| Author | Message | ||
| Dljc Registered user Username: Dljc Post Number: 58 Registered: 7-2010 |
This is something I've tried to convey to my friend, that she (E.G.White) doesn't even have to be mentioned by name, that her teachings can be conveyed in the message you hear. I for one see a lot of errors in her teachings when actually compared to Scriptures with Scripture being the standard and not her teachings. What is interesting and something I've pointed out to him (my friend) is that in the 1800's there were 3 churches that formed, two of which had their own prophets. All three have their own view of the "law" and how it should be followed. Those three churches are the SDA church (in it's early stage called the Millerites) the Jehovah's Witnesses, and the Mormon church or LDS church. All three churches say they have it right and everybody else is wrong. That's the first sign of a cult by the way. But the JW's are the only ones who have actually gone in and created their own Bible "The NWT" (New World Translation). The other two churches mentioned only translate the Bible "based off of the teachings of their personal prophet" and it gets conveyed in the commentary of the sermon. Thereby putting their "personal prophet" above God. How many times did you hear E.G. White mentioned by name from the pulpit? I'm curious about this. Where did you first encounter her teachings and how were you "encouraged" to read her books so you could understand what the Bible was saying? | ||
| Believer247 Registered user Username: Believer247 Post Number: 144 Registered: 3-2009 |
Most of the time the preacher would not say her name, just refer to her as "my favorite author". Everyone knew who he was referring to. As a teenager I was encouraged to read "Messages to Young People". After I had my first child I was given the book "Child Guidance" as a baby shower gift by one of the church members. In academy my freshman year, we had to read " Patriarchs & Prophets" and give a synopsis of each chapter every week.On report cards this class was listed as "Ancient History." this book was not supplied by the school either, my mom had to buy one for me. Sophomore year was "Acts of the Apostles". Same thing, school did not supply the book, parents had to buy it. Don't remember what the class was called on the school curriculum. Needless to say, when I transfered to public school, junior year, these two classes did not count toward my credits. | ||
| Cloudwatcher Registered user Username: Cloudwatcher Post Number: 145 Registered: 5-2009 |
Great questions. My husband was an SDA pastor and he was taught (in college and seminary) to put EGW in every sermon....every sermon. Most of the time pastors use her with attribution. They'll call her "the pen of inspiration," "the spirit of prophecy." "sister white," or "my favorite Christian author." But you're right, whether they attribute the ideas to her or not, that is their origin. You asked about how one first encounters Ellen White, I can tell you that from birth you are taught Ellen White. The children's "bible" stories taught in church and in the materials given to parents to read at home are based on EGW's versions of the Bible stories. | ||
| Yenc Registered user Username: Yenc Post Number: 287 Registered: 6-2008 |
In academy Bible classes, to the best of my memory, we had these: Freshman year: Old Testament (Patriarchs and Prophets; Prophets and Kings) Sophomore year: Life of Christ (Desire of Ages) Junior Year: Church History (Acts of the Apostles; Great Controversy) Senior Year: Youth Problems (Messages to Young People) We did have long lists of Bible verses to memorize, but we were saturated in EGW writings more than the Bible! | ||
| Jonvil Registered user Username: Jonvil Post Number: 427 Registered: 4-2007 |
Back in 1972 when I was baptized into the 'church' in Bay City, Michigan - All you ever heard was Ellen White. Almost immediately I was strongly urged to purchase ($$$$) the five 'Red Books' and 'Testimonies'. Being dumb as a rock I didn't see anything wrong with the five but HATED testimonies. My wife doesn't like them either but rationalizes that all those horrible statements are taken out of context. Not being raised Adventist I never took that 'prophet' thing seriously hence, even after 36 years, my transition out was quite painless. I experience more angst looking back - 'HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN SOOO STUPID??' | ||
| Cortney Registered user Username: Cortney Post Number: 146 Registered: 8-2006 |
I remember in SS classes people would bring EGW footnotes with them to 'prove' their point (as if the Bible wasn't enough)or to give 'more insight' and reference regarding the topic being discussed . That kinda creeped me out but nobody else really had a problem with this. EGW writings always won, too! | ||
| Hec Registered user Username: Hec Post Number: 1233 Registered: 3-2009 |
Some of you may be out of the organization for many years, but the SS lessons have at least three "textbooks". 1) The Quarterly, 2) the accompanying book, and 3) the booklet with EGW commentaries on the texts used in the lesson. That is besides the quotes in the quarterly and the book. So the Quarterly has EGW quotes as so does the book. As if that were not enough, then they have the separate booklet with her quotations. There is also the "Teacher's Edition" of the Quarterly with extra material and quotes. Hec | ||
| Cortney Registered user Username: Cortney Post Number: 147 Registered: 8-2006 |
Wow, I did not know that, Hec  . I honeslty believe you cannot be 'fully adventist' without EGW. Adventists will tell you they don't need her writings to believe the Fundamental core but, they forget EGW is the 'core' of the Fundamental beliefs. Without her false visions regarding sabbath, health, IJ, and other such blasphemy, they haven't a leg to stand on, and as far as scripture they pretty much have to 'twist' and 'text proof' to 'make fit' of the Fundamentals. Her visions were not original, they were other peoples ideals, she just 'stamped' and 'hallmarked' them with an accompanying vision afterward. As to make it seem as though they were 'of God' and could not be refuted. DM Canright wrote the only 'original' idea of EGW was her vision regarding a unique tithing system, and that failed within months! I guess that was just Present Truth for those few people, for those few months, right?? | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 8415 Registered: 3-2004  |
Growing up sda all I ever heard were egw comments in ss class and church. Very seldom did I hear the Bible. In later years I heard the Bible with quotes from "my favorite author". Of course we all knew who it was. Then when the pastors quit saying anything about their "favorite author" I could tell that egw influecnced the sermon by what they spoke about. One just cannot get away from her in the sda church. Diana L | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 3316 Registered: 10-2004  |
