Ellen White and her writings

Ellen White and her writings How to make sense of old books Denis Fortin The Writings of Ellen G. White

The need for correct interpretation Any sacred text, such as the Bible, written years ago require that some basic rules be used in order to understand what was written. Time, culture, geography, and language create barriers that sometime make it difficult to understand what someone wrote.

What is hermeneutics? Hermeneutics is the science and methodology of interpretation. “What does the prophet mean by what the prophet says?” What the words mean and do not mean.

The importance of hermeneutics “Listen as for your life to ‘what saith the Scripture.’ It is of supreme importance that you hear aright. . . . Your salvation depends on you hearing aright, and receiving with meekness the engrafted Word” (UL 50).

Jesus was misinterpreted "He [Judas] would introduce texts of Scripture that had no connection with the truths Christ was preaching. These texts, separated from their connection [context], perplexed the disciples, and increased the discouragement that was constantly pressing upon them. Yet all this was done by Judas in such a way as to make it appear that he was conscientious. (continued)

Jesus was misinterpreted "And while the disciples were searching for evidence to confirm the words of the great teacher, Judas would lead them almost imperceptibly on another track. Thus in a very religious, and apparently wise, way he was presenting matters in a different light from that which Jesus had given them, and attaching to His words a meaning that He had not conveyed." (DA 719).

Ellen White was misinterpreted "Many men take the testimonies the Lord has given . . . picking out a sentence here and there, taking it from its proper connection [context], and applying it according to their idea. Thus poor souls become bewildered, when could they read in order all that has been given, they would see the true application, and would not become confused. Much that purports to be a message from Sister White, serves [only] the purpose of misrepresenting Sister White." (Selected Messages 1:44)

Ellen White was misinterpreted “Those who are not walking in the light of the message, may gather up statements from my writings that happen to please them, and that agree with their human judgment, and, by separating these statements from their connection, and placing them beside human reasoning, make it appear that my writings uphold that which they condemn. I charge you not to do this work. To use my writings thus . . . is misleading and inconsistent." (Letter 208, June 29, 1906)

Cases of misinterpretation a. "Health Reform" b. Diet c. Dress d. Recreation/Amusement e. Education: theory/practice f. Religious experience/practice g. Racial issues h. Cultural issues i. Debt j. Homemaking

Dangers of interpretation Danger #1 : That in explaining, we "explain-away" Rules of interpretation can be a cloak under which to hide a watering down of the clear intent of the word of God, by spiritualizing the obvious intent of the passage.

Dangers of interpretation Danger #2 : The "everything-is-gray" syndrome In endeavoring to correct one extreme view, there is always the potential danger that, in reaction, one will go to the opposite extreme. In attempting to correct the erroneous view that all things in life are black-or-white, we may, unwittingly, create the wrong impression that nothing is clear, or absolute.

Reasons for rules of hermeneutics 1. Intended meaning of some words may not be obvious. 2. A figure of speech may distort the intended meaning. 3. Words in any language evolve and change meaning.

Reasons for rules of hermeneutics 4. Cultural factors and circumstances may affect meaning. 5. The same word in different contexts may mean something different.

Rules of Interpretation Many suggestions of rules of interpretation of the writings of Ellen White have been suggested. Comprehensive Index to the Writings of Ellen G. White, vol. 3, pp. 3211-3216. George Knight, Reading Ellen White.

Rules of Interpretation Rule #1 : Study all the applicable counsels before drawing your conclusions. Rule #2 : The time, place, and circumstances of the giving of certain messages should be considered. Rule #3 : One should try to discover the principle involved in any specific counsel.

First rule Study all the applicable counsels before drawing your conclusions

Nothing to say 1. Cinema and videos 2. Radio programs 3. Television 4. Contraception 5. Abortion 6. Cremation 7. Organ transplant

Little to say On other topics she had little to say: 1. Life insurance 2. Two special resurrections

Eggs anyone? In a sermon in the Battle Creek Tabernacle on March 6, 1869, Ellen White raised the question of inconsistency in the practice of health reform in relationship to daily Christian living.

