Using quotes from Ellen White

A lot of people say Ellen White said not to use her quotes, or she says not to use it on the pulpit, or some variation of this. But that is not what she said, lets go over it in context:

On Quoting Sister White—How can the Lord bless those who manifest a spirit of “I don't care,” a spirit which leads them to walk contrary to the light which the Lord has given them? But I do not ask you to take my words. Lay Sister White to one side. Do not quote my words again as long as you live until you can obey the Bible. [Ellen White was meeting the leaders of the church as a group for the first time in ten years. Situations in both the General Conference and in our Battle Creek-based institutions had in many cases reached a low ebb. Testimonies calling for a return to Bible principles had been received, theoretically, but no real improvement had taken place.

Most delegates coming to the General Conference session, which would open the next morning, sensed that there must be changes. Ellen White would in the opening meeting rebuke institutional leaders and call for a reorganization of the General Conference. It was her burden that the changes that needed to be made would be based on Bible principles and not just on the word of Ellen White. In this address she declared:

“God has told me that my testimony must be borne to this Conference, and that I must not try to make men believe it. My work is to leave the truth with the people, and those who appreciate the light from heaven will accept the truth.”—Manuscript 43, 1901.

Counsel would come through her as the messenger of the Lord and this counsel should be heeded, but work in depth must be done, work based on the principles set forth in God's Word.—Compilers.] When you make the Bible your food, your meat, and your drink, when you make its principles the elements of your character, you will know better how to receive counsel from God. I exalt the precious Word before you today. Do not repeat what I have said, saying, “Sister White said this,” and “Sister White said that.” Find out what the Lord God of Israel says, and then do what He commands.—Manuscript 43, 1901. (From an address to church leaders the night before the opening of the General Conference session of 1901.) 3SM 33.1

Notice she says "Lay Sister White to one side. Do not quote my words again as long as you live until you can obey the Bible." and it was directed at the 1901 Conference leaders and some of them who had sent her away for 10 long years. Context is always important...

Ellen White clearly said, "In the city of Portland the Lord ordained me as His messenger" {RH, May 18, 1911 par. 3}.

The prophet Malachi made it very clear "For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge...for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts" (Malachi 2:7).

Simple truth utterly rejected by those in authority who should know better.

Then they teach others to reject the testimony that does not conform with their faulty opinions.

Bottom line: At times, sister White's positions are so twisted that some folks make her say something that she never said.

So should she be used from the pulpit?

SDA church services have good the way of the world.

It has often been presented to me that there should be less sermonizing by ministers, acting merely as local pastors of churches, and that greater personal efforts should be put forth. Our people should not be made to think that they need to listen to a sermon every Sabbath. Many who listen frequently to sermons, even though the truth be presented in clear lines, learn but little. Often it would be more profitable if the Sabbath meetings were of the nature of a Bible-class study. Bible truth should be presented in such a simple, interesting manner that all can easily understand and grasp the principles of salvation. {Lt192-1906}

If EGW is not quoted from the pulpit then no one else should be quoted from the pulpit other than the Bible.

But it is common practice to quote sources other than Scripture. So are extra biblical sources that are quoted from the pulpit more authoritative than the Spirit of Prophecy?

Unfortunately, rather than the main thing, there is very little Bible study going on in the churches I'm aware of. Go through the lesson of what someone else tells you what to think and that's about it.

Read the book, "Pagan Christianity" by Frank Viola and George Barna. It is an eye opener.

I would agree, and of the opinion that this idea of not using the Spirit of Prophecy in its fullness is of an evil origin.

There are two sides to this issue.

Yes, those who would ban the Spirit of Prophecy from the pulpit, are definitely banning something that was given for our good. Her writings do have an important place, and when used with propriety they add depth and relevancy to a sermon.


Yet some come to the pulpit and basically read through a long list of compiled quotes from EGW with only brief sentences of their own in between, and hardly NO actual Bible study.

These "preachers" have a tendency to go on for well over an hour as there is always "one more quote" they have to read, that says what was already said 20 times, in just a slightly different way.

