The Achilles

1
The Achilles Heel of Adventism

• Who Should Tell Me What to Think?
• Denis Fortin
• Village SDA Church, Berrien Springs, Michigan May
  2005

2
Achilles Heel

• The concept of authority has become one of the
  most controversial notions of modern times.
• Just as much as authority in society is being
  challenged, the authority of Scripture is also
  challenged.

3
How about the authority of Ellen White and her
writings?

• What shall we do with Ellen Whites ministry
  through her writings?
• Should we continue to give her writings the
  authority we have given them in the past?
• Or should we limit her authority?
• In fact, does she have any authority?

4
Challenge to Ellen Whites authority

• Her authority in areas of spiritual discernment
  and homiletical application of Scripture is not
  usually challenged.
• The challenges to her authority are largely in
  the area of doctrinal authority.

5
What is authority?

• Bernard Ramm defines authority as "that right or
  power to command action or compliance, or to
  determine belief or custom, expecting obedience
  from those under authority, and in turn giving
  responsible account for the claim to right or
  power." (The Pattern of Authority, p. 10)

6
Kinds of authority

• Imperial authority
• Delegated authority
• Veracious authority (authority of truth)
• Functional authority
• Authority of custom

7
Recognition of authority

• An authority becomes authoritative to a person
  only as that person accepts the authority through
  personal decision.
• In some sense, all authority must be personally
  recognized and accepted.

8
Authority in religion

• Bernard Ramm comments, "When one turns to the
  question of authority in religion the basic
  problem immediately arises is there anything in
  religion which demands that a man think a certain
  way about religion and not another? Is there a
  man, a society, a principle, or a document which
  has the right to prescribe religious belief?

9
Authority in religion

• "Nothing could be more foolish in religion than
  the rejection of an authority which contained the
  truth of the living God and nothing could be
  more tragic than the substitution of the voice of
  man for the voice of God." (Pattern of Authority,
  p. 16)

10
Authority of God

• God is the supreme and absolute authority in the
  universe.
• His authority is intimately related to the
  revelation of himself.
• He revealed himself to prophets.
• Prophets were his spokespersons in spoken and
  written word.

11
Authority of Scripture

• Word of God spoken and written by prophets has
  both veracious and delegated authority.
• Thus, to disbelieve the prophetic utterance of
  the prophet is to disbelieve God.

12
Authority of Scripture

• 2 Peter 119-21 And we have the word of the
  prophets made more certain, and you will do well
  to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in
  a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning
  star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must
  understand that no prophecy of Scripture came
  about by the prophet's own interpretation. For
  prophecy never had its origin in the will of man,
  but men spoke from God as they were carried along
  by the Holy Spirit.

13
Authority of Scripture

• Ramm concludes, The Bible is not the authority
  for the Christian because it was written by
  religious geniuses. Nor is it the Christian's
  authority because it has been pragmatically
  verified through the centuries, nor because it
  inspires great religious experience. The Bible is
  binding upon the Christian because it is part of
  the organism of divine revelation. It is
  authoritative because it shares in revelation. It
  is a divine revelation in written form in various
  literary genres. (Continued)

14
Authority of Scripture

• "The Bible is authoritative because it is the
  Word of God. . . . Through the Holy Spirit it
  possesses delegated imperial authority and
  veracious authority in all matters in which it
  intends to teach. All other reasons for giving
  the Bible the supreme role in religious authority
  are defective. The content of the Bible is given
  by the double action of special revelation and
  divine inspiration, and therefore it is for the
  Christian the revealed word of God." (Pattern of
  Authority, p. 38)

15
Authority of Ellen Whites writings

• Seventh-day Adventists claim that Ellen White was
  inspired to the same extent as were Bible
  writers.
• Yet, we view her prophetic ministry as similar to
  that of non-canonical prophets and that the Bible
  is the only rule of faith and practice.

