The Attitude of the Brethren Toward the Writings of Ellen G. White

One of the finest statements by the pioneer brethren showing their attitude toward the writings of Ellen G. White came from the pen of Uriah Smith in the The Review and Herald, June 12, 1866.BHP 308.4

“Further, their [the Testimonies’] fruit is such as to show that the source from which they spring, is the opposite of evil. They tend to the purest morality. They discountenance every vice, and exhort to the practice of every virtue. They point out the perils through which we are to pass to the kingdom. They reveal the devices of Satan. They warn us against his snares. They have nipped in the bud scheme after scheme of fanaticism which the enemy has tried to foist into our midst. They have exposed hidden iniquity, brought to light concealed wrongs, and laid bare the evil motives of the false-hearted. They have warded off dangers from the cause of truth upon every hand. They have aroused and re-aroused us to greater consecration to God, more zealous efforts for holiness of heart, and greater diligence in the cause and service of our Master….BHP 308.5

“With all this array of good fruit which they are able to present, with all this innocency of any charge of evil that can be brought against them, they everywhere encounter the bitterest opposition. They are the object of the blindest prejudice, the intensest hate, and most malignant bitterness. Worldlings and formal professors of all denominations, join in one general outcry against them of vituperation and abuse. Many will go a long distance out of their way for the purpose of giving them an uncalled-for and malicious thrust. And false-hearted brethren in our own ranks make them the butt of their first attacks, as they launch off into apostasy and rebellion. Why is all this? Whence all this war against that of which no evil can be said? From the example of Cain who slew his brother, of the Jews who clamored for the blood of the innocent Saviour, of the infidel who storms with passion at the very name of Jesus, and from the principle of the carnal heart which is at enmity with everything that is holy and spiritual, we leave the reader to answer.” (Italics supplied.)BHP 309.1

In answer to Uriah Smith’s question I would say that opposition or indifference to the Spirit of prophecy and spiritual gifts in general grows out of:BHP 309.2

1. A failure to accept one or all of the three great facts of faith on which Christianity is based.BHP 309.3

2. A failure to read enough of, or all of, the writings of Ellen G. White to thoroughly understand herBHP 309.4

over-all and well-balanced instruction on any given topic.BHP 310.1

3. A failure to understand the proper relation of her writings to the Scriptures, and of the whole Bible to the one and only great fundamental requirement for salvation and an entrance into the kingdom of heaven.BHP 310.2

4. A failure to grasp the true nature of her writings with respect to inspiration and infallibility.BHP 310.3

5. A failure to recognize the principle of time and place in connection with the counsel she has given.BHP 310.4

6. A failure to acknowledge that the counsels given in the early days of the message are safe counsel for these its closing days.BHP 310.5

7. A failure to recognize that while sufficient evidence is given to convince the honest in heart, the Lord does not purpose to remove the opportunity for doubt or to take away the hooks upon which doubts may be hung. The Lord requires the exercise of faith.BHP 310.6

8. A failure to recognize that the veracity of the Spirit of prophecy counsels cannot be appraised by the changing dictums of science, or the prejudiced or molded assertions of historians.BHP 310.7

9. An unwillingness to make a personal sacrifice of some personally cherished habit, custom, or practice that seems out of harmony with the counsel given in the pattern for Christian living as set forth in the writings of Ellen G. White. Individual opposition stems from the point where a man’s “darling” taste, fancy, whim, habit,BHP 310.8

or practice is touched. He gets rid of that particular item by doing away with all.BHP 311.1

Most Adventist opposition would disappear—BHP 311.2

1. If our ministers and our laymen would stop using some pet sentences or paragraphs as a club with which to hit somebody else.BHP 311.3

2. If each of us would take the counsel to himself instead of trying to apply it to someone else.BHP 311.4

3. If all of us would remember 1 Corinthians 14, which tells us that prophecy and prophesying are primarily for the church members and not for nonchurch people.BHP 311.5

4. If each of us would determine not to use or pass on unfounded rumors or sayings without proper reference in book, page, and paragraph.BHP 311.6

5. If we would not discuss a topic or question unless and until we have fully studied all the writings on it. Partial knowledge is more dangerous than no knowledge at all. “I do not know” is an acknowledgment that can be excused, but a half-truth or a lie is not soon forgiven or forgotten.BHP 311.7

6. If we would recognize that one person’s failure, or that of many people, to live up to or carry out the counsel given by Ellen G. White has absolutely nothing to do with the authenticity or reliability of the visions of, or the instruction from, Ellen G. White.BHP 311.8

Perhaps one more statement, from J. N. Andrews, published in the The Review and Herald, February 15, 1870, must suffice.BHP 311.9

“The object of spiritual gifts is to maintain the living work of God in the church. They enable the Spirit of God to speak in the correction of wrongs, and in the exposure of iniquity. They are the means whereby God teaches his people when they are in danger of taking wrong steps. They are the means by which the Spirit of God sheds light upon church difficulties, when otherwise their adjustment would be impossible. They also constitute the means whereby God preserves his people from confusion by pointing out errors, by correcting false interpretations of the Scriptures, and causing light to shine out upon that which is in danger of being wrongly understood, and therefore of being the cause of evil and division to the people of God. In short, their work is to unite the people of God in the same mind and in the same judgment upon the meaning of the Scriptures….BHP 312.1

“Finally, in the reception of members into our churches, we desire on this subject to know two things: 1. That they believe the Bible doctrine of spiritual gifts; 2. That they will candidly acquaint themselves with the visions of Sr. White which have ever held so prominent a place in this work. We believe that every person standing thus and carrying out this purpose will be guided in the way of truth and righteousness. And those who occupy this ground, are never denied all the time they desire to decide in this matter.”BHP 312.2