I do believe we should be preaching the BIBLE from the pulpit.
Visitors that come to our church should see that we are a people of THE BOOK, seriously considering the messages of scripture.


When EGW is used to bring a Biblical passage into clearer focus, that's one thing, that's good;
but when a compilation of her quotes constitutes the whole sermon, it tends to do more damage then good.

Part of the problem is we have too much pulpit preaching.

It has often been presented to me that there should be less sermonizing by ministers acting merely as local pastors of churches, and that greater personal efforts should be put forth. Our people should not be made to think that they need to listen to a sermon every Sabbath. Many who listen frequently to sermons, even though the truth be presented in clear lines, learn but little. Often it would be more profitable if the Sabbath meetings were of the nature of a Bible class study. Bible truth should be presented in such a simple, interesting manner that all can easily understand and grasp the principles of salvation. {Lt 192-1906}

Much of the church service as conducted today is nothing like it was in the time of the apostles and shortly after when the church flourished. It has taken on may pagan rituals.

You are suffering from ARR, Acute Revisionist Retrophilia. Snap out of it! Paul to the church of the first century in Corinth:

• 1 Cor. 5:1-2
  
  "It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles — that a man has his father’s wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you."
   
• 1 Cor. 11:20-22
  
  "When you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you."

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True - somethings are still the same. But did the early church have huge buildings? no. Did they pulpits and pews and stained glass windows? Nope. Wasthe worship service dominated by an ordain pastor? Nope, all shared what they experience. Today the church is a passive, stagnant mess. Church is not something to go to. It is something you are. There should be no "jerusalem centers". So much of what we church today is tradition and paganism.

Well, I had the sermon on Sabbath, and when I looked, I had a great number of quotes from Spirit of Prophecy. I normally have a Bible text, then a quote, and then the lesson to be learned from it. But part of the sermon was on the thief on the cross, and scripture is very brief on what happened with the thief. So I had to rely more heavily on the Spirit of Prophecy then apply the lesson being given.

Sometimes the Bible is silent or doesn't expand on certain events, so Spirit of Prophecy fills in. Otherwise, we are just giving our opinion on a verse or the text, and that can get problematic to say the least.

NAME OF PATIENT: apl
DIAGNOSIS: Acute Revisionist Retrophilia
PROBABLE CAUSE: The Testimonies of Ellen White
PRESCRIPTION: Paul's letter to Timothy, 1 Tim. 3

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Jim - read "Pagan Christianity" by Frank Viola and George Barna. Funny, they are not even Adventists and don't even quote Ellen White. See now who needs to revise their view. Good luck!

I don't have any problem with looking to EGW's writings as commentary to help understand a Biblical story.

Could you kindly elaborate on these "pagan rituals."

You mean like having big church buildings? When Christianity was born, it was the only religion on the planet that had no sacred objects, no sacred persons, and no sacred spaces. Christians were the only religious people on earth who did not erect sacred buildings for their worship. The Christian faith was born in homes, out in courtyards, and along roadsides. Meeting in homes was a conscious choice of the early Christians. Church buildings are not "God's house." Constantine brought into Christianity sacred objects and places, basing them on pagan shrines.

Christians revere the "Holy Land." But Jerusalem is no more sacred than any other place on earth. But the pagan influence is there is revering the place.

Church buildings model after pagan shrines and Roman basilica. There are elevated platforms to separate the "clergy" from the "laity." There is no such division in the Church that Christ started on earth, but is perpetuated in nearly every protestant denomination, including the SDAs. The Pulpit, the pews, the balcony, the steeple, colored glass, the incredibly high cost of maintaining the buildings, money that could be used to the furthering of the Gospel.

We could discuss the order of services of Sabbath or Sundays, there are very little difference and much of it comes from pagan ritual. The sacred cow of "the sermon." Not many get much out of sermons, even if presented well. Sermons make the listener passive participants, that is, they do not participate. How rude if one were to interrupt. Much about the sermon comes from pagan orators. "The Pastor" is often an obstacle to every member functioning in the church. And on and on and on...

I'm sorry, that did not convince me IN THE LEAST.

Not my role to convince you. But try reading the book "Pagan Christianity" and all the references.