Adventist Culture

Many religions have guidelines on dress, but what about the Adventist Church? Discover how Adventists choose to dress based on biblical principles.

Curious why many people become Adventists? Here are elements of Adventist beliefs, values, and mission often reflected in people’s decisions to join.

At the General Conference Session, Adventist delegates from around the world gather to assess the state of the organization, pray, and discuss current issues. Here’s how it works.

The end of the world is no fun to think about. But here’s how we can actually find hope and comfort in what’s to come.

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. They may travel to another country, or even just serve in their hometown.

With so many Christian denominations, it can be hard to keep track of which ones share which beliefs. Let’s look at the core Protestant beliefs of Adventism.

According to its origins and definition, evangelicalism is about following Jesus and the Bible and sharing the Gospel through the way we live our lives. Adventists wholeheartedly harmonize with these principles.

We are each saved through Christ. But when it comes to church membership, are there certain beliefs or expectations to become an Adventist?

We uphold principles we believe will help us maintain a closer relationship with Jesus and His Word. Learn how these principles guide Adventist lifestyles.

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.

Yes. Seventh-day Adventists are not under any official rules that dictate who they can or cannot marry. This is a personal, life-altering decision between the couple and God.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has historically discouraged the use of alcohol and tobacco. Even before the church started in 1863, its leaders were realizing the negative effects of these substances.

Based on the way the Bible describes humanity in comparison to God and angels, Seventh-day Adventists believe souls are not something you have, but something you are.

If you walk into a Seventh-day Adventist church service, you might notice that many people aren’t wearing earrings, bracelets, necklaces, or sometimes even wedding rings.

Youth aged 10-15 in the Adventist Church’s global Pathfinder program look forward to the International Camporee every 5 years. This event brings together Pathfinders from around the world for exciting activities.

Bible prophecy conjures up a variety of emotions in people. For some, it feels exciting or mysterious.

Learn where and when you can watch The Hopeful and how to get tickets. Already seen it? We’ll uncover the real story that inspired this film.

As a Protestant Christian denomination, the Seventh-day Adventist Church regards the Bible as the ultimate guide and looks to Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation. We do have some differences of belief or interpretation when it comes to topics like Bible prophecy, end-time events, the Sabbath, and a person’s state after death.

Most Seventh-day Adventist funeral services are similar to those of other Protestant denominations, such as Methodists, Baptists, or Presbyterians, but you might find a few differences or unique nuances.

Many Seventh-day Adventists adhere to specific lifestyle principles that can make them stand out from those in other Christian denominations. Whether it’s going to church services on Saturday or eating the popular Adventist entrée of “haystacks.”

No, Adventists definitely don’t believe they’re the only ones that will go to heaven. As a matter of fact, we don’t believe admittance into heaven is ever based on which church or denomination we belong to. People all over the world from different Christian denominations, religions, and walks of life will be welcomed by Jesus.

Jesus Christ’s resurrection, celebrated on many Easter-related holidays, is central to the beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. And that means we seek every opportunity to remember it.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has about 118 tertiary schools around the world. Though many of them are within North America, you’ll also find Adventist universities in countries across the world—places like Croatia, Austria, Brazil, Madagascar, and the Philippines.

Ever eaten a salad and gotten a big piece of green stuck in your teeth? And you didn’t realize it was there until you looked in the mirror? (Because no one ever told you!)

Adventist academies are high schools (grades 9-12) that are owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Yes, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination formed in 1863. Just like other Christians, we believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior and seek to follow the principles of the Word of God.

The Adventist Church uses film to share our faith and uplift positive values. Learn more about specific Adventist-produced films and where to find them.

In general, most Seventh-day Adventists do celebrate Christmas.

Since our denomination doesn’t have specific guidelines about holidays, it’s up to each member to decide whether to celebrate it based on their personal convictions and study of the Bible.

Seventh-day Adventists and Christians in general try to ensure their outward presentation and lifestyle glorify God. This often involves daily habits like the ways we hold conversations, the ways we dress and accessorize, and the ways we regard other people when we’re out and about.

How do Adventists decide what music to listen to and which movies to watch? Learn how Bible principles can help us make better entertainment choices.

Seventh-day Adventists believe in paying tithe and offerings based on the biblical command and our commitment to being wise stewards of God’s resources. These donations help fund the mission of the Adventist Church by supporting pastors, missionaries, church expenses, and evangelistic projects, among other things.

The Adventist Church has more than 22 million members and 100,000 churches worldwide, plus a large system of hospitals, schools, and publishing houses. Learn more about this diverse church.

Although camp meetings didn’t begin with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, they’re as much an Adventist thing as haystacks.
Camp meeting is an extended event for Adventists (and non-Adventists) of all ages to gather and participate in spiritual seminars and activities. During the event, attendees often camp in tents, campers, or RVs.

Whether you heard about the Seventh-day Adventist Church through a traveling evangelist, during your online searches, or through a loved one or relative, you might be considering joining yourself.

For Christians, dedication ceremonies for babies, also for older children, are an important time for parents and the church. It’s a special part of the worship service when parents present their young children to God and the church family. Both parents, along with the congregation, regard this as a solemn promise to be a Christ-like example to the child.

Like many Christian denominations, Adventists regularly participate in communion, also referred to as the “Lord’s Supper” or the “Last Supper.” They also practice foot washing (John 13:1-20), or the “ordinance of humility,” during the service—which isn’t as common.

