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Seventh-day Adventist vs. Non-denominational

A side-by-side comparison of Seventh-day Adventist and Non-denominational teaching on 16 questions, from Scripture and salvation to baptism, communion and church government.

Seventh-day Adventist

The Seventh-day Adventist Church grew out of the Millerite expectation of Christ’s return in the 1840s and was formally organized in 1863. It worships on the seventh day, Saturday, and holds distinctive teaching on the state of the dead and the end times.

Non-denominational

Non-denominational churches are independent congregations with no formal denominational parent. Most are evangelical, centered on the Bible and personal faith in Christ, but each sets its own doctrine and style, so practice varies more here than in any other group.

More about Non-denominational Christianity

At a glance

Where they differ: Church government; Death, purgatory and hell; Day of worship.

Varies within one or both: Can a saved person fall away?; Predestination and free will; Clergy and women in ministry; The Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts.

Where they agree: Authority: Scripture and tradition; Books of the Bible; The Trinity; How a person is saved; Baptism; Communion (the Lord’s Supper); Sacraments or ordinances; Mary and the saints; Style of worship.

Side by side

Question	Seventh-day Adventist	Non-denominational
Authority: Scripture and traditionAgree	The Bible alone is the standard for doctrine. Adventists also honor the writings of Ellen G. White as a prophetic gift, but hold them to be subject to Scripture.	The Bible is the final authority, and each congregation interprets it for itself. Most hold to biblical inerrancy in some form.
Books of the BibleAgree	66 books.	66 books.
The TrinityAgree	One God in three co-eternal persons. Some early Adventists were not Trinitarian, but the church has affirmed the doctrine since the 20th century.	Almost always Trinitarian, though statements of faith are set by each church.
How a person is savedAgree	Saved by grace through faith in Christ. Adventists teach that obedience, including keeping the Ten Commandments, is the fruit of salvation and not its cause.	Usually teaches salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone, received by a personal decision to trust him. Details are set by each church.
Can a saved person fall away?Varies	Yes. Salvation can be lost by rejecting God, but no one is lost who continues to trust in Christ.	Varies by church. Many teach eternal security, and others teach that salvation can be lost.
Predestination and free willVaries	Arminian in outlook. God desires all to be saved, and each person chooses whether to respond.	Varies by church. Some are Calvinist and many are Arminian or take no stand.
BaptismAgree	Baptism by immersion, given after instruction and a public profession of faith. It marks membership in the church.	Usually believer’s baptism by immersion, as a public witness. A few churches baptize infants or allow other modes.
Communion (the Lord’s Supper)Agree	Observed quarterly, in a service that includes foot washing as an act of humility. The bread and grape juice are symbols.	Usually a memorial ordinance, observed as often as each church chooses.
Sacraments or ordinancesAgree	Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The church’s own statement treats foot washing as part of the Lord’s Supper service, and some Adventists describe it as a third ordinance.	Two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
Church governmentDiffer	A representative system of local churches, regional conferences and a General Conference. Delegates make decisions for the world church.	Each church governs itself, generally under a pastor or a board of elders.
Clergy and women in ministryVaries	Women serve as pastors and elders in many regions, but ordaining women as pastors has been disputed at the level of the world church.	Varies by church. Many limit pastors to men and others welcome women in leadership.
Mary and the saintsAgree	Mary is honored as Jesus’ mother. Adventists do not pray to saints and teach that the dead are unconscious until the resurrection.	Mary is honored as the mother of Jesus. Non-denominational churches do not pray to saints.
Death, purgatory and hellDiffer	The dead are unconscious until the resurrection (sometimes called “soul sleep”). The wicked are ultimately destroyed rather than tormented forever, which is the doctrine of conditional immortality.	Believers go to be with Christ at death and unbelievers face judgment. There is no purgatory.
Style of worshipAgree	A Sabbath school and a worship service on Saturday. The service is built around preaching, hymns and prayer.	Free-form and often contemporary, with a band, a sermon and modern arrangements. Each church sets its own style.
The Holy Spirit and spiritual giftsVaries	Spiritual gifts are believed to continue, and the church holds that the gift of prophecy was shown in Ellen G. White. Tongues are understood as real human languages.	Varies. Some non-denominational churches are charismatic and others hold that miraculous gifts have ceased.
Day of worshipDiffer	Saturday, the seventh day. Adventists keep the biblical Sabbath from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset and consider it a lasting commandment.	Sunday, with some churches also offering Saturday evening services.
Best known for	Saturday Sabbath, a health message that includes vegetarian eating, a large system of schools and hospitals, and the expectation of Christ’s soon return.	Independence, contemporary worship, a focus on personal faith and the Bible, and rapid growth as a share of American churchgoers.

“Agree” means the two traditions take the same broad position, although the wording above may still note finer differences. “Varies” means at least one of the two is itself divided on the question, so no single position can be given. These summaries describe typical teaching, and individual churches may vary. For an authoritative statement, consult each denomination’s own confessions.

Seventh-day Adventist vs. Non-denominational