The Adventists: A Documentaty Film
“From the award-winning producers of BONHOEFFER and The POWER of FORGIVENESS comes a fascinating film about the body-mind-spirit connections and health message of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Adventists live on average nearly ten years longer than their neighbors; the film investigates some of the reasons why.
A native-born church that arose from the religious fervor of mid-19th century America, Adventists couple a firm belief in the near Second Coming of Christ with a remarkable focus on health, wholeness and well-being. Cutting edge medicine, healthy diet and regular exercise care for the body; education nourishes the mind; and community and fellowship tend the spirit.
The film offers several moving, intimate stories of healing. Historical re-enactments show the church’s beginnings and breathtaking medical and surgical techniques show the way forward for this confident, committed faith community. …”
More: http://www.theadventiststhefilm.com/
More: YouTube – The Adventists documentary film http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXqXIckgOuY
12 Responses to “The Adventists: A Documentaty Film”
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On March 13, I had the privilege of viewing the screening of this film at the Loma Linda University Church. When the film was over, the audience was given a chance to ask questions. At first, nobody volunteered to do this. I was determined to keep my mouth shut because every time I open my mouth I gent in trouble.
I am a pro-lifer, and the film failed to make any reference to the issue of abortion. After what seemed to be a long time, a man raised his hand and asked Martin Doblmeier, the film producer, whether he found anything that was of a negative nature as he investigated the work of Adventists. This question prompted me to raise my hand, and when my turn came I said the following to a packed audience:
“I am proud to be an Adventist, and I am glad that my parents decided to join the Adventist Church almost a century ago. You highlighted the positive elements about the Adventist health message. Someone asked whether you had noticed anything negative about the Adventist work. The Bible recorded both the positive as well as the negative of God’s people.
You are probably aware that Catholics do not participate in the abortion business, but Adventists do. A few years ago our “Ministry” magazine reported that five of our Adventist hospitals were performing Elective abortions. Of course, elective means that there is nothing wrong with the unborn baby.” [My best reconstruction of what I said]
Doblmeier responded that If anyone wanted to suggest a change in Adventist policy, he should address such internally. My question is: How do you do this? I have tried every imaginable avenue to do this in the past, and all the doors are tightly closed to even the suggestion of a change connected with this issue.
Adventists who have the power to implement a change have no desire to alter the status quo. The present policy allows Adventist medical institutions to set their own guidelines on abortion; the official “Guidelines on Abortion” are of a descriptive nature; they are not prescriptive. Is this the right approach to the direct violation of the Commandment which reads: “You shall not commit murder”? Killing innocent human being is murder in my book, and it was considered in a like manner by the founders of the Adventist Church. They did condemn abortion in the strongest possible terms.
We deviated from the example set by our Adventist pioneers for the sake of profit, and this took place in Hawaii, at our Castle Memorial Hospital back in 1970 when the State of Hawaii legalized the killing of the unborn and the non-Adventists physicians at said medical institution demanded the right to offer abortion services to their patients and threatened to take their patients elsewhere in the event they were denied said alleged right. Management gave in to the pressure, and the church eventually followed suit.
Congratulations for totally embarrassing yourself at a function that had nothing to do with your obsession. Way to go.
My guess is that you are not a pro-lifer. I made areference to the same event in another forum where most of the participante are pro-life and look at the way they reacted to what I did. Here is one of them:
“Yes, Nic, we have that right, remembering that when we exercise our rights, we risk offending and encountering the rights of another. The case scenario could be expanded to include many other sensitive topics.
It seems that that you spoke succinctly and with dignity as well as conviction. Of course, some would disagree with the timing. For many, undoubtedly, it would have struck a sour note. But you would have made a few think. My impression, from what I read here, is that you spoke in response to the stirring of the Spirit…in that you are naturally shy, don’t go looking for opportunities to stir up trouble, that you remained calm, and how you trembled afterward. The opportunity presented itself and you ran with it.