Eggs anyone? "You place upon your table butter, eggs, and meat, and your children partake of them, . . . and then you come to meeting and ask God to bless and save your children. How high do [you think] your prayers go?" (Testimonies 2:362)

Eggs anyone? That same year (1869) she also wrote a letter to a "Brother and Sister E." In a simple sentence she stated flatly: "Eggs should not be placed upon your table." Why? "They are an injury to your children" (2T 400).

Eggs anyone? This raises a logical question: Is "your table" to be understood in the singular, referring specifically (and only) to the table of Brother and Sister E or Does "your table" refer collectively to the tables of all Seventh-day Adventists?

Eggs anyone? "In some cases the use of eggs is beneficial" (Testimonies 7:135) "In some cases of persons whose blood- making organs are feeble [e.g., anemia] . . . milk and eggs should not be wholly discarded." (Ministry of Healing 320)

Eggs anyone? "While warnings have been given . . ., yet we should not consider it a violation of principle to use eggs from hens that are well cared for and suitably fed. Eggs contain properties that are remedial agencies in counteracting certain poisons" in the body. (Testimonies 9:162)

Eggs anyone? What, then, precipitated this warning to Brother and Sister E? An examination of the internal context (Rule #2) reveals that both of the adolescent sons in the "E" family were unable to keep their sexual passions under control.

Eggs anyone? One example of extremism happened in the life of Dr. Daniel Kress who became anemic from his abstinence of all animal products without a proper wholesome diet in replacement.

Eggs anyone? Ellen White recommended that he change his eating habits and eat a raw egg in a glass of grape juice two or three times a day in order to receive "the nourishment that he greatly needed."(Letter 37, 1904, in Counsels on Diet and Foods, 367)

Eggs anyone? Relevant for us today is the warning, with its promise, penned in 1901. She declared that "the time will come" when we will need to discard from the diet all animal products; but "when the time comes . . . God will reveal this. No extremes in health reform are to be advocated" (Letter 37, 1901, to Bro. and Sister D.H. Kress, in CD 358, 359).

Eggs anyone? She did not tell when that time would come, nor how God would then reveal it to his people; but the implication is clearly left that intelligent persons, sincerely and earnestly desirous of doing God’s will, will clearly understand when that time has fully come.

God Hearing Our Prayers “The Lord would have us trust fully and entirely in Him. Then we will, in the simplicity of our faith, believe that Christ will do for us all that He has promised. Let all come to the Saviour in the full assurance that He will do all that He has promised. We cannot please our Saviour more than by having faith in His promises. His mercies can come to you, and your prayers can come to Him. Nothing can break this line of communication. We must learn to bring all perplexities to Jesus Christ, for He will help us. He will listen to our requests. We may come to Him in full assurance of faith, nothing doubting, for He is the living Way.”

Second Rule The time, place, and circumstances of the giving of certain messages should be considered

General Principles Regarding the Importance of Context 1875: "That which can be said of men under certain circumstances cannot be said of them under other circumstances" (3T470).

General Principles Regarding the Importance of Context 1904 : “God wants us all to have common sense, and He wants us to reason from common sense. Circumstances alter conditions. Circumstances change the relation of things.” (3SM 217).

General Principles Regarding the Importance of Context 1911: "Regarding the testimonies [of Ellen G. White], nothing is ignored; nothing is cast aside; but time and place must be considered" (1SM 57).

