Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo DíaDe Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre
La Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo Día (comúnmente abreviada Iglesia Adventista) es una denominación cristiana distinguida por su observancia del sábado, el séptimo día de la semana judeocristiana, como el día de reposo (Shabbath), y por su énfasis en la inminente segunda venida de Jesucristo. Es el octavo mayor organismo internacional cristiano.[2] La denominación surgió del Movimiento Millerista en los Estados Unidos a mediados del siglo XIX y se estableció oficialmente en 1863. Entre sus fundadores se destaca Ellen G. White, cuya extensa obra los adventistas siguen respetando actualmente. Gran parte de la teología de la Iglesia adventista corresponde a las enseñanzas evangélicas, tales como las de la deidad y la de la infalibilidad de la Biblia. Las diferencias incluyen el estado inconsciente de los muertos y la doctrina de un «juicio investigador». La iglesia es también conocida por su énfasis en la dieta y la salud, su comprensión holística de la persona, su promoción de la libertad religiosa, y sus principios y estilo de vida conservadores. La iglesia mundial se rige por una «asociación general», con regiones más pequeñas administradas por divisiones, uniones, misiones/asociaciones y distritos. Actualmente cuenta con una membresía de más de 16 millones de personas, tiene una presencia misionera en más de 200 países y territorios y se diversifica étnica y culturalmente. La iglesia administra numerosas escuelas, universidades, hospitales y casas editoriales en todo el mundo, así como una destacada organización humanitaria conocida como la ADRA (Agencia Adventista de Desarrollo y Recursos Asistenciales). [editar] DoctrinasLas doctrinas de la Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo Día se basan completamente en la Biblia anabaptista. La doctrina protestante del «sacerdocio de todos los creyentes» es tan central en el pensamiento de los adventistas que los miembros siempre han sido animados a estudiar la Biblia para descubrir la verdad por sí mismos, guiados por el Espíritu Santo. Esto puede llegar a explicar su renuencia para establecer un credo. La doctrina adventista se asemeja a la corriente ortodoxa principal de la teología protestante trinitaria, con algunas excepciones. Para los adventistas, la Biblia es la fuente por excelencia de la verdad acerca de Dios y el testimonio de Jesucristo como el estilo real y verdadero de vida. Tradicionalmente, los adventistas se han opuesto a la formulación de declaraciones de credo, aceptando la Biblia completa como su único credo. A los fines de la coherencia interna, los adventistas han formulado un grupo de creencias fundamentales y prefieren verlas como descriptivas en lugar de prescriptivas. Hasta 2005 poseía 27 creencias fundamentales, pero durante la Sesión de la Asociación General de la Iglesia de ese año, se agregó una más, teniendo así en total 28 creencias fundamentales.[3] [editar] El séptimo día como día de reposoLos adventistas consideran el sábado como el séptimo día de la semana (en concordancia con el calendario hebreo bíblico)[4] y enseñan que debe ser considerado como el verdadero día de reposo. Esta creencia se basa en la declaración bíblica: «Acuérdate del shabat (‘día de reposo’ o sábado)».[5] Los adventistas guardan este día como uno de 24 horas de puesta de sol a puesta de sol, comenzando el viernes por la tarde y por ende terminando el sábado por la tarde (Génesis 1.5, 8 y 13) en estos versiculos se puede apreciar que cuando el Señor terminaba su creación diariamente se decía: «Y fue la tarde y la mañana del primer día». La autoridad de Dios para escoger este día para ser adorado se fundamenta por Éxodo 20:11, que refiere al día de la creación en Génesis 2.1-3: cuando Dios descansó, bendijo y santificó el séptimo día (o sábado) para toda la humanidad. Por eso Cristo dijo en Marcos 2.28 que el Hijo del Hombre es Señor aún del sábado. Además, Salmos 111.7-8 revela que los mandamientos de Dios son eternos, «las obras de sus manos son fieles y justas, confiables son todos sus mandamientos, permanecen firmes eternamente y para siempre, hechos en verdad y en rectitud». Cabe destacar, sin embargo, que los adventistas creen en la salvación por gracia y la justificación por Fe en Cristo. Creen en los 10 mandamientos que Dios escribió con su dedo y su ley es inmutable (los Diez Mandamientos, según Éxodo, capítulo 20). La observancia del sábado, el cuarto de los 10 mandamientos, le dan considerablemente más importancia a guardar el séptimo día sábado que la importancia que le dan otras denominaciones a la adoración en domingo bajo el argumento de que fue Dios mismo quien ordenó la adoración Sabática basada en sus 10 mandamientos, pues el domingo fue instaurado por el emperador Romano Constantino en su famoso edicto en el año 321 d. C. con la finalidad de traer a la mayoría de los adoradores del dios Sol que a que adoraran dentro de la iglesia en ese mismo día. Argumentan, también, que Jesucristo no cambió su ley ni el día de reposo; pues Cristo «vino para cumplir» las profecías de la Ley, según Isaías 7:14, «He aquí que la virgen concebirá, y dará a luz un hijo, y llamará su nombre Emanuel». Con la muerte en el Calvario de Jesucristo, la profecía de Isaías es considerada cumplida. En tal sentido, por la Gracia de su Resurrección todos los que en Jesucristo crean y acepten como Dios, serán salvos. (Ver Hechos 4.11-12) «Este Jesús es la piedra reprobada por vosotros los edificadores, la cual ha venido a ser cabeza del ángulo. Y en ningún otro hay salvación; porque no hay otro nombre bajo el cielo, dado a los hombres, en que podamos ser salvos». (Versión Reina Valera 1960). Toda otra doctrina es, según el razonamiento, antibíblica, creada por el hombre. Los adventistas basan también su doctrina en un pasaje del Evangelio según Mateo: No penséis que he venido a abrogar la ley... sino para cumplir. Porque de cierto os digo que hasta que pasen el cielo y la tierra, ni una jota ni una tilde pasarán de la ley. Jesucristo, según el Evangelio de san Mateo 5.17-18 (según la versión Reina Valera de 1960). Esta cita de Jesús revela que mientras exista este cielo y esta tierra, los diez mandamientos escritos por el dedo de Dios no pueden ser cambiados o adulterados. Se prometen cielos nuevos y tierra nueva en Apoc. 21.1, por lo tanto, todavía existe el mismo cielo y la misma tierra, entonces los 10 mandamientos todavía siguen vigentes para la humanidad, no así las leyes ceremoniales, pues Cristo fue el cordero real que murió por el pecador. También los adventistas argumentan que la Biblia profetiza que un poder humano trataría de cambiar la ley de Dios: «Pensará cambiar los tiempos y la ley» (Daniel 7.25). Entonces por dichas razones los adventistas se oponen firmemente al reposo dominical, pues este proviene de tradiciones no cristianas. Las personas de otras religiones adoraban diversos dioses ampliamente difundidos por todo el Imperio romano antes, durante y después de la época del emperador Constantino, siendo uno de los principales Mitra, un dios solar. El día domingo era dedicado a ese dios. Hasta hoy, domingo se llama sun-day (en inglés) y sonn-tag (en alemán), que significa ‘día del sol’; en español, domingo significa (Del lat. dominĭcus [dies,], [día] del Señor). De la misma manera «lunes» significa ‘día de la Luna’, «martes» ‘día del dios Marte’, etc. Es importante considerar que los adventistas guardan el día sábado para reconocer que Dios es el creador. El día sábado fue instaurado por Dios en el Edén y luego en los Diez Mandamientos. También es importante