In today’s world, fashion can be a big deal, especially among young people.

Some religions, such as Amish, Orthodox Jews, or Mormons, have specific dress codes or special types of garments, whether for everyday living or special occasions, like church services or certain holidays.

But does the Seventh-day Adventist Church have official rules for apparel?

We’ll take a look at:

• Any statements, rules, or guidelines the Adventist Church might have
• What the Bible says about clothing
• Biblical principles that guide Adventists’ decisions for clothing

Let’s get to it.

What does the Seventh-Day Adventist Church say about how its members should dress?

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The Seventh-day Adventist Church does not have an official set of rules for clothing. There are no “forbidden” clothes or special garments. In fact, how we dress is likely similar to most other Christians. (We probably shop at the same stores most other people do, generally speaking.)

For the most part, our fashion choices come from biblical principles instead of a list of do’s and don’ts.

Having requirements for the whole Church would be challenging because, as a worldwide denomination, many members come from different cultures, backgrounds, and climates. What’s appropriate in one part of the world may be impractical or even offensive in another.

For example, people may wear less clothing in hot and humid climates compared to cooler and drier places! And some contemporary Adventist churches tend to dress more casually at their worship services while others are more formal.

Time is another factor for why we don’t have official rules. Fashion trends change. The availability of certain materials can vary as well.

When the Church’s co-founder, Ellen G. White, wrote about dress reform, some of the popular fashions in her time were different from what we see today.

However, some general impracticalities still exist. There are clothes that are more expensive than necessary, just because of brand or style. Some garments can still be restrictive, or even alter the natural body shape. And many types of clothes are still made for extravagance rather than function.

Because of these things, many Adventists still use the general advice of Ellen White. Much of this is practical—that clothing should be:¹

• Of good quality
• Appropriate for the occasion
• Functional and suitable for service, rather than simply for display or attention
• And if possible, it’s best if clothing can fit easily, so it won’t obstruct circulation or make it more difficult to move and breathe freely

But before we talk further about how Adventists approach clothing, let’s first look at the Bible’s principles that relate to clothing and dress. Because ultimately, Scripture is the standard we strive to base all our decisions on.

What does the Bible say about clothing or fashion?

Overall, the Bible provides general principles rather than specific rules when it comes to clothing. God is more interested in our hearts than how we look (1 Samuel 16:7), so it makes sense that spiritual issues would have a stronger emphasis than style of dress would.

For example, Paul stresses the importance of “good works” expressed “in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control” (1 Timothy 2:9-10, ESV).

This doesn’t mean our clothes determine the status of our faith or our salvation, or that we should dress with the intention of drawing attention to ourselves or to impress others. Paul is reminding us that all things about the way we live can be expressions of our beliefs. Including how we dress. That’s why we approach most forms of outward expression, such as jewelry, entertainment, possessions, or holiday celebrations, in the same manner.

When reading through Scripture, there are occasional mentions about specific articles of clothing, such as the priestly garments, head coverings, and mixed fabrics.² But these were specific to the culture and the needs of that time.

What the Bible does provide plenty of, however, are timeless principles that we can rely on for guidance in choosing apparel.

Biblical clothing principles Adventists use

In light of the Scriptures, we navigate what to wear based on:

• Modesty
• Functionality and durability
• Health
• Stewardship
• Appropriateness
• Love for God and others

Modesty

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Modesty goes beyond what we wear. It’s an attitude of humility and respect that can allow people to see Jesus Christ in our lives. Modesty lets the inner beauty of our identity in Christ shine.

“Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God” (1 Peter 3:3-4, NKJV).

Peter isn’t saying we can’t wear nice clothes. He’s reminding us to not let our attire define or hide our true selves.

Ellen White, in her counsel to fellow Christians, agreed that it’s a good thing for clothing or outfits to look pleasant, if possible.

“It should have the grace, the beauty, the appropriateness of natural simplicity. Christ warned us against the pride of life, but not against its grace and natural beauty.”³

Her concerns were primarily about the amount of money that could be spent on clothing and accessories—especially in her era of the late 1800s and early 1900s. She warned about the issues of greed and pride that could come from prioritizing expensive or flashy attire, all while so many people barely had enough money to afford even the most basic clothing.

“Money is a trust from God. It is not ours to expend for the gratification of pride or ambition. … You could bring happiness to many hearts by using wisely the means that is now spent for show.”⁴

She agreed with Scripture, saying that nothing we outwardly wear can compare with the soul’s attractiveness, or with the natural beauty of God’s creation (Matthew 6:28-30).⁵

The wise woman in Proverbs 31, for example, isn’t praised because she’s attractive or dressed in “fine linen and purple” (verse 22, CSB). She’s honored for her integrity, kindness, and resourcefulness. “Strength and honor are her clothing” (verse 25, CSB).

Functionality and durability

Another aspect of modest clothes is that they tend to be more functional.

Functionality means that something does what it’s designed for. Functional items of clothing aren’t just for show. They’re made for a defined purpose—whether that be office clothes, work boots, rain boots, workout clothes, or even the casual outfits we need just for doing things around the house or running errands.

So when we select our clothes based on functionality and practicality, we consider what they’re designed to do and what we need them for.

And durability comes into play for how well the clothes will assist in that function. A high-quality, long-lasting piece of clothing is a smarter choice than something that might look fun but is cheaply made.

Another factor of functionality is health. Our clothes should also serve the fundamental function of promoting, or at least not inhibiting, our health and our ability to live well (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13; 3 John 2).

Health

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Whole-person health has been a special emphasis in the Adventist Church because of how it affects our quality of life and readiness to serve. So anything that could enhance or inhibit our health and abilities—even our clothes—is worth paying attention to.

Some tight-fitting or stiff clothes can restrict our range of motion or cut off circulation if we wear them for too long or try to do strenuous activities in them. This is one reason you don’t see people working out in skinny jeans or button-down shirts at the gym!

It’s also good to think about how some clothing types or features can present minor hazards that could turn into bigger hazards. For example, overly baggy pants or skirts that drag on the ground could be tripping hazards or get caked with germy dirt and grime. And some bedazzled, studded, or lacy clothing or accessories could get caught on or in things and even cause injury in some cases, depending on the place and situation.

Cleanliness is another factor to consider. Garments should be easy to wash and should also protect us from hazards that can cut, burn, or irritate our skin.

A wise man said that there’s a season for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1), and this can include dress. Clothes should be appropriate for the season, climate, and occasion. This helps prevent weather-related health problems, like frostbite and heat exhaustion.

Healthy fashion choices are also important to Adventists because we believe that caring for our bodies is practicing stewardship.

Stewardship

Stewardship is the idea of managing resources that are not our own, or that have been given to us to care for. Think of a property caretaker, or a manager running a shop. Many Adventists see it as a broad term for how we use what God has given us—including our health, time, skills, possessions, opportunities, knowledge, etc.⁶ So you can see how this principle also applies to how we use our money and how we clothe ourselves.

As Christians, we want to invest in what has eternal value, like serving God and others. Christ promises to meet our needs—including clothes—when we focus on God’s kingdom and righteousness.⁷

We can use our money wisely by investing in durable clothes. While we don’t want to buy clothes simply for a brand name, it’s worth investing in something that’s higher quality and will last longer. It may be more expensive at first, but it saves us money in the long run because we don’t have to keep spending money on cheap trends.

A lot of trendy clothes can be cheaply made and still cost more than necessary. And a popular brand doesn’t automatically mean that its products are of good quality. Many times, the name on the tag is more about status than practicality or durability. As fashionable as brand-name jeans with pre-cut holes are, they likely won’t last as long as regular jeans.

It’s also worth investing in clothes that can be suitable for multiple functions or occasions, as well as some that fit specific requirements or uses that apply to your needs, hobbies, job, etc.

Appropriateness

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Appropriateness has multiple factors, including occasion, season, age, gender, size, etc. While functionality is closely linked with appropriateness and modesty, it also has to do with humility and respect. We all have styles that express who we are and what we value. But our style of dress should make sense—especially in situations when clothes could communicate certain messages or priorities, or when some types of clothing or accessories could be overkill or distracting.

One way many Adventists express appropriateness and respect is by dressing up when they go to church on Sabbath. They see it as a special occasion and want to express respect toward God and others. It’s similar to how wedding guests dress formally to honor the bride and groom, and the meaningfulness of the occasion.

The level of appropriateness can vary, depending on the context of the situation and culture. For example, it’s generally expected to dress up in professional attire for a job interview. Dressing too casually, or wearing clothes that are wrinkled or mismatched, can give the impression that the applicant doesn’t respect the role or the company they would represent.

So as much as is reasonable or possible, it’s best for our clothes to match who we are, where we are, why we’re there, and what we do (Deuteronomy 22:5; Exodus 28:1-2).

Ultimately, clothing decisions boil down to motive and intent.

Like if we dress primarily for getting attention and admiration, that could get in the way of love and respect for others and God.

Love for God and others—the bottom line

Love is the baseline for our lifestyle choices.

We don’t need to stress over quantifying if or how a certain garment specifically communicates God’s love or not. It’s more about applying principles—being appropriate, considerate, and humble. And as far as we are able, making a goal for our outfits to express that too.

Our love for Jesus can motivate us to respect Him as our Lord and Savior, and we want our lives to accurately reflect it (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31, NKJV).

Likewise, we want to show honor towards others as well.

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4, ESV).

 

“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ … are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Romans 13:8-9, NKJV).

We don’t want something like clothing to be a point of contention. Instead, we want to build each other up and unite to serve God and enjoy the lives He’s given us.

Adventism doesn’t have clothing rules for its church members because it’s a subjective area that depends on culture, occasion, function, or feasibility.

That’s why, just like it is for many of life’s options and preferences, our relationship with Jesus is our best guide. This frees us up to have a personal style and make our own practical decisions, while also making sure we aren’t overly influenced by shifting fads and checklists.

So, when we go shopping or rummage through the closet, we can consider the principles of modesty, appropriateness, and functionality while still making room for self-expression and preference.

If you’re interested in learning about how Adventists make other lifestyle choices, check out our page about jewelry or

1. White, Ellen, The Ministry of Healing, pp. 288, 293. [↵]
2. Exodus 28; 1 Corinthians 11:4-16; Leviticus 19:19. [↵]
3. White, Ellen, The Ministry of Healing, p. 289. [↵]
4. Ibid., 287. [↵]
5. Ibid., 289. [↵]
6. “Stewardship,” The Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia, p. 1425. [↵]
7. Matthew 6:31-33; White, Ellen G, The Ministry of Healing, p. 289. [↵]

More Answers

There are numerous reasons people join a church or faith community. Searching for theological truth, being part of a support network, wanting to get to know people with shared values, etc.

But what is it about Seventh-day Adventism that draws people in? What is it about this specific Protestant Christian denomination that inspires people from all around the world to become baptized members?

Before we get into the answer to this question, however, let’s be clear that salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ—a personal decision that happens on an individual level. So this isn’t about joining a “right” or “wrong” community of believers, as far as anyone’s eternal destiny is concerned.

But there are profound, interesting, and beautiful reasons people join and remain in a church family, such as the Seventh-day Adventist Church. So let’s explore some of them.

• The benefits of joining a faith community
• Great things about being a Seventh-day Adventist
  • 1) Adventists find hope in having a relationship with Jesus
  • 2) Adventists find reassurance in the picture of a loving God
  • 3) Adventists make the Bible the foundation of their beliefs
  • 4) Adventists enjoy a weekly Sabbath rest
  • 5) Adventists value and promote whole-person health
  • 6) Adventists support Christian education
  • 7) Adventists value humanitarian work and human rights
  • 8) Adventists promote good stewardship
  • 9) Adventists are made up of a diverse, global community
  • 10) Adventists believe in present truth
  • 11) Adventism offers hope for the “end times” (Second Coming)
• How to join the Adventist Church

Let’s start with the basics.

What are the benefits of joining a faith community?

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Community is a big part of who we are. We all seek to find belonging, whether that’s with our family, friends, peers, co-workers, or any group of people we share parts of our lives with.

It’s natural to long for genuine connection with others, and we start to feel more comfortable when it seems like we’ve found “our people.” Most of these bonds are created by having something significant in common with others, whether that’s by sharing interests or values.

Faith communities work the same way. They can give you a sense of belonging by providing a place where you can learn together and talk about shared beliefs or values—all while feeling supported and heard.

Being a part of a faith community can also help:

• Improve your health and mental well-being: Studies show that being a part of a faith community can improve one’s overall health, reporting that people tend to have lower rates of depression, suicide, and substance abuse than those without a faith community.¹
• You have a larger impact: You can make a substantial difference for more people by pooling together your time, efforts, gifts, and resources to aid evangelistic efforts or participate in humanitarian projects. Studies also indicate that people who belong to faith communities have higher rates of participation in volunteer service and civic duties.²
• You cope with stress: Studies show that those in faith communities have lower stress levels and often rely on their faith community to help them manage their stress.³
• You experience deeper happiness: Studies show that those in faith communities report feeling happier and more content than those who don’t belong to a faith community.⁴
• You find a sense of purpose: Those who belong to faith communities often feel they have a greater sense of purpose.⁵ Many people find this purpose by supporting and promoting the values of their congregation and encouraging others in the development of their faith.
• You grow in your faith: Dialogue with other members could help challenge your own ideas and bring about new insight, helping you broaden your understanding of your beliefs. Being around others who believe what you do can also provide consistent examples of what it looks like to live out those beliefs.

And while most faith communities can offer these benefits in some way, let’s look at the cherished parts of Adventism that have prompted many people to join the denomination.

Great things about being a Seventh-day Adventist

Adventist churches and communities are diverse in many ways. They can vary in size, location, worship style, and in their collective personalities, cultures, and backgrounds. But there are several common reasons we find our faith to be so enriching and beneficial.

