SDA Future & EGW

[Gregory Matthews]

SDAs, EGW and More:  In the following article, a good friend of mine examines our relationship with Ellen White, and where we may want to go in the future.  Probably SDAs ranging from conservative to liberal will disagree with comments that Dr. Mark made.   The bottom line is that Dr. Mark has asked questions that all of us need to consider, as they are central to our SDA life.

https://atoday.org/revisiting-our-prophet-problem/

 

[Joe Knapp]

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What if instead of claiming we get our truths and beliefs from the writings of our prophet, we diligently studied the Scriptures for an intelligent understanding of the reasons for our faith?

I don't know people who claim that.

There may be some in NAD who are overzealous about her writings, and perhaps they need to study scripture more.

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We fell into the infallibility trap, and we now have a prophet problem.

That is his opinion. Perhaps it is an issue where he lives, but I do not see it.

I do have issues with the current SDA health message. It does seem to run contrary to modern research.

But I do not think it detracts from her inspired writings.

I think the issue is not EGW, but people who use her writings out of context.

[Gustave]

I realize I'm the odd man out here but I'd argue that the SDA Church is no more sola scriptura than Catholicism. Literally every distinctive Doctrine SDA Doctrine WAS established by Ellen White's visions. 

Ellen White
At that time one error after another pressed in upon us; ministers and doctors brought in new doctrines. We would search the Scriptures with much prayer, and the Holy Spirit would bring the truth to our minds. Sometimes whole nights would be devoted to searching the Scriptures and earnestly asking God for guidance. Companies of devoted men and women assembled for this purpose. The power of God would come upon ME, and I was enabled clearly to define what is truth and what is error. As the points of our faith were thus established, our feet were placed upon a solid foundation. We accepted the truth point by point, under the demonstration of the Holy Spirit. I would be taken off in vision, and explanations would be given me. I was given illustrations of heavenly things, and of the sanctuary, so that we were placed where light was shining on us in clear, distinct rays.--Gospel Works, p. 302. {3SM 32.1}"

The above is saying that despite companies of devoted men and women "searching the Scriptures" and 'earnestly asking God for guidance" it was Ellen White acting as an Oracle which provided the truth point by point. NOT "studying the Bible".  This is not Martin Luther's understanding of Sola-Scriptura. This is also well past Catholicism's teaching of the Papacy and Magisterium. 

I think Dr. Mark has a point here. 

 

[phkrause]

Great article!! I did have to smile though when he mentioned that he had a problem with EGW when he was younger. So did I. I couldn't read her books they reminded me to much of the KJV Bible. But when I got into my late 20's I started reading the GC and that's when I started changing my mind about her.

[Joe Knapp]

People in the NAD might be surprised that EGW is not much of an influence on the general church population. Outside the NAD, Very few have even one of her books.

So their source of truth comes from the bible.

 

[Gustave]

Joe Knapp,

What's your opinion of Martin Luther (the Reformer)? 

Martin Luther could read Hebrew, Latin & Greek - he translated the Bible from Greek and Latin into German. Historian accounts that Luther was a "Biblical scholar". If one accepts the foregoing about Martin Luther, how would you compare his "scholarship" to the scholarship of the SDA Pioneers of the 19th century? 

I would be interested in knowing what kind of influence Martin Luther had on the posterity of the Reformation and what influence or lack thereof made it's way into the theology of the SDA Pioneers?  Do you believe that Ellen White influenced the theological trajectory of Seventh-day Adventism in the same way that Luther influenced the theological trajectory of those Churches who trace their DNA back to the Reformation? 

[Gregory Matthews]

The early leaders of what  became the SDA Church were clearly not Biblical scholars.  They were not trained in the Biblical languages.  They came from differing religious backgrounds.   Ellen White came from a Methodist background.  James White came, as did several others, from  what is commonly called the  Christian Connection (CC).  That group is  not well known today and has ceased to exist as an organized group.  The CC held to non-orthodox positions on the Trinity and is largely the reason why a number of early leaders in what became the SDA Church also held non=orthodox positions on the Trinity.

The earliest of the leaders did not intend to form a new denomination.  They were united in the belief that the Second Advent was near.  The differing doctrinal differences were considered to be of little importance.  It was only with the failure of Christ to com as expected and fact that many of them had been expelled from their previous denominations that they began a series of  so-called Bible-Conferences in an attempt to determine the extent of the doctrines on which they could agree.  That resulted in the formal organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1863.

That event laid the foundation for future agreements on doctrinal and administrative issues which continue to today.  In addition that background laid the foundation for the diversity in Biblical understandings that exist in the SDA Church today.  Some SDAs wish for increased unity of spiritual issues, while others, such as me, favor the present status of diversity.. While agreeing that God leads and we may still benefit from increased understandings of Biblical doctrines. 

[Joe Knapp]

On 3/12/2025 at 12:14 AM, Gustave said:

Do you believe that Ellen White influenced the theological trajectory of Seventh-day Adventism in the same way that Luther influenced the theological trajectory of those Churches who trace their DNA back to the Reformation? 

No I don't.  Mrs White was one of many who through intensive bible study formed our basic doctrine.

I could be wrong, but, I don't think she had that much influence in the official church.  She had a large following in later years, which was at odds with the administration. 

I don't think she influenced the "theological trajectory of Seventh-day Adventism" at all.  The bulk of her writings are about behavior.  I don't see a theological impact.

[Joe Knapp]

On 3/12/2025 at 11:07 AM, Gregory Matthews said:

Some SDAs wish for increased unity of spiritual issues,

In NAD. I don't see any call for increased unity outside of NAD or EU. 90% of the church is united on our current stance towards LGBT.