Misusing the
Writings of Ellen G. White
In
the pamphlet published by Brother S. and his associates, he
accuses the church of God of being Babylon, and would urge a
separation from the church. This is a work that is neither
honorable nor righteous. In compiling this work,
they have used my name and writings
for the support of that which I disapprove and denounce as
error. The people to whom this
pamphlet will come will charge the responsibility of this false
position upon me, when it is utterly contrary to the teachings
of my writings and the light which God has given me.
I have no hesitancy in saying that those who are urging on this
work are greatly deceived. Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel
Workers p. 36
Do not seek to misinterpret, and twist, and pervert
the Testimonies to substantiate any such message of error. Many have
passed over this ground, and have done great harm. As others have
started up full of zeal to proclaim this message, again and again, I
have been shown that it was not truth. Testimonies to
Ministers and Gospel Workers p. 59,60
Those who have proclaimed
the Seventh-day Adventist Church as Babylon, have made use of the
Testimonies in giving their position a seeming support; but why is
it that they did not present that which for years has been the
burden of my message--the unity of the church? Why did they not
quote the words of the angel, "Press together, press together, press
together"? Why did they not repeat the
admonition and state the principle, that "in union there is
strength, in division there is weakness"? It is such messages as
these men have borne that divide the church, and put us to shame
before the enemies of truth; and in such messages is plainly
revealed the specious working of the great deceiver, who would
hinder the church from attaining unto perfection in unity. These
teachers follow the sparks of their own kindling, move according to
their own independent judgment, and cumber the truth with false
notions and theories. They refuse the counsel of their brethren, and
press on in their own way until they become just what Satan would
desire to have them--unbalanced in mind.
Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers p.
56.
Those
who are carrying this message of error, denouncing the church as
Babylon, are neglecting their God-appointed work, are in opposition
to organization. Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel
Workers p. 53.
It will be found that those who
bear false messages will not have a high sense of honor and
integrity. They will deceive
the people, and mix up with their error the Testimonies of Sister
White, and use her name to give influence to their work. They make
such selections from the Testimonies as they think they can twist to
support their positions, and place them in a setting of falsehood,
so that their error may have weight and be accepted by the people.
They misinterpret and misapply that which God has given to the
church to warn, counsel, reprove, comfort, and encourage those who
shall make up the remnant people of God. Those who receive the
Testimonies as the message of God will be helped and blessed
thereby; but those who take them in parts, simply to support some
theory or idea of their own, to vindicate themselves in a course of
error, will not be blessed and benefited by what they teach.
To claim that the Seventh-day
Adventist Church is Babylon, is to make the same claim as does
Satan, who is an accuser of
the brethren, who accuses them before God night and day.
By this misusing of the Testimonies,
souls are placed in perplexity, because they cannot understand the
relation of the Testimonies to such a position as is taken by those
in error; for God intended that the Testimonies should always have a
setting in the framework of truth. Those who advocate error will
say, "The Lord saith," "when the Lord hath not spoken."
They testify to falsehood, and not to truth. If those who have been
proclaiming the message that the church is Babylon had used the
money expended in publishing and circulating this error, in building
up, instead of tearing down, they would have made it evident that
they were the people whom God is leading."
Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers p. 41-43
Conclusion
"They make such selections from
the Testimonies as they think they can twist to support their
positions, and place them in a setting of falsehood, so that their
error may have weight and be accepted by the people."
Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers p. 41-43
