Why I Can't Walk Away from Adventism

Over the years I have written, blogged, and podcasted about Adventism. And a big part of what I have focused on is refuting and resisting the toxic ideas prevalent in our church.

Legalism

Eurocentrism

Perfectionism

Consumerism

Traditionalism

and more.

I've gone toe to toe with Last Generation Theology (a conservative SDA soteriological model which I consider heresy), modern SDA local church structures, and the many customs and traditions we adhere to like they are the 10 commandments even though they are just man made constructs that need to be upgraded or discarded.

As I wrestle with all these issues in our denomination, I see others in the same struggle who choose to simply leave. They unplug, check out, and move on.

Why don't I do the same?

Three simple reasons.

1. There is nowehere else to go. I am a theology nerd. I've studied all the theological systems. And when it comes to protestantism these are your options: A) Join a Calvinist denomination that believes God is a divine dictator, B) Join an Arminian denomination that doesn't have a cohesive theological system, or, C) Leave protestantism.

I don't want to leave protestantism. I don't want to join a denomination that doesn't have a cohesive theological system. And I don't believe God is a divine dictator. So Adventism, with its anti-divine tyranny perspective plus its cohesive systematic theology and its commitment to protesting "church empire" is kinda the only option for me.

2. We aren't the only toxic ones. Calvinist theology is inherently coercive. Arminianism is inherently inconsistent. Arminianism believes in free will and God's love, but it retains eternal torment and many of its local churches exhibit their own version of spiritualized toxicity (such as disaster warfare theology, prosperity gospel, charismania etc.)

Not to mention, many of these churches are first in line to support the unification of church and state and advocate for a Christian nationalist agenda.

Adventism, on the other hand, is built on seperation of church and state and while it has many toxic elements, swapping ours for someone else's just seems silly to me.

3. Our potential is unmatched. When I compared SDA theology to other theological systems out there, I found that despite our major flaws as a culture, our theology possesses a raw potential that no other theology has. Inherent in our potential is a theology of love that is coherent (ex. we don't believe God loves you but will burn you in hell forever if you don't love him back). This coherence invites deep nuance which, in turn, rejects creeds and established statements of truth, opting instead for a vision of truth as an unfolding phenomenon (present truth) where we are constantly discovering more and more of God.

But thats not all. Adventism also holds space for a theology of social protest, a theology of human wholeness, a theology of ecological harmony, a theology of cosmic rebalancing, and a theology that is diverse, inclusive, and contextual.

Perfect? No.

Often twisted into its own version of coercive conservatism? Yep.

Capable of becoming so much more while maintaining a cohesive biblical cosmology? Oh, yeah.

And its that last bit that keeps me here. Our potential. What our story is capable of. What we can be.

There will always be a toxic Adventism that obsesses over rules and control. Every denomination has a dimmension like this.

But the potential of a theology like ours to bring healing and beauty to the human experience? It's unmatched in my opinion. And I really, truly believe that.

I'm excited about that vision. I want to be a part of that message. And in my own small way, I want to participate in what this radical truth will bring to the world.

So I'm not going anywhere.

Here I stand. I can do no other.

How about you? Despite our movement's many issues, why are you still here? Share below!