Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing Challenge
by Nathan Brown
Curiously, my first memories of reading Ellen White are reading about her. As a young reader, I battled through W.C. White's six-volume biography. From this unusual beginning, I had a sense of the incredible working of God in and through Ellen White and the beginnings of our church. This gave a significant context to my eventual reading of her work.
My parents gave me Steps to Christ on the day of my baptism. Some years later, I was gently ridiculed — for reasons of weight, not content — for taking a hard-cover copy of The Desire of Ages on a pack-hike ( — it was just what I was reading at the time). More recently, I remember a rain-soaked weekend spent camping in the north Queensland rainforest in which I sailed through the Messiah-reworking of Desire of Ages. And of course there are the hammerings: the abuse meted out by the well-meaning yet misguided — but I don't need to explain that. These positives and negatives form a tradition many who have grown up in the church share.
The challenge for each successive generation is to make the best use of the inherited traditions. In an essay considering tradition in literature, T.S. Eliot urges a more energetic practice of tradition than mere adherence: "Yet if the only form of tradition, of handing down, consisted in following the ways of the immediate generation before us in a blind of timid adherence to its success, ‘tradition' should be positively discouraged… Tradition is a matter of much wider significance. It cannot be inherited, and if you want it you must obtain it by great labour."[1]
Ironically, we are most true to the tradition when we question aspects of that tradition. Significantly, this was recognized by Ellen herself. She affirmed the past and urged that "we are to repeat the words of the pioneers in our work, who knew what it cost to seek out the truth as for hidden treasure, and who labored to lay the foundation of our work."[2] But she also urged continued progress: "The truth is an advancing truth, and we must walk in increasing light."[3] This formulation can be applied to both the heritage from Ellen White, her writings and her contemporaries and the tradition of more recent generations who have borrowed poorly from that heritage.
Without necessarily disregarding the content of her writing, perhaps we can take something more from the tradition of Ellen White. To paraphrase Doug Pagitt — a senior fellow of the Emergent network–sometimes our call might be to do the work of the pioneers and not to simply think like the pioneers and recite them. Perhaps, he suggests, our need to study the past is less for content than "for clues on how to proceed and inspiration to continue the journey."[4]
The tradition we have from Ellen White is one of incredible innovation, risk-taking and communication. The breadth of her writing, publishing, speaking and travelling were immense, particularly as the achievements of a poorly-educated woman of the 19th century. One can only imagine what she might have been into had she lived in today's world of hypertext, online streaming, digital film production and sound recording. Her tradition is also one of radical commitment and mission. Imagine her health and social justice concerns extrapolated to this age of global awareness. And consider her focus on sharing the love of God and the expectation of the imminent Second Coming with the whole world in an era of mass communication. It's a world-changing tradition.
The Seventh-day Adventist church, our big picture beliefs, our institutions, our magazines and many other aspects of the church's heritage would simply not exist without the ministry of Ellen White. They are our past; and they are us. Anything we write, anything we do as a church, is informed by that context. But to be most true to that tradition, we must continually re-commit, re-invent, re-build, re-arrange, re-focus, re-vision, re-claim, re-ignite, re-connect — and lots of other "re-" words. That is our continuing tradition; that is our continuing challenge.
[1] T.S. Eliot, "Tradition and the Individual Talent", The American Tradition in Literature (Eighth Edition), McGraw-Hill, p.1386.
[2] Counsels to Writers and Editors, p.28.
[3] Counsels to Writers and Editors, p.33.
[4] Comments in Dave Tomlinson's The Post-Evangelical (Revised North American Edition), emergentYS Books, 2003, p.95.
Comments
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On March 11th, 2011 dingdong says:
All good Nathan, I do however suspect you are driving at the material that is published about EGW's sources and the copy cat theory. I may be way off the mark however. She had to defend herself from this in her time and all we need to do is read what she said then. God reminded her of passages when under inspiration – she did not have those books at her side copying them down word for word. I also understand that some minor historical elements of those works she regularly used are suggested to be innacurate but this is not an issue for me. It was the best knowlege of her day and the suggested innacuracies are minor if relevant at all to her overall point. It is also clear that the "advancing truth" she advocates does not cancel out what has already been declared as truth under inspiration – she said that too.
