12. Do Adventists cloister themselves away from the world?

No. As with most Christians, Adventists actively seek to engage with the world, believing they should be the salt and light of the world (Matt 5:13).  As objective proof of this point, the SDA Church runs the following pubic ministries:

·         The world’s largest Protestant Christian-school system (i.e. second-largest after the Roman Catholic Church), including some 7,598 educational institutions.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh-day_Adventist_education

·         One of the largest private health-care systems in the world, including 167 hospitals and sanatoriums.  The SDA Church does have the largest Protestant non-for-profit health care system in the United States, which includes some 43 hospitals in that country alone.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventist_Health_System

·         Significant holistic lifestyle facilities, including the Sanitarium Health Food Company in Australia and New Zealand. Adventists are noted for their healthy lifestyle, being one of the top three longest-living groups in the world, being the only group not in decline, and the only group found in the Western World. 

See: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0511/feature1/learn.html

·         A large number of aged-care facilities, including 138 nursing homes.

See:http://web.archive.org/web/20071011022550/http:/www.adventist.org/world_church/facts_and_figures/index.html.en

·         The Adventist and Disaster Relief Agency (ADRA), one of the world’s best-run and largest humanitarian and charitable organizations in the world.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventist_Development_and_Relief_Agency

·         Founded and help run the International Religious Liberty Organisation (IRLA).

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Religious_Liberty_Association

·         One of the world’s largest Christian media organizations, including print, radio, television and cable networks.

See:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_ministries_of_the_Seventh-day_Adventist_Church

Thus, to those critics who claim the SDA Church is a cult or other non-Christian movement, many Adventists might simply point to all the ‘good fruit’ listed above, and cite Jesus’ words:

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” (Matt 7:15-17) (emphasis added)

For further information see:

http://web.archive.org/web/20071011022550/http:/www.adventist.org/world_church/facts_and_figures/index.html.en