How to Correctly Use Ellen White

 

Why the Bible Must Be the Final Authority

Ellen G. White has had a profound influence on Seventh-day Adventist history, theology, education, health, and Christian living. Yet one of the most important questions Adventists can ask is not simply, “Do you believe Ellen White?” but rather, “How should Ellen White be used?” That question matters because a person can misuse the writings of a prophet while claiming to honor the prophet. In fact, Ellen White repeatedly warned Christians not to make human words the final authority in matters of faith. She consistently pointed people back to Scripture.

The correct use of Ellen White begins with recognizing the unique authority of the Bible. Scripture is not one source of truth among several equal sources. The Bible is the inspired Word of God and the ultimate standard by which doctrine, teaching, and religious practice must be tested. Ellen White herself repeatedly affirmed this principle.

In her first published book, Ellen White wrote, “I recommend to you, dear reader, the Word of God as the rule of your faith and practice.” She then explained that the visions were “not for a new rule of faith, but for the comfort of His people, and to correct those who err from Bible truth.”

That statement is extremely important. Ellen White did not present her writings as another Bible. She did not say that Christians should establish doctrine by finding an Ellen White quotation and then looking for a Bible verse to support it. Instead, she pointed people to the Word of God.

She later wrote even more directly, “The Bible, and the Bible alone, is to be our creed, the sole bond of union.” She also described the position taken by the early Adventist pioneers: “We then took the position that the Bible, and the Bible only, was to be our guide; and we are never to depart from this position.”

Those words provide an important principle for anyone who wants to use Ellen White correctly: Ellen White should point us to Scripture, not replace Scripture.

Ellen White Did Not Claim to Replace the Bible

One of the greatest mistakes people can make is treating Ellen White as though her writings function as a second Bible. That approach creates serious problems. It can cause people to study Ellen White's statements instead of studying Scripture for themselves. It can also lead people to settle theological disagreements by saying, “Ellen White says...” rather than asking, “What does the Bible teach?”

Ellen White specifically encouraged people to search the Scriptures for themselves.

In one powerful appeal to ministers, she wrote, “Search the Scriptures for yourselves. ... Know for yourselves what is truth. Do not take any man's words, any man's prejudices, any man's arguments, any man's theories.”

That is remarkable advice coming from Ellen White herself. She did not want people to become dependent upon her writings. She wanted them to become students of Scripture.

This agrees with the example found in Acts 17:11. When the Bereans heard Paul preaching, they did not simply accept everything because Paul was an apostle. They “searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Their attitude provides an excellent model for Christians today. Even when we hear something from someone we respect, we should test it against God's Word.

The Bible Must Remain the Final Test

The Bible itself gives us the standard for testing religious teaching. Isaiah 8:20 says, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

Paul likewise tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16–17 that Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, so that the person of God may be thoroughly equipped.

Notice what Scripture does not say. It does not tell Christians to test doctrine by church tradition, denominational popularity, theological personalities, or the writings of respected Christian authors. The ultimate question is whether a teaching agrees with the Word of God.

Ellen White strongly supported this principle. She wrote, “God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible, and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines, and the basis of all reforms.” She continued by saying that before accepting a doctrine or precept, we should demand a plain “Thus saith the Lord” in its support.

That principle should dramatically change the way we read Ellen White.

Ellen White's Writings Should Drive Us Back to the Bible

A healthy use of Ellen White is to read her writings as a call to deeper Bible study.

If Ellen White discusses prayer, we should study the biblical teaching about prayer.

If she discusses Christian character, we should examine the teachings of Jesus and the apostles concerning Christian character.

If she discusses the Sabbath, we should go back to Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah, the Gospels, and the New Testament and examine what Scripture actually says.

If she discusses the Second Coming, we should study the biblical passages concerning Christ's return.

Ellen White herself described this method of Bible study. She wrote, “If there is a point of truth that you do not understand, upon which you do not agree, investigate, compare scripture with scripture.”

That is an excellent principle. Scripture should be compared with Scripture. One verse should not be isolated from the rest of the Bible. A doctrine should be examined in light of everything Scripture says about that subject.

She also wrote, “The Bible is its own expositor. One passage will prove to be a key that will unlock other passages.”

Therefore, the proper approach is not to use Ellen White to avoid studying the Bible. The proper approach is to allow her writings to encourage us to study the Bible more carefully.

How We Can Use Ellen White Incorrectly

One common misuse is using an Ellen White quotation as the proof of a doctrine instead of proving the doctrine from Scripture.

For example, someone may make a theological claim and then immediately quote Ellen White. When challenged about the biblical evidence, the response becomes, “But Ellen White says...” That reverses the proper order.

A better approach is to establish the teaching from Scripture first. Then, if appropriate, Ellen White can be consulted for additional counsel, emphasis, historical perspective, or practical application.

Another misuse is using Ellen White quotations to settle arguments that Scripture itself has not been allowed to settle.

Two people may disagree about a biblical passage. Instead of carefully examining the passage, its context, related Scriptures, and the overall teaching of the Bible, one person may pull out a quotation from Ellen White and declare the discussion finished.

That may end an argument, but it does not necessarily produce biblical understanding.

The Bereans did not settle truth by asking which respected religious leader had the strongest statement. They searched the Scriptures to determine whether what they heard was true.

