2006-11-19 18:56:12 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
if you can give an example as to why, we may answer :)
2006-11-19 19:00:15 · answer #1 · answered by Sky_blue 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely not. Any prophet whose writings are taken out of context will appear to be in error. In addition, many people do not properly understand the role of inspiration as the Bible teaches it. Many Biblical prophets were not perfect, David, Abraham, Jacob, Noah, Jonah, Peter, Paul, John the Revelator to name a few. Why should EG White be held to a higher standard than these men of faith? Most Bible writers borrowed scripture from other sources without giving credit to those sources. Some even borrowed from nonchristian sources. Inspiration allows for this. The purpose of the Bible and other inspiration is to lead one to eternal life, and the source of eternal life, Jesus Christ. Ellen White has been true to this calling. She is the most translated author of all time. Her books have led millions to Christ. How many have you led? Not everything a prophet says comes directly from God. Prophets are human. They sometimes give advice based on their human understanding of a situation. When God later gives them a correct understanding they make corrections to the original statement. To understand any prophet, biblical or not, one must take into account everything that is said on a particular subject, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a litte, there a little, until the underlying harmony is revealed. To get caught up in trivial apparent contradictions is to abuse the gift of inspiration.
This is the Adventist perspective on Ellen White and the gift of prophecy according to the official home page for Seventh day Adventists.
18. The Gift of Prophecy:
One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen. G. White . As the Lord's messenger, her writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction. They also make clear that the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested. (Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:14-21; Heb. 1:1-3; Rev. 12:17; 19:10.)
Doesn't sound like the church is too embarassed by Ellen White. Are you sure you don't have a personal reason for your attacks?
2006-11-20 04:12:38 · answer #2 · answered by 19jay63 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Despite stuff like the link I've included, it would seem as Ellen G White is foundress of this denomination that most Adventists have reverence/respect for her.
2006-11-20 03:13:33 · answer #3 · answered by Sudy Nim 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No; as long as I know... no.
I liked the answers posted above. What can I say that hasn't been said? Though Ellen G. White was a Seventh-day Adventist, SDA are not the only ones who believe she was a messenger of God. There are some religions besides SDA church that believe Mrs. White's books and writtings were inspired. Anyone who has followed the teachings and lessons given in her books has been greatly blessed.
I think there should not be any doubt she was inspired by the Lord. Let's look at some examples:
-On the 19th century, medicine taught that a sick person should not be given fresh air. Of course, she also thought that until a vision was given to her telling her that a sick person should be given fresh air.
-On her time, tobaco was used by many people without knowing it was harmful for health. She wrote that tobaco had a insidious poison which is bad for health.
-She wrote about cancer, which can be caused by eating some meats.
-She also wrote about vegetarianism. Now, thousands of people turn to vegatarianism in Europe everyday as a better way of life. She was right when she said that we should turn back to the original diet given at the garden of Eden. For many people it's not easy to quit from eating meat. Ellen White herself struggled about 20 or more years to quit from eating meat! And even when she finally turned to vegatarianism, she didnt' force her family to do so. She never forced them, they were convinced by the Holy Spirit. If they could, and many people have done it, we can also turn to a better diet with God's help. He wants the best for us; He wants us to be happy and healthy.
-She condemned caffeine. Caffeine is often found on coffe and some sodas (mostly coke), and tea. Today, any psychologist or doctor would tell you to avoid caffeine if you want to live better and avoid stress.
-She mentioned that the brain works with electricity. The doctos and science at her time surely thought she was an ignorant, because it was thought that the body didn't work with electricity. Now, any doctor knows that the heart and the brain, as well as other body parts, work with electricity. How could she have known about that? She was not a doctor, and medicine and science at her time had not discovered that, and yet she was right!
Many places like Loma Linda Hospital, and many more, were built as a result of a Mrs. White's vision. She was told where to put a hospital, and any institution, because it would be very helpful there. Today, for example, Loma Linda University is world-wide known, and the Hospital is very well recognized. It's contributed for medicine research, and by helping people.
She also wrote about the importance of water --for drinking as much as for bathing (people didn't used to take a shower very often).
I think it's not bad when we remember that she did not even finished school. She was not a doctor, and yet her writtings about health are very accurate (also, about theology, education, family, etc). What in her time was considered ignorance or craziness, now science has been proving what God had said through her more than one hundred years ago! There's not way that she could have known all these things at least she was really inspred by God. She's the Lord's messenger. Though she never refered to herself as a prophet but as a messenger, we know she really had the gift of prophecy.
It's said by statistics that Seventh-day Adventists live ten years more than the average. Articles and news have been made about it, and everybody gets to the same conclusion: SDA usyally live a healthier life than most people. Why? God has given a lot of health issues in His Word for anyone who would just study the Scriptrues and obey. Also, through the Health Reform, God has given us additional advices. If we just would but study and obey, we'd be able to enjoy a better life style.
For more information about what the Bible says about health, check out the following video:
"God's Free Health Plan"
http://www.amazingfacts.org/resources/video/NRVideo/NR13.asx
(you may go to the following webpage, and seek for "God's Free Health Plan" and open the lesson given there:http://www.amazingfacts.org/items/study_guides.asp?tTitle=New%20Revelation, you may watch the other videos too, I recommend them)
I don't think you meant to "attack" anyone by your question. But I am a little curious about your inspiration source for your question.
I invite you to read some of Ellen G. White's books:
http://www.whiteestate.org/books/books.asp
(one of my favourites is "The Desire of Ages")
You may visit the official website: http://www.whiteestate.org/
If you have any other questions or comments, please contact me. I'd be glad to help.
Take care; God bless you!
2006-11-21 06:51:24 · answer #4 · answered by Cachanilla 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
NO, why would you think so, her books "great controversy" & "desire of the ages" are considered some of the best books ever written. She was the ONLY prophet in recent times which, when prophesing, adhered to all the biblical criteria's.
Again, why would she be an embarresment, i would truly like to know why you think so??
God Bless
2006-11-20 03:01:43 · answer #5 · answered by Christo 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
NO, but you need to make your question more clear.
2006-11-20 03:03:17 · answer #6 · answered by marsha 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