notar que cuando Dios dio los mandamientos, en el cuarto menciona «Acuérdate del día sábado para santificarlo». El término «acuérdate» se refiere a algo que él dio en el pasado: en el Edén Dios lo dio para toda la humanidad. Para los adventistas el sábado es un descanso y deleite. Según Isaías 58.13-14 «Si retrajeres del día de reposo tu pie, de hacer tu voluntad en mi día santo, y lo llamares delicia, santo, glorioso de Jehová; y lo venerares, no andando en tus propios caminos, ni buscando tu voluntad, ni hablando tus propias palabras, entonces te deleitarás en Jehová; y yo te haré subir sobre las alturas de la tierra, y te daré a comer la heredad de Jacob tu padre; porque la boca de Jehová lo ha hablado». Otra base usada para la doctrina es que según la Biblia, en la tierra nueva (después del milenio) se guardará el día sábado: «Porque como los cielos nuevos y la nueva tierra que yo hago permanecerán delante de mí, dice Jehová, así permanecerá vuestra descendencia y vuestro nombre. Y de mes en mes, y de sábado en sábado, vendrán todos a adorar delante de mí, dijo Jehová» (Isaías 66.22-23). [editar] El estado de los muertosLos adventistas creen que la muerte es como lo declara Eclesiastés 9.5 «los muertos nada saben». Esta ideología sostiene que una persona no tiene forma consciente de existencia hasta su resurrección, que, será en la ocasión de la segunda venida de Jesús (en el caso de los justos) o luego del milenio de Apocalipsis 20[6] (en el caso de los impíos). Esto significa que el infierno no existe en nuestros tiempos presentes, ni existirá después de la segunda venida de Cristo, sino que los impíos serán destruidos para siempre luego del milenio descrito en Apocalipsis 20. (Esa es la muerte segunda de la que habla el texto del Apocalipsis, la verdadera muerte). Infierno viene del griego infer (‘debajo’), por lo tanto el infierno sería lo mismo que el Hades griego, o simplemente, el sepulcro. Por lo anterior también se oponen a la doctrina del purgatorio, sostenida por la Iglesia católica donde se señala que los muertos que no tienen pecados mortales sin perdonar pasan por un estado de purificación antes del Cielo. Sostienen que la Biblia enseña que sólo Dios es inmortal (1 Tim. 6.16) y que los seres humanos, separados de Dios, están sujetos a la muerte. Jesús enseñó que «la muerte es un sueño» (Juan 11.11-14) que termina en una de las dos resurrecciones: una resurrección para vida o una resurrección de condenación (Juan 5.28-29). También otras religiones evangélicas sostienen que después de la muerte el alma se dirige a un lugar determinado dependiendo de si son salvos (aceptar a Cristo como salvador) o no. Los salvos son llevados al «Seno de Abraham» y los no salvos se dirigen al Hades. Los adventistas no comparten esta posición argumentando que no tiene base bíblica. Para los adventistas el tema de la muerte es uno de los engaños satánicos del fin de los tiempos. En estos tiempos, el espiritismo está ganando terreno debido a que la mayoría de las persona creen que hay vida después de la muerte. Los adventistas consideran su única regla de fe a la Biblia, en ella no se considera vida después de la muerte sino que sólo cuando venga el momento de la resurrección, ya sea para vida eterna o muerte. [editar] BautismoLos adventistas del séptimo día practican el bautismo de los creyentes por inmersión completa, de manera similar a los bautistas. Argumentan que el bautismo requiere consentimiento por entendimiento, y responsabilidad moral. De manera que los bebés solamente son dedicados al Señor, que en realidad es un símbolo de la gratitud a Dios por el bebé, por parte de los padres, la comunidad e iglesia, y de su compromiso de criar al niño en el amor de Jesús. Los adventistas creen que el bautismo es un nuevo nacimiento hablando espiritualmente, testifican su muerte al pecado y de su intención de caminar en una vida nueva. El bautismo es símbolo de la unión con Cristo, del perdón de los pecados, y de la recepción del Espíritu Santo y es contingente sobre una afirmación de fe en Jesús y un arrepentimiento de pecados evidente, es una declaración pública del compromiso de la vida del individuo y su entrega a Jesús; por lo tanto comienza una nueva vida en el Señor. [editar] La Segunda Venida de CristoLos adventistas del séptimo día creen en una segunda venida de Cristo inminente y visible en todo el mundo que será antecedida por un tiempo de angustia en el que los justos serán perseguidos, y un anticristo exhibirá gran poder sobre la tierra. La enseñanza de que Cristo será visto por todos en la ocasión de su segunda venida se basa en Apocalipsis 1.7, que dice: «Todo ojo lo verá». además, lo dicho a los discípulos y a las personas que estaban en el momento de la ascensión de Cristo registrado en Hechos 1.9-11 que dice que «volverá del mismo modo en que lo habéis visto ir al cielo». Los adventistas creen que este será el momento en el que ocurrirá lo que se describe en 1 Tesalonicenses 4.16, en el que «los muertos en Cristo resucitarán primero» [editar] El Espíritu de ProfecíaUna de las enseñanzas de la Iglesia adventista es que el espíritu de profecía es una señal identificadora de la «iglesia remanente», que se manifestó durante el ministerio de Ellen G. White. También establecen con claridad que la Biblia es la norma única por la cual debe ser probada toda enseñanza y toda experiencia. Ellen G. de White no es considerada como la máxima autoridad doctrinal sino únicamente el Antiguo Testamento y el Nuevo Testamento, que creen inspirados por Dios. Se la considera una profetisa o «una luz menor que guía hacia una luz mayor». Dicha luz mayor es Jesucristo, la real y única cabeza de la iglesia, que no puede ni podrá ser reemplazada por ningún hombre ni ningún otro poder sobre la tierra.[7] [editar] Prácticas y costumbres[editar] Actividades del sábado en la Iglesia Iglesia adventista en Bundaberg. Las actividades típicas del sábado de un adventista del séptimo día normalmente comienza en la tarde del viernes con el culto de puesta del sol en el hogar o en la iglesia. El sábado de mañana comienza con el estudio de la Biblia y una oración de agradecimiento por el descanso y reposo físico y espiritual. Al igual que los creyentes de otras denominaciones, a la mayoría de los adventistas les gusta vestirse bien cuando asisten a los servicios de la Iglesia, que en la mayoría de los países comenzará normalmente a las 9:00, con la «escuela sabática» (o escuela bíblica), la cual es un momento de estudio de la Biblia con un folleto como apoyo para el estudiante. Este folleto es distribuido a todas las iglesias adventistas en el mundo, teniendo un tema de estudio en común durante un trimestre. Cada clase de escuela sabática consta con su propio folleto de estudio. Los más pequeños tienen el folleto Cuna, luego vienen los Infantes, más adelante vienen los Primarios, Intermediarios, Juveniles, Jóvenes y por último el folleto Adultos. En este estudio bíblico filial que puede incluir cantos, relatos misioneros, oraciones y el estudio de la Biblia que se extenderá hasta alrededor de las 10:15. Se forman varios grupos en los cuales los temas bíblicos y preguntas prácticas son discutidos con libertad. Luego de dar el informe misionero y los anuncios correspondientes a la iglesia, la hermandad se reunirá nuevamente para un servicio de iglesia que sigue un formato típico evangélico que puede diferir de iglesia a iglesia pero que siempre tendrá un sermón como característica principal. Los adventistas practican la cena del Señor (conocida en otras denominaciones como eucaristía), la cual es un servicio abierto, basado en el capítulo 13 del Evangelio según san Juan.