| When Recruitment Replaces the Gospel: Examining Adventist Evangelism by Pastor Michael Pursley Indeed, Seventh-day Adventism itself is like an addictive drug. The more the new believer develops a ‘tolerance’ for it, the stronger the dosage they can take… This addiction continues to build until the poor soul is thoroughly taken captive by its philosophy, and once that happens, he becomes twice the son of perdition as those who first introduced him. This is why Adventism NEVER presents all of its beliefs immediately to the new candidate, for if Adventism was seen in its proper anti-biblical, proof-text perspective, they would run. From the beginning, Seventh Day Adventism’s leadership has been more involved with the results of their evangelistic efforts than with the purity of those efforts. Hence, they adopted and embraced a Charles Finney-like style of evangelism. Finney, who is first known as ‘The Father of Modern Revivalism,’ was also well known for his devious, and indeed, nefarious methods of evangelistic recruitment. For Charles Finney, ‘the ends justified the means,’ and he was one preacher who would compromise anything, including the truth and integrity, to gain his goals. It is no wonder that historians see this success-driven patron saint of evangelism as the third largest external force to influence Adventism. Indeed, Finney was widely (and still is) admired in many circles in Adventism and became the role model for the early Adventist evangelism pioneers. Unfortunately, his methodology and philosophy are still widespread Adventist evangelism efforts today. Indeed, I believe that Seventh-Day Adventism will once again look to this early liberal (perhaps more accurately described as a pseudo-conservative) American evangelistic force for guidance, for he was also the first pastor in the United States who would ordain women into the formal church ministry. But why do I bring this up? I bring this up because it is Adventist evangelism that first introduces and labels as ‘necessary’ the poison of erroneous Adventist doctrine of “intrinsic” righteousness, complete with the “mark of the beast” to give it some teeth. Their evangelistic methods for new believer guidance have been refined has honed to a sharp edge. Since success in recruitment comes first, erroneous doctrine is therefore made to look as innocuous as possible. But such efforts have not gone unnoticed in the Christian community. And even though a few Adventist leaders were able to fool Walter Martin while he was writing “Kingdom of the Cults,” nevertheless, much of the rest of the Christian community has come to understand that Adventism has little to do with true biblical Christianity. Indeed, Seventh Day Adventism has much more in common with its twin sister cults, The Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Mormons. Indeed each of these three groups started nearly simultaneously and within 100 square miles of each other in western New York. Further, the Jehovah Witnesses founder was originally a Seventh Day Adventist and worked at The Adventist Review and Sabbath Herald Publishing Company. The inter-relationship of thought, theology, and methodology between each of these groups is remarkable. I am reminded of the words of the great Anglican Christian apologist, J.C. Ryle, who once made this sad commentary: “The plain truth is that false doctrine has been the chosen engine which Satan has employed in every age to stop the progress of the Gospel of Christ. Finding himself unable to stop the ‘Fountain of Life’ being opened, he has labored incessantly to poison the streams which flow from it.” And o’er thy Church established on the floods The lurid cloud, e’en now, portentous broods. Rude schism yawns, and error’s baleful breath Spreads wide and far the sickness unto death. –Ecclesia Anglicana I hope to look at Adventism’s beginnings once again and intend to do so from the Evangelistic side. Grace and peace Pastor Michael Pursley The ministry is not about power, but proclamation. It is not about success, but faithful witness. Back to Recent Articles |