Editing Seventh-day Adventist Church (section)

==Beliefs==
{{Main|Seventh-day Adventist theology}}
[[File:Mozambique_baptism1.JPG|thumb|left|Baptism of young man in [[Mozambique]]]]

The church first published its beliefs and doctrines in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1872, as a brief statement which was titled "A Synopsis of Our Faith".<ref>{{cite web
| author     = Damsteegt, Pieter Gerard
| url        = http://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/949.1411
| title      = Foundations of the Seventh-day Adventist Message and Mission
| publisher  = Ellen G. White Estate
| access-date = August 31, 2015
}}</ref> The church experienced challenges as it formed its core beliefs and doctrines, especially as a number of the early Adventist leaders came from churches that held to some form of [[Arianism]] (Ellen G. White was not one of them).<ref>{{Cite journal |author=Moon |first=Jerry A. |year=2003 |title=The Adventist Trinity Debate Part 1: Historical Overview |url=http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/moon/moon-trinity1.htm |journal=Andrews University Seminary Studies |publisher=Andrews University Press |volume=41 |issue=1}}</ref> This, along with some of the movement's other theological views, led conservative evangelical Protestants to regard it as a [[cult]].<ref name="Samples_updated">{{Cite journal |author=Samples |first=Kenneth |year=1988 |title=From Controversy to Crisis: An Updated Assessment of Seventh-day Adventism |url=https://believersweb.org/from-controversy-to-crisis/ |journal= |publisher=Christian Research Institute}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1963">{{cite book |author=Hoekema |first=Anthony A. |title=The Four Major Cults |publisher=William B. Eerdmans |year=1963 |isbn=978-0-85364-094-3 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>Adventist historian George R. Knight notes several other leading evangelicals who considered Adventist doctrine to be [[heterodox]]; these included Donald Barnhouse (prior to 1950), Norman F. Douty, Herbert S. Bird, E. B. Jones, Louis B. Talbot and M. R. DeHaan. See {{Cite journal |year=2003 |title=Questions on Doctrine, Annotated Edition |journal= |publisher=Andrews University Press |pages=xiii–xxxiii}}</ref><ref>See also {{cite web |author=Julius Nam |title=The Questions on Doctrine Saga: Contours and Lessons |url=http://qod.andrews.edu/docs/02_julius_nam.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719135119/http://qod.andrews.edu/docs/02_julius_nam.pdf |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |access-date=October 13, 2010}} {{cite web |author=Samples |first=Kenneth |title=Evangelical Reflections on Seventh-day Adventism: Yesterday and Today |url=http://qod.andrews.edu/docs/08_kenneth_samples.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719135143/http://qod.andrews.edu/docs/08_kenneth_samples.pdf |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |access-date=October 13, 2010}}</ref> According to Adventist scholars, the teachings and writings of White ultimately proved influential in shifting the church from largely semi-[[Arianism|Arian]]<ref>{{Cite web |author=Moon |first=Jerry |title=Were early Adventists Arians? |url=http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/Trinity%20Review%20art%20Arian%20sidebar.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524221544/http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/Trinity%20Review%20art%20Arian%20sidebar.htm |archive-date=May 24, 2017 |access-date=March 17, 2017}}</ref> roots towards [[Trinitarianism]].<ref>Jerry A. Moon, [http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/moon/moon-trinity1.htm The Adventist Trinity Debate Part 1: Historical Overview] and [http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/moon/moon-trinity2.htm The Adventist Trinity Debate Part 2: The Role of Ellen G. White]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309004440/http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/moon/moon-trinity2.htm|date=March 9, 2017}}. Copyright 2003 Andrews University Press. See also [http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/gane-thesis/index.htm The Arian or Anti-Trinitarian Views Presented in Seventh-day Adventist Literature and the Ellen G. White Answer]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170117042338/http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/gane-thesis/index.htm|date=2017-01-17}} by Erwin Roy Gane.</ref> Adventists, for the most part, credit her with bringing the Seventh-day Adventist church into a more comprehensive awareness of the Godhead during the 1890s. The Adventist Church adopted Trinitarian theology early in the 20th century and began to dialogue with other [[Protestant]] groups toward the middle of the century, eventually gaining wide recognition as a Protestant church. ''[[Christianity Today]]'' recognized the Seventh-day Adventist church as "the fifth-largest Christian communion worldwide" in its January 22, 2015 issue.<ref>{{cite magazine
| author     = Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra
| url        = http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2015/januaryfebruary/season-of-adventists-can-ben-carson-church-stay-separatist.html
| title      = The Season of Adventists: Can Ben Carson's Church Stay Separatist amid Booming Growth?
| magazine   = Christianity Today
| access-date = August 31, 2015
}}</ref>

Although her husband claimed that her visions did not support the Trinitarian creed,<ref name="tcreed"/> her writings reveal a growing awareness on the "mystery of the Godhead".<ref>{{Cite web |title=E. GANE M.A. Thesis. Ellen G. White A Trinitarian Monotheist |url=http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/gane-thesis/e-gane13.htm}}</ref> After continued Bible study, and after a decades-long debate, the denomination eventually concluded that Scripture explicitly teaches the belief in the existence of a triune God, and it affirmed that biblical view in the [[non-credal]] 28 Fundamental Beliefs.<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Knight|editor-first=George|title=Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine|year=2003|publisher=Andrews University Press|location=Berrien Springs, Michigan|page=5|edition=Annotated}}</ref>