[8] El servicio incluye una ceremonia de lavamiento de los pies y la participación de la Cena del Señor que consiste de panes sin levadura y jugo de uva no fermentado. En algunas iglesias, los miembros y otros amigos pueden quedarse en ella para un almuerzo a la canasta, para el cual todos contribuyen con un plato. Las actividades del sábado de tarde pueden variar mucho dependiendo del contexto cultural, étnico y social.[9] Actualmente en Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, México y Venezuela, antes de que el sol se oculte, el día sábado se hace una despedida del día con cantos y alabanzas dirigidos por jóvenes, conocida en muchos países como la sociedad de jóvenes, aunque por la demografía de algunas iglesias se tienen tres divisiones la sociedad del menor, de jóvenes y la del mayor, en los que se presentan actividades y temas de aprendizaje coherentes a cada grupo atareo. Donde también se hacen obras, presentaciones musicales, concursos bíblicos, entre otros. Luego de ocultarse el sol, los jóvenes (o de alma joven) se reúnen para disfrutar en camaradería un sábado más. [editar] Actividades misionerasLas actividades de extensión misionera de la Iglesia adventista apuntan tanto a no creyentes como a creyentes de otras denominaciones. Los adventistas del séptimo día creen que Cristo ha llamado a los que creen en él para ministrar a todo el mundo. Como tal, la Iglesia tiene presencia en más de 200 países en el mundo. Sin embargo, los adventistas son cautelosos para asegurarse de que el evangelismo no estorbe los derechos básicos del individuo. La libertad religiosa es una postura que la Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo Día apoya y promueve. Los esfuerzos evangelísticos adventistas tradicionales consistían de misiones urbanas y la distribución de folletos como The present truth (La verdad actual), que fue publicada por James White desde 1849.  Edificio de la Review and Herald, 1868. Los adventistas, como lo demuestra su distribución expansiva de folletos, al igual que sus ancestros milleristas, por mucho tiempo han sido propulsores de los ministerios basados en los medios de difusión. Hasta que J. N. Andrews fue enviado a Suiza en 1874, los esfuerzos mundiales adventistas consistían enteramente de la circulación de folletos (como los de De White) en muchos lugares. La lectura de dichos materiales fue la razón primaria por la cual Andrews eventualmente fue llamado para viajar ultramar. En el último siglo, dichos esfuerzos también han involucrado la utilización de los medios de comunicación modernos tales como la radio y la televisión. El primero de estos fue el programa radiofónico de H. M. S. Richards, Voice of prophecy (‘La voz de la profecía’), que inicialmente fue transmitido desde Los Ángeles en 1929. Desde entonces los adventistas han estado en la vanguardia del evangelismo a través de los medios de comunicación. El programa It is written (‘Está escrito’) fue el primer programa religioso que fue transmitido en colores. Hoy, la iglesia cuenta con varios canales como The Hope Channel (‘El canal de la esperanza’) o The Three Angels Broadcasting Network (‘La red de difusión de los tres ángeles’), los cuales operan internacionalmente, transmitiendo las 24 horas del día tanto por cable como por satélite. También cuentan con un estudio de televisión (Nuevo Tiempo) ubicado en la ciudad de San Pablo en Brasil, el cual transmite por su programación de radio y televisión Internet tanto en español como en portugués. En Chile cuenta con la red radio difusora más grande del país, Nuevo Tiempo Chile y además posee un canal de televisión abierta con el mismo nombre, que se puede sintonizar en las principales ciudades del país. En Costa Rica también cuenta con la emisora Radio Lyra 88.7 FM de cobertura nacional con sus oficinas en la provincia de Alajuela, en las instalaciones de la Universidad Adventista de Centroamérica. En El Salvador actualmente se encuentra Radio Adventista 96.5 FM, transmitiendo desde San Salvador. El 9 de agosto del 2003 se iniciaron las transmisiones de la red satelital Nuevo Tiempo Perú, desde la ciudad de Lima al presente, conforman esta red 17 emisoras a nivel nacional, dial en Lima 1038 AM. En Guatemala se inició la transmisión como repetidora de una radio Centro Americana, luego creando su propia estación con el nombre de Unión Radio, obteniendo el permiso para transmitir en AM y FM. En República Dominicana cuenta con la emisora Radio Amanecer Internacional con más de una década en el aire, que se escucha en casi todo el país. En Puerto Rico cuenta con Radio Paraíso 92.9 FM, la cual cubre aproximadamente tres cuartas partes de la isla, y Radio Sol 92.1 FM, la cual cubre la zona restante. [editar] Salud, dieta y sexualidadLos adventistas del séptimo día presentan un mensaje de salud que recomienda el vegetarianismo[10] y se espera la abstinencia de carne de cerdo, sangre, crustáceos, y otros alimentos proscritos como «animales inmundos» en Levítico 11, al igual que la abstinencia de alcohol y tabaco u otras drogas. Muchos adventistas se abstienen de estos alimentos como deseo de mantener un estilo de vida saludable además de progresar y escuchar lo que dice la Ley (que es el nombre que le dan a los cinco primeros libros de la Biblia), especialmente Levítico. Los pioneros de la Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo Día tuvieron mucho que ver con la aceptación de cereales en el desayuno de la sociedad occidental. John Harvey Kellogg (en principio adventista, luego apóstata de dicha fe)[cita requerida] de fama mundial por su compañía de cereales Kellogg, fue uno de los fundadores de la obra Adventista del Séptimo Día. Los adventistas mantienen en funcionamiento una gran cantidad de hospitales y otras instituciones relacionadas con la salud. El artículo de tapa del número de noviembre de 2005 de la National Geographic Magazine y el reconocido programa de CNN AC360, dirigido por Anderson Cooper, tratan sobre la longevidad de los adventistas (de 8 a 10 años más que los no adventistas). Junto con los nativos de Okinawa y Cerdeña, los adventistas son las personas que más viven en el mundo, una característica que se adjudica a las prácticas de salud y al sábado semanal como desestresante.[11] La posición oficial de los adventistas con respecto al aborto es que no se aprueban los abortos por razones de control de natalidad, selección de sexo, u otras conveniencias. Según una declaración oficial de la Asociación General de los Adventistas del Séptimo Día, los adventistas no llevan a cabo matrimonios homosexuales. Aun más: dentro del matrimonio, el adulterio por una relación heterosexual u homosexual, o en caso de muerte son unas de las circunstancias en las que se permite el divorcio. [editar] Cuerpo de Cadetes Médicos AdventistaEl Cuerpo de Cadetes Médicos Adventistas es una organización basada en las creencias y doctrinas de la Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo Día. En sus inicios, el propósito fue de entrenar gente para el área de medicina de las Fuerzas Armadas de Estados Unidos, pero después de la década de 1970, ha estado trabajando para la comunidad ayudando en desastres y rescates. Esta organización provee crecimiento espiritual de sus miembros, teniendo la oportunidad y el privilegio de formar cuerpos (grupos). Trabajo del Cuerpo de Cadetes
[editar] Estructura, gobierno e institucionesLa Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo Día está organizada con una estructura jerárquica bien definida, que concede poderes y responsabilidades a representantes y oficiales. Cuatro niveles definen la estructura de la Iglesia, desde el creyente individual hasta la organización mundial.
