Questions about writings of Ellen G White

[sor]

Hi, I have a SDA church membership, but I have been away from its teachings and not sure if I can call myself a Christian so I'm posting questions in this section. I struggle a lot and have been in and out of counseling. I have a question about the validity of receiving counseling from Ellen White's view. I've read in "Ministry of Healing" something like "we have a tendency to turn to human beings when we should only turn to God. We shouldn't look sympathy from humans. God sometimes allows us to be disappointed by those whom we have trusted so that we will learn the mistake of turning to humans instead of God."

I feel unsure about receiving counseling because of those writings. What do SDA people think/believe about receiving counseling?

 

[Rafael]

We should always look to God first in prayer, as Christians, but we also should seek that which is available to us as a common sense approach to doing those things which help us get better. Asking God for help in all things is part of our relationship with God, but we should also act practically towards anything that comes into our lives, whether it is illness or blessing.
I have not studied Ellen Whites writings, but perhaps someone else could speak, having read her writings and commentaries about scripture.

 

[heron]

Sor, welcome here!
I haven't read White, but had SDA's in my family, so I'm familar with their mindset. Even though this teaching is about relying totally on God, the SDA lifestyle has its own form of self-sufficiency...and one could err in keeping their life so perfect that they don't even need God's help. This purity is a good thing, of course. But anything can warp.

Having had a lot of counseling, it would be possible to lean on someone else more than God. That doesn't make the counseling wrong in itself. You're responsible for making the best of every situation. How different is counseling from leaning on a friend for advice? (Rhetorical question.)

There are some issues that are so serious, that small talk with friends won't solve. And there are some topics that would endanger your reputation and friendships if you spent that much time talking about them in public. The counselor provides a safe outlet.

What you want to look at is between God and you. Instead of cutting out one method, add more to the other. Rely on God more. Talk things out with Him. If that's difficult, try writing your prayers, or walking outdoors and praying out loud.

If you catch yourself demanding answers from a therapist, or demanding more time, or wondering why they didn't fix things...that's when you want to pull in your reins and rethink your approach.

 

[woobadooba]

Hi, I have a SDA church membership, but I have been away from its teachings and not sure if I can call myself a Christian so I'm posting questions in this section. I struggle a lot and have been in and out of counseling. I have a question about the validity of receiving counseling from Ellen White's view. I've read in "Ministry of Healing" something like "we have a tendency to turn to human beings when we should only turn to God. We shouldn't look sympathy from humans. God sometimes allows us to be disappointed by those whom we have trusted so that we will learn the mistake of turning to humans instead of God."

I feel unsure about receiving counseling because of those writings. What do SDA people think/believe about receiving counseling?

I don't believe that she meant that in the way that you've taken it.

I see her saying that we shouldn't rely on sinful people to save us from our sinful nature, because God is the only one who can accomplish this.

However, we ought to seek out counsel from godly people who can thus encourage us, for the purpose of fellowship, and emotional healing.

 

[woobadooba]

Even though this teaching is about relying totally on God, the SDA lifestyle has its own form of self-sufficiency

Was it really necessary for you to say this? Yes, there are SDAs who act and speak as though they seem to think they are self-sufficient, but don't we all do this at times?

Therefore, do you think it is too much to ask that you address such issues without disclosing your personal biases against the SDA church?

 

[sor]

Thank you Rafael, heron and woobadooba..

I know Jesus expressed his pain to disciples saying, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death." and sought their support by prayer just before his arrest. But I believe EGW to be a messenger of God so I want to better understand what she means. She wrote against hypnotism and I think she also mentioned about psychology negatively.

Sor, welcome here!
If you catch yourself demanding answers from a therapist, or demanding more time, or wondering why they didn't fix things...that's when you want to pull in your reins and rethink your approach.

Hi heron.. I was here before with a similar question, but with a different name. I seem to have issues with this.
Once I turned to one Christian, drained her and she told me to just turn to God. I think she just wanted to be away from me. But there is a validity in what she said, isn't there? I think she was skeptical about the effectiveness of counseling. There are many Christians like her I think. They think counseling is a waste of money.

 

[seangoh]

Thank you Rafael, heron and woobadooba..

I know Jesus expressed his pain to disciples saying, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death." and sought their support by prayer just before his arrest. But I believe EGW to be a messenger of God so I want to better understand what she means. She wrote against hypnotism and I think she also mentioned about psychology negatively.


Hi heron.. I was here before with a similar question, but with a different name. I seem to have issues with this.
Once I turned to one Christian, drained her and she told me to just turn to God. I think she just wanted to be away from me. But there is a validity in what she said, isn't there? I think she was skeptical about the effectiveness of counseling. There are many Christians like her I think. They think counseling is a waste of money.

hi sor!
I'll be glad to try to answer your questions as i've abit of understanding in all of this.

