Christian/Church Standards :0

3. Seventh-day Adventists have been chosen by God as a peculiar people,
separate from the world. The great Cleaver of truth has cut them out of the
quarry of the world, and brought them in connection with himself. He has
made them his representatives, and has given them the work of exalting his
down-trodden law. {1888 1679.2}

4. We have come to a time when God has been greatly dishonored. Those who have long
known our belief, and what we teach, have been surprised by the statement that the
Battle Creek Sanitarium is not denominational. No one has the right to make this
statement. It does not bear the witness that God wishes His people to bear before men
and angels. In the name of the Lord we are to identify ourselves as Seventh-day
Adventists. If any one among us is ashamed of our colors, and wishes to stand under
another banner, let him do so as a private individual, not as a representative of Seventh-
day Adventist medical missionary work. {Battle Creek Letters 52.5}
Let us take our position as Seventh-day Adventists. The name is a true expression of our
faith. I am instructed to call upon God's people to bring their actions into harmony with
their name, of which they have no need to be ashamed. The Seventh-day Adventist faith
will bless whenever it is brought into the character-building.

5. I was shown in regard to the remnant people of God taking a name. Two classes
were presented before me. One class embraced the great bodies of professed
Christians. They were trampling upon God's law and bowing to a Papal
institution. They were keeping the first day of the week as the Sabbath of the
Lord. {4bSG 54.1}
The other class were but few in number, and were bowing to the great Law-
giver. They were keeping the fourth commandment. The peculiar and prominent
features of their faith were the observance of the seventh day, and waiting for
the appearing of our Lord from Heaven. {4bSG 54.2}

6. Why are you a th-day Adventist?

7. The Standard
‘The greatest want of the world is the want of men,—men who
will not be bought or sold; men who in their inmost souls are
true and honest; men who do not fear to call sin by its right
name; men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to
the pole; men who will stand for the right though the heavens
fall.'—Education, p. 57.
For such men and for such women God is calling today.

8. Seventh-day Adventist Church Standards on:
SABBATH OBSERVANCE
• Health
• Reading
• Pure Speech
• Social Relations
• Music
• Amusement
• Dress
• Marriage

11. Sabbath Observance
We appeal for wholehearted revival in true Sabbath observance.
Greet the sacred hours with prayer and song; close the day with
prayer and praise. Keep worldly music, worldly reading, worldly
activities, worldly conversation, out of this day.

12. Sabbath Observance
Lay aside all secular papers and refrain from the use of the
radio (modern media) unless it be use in listening to a religious
service or programme. Sacredly guard the beginning and ending of
the Sabbath, especially having all the preparations fully made
before the setting of the sun. Faithfully attend the services of the
house of God.

13. Sabbath Observance
Refrain from unnecessary automobile journeys, pleasure trips,
social visiting, and from the purchase of gasoline, newspapers, or
food supplies. Instead of our own pleasure, our own words, our
own business, and our own thoughts, let us call the Sabbath a
delight and employ its holy hours in prayer, Bible study, devotion,
and spiritual ministry for others.

14. Health
Our diet should be simple and nourishing; we should obtain sufficient
sleep; our recreation should be found in uplifting physical labor,
nature study, or ministry for others; while stimulants and luxuries
should be avoided; and as Christ's loyal sons and daughters, let this
be the motto and guiding principle of every life: 'Whether therefore
ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.' 1
Cor. 10:31.

18. Health
It would hardly seem necessary to remind our people that the use
of beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages, as well as tobacco in
any form, is a test of church fellowship among Seventh-day
Adventists. Those who have been led of Satan to indulge in the use
of these defilements of flesh and spirit, and persist in their use after
faithful warning, should be dis-fellowshipped from the church. The
good name of the church of Christ should not be brought into ill-
repute by permitting any user of liquor or tobacco to remain in its
membership.