[editar] ADRA (Agencia Adventista de Desarrollo y Recursos Asistenciales)La ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency: ‘agencia adventista de desarrollo y alivio’: Agencia Adventista de Desarrollo y Recursos Asistenciales) es la rama humanitaria mundial de la Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo Día, establecida con el propósito específico de desarrollar económica y socialmente comunidades desfavorecidas y ayudar a paliar efectos de desastres. ADRA Internacional cumple su misión en 120 países, sin discriminación por raza, género o creencias políticas o religiosas. Opera en cinco actividades principales: seguridad alimenticia, desarrollo económico, primeros auxilios, respuesta a desastres y catástrofes y educación básica. Desde hace más de 50 años la iglesia ha estado activamente promoviendo la ayuda humanitaria a través del trabajo de la ADRA, que trabaja como una agencia no sectaria de ayuda humanitaria en más de 120 países del mundo. ADRA ha sido conferida el Estado Consultivo General por la comisión de Economía y Sociedad de las Naciones Unidas. En todo el mundo, ADRA emplea más de 4000 personas para ayudar tanto a proveer ayuda humanitaria en las crisis y el desarrollo en situaciones de pobreza. [editar] Orígenes de ADRALos orígenes de ADRA (Agencia Adventista para el Desarrollo y Recursos Asistenciales) se sitúan aproximadamente en la década de 1980. Pero la acción humanitaria adventista es anterior. En 1918, justo después de la Primera Guerra Mundial, la Iglesia adventista estableció un comité de ayuda a Europa a causa de los desastres producidos por la contienda. Los primeros países que recibieron ayuda humanitaria de los creyentes adventistas fueron: Bélgica, Francia, Alemania, Turquía, Egipto, Rusia y China. Después, y a causa de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, la devastación en Europa, el Norte de África y países de Asia, hizo que la Iglesia adventista se organizase de manera inmediata para prestar su ayuda a las víctimas de la guerra. Se prepararon almacenes para organizar y procesar los materiales y alimentos que, posteriormente, se enviaron por barco a los diferentes países que sufrieron los horrores de la guerra. En 1956 la Asociación General de la Iglesia Adventista creó el SAWS (Servicio de Beneficencia o Sociedad de Servicios Comunitarios). Este nombre fue modificado en 1973, denominándose Servicio Mundial de la Iglesia Adventista. En cada país este servicio tenía un nombre distinto. En los países de habla hispana se denominó ACFE (Asociación Civil Filantrópica y Educativa). Pero en 1983 este servicio de alcance mundial tomó el nombre actual de ADRA. El objetivo era poner más énfasis en programas de desarrollo para los países más pobres y potenciar la ayuda humanitaria y de emergencia allí donde las necesidades fuesen más perentorias. ADRA está considerada por los organismos internacionales como una red de agencias de ayuda humanitaria y de desarrollo. Es una ONG confesional que, estando vinculada a la Iglesia adventista, mantiene su estructura y organización administrativa de manera independiente. En los momentos actuales está actuando en más de 140 países. [editar] Enlaces de ADRA
[editar] MisiónLa Iglesia adventista administra uno de los sistemas educacionales protestantes unificados más grande del mundo.[cita requerida] Operan unas 7442 escuelas primarias y secundarias, al igual que colegios, universidades, seminarios y escuelas de medicina en alrededor de 145 países en el mundo. Este sistema educacional involucra unos 66 000 docentes y 1 257 000 estudiantes. El programa educacional adventista es extenso y completo, y engloba la salud mental, física, social y espiritual, y tiene como meta el preparar a los jóvenes para la vida en el cielo, prometida por Cristo, después de su Segunda venida. Sus propósitos y objetivos primordiales son crear un ambiente y programa adaptado a las necesidades y los gustos de la juventud, mientras desarrollan una relación especial con Dios, provocando en ellos el deseo de traer más personas, usando y desarrollando los talentos de cada uno de ellos. Los objetivos principales son crear líderes, proveer espacio para el crecimiento de sus talentos y habilidades, establecer un centro de evangelismo juvenil y desarrollar nuevos lazos de amistad con otras personas. [editar] Algunos programas misioneros adventistasPlanet Hope (Planeta Esperanza) es un programa dirigido a la población juvenil de Puerto Rico y otras áreas. Su meta es alcanzar a otras personas, especialmente a los jóvenes, y enseñarles acerca de diversos aspectos de la vida, incluyendo —como establecen las doctrinas de la Iglesia adventista— aspectos relacionados a las enseñanzas espirituales y religiosas de Dios y la Biblia. El método principal utilizado para alcanzar a otros es hacer más interesante la sociedad de jóvenes o reunión a través del uso de modos de vida contemporáneos como guías. cabe destacar que los misioneros adventistas son muy responsables y debotos,entregan todo en sus misiones [editar] Instituciones adventistas Centro Médico de la Universidad de Loma Linda (California). Los adventistas tienen como premisa la creación de distintas instituciones para el desarrollo y formación global de sus miembros y las comunidades que sirven. Se destacan colegios para todos los niveles de enseñanza y universidades con carreras diversas. Es notorio la calidad de la enseñanza, su costo más o menos barato y que la misma está impregnada de elementos cristianos. El Sistema de Salud Adventista es reconocido por la calidad de sus hospitales y centros de salud, siendo su emblema el Loma Linda University Medical Center (Centro Médico de la Universidad de Loma Linda), en California, uno de los hospitales de mayor reconocimiento y prestigio en el área médica. Además de administrar hospitales, el sistema hace investigaciones y publica diferentes materiales para mantener una vida sana. Pese a todo esto las instituciones tienden a ser vistas por otras religiones como sectarias, es decir nuclean y encierran a los creyentes, no permitiéndoles interactuar con la sociedad. [editar] Áreas de la Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo DíaLa Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo Día posee tres áreas principales en las cuales trabaja. Esta iglesia trabaja en las tres cosas que hizo Jesús en la Tierra: Predicar, Enseñar y Sanar.
[editar] Juventud adventistaEl departamento de jóvenes de la Iglesia adventista administra una organización para niños y niñas de 10 a 15 años de edad llamado Club de Conquistadores (Pathfinders). El Club de Conquistadores expone a los jóvenes a actividades tales como acampar, servicio comunitario, educación basada en habilidades y los entrena para el liderazgo. Para los niños más pequeños se encuentra el Club de Aventureros, que alimenta al programa de conquistadores. Desde los 15 años en adelante, los jóvenes (y adultos que deseen) se pueden implementar al Club de Guías Mayores, el cual busca entrenar a la nueva juventud para ser los próximos líderes de la iglesia. En este club se desarrollan actividades similares a las de los anteriores, pero con un mayor grado de profundidad. La Iglesia adventista ha estado activa por más de 140 años abogando a favor de la libertad religiosa. En 1863 sus líderes fundaron la Asociación Internacional de Libertad Religiosa, la cual es universal y no sectaria. El consejo estatal de la Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo Día sirve para proteger a diversos grupos religiosos de ciertas legislaciones que puedan afectar sus prácticas religiosas. Recientemente la organización ha estado luchando para que se establezcan legislaciones que protejan a los empleados adventistas que desean guardar el sábado. La iglesia también posee varias organizaciones asociadas extra-iglesia. Estas se denominan ministerios independientes de la Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo Día. Además la juventud adventista dispone de publicaciones específicas destinadas al ministerio del culto joven, en muchas ocasiones la iglesia adventista ha tenido la ventaja de tener mucho más juventud que las demás denominaciones mundiales. [editar] Notas
[editar] Véase también[editar] Enlaces externos
[editar] Enlaces críticos
Seventh-day Adventist ChurchFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Seventh-day Adventist Church (commonly abbreviated SDA,[3][4][5][6] officially abbreviated Adventist[7]) is a Christian denomination which is distinguished by its observance of Saturday,[8] the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ. As of May 2007, it was the twelfth-largest religious body in the world,[9] and the sixth-largest highly international religious body.[10] The denomination grew out of the Millerite movement in the United States during the middle part of the 19th century and was formally established in 1863.[11] Among its founders was Ellen G. White, whose extensive writings are still held in high regard by the church today.[12] Much of the theology of the Seventh-day Adventist Church corresponds to Protestant Christian teachings such as the Trinity and the infallibility of Scripture. Distinctive teachings include the unconscious state of the dead and the doctrine of an investigative judgment. The church is also known for its emphasis on diet and health, its holistic understanding of the person, its promotion of religious liberty, and its conservative principles and lifestyle.[citation needed] The world church is governed by a General Conference, with smaller regions administered by divisions, union conferences and local conferences. It currently has a worldwide membership of over 16 million people, has a missionary presence in over 200 countries and territories and is ethnically and culturally diverse.[1][2] The church operates numerous schools, hospitals and publishing houses worldwide, as well as a prominent humanitarian aid organization known as the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).