Present truth is the principle that certain biblical truths are relevant to God’s people at specific times in history. God sends the Holy Spirit to reveal truths that help us better understand how to interpret and apply His Word in a present moment.

Yes, many Seventh-day Adventists do celebrate Easter.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has been organizing and operating youth ministry programs since 1879.
In our opinion, youth ministry is one of the most important ministries a church can have.

Yes, most Seventh-day Adventists do celebrate birthdays because we see them as excellent reminders of the life God has blessed us with. And we celebrate them the same way everyone else does—with friends, family, presents, and a special meal.

Sola scriptura is a term that originated during the Protestant Reformation. It represents the way many Christians view the Bible and its authority. While the idea is simple enough, there is so much more to sola scriptura than its basic definition.

In recent years, the age group often classified as “young adults” has been trickier to engage. It’s been a significant concern for Christian churches around the world. Though interestingly enough, similar observations regarding young adults have been coming up in conversations about the economy, the entertainment industry, politics, and more.

The answer to this question is simply, “no.”

When it comes to salvation in Jesus Christ, all that is required of a person is to acknowledge Jesus’ sacrifice for us, believe that He has saved us, and claim the free gift of salvation that is always available to us. Salvation is not based on denomination.

Of course not. Membership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church has never included any dietary requirements. However, there might be some reasons people might think that. So many Adventists are vegetarians or even vegan, and a plant-based lifestyle has many health benefits.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church uses a variety of methods to spread the hope of the gospel to the world. One of these ways is through colporteuring, also called “canvassing” or “literature evangelism.”

When you walk into any one of the many Adventist Book Center (ABC) locations, chances are you’ll be greeted by pleasant gospel music in the background, friendly employees, and row after row of Christian books, movies, Bibles, study guides, kids’ games, and more.

Wondering whether your Adventist classmate or coworker keeps the same holidays you do? Perhaps you want to include them in some festivities, but you also want to respect their beliefs. Thus, you’re unsure of how to navigate the holiday question. Will they accept your invitation to the office Christmas party?

Haystacks are basically a taco salad—with an Adventist spin on it! Most versions are vegetarian and offer an endless combination of tasty toppings. We eat them often because they’re healthy, scrumptious, and easy to make.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church believes in and supports evidence-based medical care. In fact, medicine has played a significant part in our history, and today we run a major health system with hospitals, medical schools, and clinics throughout the world.

Adventists see religious liberty as an essential human right. After all, God endowed humanity with freedom of choice from the very beginning. So we believe it’s best for governments to also support their citizens’ rights to worship based on their convictions.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church operates the largest Protestant education system in the world. A big part of this system is our K-8 elementary schools, or primary schools, as they’re known in other parts of the world.

Like the boy or girl scouts, Pathfinders and Adventurers learn about nature and life skills. But what makes these clubs special is their purpose to bring young people closer to Jesus.

On the outside, Seventh-day Adventist universities may not look much different than other college campuses. But the real differences are beneath the surface.

ASI, which stands for Adventist-laymen’s Services and Industries, is a membership-based organization that provides support for Seventh-day Adventist laypeople (Adventist professionals who aren’t pastors).

The Seventh-day Adventist Church puts a huge emphasis on sharing the gospel through evangelism, or sharing the gospel through preaching, teaching, and testimony. One of the ways we accomplish this is by organizing public events called evangelistic meetings.

School’s out, the sun’s shining, and your kids are thrilled to have the summer ahead of them. Then three days in, you hear, “I’m bored…”

Adventists have some unique beliefs—you might be able to name some of them right now. The seventh-day Sabbath. Death as a sleep. Hell as nonexistence.

Friday rolls around, and you’re spending time with your Adventist friends or relatives when they mention they’re going to vespers tonight.

What is the role of a pastor in the Adventist Church? The position itself, at least as far as a local congregation is concerned, is not much different from that of pastors in other protestant denominations.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has a representative form of structure that connects its 90,000-plus congregations across the globe and gives its members a part in decision-making. Though the Church was incorporated in 1863, this system came about during the church’s reorganization from 1901 to 1903. It includes four levels of organization.

If you’re attending an Adventist church for the first time, you may wonder what it’s really like. While each Adventist church is unique in its collective personality and local culture, Adventist church services are generally similar to most other Protestant church services.

Seventh-day Adventists have historically upheld the importance of a well-rounded, high-quality education. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach to teaching and learning, the Adventist Education system operates on the principle of educating the “whole” person.

Evangelism is simply sharing the truths of the Bible with someone else. And Adventists are all into it.

Every so often, usually on a schedule ranging from once a week to once a month to once a quarter, an Adventist church will have “fellowship dinners,” often casually referred to as potlucks.

The Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal is a songbook used worldwide by many Adventist congregations during their worship services. Since its publication in 1985, it has helped foster praise to God while reminding church members of our mission and drawing them closer to Jesus.

In nearly every Seventh-day Adventist Church, the sermon is the focal point of the main service—similar to many Protestant Christian denominations. It is a time of biblical instruction by the pastor, who shares what they’ve been studying in the Bible and preparing over the previous week.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church—“Adventists” for short—is a Christian denomination of ordinary people who seek to follow Jesus and live out His mission in this world. Established in 1863, we hold to the Protestant principle of sola scriptura, which means the Bible guides everything we do.

Every year, households across North America receive free copies of a 150-year-old book, The Great Controversy. Millions more are shared around the world.

Food blogs overwhelm the internet; food fads are all the rage; and copycat and healthy versions of food are the subject of many a get-together.