Is the voice of the General Conference the voice of God? 1875: "When the judgment of the General Conference, which is the highest authority that God has upon the earth, is exercised, private independence and private judgment must not be maintained, but be surrendered." (Testimonies 3:492)

Is the voice of the General Conference the voice of God? 1895: "The voice of the General Conference has been represented as an authority to be heeded as the voice of the Holy Spirit. But when members of the General Conference Committee become entangled in business affairs and financial perplexities, the sacred, elevated character of their work is in a great degree lost." (Ms 33, 1895, in MR #1118)

Is the voice of the General Conference the voice of God? 1896: "The voice from Battle Creek which has been regarded as authority in counseling how the work should be done, is no longer the voice of God." (Letter 4, July 1, 1896)

Is the voice of the General Conference the voice of God? 1898: "It has been some years since I have considered the General Conference as the voice of God." (Letter 77, August 26, 1898)

Is the voice of the General Conference the voice of God? However, at the General Conference session of 1901, following all the administrative changes made to the structure of the church, Ellen White began a further change in her position. She went back to her 1875 position regarding the authority of the General Conference.

Is the voice of the General Conference the voice of God? "The people [in the church] have lost confidence in those who have the management of the work. Yet we hear that the voice of the Conference is the voice of God. Every time I have heard this, I have thought it was almost blasphemy. The voice of the Conference ought to be the voice of God, but it is not, because [1] some in connection with it are not men of faith and prayer, they are not men of elevated principle. . . . [2] Two or three voices are not to control everything in the [whole world] field."(Ms 37, April 1, 1901, pp. 1, 8)

Is the voice of the General Conference the voice of God? "That these men should stand in a sacred place, to be as the voice of God to the people, as we once believed the General Conference to be, that day is past. What we want is reorganization. We want to begin at the foundation, and to build upon a different principle.”(1901 GC Bulletin, p. 25)

Is the voice of the General Conference the voice of God? "I was never more astonished in my life than at the turn things have taken at this meeting [Session]. This is not our work. God has brought it about. Instruction regarding this was presented to me [as the Session progressed], but until the sum was worked out at this meeting, I could not comprehend this instruction. God's angels have been walking up and down in this congregation."

Is the voice of the General Conference the voice of God? With the changes [1] in leadership personnel (many new leaders were elected; many former leaders were changed, or retired), and [2] in organizational structure, it now becomes clear that Ellen White is reverting to her 1875 position, and now is opposed to the 1890s position (which she initially brought into the 1901 GC Session).

Is the voice of the General Conference the voice of God? Only two months later (June 1901), Ellen White became aware, and very concerned, that her eldest son, J. Edson White, was now erroneously taking pre- 1901-Session statements of his mother, and misapplying them in the post-1901- Session milieu.

Is the voice of the General Conference the voice of God? "Your course would have been the course to be pursued, if no changes had been made in the General Conference [Session just closed]. But a change has been made, and many more changes will [yet] be made [and they were, at the 1903 Session, and subsequently], and great developments will [yet] be seen. No issues are to be forced.”

Is the voice of the General Conference the voice of God? "It hurts me to think that you are using the words which I wrote prior to the Conference [to apply them now]. Since the Conference great changes have been made.”

Is the voice of the General Conference the voice of God? "A terribly unjust course has been pursued in the past. A want of principle has been revealed. But in pity to His people, God has brought about changes. . . . The course of action which before the Conference might have been a necessity is no longer a necessity, for the Lord Himself interposed to set things in order. . . ." (Letter 54, June, 1901)

Is the voice of the General Conference the voice of God? 1909 – “God has ordained that the representatives of His church from all parts of the earth, when assembled in a General conference [session], shall have authority” (9T 261).

Is the voice of the General Conference the voice of God? 1911 – "God has invested His church with special authority and power which no one can be justified in disregarding and despising, for he who does this despises the voice of God” (AA 164).

Riding a bicycle 1894: "There seemed to be a bicycle craze. Money was spent to gratify an enthusiasm. . . . A bewitching influence seemed to be passing as a wave over our people there. . . . Satan works with intensity of purpose to induce our people to invest their time and money in gratifying supposed wants. This is a species of idolatry. . . . There were some who were striving for the mastery, each trying to excel the other in the swift running of their bicycles" (8T 51-52).

Ellen White and her writings