[edit] HistoryMain article: History of the Seventh-day Adventist Church The Seventh-day Adventist Church is the largest of several Adventist groups which arose from the Millerite movement of the 1840s in upstate New York, a phase of the Second Great Awakening. Miller predicted on the basis of Daniel 8:14–16 and the "day-year principle" that Jesus Christ would return to Earth on October 22, 1844. When this did not happen, most of his followers disbanded and returned to their original churches. Some Millerites came to believe that Miller's calculations were correct, but that his interpretation of Daniel 8:14 was flawed as he assumed it was the 'earth that was to be cleansed' or Christ would come to cleanse the world. These Adventists arrived at the conviction that Daniel 8:14 foretold Christ's entrance into the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary rather than his second coming. Over the next decade this understanding developed into the doctrine of the investigative judgment: an eschatological process commencing in 1844 in which Christians will be judged to verify their eligibility for salvation and God's justice will be confirmed before the universe. The Adventists continued to believe that Christ's second coming would be imminent, although they refrained from setting further dates for the event. [edit] Development of SabbatarianismAs the early Adventist movement consolidated, the question of the biblical day of rest and worship was raised. The foremost proponent of Sabbath-keeping among early Adventists was Joseph Bates. Bates was introduced to the Sabbath doctrine by a tract written by Millerite preacher Thomas M. Preble, who in turn had been influenced by Rachel Oakes Preston, a young Seventh Day Baptist. This message was gradually accepted and formed the topic of the first edition of the church publication The Present Truth (now the Adventist Review), which appeared in July 1849. [edit] Organization and recognitionFor about 20 years, the Adventist movement consisted of a small loosely knit group of people who came from many churches whose primary means of connection and interaction was through James White's periodical, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald. They embraced the doctrines of the Sabbath, the heavenly sanctuary interpretation of Daniel 8:14, conditional immortality and the expectation of Christ's premillennial return. Among its most prominent figures were Joseph Bates, James White, and Ellen G. White. Ellen White came to occupy a particularly central role; her many visions and spiritual leadership convinced her fellow Adventists that she possessed the gift of prophecy. The church was formally established in Battle Creek, Michigan, on May 21, 1863, with a membership of 3,500.[11] The denominational headquarters were later moved from Battle Creek to Takoma Park, Maryland, where they remained until 1989. The General Conference headquarters then moved to its current location in Silver Spring, Maryland. Until 1870 the church had a shut door policy focused on veterans of the 1844 experience, seeing them as a saving remnant. The membership was only 5,400 and the door was shut to new members. The denomination in the 1870s turned to missionary work and revivals, tripling its membership to 16,000 by 1880 and establishing a presence beyond North America during the late 19th century. Rapid growth continued, with 75,000 members in 1901. By this time operated two colleges, a medical school, a dozen academies, 27 hospitals, and 13 publishing houses. By 1945, the church reported 226,000 members in the US and Canada, and 380,000 elsewhere; the budget was $29 million and enrollment in church schools was 40,000[citation needed]. For much of the 19th century, the church struggled as it formed its core beliefs and doctrines especially as a number of the Adventist leaders came from churches that supported the doctrine of Arianism (although Ellen G. White was not one of them).[13] This, along with the movement's other theological views, led to a consensus among conservative evangelical Protestants to regard it as a cult.[14][15][16][17] However, the Adventist Church adopted the Trinity early in the 20th century and began to dialogue with other Protestant groups toward the middle of the century, eventually gaining wide recognition as a Protestant church. [edit] BeliefsMain article: Seventh-day Adventist theology The official teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination are expressed in its 28 Fundamental Beliefs. This statement of beliefs was originally adopted by the General Conference in 1980, with an additional belief (number 11) being added in 2005. Acceptance of either of the church's two baptismal vows is a prerequisite for membership. The following statement of beliefs is not meant to be read or received as a "creed" that is set in theological concrete. Adventists have but one creed: “The Bible, and the Bible alone.” Adventist doctrine resembles trinitarian Protestant theology, with premillennial and Arminian emphases. Adventists uphold teachings such as the infallibility of Scripture, the substitutionary atonement, the resurrection of the dead and justification by faith alone, and are therefore often considered evangelical.[18] In common with certain other Christian churches, they believe in baptism by immersion and creation in six literal days. (The modern Creationist movement started with Adventist George McCready Price, who was inspired by a vision of Ellen White.[19]) In addition, there is a generally recognized set of "distinctive" doctrines which distinguish Adventism from the rest of the Christian world, although not all of these teachings are wholly unique to Adventism:
[edit] Theological spectrumAs with any religious movement, a theological spectrum exists within Adventism comparable to the fundamentalist-conservative-moderate-liberal spectrum in the wider Christian church and in other religions. A variety of groups, movements or subcultures within the church present differing views on beliefs and lifestyle. The conservative end of the theological spectrum is represented by historic Adventists, who are characterized by their opposition to theological trends within the denomination, beginning in the 1950s.[21] They object to theological compromises with evangelicalism, and seek to defend what they consider to be traditional Adventist teachings such as the human post-fall nature of Jesus Christ, an investigative judgment, and character perfectionism.[22] Historic Adventism is represented by some scholars,[23] is also seen at the grassroots level of the church[24] and is often promoted through independent ministries. The most liberal elements in the church are typically known as progressive Adventists (progressive Adventists generally do not identify with liberal Christianity). They tend to disagree with more traditional views concerning the inspiration of Ellen White, the doctrine of the remnant and the investigative judgment.[22][25] The progressive movement is supported by some scholars[26] and finds expression in bodies such as the Association of Adventist Forums and in journals such as Spectrum and Adventist Today. [edit] Theological organizationsThe Biblical Research Institute is the official theological research center of the church. The church has two professional organizations for Adventist theologians who are affiliated with the denomination. The Adventist Society for Religious Studies (ASRS) was formed to foster a community among Adventist theologians who attend the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) and the American Academy of Religion. In 2006 ASRS voted to continue their meetings in the future in conjunction with SBL. During the 1980s the Adventist Theological Society was formed to provide a forum for more conservative theologians to meet and is held in conjunction with the Evangelical Theological Society. [edit] Culture and practicesThe General Conference has posted an intraspective view on Adventists worldwide. This was done as an answer to frequently asked questions Adventist members and the church receives. The article is entitled, "Your Adventist Neighbor". [edit] Sabbath activities See also: Sabbath in Seventh-day Adventism To keep the weekly Sabbath holy, Adventists abstain from secular work on Saturday. They will also usually refrain from purely secular forms of recreation, such as competitive sport and watching non-religious programs on television. However, nature walks, family-oriented activities, charitable work and other activities that are compassionate in nature are encouraged. Much of Friday might be spent in preparation for the Sabbath; for example, preparing meals and tidying homes. Some Adventists gather for Friday evening worship to welcome in the Sabbath, a practice often known as Vespers. Saturday afternoon activities vary widely depending on the cultural, ethnic and social background. In some churches, members and visitors will participate in a fellowship (or "potluck") lunch. [edit] Worship serviceMain article: Seventh-day Adventist worship The major weekly worship service occurs on Saturday, typically commencing with Sabbath School which is a structured time of small-group study at church. Most Adventists make use of an officially produced "Sabbath School Lesson", which deals with a particular biblical text or doctrine every quarter. Special meetings are provided for children and youth in different age groups during this time (analogous to Sunday school in other churches). After a brief break, the community joins together again for a church service that follows a typical evangelical format, with a sermon as a central feature. Corporate singing, Scripture readings, prayers and an offering, including tithing (or money collection), are other standard features. The instruments and forms of worship music vary greatly throughout the worldwide church.