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On March 11th, 2011 Elaine Nelson says:
"she did not have those books at her side copying them down word for word.:"
What evidence do you have for that statement? Whether she copied them "word for word" is not what has been contested. Her statement that she never read those books that were in her library from which so much infomration was also contained in her testimonies.
If a student said that he didn't copy from any available books, and there was overwhelming evidence that he did (teachers see this on a daily basis), the student is quickly informed that such copying is gross violation and jeopardizes his grade. Just because she was never accused in a court on plagiarism, means only that she was not taken to court! Even the Review during her day had warnings to writer-contributors of the copyright laws that existed at the time, and to be warned. Because she claimed that everything she wrote was given her directly from God, no one dared accuse her at that time, although there were questions. Because she was adopted as the SDA prophet, she was able to do many things denied ordinary folk. The church would benefit by letting her RIP. Surely, you have read the minutes of the 1919 Bible Conference.
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On March 11th, 2011 Herbert Douglass says:
Ah, Elaine. I think Nathan would enjoy clearing up your assertions. And your reference to 1919 Bible Conference had nothing to do with EGW. You may be referring to the Teachers' Meeting held afterwards.You can read about that in a chapter devoted to it in Messenger of the Lord.
But Nathan, you have raised the bar for English finesse! Superb review in a few words. When I became an Adventist, I went through that same delightful, awesome trip that you described. The Big Picture got clearer as I followed Ellen's ,maturing grasp of the Great Controversy Theme. Without her, I would not be an Adventist. But where would I go?
I have tried to distinguish between unfolding truth and progressive truth–a world of difference! Unfolding truth does not reject truth with "new light"! It enhances it! Often progressive truth falls into the trap of either ignoring accepted truth or filling the "words" treasured by many with "new" definitions. That, IMO, is what Pagitt does as welll as Tomlinson. When anyone faces the issues of post-modernism without the core foundation of the biblical Big Picture, the door is wide open to all kinds of reveries and "fresh" thoughts.
I appreciate your writing on various occasions. EGW would commend you! Cheers, Herb
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On March 11th, 2011 Cornerstone111 says:
The big problem with the Great Controversy is, people treat it like it is a bible, and not a book written by a fallible woman, who did use a lot of plagiarism to write it.
People also think that what is written in that book, is exactly how things are going to happen in the end, yet that is seeming more and more untrue every day. There are so many things EGW never mentioned in the book, like the rise of Islam. Everything she wrote about, was mainly influenced by her own time, and not ours.
She was right though, there is a Great Controversy theme between Christ and the Devil.
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On March 11th, 2011 Cornerstone111 says:
Acts 2:17
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
In the last days there will be many Prophets in the churches, living prophets, not a movement that is holding on to a 100 year old dead prophet and her writings that are highly controversial.
How many living Prophets does the SDA Church have today? the answer is ZERO!
Here is a short clip on what Walter Martin had to say about EGW, and I think it is a fair assumption of her. Remember, he was the nicest critic the church has ever had.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVHWGn3PM_o
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On March 14th, 2011 brown27 says:
Thanks for your comments. I agree with the comments urging the need for a foundation to our advances. An advance off a foundation is not much of an advance—it is starting again with all the risks involved with that.
This is something I wrote a while back but one of the things that struck me was the similarity between Doug Pagitt's quote and comments from Ellen White herself. Compare the following:
“We cannot be accepted or honored of God in rendering the same service, or doing the same works, that our fathers did. In order to be accepted and blessed of God as they were, we must imitate their faithfulness and zeal—improve our light as they improved theirs—and do as they would have done had they lived in our day” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol 1, page 262).
It's an inspiring challenge.
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On March 18th, 2011 Ella M says:
Ella M
Elaine:
To quote EGW, "Every flash of intellect is from God."
No one has been so analyzed as this lady by the church she helped found. Yet to read her Christ-centered material, the spiritual and devotional writing is edification. What more can we ask? It's something like cutting up a frog in biology class, soon there is nothing left, and we have destroyed it's beauty and life and it's mystery.
