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Wallace D. Slattery Letter: Come Home Appeal 328 Old Mill Drive Langhorne PA 19047 November 29, 1989 Dear Elder Johnsson: A friend sent me a copy of your appeal, asking former believers to return to Adventism, so I decided to respond. By way of introduction, my wife Carole and I were lifelong SDA's until the spring of 1984. Carole was brought up in "the work" - her father was a conference treasurer; I worked for the organization as a teacher for ten years. We certainly qualify as former Adventists! We would be happy to return to Adventism if the church made some basic changes: 1. State (and apologize for) the fact that Adventism has been terribly deceitful about its past - especially about Mrs. White's role and her visions. For example, bring into the open how its leadership until the 1970's lied about the Shut Door, and the extent to which church leaders knew of Mrs. White's copying and covered it up. 2. Inform members that the Sanctuary Doctrine is unbiblical, and that the Sabbath was discarded by Apostolic Christianity; that much of the "health" message simply does not stand up in the light of the gospel, nor do a slew of "minor" teachings. 3. Accept the simple Gospel of Justification by faith only, admitting that Mrs. White led people astray with her elaborate impossible "Gospel of Works." To comment further: Why do you think so many honest educated people (teachers, preachers, etc.) left Adventism when the facts came out? You may be surprised to learn that most of them were people who had followed EGW's precepts carefully and lovingly. We were *stunned* to learn the truth about her history and her deceitfulness, and we were *very* perturbed that SDA leaders taught what they knew to be otherwise. If we sound bitter, you must understand that we were wounded and stung that people we trusted betrayed us so. And we are not alone. You invite us to come back to Adventism. We regretfully left behind many friends, and we miss them. But unless Adventism is more forthright with its membership, and changes its approach to salvation, we could not consider returning. Sincerely, Wallace D. Slattery Return to Famous Letters Main Page |
