Questions & Answers

Is a little wine acceptable because Jesus turned water to wine?

Q: Is it acceptable to drink moderate amounts of wine because Jesus turned the water to wine at the…

Has General Conference Session voted for the ordination of female elders? Part 2

Q: Has the General Conference Session voted to approve the ordination of women as local elders in th…

Can l worship the Lord on His Sabbath in my home by Bible study and prayer?

Q: I know it would be preferable to go to church on the Sabbath, but the closest Adventist church is…

Do my husband and I need a church wedding?

Q: My husband and I were married eight years ago through a civil service, and we have two sons. Woul…

What is the process for marriage in the Adventist Church?

Q: What is the process for marriage in the Adventist Church? In the Catholic Church one must have a…

What are considered to be idols?

Q: What are considered to be idols? I have angel figurines, portraits of Jesus, crosses, and other h…

Does God punish sinful people through tragedy?

Q: Pastor, after lightning struck an Adventist church in Rwanda, I am confused and worried. I don&#8…

How can I obtain all of Ellen White’s writings at no cost?

Q: I became a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 2010. I would like to have all of Mrs. W…

How should our congregation deal with the conference’s decision to assign us a modern woman pastor who wears short skirts?

Q: We attend a very nice international Adventist church with members from many countries. It’s a mor…

How can I communicate my concern about church leaders who are opposed to the Adventist Church’s working policies and may be leading others astray?

Q: Some church leaders are writing things that lead me to be concerned. I wonder what they are imply…

Will only Adventists go to heaven?

Q: I received Jesus as my Savior a number of years ago and am still in the faith. I don’t worship on…

Is God real?

Q: When the church is full of pomposity and secularism to the point it makes me weep during the wors…

Why did Adventists separate from Protestants and worship on Saturday?

Q: What made the Adventists separate from Protestants, and why do they worship on Saturday while Pro…

How do I tell my employer that I cannot work on Sabbath?

Q: My name is Milton and I’m 16. I’m a new Adventist but am still working on Sabbath. I want t…

Why did God allow my daughter to die?

Q: Tell me: Why we should pray? The time for God to help my daughter would have been before the car…

Can an unmarried couple share a hotel room?

Q: I’m a non-denominational Christian man. A colleague of mine is a very staunch Adventist, We…

How do I write an appeal to reschedule Sabbath exams?

Q: I’m a high school student in Florida and am to take my SAT exams soon. Most state and board…

Does the Adventist Church have music guidelines?

Q: Are there guidelines about what kind of music can be played in Adventist churches? Many are using…

What is the Adventist Church’s position on jewelry?

Q: Recently, I heard a Seventh-day Adventist church leader state that he doesn’t think the Adv…

How can I become a real Christian?

Q: I have always wanted to be transformed by the Holy Spirit, but up until now I feel no change in m…

Can non-Adventists preach in Adventist churches and at other Adventist events?

Q: There is a growing concern about ecumenism in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, such as non-Adven…

Pastors are straying from God’s Word. Why can’t the General Conference help us?

Q: What are your suggestions to church members who want to be loyal to the votes of the General Conf…

What is the right course of action for a pastor who misused church funds?

Q: An Adventist pastor’s father died and the pastor had to repatriate the body to his home province…

What is the biblical way to study the Bible?

Q: What is the biblical way to study the Bible? Is there a difference between Scripture being the in…

Is it proper to drink coffee?

Q: Is it proper to drink coffee? Why is there such dissension among Adventists concerning this topic…

Is the origin of Christmas really evil?

Q: I’m a young person who was baptized into the Adventist Church two years ago, and I’m learning a l…

Can an animal help ministries be created in the Adventist Church to promote animal care?

Q: I’m studying veterinary medicine and am wondering if an “Animal Help Ministries” could be created…

Can a Catholic believer attend Adventist church services to find out more?

Q: Can someone who is a Catholic attend your services to find out about your religion? — Gregory, fr…

Why does the Seventh-day Adventist Church ordain pastors, and is it biblical?

Q: The church union where I live has taken away the title of ordination from all pastors and has dec…

Is reading fiction and storybooks really so bad?

This question comes from a tweet that I received in reaction to a prayer that I posted regarding the…

Is playing the stock market gambling?

Q: Is playing the stock market considered gambling and therefore a “no-no?” — Pat, from the Un…

Has General Conference Session approved ordained female church elders?

Q: Has the ordination of women as local church elders ever been approved by the General Conference i…

Does the Bible say anything about rebaptism?

Q: Does the Bible say anything about rebaptism? I was baptized as a teen, but now I understand some…

Is organ donation an abomination against God’s creation?

Q: Is organ donation or whole-body donation an abomination against God’s creation? I am studying med…

Will Adventist leaders sign agreement ending Protestant movement and apologize to papacy for protest?

