Spirit
of Prophecy Sabbath Sermon, October 22, 2005
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CAN
ELLEN WHITE OPEN OUR EYES IN THE 21ST CENTURY?
By
Cindy Tutsch
Associate Director, Ellen G. White Estate
The chief of military operations was angry. Several times his top-secret strategies
to ambush the enemy had been foiled, and the irate commander was determined
to ferret out the spy.
Let’s pick up the story in 2 Kings 6, starting with verse 11 (New Living
Translation): “The king of Aram became very upset over this. He called
in his officers and demanded, ‘Which of you is the traitor? Who has been
informing the king of Israel of my plans?’ ‘It’s not us, my
lord,’ one of the officers replied. ‘Elisha, the prophet in Israel,
tells the king of Israel even the words you speak in the privacy of your bedroom!’
The king commanded, ‘Go and find out where Elisha is, and we’ll
send troops to seize him.’ And the report came back: ‘Elisha is
at Dothan.’ So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many
chariots and horses to surround the city. When the servant of the man of God
got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and
chariots everywhere. ‘Ah, my lord, what will we do now?’ he cried
out to Elisha. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ Elisha told him. ‘For
there are more on our side than on theirs!’ Then Elisha prayed, ‘O
Lord, open his eyes and let him see!’ The Lord opened his servant’s
eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled
with horses and chariots of fire.”
A Prophet’s Work
Prophets see things that others don’t see. Their work is to help open
our eyes so that we can see what God is doing. Most of all, we need to get clearer
glimpses of Jesus. As you have read the writings of Ellen White, have your eyes
been opened to see Jesus, to see His wonderful love, the holiness of His character,
His plans for your life?
Perhaps you have never heard the name of Ellen White and have had no experience
with her writings. Perhaps you were raised in an atmosphere where she was primarily
used as a sledgehammer to pound all the “fun” out of your life.
Or perhaps she has been an agent to help you understand that God loves you,
not in some distant, abstract way, but is personally concerned with the details
of your life.
Her writings may even have been the catalyst that led you to accept Jesus as
your Savior and Lord!
One Wednesday night a young woman named Cindy felt a special need to experience
God, to sense His presence. Though she had often gone to prayer meeting as a
child with her parents, for the first time in her adult life she decided to
attend prayer meeting as her own choice. A little group of older persons was
studying the book Steps to Christ. Though she was somewhat acquainted
with the book from family worship, class assignments, and Sabbath school, she
had never read it through. During the following week, Cindy read Steps to
Christ cover to cover. It opened her eyes and let her see the love and
grace of Jesus as she had not seen them before. Somewhere in the course of reading
that book, she invited Jesus to be her companion and Lord. Since that day Jesus
has remained the central joy of her life. She has nurtured that relationship
with Him by reading from the Scriptures and the writings of Ellen White virtually
every day for more than thirty years!
Who, then, was Ellen White? How could one book of hers so impact not only Cindy’s
spiritual life, but that of millions around the world? Let’s consider
a brief biographical sketch of her.
Ellen White’s Life
Ellen Harmon was born in Gorham, Maine, U.S.A., on November 26, 1827. From an
early age, she had a strong interest in spiritual things. She gave her heart
to Jesus at age twelve after hearing William Miller lecture on the prophecies
of Daniel and Revelation. At age fourteen, she was baptized by immersion and
became a member of the Methodist church, which disfellowshiped her and her family
the next year for believing in the literal and imminent return of Jesus.
Because they initially misunderstood the location of the “sanctuary”
of Daniel 8:14, early Adventists believed Jesus’ literal second coming
would occur on October 22, 1844. Two months after the Great Disappointment,
when Jesus did not return on the appointed day, seventeen-year-old Ellen, frail
and ill from the effects of a childhood accident, went by wheelchair to a prayer
group at the home of a friend. As the young women were praying, the Holy Spirit
came close with a special sense of assurance, and Ellen received her first vision.
She saw a path elevated above the earth, and Jesus leading the people of God
on it toward the New Jerusalem. A light shone at the beginning of the path,
which the angel commentator told her was the Midnight Cry. Those who rejected
that message fell off the path to heaven, into the dark world below.
A week after that first vision, God sent Ellen another vision, in which He called
her to be His messenger. Shy and sensitive, she was at first very reluctant
to speak or pray publicly, and especially to deliver messages which expressed
God’s disappointment and disapproval of people’s attitudes or actions.