1) Adventists find hope in having a relationship with Jesus

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Adventists are Christians first. We believe that every human being can be saved by their faith in Jesus, specifically in accepting Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross.

This belief reassures us that there’s nothing we can do on our own to earn God’s favor (Ephesians 2:8,9). But we can claim Jesus’ sacrifice and receive the forgiveness He so freely gives (1 John 1:9; Ephesians 1:7).

We find comfort in the fact that Jesus not only forgives us, but helps us overcome the sins we struggle with day by day. And when we choose to follow His will, the Holy Spirit provides us with guidance so we can continually grow in our faith (John 15:5; 1 John 3:9).

The comfort and joy we find in Jesus encourages us to introduce others to Him by spreading the Gospel around the world. We hope that as many people as possible will be able to find comfort in Him, realizing that we don’t have to be slaves to this world and its fleeting, unrealistic expectations (Romans 6:15-23). We hope everyone can experience the profound peace that comes from putting our trust in Jesus alone (Philippians 4:7) while looking forward to the day He returns.⁶

2) Adventists find reassurance in the picture of a loving God

Adventists believe God gave humanity free will. This is a necessary ingredient for complete, unconditional love. God does not force us to accept Him.

He also wants our love to be genuine—given freely because we truly want to spend eternity with Him.

We even believe God shows love in the way He ultimately treats the people who refuse to follow Him.

Adventists do not believe in an eternal hell, or a place where the wicked are sentenced to remain alive to be tormented throughout eternity.

Instead of giving an everlasting life of suffering to those who reject Him, they will cease to exist upon their deaths.⁷

We emphasize that every human being is a unique and loved child of God, so making them endure pain forever and ever with no way of redemption doesn’t align with His character (John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:9).

There will come a time when God puts an end to all sin. And at this time, only those who continue to embrace sin will be put to death by His hand (Revelation 20:14). Nonexistence is the final consequence of choosing a life without their Creator and Sustainer.

We recognize the sadness of any human being becoming forever lost to sin, which is why we take our mission to spread the Gospel seriously. And doing so, we look forward to the day Jesus conquers evil once and for all, allowing us to live eternally on the new earth, free from sin, pain, sadness, and death. And we believe this is the life God wanted for us all along.

3) Adventists make the Bible the foundation of their beliefs

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Adventists believe God reveals the essential truth of life through the Bible. As the ultimate spiritual authority and the written revelation of who God is, Scripture is the foundation of all our beliefs (2 Timothy 3:16; John 17:17).

Our commitment to regular study of the Bible has even helped us better understand the major prophecies within it that affect our lives today and in the future.

Historically, we’ve been interested in learning what the Bible has to say about the end times and Christ’s Second Coming.

In fact, our denomination grew out of our founders’ efforts to better understand what Scripture had to say about Jesus’ return.⁸

By asking the Holy Spirit to guide them as they engaged in intense study, they produced an official summary that describes our beliefs as a Christian, Protestant denomination.

And as the Adventist Church continued collectively studying the Bible throughout the years, this list of beliefs would expand to become our current 28 Fundamental Beliefs.¹⁰

Today, our study of prophecy throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament gives us hope that we can rely on God to bring us through the events of the end times that precede His return.

We also look to the Bible to learn the essential principles of leading a meaningful, productive, enjoyable life, day by day.

That’s why we emphasize the importance of individual prayer and Bible study. We want church members to learn for themselves what the Word of God says.

We even have Sabbath schools where people meet at their local church every Saturday to discuss the Bible and ask questions. This study time helps us grow in biblical wisdom and in our relationship with Jesus.

4) Adventists enjoy a weekly Sabbath rest

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The world we live in is always pushing us to maintain that work grind, going above and beyond and facing physical and emotional burnout in return for monetary and professional success.

Between work, school, family, social obligations, and household chores, it can feel like you hardly have a chance to stop and catch your breath. Or to pause and appreciate all these things you have in your life. But busy weekdays can spill over into packed weekends, and before we know it, another week has gone by.

Wouldn’t it be great to know there was a time set aside for rest, so you could go on a hike or a picnic, visit people, or maybe even just sit and look out your window without having to feel like you’re in a hurry to get to the next thing?

That’s a big part of why God made the Sabbath.

Adventists believe God set aside Saturday, the seventh day of the week, as a day when we can stop our work and actually enjoy the world He made for us. A time for us to pause and recognize that we have a Creator who loves us infinitely (Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11). A time when we can be intentional about enjoying the little things in life that otherwise fly under our radar.

Taking a Sabbath break gives us the opportunity to:

• Go to church
• Read the Bible
• Commune with God in prayer
• Fellowship with our church family and our community
• Spend time in nature
• Enjoy quality time with our family or friends

And that’s not all. Keeping the Sabbath regularly offers us many mental and physical health benefits.

Several studies report that Sabbath-keeping can help decrease anxiety and stress.¹¹

Regular rest has also been shown to strengthen the immune system, improve metabolism, decrease blood pressure, and help relieve chronic pain.¹²

We enjoy Sabbath rest because it provides us with peace and physical rejuvenation.

But, above all, we enjoy Sabbath because it’s time we get to spend with God. And there’s always more to learn about Him!

5) Adventists value and promote whole-person health

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Adventists recognize the way our overall health can impact our well-being, happiness, and ability to do the work we’re called to do.

That’s why many Adventists strive to adopt healthy lifestyles. We’re specifically interested in ones that promote:

• Eating a nutritious, plant-based diet
• Drinking water
• Breathing fresh air
• Getting plenty of exercise

However, we aren’t just concerned about physical health. We also strive for optimal mental and spiritual health. Each of these three types of health has a significant impact on our overall quality of life (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 3 John 1:2).

Studies on Blue Zones—a select group of locations around the world where residents exceed the average life span—report that the only Blue Zone in the United States is in Loma Linda California, where most of the population are Adventists.¹³

Though our primary goal is to spread the Gospel, our emphasis on health is all about helping people enjoy longer, healthier, more fulfilling lives.

That’s why, on top of simply treating patients, many of the 650 Adventist medical facilities around the world teach people about the benefits of adopting a healthy lifestyle and preventing serious health conditions.¹⁴

6) Adventists support Christian education

Adventists believe that education is more than just textbooks and quizzes and listening to a teacher talk. Knowing facts is indeed essential, but we want students to grow in wisdom as well as knowledge.

That’s why Adventists promote whole-person education on each of our campuses. Rather than just meeting academic standards, our schools want students to understand how they can uniquely contribute to the world around them. This includes biblical and spiritual instruction, so they can know not only what the Bible says (Proverbs 22:6), but how we can recognize God’s role in all the subjects they study.¹⁵

Students at Adventist schools learn biblical morality, teaching them how to treat others and how to look at the world through a biblical lens. And most importantly, they are introduced to Jesus and encouraged to build a relationship with Him.

These things are so important to us that we’ve established Adventist elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and colleges to provide high-quality Christian education to students around the world.

Our school system has grown so much that we’re the second-largest Christian education system in the world.¹⁶ (And the largest Protestant Christian school system.)

We also encourage extracurricular involvement. Local churches offer a variety of youth programs like Adventurers, Pathfinders, Vacation Bible School, and Sabbath School. These provide opportunities for young people to apply what they learn in school while becoming more involved in their communities.

7) Adventists value humanitarian work and human rights

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Doing our part to relieve the pain and suffering we see in the world is a call we take seriously (Deuteronomy 15:11; Isaiah 1:17; Proverbs 3:27; Proverbs 19:17; Matthew 5:42; Luke 3:10-11; Galatians 5:13; Galatians 6:2; Hebrews 13:16). As Jesus taught, we want to provide for those in need (Matthew 25:31-46).

In our desire to serve others, our Church has established several humanitarian programs, some of the most notable being the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), Adventist Community Services (ACS), and Adventist Health International (AHI). These organizations provide disaster relief, community support, development programs, and need-based efforts to people across the globe.

We also promote these principles of compassion, hospitality, and helpfulness in our local congregations as we serve our communities through volunteer work.

And as part of caring for others, we strive to safeguard human rights.

Because God has given every human being free will, we believe every person has the right to choose their own religious beliefs (Joshua 24:15).

That’s why the Adventist Church has created the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty organization (PARL).

PARL works to uphold religious liberty on an international scale. It connects with government leaders, hosts events, and creates resources to support the religious rights of everyone, everywhere.

8) Adventists promote good stewardship and taking care of our world

Adventists believe that all of us have the honor and responsibility of taking care of the resources God has entrusted to us (1 Peter 4:10).

We believe God wants us to be mindful about everything in our care (Genesis 1:26, 28; Psalm 115:16). This includes our money, our time, our health, the things we own, and how we treat the people in our lives.

Though sin has and will continue to wreak havoc on our earthly home, we want to do what we can to ensure a healthy environment for all of this world’s inhabitants.

The General Conference of the worldwide Adventist Church states that Adventists seek to protect the environment by living a “simple, wholesome lifestyle where people do not step on the treadmill of unbridled consumerism, goods-getting, and production of waste.”¹⁷

9) Adventists are made up of a diverse, global community

Though Adventism originated in North America, it has grown to become a global denomination of Protestant Christianity.

Today, Adventist churches or organizations are present in 212 of the 235 countries recognized by the United Nations.¹⁸

We’re encouraged by how many people from so many different countries have become passionate about sharing the Gospel and looking forward to Christ’s soon return.

And because everyone was made in the image of God and deserves a chance to get to know Jesus (Genesis 1:27; Mark 16:15), we prioritize evangelism and international mission work. Embracing Jesus’ call to make disciples, we make it a priority to share the Gospel with anyone, anywhere, whether in word or deed.

All the while, we are careful to respect the cultural differences of the people we come in contact with. While we promote unity in Christ, we do not call for uniformity in traditions or methods. When we share the Gospel or serve others, our focus is meeting people’s current needs while demonstrating and promoting biblical principles. We also remember that we can learn a lot from those we serve.

10) Adventists believe in present truth

Our world continues advancing in knowledge. Just think of how far we’ve come in the field of science. Bit by bit, humanity has made discoveries that deepened our understanding of the world around us.

So what would happen if centuries ago, scientists started to refuse to accept new information, or if they ignored new discoveries in favor of what they’ve already been doing for years? Well, we wouldn’t have our current model of the solar system. We wouldn’t understand the dangers of bacteria and the benefits of sanitation. And so on.

In the same way, while the Bible’s principles are timeless and unchanging, we are always advancing in our understanding of Scripture.

The Bible is complex and multi-layered, and it was written thousands of years ago. Though the truth of Scripture is and has always been present, there are some biblical concepts that took believers a while to collectively acknowledge or put into practice. But as humanity matured and progressed, we began to see things in new ways and understand parts of the Bible more practically and more deeply.

Just think about how Jesus had to reveal the concept of the “spirit of the law” to the Jews (Matthew 22:37-40). Or how Paul had to reveal that the Gospel wasn’t just for the Jews, but for everyone (Galatians 3:28).

There is always more we can learn when it comes to God, life, spirituality, and love.

That’s why we strive to be ever-receptive of the truth God can reveal to us. We uphold the knowledge and understanding we have now, but we are always searching the Bible, looking for ways to grow in wisdom.

In this way, we are determined to ensure our beliefs are never based on rigid creeds or dated traditions, but on the dynamic truth the Holy Spirit reveals to us through Scripture.

It’s this teaching that has helped us keep our foundational beliefs relevant, timely, and personal, leaving room for growth in our understanding of the Bible and our relationships with Jesus.

11) Adventism offers hope for the “end times”

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End-time prophecy can indeed seem unsettling, and sometimes scary. But since the earliest days of the denomination, Adventists have made it a priority to study these passages of Scripture.

The goal? To determine what God wants us to understand about the events preceding His return, and what He wants us to do.

The idea of the world ending understandably stirs up frightening thoughts—but when we drill down to what’s actually happening on a cosmic, spiritual level, there is reason for significant hope.

Our sinful world will end so He can make the New Earth for us, restoring it to Eden-like perfection (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21). God will destroy sin forever, and there will

“no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain [because] the first things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4, NASB).

And while the world will seem to tear itself apart right before this happens, God gives us the following instructions throughout these prophetic passages:

“Then He said, ‘Watch out that you are not deceived…” (Luke 21:8, CSB).

“You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet” (Matthew 24:6, CSB, emphasis added).

“But when these things take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is near” (Luke 21:28, CSB).

“But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief. For you are children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness. So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled. … Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6, 11, CSB, emphasis added).

“Be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people…but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” (2 Peter 3:17-18, CSB).

“This calls for endurance from the saints, who keep God’s commands and their faith in Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).

There’s a pattern. All throughout end-time prophecy, Adventists have found that what God actually commands of us collectively can be summed up as:

• Be alert and wary
• Don’t be afraid/trust in Him
• Stand firm in our beliefs
• Encourage one another
• Be patient

And as we do so, we can remember that we serve a God who promises to be with us always (Matthew 28:20), will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5-6), and who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13) and wisdom (James 1:5).

That’s why we collectively emphasize the message of Jesus’ imminent return (Revelation 22:7).

We don’t have to be discouraged by the awful, depressing state of our world. Instead, we recognize that sin is at work in the world so we serve those in need whenever possible. And we do this while upholding and sharing the biggest hope of all—that Jesus’s return could happen at any time, and He will make everything right.

How to join the Adventist church

Currently, over 21.9 million people have decided to become a Seventh-day Adventist Christian.¹⁹

If you’d like to find out more about us, there are many places you can look.

You can find an Adventist congregation in your area and visit one of our church services. Or you can read more about our beliefs, or what a typical Adventist church service is like.

