As a whole, the Seventh-day Adventist is considered a cult of Christianity, because they believe that one needs to follow the commandments to enter heaven. Since they also believe in the Trinity doctrine, some evangelicals would like to tone down their label on the group by saying that they are more of a “heterodox” than a cult. Cults are understood to be those groups that are out of orthodoxy; since heterodox is defined as not conforming to the standards of orthodox Christian belief, then they still end up under the category of a cult. It’s merely icing on a cake. Aside from their teaching that one needs to obey the Sabbath for you to be called a follower of Christ, one also needs to embrace the writings and teachings of their founder, Ellen Gould White, in all matters of faith and practices. I have yet to meet a devoted Seventh-day Adventist person who can say that Ellen Gould White’s teachings also has her theological flaws.

Yet, it doesn’t mean that every Seventh-day Adventist individual is doomed to eternal condemnation. That would be judgmental. There are still some of them who still cling on the truth of the Scripture’s teaching; that is, by believing in Jesus Christ, they are saved even though they are not abiding on the legalistic Sabbath. Note that while gently engaging with the Seventh-day Adventist, you may focus on salvation alone. You may want to read the conversation of Christian with Al, a third-generation Seventh-day Adventist.

Kristian: May I ask you a question?

Al: Sure

Kristian: How do you observe the Sabbath?

Al: We do it from 6:00 pm on Friday to 6:00 pm on Saturday.

Kristian: Okay, but can you please show me where it says 6:00 pm to 6:00 pm in the Scripture?

Al: Sure. It’s found in Leviticus 23:32 saying, “It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict yourselves. On the ninth day of the month beginning at evening, from evening to evening shall you keep your Sabbath.”

Kristian: But it says, “beginning at evening, from evening to evening” not 6:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Al: Well, it’s the same because that’s the time of sunset.

Kristian: But still, it doesn’t say 6:00 pm to 6:00 pm, and you mentioned “sunset”. Can you observe Sabbath starting from sunset to sunset here in the Philippines?

Al: Obviously.

Christian: How about in the United States? Can you also observe Sabbath there?

Al: Yes. It’s the same sunset to sunset that we have here, and it’s observed in the west.

Kristian: How about in the Middle East? Can you observe the practice as well?

Al: Of course. That’s where many of the Jewish people are located. Why are you asking?

Kristian: It’s because the Seventh-day Adventists will have no problem observing the Sabbath practice in those countries but if you go to cold places like the Nordic countries such as Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, where the sun does not set in 60 days. What can you say about this?

Al: Well, that’s easy. We use the time from 6:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Kristian: But the concept of 6:00 pm is foreign to the ancient near east people in the Bible. The modern clock with numbers was only invented in the middle of the 17th century by Christian Huygens. And so, if you want to truly follow the Sabbath, then you need to observe the sunset to sunset or evening to evening.

Al: It’s my first time to hear that kind of reasoning. But how do you observe God’s commandment about Sabbath?

Kristian: That’s a good question. You know when Jesus Christ came into this world clothed in human form, He did not abolish the law. He came to fulfill the law just like what He said in Matthew 5:17. It is still unlawful to carve any graven images for worship, commit adultery, murder, and even covet. Since the Jews became so legalistic, they thought that you only sin externally, not knowing that everything begins from the heart. One needs not to bow down to money to make it your idol. He just needs to make money his “lord” then he now commits idolatry. One also doesn’t need to commit a physical act with a woman to commit adultery. He just lusts after a woman in her heart to commit that sin of adultery against the Lord. You see, the Lord expounded the law by saying, “It has been said by your religious authority but now I tell you,” explaining what the law means.

Al: That’s an eye-opener for me. But what about the Sabbath, how did Jesus Christ expound on that practice?

Kristian: That is a good question. You know, Sabbath is not about a day but Jesus Christ. He said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). In other words, real rest was made for man because man is always busy working to get himself right with God.

Al: And how can man obtain that real rest?

Kristian: I was hoping you will ask that. Jesus Christ said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). So you see, real rest is found in Christ alone, not in a day. Not only the Lord Jesus Christ will give us real rest, but He assured us of our salvation because of His finished work on the cross. Would you like to receive Him into your life to obtain that real Sabbath in Christ?

Al: Yes. I want to receive Him into my life.