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What's The Truth About The Advent Christian Church?

By Alan Branch (2/2000)

When I first came to the Garner, I discovered a denomination which wastotally unfamiliar to me: The Advent Christian Church. When I asked some of my church members if they knew anything about Advent Christians, they generally responded, "Oh yes, they are just like Baptists." However, the fact is that there are several major differences between Advent Christians and most other evangelical denominations. Before I mention these differences, I want to stress that my goal is not to generate ill will towards the kind people in the Advent Christian Church. However, the differences in our beliefs are rather significant on some key issues. I hope to clarify these differences in a gracious and Christlike manner.

Historical Background

The Advent Christian Church is one of several denominations that grew out of the failed predictions of William Miller. William Miller (1782-1849) was a sincere man who believed he had discovered the exact date of Christ's return, which he set for 1843. A rather large group of people began to take Miller seriously and millennial fervor reached a fever pitch during the years of 1843 and 1844. Of course, Miller's date was incorrect, leading to what was known as the "Great Disappointment." While most of Miller's followers moved on, many continued to try and understand why his prediction had failed. The most famous group to emerge from the disillusioned "Millerites" was the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA). According to Ellen G. White, matriarch of the SDA, Christ did not return because Christians had ceased to worship on the Sabbath. The history of the SDA is well-chronicled elsewhere. However, a smaller and less well-known group to emerge from the Millerites was the Advent Christian Church, which was officially organized in 1860. While the SDA and the Advent Christian Church do have some similarities and share a common historical root, it is crucial to understand the Advent Christian Church as a separate entity. For example, while SDA theology has traditionally been more "works" oriented, the Advent Christian Church emphasizes that salvation is a free gift. Concerning the differences between Advent Christians and evangelical Christianity, three issues are important: the doctrine of the Trinity, the immortality of the soul, and the destination of the impenitent.

The Trinity

The Advent Christian Church is a member of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). The NAE statement of faith is clearly Trinitarian and says, "We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." The Advent Christian Church website posts the NAE statement along with the Apostles Creed and the Declaration of Principles of the Advent Christian Church (www.adventchristian.org). One area of concern is that the Advent Christian Declaration of Principles is not explicitly Trinitarian. It says, "We believe . . . in one God, our Father, eternal, and infinite in His wisdom, love and power, the Creator of all things, 'in whom we live, and move, and have our being." The statement goes on to affirm belief in "Jesus Christ, our Lord" and the "Holy Spirit, the Comforter." While I acknowledge that arguments from silence are notoriously weak, the fact is that the Advent Christian Declaration of Principles is not explicitly Trinitarian. Why so?

Apparently, the Denomination is basically Trinitarian, but wants to remain open to members who struggle with the doctrine. Some Advent Christian congregations are explicit in their Trinitarian belief. For example, the website of West Jacksonville, FL Advent Christian Church is explicitly Trinitarian (http://members.aol.com/wjacc/wjaccbel.htm). Furthermore, one acquaintance of mine was on staff at an Advent Christian congregation which utilized Evangelism Explosion. One requirement of Evangelism Explosion International is that all participating churches affirm the Trinitarian Faith. Nonetheless, the Advent Christian Declaration of Principles could be strengthened by a more explicit Trinitarian statement.

Immortality of the Soul

The Advent Christian Declaration of Principles says, "We believe that death is a condition of unconsciousness to all persons, righteous and wicked." The Advent Christian position is known as "conditional immortality." According to this belief, people receive immortality at the resurrection on the condition that they have accepted Christ. The period between death and the resurrection is one of unconsciousness. In contrast, the consistent Bible witness is that the intermediate period between death and resurrection is characterized by conscious existence of the soul as we wait for the final resurrection. For example, Jesus' story of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) is explicit in its description of pre-resurrection, post-mortem existence.

Destination of the Impenitent

The Advent Christian Declaration of Principles says, "The wicked will be 'punished with everlasting destruction'; suffering complete extinction of being." This position is known as annihilationism and has found some acceptance among some professed evangelicals, such as Clark Pinnock. The problem with this position is that in Matthew 25:46, Jesus Christ uses the same word, eternal, to describe the destination of the redeemed and the unredeemed. Furthermore, the description of the Great White Throne judgement in Revelation 20 offers no indication of annihilation.

How Do We Respond

The most basic question for most of us is, "Can you be born-again and an Advent Christian?" I would answer a qualified yes, it is possible for a sincere Advent Christian to be saved. Again, Advent Christians affirm grace and reject works as a means of salvation. I would offer three words of caution. First of all, what does the particular Advent Christian believe about Christ? Can they affirm that He was both fully God and fully man? Lest my Advent Christian friends take offense, I will mention the probing question of Jesus, "Who do you say that I am?" Second, if someone from and Advent Christian background desires membership in a Baptist church, we must make clear to them that the Trinity, Hell, and life after death are not negotiable issues, but they are matters of fellowship. Finally, if Advent Christians are serious about their commitment to Christ, and I believe they are, then why negate the stern warnings of our savior when he warned of a place called Hell where "the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:48)? Jesus Christ had the most tender heart that ever beat in a human chest, and he warned of the unmitigated wrath of God upon unrepentant sinners. That message may not be popular today, but it was not popular in Jesus' day either! Instead of avoiding the subject, why not let Jesus be Jesus?