BY H. BARRY WALDMAN DDS, MPH, PHD; DOLORES CANNELLA PHD; AND STEVEN P. PERLMAN DDS, MSCD, DHL (HON)

(American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry Review and Reports)

“The only disability in the sight of God is sin. Any other disability is irrelevant.” 1

The Seventh Day Adventist Church is a denomination that grew out of the prophetic Millerite movement in the United States during the middle years of the nineteenth century. It considers itself a branch of Protestant Christianity, though differences in doctrine and practice have led some mainstream Christians to dispute that designation. The name of the church indicates its two main distinctive characteristics: Sabbath observation on the seventh day (i.e. Saturday) and an expectation that the end of the world is drawing near.

As of 2005, the Seventh Day Adventist Church had 12 million baptized members and about 25 million total members and adherents worldwide. The church is one of world’s fastest growing organizations, primarily due to increases in third world membership. It now operates in 203 of the 228 countries recognized by the United Nations.2 As of May 2007, it was the twelfth largest religious body in the world. 3

SOME HISTORY

The Adventists movement has its roots in the 19th century “Millerite movement” which centered on the belief that Jesus would return on October 22, 1844. William Miller, a farmer who converted to Christianity, was convinced that the bible contained coded information about the end of the world and the Second Coming of Jesus. The prediction “…was based in large part on Daniel 8:14: ‘And he said onto me, unto 2,300 days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.’ Miller believed the 2,300 days referred to 2,300 years and that the countdown began in 457BC.”2 When this day passed uneventfully, many followers left the movement. Others who remained called themselves Adventists and taught their adherents that the return of Christ may occur very soon but with no specified date.4

There is no distinctive Seventh Day Adventist style of church architecture. The denomination’s early churches were simple rectangular wooden structures following the model of the Washington, New Hampshire church built by the Christian Brethren in the 1840s where the first sabbatarian Adventist group worshipped. (Sabbatarianism is a movement that attempts to reconstruct the earliest forms of Christianity. It was an effort to combine the Old Testament laws of Judaism with Christianity.[5]) In more recent times, church construction tends to reflect regional and prevailing tastes of the period in which they were constructed.6

BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

The Seventh Day Adventist doctrine is rooted in the Anabaptist Protestant tradition (one that views baptism as a witness to a believer’s conscious profession of faith, rejects infant baptism, believes in the separation of church from state, in the shunning of nonbelievers, and in simplicity of life).4 Adventist doctrine resembles mainstream orthodox holy trinity Protestant theology with a few exceptions:

• Adventism—(from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming”) is observed in many Western Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the imminent second coming of Jesus.4

• Ellen G. White—recognized as the Lord’s messenger with her writings as a continuing and authoritative source of truth. In addition, the bible is the standard by which all teachings must be tested.

• State of the dead—Seventh Day Adventists believe that death is a sleep during which the “dead know nothing.” The person has no conscious form of existence until resurrection. Seventh Day Adventists do not believe in hell and believe that the wicked will be destroyed at the end of time.2 They believe in a life of abstinence. This not only includes abstinence from alcohol, drug and tobacco, but it also includes
the belief that animal meat is unclean. Many Seventh Day Adventists are vegetarians. In general they believe we should live a moderate and temperate life style. “This includes simple dress, no jewelry besides a watch and a simple wedding ring, and no dancing or movies. Dancing and movies are seen as ways that the worldly lusts enter one’s life.” 7

INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

“People who aren’t disabled don’ think of those who are.” 1

“There are biblical references that point to the idea that people with disabilities are not accepted by God, but … the bible repeatedly sees people as a whole in the sight of God…However, attitudes held by the able-bodied community make it difficult for people with disabilities to access the religious community.” 8 

Seventh Day Adventists accept the Bible as their only creed and hold certain fundamental beliefs to be the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. These beliefs, as set forth in the bible, constitute the church’s understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture. God bestows upon all members of His church in every age spiritual gifts which each member is to employ in \loving ministry for the common good of the church and of humanity. “According to the Scriptures these gifts include such ministries as faith, healing…compassion, and self-sacrificing service and charity for the help and encouragement of people.”9 The emphasis on faith, healing and compassion fill Adventist writings. For example:

