Why does the Seventh-day Adventists Church have so many rules? Will disobeying these rules–such as wearing jewelry and eating meat–really keep me from going to heaven?
God is concerned for our quality of life. Jesus said that He had come “that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10 NIV) Or as it says in the King James Version, to have life more abundantly. The illustrations you give–jewelry and vegetarianism–are matters that fall into this category of living the best life possible. They are based on principles that come from the Bible–God’s guidebook for how you can live the happiest, healthiest, most productive life possible. Now in some parts of the world, limited food choice may mean that it’s not possible to get proper nutrition through a vegetarian diet. But where there is abundant food choice, a vegetarian diet is clearly the optimum. Or take the principles of simplicity and modesty. In some parts of the world you will find that some Adventists wear engagement rings, and with the churchs blessing. Where this happens, the church has recognized that an engagement ring plays an important part in demonstrating the promise to ma