However, mainstream scholars are still not convinced that Ellen White was a Nicene Trinitarian.<ref name="tcreed">{{cite book |last1=Bull |first1=Malcolm |title=Seeking a Sanctuary: Seventh-day Adventism and the American Dream |last2=Lockhart |first2=Keith |publisher=Indiana University Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-253-34764-0 |page=75 |chapter=The Divine Realm |quote=With Adventism's most articulate spokesmen so implacably opposed to the doctrine of the Trinity, it is unsurprising that one researcher was forced to conclude that he was "unable to discover any evidence that 'many were Trinitarians' before 1898, nor has there been found any Trinitarian declaration written, prior to that date, by an Adventist writer other than Ellen G. White." But even this is an overstatement. Although not actively anti-Trinitarian, Ellen White always carefully avoided using the term "Trinity," and her husband stated categorically that her visions did not support the Trinitarian creed. |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ACUBSUGQCMYC&pg=PA75}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first1=Fritz|last1=Guy|editor-first1=Terrie|editor-last1=Dopp Aamodt|editor-first2=Gary|editor-last2=Land|editor-first3=Ronald L.|editor-last3=Numbers|title=Ellen Harmon White: American Prophet|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrIZAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA144|chapter=Theology|date=April 11, 2014|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-937387-1|pages=144–145|quote=Strictly speaking, very seldom did Ellen White "do theology." That is, she did not ordinarily do what professional theologians typically do. She did not produce a book of or about theology. She did not think, speak, and write in theological language. ... She did not elaborate a particular doctrine of the Trinity, atonement, God and time, or free will. She did not explain the precise meaning and broader implications of her own language and ideas, nor did she always use her theological vocabulary consistently. She did not endeavor to explain verbal or conceptual inconsistencies—either those of Scripture or her own—or to reduce the tensions inherent in her overall theological understanding.}}</ref> In her writing, she mentions a ceremony in heaven where Jesus was recognized in front of the heavenly host, to be equal with the Father, which Satan disapproved of (as explained in her book ''Spirit of Prophecy Vol. 1'').<ref name="Bull Lockhart 2007 p. 72">{{cite book |last1=Bull |first1=Malcolm |title=Seeking a Sanctuary: Seventh-day Adventism and the American Dream |last2=Lockhart |first2=Keith |publisher=Indiana University Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-253-34764-0 |page=72 |chapter=The Divine Realm |quote=As White related in the ''Spirit of Prophecy,'' the devil's revolt against divine law came about precisely because Satan was unwilling to accept Jesus' position in the heavenly hierarchy. At that time Satan, who was then known as Lucifer, was "a high and exalted angel, next in honor to God's dear Son." It was an arrangement with which he had been happy, according to White, until a primordial ceremony formalized the supremacy of Jesus: "The Father then made known that it was ordained by himself that Christ, his Son, should be equal with himself." However, Satan believed that this decision had been taken without prior consultation, and he convened a meeting of the angels to air his grievances. A ruler had now been appointed over them, he said, and "he would no longer submit to this invasion of his rights and theirs." |access-date=7 March 2022 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ACUBSUGQCMYC&pg=PA72}}</ref>

The official teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination are expressed in its 28 Fundamental Beliefs.<ref name=history/><ref name=council>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oikoumene.org/church-families/seventh-day-adventist-church|title=Seventh-day Adventist|website=[[World Council of Churches]]|access-date=2023-06-23}}</ref> This statement of beliefs was originally adopted by the [[General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists|General Conference]] in 1980, with an additional belief (number 11) being added in 2005.<ref>{{Citation |title=World Church: Growing in Christ, New Belief Statement, Voted |date=July 3, 2005 |url=https://news.adventist.org/en/all-news/news/go/2005-07-03/world-church-growing-in-christ-new-belief-statement-voted/ |publisher=Adventist News Network}}.</ref> Almost all of the 28 Fundamental Beliefs are the same as other [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]] Protestant denominations. The Adventist beliefs that evangelicals consider [[heterodoxy]] is worshiping [[God]] on [[Saturday]], the gift of prophecy by Ellen G. White and the sanctuary doctrine.<ref name=beginning/>

The church believes God [[Genesis creation narrative|created Earth]] in [[Young Earth creationism|six days]] and rested on the seventh day, Saturday.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Seventh-day-Adventists-reaffirm-six-day-creation-1501644.php |title=Seventh-day Adventists reaffirm six-day creation |last=Ostling |first=Richard |date=2004-11-13 |website=[[Houston Chronicle]] |access-date=2022-09-26}}</ref><ref name=creation>{{Cite web |url=https://desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2015/10/26/basics-seventh-day-adventist-church/74638112/ |title=Basics on the Seventh-day Adventist Church |last=Noble |first=Jason |date=2015-10-26 |website=[[The Des Moines Register]] |access-date=2022-09-21}}</ref> The Seventh-day Adventist Church believes in baptizing new members by [[believer's baptism|immersion]].<ref name=beginning/><ref name=protestant/> It believes the Bible to be the [[Sola scriptura|most important book]].<ref name=beginning/> They believe when [[human]]s die, that they remain asleep until they are [[Resurrection|brought back to life]]. [[Eternal life (Christianity)|Eternal life]] is given to people who accept [[Jesus]] as their [[Redeemer (Christianity)|Savior]]. The church believes that one receives [[Salvation in Christianity|salvation]] through only Jesus.<ref name=creation/> It believes that the [[investigative judgment]] will take place in [[heaven]] before Jesus returns to [[earth]].<ref name=creation/> The church believes in the [[Book of Revelation|Apocalypse of John]] which will bring on the [[Second Coming]] of Jesus.<ref name=roil>{{Cite web |url=https://latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-aug-13-mn-12855-story.html |title=Currents of Change Roil Seventh-Day Adventists |last1=Gorman |first1=Tom |last2=Lichtblau |first2=Eric |date=1998-08-13 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=2022-09-23}}</ref>