What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "How should one deal with church members who do not correctly understand the 1888 message but preach about the Sabbath and Christ?"
Answer
People who preach the Sabbath but mix truth with errors or display an unordered mindset are called “wandering stars,” which harm God’s work. Dealing with them requires, on the one hand, discipline and the rejection of fanaticism, and on the other hand, the meekness of Christ to lead the errant to sincere conversion. When preachers spread contradictory views that alienate outsiders, this is a charge against the cause of God and greatly hinders the work of qualified servants.
Warning against preachers with mixed teachings
»There are wandering stars who claim to be messengers sent by God and who preach the Sabbath from place to place, but who have mixed truth with error and throw their mass of contradictory views at the people. Satan has thrust them in, to repel intelligent and reasonable unbelievers. ... God's spirit is not in the work and does not accompany such workers. They have a different spirit. Nevertheless, such preachers have success with a certain class. But this will considerably hinder the work of those servants that God will send and who are qualified to present the Sabbath and the gifts in the proper light.«
Necessity of compassion in dealing with the errant
»No matter how great the failings and sins of the errant may be, our brothers must learn not only to reveal the tenderness of the Great Shepherd, but also His immortal care and love for the poor, lost sheep. Our preachers labor and teach week after week and rejoice that some souls accept the truth; yet brothers can, with a prompt, decisive manner, destroy their work in five minutes by yielding to feelings that produce words such as: \"Well, if they want to leave us, then let them go.\«
The danger of self-will and fanaticism
»God’s work will not progress unless there is a willingness to submit to order and to drive the reckless, unordered spirit of fanaticism out of their assemblies. Impressions and feelings are not a reliable proof that a person is guided by the Lord. ... It is not evidence of God’s grace in the heart when individuals speak and pray skillfully in the assembly and then, outside the assembly, indulge in a coarse, careless manner of speaking and acting.«
Observance of biblical guidelines in transgressions
»In dealing with errant church members, God’s children must carefully follow the instructions that the Savior gave in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew. ... Church members have no right to follow their own impulses and inclinations when dealing with fellow members who have erred. They should not even express their prejudices toward the errant, for doing so spreads the leaven of evil into other minds.«
Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
Hello, I am Stephan Krol. I started this Ellen White website to make the writings of Ellen G. White and the Adventist pioneers easier to access for everyone.
EGW Vision helps you find topics, statements, and quotes faster, especially when many original sources are not yet fully available in your language. The tool searches semantically, groups relevant content by topic, and presents matching results as clearly as possible in your language.
My hope is that this tool supports personal Bible study, strengthens trust in the original sources, and helps more people discover the message of these writings with clarity, depth, and joy.
