The issue of political engagement is a divisive one within the Adventist church. For me, a political science and journalism major, it is deeply intriguing. Since the birth of the denomination in the late 19th century, politics has been a hot-button topic. But why?
Many might point to John 17:15-16 (“in the world, but not of the world”) or Matt. 22:21 (“to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s”) as Biblical evidence that religion and politics are and should remain heterogeneous. However, this long-held view has been flipped over in recent years as a growing number of young Adventists are becoming more politically aware. The Millennial generation is one of the most socially and politically active we’ve seen, perhaps because of the unprecedented sociopolitical climate, or simply the rapid spread of information social media has enabled.
When I helped organize a campus-wide voter registration and engagement initiative before the 2020 presidential election, I observed a noticeable interest in civic engagement from students. I couldn’t help but wonder if I would have seen the same thing in 1950 or 1890.
I am a firm believer that, before diving into any topic, context is always key. That’s why I think it’s vitally important to understand the background of the SDA faith with regards to politics before unpacking current generational trends.
For centuries, religion and politics have had a complex and intriguing relationship. Although Seventh-day Adventism is a relatively new denomination in the grand scheme of things, it is certainly no exception to this rule. From its founding years in the mid-19th century, official SDA church stances on sociopolitical issues offer a lens into the church’s relatability with the non-SDA world — and many times, an indication of where it’s headed. After the Great Disappointment, the Seventh-day Adventist Church was officially founded in 1863. Among the most prominent leaders of the SDA faith was Ellen G. White. Her writings are heavily focused on issues of social injustice, activism and care for human life. White pioneered social activism in the SDA Church from 1863 onwards, but the rest of the church’s history isn’t as clear-cut.
The women’s rights movement was backed by several Adventist leaders. Further, certain General Conference leaders have spoken out on various hot button issues. Some of the moments that stand out are the church’s adoption of a non-combatency stance during the second world war, the church’s view on voting, and Adventists’ involvement in the Civil Rights Movement (and, more recently, with the more recent social justice protests). An overview of some of the significant moments and statements coming out of the Seventh-day Adventist Church help to better understand current generational trends.
Before embarking on this project, I knew exactly who I needed to speak to. I sat down with my roommate, Richard Thomas, and discussed the role of politics and civic engagement in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Richard is a senior social work major who is passionate about community development and engagement. He also grew up in a conservative Adventist household, which has caused him to reflect a great deal on the issue of politics in the church, often a taboo one.
What is striking about Richard’s experiences is the relatability they seem to have with Gen Z and Millennial Adventists in general. According to Richard, the apparent discrepancy between younger and older Adventists when it comes to politics extends beyond his own family — it was something observable in the church and in the wider SDA community.
In order to better understand his perspective and to examine the nature of this divide, I sat down with Richard and asked him to share his point of view on how Adventists should approach politics, why various generations’ approaches to politics often seem different, and what we can do to bridge that generational gap.
Hi! My name is Patrick and I am a senior journalism and political science major.
Both of my grandfathers have a rather significant background in ministry and Christian education. From youth pastoring to higher education, they both made consequential contributions to the Seventh-day Adventist church.
Their involvement with the church trickled down to their children. My parents attended SDA academic institutions, participated in worship services, attended church regularly, and generally knew all the intricacies of Adventism any “normal” Adventist would. Mom and Dad got married shortly after graduating college, moved into a small suburban home just outside D.C., then had my twin sister and me at the age of 26, exemplifying what seems to be the “Adventist way.”
In the summer of 2007, however, things changed. My parents made the bold decision to embark on a two-year family journey to France. That two-year journey ended up being a 13-year sojourn that impacted my life in numerous ways.
Perhaps the most significant effect my French upbringing had on me was how I viewed religion. Although I was raised Adventist, I attended a very secular high school in a famously secular country. The only taste of Adventism I got after moving abroad was semi-frequent Friday night worship with my family, which caused me to reconsider my identity and attitudes towards religion as a whole. I developed a different perspective than that of my grandparents’ generation.
For years, I assumed the religious differences I shared with the older generation was solely due to where I was raised. This is certainly true, to an extent. But after thinking about it more carefully, I began to wonder if the reason for these differences extended beyond the place I grew up. Is it possible that different attitudes towards religion is more of a generational issue than a geographic one? For example, there are several areas — many, even — in which my views align perfectly with those of my grandparents. I also have met several friends in college who have similar opinions of Adventism as I do. Yet, those very friends were raised in a strict SDA household and attended strict SDA boarding academies.
What is so interesting to me is that the various perspectives I have experienced are only one piece of a much larger puzzle. Attitudes towards politics, science, and artistic expression within the SDA church have been shifting in recent years. Hot-button issues like LGBTQ+ rights, climate change, and even music are increasingly polarizing topics that pit boomers against Gen X in the church, and I want to know why. Why does there seem to be a generational divide? What are its causes? And what does it mean?