16
Ellen White Exalted the Bible
The truth of God is found in His word. Those who
feel that they must seek elsewhere for present
truth need to be converted anew. They have wrong
habits to mend, evil ways to be abandoned. They
need to seek anew the truth as it is in Jesus,
that their character building may be in harmony
with the lessons of Christ. (8T 192)
17
Ellen White Exalted the Bible
In the Bible the will of God is revealed to His
children. Wherever it is read, in the family
circle, the school, or the church, all should
give quiet and devout attention as if God were
really present and speaking to them. (5T 84)
18
A Proper Relationship
Brother J would confuse the mind by seeking to
make it appear that the light God has given
through the Testimonies i.e., Ellen Whites
writings is an addition to the word of God, but
in this he presents the matter in a false light.
God has seen fit in this manner to bring the
minds of His people to His word, to give them a
clearer understanding of it. (4T 246)
19
James Whites position
The Bible is a perfect and complete revelation.
It is our only rule of faith and practice. But
this is no reason why God may not show the past,
present, and future fulfillment of his word, in
these last days, by dreams and visions, according
to Peters testimony Acts 217-18. True
visions are given to lead us to God, and to his
written word but those that are given for a new
rule of faith and practice, separate from the
Bible, cannot be from God, and should be
rejected.
20
James Whites position
Every Christian is therefore in duty bound to
take the Bible as a perfect rule of faith and
duty. He should pray fervently to be aided by
the Holy Spirit in searching the Scriptures for
the whole truth, and for his whole duty. He is
not at liberty to turn from them to learn his
duty through any of the spiritual gifts. We
say that the very moment he does, he places the
gifts in a wrong place, and takes an extremely
dangerous position. (Review Herald, October
16, 1855)
21
Ellen Whites perception of her authority

• During the night season I was specially
  moved upon by the Spirit of God. My soul had been
  drawn out in earnest supplication to God. I was
  distressed on account of the backsliding of His
  people. While lying in bed, unable to sleep
  because of the burden resting upon me, I was
  pleading with the Lord. I fell asleep, and in the
  night season I was taught of God. (continued)

22
Ellen Whites perception of her authority

• My guide said, "I have a work for you to do.
  You must speak the words given you by the Lord.
  After these words have been spoken, your duty
  here is done. You are not required to enter into
  details before individuals, whatever may be their
  position or work, if they do not recognize the
  voice of God in the message He gives you to bear
  in His name. (continued)

23
Ellen Whites perception of her authority

• All your efforts to remove their doubts will
  be of no avail if they gather the clouds of
  darkness about their souls. If you enter into
  particulars, you weaken the message. It is not
  you speaking, but the Lord speaking through you.
  Those who want to know the will of God, who do
  not desire to follow their own will and judgment,
  will be easily entreated. They will be ready to
  discern the right way. (continued)

24
Ellen Whites perception of her authority

• The whys and wherefores are concealed from
  you yet speak the words I give you, however
  painful it may be to you. The ways in which God
  leads His people are generally mysterious. You
  have asked to know God's way. Your supplication
  has been answered. God knows better than you do
  what is good and essential for His children.
  (continued)

25
Ellen Whites perception of her authority

• He never leads them otherwise than they
  would wish to be led, if they were able to see as
  clearly as He does what they must do to establish
  characters that will fit them for the heavenly
  courts. . . . You are to act your part, and then
  leave the rest to God. (Continued)

26
Ellen Whites perception of her authority

• You will have startling, surprising messages
  to bear, but if those who hear cannot see the
  import of these messages, explanations from you
  will not lead them to understand any more
  clearly. They have ears, but they hear not. Satan
  takes control of their unsanctified reason, and
  leads them to misunderstand and misapply. (Ms
  29, 1900 in UL 339)

27
Ellen Whites writings

• The Conflict of the Ages series
• "Sister White is not the originator of these
  books. They contain the instruction that during
  her lifework God has been giving her. They
  contain the precious, comforting light that God
  has graciously given His servant to be given to
  the world." (CM 125)

28
Ellen Whites writings

• The periodical articles
• "I do not write one article in the paper
  expressing merely my own ideas. They are what God
  has opened before me in vision--the precious rays
  of light shining from the throne." (5T 67)

29
Ellen Whites writings

• The Testimonies
• "Those who carefully read the testimonies as
  they have appeared from the early days, need not
  be perplexed as to their origin. The many books,
  written by the help of the Spirit of God, bear a
  living witness to the character of the
  testimonies." (Letter 225, 1906 in 1SM 49)

