3 October 2022 | Dear Aunt Sevvy, Every time I go to my in-laws’ house, my mother-in-law throws little passive-aggressive barbs my way about how I’m raising her grandchildren—most of them about food. Like she’ll say to the kids over dinner, “Sorry, Grandma doesn’t have all the prepackaged frozen foods you are accustomed to.” Or […]
26 September 2022 | Dear Aunt Sevvy, Recently someone shared with me this quote from J.N. Loughborough from the October 8, 1861, Review and Herald. The first step of apostasy is to get up a creed, telling us what we shall believe. The second is, to make that creed a test of fellowship. The third […]
19 September 2022 | Dear Aunt Sevvy, Is Jesus delaying his coming because he is waiting for us to perfectly replicate his character? I am a fourth-generation Adventist, in the church for 80 years, and have heard this preached. It sounds like it is our fault that Jesus hasn’t returned! It seems to me Jesus […]
5 September 2022 | Dear Aunt Sevvy, I’m a pro-choice, pro-woman’s rights, LGBTQI advocate who loves the Lord and the Sabbath. Is there a place for me in this church, or am I a square peg trying to fit in a round hole? Thanks, Signed, Square peg Dear Square, This is not a question Aunt […]
29 August 2022 | Dear Aunt Sevvy, Why is the book of Hebrews so controversial to some Adventists? It seems pretty straightforward to me: it seems to say that Jesus accomplished our salvation once for all at the cross. It says nothing about 1844. What am I missing? Signed, Saved by Grace Dear Saved, Hebrews […]
22 August 2022 | Dear Aunt Sevvy, I’m confused about the “Christians” who are celebrating the right of the government to decide what a woman can do with her body: isn’t this ruling a dangerous precedent of the mixing of religious views with government enforcement? Aren’t people concerned with what other rights will be taken […]
15 August 2022 | My church wants to disfellowship me for not believing in the work of Ellen G. White. Should they be allowed to do that? Signed, Believer—Except for This Dear Believer: Not only should the church not disfellowship someone who does not have faith in Ellen White, it is forbidden to do so […]
7 August 2022 | Dear Aunt Sevvy, I’m dismayed by how many young people leave the church after academy or college. Is the church doing anything to address the issue? Why do you think they don’t want to stay? Signed, Sincerely Heartbroken Dear Heartbroken, Many in the church spout theories about why young people are […]
25 July 2022 | Dear Aunt Sevvy, How do we decide which parts of Leviticus apply to the church today, and which parts were only for the ancient Israelites? Sincerely, Confused reader Dear Confused, That is an excellent question for Seventh-day Adventists—we who say so often that we take the entire Bible seriously. We do […]
18 July 2022 | Dear Aunt Sevvy, Why do Bible scholars argue so much about Antiochus IV Epiphanes and his significance in the prophecies of Daniel? Signed, History student Dear Student This can be answered in ridiculous detail, but here is Aunty’s simple explanation: Antiochus IV Epiphanes was the Greek leader of a Syrian kingdom […]
11 July 2022 | Dear Aunt Sevvy, The Scriptures say we are to be obedient to the laws of the land because it’s God who put them in charge (Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:13-17). So why did some Christians object to being vaccinated, since what the government asked does not contradict our faith or belief […]
27 June 2022 | Dear Aunt Sevvy, All my life I’ve been urged to witness to my friends and neighbors about Adventist beliefs. But I just don’t feel like my good Christian next-door neighbor needs to be convinced of all the things Adventists believe to be loved by God. So, sorry, Aunty, in spite of […]