Foundation of the SDA Church: Ellen White
The foundation of Seventh-day Adventism is resting on the shoulders, spiritual life, and words of Ellen Gould White (Harmon). No matter how you view things, that will not change the facts that every…single…doctrine, belief, practice is INFLUENCED via the interpretation or word of Ellen White.
A common response when discussing with other Adventists is, “well I just don’t see what you are saying, we never had Ellen White preached from the pulpit, or crammed down our throats.”
But unknowingly, all Adventists do.
A pastor, and I would know having been educated as one, is going to be trained to read Scripture and compose his or her sermons according to these steps…
Pray and read over what you are lead to preach on.
Write you sermon.
Utilizing the SDA Bible commentary to illuminate passages and understand meanings.
See if it agrees with Ellen White or not. Compare.
The SDA Bible commentary is composed with the idea that when conflicts between the writings of Ellen White and Scripture arise, the commentators will remain silent. If a pastor presents anything that counters Ellen White’s statements, well he will either be talked to by the parishioners, the church board, the conference, or all of the above. Record will be noted and never forgotten. (I wish I was joking). Even if what the pastor says agrees with Ellen White, if it disagrees with a position taken BASED on Ellen White by the parishioners, drama will follow.
The church does not allow us to downplay Ellen White…
The Biblical Research Institute is the final authority of belief, or voice giving the final authority of the General Conference it’s authority.
“In Scripture we find canonical prophets like Moses and Jeremiah, whose writings became part of the biblical canon, and non-canonical prophets like Nathan, Ahijah, and Iddo (2 Chron 9:29) whose books, though inspired, did not become part of the biblical canon. Why God selected some books and not others we do not know. Obviously, he knew what mankind would need to understand the plan of salvation. However, what the non-canonical prophets said or wrote was just as authoritative and binding for the people of their time as were the books of Moses and Isaiah (2 Sam 12:7-15). The authority of a prophetic book lies in its inspiration not in the book’s place in the canon. But since John the Revelator’s time the canon has been closed, and no other inspired books can be added to it.
If archaeologists would find the book of Nathan today it would not be added to the canon but would remain an inspired book outside of the canon. And whatever theological statements were to be found in it would remain inspired and authoritative statements outside of the canon. The canon is simply the collection of books which under God’s guidance was put together as the rule of faith and practice for God’s people by which everything else has to be measured. It contains everything a person needs to know to be saved.
The apostle Paul wrote a number of inspired letters which were lost, e.g., his letter to the Laodiceans (Col 4:16), or his first letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 5:9). If these letters were found today, they would not become part of the canon, but would remain inspired letters outside of the canon….
In 1982, the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists issued a statement of affirmations and denials in regard to the Ellen G. White writings (Ministry, August 1982). One of the affirmations said, “We believe that Ellen White was inspired by the Holy Spirit and that her writings, the product of that inspiration, are applicable and authoritative especially to Seventh-day Adventists.” The denials made clear that while the quality or degree of inspiration in the writings of Ellen White is no different from that of Scripture, Seventh-day Adventists “do not believe that the writings of Ellen White are an addition to the canon of Sacred Scripture.”
It was concluded, therefore, that “a correct understanding of the inspiration and authority of the writings of Ellen White will avoid two extremes: (1) regarding these writings as functioning on a canonical level identical with Scripture, or (2) considering them as ordinary Christian literature.” Seventh-day Adventists reject the idea that there are degrees of inspiration. They believe that Ellen White was a messenger of God and that she was inspired like the Old and New Testament prophets. Now, if Ellen White was as inspired as the Old and New Testament prophets, what authority do her writings have? The answer can only be: They have the same authority the writings of the non-canonical prophets had for their time.
Ellen White left her readers in no doubt about the source of her writings. There were only two possibilities, “God is either teaching His church, reproving their wrongs, and strengthening their faith, or He is not. This work is of God, or it is not. God does nothing in partnership with Satan. My work . . . bears the stamp of God, or the stamp of the enemy. There is no halfway work in the matter. The Testimonies are of the Spirit of God, or of the devil” (5 T 671). In a letter to the church in Battle Creek she wrote, “I do not write one article in the paper, expressing merely my own ideas. They are what God has opened before me in vision—the precious rays of light shining from the throne. ” (1 SM 27).
