The Southern Cross, by Jason Scott: In our ongoing series, “Denomination Relations,” Jason Scott explores the history, shared beliefs, and differences between Catholics and other Christian denominations. This week, he turns his attention to the Seventh-day Adventists.
Where Do Seventh Day Adventists Come From?
The Seventh-day Adventist Church emerged in the mid-19th century, rooted in the Millerite movement, which anticipated the Second Coming of Christ in 1844. After the predicted date passed without event, a group of believers, led by Ellen G. White, James White and Joseph Bates, reorganized their beliefs and formed what would become the Seventh-day Adventist Church. They are known for their observance of the Sabbath on Saturday and their emphasis on health and wellness.
Seventh-day Adventists place a strong emphasis on the authority of Scripture and the ministry of White, whose writings they consider inspired. They also advocate for a holistic approach to life, promoting vegetarianism and a healthy lifestyle as part of their religious practice.
What We Agree On
As Catholics, we share fundamental beliefs with Seventh-day Adventists: the Trinity, Christ’s divinity and humanity, and the resurrection. We both affirm the importance of the Bible as the word of God, though our interpretations and applications differ. Both traditions emphasize the importance of living a life of faith and obedience to God’s commandments.
Where We Disagree
From a Catholic perspective, the key disagreements with Seventh-day Adventists are clear. Seventh-day Adventists observe the Sabbath on Saturday, which contrasts with the Catholic tradition of observing the Lord’s Day on Sunday. This difference in Sabbath observance reflects a broader disagreement on the role of the Old Testament law in the life of the Christian, with Seventh-day Adventists still following many of the old Jewish laws
Seventh-day Adventists do not recognize the authority of the Pope or the hierarchical structure of the Catholic Church, favoring a more congregational form of governance. They also reject the Catholic doctrine of the immortality of the soul, believing instead in the concept of “soul sleep,” where the dead remain unconscious until the resurrection.
Furthermore, Seventh-day Adventists do not uphold the Catholic sacraments, particularly the Eucharist, and do not believe in the real presence of Christ in the sacrament. Their practice of baptism by immersion for those who have reached an age of accountability differs from the Catholic tradition of infant baptism.
Recent Steps Towards Unity
Despite these differences, progress has been made. The Second Vatican Council’s Decree on Ecumenism, Unitatis Redintegratio, opened doors for dialogue with other denominations, including Seventh-day Adventists. More recently, joint statements and collaborative projects have highlighted areas of agreement and mutual respect. For instance, both groups have worked together on humanitarian efforts, such as disaster relief and health initiatives, reflecting a shared commitment to serving others.
While formal theological dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Seventh-day Adventist Church has been limited, there have been informal discussions and cooperative efforts in areas of common concern, such as religious freedom and social justice. These efforts reflect our shared commitment to unity and the healing of centuries-old divisions. As Catholics, we are committed to reuniting Christians and restoring full communion within the one true Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, to heal the wounds of centuries-old divisions.
Our Comment:
Are Seventh-day Adventists helping to form the image to the beast?
Prophetic Link:
“When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the State to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.” Great Controversy (1888), page 445.1.
Comments
George Chakhuta
Thursday May 22nd, 2025 at 09:14 AMEnd times. Almost all the denominations will unite with papacy.Only the remnant shall be saved.
William Stroud
Friday May 23rd, 2025 at 11:50 PMThis seems to be a pretty fair description of who we, the SDA Church, are. It does not give a fair description of the Catholic church. As far as the Bible is concern, we SDAs believe it to be the infallible Word of God and , along with the Holy Spirit, our only trustworthy guides. Catholic doctrine strays far from Biblical truth and follows human tradition. I don’t see any way we can unite with Rome…unless they realize their error and repent. Pretty sure that’s not going to happen. Meanwhile we need to share God’s truth with the world. Time is short. Blessings to all.
Maureen Franklin
Sunday May 25th, 2025 at 05:01 AMWho have Catholics been talking to that they have concluded that
there is the possibility of unity between Catholics and Adventists.
Maybe the Catholic Church is trying to undermine the unity of the Adventist Church by publishing what they know to be misinformation. Maybe but I suspect that they have good reason for believing the Adventist Church will soon be theirs. They do not understand that this is God’s Church! No matter how many in high places have forsaken (or never really believed) this message, God is still in charge of His last day message. The Adventist Church may be rapidly becoming unrecognisable! We still have a message for the world! Jesus is still coming in the clouds, the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation are rapidly being fulfilled, Revelation is being enacted in front of our eyes. That’s if our eyes are actually open. The three angels messages are still very relevant, they are still our responsibility. The Spirit of Prophecy is still God’s gift to help us in the last days, not to replace the Bible but to lead us to it. The official church may collapse around us but God will keep us faithful if we keep looking to Him. Be strong, be faithful and Jesus will carry us through!!!!