The process for officially joining an Adventist church is likely similar to that of most other Protestant Christian congregations. You’ll talk with one of the local church’s pastors or elders, go over our beliefs and how we live them out, and then you can decide to become baptized or join the church through a profession of faith.

28 Adventist Fundamental Beliefs

15. Baptism
16. The Lord’s Supper
17. Spiritual Gifts and Ministries
18. The Gift of Prophecy
19. The Law of God
20. The Sabbath
21. Stewardship
22. Christian Behavior
23. Marriage and Family
24. Jesus’ Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary
25. The Second Coming of Christ
26. Death and Resurrection
27. The Millenium and The End of Sin
28. The New Earth

Related Articles

1. Drevitch, Gary, “The Health Benefits of Congregational life.”Psychology Today. [↵]
2.  “Religion’s Relationship to Happiness, Civic Engagement and Health Around the World,” Pew Research Center. [↵]
3. Ibid. [↵]
4. Ibid. [↵]
5. VanderWeele, Tyler J., “Religious Communities and Human Flourishing,” National Library of Medicine. [↵]
6. “Mission Statement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church,” General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. [↵]
7. Malachi 4:1, 3; Psalm 37:20; Revelation 20:14; Romans 6:23.  [↵]
8. “History of the 28 Fundamental Beliefs,” General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. [↵]
9. Ibid. [↵]
10. Ibid. [↵]
11. “How Regular Sabbath Improves Your Mental and Physical Health,” Newport Beach Christian Counseling. [↵]
12. Ibid. [↵]
13. “Loma Linda, California,” Bluezones. [↵]
14. “Why are Seventh-day Adventists interested in Health?” General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. [↵]
15. “Teaching A Whole Life For A Lifetime,” General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. [↵]
16. “The Adventist Difference,” NAD Office of Education. [↵]
17.  “Environment,” General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. [↵]
18. Hosokawa, “The Seventh-day Adventist Church: 160 years later,” General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. [↵]
19. Ibid. [↵]

More Answers

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a worldwide nonprofit Christian organization. So, to keep things running smoothly, maintain cohesiveness in mission, and prayerfully discuss current issues, the General Conference (GC) of Seventh-day Adventists holds a “General Conference Session” every five years. It is a 10-day business meeting, along with various prayer meetings and Bible study sessions. Delegates from around the world discuss and vote on major decisions for the church as a whole and set goals for the next few years. The next GC Session will be held in Indianapolis, IN, in 2030

Though a business meeting, anyone (official church member or not) can attend the activities and watch the presentations. This makes the GC Session one of reconnection, fellowship, learning, and spiritual enrichment.

Let’s go over the basics of what’s involved and how it all works:

• General Conference session framework and procedure
• GC session history
• Why the GC session is important

We’ll start with an overview.

General Conference session framework and procedure

The General Conference Sessions are quinquennial business meetings, similar to what many large organizations or governmental entities do to stay engaged with their constituencies. Leaders, workers, and members come together to discuss current events, issues, and policies, and elect the next term’s leadership.

The Adventist Church’s General Conference has its headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. This administrative office coordinates ministries, mission efforts, and other operations within the world church.

It’s also the location of the Biblical Research Institute, which continually studies Scripture and keeps the proceedings of the denomination aligned with biblical principles. Elected officials serve as this office’s leadership.

Delegates are elected from each region of the world to represent their constituencies at the GC session. Generally, delegates tend to be local church officers, pastors, teachers, employees of ministry organizations, or others who have demonstrated consistent service, involvement, and understanding of the discussion points relevant to the current Session.

The number of delegates elected from each region depends on criteria such as population, membership, ministry and mission activities, and other relevant factors. Then, along with the GC directors, church administrative officers, ministry leaders, and so forth, discuss the issues of that session and vote on the outcome.

The items being voted on can include nominating the president, amendments to the church’s constitution, potential changes to the church manual, and goals for the church in the next five years.

To be clear, though, GC Sessions are open to any who wish to participate and see how decisions are made and so forth. You don’t have to be a delegate. Usually, tens of thousands of people attend the event. During the actual business meetings, however, only delegates and those with special invitations are allowed to present to the delegates, and only delegates can vote.¹

Besides voting, the business sessions also include administrative reports from the different regions of the world church. These reports may include membership updates, reports on special evangelism efforts, informing the church of specific needs or challenges in certain areas, etc.

In addition to the official business meetings, GC Session also includes ancillary meetings, or supplementary, secondary meetings. Unlike business sessions, ancillary meetings focus on the social and spiritual aspects of a GC Session. They’re also tailored for the laity and other attendees who are not delegates, such as other church employees or local church leaders, exhibitors, session volunteers, or family members of the delegates.

Ancillary meetings might include:

• Ministry training sessions
• Topical seminars
• Musical programs
• Group-based ministry activities or sessions, such as women’s and men’s ministries, family ministries, youth ministries, and more.
• Worship meetings
• Prayer rooms²

And besides all these events and meetings, attendees also can enjoy browsing through the large exhibit hall. Here, various ministries and church organizations showcase their ministry projects and services, hand out samples or freebies, and network with one another.

So with all these things to do, a typical day at GC Session might begin with a morning worship session. This allows everyone to get into a spiritually-focused mindset for the day, praise God, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide all the official proceedings and ministry activities.

The first business session occupies the delegates for the remainder of the morning, then breaks for lunch. Another business session runs through the afternoon.

In the evening, the atmosphere shifts from business to reflection, appreciation, and enjoyment. Different regions of the world will present mission spotlights, share stories, and near the end of the event, showcase interesting things from their cultures and traditions during what’s called the “Parade of Nations.”³

For those who can’t attend in person, GC Session is typically livestreamed and covered by the Adventist News Network (ANN) and the Adventist Review.

GC session history

Ellen G. White addressing the 1901 General Conference Session, Battle Creek, Michigan, April 12, 1901 Photo Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate

The first General Conference Session was held May 20, 1863 in Battle Creek, Michigan. At this point, the church was beginning the process of becoming organized. A few Adventists, mainly from the northeast and midwest United States, met in a small wooden church, drafted a constitution, elected a president, and established themselves as a Protestant Christian denomination.⁷

At first, GC Sessions were held every year in order to discuss and decide on important issues. But as time passed and the church grew, the time between sessions grew longer. In 1970 it was decided to hold these larger business meetings every 5 years.

Some GC Sessions are more well-known than others. For example, the 1888 GC session helped steer Adventists back to some important doctrinal points about salvation by faith,⁸ and the development of what eventually became the church’s doctrine about the Trinity.⁹

Why the GC Session is important

When a religious organization becomes a global entity made up of a wide variety of regions, cultures, personalities, methods, needs, and opportunities, a unifying event is needed every few years to help keep things on track.

• It’s a time to make major decisions. As the governing body of the entire worldwide church, the responsibility at this level is to guide discussion and decisions related to doctrine, organization, evangelistic efforts, and other issues that affect how the church runs from the administrative level to the local churches all over the world.
• It’s a time to reconnect. Delegates gather from around the world to engage with one another and learn about the joys and the challenges everyone is facing in their regions. It’s an opportunity to learn about other cultures, as well as different ministry methods and approaches.
• It’s a time to refocus. With representatives from the worldwide church coming together, delegates can stay in touch with what’s happening in other places and tap into a broader perspective. It’s an opportunity to set goals together that can not only lend assistance to where it’s needed, but improve the church as a whole.

From the beginning of the Adventist Church, the General Conference Session has been one of the most important aspects of church structure.

It keeps the church making decisions that represent church members in all locations, showcase cultural and spiritual insights, and keep the church unified in mission.

This five-year tradition was born from a need to keep the church focused on the most important motivator we have—and the very reason we exist as a denomination: to spread the wonderful news of Jesus Christ’s love and of His soon return.

Want to learn more about what it’s like to lead a church?

Notable GC Sessions in Adventist History:
1863: General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists organized, and the denomination is made official.
1888: Helping refocus and uphold the role of salvation by faith
1901: Significant reorganization, which included creating departments
1909: The last GC Session Ellen White attended
1980: 27 Fundamental Beliefs established
2005: 28th Fundamental Belief added

Related Articles

1. “Frequently Asked Questions about the General Conference Session,” General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. [↵]
2. Ashworth, Rachel. “62nd General Conference Sessions set for July 3-12, 2025,” Adventist News Network, August 28, 2022. [↵]
3. “Frequently Asked Questions about the General Conference Session.” [↵]
4. “President’s Welcome,” General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. [↵]
5. Ibid. [↵]
6. Ibid. [↵]
7. “The History of the General Conference in Session,” General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists,  [↵]
8. “The 1888 General Conference Session,” Lineage Journey. [↵]
9. Burt, Merlin D. “The Trinity in Seventh-day Adventist History,” Ministry Magazine, 2009. [↵]

More Answers

If you’ve seen how the media portrays the end of the world, this phrase might make you nervous—or outright afraid.

Even without the mental images from movies or TV, the idea of the world ending still seems ominous. Each troubling story we hear about war, oppression, corruption, or disaster just adds to our collective uneasiness.

And that’s understandable. This is all we’ve known—it’s hard to even imagine that this life, as messy as it can be, could meet its extinction at some point.

Thankfully, the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s perspective on this topic offers hope amid a world that feels like it’s spiraling out of control. We turn to the Bible’s assurance that all this evil won’t continue forever. Jesus Christ will return, and He will recreate this earth to reflect its original perfection, just like things were in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1-2).

But what do we do right now?

Adventists have historically prioritized the study of Bible prophecy, and it tells us of what kinds of things will happen before Jesus’ return. This allows us to prepare our hearts and trust in God’s guidance. So let’s take a closer look at what Scripture has to say, and how we can find profound peace in those words.

Here are some of the pertinent questions we’ll answer:

• What do Adventists believe about the end of the world?
• What events will take place right before the end of the world?
• How does this view fit with other Adventist beliefs?
• How do Adventists prepare for the end of the world?

What do Adventists believe about the end of the world?

Image by sudhanshuamazingboy from Pixabay

Adventists view the end of time through a biblical lens, looking forward to our ultimate hope—the Second Coming of Christ. This is described in our 25th Fundamental Belief.

This hope runs deep, as it was part of our roots as a church. The Adventist movement began with people who searched the Scriptures and realized the importance of seeking God and preparing for the fact that this world, as it is right now, is near its end. Our earliest pioneers eagerly waited for Jesus to return in the 1800s, though they misunderstood the timing of when this would happen.

Later on, after further study of Scripture, they realized that other events in Bible prophecy still needed to happen before Jesus could come—and that no one except for God Himself knows exactly when that day will be.

And, yes, there will be challenging times as we approach the end of the world. Jesus Himself spoke of wars, strife, natural disasters, and a general lack of love and compassion, among other signs, that would culminate in His coming (Matthew 24, Luke 21). The end times and the end of the world are the climax of the sin that has been running its natural course throughout humanity.

But at the end of the world, Satan (the devil) will work harder than ever to wreak havoc because he knows his time is short (1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:12).

The prophecies of Revelation 12 and 13 clue us in to a crisis of worship that will come to a head at that time. The devil will seek to oppose and deceive God’s people (Revelation 12:17), which ultimately leads everyone on earth to a once-and-for-all decision of whether to stay loyal to God or relent to the devil’s deceptions (Revelation 13).

We realize how intimidating and unsettling this all sounds. But God doesn’t give us these warnings in Scripture to scare us. Instead, He wants us to be aware of what is coming so we don’t have to be scared. And He invites us to draw close to Him and find comfort in what’s beyond the difficulties.

Though people often emphasize the negative events at the end of the world, the Bible’s emphasis is the opposite: it focuses instead on the triumph of Jesus and His people and the joy we’ll have when humanity is reunited with the fullness of God, and we’ll all live on a beautiful new earth—forever (2 Peter 3:13).

The end of this world is just one sliver of time in light of eternity.

So, what events comprise that space of time?

What events will take place right before the end of the world?

Photo by sudhanshuamazingboy

For the purpose of this page, we’re going to focus on major events that will happen right before the Second Coming of Christ, then through the re-creation of the earth. We’ll include:

• The mark of the beast crisis
• The close of probation
• The time of trouble and the seven last plagues
• The Second Coming
• The millennium
• The destruction of the wicked
• The re-creation of the earth

To find out more about events leading up to these final ones, see our comprehensive page about the signs and events that signal how near we are to the end of earth’s history.

The mark of the beast crisis

The book of Revelation warns against worshiping the beast and receiving the mark of the beast in the last days. In fact, chapters 13 and 14 help us understand that a worship crisis will take place during that time. All of humanity will be faced with the choice of whether to worship God or worship what humans have set up.

How do the beast and its mark tie in?

We’ve covered all of this in a separate article on the mark of the beast, but in summary, a “beast” in the Bible represents a religious-political power. This beast in Revelation will seek the loyalty of humanity, which in turn would lead people away from loyalty to God as sovereign. The “mark,” then, symbolizes the choice to worship this beast power rather than receive the seal of God, an inward sign of allegiance to Him.

This crisis will come to a head, leading everyone to demonstrate who they worship. At this point, everyone will know whether they have accepted or rejected God—which leads us to the next event.

The close of probation

The close of probation refers to the time at which everyone on earth will have decided for or against God. At this time, the Investigative Judgment, which happens in the heavenly sanctuary before the Second Coming (Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14), finishes.

This timing, then, is not about an act of God but is brought about by humanity.

The Bible calls the decision to turn from God the “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit” (Mark 3:29, NKJV). It occurs when an individual rejects God’s invitation for so long that they become hardened against the Holy Spirit (something Hebrews 4:7 warns God’s people about).