[27] Some churches in North America have a contemporary Christian music style, whereas other churches enjoy more traditional hymns including those found in the Adventist Hymnal. Worship is known to be generally restrained. [edit] Holy CommunionAdventists usually practice communion four times a year. The communion is an open service that is available to members and Christian non-members. It commences with a foot washing ceremony, known as the "Ordinance of Humility", based on the Gospel account of John 13. The Ordinance of Humility is meant to symbolize Christ's washing of his disciples' feet at the Last Supper and remind participants of the need to humbly serve one another. Participants segregate by gender to separate rooms to conduct this ritual, although some congregations allow married couples to perform the ordinance on each other and families are often encouraged to participate together. After its completion, participants return to the main sanctuary for consumption of the Lord's Supper, which consists of unleavened bread and unfermented grape juice. [edit] Health and dietSince the 1860s when the church began, wholeness and health have been an emphasis of the Adventist church.[28] Adventists are known for presenting a "health message" that recommends vegetarianism and expects adherence to the kosher laws in Leviticus 11. Obedience to these laws means abstinence from pork, shellfish, and other foods proscribed as "unclean". The church discourages its members from the use of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs (compare Christianity and alcohol). In addition, some Adventists avoid coffee, tea, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Mountain Dew and other beverages containing caffeine.  The pioneers of the Adventist Church had much to do with the common acceptance of breakfast cereals into the Western diet, and the "modern commercial concept of cereal food" originated among Adventists.[29] John Harvey Kellogg was one of the early founders of Adventist health work. His development of breakfast cereals as a health food led to the founding of Kellogg's by his brother William. In both Australia and New Zealand, the church-owned Sanitarium Health Food Company is one of those countries' leading manufacturers of health and vegetarian-related products.[citation needed] Research funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health has shown that the average Adventist in California lives 4 to 10 years longer than the average Californian. The research, as cited by the cover story of the November 2005 issue of National Geographic, asserts that Adventists live longer because they do not smoke or drink alcohol, have a day of rest every week, and maintain a healthy, low-fat vegetarian diet that is rich in nuts and beans.[30][31] The cohesiveness of Adventists' social networks has also been put forward as an explanation of their extended lifespan.[32] Since Dan Buettner's 2005 National Geographic story about Adventist longevity, his book, The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest, named Loma Linda, California a "blue zone" because of the large concentration of Seventh-day Adventists. He cites the Adventist emphasis on health, diet, and Sabbath-keeping as primary factors for Adventist longevity.[33][34] An estimated 35% of Adventists practice vegetarianism, according to a 2002 worldwide survey of local church leaders.[35][36] Adventists' clean lifestyles were recognized by the U.S. military in 1954 when 2,200 Adventists volunteered for Operation Whitecoat to be human test subjects for a range of diseases the effects of which were still unknown:
[edit] Ethics and sexualityThe official Adventist position on abortion is that "abortions for reasons of birth control, gender selection, or convenience are not condoned." At times, however, women may face exceptional circumstances that present serious moral or medical dilemmas, such as significant threats to the pregnant woman's life or health, severe congenital defects in the fetus, and pregnancy resulting from rape or incest; in these cases individuals are counseled to make their own decisions.[38] According to official statements from the General Conference, heterosexual marriages are the only biblically ordained grounds for sexual intimacy. Adventists do not perform same-sex marriages and homosexual men cannot be ordained.[39][40] An extramarital affair is one of the sanctioned grounds for a divorce, although reconciliation is encouraged whenever possible. Adventists believe in and encourage abstinence for both men and women before marriage. The Adventist church has released official statements in relation to other ethical issues such as euthanasia (against active euthanasia but permissive of passive withdrawal of medical support to allow death to occur),[41] birth control (in favor of it for married couples if used correctly, but against abortion as birth control and premarital sex in any case)[42] and human cloning (against it while the technology is unsafe and would result in defective births or abortions).[43] [edit] Dress and entertainmentAdventists have traditionally held socially conservative attitudes regarding dress and entertainment. These attitudes are reflected in one of the church's fundamental beliefs:
Accordingly, many Adventists are opposed to practices such as body piercing and tattoos and refrain from the wearing of jewelry, including such items as earrings and bracelets. Some also oppose the displaying of wedding bands, although banning wedding bands is not the position of the General Conference.[44] Traditionally Adventists dress semi-formally when attending church. Adventists also avoid certain recreational activities which are considered to be a negative spiritual influence, including dancing, rock music and secular theatre.[45] [46] Adventists cite the writings of Ellen White, especially her books, Counsels on Diet and Foods, Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students, and Education as inspired sources for Christian deportment. The Adventist church officially opposes the practice of gambling.[47] However, major studies conducted from 1989 onwards found the majority of North American church youth reject some of these standards.[48] Though it seems unbelievable to some, I’m thankful that when I grew up in the church [in the 1950s and 1960s] I was taught not to go to the movie theater, dance, listen to popular music, read novels, wear jewelry, play cards, bowl, play pool, or even be fascinated by professional sports. [edit] PathfindersMain article: Pathfinders (Seventh-day Adventist) The Youth Department of the Adventist church runs an organization for 10- to 16-year-old boys and girls called Pathfinders, which is similar to the Scouting movement. After a person becomes 17 or older he or she is no longer considered a Pathfinder but considered staff.[50] Pathfinders exposes young people to such activities as camping, community service, personal mentorship, and skills-based education, and trains them for leadership in the church. Yearly "Camporees" are held in individual Conferences, where Pathfinders from the region gather and participate in events similar to Boy Scouts' Jamborees. "Adventurer" (ages 6–9), "Eager Beaver", and "Little Lambs" clubs are programs for younger children that feed into the Pathfinder program. Those above 16 are eligible to become "Master Guides" (similar to Scout Master) and will begin to take on leadership roles within the club. [edit] Youth CampMain article: Seventh-day Adventist camps  View from Lake Whitney Seventh-day Adventist camp The Seventh-day Adventist Church operates youth camps all over North America and many other parts of the world. Each camp varies in the activities they manage but most have archery, swimming, horses, arts and crafts, nature, high ropes challenge course, and many other common activities. In addition to regular camps some have specialty camps, or RAD camps, which vary from either a week of surfing, waterskiing/wakeboarding, rock climbing, golf, skateboarding, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, cycling, basketball, and many others. [edit] Organization[edit] Structure and polityMain articles: Government of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists  The Seventh-day Adventist church is governed by a form of democratic representation which resembles the presbyterian system of church organization. Four levels of organization exist within the world church.[51][52]