• The leadership suggests that the religious community has a responsibility to children with disabilities and their families. Children with special needs must be taught strategies that will enable them to apply their religious practice into their daily lives even if they fail to understand abstract concepts. “They need to see us embrace their children as we welcome them into Bible class.”10\\

• I’ve heard people say “we don’t have time to help the disabled, let’s help the able bodies first.” I don’t think most people consider the needs of people with disabilities. “…attitudes held by the able bodied community make it difficult for people with disabilities to access the religious community.”1

• “Christ healed the boy with the deaf and (mute) spirits (Mark 9). His healing of the paralytic (Luke 5:18-26) is clear evidence of a new, intentional disabilities ministry. It suggests that in every congregation there should be a band of compassionate workers responsible for sensitizing and reminding the entire church of its mission to disabled people.”11

• Through the Ministry to People with Disabilities, “… a local church Personal Ministries Council should give special attention to members and others with disabilities.”12

• Regarding individuals with AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), “desiring to reveal the redemptive love of Christ we need to separate the disease from the issue of morality, demonstrating a compassionate, positive attitude toward persons with AIDS.” 13

FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS

An individual with a disability is another member of the church and society. There is no stigma, shame, or inference of God’s rath for past sins by members of one’s family or by the individual him/herself. They are to be assisted, educated, blessed and to the extent possible, carry on the work of God as we await the advent of Jesus and for the dead to awake from their sleep and share the glory of God. •

References
1. Search for God. Web site: http://www.enablingwords.com/Search for God.htm Accessed November 4, 2010.

2. Religious Facts. Seventh-day Adventists. Web site http://www.religiousfacts.com/christianity/denominations/seventh_day_adventists.htm Accessed
November 4, 2010.

3. Seventh Day Adventists. Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh-day-Adventist_Church   Accessed November 4, 2010
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4. Web definitions: Anabaptist Web site: http://www.answers.com/topic/anabaptist Accessed November 4, 2010.

5. Primitive Apostolic Christianity (Sabbatarian). Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primitive_Apostolic_Christianity_(Sabbatarian ) Accessed November 5, 2010.

6. Land G. Historical Dictionary of Seventh Day Adventists Web site: http://books.google.com/ Accessed November 5, 2010

7. Hembree D. Eights basic beliefs of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Web site:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/292155/eight_basic_beliefs_of_the_seventh.html Accessed November 2, 2010.

8. Seventh Day Adventist Church Fundamental beliefs Web site: http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/index.html Accessed November 4, 2010.

9. North Lake Seventh Day Adventists. Spiritual gifts and ministries. Web site: http://www.northlakeseventh -dayadventists.com/html/spritual_gifts_and_ministries.html Accessed November 4, 2010.

10. Karimabadi W. Jesus for all of us. Web site: http://www.adventistreview.org/article.php?id=3112 Accessed November 1, 2010.

11. Church leaders: Disabilities Ministries Leader. Web site http://www.dallascitytemple.org/other_church _ officers.htm Accessed November 1, 2010.

12. Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual. 17th edition. Web site:http://www.gcsecretariat.org/Evans_files/Seventh-day-Adventist-Church-Manual-17th-edition pdf Accessed November 3, 2010.

13. Seventh Day Adventist Church. AIDS. Web site: http://adventist.org/beliefs/otherdocuments/ other-doc1.html Accessed November 5, 2010
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H. Barry Waldman DDS, MPH, PhD, Distinguished Teaching Professor, Department of General Dentistry School of Dental Medicine, Stony Brook University, NY Dolores Cannella PhD, Director, Behavioral Sciences, Assistant Professor,
Department of General Dentistry, Stony Brook University Steven P. Perlman DDS, MScD, DHL (Hon), Global Clinical Director, Special Olympics, Special Smiles, Clinical Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, The Boston