It is a similar case to when there is a room full of journalists and one journalist will, in a few choice words, pose a question or make a remark that stops the room with its timing and truth. Likewise, Jesus, with a few well timed, weighted words, delivered many a two-edged sword.
What are your thoughts now as you reflect on what you said? I sense a hint of regret, but perhaps I am wrong.”
Lily
From “Do we have the right to rock the boat?”
http://www.thenarrowway.yourlivecommunity.com/do-we-have-the-right-to-rock-the-boat_topic1293_page1&SID=997zz86z4cdzc72c5zazf3zbbz1a7bez.html
Here is another from the same “The Narrow Way” forum:
“I know you did the right thing, Nic. I would have been proud to stand by your side.”
Tammy
Look at what a third participants stated:
“If the Spirit moves you Nic you must trust in the Lord that it WAS the RIGHT time to say something…. otherwise you grieve the Holy spirit.”
Newbie
A fourth one commented as follows:
“I agree , I don’t think you did anything wrong. Truth is truth.”
Tandi
And a fifth one posted the following comment:
“I am happy you spoke”
Zukusani
As you can see, it all depends on which side of the fence you are in. It seems that pro-lifers do approve of what I did, while you disapprove. I conclude that you must be happy with the Adventist position on abortion.
Were you aware that for every five children Dr. Leonard Bailey saves through the Loma Linda Infant Heart trensplantation per year, another Adventist hospital takes the lives of 213 innocent unborn babies during the same time?
Do we have the right to brag about the children whose life we save if we are killing forty times that many in another Adventist hospital?
If you think that I made this up, you can verify this for yourself by clicking on the following Internet link:
Source: “Do we have the right to rock the boat?”
http://www.thenarrowway.yourlivecommunity.com/do-we-have-the-right-to-rock-the-boat_topic1293_page1&SID=997zz86z4cdzc72c5zazf3zbbz1a7bez.html
Yes indeed, a Daniel in 2010 spoke! While a whole audience patted their backs watching this film, and while some unborn was being murdered somewhere in an Adventist Hospital, maybe a few yards from the Loma Linda Church? Yes, one listens weekly to very inspiring sermons, of how God loves us, and “forgetting” actually ignoring, that Jesus himself began his minstry in truth, within his earthly mother’s womb. If he came today, he would be dispatched, and in reality, each unborn that is dispatched by an Adventist Inistitutions is not forgotten by Jesus himself, at the end of all things here in planet earth! Yes, by the good and loving Jesus that we hear about so earnestly, from Sabbath to Sabbath!
Thanks, my friend! You have always been supportive of what I have been trying to do. You stuck with me through thick and thin. May the good Lord reward you for this!
Your post is so clear and compelling! I had to read it several times to make sure every word of it would sink deep in my memory.
I would like to share with the readers what I posted today on another forum in response to a comment dealing with this documentary film. Here is what I wrote:
“I still believe that both the church and Mr. Doublmeier, the documemntary film producer, failed the test. The church for showing only the positive work done by the church, and the film producer for failing to go any deeper in his investigation. I doubt that Doublmeier had no knowledge that Adventist do perform abortions. This has been in the news, and it was his duty, I believe, to dig a little bit deeper.
He failed to draw a true picture of what we Adventists have been doing regarding healthcare. Had he done his job, he would have noticed that what Dr. Bailey is doing on behalf of infants pales when compared to what the Washington Adventist Hospital has been doing with their abortion services. Think of this: For each five infants Dr. Bailey has been saving from a sure death, the WAH was killing on the average 213 unborn babies. If I save five babies, but kill 213 per year, am I entitled to be praised to heaven for my work in healthcare?
In other areas the Adventist Church does deserve the accolades. Smoking cessation is one area where we do deserve the credit. We have been extending the lives of smokers by five years on the average for those who succesfully kick the habit. Vegetarianism is another area where we have done quite well. There is always room for improvement, of course. But, as far as abortion is concerned, our record has been a dismal failure, I believe. Am I all wet?”