In earlier times, there was a thorough investigation of the candidates
for baptism in front of the congregation of the church, so that it might
be ascertained whether or not they were ready for baptism and the heavy
responsibility of church membership. In an age where most Christians
have forgotten the great truths of the gospel, it has become increasingly
important that the candidates affirm the great central themes of Adventism,
as well as the lifestyles that the Bible outlines. An alarming situation
now exists, in which the baptismal vows have been so eroded that many
of the great truths have been lost.
A very cursory look at the baptismal vows that have been listed in
the Church Manual for many years shows a diminution and down-playing
of some of the key commitments that Adventists of former generations
declared. With the tremendous pressure presently upon pastors to gain
members in the church, there is a concomitant risk that such pastors,
in their endeavor to meet the expectations of church leaders, and perhaps
their own ambition, will find it very easy to baptize people who have
only a cursory knowledge of the great Advent Message.
| 1932 Baptismal Vows |
2000 Baptismal Vows |
Comments |
| 1. Do you believe in the existence
of God as a personal being, who is our heavenly Father? |
1. Do you believe there is one God:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three coeternal Persons? |
27 Fundamental Beliefs
uses the term "the Trinity". Ellen White avoided this
phrase, using instead the term "the Godhead," no doubt
recognizing that the concept of the Trinity as presented in the
mysteries of Catholicism is not consistent with Seventh-day Adventism. |
| 2. Do you believe in the Lord Jesus
as the eternal Son of God, as the Saviour and Redeemer of mankind?
Have you fully accepted Him as your personal Saviour, and the salvation
He offers through grace? |
2. Do you accept the death of Jesus
Christ on Calvary as the atoning sacrifice for your sins and believe
that by God's grace through faith in His shed blood you are saved
from sin and its penalty? |
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| 3. Do you believe in the Holy Spirit
and in His work in leading to repentance and obedience to all God's
requirements? |
|
The concepts of "repentance"
and "obedience" are not present in the newer vows. |
| 4. Do you accept the Bible as the
inspired word of God, and will you study faithfully its teachings
and by the grace of God practice them in your life? |
5. Do you believe that the Bible is
God's inspired Word, the only rule of faith and practice for the
Christian? Do you covenant to spend time regularly in prayer and
Bible study? |
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| 5. Do you believe in conversion as
an experience spoken of by Christ as the new birth? |
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| 6. Have you confessed your sins to
God, as far as they have been made known to you; and have you on
your part, as far as in you lies, tried to make wrongs right with
your fellow men? |
|
The concepts of "confession"
and "restitution" are not present in the newer vows. |
| 7. Do you claim by faith in Christ
that God for Christ's sake has forgiven your past sins, and that
He is yours and you are His? |
3. Do you accept Jesus Christ as your
Lord and personal Saviour believing that God, in Christ, has forgiven
your sins and given you a new heart, and do you renounce the sinful
ways of the world? |
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| 8. So far as you have studied and
investigated the doctrines as taught by the Seventh-day Adventist
denomination, do you believe in and accept them? |
11. Do you know and understand the
fundamental Bible principles as taught by the Seventh-day Adventist
Church? Do you purpose, by the grace of God, to fulfill His will
by ordering your life in harmony with these principles? |
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9. Do you believe in the second coming of Jesus,
which is taught in the Scriptures as the blessed hope, and that
this event is soon to take place, and that you should prepare
for His coming by being purified from sin and evil?
|
7. Do you look forward to the soon
coming of Jesus and the blessed hope when "this mortal shall
. . . put on immortality"? As your prepare to meet the Lord,
will you witness to His loving salvation by using your talents in
personal soul-winning endeavor to help others to be ready for His
glorious appearing? |
The concept of "being
purified from sin and evil" (i.e., sanctification) before the
second coming of Jesus is not present in the newer vows. |
| 10. Recognizing obedience as the fruit
of faithful love, do you believe that all ten of the commandments
as spoken by the Lord are still binding, and by God's grace will
you keep those commandments, the fourth with the rest, observing
as sacred the seventh-day Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown
Saturday? |
6. Do you accept the Ten Commandments
as a transcript of the character of God and a revelation of His
will? Is it your purpose by the power of the indwelling Christ to
keep this law, including the fourth commandment, which requires
the observance of the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath of
the Lord and the memorial of Creation? |
Newer vows do not
specify Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. |
| 11. Do you recognize the fact that
God claims one-tenth of all our substance as His for the support
of His work in advancing the gospel of Christ; and will you faithfully
render to Him His own tithe and offerings in the support of the
worldwide work of the church? |
9. Do you believe in church organization?
Is it your purpose to worship God and to support the church through
your tithes and offerings and by your personal effort and influence? |
Newer vows does not
specify one-tenth as tithe. |
| 12. Do you believe that man by nature
is mortal, and that immortality and eternal life come only through
the gospel and are bestowed as the free gift of God through Christ
at His second coming? |
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| 13. Do you believe that we are living
in the time of the investigative judgment, which began in 1844,
and that Christ, as our High Priest, is closing His ministry in
the most holy apartment of the heavenly sanctuary in preparation
for His coming? |
4. Do you accept by faith the righteousness
of Christ, your Intercessor in the heavenly sanctuary, and accept
His promise of transforming grace and power to live a loving, Christ-centered
life in your home and before the world? |
The investigative
judgment, which began in 1844, not specified in newer vows. |
| 14. Do you believe that the closing
gospel message is now going to the world and will be finished in
this generation; and will you use your means, as God impresses you,
your time, and your talents, that others may be blessed with the
light of truth that has brought blessing and light to you? |
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| 15. Will you seek to build up the
interests of the church by attendance at its meetings and ordinances,
and by adding your influence to extend its work while the church,
on their part, exercise their watchcare over you? |
|
Church attendance
not a requirement in newer vows. |
| 16. Do you understand the principles
of Christian temperance as taught by the Seventh-day Adventists,
and will you carry out those principles in your life, abstaining
from the use of intoxicating liquors, tobacco in all its forms,
swine's flesh, and all other unclean foods and habit-forming drugs?
[1946 Baptismal Vows adds abstaining from narcotics, tea, coffee,
and other harmful things] |
10 Do you believe that your body is
the temple of the Holy Spirit; and will you honor God by caring
for it, avoiding the use of that which is harmful; abstaining from
all unclean foods; from the use, manufacture, or sale of alcoholic
beverages; the use, manufacture, or sale of tobacco in any of its
forms for human consumption; and from the misuse of or trafficking
in narcotics or other drugs? |
Newer vows do not
mention tea and coffee. Swine's flesh is presumed to be included
in all unclean foods. |
| 17. In matters of dress will you follow
the Bible rule of plainness and simplicity, abstaining from the
wearing of gold as ornaments and costly array, observing the principles
of modesty and Christian dignity? |
|
No mention of plain
dress and abstaining from wearing of gold as ornaments and costly
attire. |
| 18. Do you believe the Bible doctrine
of "spiritual gifts" in the church, and do you believe
in the gift of the Spirit of prophecy which has been manifested
in the remnant church through the ministry and writings of Mrs.
E. G. White? |
8. Do you accept the biblical teaching
of spiritual gifts and believe that the gift of prophecy is one
of the identifying marks of the remnant church? |
Ellen G. White is
not mentioned in newer vows. |
| 19. Do you believe in baptism by immersion,
and is it your desire, by going forward in this ordinance, to manifest
your faith in the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ? |
12. Do you accept the New Testament
teaching of baptism by immersion and desire to be so baptized as
a public expression of faith in Christ and His forgiveness of your
sins? |
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| 20. Do you, by going forward in baptism,
thus declare that from henceforth you will have no part in such
soul-destroying amusements as card playing, theater going, dancing,
and all other entertainments and amusements which tend to deaden
and destroy the spiritual life and perceptions? |
|
No mention of card
playing, theater going, dancing, and other entertainments. |
| 21. Will you submit to the decisions
of the body of the church in matters of church discipline? |
13. Do you accept and believe that
the Seventh-day Adventist Church is the remnant church of Bible
prophecy and that people of every nation, race, and language are
invited and accepted into its fellowship? Do you desire to be a
member of this local congregation of the world church? |
Note the difference in perspective
on church authority. One has local focus, the other world-wide.
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