30
Ellen Whites writings

• The unpublished letters (testimonies)
• "Weak and trembling, I arose at three o'clock
  in the morning to write to you. God was speaking
  through clay. You may say that this communication
  was only a letter. Yes, it was a letter, but
  prompted by the Spirit of God, to bring before
  your minds things that had been shown me. In
  these letters which I write, in the testimonies I
  bear, I am presenting to you that which the Lord
  has presented to me." (5T 67)

31
Prophets are human . . .

• Used fallible and imperfect modes of
  communication
• Influenced by culture and personal subjectivity
• Limited in their knowledge
• Their influence upon people and events is limited

32
. . . but have a supernatural work

• Sometimes supernatural phenomena accompany their
  visions
• Given supernatural knowledge of past, current,
  and future events
• Given supernatural understanding of issues
  related to events and people
• Their writings are inspired

33
So what about her authority?

• If we claim that Ellen White was inspired and
  that her writings bear the imprint of God than we
  must conclude that her writings are
  authoritative that, although secondary to
  Scripture, they are an authoritative source of
  guidance, instruction, and correction for the
  church.
• But what kind of guidance and instruction?

34
So what about her authority?

• Ellen Whites writings provide authoritative
  guidance in the following areas
• Spiritual life and growth
• Pastoral life and activities
• Doctrinal insights
• Theological focus and context

35
Spiritual Guidance

• Ellen Whites writings have provided our church
  with spiritual guidance.
• She emphasized our need for
• a close walk with God,
• of regular Bible study,
• of witnessing for Christ,
• of living a genuinely committed Christian life.

36
Pastoral Guidance

• Ellen Whites ministry has provided pastoral
  guidance to the whole church.
• Her writings have provided
• Guidance to church leaders and pastors
• Guidance for the establishment and activities of
  church institutions
• Focus for the mission of the church

37
Doctrinal Insights

• Beyond the spiritual and pastoral guidance and
  correction provided by the writings of Ellen G.
  White, her writings also provide doctrinal
  guidance
• valid applications of biblical teachings
• interconnectedness of biblical doctrines
• steering Adventists away from errors of
  interpretation

38
Doctrinal Guidance

• Ellen White showed doctrinal authority when the
  church was confronted with difficult doctrinal
  issues
• Centrality of Christs death on Calvary
• Kelloggs teachings on pantheism
• Ballengers teachings on the sanctuary
• Importance of healthful living

39
Centrality of Christs death

• The sacrifice of Christ as an atonement for sin
  is the great truth around which all other truths
  cluster. In order to be rightly understood and
  appreciated, every truth in the word of God, from
  Genesis to Revelation, must be studied in the
  light that streams from the cross of Calvary. I
  present before you the great, grand monument of
  mercy and regeneration, salvation and
  redemption,--the Son of God uplifted on the
  cross. This is to be the foundation of every
  discourse given by our ministers. (GW 315)

40
Kelloggs pantheistic views

• "God's handiwork in nature is not God Himself
  in nature. The things of nature are an expression
  of God's character by them we may understand His
  love, His power, and His glory but we are not to
  regard nature as God. . . . So, while nature is
  an expression of God's thought, it is not nature
  but the God of nature that is to be exalted." (8T
  263)

41
Ballengers views on the sanctuary

• I have been pleading with the Lord for
  strength and wisdom to reproduce the writings of
  the witnesses who were confirmed in the faith and
  in the early history of the message. After the
  passing of the time in 1844 they received the
  light and walked in the light, and when the men
  claiming to have new light would come in with
  their wonderful messages regarding various points
  of Scripture, we had, through the moving of the
  Holy Spirit,

42
Ballengers views on the sanctuary

• testimonies right to the point, which cut
  off the influence of such messages as Elder A.F.
  Ballenger has been devoting his time to
  presenting. This poor man has been working
  decidedly against the truth that the Holy Spirit
  has confirmed. When the power of God testifies as
  to what is truth, that truth is to stand forever
  as the truth. No after suppositions contrary to
  the light God has given are to be entertained.