But there will come a point in history when all will make their ultimate decision—either keeping their hearts open to the Holy Spirit or becoming completely hardened.

For the sake of illustration, we can compare it to inviting a friend to your house for a dinner party.

You invite them, and you don’t get a response. You might check in with them one or twice, just to make sure they know they’re invited.

And if they turn you down, you might press them a little. But ultimately, you respect their decision. We usually don’t find it worth it to pester people who have already expressed their intent.

Thankfully, God is far more patient with us! He urges us and invites us so many times. Yet in the end, He must respect our choices, even when it hurts Him.

The time of trouble and the seven last plagues

Photo by Алесь Усцінаў

The Bible speaks of a time of persecution and difficulty that will take place right before the Second Coming. Revelation 7:14 hints at it by mentioning that God’s people will come out of “great tribulation” (NKJV). The book of Daniel refers to this time of trouble more explicitly (12:1-2).

This time of trouble will culminate all the wars, strife, natural disasters, and evil that have been building in intensity.

At the same time, God will send judgments—known as the seven last plagues—against those who choose to receive the mark of the beast (Revelation 15:1; 16).

Through these times of difficulty, God will protect those who have remained loyal to Him, who are eagerly awaiting the return of Jesus.

The Second Coming

The Second Coming, sometimes called Second Advent, is what God’s followers have been waiting for and longing for. At last, we get to see Jesus, the center of all our hopes!

The Bible teaches that God’s people don’t disappear from the earth in a secret rapture before the time of trouble. Instead, we’re told that we will “see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30, CSB).

And when Jesus appears with a glorious scene of trumpets and angels, those who died believing in Christ will rise. Meanwhile, followers of Christ who are still alive on earth will ascend into the air to be with them (1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

Those who’ve chosen against God will die at the brightness of Jesus’ divine presence, and they will remain in their graves until after the millennium (Revelation 20:5). God’s followers, though, will have a special role in heaven during this time (Revelation 20:4).

The millennium

The millennium, a fancy word for 1,000, refers to a 1,000-year period between the Second Coming of Jesus and the final destruction of sin (Revelation 20:1-6).

During this time, the earth is desolate (Jeremiah 4:24-26), and the unrighteous are dead. Satan is “bound”—unable to do his work of deception.

Meanwhile, God’s followers are in heaven as “priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with Him for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:6, ESV). Revelation 20:4 tells us that “the authority to judge” (ESV) is committed to them, meaning they have some involvement with God’s judgment too.

The destruction of the wicked

Photo by Vladimir Shipitsin

Revelation 20 says that at the end of the millennium, the wicked will come back to life and Satan will try to deceive them one more time to attack the New Jerusalem, which has come down from heaven (verses 7-8). Fire will come down from heaven and consume them, bringing an end to sin, the devil, his angels, and all those who have embraced sin and rejected their Creator God.

At last, the earth will be free from sin.

The re-creation of the earth

Once the earth has been cleansed with fire, it won’t stay empty. God’s followers will get front-row seats to watch Him re-create the earth into Edenic perfection once again.

It’ll be a beautiful place—free from death, mourning, crying, pain, and all the sinful things that made life difficult here on earth before (Revelation 21:4).

And best of all, God will dwell face-to-face with His people, never to be separated from them again (Revelation 21:3).

How does this view of the end times fit with other Adventist beliefs?

For Adventists, the end of the world is good news: the Bible encourages us that at the end of the world, we will be reunited with Jesus, and the battle between good and evil (called the Great Controversy), which has been raging since sin entered our world, will finally be over. Jesus is our Savior not only from sin’s power but also from a world where it’s present everywhere around us.

At last, all the evil and suffering that hurt us and hurt the heart of God will cease. And we’ll experience the joy of living in God’s presence—just as Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden before they were deceived.

Though the end of the world can seem scary and awful, the difficulties and challenges aren’t our focus. We don’t have to fear what will come because, as long as we have chosen to follow Jesus, He has promised to watch over, comfort, and strengthen us. The difficulties will seem so small in comparison with everything good to come.

Knowing what will happen at the end of the world also encourages us to live in readiness.

We don’t know exactly when these events will take place. The Bible tells us that we don’t know the day or the hour of Jesus’ coming (Matthew 24:36). This means we should live with the expectation that these things could be set in motion at any time.

And it gives us the desire to seek Jesus and fulfill the calling to share the everlasting Gospel of Jesus, as described in Revelation 14.

How do Adventists prepare for the end times?

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko

Preparing for the end of the world isn’t about “prepping”—moving to a remote location, stockpiling canned foods and toilet paper, and getting ready to survive chaotic times. Far from it! The Word of God instead encourages internal preparation and an attitude of readiness to meet Jesus.

It involves committing daily to follow Jesus so that we will want to meet Him when He returns.

This kind of readiness will help to calm our fears, especially as we remember that Jesus comforts us and tells us not to be afraid (Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 24:6).

At the end of Matthew 24, the chapter about the signs of “the end of the age,” Jesus compares preparedness for the end of the world with being a “faithful and wise servant,” doing faithfully what God has called us to do.

The very next chapter, Matthew 25, provides three parables that illustrate what that means.

The first parable—the parable of the ten virgins—speaks about five wise virgins who had enough oil in their lamps while waiting for the bridegroom to arrive.

That oil symbolizes having the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:1-7), encouraging us to seek a personal relationship with Jesus so that He can fill us with the Holy Spirit, who guides us and comforts us.

The second parable—the parable of the talents—tells the story of three servants who received “talents,” money, from their master. Two of them took that money and multiplied it, while one hid his money in the ground out of fear.

The moral of the story?

God wants us to use the gifts and abilities He has given us. Rather than fearing the end of the world, we can be active in serving Him and sharing the Gospel as we wait for Him to return.

And finally, the third parable—the parable of the sheep and the goats—illustrates the importance of living out the love of God and caring for the less fortunate. In the parable, God commends those who have cared for Jesus by caring for “the least of these”—the hungry, the naked, the sick, and those in prison (Matthew 25:35-40, ESV).

The thread that runs through these parables is this: having a heart connection with Jesus that leads to using our gifts and abilities to serve others. This is how we prepare for the end of the world and Jesus’ Second Coming.

The end of the world—the way to a better world

Adventists find comfort and peace in what the Bible says about the end of the world. As Christians, we don’t have to fear what’s coming!

Instead, the truths of the Bible motivate us to seek Jesus more deeply and live in the way He intended us to live. Though we may not be able to control our world’s chaos as we approach its end, we can rest with certainty in the one who has promised to be with us.

The end of the world as we know it might be coming. But it’s all to prepare us for a much better world—one free from sin and all the ruin it has brought in its train.

Related Articles

More Answers

A medical missionary in the Adventist Church is someone who cares for the medical needs of people as a way of showing the love of Jesus Christ. They may travel to another country, or even just serve in their hometown.

Medical missionaries come from various backgrounds and expertise, but they all share a passion for serving.

In this article, let’s find out more about these dedicated people. We’ll cover:

• What medical missionaries are
• Why Adventists emphasize medical mission work
• How Adventists approach this kind of work
• How to become a medical missionary

What medical missionaries are

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko

Medical missionaries are licensed medical professionals who volunteer to help meet people’s medical needs, often in underprivileged communities or regions of the world.

They may be:

• Nurses
• Doctors
• Surgeons
• Dentists
• Physical therapists
• Medical students
• Trained volunteers
• Anyone with medical expertise

Sometimes, people within the Adventist Church describe medical missionaries more loosely as people who:

• Have some training and knowledge about health
• Know about natural or herbal remedies

However, the most well-known understanding of a medical missionary is someone who is a licensed professional, and they will be our focus for this page.

These missionaries might choose to travel to a community on the other side of the world to help, or they might help those in their own community. But the key is, they aren’t doing it for the money. In fact, they probably aren’t getting paid.

They want to help others as a reflection of Jesus’ ministry.

One of the greatest aspects of Jesus’ earthly ministry was His work to heal the sick, injured, and dying. Medical missionaries follow in His footsteps using the knowledge and training they’ve received.

Dr. Peter Landless, director of Adventist Health Ministries, sums it up this way:

“[Medical missionaries meet] people’s needs in a practical way by demonstrating God’s love and compassion.”¹

They aren’t necessarily there to preach to their patients, but in a way, they are. Their care is a visible, hands-on demonstration of who God is.

Let’s see how medical missionaries became such an important focus in Adventism.

Why Adventists emphasize medical mission work

Adventist Christians believe in the power of the medical missionary because of the immediate physical help they can provide—a different approach from regular evangelism.

By helping a person’s physical needs first as Jesus did, medical missionaries are taking a practical approach to evangelism that may resonate more deeply with people. When people experience the loving care of doctors, they glimpse how the doctors reflect what Jesus did for each of us by dying on the Cross.

We are coming to them, showing love and care, even if they don’t care at all about Jesus yet. That is the same attitude Jesus had toward the people He ministered to.

As we’ve already pointed out, Jesus Himself placed a heavy emphasis on healing during His earthly ministry. Often, He healed as He traveled, taught, and preached. A few well-known examples are:

• The man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-9). The man had not been able to walk for 38 years. Jesus told him to rise, and immediately the man was healed.
• The ruler’s daughter (Matthew 9:18-26). This girl had died, but Jesus came, took her by the hand, and raised her back to life.
• The epileptic boy (Matthew 17:14-18). The disciples had tried to heal this boy, but they didn’t have enough faith. So Jesus performed this miracle.
• The blind man (John 9:1-7). This man had been blind from birth. Jesus put clay on his eyes and had him wash in a pool. The man could see from that moment on.

Jesus performed many miracles like these, resulting in the people “glorif[ying] the God of Israel” (Matthew 15:31).

In the same way, Adventists follow in Jesus’ footsteps, pointing their patients to Jesus, the Great Physician. This, in large part, stems from our long-time interest in health.

Where it all began

“The Western Health Reform Institute, the first Adventist clinic”

From its early years, the Adventist Church has valued a holistic lifestyle of caring for spiritual, physical, and mental health. Not long after the church’s founding, one of its leaders, Ellen White, received instruction from God on principles for physical health—from diet to exercise to sleep. She promoted these principles, encouraging church members to care for their health as a way of honoring God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Not long after in 1866, the Adventist Church established the Western Health Reform Institute. This health center not only treated sickness but also taught patients how to live a healthier life.² It was the first of many health institutions, including hospitals, clinics, and more. Adventists trained doctors, nurses, dentists, and other professionals to serve in these places, too.

As the Adventist mission field broadened to other continents, the church increasingly realized the importance of sending trained medical professionals to places with limited medical knowledge as a way of expanding their efforts in those locations.³ So, the concept of medical missionaries was born.

In the beginning, these missionaries followed the establishment of other Adventist missions in the Pacific Islands, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.⁴

In the early 1900s, the General Conference—the leading body of the church—appointed a medical missionary department, with representatives from every continent.⁵ From then on, missionaries have traveled around the world to reach people, both on short-term trips and long-term residencies.

Today, Adventists operate:

• 230 hospitals and sanitariums
• 116 nursing homes and retirement centers
• 1,906 clinics⁶

These hospitals and clinics often provide free care for patients who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it. The goal is to help people and show them Jesus.

Let’s get a look at some of the details.

How Adventists approach medical mission work

Photo by Carlos Magno on Unsplash

Medical missionary work can take many different shapes. On the international level, trips to other countries like China, India, or Zambia are often organized as short-term or long-term posts.

A short-term medical mission trip may include setting up a temporary clinic or establishing a permanent one—but the trip itself is only a few weeks. Licensed and trained medical workers are always present on these trips, but sometimes students or non-medical volunteers go too. Under the licensed professionals’ supervision, the others learn how to do simple tasks to help with the medical work.

In some cases, Adventist universities or high schools will conduct a trip with a group of regular students. While helping others, the students get to experience firsthand the benefits of treating people and portraying Jesus’ love. This may inspire them to become future missionaries or pursue a degree in nursing or another branch of medicine.

Long-term mission trips often include the establishment of mission hospitals or clinics in a certain area, with teams of missionaries who stay for many years to run them.

But medical mission work isn’t only an international effort.

Medical missionaries may even serve their own hometowns through various initiatives. Sometimes, a church will organize a health seminar, inviting members of the community to hear a doctor share about a healthy lifestyle and disease prevention. The church may offer healthy cooking classes or exercise programs, as well.

This is what makes Adventist medical missionary work unique. No matter the situation, the missionaries seek not only to treat the illness but also to teach the patients how to develop healthy habits and improve their quality of life—physically and spiritually.

While Adventist medical missionaries do perform their work out of a desire to share Jesus’ love, they never try to force or pressure people to accept their beliefs. We highly value religious liberty, and accepting Jesus as Savior is always a personal choice (Revelation 3:20).

How to become a medical missionary

While there isn’t one specific Adventist medical missionary organization, there are plenty of opportunities available.

Many times, you can find an opportunity through local churches, which may sponsor trips or individuals or take part in regular trips. Contact the pastor of your local church for more information, and he can guide you to a trip.

After signing up for a trip, you may have to go through some preliminary training or overall briefing of the assignment.

Adventist schools, like Loma Linda University, or organizations, including ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency) and Adventist Health International, also provide medical mission opportunities. These trips may include doctors, nurses, techs, assistants, and dentists for a rounded care team.

Adventist programs not directly associated with the church, such as Wildwood Center for Health Evangelism, also organize trips and offer training courses for candidates to take.

Many times, general mission trips also have a medical component, such as those organized by Maranatha, an organization that funds and carries out construction projects. Be sure to contact the organizers to ask about opportunities for medical work on a trip.

For many official medical trips and roles as long-term medical missionaries, your organization may request a resume or require you to take training classes to ensure that you’re qualified for the position.

