist, including the well-dressed families and solid citizens drawn Saturday to Aurora First Seventh-day Adventist Church. It's friendliness, not church doctrine, that makes the first impression. Prepare to be greeted with a genuine, wide smile, firm handshake and the universal greeting: "Happy Sabbath!" On "the seventh day," while other Coloradans are in-line skating or errand hopping, Adventists are worshiping God and proclaiming Jesus Christ. Melissa Baker, a young woman dressed in Generation-X black, sings. So does grade schooler Alexis Neal, with "Were You were There When They Crucified My Lord?" Three tithe offerings follow in brisk succession, based on the scripture command to contribute to the storehouse of the church. Kneeling, they pray for those in need. Then Pastor Sylvester Case makes a 30-minute address. "We teach it isn't our business to enforce Christianity, but it is our business to teach it as the Bible teaches it," explained Case a few days before. "We believe that the Bible is the word of God - not that it contains the word of God." Understand that stringent distinction and a lot falls into line about Adventist teaching. For instance, they keep kosher laws as do the Jews. They rest on the seventh day, just like God did after creation. They baptize by immersion. They also believe the Ten Commandments forbid anything remotely resembling a graven image. That's why many Adventist churches don't even have crosses, and why they are historically distrustful of Catholics and their ornate traditions - although they believe individuals of any church can be saved if they have faith in Jesus Christ. Case's church is adorned only by a baby grand piano, chunky wood pulpit and picturesque diorama mountain scene. The wood rafters are gracefully curved, resembling the gunwales of a Viking ship. As doctrine goes, it's that pesky October 22, 1844 - known in church history as the Great Disappointment - that's potentially most troublesome. Crushed at first, believers (originally called Millerites after their early leader, William Miller), quickly saw their error. Miller wasn't wrong about the date, gleaned from calculations based on Daniel, Chapter 8. It was the interpretation he got wrong - just like the apostles expected Jesus to found an earthly kingdom, not conquer through death on a cross. Adventists now teach that in 1844, Jesus entered into the mystical equivalent of the Old Testament sanctuary, the Holy of Holies. From there, he has begun the judgment of the living and dead, which will continue until his final coming (or advent). While Adventists wait for the end of the world, they are conspicuously involved in bettering it. They evangelize through print and electronic media. They have a worldwide health care network, including the Porter hospital system in Denver.
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