43
Ballengers views on the sanctuary

• Men will arise with interpretations of
  Scripture which are to them truth, but which are
  not truth. The truth for this time God has given
  us as a foundation for our faith. He Himself has
  taught us what is truth. . . . We are not to
  receive the words of those who come with a
  message that contradicts the special points of
  our faith. (Letter to J.A. Burden, 11 December
  1905, in 1SM 160-161)

44
Theological Focus

• Perhaps more crucial to Adventism is how Ellen
  Whites writings have provided the church with
  theological guidance, with interpretative themes
  and motifs for a proper understanding of Gods
  revelation.
• Major themes
• Great controversy between good and evil
• Love of God for humanity
• Salvation in Jesus
• Second coming of Christ
• Christian living and character development

45
Theological Guidance

• Ellen Whites theological themes provide
  Adventism and Christianity with theological
  presuppositions and assumptions (like a pair of
  eye glasses) with which to study Scripture and
  understand its meaning for our lives today as we
  wait for Christs second coming.
• But can she think theologically?

46
Thoughts on inspiration

• Ellen White is often accused of plagiarism but in
  the following comparison one can see that she
  borrowed wording from another author, she did not
  borrow his thought.
• To find out more about the issue of plagiarism
  see the lecture Plagiarism or Literary
  Borrowing How did Ellen White write her books
• Calvin E. Stowe Origins and History of the Books
  of the Bible (1867), pp. 19-20.
• Ellen G. White Manuscript 24, 1886 (published in
  1SM 21)

47
Thoughts on inspiration

• Stowe -- It is not the words of the Bible that
  were inspired, it is not the thoughts of the
  Bible that were inspired it is the men who wrote
  the Bible that were inspired. Inspiration acts
  not on the mans words, not on the mans
  thoughts, but on the man himself so that he, by
  his own spontaneity, under the impulse of the
  Holy Ghost, conceives certain thoughts and give
  utterance to them in certain words, both the
  words and the thoughts receiving the peculiar
  impress of the mind which conceived and uttered
  them, and being in fact just as really his own,
  as they could have been if there had been no
  inspiration at all in the case. . . . Inspiration
  generally is a purifying and an elevation, and an
  intensification of the human intellect
  subjectively, rather than an objective suggestion
  and communication though suggestion and
  communication are not excluded. The Divine mind
  is, as it were, so diffused through the human,
  and the human mind is so interpenetrated with the
  Divine the utterances of the man are the word of
  God, that for the time being.

• White It is not the words of the Bible that
  are inspired, but the men that were inspired.
  Inspiration acts not on the man's words or his
  expressions but on the man himself, who, under
  the influence of the Holy Ghost, is imbued with
  thoughts. But the words receive the impress of
  the individual mind. The divine mind is
  diffused. The divine mind and will is combined
  with the human mind and will thus the utterances
  of the man are the word of God.

48
Thoughts on inspiration

• Discussing the literary dependency of this
  example is difficult because although the words
  are the same, the theological thought is not. Had
  Ellen White simply copied Stowes words without
  thinking carefully through their ramifications,
  she might have adopted a theology of inspiration
  similar to that later developed by theologians
  such as Karl Barth or Emil Brunner.

49
Thoughts on inspiration

• Stowe advocated a theory of inspiration in which
  the subjective elements of the prophet are
  predominant and in which inspiration is an
  encounter between the divine and the human. There
  is no actual transmission of objective
  information between God and the prophet. Although
  much of Ellen White's wording is taken from
  Stowe, the two views are very different.

50
Thoughts on inspiration

• It seems obvious from this example that she knew
  of Stowes thoughts when she wrote her own. Yet
  she did not mindlessly copy from Stowe but
  carefully weighed the concepts and understood the
  differences she wished to emphasize in her own
  understanding of the process of inspiration.
  This leads me to believe that she was able to
  think theologically.

51
Is Ellen White too old for Adventism?

• I think through the last 150 years, Ellen Whites
  ministry and writings have given spiritual,
  pastoral, doctrinal, and theological guidance to
  Adventism.

52
Is Ellen White too old for Adventism?

• Who we are and what we do today is largely the
  result of her ministry and guidance.
• Who we will be in the future depends to a large
  extent on what level of guidance and authority we
  will still allow her writings to provide.