Aunty, are we still the remnant church when our prophet has been dead for over a century?
21 July 2025 |
Our church has proclaimed itself the remnant church because we have a prophet. Do we qualify as having a prophet when the prophet has been dead for well over a century?
Signed, Still the Remnant?
Dear Remnant,
While Ellen White was alive, she was a dynamic leader. She corrected the church in real time. Once she died, she became something quite different: a written authority. And written authorities don’t operate without interpreters, which means that others tell us what Ellen White meant.
The result? We entirely ignore some of the things she said, while strongly emphasizing others. We explain away some extremely problematic statements. We never interpret a Bible text without checking with her first.
We have, in recent years, learned that Ellen White’s messages didn’t come directly from God, but often from other writers or her secretaries. Her authority is diminished by these discoveries, and it is taking its toll on the church. But by now Ellen White has become such a strong force, that if God sent another prophet with a new message, that person would be rejected!
Ellen White still has lessons for us. But Aunty thinks that to say that she is the sign that God has selected us above all other Christians doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.
Aunt Sevvy
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