Like any mission trip, medical missionary trips cost money. Your church or Adventist school may support part of the bill, but in most cases, you will have to fund a good chunk of it, if not the whole cost. Often, you can fundraise together with other volunteers. Similarly, long-term missionaries are typically not paid, but those with multiple-year posts may receive a small amount to help with living expenses.

Medical missionaries—reflecting Jesus’ ministry

Becoming a missionary and traveling to a foreign place with a different culture, people, and even food, can be challenging—even for a little while. It can be hard for missionaries to adjust and help people at the same time.

Nonetheless, the rewards of seeing people cared for and happy can make the challenges worth it for a medical missionary.

This is Jesus’ love in action. They may not be sharing the amazing news of the Gospel directly, but they are representing who the Gospel is all about: Jesus and His endless love and sacrifice. And that can be just as powerful as a direct witness.Interested in what Adventists believe about medicine?

Related Articles

1. Landless, Peter, “What Is Adventist Medical Missionary Work?” SID Live, November 27, 2018. [↵]
2. Spicer, William A., “Relation of Our Health Work to the Third Angel’s Message, and the Place of the Medical Department in Our Movement,” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, May 17, 1923, p. 3. [↵]
3. Ibid.. [↵]
4. Robinson, Dores Eugene, The Story of our Health Message, pp. 285-286. [↵]
5. Spicer, “Relation of Our Health Work to the Third Angel’s Message.”. [↵]
6. Sanchez, Angelica, “Chosen for Mission: Celebrating 160 Years of the Seventh-day Adventist Church,” Adventist News Network. [↵]

More Answers

Since its organization in 1863, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has identified as a Protestant denomination of Christianity.

While a few Adventist beliefs differ from other mainstream Protestant denominations, all our beliefs are built upon the original principles of the Protestant Reformation—the five solas, or five solae: sola scriptura (Scripture alone), sola fide (faith alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone).

These theological concepts are foundational in how we approach worship, Bible study, church governance, evangelism, and daily life. To get an idea of what this looks like, we’ll go over:

• What does it mean to be a Protestant?
• The role of Protestantism in Adventist history
• How Protestantism is reflected in each Adventist belief

First, we’ll review what makes a person or a church “Protestant” to begin with.

Defining Protestantism—What does it really mean to be a Protestant?

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The word “Protestant” is typically traced back to what we now call the Protestant Reformation.¹ But the label of “Protestant” didn’t emerge until well after this 16th-century movement was in full swing.²

Since the 20th century, however, being a Protestant essentially means that you uphold the 5 core beliefs that fueled the Protestant Reformation:³

• Sola scriptura—Scripture alone
• Sola fide—faith alone
• Sola gratia—grace alone
• Solus Christus—Christ alone
• Soli Deo Gloria—glory to God alone

Sola scriptura declares that only the Bible is the ultimate standard of spiritual authority, revealing God and His will for us. No one can add to it, take away from it, or take its place. Everything else we read, hear, say, or do is meant to reflect it, lead to it, or help us understand and apply it.

The other four solae have to do with salvation:

• Sola fide: Faith in God alone is what saves us—nothing additional is needed from anything or anyone else. We receive His salvation not by any of our own merits, not by the influence of others’ prayers or petitions, and not by gaining the favor of a religious institution. Our salvation is ultimately our choice, using our God-given free will. It’s based on a sincere individual decision to place our faith in God (John 3:16-18; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9).
• Sola gratia: Because “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23, ESV), it’s only because of God’s grace that we can be saved.
• Solus Christus: And this grace is made available to us only through Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. He is our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16).
• Soli Deo Gloria: And all of this is offered to us because of our Creator God’s goodness, power, and unfailing love—to Him be all the glory.

It’s true that Scripture, faith, God’s grace, God’s glory, and Christ as our Savior are certainly among the beliefs of most Christian denominations, including Catholicism. The difference is in the “sola”—alone. The five solae remind us that nothing else needs to be added to the process God established to save us.

How the Advent movement paralleled with the birth of Protestantism

When the Advent Movement began in the United States in the early 19th century, most of its participants were already devout Protestants.

This theological revival was first known as the Millerite Movement, named after William Miller, who began studying Bible prophecy after surviving a close call in the War of 1812. While studying the 2300-day prophecy in Daniel, he concluded that Jesus’ Second Coming (or the Second Advent) would be literal, and it would be very soon.

The Millerite Movement ended in 1844 with what is now known as the Great Disappointment. One of Miller’s followers, Samuel Snow, suggested a specific date for Christ’s return, based on the timing of the Old Testament’s Day of Atonement. When that day came and went, many Millerites lost hope.

But there were also several believers whose faith remained strong. They went back to their Bibles to see where they may have gone wrong in determining the timing of Christ’s return.

Collectively, they still found that Scripture indeed supported a literal and imminent second advent.

But they also agreed that setting a date had been the wrong move, and that the exact timing of Jesus’ return was determined by God alone (Matthew 24:36).

They kept studying together, sharing and discussing all their discoveries and re-discoveries. So the Advent Movement continued.

Most of these Christians who kept meeting together—including founders of Adventism like Ellen G. White, James White, and Joseph Bates—were already part of Protestant Christian congregations in their respective areas. And like Martin Luther when he became convicted about reforming his church, they had no intent on leaving their faith communities behind.

They hoped that sharing what they’d learned would benefit and grow their churches.

However, as they discovered more and more things about prophecy, God’s Law, and Christ’s Second Coming, they found themselves at odds with their congregations. Many of their newfound convictions differed from what most preachers taught from the pulpit.

But that didn’t stop them. They were intent on upholding biblical principles—which, as part of their religious background, already included the five solae of the Protestant Reformation.

None of the beliefs that differed from their former churches had to do with those foundational truths.

In fact, those in the Advent Movement were exemplifying sola scriptura—they chose to remain loyal to what they found in their Bible study instead of setting their convictions aside for the sake of church membership. They felt that the Bible alone should be the basis of belief, not church tradition. So if we learn things from Scripture that differ from what we understood before, it makes sense to embrace it and encourage further study.

That’s why Bible study was, and continues to be, such an emphasis within Seventh-day Adventism. This drive to keep learning is what led early Adventists to discover buried truths about the Second Coming of Christ, the Sabbath, Christ’s ministry in the heavenly sanctuary, and what happens after death.

All in all, we realize that there will always be more to learn about the infinite God we serve.

And along with this continual emphasis on sola scriptura, let’s look at all the ways Adventist beliefs reflect the principles of Protestantism and share commonalities with other Protestant denominations.

The principles of Protestantism represented in Adventist beliefs

The 28 Fundamental Beliefs of the Adventist Church are meant to sum up how we interpret and apply Scripture. They collectively lift up the Bible’s authority, salvation by faith, the grace of God, Jesus as our Savior, and God’s unsurpassable glory.

Let’s look at how each of these beliefs are founded upon the five solae.

Beliefs #2-5—The Trinity/Godhead

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Trinitarian denomination, and the biblical concept of the Godhead is explored in our next four beliefs:

• The Trinity (Belief #2)
  • God the Father (Belief #3)
  • God the Son (Belief #4)
  • God the Holy Spirit (Belief #5)

Together, these statements declare the glory and power of our triune God, as well as the roles of each member of the Godhead. This includes upholding the divinity of Jesus Christ, and how faith in Him alone is what links us to God’s plan of salvation.

Adventists uphold the same views about the Trinity that many Protestants do: that three distinct entities (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make up one single God.

Calvin had a fitting way of describing the Trinity that resonates with how Adventists understand it:

“. . . [T]he Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are the one God; and that nevertheless the Son is not the Father, nor the Spirit the Son, but that they are distinguished from each other by some peculiar property.”

And their titles indicate their roles as part of the Godhead and help us understand them:

• God the Father is the Creator and overseer of everything (1 Corinthians 8:6).

• Jesus came to the earth as a human to be “God with us” and to show us God’s character. He saved us from our sins by dying on the Cross, and He lovingly serves humanity as our mediator, or high priest, in heaven (Hebrews 7:25, Romans 5:8).

• The Holy Spirit is the power that influences and guides us when we allow Him to. It’s how God speaks to us and dwells within us (John 14:16-17, 26; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19).

Let’s take a moment to look closer at our fourth belief about Jesus, the Son, which emphasizes solus Christus.

Still going strong—lifting up Jesus and the Bible

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The Protestant Reformation happened over 500 years ago, but the principles that inspired it are timeless. As Seventh-day Adventist Christians, we base our beliefs on the Bible alone, instead of other spiritual doctrines or laws developed by human, earthly powers. (Even if well-intentioned.)

And we will always “protest” any human-made powers that would try to change, downplay, or replace the five core principles of the Reformation—because they express the foundation of our faith. We will forever proclaim:

1. The Bible is our ultimate authority.
2. We can be saved by placing our faith in God alone—nothing else can save us.
3. It is only by God’s grace that we, as sinners, are given the opportunity to be saved.
4. Salvation is possible because of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the Cross.
5. To God be all the glory—He is our Creator who loves us unconditionally and desires our salvation. There is nothing more powerful or more benevolent than Him.

These five beliefs may seem simple, but they make up the cornerstone for Christianity as a whole. We know Who we can trust, why we can trust Him, and how to get to know Him through His Word.

Want to learn more about the history and formation of the Adventist Church? You might enjoy

1. “Reformation,” Britannica. [↵]
2. “Protestantism,” Britannica. [↵]
3. J. Gordon Melton, ed., Encyclopedia of Protestantism (2005), p. xi. [↵]
4. Institutes of the Christian Religion, p. 73. [↵]
5. Institutes of the Christian Religion, p. 120. [↵]

More Answers

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination that shares many beliefs with other Christians and faith communities who may identify as evangelical.

Officially, however, the Adventist Church has not used this label to classify or categorize itself.

Today, the term “evangelical” might mean different things to different people, and its connotation can also vary depending on location or time period. So to find the most straightforward answer to this question, we’ll look solely at the origin and definition of the term.

In doing so, we find that Adventists indeed align with the core characteristics of evangelicalism, which are based on these four Christian beliefs:

1. The spiritual authority of the Bible
2. The sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the Cross to save us from sin
3. The Holy Spirit’s work in our lives when we choose to follow Jesus
4. The importance of mission and living out our faith

We’ll explore this further by covering the following:

• What does evangelical mean?
• How Adventism aligns with the four core characteristics of evangelicalism:
  • Biblicism
  • Crucicentrism
  • Conversionism
  • Activism
• It’s all about Jesus and the Bible that testifies of Him

Let’s start by looking at the history of the term and the purpose behind its origins.

What does evangelical mean?

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The word evangelical comes from the Greek root euangelion, which means “gospel” or “good news.” This root is used in the New Testament 55 times, often to refer to preaching the Gospel or good news about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, through which we receive salvation and eternal life.¹

Here are a couple examples:

“And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!’” (Romans 10:15, NKJV, emphasis added)

 

“So they [Jesus’ disciples] departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere” (Luke 9:6, NKJV, emphasis added).

In the biblical sense, then, to be evangelical simply means to be someone who preaches the good news of salvation through Jesus.

Let’s look at how this term came into use in more recent years.

The term’s origins

During the time of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther used the Latin term evangelium to refer to non-Catholic churches that came about after the Reformation. But the specific term evangelical wasn’t used until the 18th century.²

In the 18th century, a revival movement called the Great Awakening was in full swing, spurred on by preachers like John Wesley and George Whitefield. They re-emphasized the principles of the Protestant Reformation and tried to bring about revival in the Church of England. Their movement became known as the “Evangelical Party.”³

In its first usages, evangelical was all about revival and a return to the active, genuine Christianity of the early Christian church.

The core characteristics of evangelicalism

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After the Great Awakening, evangelical became a general term to describe Protestant denominations that hold to certain core beliefs. Historian David Bebbington identified those beliefs as⁴:

1. Biblicism
2. Crucicentrism
3. Conversionism
4. Activism

These characteristics are also listed on the website of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), a North American organization that connects and represents evangelical congregations and organizations.

Biblicism is a belief in the ultimate spiritual authority of the Bible. Evangelicals see the Bible as their ultimate guide for every aspect of life. It’s the same idea as the Protestant principle of sola scriptura, or “Scripture alone.”

Crucicentrism refers to belief in Jesus and His death on the Cross, and how this is central to the whole story and experience of salvation. In being crucified, Jesus took upon Himself the consequence of all our sins, demonstrating God’s incredible love for us and offering us the gift of a new life through Him.

Conversionism, or being sincerely and fully converted, logically follows crucicentrism. Focusing on the Cross—and what Jesus did for us there—leads to a changed life.⁵ As we accept Jesus’ gift of salvation and grow in a relationship with Him, we allow Him to transform us from within, by the Holy Spirit.

And finally, activism is simply the belief that faith is more than a proclamation or a label. True faith influences us from the inside out, which will affect how we live. It’s the sentiment behind James 2:20, in saying that “faith without works is dead” (NKJV). A real faith is an active faith.

You can see how these four characteristics fit together. Through the Bible, we learn about Christ, who paid the ultimate price on the Cross, making it possible for us to be saved. And when we sincerely accept this incredible love of Christ, it leads us to exemplify this faith through our words and actions.

Seventh-day Adventism and the core characteristics of evangelicalism

Seventh-day Adventist beliefs harmonize with the four core characteristics of evangelicalism. Biblicism, crucicentrism, conversionism, and activism are foundational themes throughout all of our 28 Fundamental Beliefs, as we’ll see when we look more closely at those four principles.

