The Seventh-day Adventist Church vs Jehovah's Witnesses

[hidansektas]

Im an atheist. My favorite coworker is a seventh day adventist. She is my work bestie

[tishalooby]

I just love how you are an actual neutral resource. I have so much respect for that. So many channels try to “explain”who SDAs are with zero accuracy and 100% criticism. Thank you for making what we actually believe clear.

[danielmaher]

SDA and JW: disagree about everything
World: "so you're the same"

[mma]

I grew up in the Seventh-Day Adventist denomination- Attending church on Saturday, attending private Adventist schools from K-12, and even the hospital system in the south- AdventHealth is run by the SDA church. My mother's side of the family is Adventist and she raised my brother and I as such.

I really want to stress that there is a WIDE spectrum of SDA followers. When you are immersed in the denomination as I was, you will see both- hardcore, "Ellen White believing, no alcohol, vegitarian/vegan, you must observe the Sabbath by doing absolutely nothing and attend church or it is a sin" type SDAs. But those individuals have become quite far and few in between. Most will look upon those individuals as "old fashioned".
Most realistic Adventists will tell you that the lifestyle choices (abstaining from alcohol/(unclean) meat) are exactly that- lifestyle choices. The health and wellness ideas in Adventist communities can also be attributed to the association with the AdventHealth medical system and Loma Linda University in California
Ellen White was one of the founders- yes. But many of her writings and opinions get the side-eye from a lot of Adventists these days. She is not as heavily emphasized as she might once have been.

In Adventist private schools from K-12, the majority of other students around me ate meat (usually "clean" meats- but I digress.) In religion classes, we learned about Ellen White as our founder who was inspired by God, but she usually wasn't all that emphasized here either. Most of the time emphasis was placed on teachings of the bible. We did routinely learn about the history behind how the Sababth was changed from Saturday to Sunday and we covered a lot of church history. But the majority of the things we were taught and learned about align with what many other Christian denominations believe today.

I personally had no issues walking into a Baptist or NonDenominational church in my adult life and adapting nicely. There are a few of my beliefs from being SDA that I hold onto, but most things are irrelevant compared to the "core" things Christian denominations believe in. I was always appalled at SDA's being compared to the JW organization when really they are nothing alike!

Thank you for making these comparison videos to shed light on the details.

[chrisdewitt]

Many years ago at a summer job, I (Catholic) was having a discussion about the purpose of life and objective Truth with an atheist over our lunch break. During it, a couple of my co-workers, a SDA and a JW joined in and it turned into one hilarious discussion! I am sure you can imagine….

[poppycorn]

This is refreshing to see someone speaking on SDAs in such a neutral light, most are so quick to call it a cult that's hard to even get a word in around other Christian groups. I appreciate your work!

There are a few points I feel are beneficial to clarify:

1) For foot-washing, the main fellowship hall is usually designated for couples and families. Single or unaccompanied men and women have designated separate rooms for modesty reasons.

2) The SDA church recognized Ellen White's Spirit of Prophecy writings as inspired, however her words are not to be taken as authority, rather, her own stance is to, "Bring your evidences, clear and plain, from the Word of God."

3) SDA being the "true church" essentially means that we believe to be the denomination that currently has the most accurate interpretation of the bible in modern day, not that we are exclusive. We believe God is loving and just, therefore, those who have never known the gospel and God-fearing Christians without fair exposure to SDA doctrines will be judged by the light they did receive and how they responded to it. This is supported in Romans 2:12-16, speaking on Gentiles who do not "have the law", but still "do by nature things required by the law".

4) The mark of the beast is a symbolic mark on the hand or forehead, symbolizing our thoughts and/or actions being contrary to the word of God. This is sourced from Deuteronomy 11:18, "Fix these words of Mine in your hearts and minds, tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.". Also mentioned prior in 6:6-8, emphasizing to teach God's word their children, and to incorporate it throughout the day as a part of their lives. The mark of the beast on the hand symbolizes your actions not being aligned with God, and your forehead your thoughts and decisions.

5) The jewelry thing is complicated. The same source you took that speaks contrary to jewelry also defends wearing wedding bands, because it is a sign of virtue in the culture. Ultimately there is, to an extent, a recognition that there are variations of modesty across cultures (in South America many SDAs are against women wearing pants, however majority of SDAs in North America recognize pants to be acceptable as long as there is a distinction between male and female fashion). The real issue on jewelry is the "needless, extravagant expenditure of money to gratify pride and love of display", as stated by founding members including Ellen White. So in many SDA circles, it's not about the jewelry itself being a sin, but about the social implications behind the extravagance, peacocking, and displays of wealth. Many churches are fine with an occasional bracelet or even earrings, accepting in moderation, although some congregations do reject it entirely.

6) The General Conference of SDAs voted in 2015 against the ordination of women, . However, this does not prohibit women from serving in pastoral roles and it has essentially been left for unions to decide their stances.

[kevinmorgan_truth]

Very clear and accurate ... and non-stop. As a content creator myself, I commend you on your non-stumbling delivery of such a lengthy comparison.

[JohnParks-zcpn]

The JW found that many of their positions were contradicted by the Bible. So they wrote their own version of the Bible.

[FishermensCorner]

Absolutely outstanding work. If anyone is interested in SDA, I'm happy to clarify and have uploaded sermons.

[pumaspaw]

I am an SDA. I thought your presentation was excellent. And if you read other SDA's who have commented here you'll see that it is likely that though we have a lot in common, it's easy for us to also disagree on some of the specifics. We are likely the second most eclectic church in the world, having the largest protestant educational system, which is spread across most of the planet. Cultural differences alone mean it is a constant but joyful challenge to be one church. Being so culturally diverse is just one way we vary. Though we have some fundamental beliefs, the whole Bible is our creed, which guarantees there will be differences. What I have found is that our differences help balance us. Praise God for our differences. As long as we love each other and are patient with each other, which is in itself a gift from God, we grow in the realization and actualization of God's will for both the church and individually. It's a wonderful journey.

[stargazerblah]

How refreshing to see up to date material. A big thank you.🤩

[shepardbrostv]

JW Go from "we are not under the old law so we can eat anything" to "we don't participate in giving blood because the bible said not to deal in blood" is so wild to me.

[therealbosslady]

I’m a former Pentecostal turned SDA and I’m so glad!!!

[TonyR_]

Hi, as a SDA just wanted to say how much I appreciated your video 💯

[derekpatterson]

It was the SDA church's teaching on the Antichrist and the Mark of the Beast that convinced me they had the truth.

[carlosdurand]

My son is SDA. I volunteer for his Pathfinder program. Good people. I'll stay Catholic though.

[EricVida]

SDA's also believe Michael is a name for Christ, but SDA's reject the idea that Christ is a created being.

[JaredCannon]

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." James 1:5-6

[SoeoS]

Thank you for sharing. I learned a lot about different denominations through this channel. May God bless you, and may God lead us.

[VndNvwYvvSvv]

Really biting my tongue. Lol. Thanks for delivering this information in a straightforward, unbiased way. As always