As she came to a better understanding of the purposes of the messages—that
God desires people to change their lives so they can enjoy His presence for
eternity—she didn’t try to alter the messages for “easy listening.”
Ellen Harmon married a young minister, James White, in 1846. The couple had
four boys, two of whom lived to adulthood and became Adventist ministers. Together
with Joseph Bates, Ellen and James founded the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Her husband died in 1881.
During Ellen White’s 70 years of public ministry, she received about 2000
visions, which she incorporated into more than 100,000 manuscript pages, the
basis of more than 135 books. Her last recorded vision concerned God’s
great love for the youth. According to research done at the Library of Congress
by Dr. Roger Coon, who at the time was an Associate Director of the Ellen G.
White Estate, Ellen White is the world’s most translated woman author
and the most translated American author of either sex. Her writings on salvation,
wellness, education, relationships, parenting, evangelism, social justice, and
the authority of Scripture have unified the Seventh-day Adventist Church amid
the diversity of culture, understanding, and religious practice of its 14 million
members.
Ellen White loved youth and was a frequent devotional speaker at Adventist schools.
She also enjoyed hiking, sailing, gardening, baby animals, and sewing. She was
a “real” person: she sometimes had her feelings hurt by her friends,
struggled with her weight, and occasionally had misunderstandings in her marriage.
She loved her children and sent them many letters (sometimes even enclosing
a piece of candy) when she was traveling to spread the gospel. Most of all,
Ellen White loved Jesus. She wrote and preached more about Him than on any other
subject.
During her long career, Mrs. White opened our eyes to possibilities God wanted
us to see. Through her writings and her speaking, and with her personal efforts
and influence, she helped establish schools, colleges, hospitals, and publishing
plants in North America, Europe, and Australia. The church experienced phenomenal
growth as it responded to God’s leading through His messenger.
Ellen White also addressed social concerns in her writings, especially urging
Christians to respond to the needs of the poor and suffering. She practiced
continual acts of compassion and mercy in her personal life, and she encouraged
reforms that opposed social injustice. She was a bold and fearless herald of
the law of God and its claims on humanity, particularly of the seventh-day Sabbath
and its observance as a response to Christ’s work of grace upon the heart.
She urged children and youth to become an army of workers to carry the Good
News of the gospel to their friends, family, and communities.
Ellen White died at age 87 at her home in northern California. Her last words
were, “I know in Whom I have believed.”
While it is evident that Ellen White lived an exemplary Christian life as a
passionate proclaimer of Jesus, a helpful and kind neighbor, a caring mother
and grandmother, and a bold, visionary reformer, does she still speak to our
needs in the 21st century? Can she touch people in our generation?
Can she help to open our eyes to God’s plans for us?
Changing Worldview
Our era is moving from reason to mystery. People are changing from a naturalistic,
scientific worldview to one that accepts the supernatural and spiritual. Maybe
the timing is perfect to introduce one of God’s best-kept spiritual mysteries:
the gift of the Spirit in a post-biblical prophet!
Here are some specific examples of how books written by Ellen White a hundred
years ago continue to speak to a changing worldview.
In the Testimonies, Ellen White gives real people honest counsel about
real circumstances. Many today in some Western countries are intrigued by reality-TV
programming—where cameras are placed in people’s homes, revealing
the secrets of their everyday lives. In the Testimonies, however, the
Spirit Himself reveals secrets about real people’s everyday lives, but
not for mere entertainment or voyeurism. Here God gives redemptive counsel through
His messenger to get these people out of the human sin predicament,
not to wallow in it! We find the same authenticity in Patriarchs and
Prophets and Prophets and Kings—real and transparent stories of biblical
figures, not just slick “success” stories.
We find diversity and inclusiveness in The Ministry of Healing and
Evangelism—books where Ellen White promotes outreach opportunities
for and to all—inclusive of every age, gender, and race. And of course,
where could we better find Christ’s story intersecting with our story
than in The Desire of Ages and Christ’s Object Lessons?