Q: I’ve heard that General Conference representatives will be in Europe to sign an agreement, along…

Will actions on the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation lead to a national Sunday law?

Q: What is your point of view on the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation on Oct. 31, whe…

Have the Roman Catholics and Protestants contracted to unite into one church?

Q: Have the Roman Catholics and Protestants contracted to unite into one church? — Ruben, from Argen…

Is it acceptable for an Adventist to speak in tongues?

Q: I’ve read about the Seventh-day Adventist Church but can’t pinpoint the Adventist “mo…

Do Adventists experience a “moment of salvation”?

Q: I’ve read about the Seventh-day Adventist Church but can’t pinpoint the Adventist “mo…

What do I do if I’ve already been tattooed?

Q: I got a tattoo before I become a Seventh-day Adventist. What should I do? I hate my body so much…

What is the church’s policy on tattoos?

Q: Does the Seventh-day Adventist Church have a policy on tattoos? Should someone in leadership in a…

Is it OK to be gay and Seventh-day Adventist?

Q: Is it OK to by gay and a Seventh-day Adventist, or must I stay in the closet? — Name withheld by…

Are Catholics welcome to visit an Adventist church?

Q: Can a Catholic believer attend your services to find out about your religion? — Gregory, from the…

Did God give mankind a calendar at Creation?

Q: Did God give mankind a calendar at Creation that determined when the Sabbath day would fall, thus…

Does exterminating mice and insects break the commandment not to kill?

Q: If all animals are God’s creatures that we should respect, how do I reconcile killing house…

Is it a sin to wear jewelry?

Q: I’ve been married for seven years, and my wife, who was baptized after we got married, says she d…

Who can preach during the divine worship hour?

Q: Can children or unbaptized adults be the main speaker in the divine worship service? — Alfonso, f…

Is it acceptable to drink a little alcohol if you don’t get drunk?

Q: Is there a Bible verse that says you shouldn’t drink? In class today someone said that the…

If Ellen White was ordained, why not ordain women to the gospel ministry?

Q: How can we be so backward as a denomination as to not ordain women? How can you continue this div…

Is the “deadly wound” of the beast in Revelation 13 fully healed?

Q: Is the deadly wound of the first beast described in Revelation 13 healed, or is it still in the h…

Can we prove the truth of the Bible?

Q: I long to share my faith, but sometimes people say, “My religion is for me, and your religion is…

What kind of music should we listen to in home and church?

Q: What kind of music should we have in church services, and what should we listen to outside of chu…

Do Adventists still believe in the 2,300-day prophecy?

Q: Do we as Adventists still believe in the 2,300-day prophecy? Could you also explain who is the &#…

Are doctrines and Christ-centered teachings incompatible?

Q: Recently, a guest preacher came to our church. He focused heavily on emotions, instead of God’s W…

Where does tithe go once it is given to my local church?

Q: Where does the tithe go once it is given to the local Adventist church? — G.R., from the United S…

Is it all right to cook unclean food for others?

Q: Can I cook unclean food for my parents if they ask me to, and is it okay for me to eat food that…

What is the real Hebrew name for Jesus?

Q: What is the real Hebrew name of our Savior, the Messiah? The name “Jesus” is not a Hebr…

May I return tithe to other entities when I disagree with local leaders?

Q: Is it biblical to give tithe to another organization rather than to the church? I know that some…

Should Adventists practice circumcision?

Q: Our first baby is on the way and it’s a boy! What is our stand as a church on circumcision?…

Is the little horn in Daniel 7 and 8 not necessarily the papacy?

Q: Recently I attended a Sabbath afternoon seminar on the book of Daniel where an Adventist theology…

Does the heavenly sanctuary have two apartments, or are these “phases”?

Q: What is the position of the Seventh-day Adventist Church regarding how many apartments there are…

Are women biblically unclean during menstrual periods?

Q: Based on Leviticus 15:19-23, are women considered to be “unclean” during their menstrual periods?…

May I work at a prison and care for inmates on Sabbath?

Q: I’m a Seventh-day Adventist who has recently moved from New Zealand to Australia. I’ve applied to…

Is it better to have devotions at night or in the morning?

Q: I normally pray in the morning, thanking God for keeping us safe through the night, but I have my…

Why are Adventists encouraged not to wear jewelry?

Q: Why are Adventists encouraged not to wear jewelry? — Adah, from Nigeria A: Adah, this is an inter…

What is the biblical truth about evolution and dinosaurs?

Q: I’m a biology student, and our teacher discussed evolution. Is he really teaching us the truth? W…

What should I do with tithe when I don’t agree with church leaders?

Q: I don’t like the agenda of pushing women’s ordination in my division. Is there anywhere else I ca…

How we arrive at 457 B.C. for understanding Bible prophecy?