Because the source of what she wrote was divine, her words have authority. To those who refused to accept her writings as having divine authority she said, “When I send you a testimony of warning and reproof, many of you declare it to be merely the opinion of Sister White. You have thereby insulted the Spirit of God. You know how the Lord has manifested Himself through the Spirit of prophecy [a metonym for the writings of Ellen White]” (1 SM 27).
At the same time she emphasized her submission to the Bible, which she called “the greater light” (CM 125). “We are to receive God’s word as supreme authority” (6T 402), she wrote, and “The Holy Scriptures are to be accepted as an authoritative, infallible revelation of His will. They are the standard of character, the revealer of doctrines, and the test of experience” (GC vii). Therefore, she said, “the testimonies of Sister White should not be carried to the front. God’s Word is the unerring standard . . . Let all prove their positions from the Scriptures and substantiate every point they claim as truth from the revealed Word of God” (Ev 256). At a meeting held in the Battle Creek College library on the eve of the General Conference of 1901 she told the leaders, “Lay Sister White right to one side. Don’t . . . ever quote my words again as long as you live, until you can obey the Bible” (SpM 167).
Yet, for her, this did not negate the manifestation of the prophetic gift in her ministry. “The fact that God has revealed His will to men through His word, has not rendered needless the continued presence and guiding of the Holy Spirit. On the contrary, the Spirit was promised by our Saviour, to open the word to His servants, to illuminate and apply its teachings” (GC vii).
From the beginning, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has recognized the tremendous value and the authority of the writings of Ellen White. As early as 1855 the leadership of the Advent Movement publically stated that they regarded the writings of Ellen White as coming from God. Therefore, “we must acknowledge ourselves under obligation to abide by their teachings, and be corrected by their admonitions” (RH Dec. 4, 1855). Ever since then, General Conferences in session have from time to time issued statements expressing confidence in the writings of Ellen White “as the teaching of the Spirit of God” (RH, Feb. 14, 1871).
In 1980, the General Conference in session in Dallas, Texas, voted the adoption of the 27 Fundamental Beliefs. Belief number 17 deals with the gift of prophecy as manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White. It reads in part as follows: “As the Lord’s messenger, her writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction.” Though nearly a century has elapsed since Ellen White laid down her pen, her inspired and therefore authoritative writings continue to be a guiding and unifying factor in the rapidly growing Seventh-day Adventist Church.”
There is a lot to unpack even within that official statement by the BRI. At the heart of it all no matter what flavor of Seventh-Day Adventist you are, you are under the ‘prophetic’ authority of Ellen White when you are a member of the church, whether you agree with her or not, whether you heard her or not.
My hypothesis…
The authority placed on the writings and person of Ellen White is not biblically sound, nor is it warranted. The church has kept its position out of fear of collapsing the church, and yet it has known that she does not stand on biblical grounds to hold the authoritative position she holds.
Ellen White does not allow anyone claiming to be Seventh-Day Adventist to downplay, to bypass, nor to ignore her writings. She places a standard for herself and writings, and gives us only one of two options.
““I took the precious Bible and surrounded it with the several Testimonies for the Church, given for the people of God. Here, said I, the cases of nearly all are met. The sins they are to shun are pointed out. The counsel that they desire can be found here, given for other cases situated similarly to themselves. God has been pleased to give you line upon line and precept upon precept. But there are not many of you that really know what is contained in the Testimonies. You are not familiar with the Scriptures. If you had made God’s word your study, with a desire to reach the Bible standard and attain to Christian perfection, you would not have needed the Testimonies. It is because you have neglected to acquaint yourselves with God’s inspired Book that He has sought to reach you by simple, direct testimonies, calling your attention to the words of inspiration which you had neglected to obey, and urging you to fashion your lives in accordance with its pure and elevated teachings (Testimonies for the Church 5, pg. 671-664).”