Certainly all these critics can't be denying the truth of the majority of her work. A large percentage of it is Bible quotes. What difference do the irrelevant items matter? Is salvation dependent on belief in what happened in 1844 or Jesus?
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On March 18th, 2011 Tom says:
Ella
You expressed my sentiments exactly. Ditto
Happy Sabbath,
Tom
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On March 18th, 2011 Tom says:
Elaine
Could you enlighten me as to just where EGW says she never read any of those books she copied things from? That is indeed a startling revelation. I would like to see it.
Gotta go, I think my fish dinner is burning! Care to join me for supper.
mmm, good,
Tom
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On March 18th, 2011 Ella M says:
Ella M
How many living Prophets does the SDA Church have today? the answer is ZERO!
Actually there are true and false prophets in and outside the church of differing degrees.
Most of the time the real ones deal with issues on a local level, but when they venture into coming out (I am talking about visions here), they are ridiculed and made to feel uncomfortable in their churches. And I know of a pastor who practiced healing on a too-regular basis and was asked to leave.
With the church's history and focus on one individual, it basically closes it's mind to other prophets. And maybe with our dependence on EGW, God has decided that we shouldn't have another prophetic idol.
We need to ask ourselves if Ellen has not replaced the Bible for some people; something she neither wanted nor intended. Have we made her a kind of celebrity idol? I'm just asking. At the same time her work shouldn't be ignored or laid aside. I believe it was to read and studied for edification.
There are pastors, theologians, writers, editors, etc. also who have a prophetic voice. Some are accepted and some are not.
I am sure among the jumble of voices presenting "new light" there are those who are genuinely used by God. I see Ford's call to emphasize righteousness by faith as a prophetic voice. That doesn't mean he was wise in promoting other more irrelevent ideas. Like Jones and Waggoner, he most likely didn't have perfect knowledge; and neither do any of us.
It takes great discernment to know who is being used by God and who is just promoting their own ideas–or both. I think this can be decided by their love, logic, and biblical understanding. I can think of several people who would fit into this catergory.
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On March 18th, 2011 Cornerstone111 says:
Ellan M,
Des Ford could be classed as a Prophet, but as usual Israel(SDA) stoned him and all the others who came out with the truth like Cottrel, and Van Rooyen.
I think no one dares be a Prophet in Adventism, we already have one who is dead, and she takes up all the room still(maybe its about time we removed her coffin from within Adventism and made some room for some real end time Prophets who are alive). The Church is really lacking true Prophecy from the Holy Spirit today, Ted Wilson knows this, thats why he is asking that all Churches pray for the latter rain.
Keep praying for the Church, it is in a bad way and needs to finally deal with unresolved issues.
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On March 19th, 2011 aklym says:
Art
Tom asked Elaine for examples of Ellen White's denials that she read the works or books of others. Ron Numbers' book sets forth clearly EGW's denials together with the evidence that she did copy. The church has since acknowledged widespread use together with her denials. To read one attempt by Robert W. Olson to deal with these issues you might want to follow this link https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1991/February/ellen-whites-denials
Nathan, I assume your reference to W.C. White's six volume biography was intended to be of Arthur L. White's six volume biography.
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On March 23rd, 2011 Frank Allen says:
You call for seeing the “big picture” of EGW in which I applaud—her mission to health and call to “radical commitment.” Yet I feel your approach ignores, brushes aside, many issues that need to be addressed in all honesty, by your call to “refocus.” Because we want to be in harmony with our leaders, it is hard to question custom and long held tradition when it comes to EGW. Our reputation, our jobs, or circle of friends are at stake. Nearly all church literature is apologia in nature and I believe this is a great hindrance to understanding the social and cultural influences that moved EGW. Nobody wants to dwell on the negative. Out of hundreds I cite seven examples where EGW’s vision is out of step with widely held Adventism.
(1) EGW supported probation against the sale of all alcohol—“by voice and pen and vote–in favor of prohibition and total abstinence” (DG 123).
(2) Belief that voting for a person makes us responsible for their mistakes: “The people of God are not to vote to place such men in office; for when they do this, they are partakers with them of the sins which they commit while in office” (FE 475).