In Steps to Christ, a devotional book now translated into about 150
languages, Ellen White addresses loneliness, abandonment, and guilt. Consider
this passage from the chapter titled “The Privilege of Prayer” that
gives us glimpses into the heart of our heavenly Father:
“Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears
before God. You cannot burden Him; you cannot weary Him. He who numbers the
hairs of your head is not indifferent to the wants of His children. ‘The
Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.’ James 5:11. His heart of love
is touched by our sorrows and even by our utterances of them. Take to Him everything
that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear, for He holds
up worlds, He rules over all the affairs of the universe. Nothing that in any
way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice. There is no chapter in
our experience too dark for Him to read; there is no perplexity too difficult
for Him to unravel. No calamity can befall the least of His children, no anxiety
harass the soul, no joy cheer, no sincere prayer escape the lips, of which our
heavenly Father is unobservant, or in which He takes no immediate interest.
‘He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.’ Psalm
147:3. The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though
there were not another soul to share His watchcare, not another soul for whom
He gave His beloved Son.” (Page 100.)
Or consider the visionary action stories from The Acts of the Apostles—narratives
urging the church community to band together for the common good, particularly
in times of crisis. Far from ignoring the claims of the gospel, Ellen White
integrated evangelical piety and progressive social concern in her teachings
and her life, opening our eyes to what God wants us to be. One can only wonder:
if Ellen White lived today, would she have something to say about the dismal
fact that every year Americans spend as much money on chewing gum as they give
to missions?
Concern for the Poor
In Gospel Workers and Welfare Ministry, Ellen White opens
our eyes to the principles for engaging the world. Here she unequivocally promotes
participation in acts of mercy and promoting justice in society while stressing
the need to offer hope through conversion to Jesus Christ. Throughout her life,
Ellen White continually urged the importance of uplifting the poor, by her own
example and by writing extensively about the Christian’s obligation to
serve those who have the least in society. She did not hold up the wealthy and
powerful as role models of the faith nor attribute their prosperity necessarily
to the favor of God, as did many of her contemporaries, and as the “prosperity
gospel” continues to do today.
Unlike many of her contemporaries, Ellen White did not exclude any class. She
once wrote, “Everywhere there is a work to be done for all classes of
society. We are to come close to the poor and the depraved, those who have fallen
through intemperance. And, at the same time, we are not to forget the higher
classes—the lawyers, ministers, senators, and judges . . . . We are to
leave no effort untried to show them that their souls are worth saving, that
eternal life is worth striving for” (Testimonies for the Church, vol.
7, p. 58).
Sanctification, the restoration of the image of God in the person, is the ultimate
purpose of welfare ministry in Ellen White’s view. Tying one’s social
obligations to the gospel was a priority in her life. Through both her life
and her writings, she clearly proclaimed that the purpose of redemption is service.
(See Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 326.)
Search for Meaning
Many people in the 21st century are looking for meaning, for an antidote for
restlessness and anxiety. They want to know how to be free from guilt and fear
of the future. Ellen White opens our eyes to God’s way of meeting those
needs—working together to save both the bodies and souls of humanity.
Ellen White constantly promoted whole-person evangelism and service to the needy.
And not just in her writings! In spite of her prolific literary output and intense
schedule of travel and speaking, Ellen White continually served the poor and
oppressed. She organized sewing bees for the less fortunate, she opposed the
Fugitive Slave Law, she took orphans into her home for months and sometimes
years, her home had so many guests for meals that she once referred to it as
“The Hotel,” and she often delivered food to her neighbors. But
she combined her actions with the gospel. Leading men and women, boys and girls,
to Jesus was the central theme of both her writings and her long life of service
to others.
With the political uncertainties and unrest in our world today, people of all
economic strata and political persuasions are seeking freedom from fear. In
the United States, personal freedoms are being significantly reduced in the
name of providing safety in a time of heightened terrorism alert. Other places
have also been affected. National Geographic reported in December of
2003 that if you spend a day in London, you can expect hidden surveillance cameras
to take your picture at least 300 times.
This is just the beginning! If you want the Lord to open your eyes to see how
the story ends, get out your Bible and study Revelation 13 in combination with
the last few chapters of The Great Controversy. Begin with Chapter
35, the insightful, up-to-the-minute, could-have-been-written-in-2005 chapter
titled “Liberty of Conscience Threatened,” continue with the thrilling
account of “God’s People Delivered,” and let heaven fill your
thoughts through every sentence of the last chapter, “The Controversy
Ended.”
