Look, most of us turned out mostly fine. Sure, we jump whenever someone says “Sunday law,” and some of us still aren’t sure if drum sets summon the Time of Trouble, but hey — we’re functioning adults with jobs and favorite haystack toppings. Progress.
We don’t have to pass any of that on.
We are the generation with enough self-awareness (and yes, enough therapy bills) to say: “Actually, the gospel is supposed to heal, not traumatize.”
Our kids don’t need a church that terrifies them into obedience.
They don’t need bedtime stories about beasts with ten horns.
They don’t need to feel like one wrong move will exile them to the non-remnant section of the universe.
What they do need is an Adventism that’s safe, joyful, curious, compassionate, and honest.
An Adventism where sabbath is restful, not stressful.
Where differences aren’t threats.
Where grace isn’t rationed.
Where love leads the conversation — not fear.
Where kids grow up knowing Jesus is for them, not monitoring them like celestial CCTV.
And that’s not a fantasy version of Adventism — that’s the Adventism we could actually build if we stop clinging to the parts that hurt us and start leaning into the parts that helped us survive.
We can choose community over control.
Healing over hiding.
Honesty over appearances.
People over policy.
Grace over fear — every single time.
We can build an Adventism our kids won’t need to recover from.
We can be the generation that breaks the cycle.
We can hand them a church that feels like home, not a diagnostic code.
And honestly?
That’s the most Adventist thing we could do.
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