Posted on Social Media by Vaughn Jennings
Someone posted a comment that Adventists are weird. I am a fifth generation Adventist, and I agree. The comment made me think of why people believe we are weird and I wrote this poem to explain how I agree.
ADVENTISTS ARE WEIRD
We go to church on Saturday while everybody else is buying mulch at Home Depot and arguing over barbecue sauce recipes.
Friday night? The world says: “LET’S PARTY!” Adventists say: “Happy Sabbath… Who brought the lentil loaf?”
Weird.
We don’t drink. Don’t smoke. Don’t vape.
Some Adventists read ingredient labels like they’re studying Revelation prophecy charts. “Contains natural flavors?” Mmmmmm… sounds suspicious, brother.
And somehow every church has:
One vegan,
One guy secretly eating chicken nuggets,
And one grandmother who can turn cardboard into a casserole that tastes heavenly. That’s a spiritual gift.
We pray before EVERYTHING.
Before meals.
Before meetings.
Before road trips.
Before doctor appointments.
Some of y’all pray before texting somebody back. “Lord…should I send a smiley face…or is that temptation?”
Weird.
We study Daniel and Revelation like holy FBI agents.
Beasts.
Horns.
Statues.
Timelines.
Visitors walk in like: “I just came for juice and prayer… Why are we discussing dragons?”
And yes… we really believe Jesus is coming back. Like ACTUALLY back.
Not metaphorically.
Not spiritually.
Not “good-vibes energy.”
I mean clouds.
Trumpets.
Resurrection.
The whole divine sequel.
And honestly?
In a world this crazy, Jesus coming back sounds more reasonable every day.
Another thing. Adventists aren’t perfect. Sometimes we gossip. Sometimes we condemn. Sometimes we say “Happy Sabbath,” then get mad over a burned casserole.
We’re human.
But we’re trying. Trying to love people. Trying to live healthy. Trying to follow Jesus without losing our minds in this chaotic world.
So yeah… Maybe we ARE weird.
But, if weird means: resting, praying, helping people, eating suspicious vegetarian meat substitutes, and waiting for Jesus? Then pass the Adventist haystacks… I’m proud to be weird.
****
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).