XXII 7(89)

“Watchman,

what of the night?”

"The hour has come, the hour is striking and striking at you,
the hour and the end!"           Eze. 7:6 (Moffatt)

SOME THINGS NEED TO BE SAID
Excerpted from WWN July, 1989
(Connected with A National Sunday Law
PAST? PRESENT? FUTURE?)

This seems to be the most opportune time to say some things that need to be said in regard to the deception being practiced on concerned Adventists by the "many voices" on the periphery of Adventism today. To say or write things which involve the Writings of Ellen G. White in their proper relationship to the Bible always opens the door to the charge, whether true or not, that one does not believe in "the Spirit of Prophecy." Having set forth in this present and previous issue of "Watchman, What of the Night?" two studies on "A National Sunday Law" using only the Writings of Ellen G. White according to the rules which she herself set forth for their use and study, I would hope to allay this charge in writing some things that need to be said. So that there will be no misunderstanding, let me say categorically from the start that this editor believes that Ellen G. White possessed a spiritual gift which is termed "the gift of prophecy."

Today, the "many voices" which Ellen G. White herself prophesied would come after a certain point in time was reached, and have come, are using her Writings to either sustain their theories, or as a facade to give a show of being on the "firm foundation." Tragically, many concerned Adventists, when they become aware of what has and is taking place within the regular organization, grasp at any publication which carries articles by Ellen G. White, believing that here must be the real "historic message." Others are enamored by studies given by these "voices" which make the whole or major part of their presentations nothing but a series of "quotes" from the Writings.

[There is an exception. In a study or presentation of the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, there must be much use made of the Writings, for in them we have God's evaluation of the events and actions that have taken place in that history.]

What has the Lord's messenger actually written as to the people God will have upon the earth to give the final witness? She stated clearly:

God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms. (SP, IV, p. 413)

In 1894, Ellen G. White wrote, "Our position and faith is in the Bible. And never do we want any soul to bring in the Testimonies ahead of the Bible. (Manuscript 7; Emphasis supplied) Yet there are those today who will state that the Sacred Scriptures are a composite of the Bible and the Writings of Ellen G. White. Yet the one who has so written confesses that he does very little study of theology, but in his spare time reads history and science. Now "theology" in its simplest form is the study of God and His workings in time; in other words, the Bible. What a travesty is being practiced on God's professed people by this one of the "many voices"!

Some of the "voices" express concern for what is termed the "new theology." And there is cause to be alarmed; but what do these voices use? The Bible? No, they seek to exalt Ellen G. White as one of "the major prophets" and declare that you have to have her Writings to even know that the Bible is inspired. The "firm foundation" for the feet of the saints is not Roman Catholic doctrine which teaches that we need an authoritative voice to determine the inspiration of the Bible and how it is to be interpreted. The "new theology" purports to be based on the Bible. Then those who oppose it need to study their Bibles so as to be able to refute it, and show from the Bible wherein it is in error. But these "voices" are not doing it, and when they do use the Bible in public presentations, they pervert its teachings. An outstanding example can be cited. What these "voices" need is to take time to study their Bibles instead of running hither and yon around the world and across the country teaching heresy under the guise of truth.

The Apostle Paul associated heresy with some very heinous sins which he called "the works of the flesh." (See Gal, 5:19-21) Then he wrote this strong language:

I have told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (vs. 21)

Further, those who accept the heresy will fail to attain the kingdom of heaven as well as those who teach it. A number of "the works of the flesh" involve the participation of two or more. But to use the Writings of Ellen G. White as a facade for teaching heresy as most of the "many voices" are doing reaches the height of blasphemy.

In 1902, Ellen G. White wrote: "Little heed is given to the Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead men and women to the greater light." (Colporteur Evangelist, p. 37) How many by reading the publications of the "many voices" - and some of the more prominent magazines and newsletters could be named - have been led to devote their time to an intense study of the "greater light"? If not then the Writings have been prostituted to serve the personal ends of these "many voices."

Moreover, if all that these "many voices" can use are the Writings, then the objective of the Writings has not been realized in their own lives, and thus they become blind leaders of those they have blinded and are blinding. No one has a right to claim to be a guide in these final hours of the great controversy unless he has been immersed in the "greater light." It would be well if all who today want truth, pure and unadulterated, would perceive as does the devout Jew the significance of the sacred Scriptures. One scholar has written:

Religious Jews believe that in the Bible the Eternal has entered into time, the Unseen has taken a visible form, the unknown has become apparent, the intangible has become tangible in written documents that we can handle. The Law of God has become incarnate in print. For religious Jews, to read the scriptures, and even to quote from them, is to be put in touch with the divine order of Being. That is why in Judaism the study of the Hebrew Scriptures is worship. It is more important to study them than to obey them, it is said, because without study you will obey them in the wrong way. (Bible Review, June, 1989, p. 10; "Caps" supplied)

Well has the "lesser light" stated - "The Bible contains all the principles that men need to understand in order to be fitted either for this life or for the life to come. (Education, p. 123) When are we going to understand this, and cease to be deceived by the facade men make of the "lesser light" to cover their deceptions?

WHG

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Ps. 119:105)