Adventists also have other beliefs in common with evangelical denominations worldwide, including the following listed in the World Evangelical Alliance’s statement of faith:

• The Godhead with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
• Jesus’ virgin birth, sinless life, death, and resurrection
• Jesus’ personal return in power and glory (the Second Coming)
• The work of the Holy Spirit in each person’s life
• The resurrection of the saved and the lost

But let’s go into detail about how Adventists align with Bebbington’s core four.

Biblicism

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Adventists hold the Bible in the highest regard. In fact, our first Fundamental Belief is all about the Bible’s supremacy in teaching us about God and providing the principles that should guide our lives:

“The Holy Scriptures are the supreme, authoritative, and the infallible revelation of His will.

 

“They are the standard of character, the test of experience, the definitive revealer of doctrines, and the trustworthy record of God’s acts in history.”⁶

We believe the Bible was inspired by God and should be the foundation of all our teachings and doctrines (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

In line with this, when someone chooses to become a baptized member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, they accept the following:

“Do you believe that the Bible is God’s inspired Word, the only rule of faith and practice for the Christian?”⁷

Crucicentrism

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Jesus and His death on the Cross are central to everything else Adventists believe. Jesus’ love is the driving force of our faith, and as the apostle Paul points out, our faith wouldn’t make any sense without His death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:14).

Salvation comes through faith in Jesus’ sacrifice of bearing our sins for us (Romans 1:18; Ephesians 2:8-9).

And throughout the New Testament, Jesus’ death and resurrection are referred to as a metaphor for how we “die” to our old, sinful lives and rise with Christ as our Savior, no longer “enslaved to sin” (Romans 6:4-6, ESV; see also Galatians 2:20).

Two of our Fundamental Beliefs highlight this—”The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus,” and “The Experience of Salvation.”

Our first three baptismal vows also relate to this core idea:

“1. Do you believe there is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three coeternal Persons?

“2. Do you accept the death of Jesus Christ on Calvary as the atoning sacrifice for your sins and believe that by God’s grace through faith in His shed blood you are saved from sin and its penalty?

“3. Do you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior, believing that God, in Christ, has forgiven your sins and given you a new heart, and do you renounce the sinful ways of the world?”⁸

Conversionism

The Bible teaches the importance of being “born again” and experiencing change and growth as a result of choosing to follow Jesus. Jesus called it being “born…of the Spirit” (John 3:5, NKJV). Or in the words of Paul,

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV).

As the Spirit works in our lives, we become more like Christ and show the fruits of the Spirit—characteristics like love, joy, or gentleness (Galatians 5:22-25).

This teaching is highlighted in our “Growing in Christ” and “Christian Behavior” fundamental beliefs, and in another one of our baptismal vows:

“Do you accept by faith the righteousness of Christ, your Intercessor in the heavenly sanctuary, and accept His promise of transforming grace and power to live a loving, Christ-centered life in your home and before the world?”⁹

Activism

Adventists believe in expressing our faith through mission and service. By sincerely loving Jesus, that love will flow out of us in a desire to share the Gospel and reflect His character.

From our beginnings as a church, Adventists have been very active in sharing the Gospel through evangelism, healthcare, community service, mission work, publishing, and a worldwide religious liberty movement that advocates for religious freedom and separation of church and state.

To us, these things are simply a response to Jesus’ love for us, and His call to share the Gospel (Matthew 28:18-20) and to care for those who are hurting, sick, or in need (Matthew 25:30-40).

It’s all about following Jesus and reading the Bible

It’s a natural human tendency to want to label or classify people, ideas, organizations, etc. But as for the word evangelical, when we dig into its definition and history, we realize that its four core characteristics can actually describe anyone who has chosen to become a Christian and follow the Bible’s teachings. Regardless of their background or denominational affiliation.

Ultimately, it’s about a personal, saving relationship with Jesus.

And we wholeheartedly agree.

Adventists seek a personal faith in Jesus Christ, following Him in thought, word, and action and upholding the Scriptures that tell us about Him. He’s the whole reason for our faith as Christians, and it’s only by looking to Him that we find love, purpose, victory over sin, and salvation.

For more about how Adventism connects with other Christian denominations,

Related Articles

1. Strong’s Concordance, “G2097 – euangelizō” [↵]
2. Merritt, Jonathan, “Defining Evangelical,” The Atlantic, Dec. 7, 2015. [↵]
3. Patrick, Arthur, “Are Adventists Evangelical?” Ministry, Feb. 1995.  [↵]
4. Merritt, “Defining Evangelical.” [↵]
5. “Bebbington’s Four Points of Evangelicalism,” Ligonier, Aug. 29, 2020. [↵]
6. “What Adventists Believe About the Holy Scriptures,” Seventh-day Adventist Church. [↵]
7. Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual, 2022, p. 51. [↵]
8. Ibid. [↵]
9. Ibid. [↵]

More Answers

Beliefs are personal, and being an Adventist is about more than having a church membership. So, no, nothing can truly stop you from being an Adventist. It’s your decision.

(And it’s worth noting that you don’t have to be a member of an Adventist Church to attend its worship services and other church activities. You are always welcome and celebrated!)

If you’re looking to officially become a member of an Adventist Church, it involves accepting the denomination’s collective beliefs. And realistically, this also means acknowledging that you’re joining a faith community of human beings who share some traditions and expectations—along with some potential idiosyncrasies and quirks. (And this would be the case for joining just about any Protestant Christian faith community.)

But in general, the expectations among Adventists are simple and straightforward. And they’re related to truths from the Bible that Adventists together embrace.

Nonetheless, accepting these beliefs is not at all about earning salvation. That is a gift received by faith in Christ and has nothing to do with church membership. So to be extra clear, this page doesn’t focus on how to be saved.

Rather, we’re here to look at what beliefs and lifestyle choices come with being part of an Adventist community. You can expect to learn:

• What does “becoming an Adventist” mean?
• Prerequisites for becoming a member
• Norms within the church

To answer the question you came here for, let’s first understand the distinctions between being saved, being an Adventist, and being a member of the Adventist Church.

What does “becoming an Adventist” mean?

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Seventh-day Adventism is about following Christ; all our other beliefs stem from His love and His gift of salvation, as shown in the Bible. Thus, anyone who holds these beliefs could consider themselves an Adventist believer.

But again, to be clear, we’re not saying that someone needs to be an Adventist in order to get to know Jesus Christ or to be saved. Absolutely not. Salvation is a decision you make in your heart, between you and God, as it says in Romans 10:9:

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (ESV).

So if you’ve ever been concerned that you need to be part of a certain church to be saved, rest assured this isn’t the case. So now we’ll focus on what it means to be a Seventh-day Adventist Christian.

(If you want to learn more about how salvation works, see “What Is Salvation and How Do I Get Saved?”)

As we’ve mentioned, there is a set of “fundamental beliefs” that describe how Adventism approaches Scripture and how Adventists seek to apply its principles to our lives. If you align with those beliefs, you would, by definition, be an Adventist.

Distinct from this is the process of membership in the Adventist Church.

Church membership refers to officially accepting Adventist beliefs and joining by baptism or by profession of faith (if you’ve been baptized in another Protestant Christian denomination). We’ll talk about that process next.

Prerequisites for becoming a member of the Adventist Church

Church membership involves three steps, as expressed in the Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual¹:

1. Baptism
2. Acceptance of the truths of the Bible as taught in the Fundamental Beliefs of the Adventist Church
3. Formal acceptance as a member

These prerequisites align with Jesus’ instructions to make disciples by both baptizing and teaching them:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20, NKJV).

Here’s a little more about each one.

Baptism

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Baptism is a public announcement of a person’s decision to follow Christ. It symbolizes the person allowing their old life to die with Christ’s sacrificial death so they can live a new life in Him (Romans 6:3-4).

The Bible teaches that when we’re baptized, we’re joining the body of Christ—the Church (1 Corinthians 12:13). Thus, the logical next step after baptism is joining a community of believers.

In some cases, a person who wants to join the Adventist Church may already be “a committed Christian coming from another Christian communion who has already been baptized by immersion.”² This person may join by a “profession of faith”—a verbal acknowledgment—rather than being baptized again.

This is because baptism, like accepting Jesus, doesn’t need to be repeated (unless an individual feels convicted to officially recommit themselves to following Him). In many cases, an individual has already made a decision to follow Jesus and has shown that publicly through baptism prior to learning about Adventism. So, joining the Adventist Church is simply a continuation of that journey.

Acceptance of the Fundamental Beliefs of the Adventist Church

When a person decides they would like to become part of the Adventist Church, a pastor or other church member will study the Bible together with them so they fully understand the decision they’re making. This also provides one-on-one time with a pastor or elder to ask any questions they might have.

This study will usually happen over many weeks before baptism or profession of faith.

After finishing the baptismal study, a person will be asked to affirm baptismal vows that show their acceptance of the beliefs of the Adventist Church. There are 13 of them, and they’re mostly a summary of our 28 Fundamental Beliefs.

These vows include both beliefs and lifestyle choices that encompass what it means to be a Seventh-day Adventist.

Beliefs such as:

• The Godhead/Trinity
• Salvation through Jesus’ death on the Cross
• Jesus’ ministry in the heavenly sanctuary
• The Bible as God’s inspired Word
• The Ten Commandments (including the Sabbath)
• The Second Coming of Jesus
• Spiritual gifts and the gift of prophecy

Some of the beliefs also address practical aspirations and applications like:

• Spending regular time in prayer and Bible study
• Supporting the church with tithe and offerings
• Choosing to avoid unclean meat, alcohol, tobacco, and narcotics out of a desire to care for the bodies God created for us
• Being baptized by immersion

Formal acceptance as a member

Once an individual has been baptized, the church will take a vote to accept them into membership. This “vote,” though, is just an official way of showing that the church is welcoming the new member with open arms. In other words, its presentation as a “vote” gives the whole church the chance to say, “Yes!”

Norms within the Adventist Church

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Every community has its norms and sets of expectations. The Adventist Church is no different. And though these norms are not requirements for membership, you will definitely run into them if you spend much time around Adventists.

One of the most common is the aspiration toward healthy living. Out of a desire to be good stewards of our bodies, many members choose to eat a vegetarian diet and avoid drinking caffeine. And in many places, you might find that the church potluck, or fellowship dinner after the church service, is mostly vegan dishes.

Though it’s a typical aspect of Adventist culture, vegetarianism is by no means a test of membership. Each individual should choose what they feel is best for their bodies and their health in their current circumstances.

Another typical norm is minimal adornment or use of jewelry.

If you walk into an Adventist church, you might not see as many people wearing necklaces, bracelets, or earrings. Some even prefer not to wear wedding rings. There are no official guidelines about individual pieces of jewelry, though. In general, this focus is out of a desire to live simple, modest lives.

Again, though, we recognize this is a personal choice between an individual and God. Each of us is unique, and individual self-expression is ultimately between a person and God. If someone is wearing jewelry, they should expect to be treated no differently by church members.

One other norm you may encounter is an emphasis on the writings of Ellen White, who some Adventists believe to have had the gift of prophecy (1 Corinthians 12:10; Romans 12:3-8). She was a co-founder of our denomination, and she wrote a large number of books, manuscripts, and letters that point people to Jesus and the Bible, so you may hear church members referring to things she wrote or said.

But it’s not a requirement for you to read her writings or learn all her specific counsel. (And if she were alive today, she’d tell you to read the Bible first, anyway!³)

Accepting Ellen White as a prophet is not mandatory in order to be an Adventist. Though we would encourage you to learn about her and judge for yourself whether she had the spiritual gift of prophecy.

That’s the beauty of growing together in Christ in the Adventist Church. We can unite on core beliefs while still seeking God’s will individually through Scripture and prayer.

(For more on Adventist norms, see “Do Seventh-day Adventists Have ‘Rules’?”)

Adventists want to support you in your spiritual journey

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Wherever you are in your spiritual journey, you can know that God hears your prayers and His Holy Spirit will guide you. He has promised to lead every sincere seeker to the liberating truths of His Word. He will also lead you to the right faith community where you can continue to grow and follow Him.

If you’re curious about the Adventist Church and what it would be like to join one of our local congregations, a good way to find out would be to attend a service at one nearby. Whether you’re a member or not, you can expect to be welcomed by people who are sincerely glad you’re there.

You may even decide you’d like to learn more about our beliefs. In that case, a pastor, church elder, or Bible worker would be happy to talk with you, answer your questions, and study the Bible with you.

To get started, find a church near you and contact them through their website, Facebook page, phone number, or whichever is most convenient for you. Or attend in person! We’d love to support you in your journey.

To learn more about what to expect the first time you attend an Adventist Church, check out our walk-through of a typical service and Sabbath School.

1. Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual, 20th edition, pp. 49-56. [↵]
2. Ibid., p. 56. [↵]
3. White, Ellen G., The Review and Herald (January 20, 1903), par. 9. [↵]

More Answers

No, Seventh-day Adventists don’t have “rules” we have to follow.

That’s because we don’t believe we’re saved by works or following rules. Rather, we believe we’re saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).

And because we have this identity and assurance in Christ, Adventists (just like most Christians) strive to live out the unchanging principles expressed throughout the Bible. To help us do so, the Adventist Church has developed a set of biblical doctrines that help us interpret Scripture and apply these principles.

Becoming an Adventist means that an individual resonates with and commits to these doctrines, with the intent of reflecting a Christ-like character in their day-to-day life. However, the practical application of these principles may look a little different for each church member, depending on personal conviction, culture, time, and circumstance.

That’s the beauty of Adventism—it’s not about what we have to do but what we choose to do as an outflow of our personal relationship with God and the study of His Word.

Let’s explore this topic a little more to clear up any misunderstandings. We’ll cover:

• The heart of the matter
• Fundamental beliefs and principles, not rules
• Lifestyle principles we embrace
  • A healthy diet and lifestyle
  • Approaches to Sabbath-keeping
  • Upholding modesty
  • Conscientiousness in committed relationships
  • Godly behavior and entertainment
  • Learning from Ellen White’s counsel

First, a little more on the foundation of all of this.