““I said further: As the word of God is walled in with these books and pamphlets, so has God walled you in with reproofs, counsel, warnings, and encouragements. Here you are crying before God, in the anguish of your souls, for more light. I am authorized from God to tell you that not another ray of light through the Testimonies will shine upon your pathway until you make a practical use of the light already given. The Lord has walled you about with light; but you have not appreciated the light; you have trampled upon it. While some have despised the light, others have neglected it or followed it but indifferently. A few have set their hearts to obey the light which God has been pleased to give them (Testimonies for the Church 5, pg. 671-664).”
““God is either teaching His church, reproving their wrongs and strengthening their faith, or He is not. This work is of God, or it is not. God does nothing in partnership with Satan. My work ... bears the stamp of God or the stamp of the enemy. There is no halfway work in the matter. The Testimonies are of the Spirit of God, or of the devil.” [Testimonies for the Church 4:230.] It is Satan’s plan to weaken the faith of God’s people in the Testimonies.” “Satan knows how to make his attacks. He works upon minds to excite jealousy and dissatisfaction toward those at the head of the work. The gifts are next questioned; then, of course, they have but little weight, and instruction given through vision is disregarded.” “Next follows skepticism in regard to the vital points of our faith, the pillars of our position, then doubt as to the Holy Scriptures, and then the downward march to perdition. When the Testimonies, which were once believed, are doubted and given up, Satan knows the deceived ones will not stop at this; and he redoubles his efforts till he launches them into open rebellion, which becomes incurable and ends in destruction.” [Testimonies for the Church 4:211; Testimonies for the Church 1:236] “By giving place to doubts and unbelief in regard to the work of God, and by cherishing feelings of distrust and cruel jealousies, they are preparing themselves for complete deception. They rise up with bitter feelings against the ones who dare to speak of their errors and reprove their sins.” [Testimonies for the Church 3:328.], I was shown that many had so little spirituality that they did not understand the value of the Testimonies or their real object. They talked flippantly of the Testimonies given by God for the benefit of His people, and passed judgment upon them, giving their opinion and criticizing this and that, when they would better have placed their hands upon their lips, and prostrated themselves in the dust; for they could not appreciate the spirit of the Testimonies, because they knew so little of the Spirit of God. [Testimonies for the Church 4:443.] (Testimonies for the Church 5, pg. 671-672).”
“From the beginning of my work, as I have been called to bear a plain, pointed testimony, to reprove wrongs, and to spare not, there have been those who have stood in opposition to my testimony and have followed after to speak smooth things, to daub with untempered mortar, and to destroy the influence of my labors. The Lord would move upon me to bear reproof, and then individuals would step in between me and the people to make my testimony of no effect (Testimonies for the Church 5, pg. 678).”
“If God has given me a message to bear to His people, those who would hinder me in the work and lessen the faith of the people in its truth are not fighting against the instrument, but against God. “It is not the instrument whom you slight and insult, but God, who has spoken to you in these warnings and reproofs.” “It is hardly possible for men to offer a greater insult to God than to despise and reject the instrumentalities that He has appointed to lead them.” [Testimonies for the Church 5:235; Testimonies for the Church 3:355.], (Testimonies for the Church 5, pg. 680).”
““The volumes of Spirit of Prophecy, The Great Controversy, and also the Testimonies, should be introduced into every Sabbathkeeping family, and the brethren should know their value and be urged to read them. It was not the wisest plan to place these books at a low figure and have only one set in a church. They should be in the library of every family and be read again and again. Let them be kept where they can be read by many.” [Testimonies for the Church 4:390 (1880).] (Testimonies for the Church 5, pg. 681).”
Remove her or Uphold her. There is no middle option. After interviewing, surveying, reading, researching, listening, and living within the church, Ellen White needs to be thoroughly presented and all matters resolved concerning her contradictions with Scripture, her contradictions with herself, and the secrets hidden within the vaults of the White Estate. The Seventh-Day Adventist Church needs to accept, embrace, and lean into reform. If not, it remains a Christian Cult.
How can Seventh-day Adventism be a Christian cult?
Notice in the above quotes, Ellen White states that she has ‘walled in Scripture,’ with the Testimonies, Spirit of Prophecy, and other works. This means that you cannot get through to Scripture unless you pass through her writings. There is no other way around this repeated statement and the insinuation she makes regarding her ‘work.’