(3) Sleeveless shirts and blouses are a satanic invention: “Satan invented the fashions which leave the limbs exposed, chilling back the life current from its original course” (CG 427).
(4) Plain clothes: “We should educate the youth to simplicity of dress, plainness with neatness. Let the extra trimmings be left out, even though the cost be but a trifle.” (GC 422)
(5) When students play games Satan steals their souls: “While they are becoming experts in games (cricket or baseball) that are not of the least value to themselves or others, Satan is playing the game of life for their souls, taking from them the precious talents God has given them, and placing in their stead his own evil attributes.” (RH 1900).
(6) Reading fiction is an evil that weakens us spiritually and mentally: “Fiction which contains no suggestion of impurity, and which may be intended to teach excellent principles, is harmful…tends to destroy the power of connected and vigorous thought; it unfits the soul to contemplate the great problems of duty and destiny” (CT 383). “Readers of fiction are indulging an evil that destroys spirituality, eclipsing the beauty of the sacred page. It creates an unhealthy excitement, fevers the imagination, unfits the mind for usefulness, weans the soul from prayer, and disqualifies it for any spiritual exercise” (MYP 272).
(7) EGW at camp meeting encouraged a public signing of a temperance pledge that included “liquor, tea, and coffee” (TE 202). “From the light God has given me, every member among us should sign the pledge and be connected with the temperance association. Some have backslidden and tampered with tea and coffee. Those who break the laws of health will become blinded in their minds and break the law of God” (RH 1884).
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On March 23rd, 2011 Elaine Nelson says:
Herb wrote:
"And your reference to 1919 Bible Conference had nothing to do with EGW. You may be referring to the Teachers' Meeting held afterwards.You can read about that in a chapter devoted to it in Messenger of the Lord."
After having read the complete report of that conference, and the decision by the leaders to avoid revealing the disclosure that EGW copied much of her "visions" and testimonies, whether it was the meeting that followed or not does not change the ultimate decisions and results. Should it be expected that EGW's chapter would tell the unbiased story? Was she always objective, or did she subjectively report what she said was "revealed" to her? Human claims of being "God's Messenger" have little sway with those who have not first accepted that title.
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On March 23rd, 2011 Seminarystudent1 says:
Seminary Student ,
It is just funny that whoever writes against Ellen White "becomes an expert and respected scholar " that is for those who are against Ellen White ministry . I believe that our church has done a good job answering to the critics since early on . And About Desmond Ford being a prophet , sorry but I had to laugh , a false prophet I would agree . Elaine , you brought the 1919 bible conference , I am glad Dr. Douglass corrected the misunderstanding . By the way Messanger of the Lord is a great book , Did you know that if you buy the Ellen G White CD ROm 2008 , you get some of the writings of the pioneers , and you will get the book of Dr. Douglass .
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On March 23rd, 2011 Elaine Nelson says:
Seminary Student:
Have you read the many sites (Google SDA 1919 Bible Conference) or have you depended on others to give their own take on that conference?
As to your opinion on Dr. Ford, it is based on other's perception, as you say you have never heard him speak. Is that correct? Do you plan to continue your studies with the continual reliance on others for forming your opinions? The pastors I have known, and there have been many, usually demonstrate a bit more humility, particularly when they are still studying, as your moniker indicates. To dismiss such a theologian with a laugh, as I had never called him a "prophet." With such disdain at professors of theology, it is hoped that you have never confronted your professors with such an attitude. It is detrimental to learning for any student to already have made up his mind while he is still in the learning stage.
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On March 25th, 2011 Ella M says:
Ella M
I don't know what context these were written in, however, they bring up an important point. They were written in the language of another generation, and if one reads others from that time period, they will find a similar tone. Scolding and authority were the way youth were kept in line in those days. I tire of hearing the same sort of thing brought up time and time again without considering the era in which it was written.