Each organization is governed by a general "session" which occurs at certain intervals. This is usually when administrative decisions are made. The president of the General Conference, for instance, is elected at the General Conference Session every five years. Delegates to a session are appointed by organizations at a lower level. For example, each local church appoints delegates to a conference session. Tithes collected from church members are not used directly by the local churches, but are passed upwards to the local conferences/missions which then distribute the finances toward various ministry needs. Within a geographic region, ministers receive roughly equal pay irrespective of the size of their church.[citation needed] The Church Manual[51] gives provisions for each level of government to create educational, healthcare, publishing, and other institutions that are seen within the call of the Great Commission.  Campion Academy Adventist Church in Loveland, Colorado [edit] Church officers and clergyThe ordained clergy of the Adventist church are known as ministers or pastors. Ministers are neither elected nor employed by the local churches, but instead are appointed by the local Conferences, which assign them responsibility over a single church or group of churches. Ordination is a formal recognition bestowed upon male pastors after usually a number of years of service. Women may not be given the title "ordained", although some are employed in ministry, and may be "commissioned".[53] A number of lay offices exist within the local church, including the ordained positions of elder and deacon.[51] Elders and deacons are appointed by the vote of a local church business meeting or elected committees. Elders serve a mainly administrative and pastoral role, but must also be capable of providing religious leadership (particularly in the absence of an ordained minister). The role of deacons is to assist in the smooth functioning of a local church and to maintain church property. [edit] Membership Graph of church membership over time The primary prerequisite for membership in the Adventist church is baptism by immersion. This, according to the church manual, should only occur after the candidate has undergone proper instruction on what the church believes.[51] As of October 2009, the church has 16,049,101 baptized members.[54] More than one million people joined the Adventist church in the 12-month period ending June 30, 2009 (inclusive), through baptisms and professions of faith. The church is one of the world's fastest-growing organizations, primarily due to increases in membership in the developing nations. Today, less than 7% of the world membership reside in the United States, with large numbers in Africa as well as Central and South America. Depending on how the data was measured, it is reported that church membership reached 1 million between 1955 and 1961, and grew to five million in 1986. At the turn of the 21st century the church had over 10 million members which grew to over 14 million in 2005, and 16 million in 2009.[1] It is believed that over 25 million worship weekly in Seventh-day Adventist churches.[55] The church operates in 202 out of 230 countries and areas recognized by the United Nations,[1] making it "probably the most widespread Protestant denomination".[56] The church has been described as having close social networks, and has been described as "something of an extended family",[57] and as having "two-degrees-of-separation social networks".[58] [edit] Church institutionsThe Biblical Research Institute is the theological research center of the church. The Ellen G. White Estate was established in 1915 at the death of Ellen White, as specified in her legal will. Its purpose is to act as custodian of her writings, and as of 2006 it has 15 board members. The Ellen G. White Estate also hosts the official Ellen White website whiteestate.org. The Geoscience Research Institute, based at Loma Linda University, was founded in 1958 to investigate the scientific evidence concerning origins. [edit] Adventist missionMain article: Adventist Mission  A pastor baptizes a young man in Mozambique Started in the late 19th century, Adventist mission work today reaches people in over 200 countries and territories.[1] Adventist mission workers preach the gospel, promote health through hospitals and clinics, run development projects to improve living standards, and provide relief in times of calamity.[59] Missionary outreach of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is aimed at both non-Christians and Christians from other denominations. Adventists believe that Christ has called his followers in the Great Commission to reach the whole world. Adventists are cautious, however, to ensure that evangelism does not impede or intrude on the basic rights of the individual. Religious liberty is a stance that the Adventist Church supports and promotes.[60]  Aerial photograph of Andrews University, the flagship higher education center of the Adventist church. [edit] EducationMain articles: Seventh-day Adventist education and List of Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities The Adventist Church operates 7,598 schools, colleges and universities, with a total enrollment of more than 1,545,000 students and approximately 80,000 teachers.[61] It claims to operate "one of the largest church-supported educational systems in the world".[62] In the United States it operates the largest Protestant educational system, and is second only to that of the Roman Catholic Church.[63] The Adventist educational program is comprehensive, encompassing "mental, physical, social and above all, spiritual health" with "intellectual growth and service to humanity" as its goal. [edit] HealthMain articles: Adventist Health System and Adventist Health International Adventists run a large number of hospitals and health-related institutions. Their largest medical school and hospital in North America is Loma Linda University and its attached Medical Center. Throughout the world, the church runs a wide network of hospitals, clinics, and sanitariums. These play a role in the church's health message and worldwide missions outreach.[64]  Loma Linda University Medical Center Adventist Health System is the largest not-for-profit, Protestant, multi-institutional healthcare system in the United States. The health system is sponsored by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and cares for over 4 million patients yearly. [edit] Humanitarian aid and the environmentFor over 50 years the church has been active in humanitarian aid through the work of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). ADRA works as a non-sectarian relief agency in 125 countries and areas of the world. ADRA has been granted General Consultative Status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Worldwide ADRA employs over 4,000 people to help both provide relief in crises and development in situations of poverty. The church is committed to the protection and care of the environment[65] as well as taking action to avoid the dangers of climate change:[66] "Seventh-day Adventism advocates a simple, wholesome lifestyle, where people do not step on the treadmill of unbridled over-consumption, accumulation of goods, and production of waste. A reformation of lifestyle is called for, based on respect for nature, restraint in the use of the world's resources, reevaluation of one's needs, and reaffirmation of the dignity of created life."[67] [edit] Religious libertyThe Adventist church has been active for over 100 years advocating freedom of religion for all people, regardless of faith. In 1893 its leaders founded the International Religious Liberty Association, which is universal and non-sectarian. The Seventh-day Adventist Church State Council serves to protect religious groups from legislation that may affect their religious practices. This is primarily achieved through advocacy. Recently the organization has been fighting to pass legislation that will protect Adventist employees who wish to keep their Sabbath. [edit] MediaMain article: Media ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church  Hope Channel logo  Amazing Facts logo  3ABN logo Adventists have long been proponents of media-based ministries. Traditional Adventist evangelistic efforts consisted of street missions and the distribution of tracts such as The Present Truth, which was published by James White as early as 1849. Until J. N. Andrews was sent to Switzerland in 1874, Adventist global efforts consisted entirely of the posting of tracts such as White's writings to various locations. In the last century, these media based efforts have also made use of emerging media such as radio and television. The first of these was H. M. S. Richards' radio show Voice of Prophecy, which was initially broadcast in Los Angeles in 1929. Since then Adventists have been on the forefront of media evangelism, and one program, It Is Written, founded by George Vandeman, was the first religious program to air on colour television and was the first major Christian ministry to utilize satellite uplink technology. Today the Hope Channel, the official television network of the church, operates 8 international channels broadcasting 24 hours a day on both cable and satellite networks.[68] Hope Channel also has 3 internet channels. Recently, a number of satellite broadcasted live evangelistic events have been undertaken by evangelists such as Doug Batchelor, Mark Finley and Dwight Nelson, addressing audiences in up to 40 languages simultaneously.[69] John Carter is another leading Adventist evangelist. Additionally, there exists a range of privately owned media entities representing Adventist beliefs. These include the 3ABN and SafeTV networks. Amazing Facts and The Quiet Hour are two other radio and television programs. [edit] Publishing An edition of Adventist World The Adventist Church owns and operates many publishing companies around the world. Two of the largest are the Pacific Press and Review and Herald publishing associations located in the United States. The Review and Herald is located in Hagerstown, Maryland.[70] The official church magazine is the Adventist Review, which has a North American focus. It has a sister magazine (Adventist World) which has an international perspective. Another major magazine published by the church is the bimonthly Liberty magazine, which addresses issues pertaining to religious freedom. [edit] Ecumenical activityMain article: Seventh-day Adventist interfaith relations The Adventist Church generally opposes the ecumenical movement, although it supports some of the goals of ecumenism. The General Conference has released an official statement concerning the Adventist position with respect to the ecumenical movement, which contains the following paragraph: "Should Adventists cooperate ecumenically? Adventists should cooperate insofar as the authentic gospel is proclaimed and crying human needs are being met. The Seventh-day Adventist Church wants no entangling memberships and refuses any compromising relationships that might tend to water down her distinct witness. However, Adventists wish to be "conscientious cooperators." The ecumenical movement as an agency of cooperation has acceptable aspects; as an agency for the organic unity of churches, it is much more suspect."