Q: How can we confirm that the decree to restore Jerusalem was on 457 B.C.? Ezra 6:14 only mentions…

Is attending GYC conferences forbidden?

Q: Is attending GYC conferences forbidden? Some pastors in our country are against GYC. I’m a youth…

Is it biblically acceptable to cremate an Adventist?

Q: Is it biblically acceptable to cremate the dead body of an Adventist? — Nyandusi, from Kenya A: A…

Does God only save vegans?

Q: Those of us who are still eating flesh food have been directly told by our vegan friends that we…

Should Adventists celebrate Earth Day?

Q: Should Adventists celebrate Earth Day? This is a holiday that emphasizes the pagan god of Gaia an…

How can I help my friend who has lost interest in the Bible?

Q: My best friend has lost interest in reading the Bible. I pray for him and hope that he has a revi…

How can I enter the kingdom of God?

Q: How can I enter the kingdom of God? — Pelasio, from Fiji A: Pelasio, this is an important questio…

What do Adventists think about Easter?

Q: I’ve heard that many Seventh-day Adventists think that we shouldn’t make a big deal out of…

Will the Adventist Church split amid challenges over unity?

Q: I am very worried about the unity of the Church. It seems that there are some who are determined…

Have you appealed for prayers over a national Sunday law in the U.S.?

Q: Many of us have received a message purporting to be “Breaking News for All Seventh-day Adventists…

How can you justify cleaning streets on Sabbath for Global Youth Day?

Q: I love the idea of Global Youth Day (GYD), but was greatly disturbed by some of the activities th…

How do we keep the Sabbath holy?

Q: We read in the Bible that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day, but how do we keep the Sabb…

Will God forgive people who commit suicide?

Q: Will God forgive people who commit suicide? What if they didn’t have time to repent? What if they…

What will happen if conferences decline to abide by the world church’s decision not to ordain women?

Q: With a pending resolution in October 2017 regarding conferences that are ordaining women, what is…

What is the structure of authority for the local Seventh-day Adventist church?

Q: Would you please explain the structure of authority of the local Seventh-day Adventist church, al…

Can a young adult remain a youth leader if he doesn’t want to be baptized?

Q: A 27-year-old man has served as a spiritual leader in the youth department for several years. He…

Will Jesus return on Oct. 22, 2017?

Q: I’ve read that the Second Coming of Christ will take place on Oct. 22, 2017. There’s a website th…

Is it wrong to play music that doesn’t directly speak about God?

Q: I’m a musician. Last year I recorded an album of acoustic country music. In December, I experienc…

How can I become a Seventh-day Adventist?

Q: How can I became a Seventh-day Adventist? — Joshua, from Tanzania A: Joshua, thank you for your q…

Has Matthew 28:19 been changed?

Q: As I was doing research on Google, I came across a website that says that Matthew 28:19 had been…

Are there different levels of sin?

Q: Are there different levels of sin? For example, is killing someone bigger than not honoring your…

Does bringing a dead body into a church for a funeral defile the church?

Q: Does bringing a dead body, which is unclean, into God’s house for a funeral defile the church? —…

Did the Catholic Church Sue the General Conference over “The Great Controversy”?

Q: Is it true that the Roman Catholic Church is suing the General Conference for distributing “The G…

What do you think of the measures that U.S. President Donald Trump has taken against Muslims?

Q: What do you think of the measures that U.S. President Donald Trump has taken against Muslims? The…

Do I need to make restitution?

Q: I haven’t lived a very clean life, but have recently rededicated myself to Jesus. I’ve made…

Does the Holy Spirit have a physical body?

Q: The introduction to the first quarter 2017 Sabbath school lesson, “The Holy Spirit and Spirituali…

Is it biblical to have funeral services in church?

Q: Is it biblical to have funeral services in church? Isn’t it a counterfeit of our belief on the st…

Why are Ellen White’s writings called the Spirit of Prophecy?

Q: Why are books by Ellen White branded as the “Spirit of Prophecy” while Jesus is the Spirit of Pro…

Was Job a real person?

Q: We recently studied the book of Job in Sabbath school, and our class was wondering: Was Job a rea…

What is the Adventist stance on life insurance?

Q: What is our stand as God’s people on the issue of life insurance, according to the Bible and the…

What is the Adventist view on sex before marriage?

Q: What is the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s view on sex before marriage? Can I marry a virtuous no…

Why is the book of Enoch not in the Bible?

Q: Why is the book of Enoch not included in the Bible canon of 66 books? I’m watching a documentary…

Is it proper to eat meat?

Q: Is it proper to eat meat? Why do many of our Adventist pastors eat meat? It is very discouraging to members who are trying to follow the health message. — from Bastap in the Philippines, and Danny…