Chapter 26—My Confidence in Ellen White

I am a third-generation Adventist, a second-generation preacher who grew up on the “sawdust trail” with my father and uncle—the “Venden Brothers” evangelistic team. I have always had confidence in their experience, in the message I’ve heard them preach, and in their love and respect for the Bible and the writings of Ellen White. These writings were never used to club me over the head or to force me to good behavior. Perhaps this tolerance prevented some of the hang-ups I see manifested toward the church by some young people today.WEWMM 197.1

There was a time, however, when I became grimly aware that God has no grandsons—only sons—and that each one must have his own private birth into the kingdom of God. No one becomes a Christian on mother’s apron strings and no one turns preacher sliding on father’s coattail. It happened like this:WEWMM 197.2

Father was a preacher, uncle was a preacher, cousin was a preacher, and brother was to be a preacher. What else could a young fellow do but plan to be a preacher? I had thought of being a cowboy or a drummer but I didn’t seem to get off the ground with either plan. So I studied theology at La Sierra College. I guess I was what could be called a “good liver” during those years—not getting into too much trouble.WEWMM 197.3

Graduation came along with a call to the ministry and the beginning of my own home. I began to preach good old Adventist sermons from my file—with something (apologies to my homiletics professor) from Haynes, something from Richards, something from Bunch ... from father.. and from uncle. And then three years later I came into great trouble—trouble that had started small but had grown to giant proportions. It gnawed at my stomach until the ulcer came, it kept me awake at night with jangled nerves. I was discovering that, preacher as I was, probably a year from ordination, I didn’t know what this business of the Christian religion was all about from personal experience. 1 was to read about this problem later in these words by Ellen White: “There are those who profess to serve God, while they rely upon their own efforts to obey His law, to form a right character, and secure salvation. Their hearts are not moved by any deep sense of the love of Christ, but they seek to perform the duties of the Christian life as that which God requires of them in order to gain heaven. Such religion is worth nothing.”—Steps to Christ, 44.WEWMM 198.1

The great search for personal meaning began. At first I asked people how to find reality in the Christian life, but they didn’t seem to help. This inability on the part of Christian friends made me more discouraged than ever. I was about ready to give up when the thought dawned that I hadn’t yet searched in books for the answer to my dilemma. Not wanting to look among the simple works of men’s writings, I preferred something inspired. However, the Bible was not meaningful to me for personal experience at that time. It was only an encyclopedia from which to get certain information for my “assignments” as a preacher.WEWMM 198.2

One day I sat down to read Steps to Christ. Using a pencil, I underlined everything the book told me to do in order to be a Christian. This work was painstakingly frustrating for two reasons: (1) in the end almost the entire book was underlined; (2) most of the underlined passages spoke of intangibles such as “beholding the Lamb,” “giving the heart,” and “surrendering the will.” I was about ready to give up again when another thought dawned on me. Although I wasn’t any closer to a concrete, verbal answer than I’d been before, something had happened to me that I could neither explain nor deny.WEWMM 198.3

I read Steps to Christ again; this time I underlined twice only those things that were tangible to me. It was surprising to discover only three things necessary to become and to remain a Christian. Bible study, prayer, and sharing with others what these meant to me. At first these avenues seemed much too simple, but on second thought I had to admit I wasn’t spending much time with any of these three except as it was necessary for my “job.” Could it be that I was like Grandma going around looking for her glasses when they were on her head?WEWMM 199.1

I began to read The Desire of Ages concurrently with the gospel writers, in order to study the life and message of Jesus. At first it seemed to be simply more information and more theory. But one day I found myself standing alongside Nicodemus; he too had come to the Lord in order to discuss religion. Jesus laid bare his motive, and Nicodemus from that time studied Scripture in a new way; not for the discussion of a theory but in order to find life for his own soul. (See The Desire of Ages, 175.)WEWMM 199.2

A thoughtful hour at the beginning of each day to seek fellowship with Jesus through His Word and through prayer The Desire of Ages, 83) led me to the surprising discovery that Jesus had found me! I had thought that I was looking for Jesus, but Jesus had been looking for me. And so I entered into a new experience. My problems did not all suddenly vanish, but one of the first things the Spirit brings, I discovered, is peace. Now, one cannot have inward peace and ulcers at the same time. So what antacids had failed to do, The Desire of Ages and the Gospels had accomplished.WEWMM 199.3

I didn’t realize it at first, but what I was actually discovering was the great experience of righteousness by faith. Ellen White had led me into it when I needed it most, and I shall always be grateful. I have tried to pursue other devotional methods, but I always come back to The Desire of Ages and the Gospels as the basis for my personal daily experience with Christ. Let me share some of the breakthroughs in understanding that have come through this study:WEWMM 199.4