All SDA Pastors have now been officially commanded to include EGW in their sermons, in the latest "decree" from the 2010 General Conference Session. The official GC statement says:
Jeremy | ||
| Dljc Registered user Username: Dljc Post Number: 60 Registered: 7-2010 |
Thanks for that Jeremy, thank you all. The reason I asked this question or set of questions concerning EGW is I was wonder how she fit in or I should say, how they fit her in (introductions if you will). It has been said that the best lie that you can tell has 99% truth in it. If I can get you to believe that lie, then the next one I tell you can have as little as 95-90% truth in it. The longer you listen to me the less truth there is in there. Because I've indoctrinated you into believing that the now 90% lie is the truth. That's how indoctrination works. I used myself only as an example rather than point the finger at anyone else.  But with what I just said in mind, Jonvil wrote: 'HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN SOOO STUPID??' I know you may feel this way, but it's not you. Shame on them for what they did. If you will look at Matthew 4 and see that the first thing satan tempted Jesus with was a "need". Jesus was hungry, what was it satan said? And when the tempter came to him, he said, "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." Perhaps you had a need and they saw an opportunity to give the impression of filling that need? Just know that it's not your fault, the enemy will get what's coming to him. ;) Cliff (Message edited by dljc on August 09, 2010) | ||
| Indy4now Registered user Username: Indy4now Post Number: 872 Registered: 2-2008  |
WOW Cortney!! I also thought I could be "fully adventist" without believing in EGW. At the church I attended in CA, she was rarely mentioned. In fact, I can't even remember one time. I thought that maybe she had faded into non-existence... a sort of "soul sleep"! ha! It wasn't until I moved to the Midwest did I realize how "alive" she was to the church. I saw people taking their egw books to church just to be able to use a quote from them. The good thing about all that was that it forced me to make a decision of whether to stay adventist or not. I couldn't take adventism with blantant believers of egw. The sad thing about my experience in CA is that because egw wasn't mentioned in sermons I thought I was being fed Biblical principles. I realize now that I was getting just as much egw there as I was getting here... it was just hidden out there. vivian | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 8422 Registered: 3-2004 |
It is interesting in how much adventism has changed in CA. Growing up there in the 1940s through the 1960s, she was quoted in every sermon at the church I attended. She was quoted a lot at the academy I attended, at La Sierra and at Loma Linda. SO CA sda churches have changed a lot since I was there as an sda. Diana L | ||
| Jonvil Registered user Username: Jonvil Post Number: 429 Registered: 4-2007 |
"SO CA sda churches have changed a lot since I was there as an sda." It's called the 'left coast' for a good reason - extremely liberal | ||
| Jonvil Registered user Username: Jonvil Post Number: 430 Registered: 4-2007 |
"Just know that it's not your fault..." No one forced me to join and no one prevented me from checking it out, but I did and I didn't. I allowed myself to be conned. The responsibility is mine alone. John Douglas | ||
| Dljc Registered user Username: Dljc Post Number: 62 Registered: 7-2010 |
"No one forced me to join and no one prevented me from checking it out, but I did and I didn't. I allowed myself to be conned." John, I appreciate your feelings on this, however, you nor any of us here are completely immune to the tricks of the enemy. Just remember he's been tricking people longer than we've been alive! (Ever since the Garden of Eden, remember.) Those in the SDA church that may have been used by him are just deceived themselves and don't know it. | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 6499 Registered: 9-2006  |
Quote: I experience more angst looking back - 'HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN SOOO STUPID??' It ain't got anything too do with stupid, if it was, we could just educate them out. John, when I was studying out what these people believe, I felt the pull of that thing, and it is strong. It ain't got your best interest in mind neither. That spirit ain't going to announce to you, "I'm here to do you in." Now you may think I'm just a crazy Pentecostal, but I am not wrong about that. There is a powerful deceiving spirit behind Adventism. The sooner folks realize that, the better off they will be. I agree with Dljc completely, sure we have too be willing to own it, when we become willing to repent, that opens the door for our healing. The thing is, we have no right to our past after it has been repented of, and we have no right to remind the Lord of it neither. The responsibility WAS yours John, now I know you have been sorry in your heart, and it ain't yours no more. Your a good an humble Christian brother John, and I am praying that God will help you to see all he took on himself on that cross. By his stripes we are (present tense) healed. River | ||
| Lucybugg Registered user Username: Lucybugg Post Number: 264 Registered: 2-2007 |
Before I left the sda church I told the pastor that I objected to him quoting egw without saying he was quoting her. I told him I found it offensive and asked why he couldn't just use the Bible. He said there are many people who believe in her and want to hear her and it is their right. I asked..what about the rights of the ones who don't? He had no answer for me. | ||
| Joyfulheart Registered user Username: Joyfulheart Post Number: 753 Registered: 10-2006 |
River said, "It ain't got anything too do with stupid, if it was, we could just educate them out." That is so true! It took so long to get that through my thick head. It is ALL about our enemy who wants to pull and keep them away from total trust in Jesus for salvation. he (satan) then uses the good things - the warm and fuzzy things - and pride (being God's favorites who have THE truth - and fear of being lost - and walking away from "the (SDA version of) truth" to keep them there. It is a masterful plan. It is spiritual warfare. Prayer and the Word are our weapons. It is such a miracle - and all of God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) when someone comes to Jesus from that system. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 11549 Registered: 12-2003  |
River, what a great post. I like your reminder that after we repent of the past, we have "no right to remind the Lord of it, neither." Those are wonderful words...so true. Colleen |