A third misuse is taking an Ellen White quotation out of context.

This can happen just as easily with Ellen White as it can with the Bible. A sentence can sound as though it teaches one thing when the surrounding paragraph, chapter, letter, or historical situation reveals a different meaning.

Responsible study requires looking at the context. We should ask who Ellen White was addressing, what problem she was addressing, what the surrounding material says, and whether the statement is describing a universal biblical principle, personal counsel, a particular situation, or an application of a biblical teaching.

A fourth misuse is treating every sentence Ellen White ever wrote as though it were a universal command for every Christian in every situation.

Ellen White wrote letters, personal counsels, testimonies, articles, books, and manuscripts addressing particular people and circumstances. Context matters.

A statement written to a particular person facing a particular situation should not automatically be transformed into a universal command for every Christian.

The same principle applies to Scripture itself. Paul wrote specific instructions to particular churches dealing with particular problems, yet those writings contain principles that apply broadly. Good interpretation requires us to distinguish the historical situation from the enduring biblical principle.

A fifth misuse is using Ellen White to create beliefs that cannot be established from Scripture.

If a teaching is supposedly essential to salvation or Christian faith, it should have clear biblical support. We should not say, “The Bible doesn't really teach this, but Ellen White does, therefore we must believe it.”

That approach contradicts Ellen White's own repeated emphasis on the Bible as the standard.

Ellen White Should Never Become a Substitute for Personal Bible Study

Perhaps the most dangerous misuse of Ellen White is allowing her writings to replace personal Bible study.

A Christian should not need an Ellen White quotation before being willing to believe a biblical teaching.

If Jesus teaches something clearly, we should accept it because Jesus teaches it.

If Paul teaches something clearly, we should examine Paul's teaching because it is part of inspired Scripture.

If the Old Testament teaches something clearly, we should take it seriously because it is part of the Word of God.

Ellen White's writings can help illuminate, encourage, warn, and apply biblical principles, but they should never become a substitute for knowing Scripture.

Ellen White herself wrote that God has not given additional light “to take the place of His Word.” Instead, she said, “This light [the gift of prophecy] is to bring confused minds to His Word.”

That may be one of the clearest descriptions of the proper relationship between her writings and Scripture.

The light is supposed to bring us to the Word.

If our use of Ellen White takes us away from serious Bible study, we are using her writings incorrectly.

Prove Everything by Scripture

The principle of testing teaching by Scripture is not an Adventist invention. It is biblical.

Paul told the Thessalonians, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

John warned believers to “try the spirits whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1).

Jesus repeatedly appealed to Scripture. When tempted by Satan, Jesus answered, “It is written” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10).

When discussing important religious questions, Jesus directed people back to the Scriptures. In John 5:39 He said, “Search the scriptures.”

The point is not that Christians should distrust everyone. The point is that God's Word must remain the measuring stick.

Ellen White herself encouraged this kind of examination. She wrote that “all points of doctrine, even though they have been accepted as truth, should be brought to the law and to the testimony.” If they cannot stand that test, she said, “there is no light in them.”

That is a powerful warning against theological laziness.

It means we should be willing to examine even doctrines that we have believed for years.

We should examine what our pastors teach.

We should examine what our churches teach.

We should examine what our favorite authors teach.

We should examine what Ellen White wrote.

And, most importantly, we should examine what we ourselves believe.

The Right Order Matters

There is a healthy order for Christian study:

First, Scripture.

Second, careful comparison of Scripture with Scripture.

Third, prayerful study and consideration of historical and contextual information.

Fourth, consultation of other helpful Christian writings, including Ellen White, without allowing those writings to replace Scripture.

Finally, everything must remain subject to the authority of God's Word.

This approach does not dishonor Ellen White. In fact, it takes her own counsel seriously.

If Ellen White repeatedly tells us that the Bible is the rule of faith, that Scripture should be compared with Scripture, that Christians should search the Scriptures for themselves, and that her writings were not given to replace God's Word, then ignoring that counsel while constantly using her writings as the final authority is actually inconsistent with her own teaching.

Ellen White's Greatest Contribution May Be Pointing Us Back to Christ and Scripture

The safest way to use Ellen White is to ask, “Where does this lead me?”

Does it lead me to Scripture?

Does it lead me to Christ?

Does it encourage repentance?

Does it strengthen faith?

Does it promote obedience to God's Word?

Does it deepen my understanding of biblical principles?

Does it make me more humble, loving, faithful, and Christlike?

If so, it may be serving the purpose Ellen White intended.

But if a quotation is being used to win an argument, shut down Bible study, establish a doctrine without biblical evidence, attack another Christian, or elevate Ellen White above Scripture, something has gone wrong.

The goal of Christian faith is not to become an expert in Ellen White quotations. The goal is to know Jesus Christ through the Word of God.

Ellen White herself pointed believers toward that Word.

The Bible says, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17).

It says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

And it tells us that Scripture is able to make us “wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15).

That is where our foundation must remain.

Ellen White should never stand between the believer and the Bible. Properly understood, her writings should send us back to the Bible, back to Christ, and back to a deeper search for truth.

The ultimate question is therefore not, “What does Ellen White say?”

The ultimate question is, “What does the Bible teach?”

And if we are going to honor Ellen White's own counsel, that is exactly where we should begin—and where we should ultimately end.