1. Christianity and salvation are based upon knowing Christ. “Religion means the abiding of Christ in the heart, and where He is, the soul goes on in spiritual activity, ever growing in grace, ever going on to perfection.... The sum and substance of the whole matter of Christian grace and experience is contained in believing on Christ, in knowing God and His Son whom He hath sent.”—The Review and Herald, May 24, 1892.WEWMM 199.5

2. We get to know Christ in the same way we get to know one another—by talking to Him (prayer), listening to Him (Bible), and going places and doing things together (witness). “Nothing is apparently more helpless, yet really more invincible, than the soul that feels its nothingness and relies on the merits of the Saviour. By prayer, by the study of His Word, by faith in His abiding presence, the weakest of human beings may live in contact with the living Christ, and He will hold them by a hand that will never let go.”—The Ministry of Healing, 182.WEWMM 200.1

3. We don’t read the Bible primarily for information, nor do we pray primarily to get answers, but we do both for communication! “In this communion with Christ, through prayer and the study of the great and precious truths of His Word, we shall as hungry souls be fed; as those that thirst, we shall be refreshed at the fountain of life.”—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 113.WEWMM 200.2

4. We don’t change our lives (repent) in order to come to Christ, we come to Christ just as we are and He changes our lives. “If you see your sinfulness, do not wait to make yourself better. How many there are who think they are not good enough to come to Christ. Do you expect to become better through your own efforts? ... We can do nothing of ourselves. We must come to Christ just as we are.”—Steps to Christ, 31.WEWMM 200.3

5. The surrender of and right use of the “will” means to give up on ourselves and our ability to do anything at all apart from Christ, and then to use our will power toward knowing and maintaining a close relationship with Him. “If you fight the fight of faith with all your will power, you will conquer.... It is for you to yield up your will to the will of Jesus Christ; and as you do this, God will immediately take possession and work in you to will and to do of His good pleasure.”—Testimonies for the Church 5:513, 514. (See also Steps to Christ, 47, 48.)WEWMM 200.4

6. While we are growing in this state of constant surrender to Christ our eternal life is certain. “If one who daily communes with God errs from the path, if he turns a moment from looking steadfastly unto Jesus, it is not because he sins willfully; for when he sees his mistake, he turns again, and fastens his eyes upon Jesus, and the fact that he has erred, does not make him less dear to the heart of God.”—The Review and Herald, May 12, 1896.WEWMM 201.1

With these wonderful truths breaking through to my understanding from such books as The Desire of Ages, Steps to Christ, Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, and Christ’s Object Lessons, I became perplexed over the purpose of another class of Ellen White’s writings—her messages of reproof and rebuke. I had seen certain Pharisees in every church who seemed to be sort of self-appointed religious watchdogs, mistakenly using her written rebukes with great ardor.WEWMM 201.2

This problem cleared up for me one day as I read further in her writings: “God rebukes His people for their sins, that He may humble them, and lead them to seek His face.”—The Review and Herald, February 25, 1902. The nine volumes of the Testimonies contain, among many other counsels, great warnings that the enemy surrounds us all and that our refuge can be found only on our knees like Jehoshaphat of old. The rebukes, like the Ten Commandments, are as a schoolmaster, not to get us to work on our sins but to send us to the Saviour. Two of the greatest statements I’ve found from Ellen White on this subject are: “Each one will have a close struggle to overcome sin in his own heart. This is at times a very painful and discouraging work; because, as we see the deformities in our character, we keep looking at them, when we should look to Jesus and put on the robe of His righteousness.”—Testimonies for the Church 9:182, 183. “We are not to look at ourselves. The more we dwell upon our own imperfections, the less strength we shall have to overcome them.”—The Review and Herald, January 14, 1890.WEWMM 201.3

As a minister in the church or as a teacher in the classroom, I have found that the inspired commentary on the Bible by Ellen White makes all other commentaries fade into insignificance. She is of tremendous help to young preachers. Young people in general are taking a longer more objective look at her writings instead of accepting the secondhand misuse of her books by some uninformed people. Today many people are realizing that instead of Mrs. White’s being the longest-faced, longest-praying legalist dressed in black, she is one of the best friends young or old may ever get to know.WEWMM 201.4

In conclusion I would like to share a personal burden. It is for those people who complain that we don’t hear enough these days about faith, Christian life, and practical godliness. Listen! If they would take from their shelf some books that God in His kindness has given to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, they’d find all the help they need. They will find in these books the great theme of righteousness by faith which, when properly understood, will prepare a people to be God’s living demonstration of truth and thus finish up the work of preaching the good news of the kingdom in all the world. They will find there tangible help for improving personal devotions and a clearer understanding of God’s Word. They will find channels open by which God can carry forward and ultimately complete the work He has begun in their heart. That’s what many of us have discovered and are continuing to discover through the pen of Ellen White.WEWMM 202.1

Riverside, California
Oct. 1, 1972