The authority of Ellen White...

[hobie]

Many ask by what authority was Ellen White writing and who gave it to her? There are many in the church today which will not accept anything writing by her and will fight against it as we see with Ryan Day, and we can see the results. Ryan Day Departs 3ABN, Launches ‘Re-Think Adventism’ - Spectrum Magazine

He states that many members and leaders have this same view but keep it hidden much like he did till he was caught questioning what she said as not from scripture. 

So did Ellen White do her writings out of 'self' or from her own human thoughts and ideas, and we can lay it aside. What is the true origin of what has been spread across many books and how did she come to that understanding. If it wasn't from herself, by what authority was EGW writing/saying these things from and who gave it to her?

 

[Gustave]

Well, she became a militant anti-Trinitarian after her marriage to James White and with velocity she churned out spirit of prophecy teachings that were incompatible with the Trinity Doctrine. Many SDA's today struggle with anti-Trinitarianism. I think Ellen White was extremely shrewd and understood the politics of all things "Church". Ellen rapidly identified the power players in the Adventist movement and produced "testimonies" that backed up the positions those power players were taking. 

I don't think its all bad however, somehow, through all the hoaxing Ellen White inspired a denomination that's today know for incredible advancements in medicine (high tech stuff). I believe the 1st heart transplant with a baboon or an ape was executed by SDA's in an SDA hospital. The SDA's have medical facilities all over the world and from what I understand they are among the best! 

There were some early Christians that mightily contributed to the Christian Faith in the 1st centuries of the Church that believed in some heretical things, yet people today still respect those individuals for what they accomplished - and they do it without claiming such and such early Christian was a "Prophet" who had more visions than everyone mentioned in the Bible. 

I remember growing up and hearing from classmates that some member of KISS  (the rock band) could jump 15 feet into the air and lift incredible weight like it was nothing! Turns out when KISS started out they circulated stuff like that to "build a buzz" and get things going. I think something similar happened with Ellen White and by the time she realized it the hoax was too far gone and that she was pressured into maintaining it. 

[Gregory Matthews]

Hobie:  The answers to your questions are more complex than the "either or" that you seem to suggest.

*  Ellen white clearly denied that God had dictated her written material, and she stated that her writings were in her chosen words and manner of expression.  Surely, I do not have to give you a citation for that.

* Her writings were often specific to an individual and not intended to apply to everyone.  She told one woman that she looked good in a red dress and should have such in her closet.  It would be foolish to say that such would apply to every woman.   In other cases, she gave opposite advice to different people.  

The bottom line is that after the death of Ellen White, human SDA leaders began to elevate the authority of her writings above what she would have agreed with when she was alive. 

In many ways EGW was a gift from God to this developing denomination.  We would not be what we are today in publishing, medical care, missions and education if it had not been for the guidance that she gave us.  But, she was not given to us to determine our theology.  She was not given to us to establish our doctrinal understandings.   She was not given to us to establish what the Bile taught.

In her personal life, over a period of years, she changed her understandings of the Biblical teachings in a number of areas.  In short, she was an imperfect human.  

 

[Gregory Matthews]

Dr. George Knight, a SDA historian, has written a 140-page book on how to read and understand the writings of Kellen White.  I consider it to be of great value. It contains 22 chapters.  Amazon sells it for $11.  The following link takes you to that place.

*  The first 4-chapters deal with EGWs relation to the Bible.

*  The next 16 chapters deal with how to understand (Interpret) her writings.

*  The last 2 chapters deal with how to apply her writings to yourself and to others.

https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Ellen-White-Understand-Writings/dp/0828012636/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1H7FHPY751V0R&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mhKYtLjNSDj8a6FaZxgFwefMcBLFO-brLPHKKRBlU09Xvt8tUCR8RMdjq4XSWrQTQeN_ORIcyQtufEKc_3xyLXs6aM-AGrdldCL9Ki14q5ihmqPedyMrn3KYmVwmFhhCZQMl7wmkxi89sBoWfEzpS9NokFU07mwgg1muAsX5347csZdi1ZQ4tAlgPr-is3PJ4uXPHv9__f6VoMCiDFwPYuwrP9B0VlY6yLheuAw94Vs.4BkUEUeDof7rx_U9Z73ywLBYnuj38w0OtXzGtz1QMYc&dib_tag=se&keywords=reading+ellen+white&qid=1757803665&sprefix=reqding+ellen+white%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-1

In short, this book deals with a balanced approach to the use of her writings while maintaining that the Bible is the standard for all living today.

[hobie]

I was going through the mail today and came across the story of Stephen Smith and his interaction with James and Ellen White. Amazing testimony, we need to understand how the outpouring of the Holy Spirit will come in these last days...

Stephen Smith and the Unopened Testimony - Adventist Review

 

 

[Gustave]

Quote

hobie said: So did Ellen White do her writings out of 'self' or from her own human thoughts and ideas, and we can lay it aside. What is the true origin of what has been spread across many books and how did she come to that understanding. If it wasn't from herself, by what authority was EGW writing/saying these things from and who gave it to her?

Ellen taught that Christ was capable of mutation, could have eternally ceased to exist and that the Divinity within Him was on-loan - not unlike a driver's license / privilege. If Ellen didn't come by these teachings herself by what authority did Ellen say / teach these things from and who gave them to her? 

[Joe Knapp]

Stephen Smith and the Unopened Testimony - Adventist Review

Quote

In 1885 E. W. Farnsworth was holding revival meetings in the Washington church.  Stephen Smith walked 12 miles to attend the Sabbath meeting.

 

Amazing. 12 miles each way.  In who knows what kind of weather.   Life back then was very different.