I have also had certain ideas "revealed" to me and "been shown" even in other people's writing or telling. Guess what? Everyone has! We have also had some ridiculous ideas or heard them. Discernment is what we need–led by the Holy Spirit. Though a wise woman, by the standards of her times, EGW echoed the specifics of her time. Read the quotes and try to think of what the principles might be today and apply it today's specifics. They only reveal her high moral character and not words straight from God, for Pete's sake!
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On March 26th, 2011 sdasanchi says:
Our continuing tradition and challenge should be, "Bible and Bible only," not Ellen White.
Where are the writings of John the Baptist? He said, He (Jesus) must increase and I must decrease. I beleive that Ellen White tried to get this idea across to God's end time people. She even compared her writings and ministry to that of John the Baptist.
Our dependance on her writings must decrease and our dependance on God's Holy Word, The Bible, must increase.
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On March 26th, 2011 Ella M says:
Ella M
I agree with you and often use this text, not only with EGW, but the church as a whole. We are so church-oriented and many worship the church as an organization. We must decrease and Christ increase.
Don't get me wrong, I believe EGW did have visions/dreams that were symbolic of the future. I suspect some others have too, but she is, after all, co-founder of the SDA church and needs respect and to be taken seriously.
On the other hand her practical advice was often on the specific problems of the era and echoed that of other Christians. The principles still stand. Those church writings are best used as advice for living.
Instead of saying "EGW said" when using information in public, why not either paraphrase it or give it as commentary? If we really believe the ideas are inspired, they are not from EGW, so why say "Ellen White says"–it's trite and inaccurate. How can we get away from this terminology? This is the sort of thing that could make her writings of "no effect" or influence. Hanging on to every word as if it came from God could even be considered idolatry. It will certainly make a lot of other thinking people into cynics.
Having said that, I feel that sometimes the messages come through like that of a teacher, and they explain plainly and spiritually otherwise difficult things about God. In that case we can treat her as an inspired teacher and thus become more intimate with Christ. This is the kind of material to use in sermons, but without giving the trite credit. I don't think she would have wanted it nor do I think God desires it—it's the message, not the messenger we want to draw attention to. Unfortunately everything I read in here is centered on the messenger.
If the church doesn't change its perspective on how to use EGW material reasonably (It needs to start at the top) I fear her messages could be ignored in the decades and generations ahead until they mean nothing to the membership.
Or, remember Buddha? He did not plan to start a religion; he was a wise teacher who had a moment of serendipity and shared it. Look what happened! Maybe like Buddha, we could be making statues of this dear lady to put in temples some day! 🙂 Which way will it go? I am betting on the former.
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On April 2nd, 2011 Trevor Hammond says:
Ellen White's take on our fundamental teachings. Check this link!
https://atoday.rapidhost.net/article.php?id=600 (my first comment on April 2, 2011)
T
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On April 4th, 2011 Ian says:
Ella M,
Wouldn't it be also appropriate to cite the original sources that Ellen White and her team used in writing her Conflict of the Ages Series books?
The research and findings of Walter Rea and Fred Veltmann should be applied by us in the SDA church so that footnotes and references could be written in those books citing the original sources. When page after page was paraphrased to give the impression that it wasn't a "word for word copy", in my mind that is a form of deception; and I feel that our church leaders should apologize to the world for this, and then move on. Our accredited academic institutions condemn this and even expel students from classes for taking someone else's work and passing if off as his/her own.
If Ellen White really received those ideas from God in visions, why was it necessary to copy page after page from other non-Adventist Christian authors? She didn't need other books when writing her testimonies which demonstrates that she did have a gift of writing and wasn't just a "copy cat." I think that the "vegetarian principle" should be applied to her writings: get your food first hand from the original sources! Quote the original authors. It seems that the current EG White Estate is not even turned in that direction – the direction of documenting the original sources of her major books.
At the 1919 Bible Conference and the meetings afterwards, the SDA church came very close to confessing the truth about how Ellen White's books were written, but unfortunately they decided to hide this information from the church membership.
Blessings,
Ian
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On April 5th, 2011 Frank Allen says:
The issue we as SDA’s have to confront is the claims that EGW made for herself. She did not leave us a much room to redesign her writing, as some comments suggest. Conservative members want to keep close to her out of honesty toward God and would resist any movement away as apostasy, splitting many congregations.
