At the Drive-In

[oldsailor29]

Originally Posted By: pkrause

people just love taking what EGW says out of context and slamming you over the head with it.

I am not SDA, but I have never ever taken Ellen G White writings out of context, besides I don't even quote her--I prefer to quote The Bible.

Pkrause--you need to rephrase the above comment that you made... because it is not true about me... I have the most respect for this woman you all call a prophet... even though I myself can't say if she is or is not a prophet yet--that isn't important.

I am SDA TB, and I do not see any indication that PK was referring to you, but what he said is true of old SDAs. It was a widespread practice in our church when I was young, to quote EGW out of context. SDA publishing houses published several compilations of quotations from her writings, which were mostly out of context. "Messages to Young People," comes to mind. I don't see that happening so much anymore.

As far as guardian angels not going into theaters is concerned, I'm almost sure that came to SDAs from some other church, like maybe Baptist. And I am almost sure that if EGW said it, she was referring to live theaters and not movie theaters. However, there is that thing about the principle being the same. So it would follow that any dramatic presentation should not be part of our lives.

Of course that would have to be taken in context also. It is hard to imagine that so much time was used just trying to survive, before modern conveniences, just a mere 200 years ago. There was little time to waste, watching plays and reading novels. Many people thought luxurious living and wasting time was sinful. Old moral values lasted much longer in the SDA church, than in other churches.

Anyway, the part about riding past the theater, looking to see if any guardian angels were hanging around the entrance, was an irreverent joke. The insinuation was, that some of your friends from church might be in there sinning, watching the movie.

I am still not sure it is okay to watch movies and plays, or read novels. Maybe they were right. I know some people who never read anything but the Bible and EGW and religious literature, and who never see the inside of a theater, and I have a lot of respect for them. And much like the people who quit smoking, they will usually preach about the evils of the past for a time. And they will sometimes quote EGW out of context, to support their recent convictions. It is all just part of being human.

[phkrause]

Thanks oldsailor, but TB should've been able to read that statement and realize it was not meant to be directed at him unless he takes her out of context. Its direct at all that do that, including myself.

pk