19. Reading
From the wealth of literature that floods our modern world,
candidates for heaven will select only those books and periodicals
that strengthen, elevate, and develop true character. Remembering
that evil and vicious literature is often published in the most
attractive guise, that tales of wild adventure and social laxness,
whether fact or fiction, damage mind and morals, blight spiritual
growth, and crowd out the nobler aspirations, all Christians should
turn from these things as they would from the leprosy, of a deadly
viper.

20. Pure Speech
Speech is a God-given talent that should be used only to His
glory; and both the Bible and the Spirit of prophecy caution against
levity, cheapness in conversation, coarseness in language, and the
use of slang, all of which are wholly at variance with the ideals
of Christian attainment. Now is the time to become proficient in
the court language of heaven.

21. Music
We counsel the most careful discrimination in the selection of
music; for here is an influence that may be employed to cultivate
the finest qualities, or may be used to debase the soul and break
down the morality. The jargon that comes over the radio, and too
often into Adventist homes, is depraving the musical ear of the
world. Any melody partaking of the nature of ragtime and jazz,
any language expressing foolish, trivial, inane sentiments, should
never be heard in a Christian home.

22. Music
We commend the use of uplifting and ennobling music to the
exclusion of all other, and place our special approval upon
religious music and the selection of hymns which combine
majestic harmony with divine truth.

24. Those who have seen the truth and felt its importance, and have had an
experience in the things of God, are to teach sound doctrine to their
children. They should make them acquainted with the great pillars of our
faith, the reasons why we are Seventh-day Adventists--why we are
called, as were the children of Israel, to be a peculiar people, a holy
nation, separate and distinct from all other people on the face of the
earth.

25. These things should be explained to the children in simple language,
easy to be understood; and as they grow in years, the lessons imparted
should be suited to their increasing capacity, until the foundations of
truth have been laid broad and deep. {CG 495.1}

26. Amusements
We entreat our dear people to guard well their social and
recreational activities, remembering that mere amusement is the
idle wasting of empty hours. Surely no one preparing for the
coming of Jesus will be found at the theater, the carnival, the
movie house, the opera, the circus, the dance, the card table, or
in attendance at commercialized sports.

27. Amusements
Public recreational activities, unless under careful Christian
supervision, are frequently employed by Satan in destroying souls.
We strongly urge separation from worldly associations at skating
rinks 'and public bathing beaches. Friends, do not spend your
precious hours in playing chess, checkers, or similar games that
consume the time we should spend in missionary endeavor and
helpful ministry, for such infatuating amusements are opposed to
spiritual growth and have no place among us.

28. Amusements
In cases where members of the churches hold bridge or similar
card parties in their homes, or frequent such gatherings in other
places; or have dances in their homes or attend them elsewhere;
or frequent shows in theatre or movie houses, we recommend
that faithful labour be put forth to reclaim such individuals from
the errors of their way; but if this proves unsuccessful, that they
be dismissed from church membership.

29. A Clear Declaration of Christian Principles
If you truly belong to Christ, you will have opportunities for witnessing for
Him. You will be invited to attend places of amusement, and then it will be
that you will have an opportunity to testify to your Lord. If you are true to
Christ then, you will not try to form excuses for your nonattendance, but
will plainly and modestly declare that you are a child of God, and your
principles would not allow you to be in a place, even for one occasion,
where you could not invite the presence of your Lord. {AH 519.2}

30. A Clear Declaration of Christian Principles
It is God's purpose to manifest through His people the principles of His
kingdom. That in life and character they may reveal these principles, He
desires to separate them from the customs, habits, and practices of the
world. . . . {AH 519.3}
Wonderful scenes are opening before us; and at this time a living
testimony is to be borne in the lives of God's professed people so that the
world may see that in this age, when evil reigns on every side, there is yet a
people who are laying aside their will and are seeking to do God's will--a
people in whose hearts and lives God's law is written. {AH 519.4}

