Chris Mindanao, a recent graduate from the Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University, has resigned from his pastoral position in the New Jersey Conference of Seventh-day Adventists following a theological controversy that arose from his appearance on the “Better Than We Thought” podcast with host Ian Reyes. During the podcast, Mindanao expressed theological views that challenged traditional Seventh-day Adventist interpretations of the “seal of God” and the “mark of the beast.”
In particular, Mindanao questioned the long-held Adventist belief, rooted in the writings of the church co-founder Ellen G. White, that Sabbath-keeping is integral to the “seal of God” and that Sunday worship will be a marker of allegiance to the “beast” in the end times. He instead argued that the seal of God, as described in the New Testament, is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and that there is no biblical basis for linking Sunday worship with the mark of the beast.
As a result of these statements, the New Jersey Conference of Seventh-day Adventists initiated an internal review of Mindanao’s theological beliefs, leading to his voluntary resignation after a two-week discussion process. His resignation brings into focus ongoing debates within the denomination regarding eschatological interpretation and the role of Ellen G. White’s writings in shaping contemporary Adventist theology.
Prior to attending seminary, Mindanao served as the leader of Adventists for Christ on the Rutgers University campus. As an associate pastor with the New Jersey Conference, he oversaw three diverse congregations and continued his involvement in campus ministries.
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