What options do we have? None of them are pleasant to a century of public claims made by our church. There are viable options in discussion about the nature of inspiration. However unless embraced slowly over time by church leaders many will continue a literalist approach which does not suite a multi-cultural/national church, for example Hispanic’s love their “fiery spices” decried by Ellen.
In practice we have over the last 50 years moved more toward a “pick and choose” approach to EGW. None of our hospital can follow her drugless approach and none of our schools can honor her ideas about the harm of all fiction. Perhaps now it is time for honesty, a sign of the remnant.
“The sweet light of heaven would shine around me, and I would seem to be encircled by the arms of my Savior, and would there be taken off in vision.” CET 76
“In the testimonies I bear, I am presenting to you that which the Lord has presented to me. I do not write one article in the paper, expressing merely my own ideas. They are what God has opened before me in vision–the precious rays of light shining from the throne.” SM 27.2
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On April 5th, 2011 TruthWave says:
@Peace: What planet are you living on? Even the secular Forbes Magazine listed the Pope of Rome as the 5th most powerful person in the world in 2011, and that inspite of the global sex scandals! https://www.forbes.com/wealth/powerful-people
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On April 6th, 2011 TruthWave says:
@Frank: The honesty that is wanting is the fact that most of the schools and hospitals are greatly compromised and worldly! If EGW were to arise from the grave and speak to our world church in 2011, it would be a message to would encourage biblical godliness, and rebuke the worldliness that has pervated most our churches and institutions in the NAD.
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On April 6th, 2011 CONTROLFREAK111 says:
Peace says:
Des Ford could be classed as a Prophet, but as usual Israel(SDA) stoned him and all the others who came out with the truth like Cottrel, and Van Rooyen.
I think no one dares be a Prophet in Adventism, we already have one who is dead, and she takes up all the room still(maybe its about time we removed her coffin from within Adventism and made some room for some real end time Prophets who are alive). The Church is really lacking true Prophecy from the Holy Spirit today, Ted Wilson knows this, thats why he is asking that all Churches pray for the latter rain.
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
OK after take another look at the first commandment and where it says 'gods' realise that it is talking about self elevated people, not celestial beings and then the revelation of the mistake being made in regards to Ellen White, Des Ford or the Pope as the Vicar of Christ will be all the clearer.
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On April 7th, 2011 Trevor Hammond says:
Hey CONTROLFREAK111
Sorry to bother you again but it seems you somehow may know how Cornerstone111 (Nath) is doing. We know that Nath hasn't been well. Do you know how he is doing? I am sincerely concerned and have been praying for him.
Thanks
Trevor
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On April 7th, 2011 Con says:
What 'god' have you been praying to Trevor, is it the 'little' one in your heart that you mentioned elsewhere, C3 knows that particular god very well also, it's the one that tells him just what he wants to hear and gives him whatever he desires, even when it is blatantly what the scripture tells us is against the will of GOD.
I posed some questions, he wont face up to them, why? Because the truth hurts Trevor, and the truth brings repentance.
Re: Ellen White: Our Continuing Tradition, Our Continuing …
On April 7th, 2011 Trevor Hammond says:
Hey, CONTROLFREAK111 – Whatsup!
RE your comment: "What 'god' have you been praying to Trevor, is it the 'little' one in your heart that you mentioned elsewhere,"
Yeah, it's the same God that loved this world that he sent Jesus to die on the Cross for my sins and who dwells in my heart by faith. [John 3:16]
It's a chorus I mentioned elsewhere and the words really mean a lot to me:
How big is God! How big and wide His vast domain!
To begin to tell, These lips can only start;
He's big enough, To rule this mighty Universe,
Yet small enough, To reign within my heart!
Have you heard how God forgives the worst of sinners and how He loves each and every one of us including C3 and CF111?
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." [Eph 3:16,17,18,19]
Yes CF111 God does dwell in the human heart and He can dwell in your heart too. "The furthest He can be from anyone of us is just outside our hearts" – come on why won't you let Him come in? You know He loves you!
Have a fantastic day in Christ CONTROLFREAK111 !
T