When reading EGW's writings, it's VERY important to know when to apply them in our own lives. In other words, it's all about CONTEXT. I haven't read Ministry of Healing so i'm not familiar with the background of that statement. My challenge to you is to try to understand what EGW really meant. It goes the same for bible interpretation. The goal is always to understand how the writers understood it.

If my guess is correct, EGW isn't talking against the act of seeking help through counselling. She is against relying on humans with regards to the decisions we make in life because man's thoughts are not His thoughts (Isa 55:8-9)
Also, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.","Proverbs 14:12"

Seeking counselling is all for the benefit of self. It's akin to visiting the doctor for a remedy to our condition. However, christian counselling is recommended as these counsellers would include the spiritual aspect of it as part of the overall treatment which provides a more wholistic result.

I know of 2 amazing christian psychologists/counsellors and they are making breakthroughs in their materials around the world and have made a breakthrough in my own life too while they were here in Singapore to give a series of seminars. Testimonies of people who have got out of their addictions are common and so are testimonies of people who have developed much deeper relationships with their spouse/parents/children. It's called Life Renewal Institute for a reason and their website is here

Back to EGW, i recommend you visit this website and read the stuff there in order to get a much better idea of how to treat her books, whose principles apply to the bible as well.

 

[heron]

"But don't we all do this at times?"

Yes, I do. I am not speaking against 7th day Adventism, but trying to bring understanding to the context. Sorry if it came out that way. SDA promotes a highly disciplined, spiritual, and healthy lifestyle. That is not a stereotype about people, but about the teachings a group espouses.

When any organization tends to lean in one direction, their teachings often need to counterbalance with specifics to that group, and White's comments probably applied in this manner.

The apostle Paul spoke to the Corinthians in a different way than he did to the Ephesians and the Galations.

I've been in Christian circles that warned against professional counseling, but then offered untrained counseling within the group. The advice was often controlling--suggesting who should marry whom, and what jobs people should pursue.

Members were looking for easy "right" answers, and were more comfortable being told what to do than wading through trial and error on their own. Professional counseling serves many valuable purposes, including helping one make decisions on their own.

White wrote in the late 1800's...words might have had different implications relating to those times.

From White's Desire of Ages, p. 822:

"Ministry does not consist alone in preaching. Those minister who relieve the sick and suffering, helping the needy, speaking words of comfort to the desponding and those of little faith. Nigh and afar off are souls weighed down by a sense of guilt. It is not hardship, toil, or poverty that degrades humanity. It is guilt, wrongdoing. This brings unrest and dissatisfaction. Christ would have His servants minister to sin-sick souls"
​

An article addressing some of your questions...
http://www.aiias.edu/ict/vol_14/014cc_059-077.htm
​

 

[LadyNRA]

I don't believe that she meant that in the way that you've taken it.

I see her saying that we shouldn't rely on sinful people to save us from our sinful nature, because God is the only one who can accomplish this.

However, we ought to seek out counsel from godly people who can thus encourage us, for the purpose of fellowship, and emotional healing.

I agree with you. Counselling in itself isn't bad, particularly if the counselor is totally family with the word of God and help a person to follow God without injecting their own feelings into the situation. I figure God gave wisdom to the medical profession to healing the body's ills (while we still seek God first in all things) and He can do the same for those people not able to find answers on their own from scripture for emotional problems.

 

[heron]

Some people find out through counseling that they have a treatable imbalance, when they thought odd responses were totally their responsibility.

Imagine being hounded by voices, or nervous tics, or uncontrollable swearing, or seizures, and blaming it on poor self-control. Trained counselors know symptoms to look out for, and can direct patients to resources.

 

[chevelledc788]

I am a Seventh-day Adventist, and personally, I don't get too involved with Mrs. White's writings. I admit she was a very godly woman who did possess alot of knowledge and insight from the Holy Spirit, but the fact remains that her writings are not the Word of God.

In some cases, counseling may not be what is right for you but in others I think God has placed some of those people there with the purpose to help others heal. Just because one of Mrs. White's writings says to not take counseling doesn't mean you should never do it. On another note, though I don't read many of her writings, I do know that when people quote her they more often then not take it entirely out of context.

 

[Sophia7]

Hi, I have a SDA church membership, but I have been away from its teachings and not sure if I can call myself a Christian so I'm posting questions in this section. I struggle a lot and have been in and out of counseling. I have a question about the validity of receiving counseling from Ellen White's view. I've read in "Ministry of Healing" something like "we have a tendency to turn to human beings when we should only turn to God. We shouldn't look sympathy from humans. God sometimes allows us to be disappointed by those whom we have trusted so that we will learn the mistake of turning to humans instead of God."

I feel unsure about receiving counseling because of those writings. What do SDA people think/believe about receiving counseling?

I don't believe that there is anything wrong with going to counseling, as other Adventists have pointed out. My suggestion is that you find a Christian counselor who uses the Bible and has a Christ-centered approach, gives you specific ways to make changes in your life, and doesn't keep you coming back forever just to listen to you talk and take your money. I would ask questions upfront about his or her approach to counseling and how long you should expect to keep coming.