Good Fruits
One of the Bible’s tests of a prophet is found in Matthew 7:20: “By
their fruits you shall know them.” Does Ellen White open my eyes to help
me see Jesus as my Friend, my Savior? Oh, yes. Do her writings continue to point
me toward holiness, as a response to grace? Oh, yes. Does she advocate principles
that are sometimes difficult for me to practice in my personal life? Oh, yes!
But letting us know what we’re doing wrong and how we can better reflect
the character of God is another test of a true prophet. According to Jeremiah
23:16 and 17, a false prophet says, “All is well. I’m O.K., you’re
O.K. God is not particular, and we’re all going to heaven anyway.”
False prophets blind people’s eyes to their real condition. A true prophet
opens their eyes and turns people from their evil ways (verse 22).
Unlike the despair, futility, self-centeredness, and anger expressed in much
of today’s media entertainment—from television to music to DVDs—the
messages from God entrusted to an uneducated, unbeautiful, unlikely messenger
brim with hope! Best of all, Ellen White’s writings point unfailingly
to Jesus as the solution to all of life’s perplexities and conflicting
claims.
Two years before Ellen White died, she was invited to give the devotional for
a picnic at a school near Pacific Union College. She frequently spoke to youth
and was often invited to address student assemblies. That morning a stenographer
took down her entire message, but I just want to share with you two paragraphs.
Somehow I think these words may be as warm, relevant, and important to you as
they were to those California students many years ago:
“I am glad to have the privilege of meeting with those who have gathered
here today. I feel an earnest desire that every one of you shall be victorious
in the struggle against evil. For many years I have been laboring for the salvation
of souls. I began this work at a very early age, and all through my life the
Lord has sustained me in telling old and young of the hope that we have in Christ.
“I have always had a special interest in the youth. I see before me today
those whom I know God can use if they will put their dependence in Him. If you
will be earnest in serving God, you will be a help to all with whom you associate.
There is nothing to be ashamed of in being a Christian. It is an honor to follow
the Savior.” (See The Youth’s Instructor, June 9, 1914
[Manuscript 16, 1913].) She wanted to open their eyes to the joy and opportunities
that could be theirs in following Jesus.
We return to our title question: Can Ellen White Open Our Eyes in the 21st
Century? Is Ellen White still a means of connecting the seeker to Christ?
Can she cut through the fog of safe, politically-correct, neutral terms and
state that we are sinners—all of us—but that we can be redeemed,
saved, and secure at last? Does she speak to the issues you face?
I answer, “Yes, oh yes!” But if you haven’t, or won’t,
read her, your answers to those questions would likely be “No.”
And God allows that freedom of choice, even though we wound the heart of God
when we leave His gift, sent from love to us, on the shelf. God has sent us
a unique message, a special message, an eye-opening message, but many times
we reject His gift because we want the popular best-sellers of the world, so
we can be like everyone else.
No, God will never force us to open those books. He still loves us if we don’t.
But we miss an opportunity to see the unseen, to understand better how He feels
about us, what He did so that we could live together, and His plans for our
future life.
But don’t take my word for it. In the words of 1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Test
all things.” I challenge you to choose a book authored by Ellen White
and read it this week, cover to cover. Ask God for the Holy Spirit to guide
your understanding. And if you want to be really courageous, ask Him to make
you a willing hearer and a willing doer.
In Acts 17:11, we find Paul commending the Bereans for testing his teachings
with those of Scripture. I invite you to be a Berean this week! Read Ellen White
for yourself. Does she open your eyes so that you can see Jesus?
Taste, and see!
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Pastors:
for your information—
The Ellen G. White Estate has prepared a paraphrase of selections from the writings
of Ellen White. It is the first Ellen White book prepared especially for twenty-first-century
young adults and is available from Adventist Book Centers. A Call to Stand
Apart focuses on issues that youth are facing today, drawn from a variety
of previously-published material of enduring relevance that has been transformed
by modern-language paraphrase. Though sentences and paragraphs have been condensed
and language modernized, every effort has been made to be faithful to the content,
ideas, and principles that Ellen White set forth.
Each section starts with the testimony of a young adult who has been positively
influenced by Ellen White and would like to pass that inspiration on to others.
At the end of each thematic chapter are questions suitable for small group discussion.
This book grew out of the conviction that the principles penned more than 100
years ago under divine inspiration are more relevant than ever. Our hope is
that young adult readers will find A Call to Stand Apart so compelling
and inspiring that they will go on to explore the deep spiritual riches found
in Ellen White’s standard writings.