Ellen White

[solo56]

I have a question concerning Ellen White and the Adventist church. If one joins the adventist church, must they believe the writings of Ellen White?

Must one agree with the teachings of Ellen White when one is baptised, and is made a member of the church? The reason I ask is because I believe that the bible alone is complete and needs nothing added to it. REV 22:18-19

I've heard that when one is baptised that you have to sign a piece of paper that states you believe the writings of Ellen White. Is this true? I do share a lot of the beliefs of the adventist church. However, If one must become a student of Ellen White to join the church, I could never do that.

I hope this doesn't sound mean spirited. It's just my belief that the bible alone is the word of god, and nothing should be added to it. I've never read any of the writings of Ellen White, nor do I intend to. I can't be a member of any church that carries another book, other than the bible.

This not only means the adventist church, but any church that adds unto the bible. Also what is the dress code for adventist churches? Is nice Jeans and a polo shirt adequate, or does one need to wear a suit? Thanks for the replies everyone. Their is an adventist church about 35 miles from my home town. I don't know what to expect when I go for a visit. Any help will be appreciated.

 

[Sophia7]

I've never heard of anyone being made to sign a piece of paper to indicate their belief in Ellen White before being baptized. There are actually many Adventists who do not read her writings or accept her as a prophet. There are some other threads in the SDA forum that discuss that very thing.

As far as a dress code, it kind of depends on the church. There's no official dress code. Some people are more concerned about dress than others. We have lots of people in our churches (my husband pastors three churches) who wear jeans to church. It's not that big a deal except to maybe a few of the more conservative members. Personally, I always wear a dress to church, but many of the other women wear pants. Some men wear suits, and others just wear business-casual type clothes or jeans. In one of our churches, many of the men wear black jeans, cowboy boots, and vests.

 

[Dathen]

AMEN sophia7

I see you are new solo56, so welcome to the Forums, it's especially good you are in the SDA forums. I will bless you with all my blessings for you to get a pet or character.

I read the writing of Ellen White to learn and beacause they give me encouragement. As an Adventist, we agree with you when you say the bible is God's only true word. Ellen Whites writings were in harmony with the Bible. They talk about the bible, she dosn't generally make too many prophecies in her writings, even though she had over 2000 visions. She is either a prophet or a false prophet of the devil.

To be honest with you, when I was baptised into the SDA church on July 1 2006 I didn't really know or care whether Ellen White was a prophet or not. I've studied her according to how thw Bilble tells us to test prophets. I have now read afew Ellen White Books and believe she is truthful. No-one at my church except me family know I believe in Ellen White. When you are baptised you don't have to sign anything to say you believe Ellen White, only confess you love Jesus and believe the Bible. If you would like, in this thread I could give you a short Bible Study on how to judge a prophet. To tell whether they are of God or Satan. This study makes the decision yours. But you definately don't need to believe her to be baptised. BAPITISM IS A DECISION FOR JESUS, NOT FOR ELLEN WHITE! But I don't know how the Lord will judge you exactly though, if you do reject his prophet, Ellen White if she is a prophet. So please allow me, as a Bible Worker, to give you a Bible Study on testing prophets, to tell whether they are good or bad. I'll do it here, by PM e-mail or however suits you. Hope this helps.

Also we have no dress code. We accept all as they are as the Bible tells us to do.

 

[Jon0388g]

I have a question concerning Ellen White and the Adventist church. If one joins the adventist church, must they believe the writings of Ellen White?

Nope!!!

I've never read any of the writings of Ellen White, nor do I intend to.

I think here you shouldn't knock before you try; I've never heard of anyone that hasn't been touched by 'The Desire of Ages'!

Whether or not you accept her as a prophet, some of her writings (Great Controversy, Patriarchs and Prophets) are fascinating stuff!

Ellen White did 'add to the Bible' but not in a contradictory sense; throughout her writings she emphasises 'The Bible and the Bible only' is what should be studied.

I think it should be reminded that a lot of SDA doctrine and belief are heavily influenced by Ellen White anyway - but at the end of the day the SDA church is still a 'Church of the Book.'

Also what is the dress code for adventist churches? Is nice Jeans and a polo shirt adequate, or does one need to wear a suit? Thanks for the replies everyone.

lol!!! To be totally honest, where I come from it really depends on the individual church; its obvioulsy always safe to wear a suit; but some churches are more 'casual' than others! We had a debate on this in church the other Sabbath; appropriate clothes for church!

Really and truly, does God turn you away because of what clothes are on your back? But, on the other hand, if you were going to meet the President, would you wear jeans and trainers?

Hope God blesses you

Jon

 

[Telaquapacky]

I have a question concerning Ellen White and the Adventist church. If one joins the adventist church, must they believe the writings of Ellen White?

