Historic Adventists

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“Historic Adventists” is a self-designation used by some within the Seventh-day Adventist church who regard themselves as upholding the traditional theological positions of the church. They are also known as “traditional Adventists”.

As a general rule, historic Adventists feel that the church has departed from key doctrinal platforms (or "pillars") ever since the second half of the 20th century. Specifically, they point to the publication in 1957 of a book entitled Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine; this book is considered to undermine historic Adventist theology in favour of theology more compatible with evangelicalism.

Prominent figures in historic Adventism include M. L. Andreasen, Herbert Douglass, Dennis Priebe, and Russell and Colin Standish. The Last Generation Theology movement[1], Hope International[2] and the “Concerned Brethren” are expressions of historic Adventism.

While historic Adventists have generally not broken away from the Adventist denomination to form their own church, believing that the Adventist church is still God’s chosen instrument, many historic Adventists feel that the wider church has apostatized and some even argue that the denominational leadership is presently in apostasy.

Historic Adventists lie at the opposite end of the Adventist theological spectrum to progressive Adventists.

1 Theology
2 Publications
3 Criticism
- 3.1 Anti-Catholicism
- 3.2 Answers to Criticism
4 Official church reaction
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Theology

Historic Adventists tend to place much more emphasis on sanctification than justification, believing that sanctification is as necessary for salvation as justification. They prefer to define the atonement in terms of God’s work to cleanse our character from sin as well as payment of the penalty for sin. The work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary is regarded as a continuation of the work of atonement begun on the cross, rather than the application of the benefits of an already completed atonement.

Sin is typically defined as acts which break the commandments, rather than an inherent corruption of the human nature. The traditional Protestant concept of original sin is thus rejected. Jesus Christ is believed to have possessed a fallen nature in common with all the children of Adam.

"Eschatological perfectionism" is the teaching that a final generation of believers must achieve a state of complete sinlessness in the final period just before the second coming of Jesus. Accordingly, the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary, or investigative judgment, is thought to also involve the cleansing of the lives of believers on earth.

Historic Adventists generally place more emphasis on the writings of Ellen G. White as a doctrinal authority compared to other Adventists, often considering her writings as infallible and having equivalent status to the Bible.

A different interpretation of the 1888 Minneapolis General Conference is usually promoted.

Many historic Adventists are advocates of the "King James Only" movement.

[edit] Publications

Our Firm Foundation[3] is a monthly magazine produced by Hope International, an independent organisation committed to historic Adventism.

[edit] Criticism

Mainstream and progressive Adventists have criticised the use of the term "historic". It is observed that numerous doctrinal positions that were common among the Adventist pioneers are generally not held by those who profess to be "historic Adventists", such as semi-Arianism, which time of day the Sabbath should begin, certain understandings of Systematic Benevolence, the "shut door", and the personhood of the Holy Spirit.^[1] It is argued that the over-valuing of "historic" beliefs leads to an unhelpful neglect of "new light".

Walter Martin labeled most of the historic Adventists he encountered as "legalists," "worshippers of Ellen White" and the "lunatic fringe."^[2]

[edit] Anti-Catholicism

Historic Adventists have spent large amounts of money for special literature and billboard and newspaper advertising around the country, with a message declaring that the pope is the antichrist.^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9] This has caused great embarrassment for the Seventh-day Adventist denomination.^[10]^[11]

Ellen White wrote,

"I have long known that fanaticism will be manifest again, in different ways.

"We cannot allow excitable elements among us to display themselves in a way that would destroy our influence with those whom we wish to reach with the truth. It took us years to outlive the unfavorable impression that unbelievers gained of Adventists through their knowledge of the strange and wicked workings of fanatical elements among us during the early years of our existence as a separate people."^[12]

"I was not favorably impressed with the startling notices of your meetings. They savor of fanaticism. . . . Do not issue notices so worded as to create an alarm."^[13]

[edit] Answers to Criticism

Historic Adventists are well aware of Ellen White's admonitions against making sharp thrusts against Catholics. For example, Ellen White wrote,

"Brethren, I feel hurt when I see that so many decided thrusts are made against the Catholics. Preach the truth, but restrain the words which show a harsh spirit; for such words cannot help or enlighten anyone."^[14]

Historic Adventists believe that they are being very loving in their evangelism and deny that the charge of fanaticism applies to them. And they quote statements by Ellen White to support their view. For instance:

"Men will misrepresent the doctrines we believe and teach as Bible truth, and it is necessary that wise plans should be laid to secure the privilege of inserting articles into the secular papers; for this will be a means of awakening souls to see the truth. God will raise up men who will be qualified to sow beside all waters. God has given great light upon important truths, and it must come to the world."^[15]

"We must take every justifiable means of bringing the light before the people. Let the press be utilized, and let every advertising agency be employed that will call attention to the work. This should not be regarded as nonessential. On every street corner you may see placards and notices calling attention to various things that are going on, some of them of the most objectionable character; and shall those who have the light of life be satisfied with feeble efforts to call the attention of the masses to the truth?"^[16]

[edit] Official church reaction

The Seventh-day Adventist church has officially reacted to certain organisations which espouse "historic Adventist" theology. In 1998, the General Conference established a committee to evaluate the beliefs and activities of Hope International, the Hartland Institute (USA) and Remnant Ministries (Australia). The committee produced a report expressing "serious concerns with respect to the nature and purpose of Hope International and associates."^[17]

The conclusion of the report stated that "by rejecting the authority of the world church in session when their interpretation of Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy differs from that of the church, [Hope International and associates] have set their authority above that of the world church and operate in a manner that is consistent with offshoot movements." The report also contained a significant threat: "If Hope International and associates cannot bring themselves into harmony with the body of the world church, clearly evidenced within 12 months, the Seventh-day Adventist Church may need to consider whether there exists a “persistent refusal to recognize properly constituted church authority or to submit to the order and discipline of the church” (Church Manual, p. 169)."^[17]

In 2003, the Adventist church republished an annotated version of Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine, the book which originally drew heavy criticism from historic Adventist groups and was taken out of print as a result. This action suggests that the church is now more comfortable with marginalising the theology expressed by historic Adventists.