The heart of the matter: following Jesus

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Seventh-day Adventists’ greatest desire is to be followers of Jesus.

So what does that mean, exactly?

When Jesus called the 12 disciples, they lived with Him and learned from Him for three and a half years. This kind of discipleship wasn’t unusual since rabbis of that time often called students to follow them. These students had three main goals:¹

1. To be with their rabbi
2. To become like their rabbi
3. To do as their rabbi did

Though we can’t physically see Jesus today, we can still be His disciples, intentionally staying in His presence through prayer and His Word. In this way, we learn from Him and follow His guidance.

It begins with accepting Him as our Savior.

This means we recognize our true identity—that each human being is a unique and loved child of God. And we choose to live in a way that expresses this identity. All the while, the Holy Spirit guides us and transforms our character (Romans 12:2). So this inward change naturally leads to outward change.

The principles we follow and the changes that happen in our character aren’t about earning salvation. They are a result of already being His children and disciples. And just like the disciples in the first century, we want:

1. To be with Jesus
2. To become like Jesus
3. To do as Jesus did

All our doctrines, all our beliefs, and all our lifestyle principles stem from this desire.

Fundamental beliefs and principles, not rules

As we’ve pointed out, Seventh-day Adventism doesn’t have rules. What we do have are the 28 Fundamental Beliefs, a collection of statements that describe how we interpret and apply Scripture. In this way, they help to define and describe Adventism rather than dictate what we do.

When someone joins the Adventist Church, they are agreeing with these doctrines. Adventist baptismal vows involve accepting belief in the following biblical teachings:²

• The Godhead
• Salvation by faith in Jesus Christ
• Jesus’ ministry in the heavenly sanctuary as our high priest
• The inspiration of the Bible
• The Ten Commandments and the Sabbath
• The Second Coming of Jesus
• Spiritual gifts, including the gift of prophecy
• Support of the church organization
• The body as the temple of the Holy Spirit
• Baptism
• The remnant

But aside from our doctrines, the Bible also provides us with “principles.”

These are truths that remain the same even as time, culture, and circumstances change. Some examples could be loving our neighbor (Luke 10:25-37), caring for our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), or reflecting humility (Philippians 2:3-4).

What does change, though, is how these principles are applied. The application can look different depending on the person, situation, and culture. That means there is room for Bible study and coming to personal conclusions. Sometimes, it means differences of conviction (while still agreeing on the foundational doctrines).

So, how does this look?

Let’s take relationships as an example.

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The Bible talks a lot about principles for healthy relationships—sacrificial love, honesty, respect, and patience, to name a few. These are all unchanging and timeless—there won’t come a time when they won’t be true anymore. They remain important for relationships regardless of circumstances, or culture.

But how they’re applied can vary.

For example, courtship methods in Old Testament times were much different than today’s (think Abraham sending his servant to pick a wife for Isaac or Jacob having to work seven years for his future father-in-law so he could marry Rachel). Yet, the principle of respect undergirded these situations.

Today, you might not operate in the same way.

You’re probably not going to marry someone you’ve never met. And it’s hard to imagine a situation where anyone would have to work seven years to prove themselves eligible to marry someone. We live in a much different time and culture—but the principle of respect still applies. As you date someone, you might look for ways to build a respectful relationship with their parents. Or you might seek counsel from your parents or people you trust as you consider marriage. And above all, you want to respect the needs and wishes of the one you’re dating.

This is a way of applying biblical principles in a culturally relevant way.

And Adventists do the same as they study the Bible.

Unfortunately, because some may not be aware of the distinction between principles and the application of those principles, they could misunderstand Adventism, seeing our lifestyle principles as “rules.” So let’s look closer at these principles and how they fit into our lives.

Lifestyle principles that Adventists embrace

The following topics are principles in Adventism that often get mistaken as “rules.” To be clear, these principles are not about what Adventists can or can’t do. Instead, they reflect how Adventists choose to live consistent with the Bible—not to be saved, but because they already have a loving relationship with Jesus.

We recognize God gave these principles to help us live the most fulfilling lives possible.

Let’s get into the details.

A healthy diet and lifestyle

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We view our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit, meaning they’re what God uses to speak to our hearts and minds (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Because of this, we follow the principle of glorifying God in whatever we eat or drink—and in the way we care for our health (1 Corinthians 10:31).

When God gave Adam and Eve their diet in the Garden of Eden, He provided them with an abundance of fruit, nuts, and grains (Genesis 1:29). As a result of the Flood, though, much of the vegetation had washed away, so He permitted them to eat meat (Genesis 9:3).

At that time, God specified the eating of “clean” meat—as a way to protect people from eating unhealthy or “unclean” meat from scavenger-type animals, such as pigs, bottom feeders in the ocean, or carrion-eating birds.

He gave these guidelines in more detail in Leviticus 11.

For this reason, Adventists choose to avoid pork, shrimp, crab, and other meat listed as unclean—not because of any human “rule” but because they desire to care for their bodies.

Some even avoid caffeine or opt for a vegetarian or completely plant-based diet, though this will vary based on personal conviction, circumstances, or food availability.

From these principles of caring for health and glorifying God, Adventists also avoid alcoholic beverages and tobacco because we recognize they could harm our health and negatively influence others.

Approaches to Sabbath-keeping

Adventists keep the seventh-day Sabbath because God established it as a memorial of Creation and salvation (Genesis 2:2-3; Deuteronomy 5:12-15) and instructed us to keep it in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11). We choose to obey this commandment out of love for Him and a recognition that doing so will help us thrive.

In a hectic world where our value often comes from what we do, God gave us this day of rest as a blessing (Mark 2:28). It’s about what God has done for us, not what we do. And it gives us the opportunity to connect with God and bless others.

Principles of Sabbath-keeping include resting from work (Exodus 20:8-11), doing good for others (Matthew 12:12), and delighting in God and what He’s provided for us (Isaiah 58:13-14).

It’s not about a list of rules, or dos and don’ts.

True, most Adventists won’t go shopping, eat out at a restaurant, or attend a sports game on the seventh day of the week. But these aren’t “rules” we’re required to follow. Rather, we make these decisions with our ultimate goal in mind: to set aside everyday business and activities so we intentionally focus on what God has done for us, spend time with Him, and connect with our loved ones.

Upholding modesty

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Clothing and adornment choices will vary from Adventist to Adventist. This is because each church member may have slightly different convictions based on their Bible study, culture, background, and past experiences or associations.

The underlying principle, though, is modesty—humility and respect for ourselves and others in every area of our lives.

Our Fundamental Belief about Christian behavior says the following about this principle:

“While recognizing cultural differences, our dress is to be simple, modest, and neat, befitting those whose true beauty does not consist of outward adornment but in the imperishable ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit.”³

It refers back to 1 Peter 3:3-4:

“Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes, but rather what is inside the heart —the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (CSB).

God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). So, when it comes to what to wear, each individual has to evaluate their own heart. Ultimately, we seek to dress and behave in a way that will reflect good stewardship, humility, contentment, and honor of God (Luke 12:15; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Timothy 6:7-8).

Conscientiousness in committed relationships

God is a relational God who reflects the self-sacrifice and integrity He desires us to reveal in our relationships. For this reason, Adventists see relationships, particularly marriage, as sacred and beautiful. Marriage is intended to reflect the beautiful self-sacrificing love that Christ has for His people (Ephesians 5:25-26).

Now, you may have heard that Adventists don’t typically marry non-Adventists or that they’re discouraged from doing so.

It’s true that Adventists typically seek to marry other Adventists—but it’s not because of a “rule” of our denomination. Instead, it’s out of a genuine desire to join our lives with someone who has similar beliefs and values, and who equally supports putting God first (2 Corinthians 6:14).

The Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual makes this point:

“Marriages are more likely to endure, and family life to fulfill the divine plan, if husband and wife are united and are bound together by common spiritual values and lifestyles. For these reasons the Church strongly discourages marriage between a Seventh-day Adventist and a member of another religion and strongly urges its pastors not to perform such marriages.”⁴

Notice this important clarification, though:

“The Church recognizes that it is the prerogative of each individual member to make the final decision relative to the choice of a marriage partner.”⁵

Simply put, each Adventist makes their own decision on who to marry—based on personal conviction that comes from the Bible’s principles.

Godly behavior and entertainment

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What about choosing movies, music, activities, entertainment, or the people we see or the places we go?

Again, Adventists don’t have rules that say what we can or can’t do with our discretionary time. But here are some underlying principles we keep in mind when making decisions.

We recognize that the Bible calls us to prioritize Jesus in our lives, seeking His kingdom above all else. Our entertainment choices often reflect these priorities (Matthew 6:21, 33). So, a big question we ask when deciding whether to do an activity is this:

Can I glorify God through this activity (1 Corinthians 10:31)?

Philippians 4:8 also provides simple criteria for evaluating entertainment. This verse encourages us to think about things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, morally excellent, and praiseworthy.

At the same time, Adventists realize that “fun” is a subjective word, so even while considering the guidance of Philippians 4:8, activity and entertainment choices will naturally vary from person to person, or even from community to community.

But we know for sure that joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and Jesus wants this to be part of our lives (John 15:11). While He was on earth, He made time for fellowship and enjoyment in going to social gatherings and weddings (John 2:1-11) and hanging out with those close to Him (John 21:9-14).

Though Adventists may not participate in all activities that society considers “fun,” we find many ways to bring God-honoring enjoyment and laughter into our lives.

Learning from Ellen White’s counsel

Many Adventists read and put into practice counsel from the writings of Ellen G. White, one of Adventism’s founders who lived during the mid-to-late 1800s. We believe that she had the gift of prophecy, a spiritual gift mentioned in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

She also meets the criteria for prophets that we find in the Bible, such as consistency with the Bible, uplifting Jesus, and reflecting a Christlike character.

The apostle Paul reminds us that prophets would exist in the world all the way up to the end of time, “edifying the body of Christ” and helping to guide people away from deception (Ephesians 4:11-16). This principle leads Adventists to carefully consider the counsels in Ellen White’s writings because we believe she had the biblical gift of prophecy.

To be clear, though, Adventists do not place her writings above the Bible. Instead, we use the Bible as a framework and a test for everything we learn outside of Scripture. And in doing so, we find that many of the things she’s written can be very helpful in showing us how to apply the Bible’s principles in our daily lives and in our interactions with others.

Ellen White herself was careful in making the distinction between her words and the Word of God. Since she saw that in her day, “little heed is given to the Bible,” so she served in a role of a “lesser light to lead men and women to the greater light,” or the Bible itself.⁶

And regarding the stewardship of individual health, she ultimately encouraged people to seek God for wisdom on how to care for themselves:

“I want you to stand in your individual dignity and in your individual consecration before God, the whole being dedicated to Him.”⁷

She didn’t want anyone to rely on her counsel, but on the Holy Spirit’s guidance in each of their lives.

Seventh-day Adventism is about seeking to follow Jesus

Seventh-day Adventists value God-given freedom of choice. Within biblical principles, we may sometimes make different decisions when it comes to health, clothing choices, entertainment, and so on.

And that’s okay!

We’re all different, and we apply principles differently based on circumstances, time, and place. No one in the Adventist Church should feel that it’s their role to enforce upon others a certain method of applying a principle. The Holy Spirit works with each of us differently, and the apostle Paul encourages us to act as we are truly convicted (Romans 14:5), and also to respect the convictions of others (Romans 8:4-13).

Above all, we desire to keep in focus the important things that unite us—the fundamental beliefs from God’s Word and the desire to be like Christ and share His love. So it’s always important to consider, as followers of Jesus, how our lifestyle decisions affect ourselves and others.

If you’re seeking to better understand what it means to follow Jesus,

Related Articles

1. Comer, John Mark, Practicing the Way (Waterbrook, 2024), p. 9. [↵]
2. Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual, 20th ed., p. 51-52. [↵]
3. “What Adventists Believe About Christian Behavior,” Seventh-day Adventist Church. [↵]
4. Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual, p. 160. [↵]
5. Ibid. [↵]
6. White, Ellen G., The Review and Herald (January 20, 1903), par. 9. [↵]
7. White, Ellen G., Manuscript Releases, vol. 13 (Ellen G. White Estate, Silver Spring, MD, 1990), p. 202. [↵]

More Answers

Around the world, many cultures and religions have various marriage traditions, expectations, or even rules when it comes to choosing a partner, planning the wedding, extended family logistics, or a number of other things.

So it’s possible that some might wonder if Seventh-day Adventists have any specific rules about marriage.

In general, however, the answer is no. Especially in North America, Adventists approach marriage in the same ways many other mainstream Protestant Christian denominations do.

And while we don’t have any distinct Adventist “rules,” we think marriage is one of the most sacred relationships we can have on this earth.

Why?

Because it’s the example God gives us in His Word about the beautiful, self-sacrificing love that exists between Jesus Christ and His people.

That means that Adventists do uphold Bible-based principles and guidelines to help build a healthy marriage.

And that’s what we’ll talk about here. So whether you have a friend marrying an Adventist, are dating an Adventist and are interested in marriage, or you’re just plain curious, this information should help.

We’ll cover questions like:

• What does the Adventist Church believe about marriage, and what does the Bible say?
• How do Adventists approach different aspects of marriage, including:
  • Choosing a marriage partner
  • Living together before marriage
  • The marriage process
  • Adventist weddings
  • Intimacy
  • The role of faith in the relationship
  • Marriage roles
  • Conflict resolution
  • Church support for marriage
  • Divorce
  • Remarriage

As you can see, there is a lot to cover, so let’s jump right into the first question.