Must one agree with the teachings of Ellen White when one is baptised, and is made a member of the church? The reason I ask is because I believe that the bible alone is complete and needs nothing added to it. REV 22:18-19

I've heard that when one is baptised that you have to sign a piece of paper that states you believe the writings of Ellen White. Is this true? I do share a lot of the beliefs of the adventist church. However, If one must become a student of Ellen White to join the church, I could never do that.

I hope this doesn't sound mean spirited. It's just my belief that the bible alone is the word of god, and nothing should be added to it. I've never read any of the writings of Ellen White, nor do I intend to. I can't be a member of any church that carries another book, other than the bible.

This not only means the adventist church, but any church that adds unto the bible. Also what is the dress code for adventist churches? Is nice Jeans and a polo shirt adequate, or does one need to wear a suit? Thanks for the replies everyone. Their is an adventist church about 35 miles from my home town. I don't know what to expect when I go for a visit. Any help will be appreciated.

Thank you for your post! Our baptismal vows do include a statement that we recognize the ministry of Ellen G. White as the manifestation of the spiritual gift of prophecy in our church. I think that there are people who prophecy and who exhibit that gift in many denominations, wherever the Holy Spirit is. This baptismal vow, though, does not obligate the new member to believe everything EGW has written, and we don't regard her writings as anywhere near equal to the Bible.

I want to make a very important observation that I think people tend to overlook when they look at Adventists and Ellen White. Many churches, not just the Seventh-day Adventist Church, have a body of accepted doctrine- a collection of teachings that more or less defines what the church is, and it's reason to be. I don't want to point out the obvious, but, sometime, somebody had to sit down and say, "We believe this," and "We don't believe that." You know, every church has in it's history, someone who had a prominent influence on their doctrines. One could ask, "If you're a Lutheran, do you have to believe everything Luther wrote?" A Lutheran would probably say "No." Same with Methodists and Wessley. Every church has somebody- even the non-denominationals (though you'll never get one to admit it).

Now, having said that, Ellen White was not the originator of our doctrines. Our founders were people who got excited about the preaching of a retired Baptist minister named William Miller, who taught, very persuasively, that Jesus was going to come again on October 22, 1844 (this is an oversimplification). When Jesus did not come, the Millerites divided into one group that insisted Jesus was coming soon, and kept setting dates again and again (Jehovah's witnesses were an offshoot of that group). Another group was so convinced about Miller's date research, that they believed that October 22, 1844 was the right date, but the second coming of Jesus was not the right event for that date. These people were suffering great disappointment not seeing Jesus come, and they spent long hours, sometimes all night, together in small groups, intensely studying the Bible and praying for God to help them see what God was trying to reveal to them. Ellen Harmon (later Ellen White) was at those meetings and started having visions that she herself did not understand, but that confirmed what the Bible studies were revealing. She was not the only one having the visions.

Some doctrines came by serendipity. It took a Seventh-day Baptist lady to straighten out one Adventist who was preaching about the law, that he was not keeping it. They studied together, and she convinced him that they should keep the Seventh-day Sabbath. Ellen White did not even understand it at first, until she had a vision that confirmed it.

It was the people who believed Miller's date, but not the event, who prayed about it earnestly and found rich truths from the Bible, who were admonished and came to embrace the Seventh-day Sabbath, that eventually formed the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Ellen White had a lot of formative influence, and through her and her husband publishing a newsletter to the struggling Adventists, the group formed together. But she did not originate our doctrines. The Holy Spirit only used her to help confirm what God was revealing to the Adventist pioneers and to help get us organized for the purpose He has for us.

 

[djconklin]

If one joins the adventist church, must they believe the writings of Ellen White?

Must one agree with the teachings of Ellen White when one is baptised, and is made a member of the church?

See Dr. Graeme S. Bradford's book on Ellen G. White: More than a Prophet; I recall reading something in line with your question but I have forgotten where in the book and what he said (don't want to put words in his mouth, either!).

 

[jabechler]

As a long time Adventist who in the past has had issues with her and her writings mainly because of how they were used in the church. I have learned that this varies from church to church and since have learned to appreciate the truths and insight into scripture she was given. Ellen White never claimed to be a prophet, only a messanger. She also said her writings were the lesser light leading one to the greater light, that of the Bible. I have yet to find any teachings in the soirit of prophecy that oppose or contradict the scriptures. Also not one of the fundamental beliefs came from her. they came from multiple pioneers of the faith through earnest and prayerful study of Gods word, only later to be confirmed by visions. As Adventists we really need to study our church history and many arguements concerning the Spirit of Prophecy will go away.

As for dress codes in the church they do vary, but let us remember that we go to church to worship God. When we study the old testament in regards to Moses on Mount Sinai and the Sanctuary services we will understand that we are to approach God in the best condition we are able to. That is physically, mentally and spiritually. How one dresses for worship is a reflection of ones attitude of worship to a Holy God. Do we come as we are or do we come prepared as for the Bridegroom.