Why the Sabbath saves the Adventist soul

It's clear from many studies on the past couple of American elections that middle class white Adventists have voted in similar patterns to evangelicals. And for similar reasons: a loosely literal reading of the bible and discomfort about social shift.

But the majority of Adventists have stayed away from the most dangerous allure of literalistic fundamentalism, that of governmental control. The reason for that lies in the Sabbath. As a minority worshiping on Saturday and working to protect the rights of any human to follow her conscience, we save ourselves (often subconsciously) from the most popular literal readings of scripture by supporting a strong separation of church and state. Recently many conservatives such as Sen. John Danforth, David Brooks and Andrew Sullivan have realized that their elected leaders lost their souls when they exchanged that fundamental American governing principle for some fundamentalist votes.

Here's the gay, conservative Andrew Sullivan lecturing at CATO on the conservative soul and the danger of faith as governing philosophy.

Comments

[Bulworth]

Amen. Spot-on.

[Johnny]

CATO does some really amazing stuff. I'd say they are to the Republican soul what Sabbath is to the Adventist soul. If the GOP would pull more towards classical liberalism we'd all be better off!

Good post!

[Elaine]

To claim Adventists have a loose, literal reading of the Bible is somewhat disingenuous. Belief in the literal 7-day Creation MUST be adhered to in order to justify the importance of the Sabbath.

If, like many Christians, they did not read all Scripture, literally, particularly the Hebrew writings, the emphasis on the Sabbath would soon evaporate. Refusing the literality of the Creation story, removes the importance of the Sabbath.

[George Odell]

The assumption that Adventists vote Republican reflects a cultural bias. I assume the writer must be white, because clearly, the majority of American Adventists are not white today and don't vote Republican.

It is true that there is a sympathy with conservative politics among many Adventists, but it is not shared by the politically acive among top leadership (read Liberty Magazine sometime if you doubt this statement). As the writer correctly observes, the strict separation of church and state we Adventists preach is more in line with progressive politics today. Yet in general, Adventists are leary of hands on involvement in political process beyond simply voting. This need not be.

Let's follow in the footsteps of our hero, Daniel and become model statesmen and wise civic leaders. Look at what successes Mormons have enjoyed in the contemporary political world, by bringing unquestioned personal integrity and firm dedication to civic life. Utah, Phoenix and Mitt Romney are all current Mormon examples of admirable political involvement that could be a model for us, as Adventists.

We need not be partisan to do this, but we do need to be godly, intelligent and energetic. Do we have the faith to try, or will we remain passive and indifferent about things that in fact do matter both to us and our witness to the world?

[Ron Corson]

Andrew Sullivan "conservative" said for this last election vote Democrat. No wonder the Democrats have made him the media darling that he is now.

And he blogs for Time.com that last bastion of conservative thought, ok it is not conservative at all but hey they sponsor him and he is a conservative that says vote Democrat so he must be the genuine deal.

Andrew Sullivan To Make Conservative' Case for Democrats