What do Adventists believe about marriage?

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Adventists believe that marriage is a sacred, God-given covenant between one man and one woman. It is something to be enjoyed and celebrated by the couple and those around them. And it should be based on self-sacrificing love and mutual respect.

And when we turn to the Scriptures, where we get all our beliefs and principles, we find that marriage comes down to two things: covenantal love and selfless love.

Specifically, if we look at God’s love for the children of Israel, and, later on, Jesus’ love for His people, we find the perfect example of marriage that Adventists strive to live out in their own relationships.

So let’s quickly explore these two principles and see what the Bible says about them and how it applies to marriage.

Covenantal Love

Throughout the Bible, God shows His desire to enter into a covenantal relationship with His people.

That’s a phrase we don’t hear too often. What does it mean?

In the context of the Bible, a covenantal relationship represents the deepest level of commitment and partnership.

A covenantal relationship demonstrates a promise. This kind of devotion says, “I’m going to be by your side,” “We are going to work together towards a common goal,” and “Even when you mess up, I will be there for you.”

But it’s more than that too. The covenantal relationship takes commitment and devotion one step further. It’s not just “I’m going to be by your side forever,” it’s, “I’m going to enter into an official, public agreement with you that is sacred and binding.”

In other words, people who enter into a covenantal relationship take love seriously enough to make a legal and official commitment. Not because they need that to prove their love but because they eagerly want to declare their promise and commitment to the world.

That’s exactly how God’s relationship with His people works in the Bible. He doesn’t need to prove His love. He is love, after all (1 John 4:16). But, He wanted to publicly demonstrate His love to the children of Israel (along with others they encountered). If anything, this kind of relationship shows how seriously God takes commitment and love in general.

God’s covenantal love can be found all over the Bible in both the Old Testament and New Testament, but here are a couple of our favorite examples:

• Deuteronomy 7:9: “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments” (NKJV).
• Psalm 103:17-18: “But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them” (NKJV).
• Jeremiah 31:31-33: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (NKJV).

While covenantal love should be two-sided, many of the examples in the Bible are of God expressing sorrow for His children after they have broken their covenant with Him.

In fact, the application to marriage becomes even clearer if we consider the example in the book of Hosea.

God illustrates His broken heartedness over Israel’s ruptured covenant with Him and uses the unfaithful marriage between the prophet Hosea and his wife Gomer as an example. God says that Israel has been “adulterous,” choosing idols and false ideologies over Him.

But covenantal love is steadfast. Even after repeated betrayal, God says to Israel, “How can I give you up? … My heart churns within me, my sympathy is stirred” (Hosea 11:8, NKJV).

It’s truly a beautiful example, not only of how committed God is to us—He will not give us up—but also of how God desires for us to commit to each other.

Of course, we are not God. We are imperfect. Sometimes, even within the context of marriage, people can betray their spouse and wound them so deeply, whether through adultery, abuse, or otherwise, that the covenantal relationship cannot be repaired.

While covenantal love is the ideal, that does not mean a person should stay in a dangerous or abusive situation. More on that later.

For now, let’s talk about the other biblical principles that guide Adventist marriages.

Selfless love

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Selfless love is the core principle that Adventists apply to their marriage relationships. It’s the purest form of love, as it is completely unconditional. It should be the cornerstone of any relationship, and the Bible supports this.

When you consider the teachings of Jesus and what the Bible says about His love for us, it becomes clear that selfless love is at the heart of the Bible and the plan of salvation. Likewise, it should be the foundation of every marriage!

Selfless Love is pretty self-explanatory—it’s love that’s unselfish. It’s always oriented toward serving someone else and putting them above yourself.

And while it’s kind of easy to define, it’s especially hard to live out. Selfless love sometimes feels counterintuitive to how we think about love in the modern day. Love is often portrayed as a feeling that makes me happy and gives me fulfillment.

Selfless love says the opposite: love and marriage should be about the other person, not about you. It’s about service to a person you love more than your own life. That, like Jesus says, exhibits the greatest love: “to lay down one’s life…” (John 15:13, NKJV).

This principle is exemplified through Jesus’ selfless sacrifice for us on the Cross. And this same image is used when Paul talks about marriage in Ephesians 5. He calls husbands and wives to submit to each other.

And the marriage relationship is compared to Jesus’ relationship with His people, who He sacrificed Himself for. So, Adventists believe that marriage is about loving your spouse selflessly so that your relationship is in a state of mutual submission.

There are many more lessons we can learn from the Bible about marriage, but these two principles—covenantal and selfless love—are the foundation of how Adventists think about marriage. Every other guideline and principle we have draws precisely from these two foundational principles.

Is love all you need?

While love should be the foundation of all marriage relationships, there is more to marriage than love.

Selfless love can exist in many types of relationships. But love doesn’t automatically equal compatibility.

Two people may have great mutual respect and love for one another. But if they’re not compatible, building a life together will be difficult. Or it may not work out at all.

For a marriage to work, it needs both. And compatibility builds on a strong foundation of selfless love. This means that, when it comes to core values, beliefs, and priorities, the couple is united and understanding of each other. They are a team.

And it’s because compatibility is so crucial that the Adventist Church has particular guidelines and specifications on many of these topics. After all, the Bible does ask, “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3, NKJV).

While these might sound like “rules,” they aren’t. Instead, they are principles that Adventists believe will help a marriage flourish when both parties keep them in mind and proceed accordingly.

Adventist thoughts about marriage

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Now let’s go over a few quick answers to your questions about Adventists and marriage. We’ll cover many different topics, so you can jump to the ones you’re most interested in.

• Choosing a marriage partner
• Living together before marriage
• The marriage process
• Adventist weddings
• Intimacy
• The role of faith in the relationship
• Marriage roles
• Conflict resolution
• Church support for marriage
• Divorce
• Remarriage

Note that though we speak generally about Adventists, Adventism is made up of individuals! This means that these topics might be regarded differently by different people, depending on how that person was raised, what their cultural customs and practices are, and their own personal preferences.

Choosing a marriage partner

The underlying principle of this point is that Adventist individuals have complete personal freedom to choose who they want to date and marry.

Adventists do often date and become engaged to other Adventists. This is largely because they tend to find themselves in similar spaces, like at church, activities/functions, school, college, etc.

And it’s also likely that two Adventists may find more in common than an Adventist paired with someone who isn’t, or especially someone who isn’t a Christian.

The Bible does mention some guidelines for marrying people who believe differently than you, such as instructions to the children of Israel in Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 7:3-4) or to the early church in 2 Corinthians 6:14-15.

While these verses can offer general guidance and caution, we have to remember that they were written in a specific context for a specific people. In both situations, God was trying to preserve and nurture a fragile, new group of people, specifically selected to further His message.

And we can see from the example of the children of Israel that whenever they did intermarry with other people groups—like those who promoted idol worship—it often resulted in pain on both sides.

But there is no explicit rule that prohibits or discourages Adventists from dating and marrying individuals with differing beliefs. The church manual does acknowledge that marriages between people who uphold similar beliefs and values are more likely to thrive, but its final message is this: If couples of differing beliefs choose to be married, the church would treat them with “love and concern with the purpose of encouraging the couple toward complete unity in Christ.”¹

Living together before marriage

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Cohabitation, or living together before marriage, is common nowadays. And while the Adventist Church doesn’t specifically mention it in an official capacity, Adventists generally would advise against it.

It comes back to the principle of a covenantal relationship. If covenantal love is one of the biblical models for marriage, then two individuals should be prepared to enter into a public promise of their love for each other, such as in a wedding ceremony.

Another thing to consider is that more often than not, couples who live together before marriage are sexually active. This kind of intimacy, practiced before the covenantal promise of marriage, can lead to a lot of hurt and complications if the couple decides to separate.

While the Bible doesn’t explicitly mention cohabitation (which rarely would’ve occurred in the ancient world), we can always remember that God’s desire for us in marriage is to enter into a covenant together. Living together before marriage may undermine the covenantal promise that couples should enter into.

The marriage process

What does the marriage process look like for Adventists? It’s probably not much different than you might expect. Adventist individuals usually date for however long they need/like.

Once engaged, Adventists usually try to do a few sessions of premarital counseling with an Adventist counselor or pastor. The Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual states that “the main purpose of premarital education/counseling is to prepare couples for the challenges they will encounter in married life” (p. 160). But this isn’t required. However, in the United States, you can actually get a discount on your marriage license if you have proof of premarital counseling (depending on the state)!²

You can find resources to learn more about premarital counseling at the Adventist Family iMnistries website.

Adventist weddings

Adventist weddings are similar to many other Christian weddings. The service is usually spiritually-oriented, as Adventists regard marriage as a both a personal and spiritual commitment.

The reception is a fun and celebratory time! It’s often filled with good food, laughter, music, games, and endearing speeches.

One difference some may notice, however, is that Adventists tend to forgo alcoholic drinks, but will sometimes have sparkling cider for toasts.

Just like any other celebration, Adventist weddings will vary based on the culture and customs of the couple getting married.

Intimacy in Adventist marriages

Adventist marriages should be intimate: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. When we think about physical intimacy, specifically in a marriage, we can remember the biblical principles we talked about earlier. Sexual intimacy should exhibit devotion and selfless love to your spouse.

For Adventists, like many other Christians, sexual intimacy is something that ideally happens within the context of marriage. It is something that is regarded as beautiful, special, enjoyable, and deeply bonding. Considered a gift from God, intimacy should be regularly enjoyed within a marriage, with mutual love and respect at its core.

The role of faith in Adventist marriages

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Faith plays an important role in an Adventist marriage. Adventist pastors, when officiating wedding ceremonies, often say that a marriage commitment is both horizontal and vertical. That refers to commitment between spouses, and between the couple and God. It is only through an intentional relationship with God that we can grow in the selfless love that will make a marriage relationship thrive.

Faith in an Adventist marriage means both nurturing your faith individually and together. Each individual in a marriage should do what they can to maintain their own faith. Then, together, they can help each other continue to grow their faith in new ways. Many Adventist couples pray, read the Bible, and do daily devotions together to nurture their faith as a couple.

Marriage roles

The Adventist Church has no official guidelines or expectations regarding marriage roles. And Adventists can figure out roles within a marriage themselves. Again, these roles should be based on the principles of covenantal and selfless love. Each partner should consistently seek to serve the other.

We can turn to Adam and Eve—the first couple to ever be married—as our example. In the Garden of Eden, God made Adam and Eve partners. And together, He entrusted them to rule over their domain and care for it (Genesis 1:28). He did not intend for one spouse to rule over the other.

So when it comes to roles and responsibilities, every couple will vary. There is no reason why an Adventist couple shouldn’t be able to choose what they want their marriage to look like as long as it comes back to self-sacrificing, covenantal love and mutual respect.

Conflict Resolution

There isn’t any specific “Adventist way” to resolve conflict. Adventist couples strive to resolve conflict in their marriage the same way that any other healthy, Christian marriage would.

Matthew 18 gives us a good example of conflict resolution:

If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church” (Matthew 18:15-17, NIV).

Ideally, conflict should be resolved through respectful discussion, where the couple would humbly listen to the other to learn their perspective. But as the example from the Word of God shows, conflicts are not always resolved simply between two people. Sometimes, when conflicts are deeper than routine disagreements, Adventists might seek outside help, which leads us to our next point.

Church support for marriage

The Adventist Church offers a lot of support for married couples, whether that’s through premarital counseling, marriage counseling, or through holding events and seminars to help people nurture their marriages.

Marriage counseling is usually conducted by an in-house counselor or pastor at a host church. In fact, many Adventist pastors also have degrees in marriage and family counseling, though that isn’t a requirement to become a pastor. Couples struggling in their marriages, whether with infidelity, addiction, or seemingly irreconcilable differences, can seek counsel in the church.

However, there are instances where Adventist marriages do fall apart, and in that case, divorce is something that an Adventist couple might go through, which brings us to our last point.

Divorce in Adventist marriages

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Adventist marriages, like every other marriage, are made up of two imperfect human beings, and as such, are susceptible to all manners of issues. While the ideal is for an Adventist marriage to be a lifelong commitment centered on self-sacrificial love, this doesn’t always happen. So, the Adventist Church does allow divorce.

This means that when a member of an Adventist marriage finds themselves the victim of adultery, other kinds of infidelity, abuse, and other unforeseen circumstances, that person can pursue divorce without fear of disfellowship or judgment from the church or other church members.

The church holds that the unfaithfulness that the Bible talks about as grounds for divorce (like in Matthew 19:9) not only includes adultery but other kinds of unfaithfulness as well. This includes incest, rape, sexual abuse, or other things “recognized as a misuse of sexual powers” and “violations of the divine intention in marriage” (Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual, p. 165).

Remarriage in the Adventist church

Remarriage is a deeply personal decision, and the Adventist Church recognizes that. In cases where an individual’s partner has died, or has divorced them because of abandonment due to differing spiritual beliefs or unfaithfulness, then the Adventist Church supports remarriage, which it believes to be in line with Jesus’s words in Matthew 19:9 and 1 Corinthians 7:10-15.

While death and unfaithfulness have no place in God’s original plan for marriage, we live in a broken and sinful world where these things happen. Someone who has been the victim of this should not be kept from marrying again.

As with all things, God is merciful, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual makes it clear that God’s mercy and grace prevail over the complications that divorce and remarriage may bring.

To be more like Christ

In the end, an Adventist marriage is meant to draw both members closer to each other and closer to Christ. We would hope that Adventists who choose to get married would learn even more about the selflessness of Christ and strive to be a shining example of His love to each other and to those around them.

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1. Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual, p. 160 [↵]
2. https://www.findlaw.com/family/marriage/marriage-license-requirements.html [↵]

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