[71] While not being a member of the World Council of Churches, the Adventist Church has participated in its assemblies in an observer capacity.[72] [edit] CriticismMain article: Criticism of the Seventh-day Adventist Church The Adventist Church has received criticism along several lines, including its allegedly heterodox doctrines, in relation to Ellen G. White and her status within the church, and in relation to alleged exclusivist attitudes and behaviour.[73] Many high profile critics of the church are former Adventists, such as D. M. Canright, Walter Rea and Dale Ratzlaff. [edit] DoctrinesSeveral distinctive Adventist doctrines have been claimed as heterodox by evangelical critics such as Anthony Hoekema. Teachings which have come under scrutiny are the annihilationist view of hell, the investigative judgment (and a related view of the atonement), and the Sabbath; in addition, it has been alleged that Adventist doctrine suffers from legalism.[74] While critics such as Hoekema have classified Adventism as a sectarian group on the basis of its atypical doctrines,[14][15] it has been considered more mainstream by Protestant evangelicals since its meetings and discussion with evangelicals in the 1950s.[75] Notably, Billy Graham invited Adventists to be part of his crusades after Eternity, a conservative Christian magazine edited by Donald Barnhouse, asserted that Adventists are Christians in 1956. Walter Martin, who is considered by many to be the father of the counter-cult apologetics movement within evangelicalism, authored The Truth About Seventh-day Adventists (1960) which marked a turning point in the way Adventism was viewed.[76][77] "...it is perfectly possible to be a Seventh-day Adventist and be a true follower of Jesus Christ despite heterodox concepts..." Later on Martin planned to write a new book on Seventh-day Adventism, with the assistance of Kenneth R. Samples.[79] Samples subsequently authored "From Controversy to Crisis: An Updated Assessment of Seventh-day Adventism", which upholds Martin's view "for that segment of Adventism which holds to the position stated in QOD, and further expressed in the Evangelical Adventist movement of the last few decades." However, Samples also claimed that "Traditional Adventism" appeared "to be moving further away from a number of positions taken in QOD," and at least at Glacier View seemed to have "gained the support of many administrators and leaders".[80] [edit] Ellen G. White and her statusMain article: Inspiration of Ellen White Ellen G. White’s status as a modern day prophet has also been criticized. In the Questions on Doctrine era, evangelicals expressed concern about Adventism's understanding of the relationship of White's writings to the inspired canon of Scripture.[14] However, the church makes clear in belief #18 of the 28 fundamental beliefs, that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested.[81] A common criticism of Ellen White, widely popularized by Walter T. Rea, Ronald Numbers and others, is the claim that she plagiarized material from other authors.[82][83][84] An independent lawyer specializing in plagiarism, Vincent L. Ramik, was engaged to undertake a study of Ellen G. White's writings during the early 1980s, and concluded that they were "conclusively unplagiaristic."[85] When the plagiarism charge ignited a significant debate during the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Adventist General Conference commissioned a major study by Dr. Fred Veltman. The ensuing project became known as the "'Life of Christ' Research Project." The results are available at the General Conference Archives.[86] Dr. Roger W. Coon,[87] David J. Conklin,[88] Dr. Denis Fortin,[89][90] King and Morgan,[91] among others, undertook the refutation of the accusations of plagiarism. At the conclusion of Ramik's report, he states:
[edit] ExclusivismFinally, critics have alleged that certain Adventist beliefs and practices are exclusivist in nature and have raised concern about the Adventist claim to be the “remnant church”, and the traditional Protestant association of Roman Catholicism and other denominations with "Babylon".[93][94][95] These attitudes are said to legitimize the proselytising of Christians from other denominations. In response to such criticisms, Adventist theologians have stated that the doctrine of the remnant does not preclude the existence of genuine Christians in other denominations, but is concerned with institutions.[96] "We fully recognize the heartening fact that a host of true followers of Christ are scattered all through the various churches of Christendom, including the Roman Catholic communion. These God clearly recognizes as His own. Such do not form a part of the "Babylon" portrayed in the Apocalypse." Ellen White also presented it in a similar light: "God has children, many of them, in the Protestant churches, and a large number in the Catholic churches, who are more true to obey the light and to do [to] the very best of their knowledge than a large number among Sabbathkeeping Adventists who do not walk in the light. {3SM 386.2}" [edit] Independent ministries, offshoots, and schisms[edit] Independent ministriesIn addition to the ministries and institutions which are formally administered by the denomination, numerous para-church organizations and independent ministries exist. These include various health centers and hospitals, publishing and media ministries, and aid organizations. A number of independent ministries have been established by groups within the Adventist church who hold a theologically distinct position or wish to promote a specific message, such as Hope International. Certain of these ministries solicit funding from members. A number of the independent ministries have strained relationship with the official church, which has expressed concerns that such ministries may threaten Adventist unity.[97] Some independent ministries, like many of the Protestant reformers have identified the Roman Papacy as the Antichrist.[98] However, the church does not condone any behavior by members which may "have manifested prejudice and even bigotry" against Catholics.[99] [edit] Offshoots and schismsThroughout the history of the denomination, there have been a number of groups who have left the church and formed their own movements. A well known but distant offshoot is the Branch Davidians, themselves a schism within the larger Davidian movement.[100] The Davidians formed in 1929, after Victor Houteff's book The Shepherd's Rod was rejected as being heretical. A succession dispute after Houteff's death in 1955 led to the formation of the Branches. Later, another ex-Adventist, David Koresh, led the Branch Davidians until he died in the 1993 siege at the group's headquarters near Waco, Texas. Following World War I, a group known as the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement was formed as a result of the actions of L. R. Conradi and certain European church leaders during the war, who decided that it was acceptable for Adventists to take part in war. When attempts at reconciliation failed after the war, the group became organized as a separate church at a conference from July 14–20, 1925. The movement officially incorporated in 1949.[101] In 2005, the mainstream church tried to make amends and apologized for its failures during World War II.[102] Crisis, persecution, and compromise in the Soviet Union produced the group known as True and Free Seventh-day Adventists. This highly secretive splinter group rejected compromises of necessity that were made by the "Official" Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Soviet Union. The group refused to send their children to school on Saturday, refused to join the Soviet military, and called the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists "Babylon". The group remains active today (2010) in the former republics of the Soviet Union.[103]
A controversy within Adventism was the Glacier View controversy of 1980. This crisis centered around the 900-page research paper by Dr. Desmond Ford entitled Daniel 8:14, the Investigative Judgment, and the Kingdom of God. The paper questioned the church's position on the investigative judgment. At the meetings at Glacier View Ranch, near Estes Park, Colorado, the church rejected Ford's proposals and ultimately resulted in Ford being removed from teaching and having his ministerial credentials revoked. Some Adventists also left the church as a result.[104] In the years since, Ford has worked through the independent ministry Good News Unlimited.
A number of Adventists such as former ministers Walter Rea and Dale Ratzlaff left the church and have become critics of the church's teachings and particularly of Ellen White. The official position of the church related to the prophetic gift of Ellen G. White remains unchanged. SDA Kinship International,[105] was formed in 1976, and is a social network that is not officially associated with the church for individuals who are or former Adventists who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT). The Adventist church filed a 1987 lawsuit for trademark infringement against Kinship International to stop their use of the name—District Judge Mariana R. Pfaelzer ruled that Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International, Inc. did not infringe on the Adventist church's use of the name and therefore could continue to use the identifying name.[106][107] [edit] In popular cultureMain article: Seventh-day Adventism in popular culture [edit] See also
[edit] Further reading
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jueves, 9 de diciembre de 2010
Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo Día
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