31. A Clear Declaration of Christian Principles
God expects those who bear the name of Christ to represent Him.
Their thoughts are to be pure, their words noble and uplifting. The
religion of Christ is to be interwoven with all that they do and say. . . .
God desires His people to show by their lives the advantage of
Christianity over worldliness, to show that they are working on a
high, holy plane. {AH 519.5}

36. DRESS

37. DRESS

39. Dress
In the choice of attire, we appeal to Christian manhood and
womanhood for dignity, modesty, good taste, and simplicity,
avoiding extravagance, flashiness, extreme fashions, and fads. Very
low necks, short sleeves, and short skirts fail to accord with
Christian standards. 'Satan is constantly devising some new style of
dress, . . . and he exults when he sees professed Christians
eagerly accepting the fashions he has invented. Testimonies, Vol.
IV, pp. 634, 635.

41. Dress
Remembering also that our bodies are temples for the indwelling
of the Holy Spirit, let there be no artificial aids to change,
detract, disfigure, or discolor the handiwork of the Creator.
Neither will the true Christian desire to adorn the person with
jewelry; and in lands where the custom is not obligatory, no
'circlet of gold' should be worn as a testimony to marriage vows.
(Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 181, 182; Testimonies, Vol. IV, p.
630.)

42. Social Relations
In an age of shattered social ideals and standards, let our young
men and women stand forth as representatives of purity and
virtue. Let the associations of all be characterized by Christian
cordiality, reserve, and dignity, avoiding all levity, cheapness, and
undue, familiarity. With demoralizing conditions about us that rival
the orgies of Sodom and Gomorrah, let all the approaches to an
untarnished character be sacredly guarded.

46. Marriage

47. Marriage
God designs that every Christian home in its harmony, peace, and
love should be a model of the home in heaven. In fulfillment of
this ideal there can be no marriage with unbelievers, for in
homes established under the unequal yoke, 'the shadows are
never lifted.'

48. Marriage
Our ministers will honor the divine counsel given by refusing to
officiate at mixed marriages. Courtships should likewise be conducted
in harmony with the highest Christian principles. 'Marriage has been
perverted by sin; but it is the purpose of the gospel to restore its
purity and beauty.'—Mount of Blessing, p. 100.

49. Marriage
We deplore the tragic abandonment of the family altar in many an
Adventist home and urgently appeal for its revival and faithful
maintenance. In these days of lowered standards careful heed should
also be given to the vital counsel from the Lord: 'Whosoever shall put
away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another,
committeth adultery; and whoso marrieth her that is put away doth
commit adultery.' Matt. 19:8,9

51. Divorce is no light and trifling matter.
A person who has passed through divorce proceedings has
had a regrettable and unfortunate experience which will
always leave a scar. If there should be any adequate
reason for question about the Biblical cause for such
divorce, or about guilt regarding the individual, such person
should not be looked to for leadership in our churches.

52. Church Services
We appeal to our ministers, our workers, our people everywhere,
to keep their feet in the '' old paths,'' and not to remove the
"ancient landmarks" of this message.

53. Church Services
We ask our churches to give greater attention to good order, proper
decorum, and reverence, while they set themselves against all excessive
formalism and ritualism, including choir processionals and recessionals
in the conduct of our Sabbath services. There is an apparent endeavor
in some instances to bring the spirit of entertainment into church
services, Sabbath school exercises, Missionary Volunteer meetings, and
evangelistic meetings.

54. Church Services
This should be guarded against, and the Bible given its rightful place
as the centre of all our services and programmes. [Dramatisation
and acting should have no place among us, pageants and playlets
should be avoided, and save in the case of some dignified
representation to make real what our missionaries are facing in
mission lands, make-up and costuming should not be countenanced.

55. Church Services
Let us hold to the plain and simple, and discard the elaborate, the
exaggerated, the gaudy and showy. These principles of simplicity should
also govern graduating exercises in our schools, as well as weddings in
our churches. Let us not seek after the spectacular and the theatrical,
but keep to the simplicity, the meekness, the plainness, which have
characterised this movement from the beginning.