By defecto, she is also stating that a right understanding of Scripture cannot be made outside of her writings, which means anyone outside of Seventh-day Adventism. The implication is that you cannot understand Scripture fully or come too an understanding of God, theology, or discipleship unless they pass through the walls of her writing.
Many Adventists would uncomfortably disagree, giving the off the cuff defense, “well she always said she was the ‘lesser light.’” Implying that she said that the Bible always supersedes her writings. However, look at the origins of the ‘lesser light’ defense many Adventists give…
"The Lord has sent His people much instruction, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little. Little heed is given to the Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead men and women to the greater light. Oh, how much good would be accomplished if the books containing this light were read with a determination to carry out the principles they contain! There would be a thousandfold greater vigilance, a thousandfold more self-denial and resolute effort. And many more would now be rejoicing in the light of present truth (Colporteur Ministry, pg. 125).”
Erroneously, Ellen White is always defended as though she implies that one can lay your Bible, next to her writings, and if her writings prove counter to Scripture, then go with Scripture. She assumes the position of being a guardian of Scripture that allows one to be lead to the meaning of things in Scripture. You cannot approach Scripture without her writings guiding you.
This always plagued the church, in a letter in 1915, W.W. Prescott, a founding Adventist wrote to Ellen White’s Son, W.C. White…
“Dear Brother White:
I appreciated your letter of March 12 and I thank you for your message of sympathy concerning my father’s death.
I have noted what you have said about your mother’s condition, although you neglected to enclose the statement which you mentioned. When I see these early believers, like your mother, my father, and Elder Olsen passing away so rapidly, and then think of how little has really been accomplished in seriously warning the whole world of the impending second advent, I am led to wonder whether any of us now connected with this movement will, after all, live to see the consummation. It is a serious question.
It seems to me that a large responsibility rests upon those of us who know that there are serious errors in our authorized books and yet make no special effort to correct them. The people and our average ministers trust us to furnish them with reliable statements, and they use our books as sufficient authority in their sermons, but we let them go on year after year asserting things which we know to be untrue. I cannot feel that this is right. It seems to me that we are betraying our trust and deceiving the ministers and people. It appears to me that there is much more anxiety to prevent a possible shock to some trustful people than to correct error.
Your letter indicates a desire on your part to help me, but I fear that it is a little late. The experience of the last six or eight years, and especially the things concerning which I talked with you, have had their effect on me in several ways. I have had some hard shocks to get over, and after giving the best of my life to this movement, I have little peace and satisfaction in connection with it, and I am driven to the conclusion that the only thing for me to do is to do quietly what I can do conscientiously and leave the others to go on without me. Of course this [is] far from a happy ending to my life-work, but this seams to be the best adjustment that I am able to make. The way your mother’s writings have been handled and the false impressions concerning them, which is still fostered among the people, have brought great perplexity and trial to me. It seems to me that what amounts to deception, though probably not intentional, has been practiced in making some of her books, and that no serious effort has been made to disabuse the minds of the people of what was known to be their wrong view concerning her writings.
But it is no use to go into these matters. I have talked with you for years about them but it brings no change. I think, however, that we are drifting toward a crisis which will come sooner or later and perhaps sooner. A very strong feeling of reaction has already set in.
It has been very quiet here for a few weeks, as many of the brethren are in the field. The weather has been quite cold and we had about five inches of snow last Sabbath, but it is more like spring today.
My mother is quite feeble, although she bears up full better than I really expected. She misses Father very much. They lived together more than 67 years.
The work of the office seems to be prospering, and we are all very busy trying to meet the demands upon us.
I should be glad to hear from you at any time. If you can properly do so, I would be glad to have you express to your mother my sympathies for her in her affliction.
Yours faithfully,
W. W. Prescott”
Many critics of Seventh-day Adventism, pursue the same lines. Some of the examination of which I am presenting, may incorporate aspects of previous critics. However, it is much simpler, does Ellen White’s claim and the churches affirmation of her claim and authority a valid claim?
Ellen White is the authority in the church for interpretation, theological doctrine, discipleship, and polity. It is simply all or nothing in regards to her authority and writings.
