Ellen Gould White
What does Ellen White write about...
Ellen Gould White über: "Should the sins of baptismal candidates be spoken about by knowledgeable church members?"
Answer
There are clear instructions on how to deal with sin: Private sins should be made known before God or the directly affected individuals, rather than disclosed to uninvolved parties or the general public. It is not the duty of a believer to confess sins to persons who are unaware of those faults, as this could unnecessarily bring God's work into disrepute. However, if serious wrongdoing exists, it should be discussed in a small, confidential circle with responsible persons, rather than spreading it throughout the congregation.
Dealing with Confidential Confessions
»It is not required of you to confess to those who do not know your sin and mistakes. It is not your duty to publish a confession that allows unbelievers to triumph; rather, confess before those for whom it is appropriate, who will not take advantage of your wrongdoing, according to the Word of God.«
Confession of Sin before Jesus rather than before People
»God is more glorified when we confess the secret, innate corruption of the heart to Jesus alone, than when we expose its depths to the finite, erring human who cannot judge righteously unless his heart is constantly filled with the Spirit of God. God knows the heart, even every secret of the soul; therefore, the story that should be heard by God alone is not poured into human ears.«
Procedure for Others' Mistakes
»You have excused yourself by speaking badly about your brother, sister, or neighbor to others before you went to him and took the steps that God absolutely commanded. ... You were under the guilt of sin because you did not go and told the offender of his fault only between you and him.«
Examination of Baptismal Candidates
»Before baptism, a thorough examination of the candidates' experience should take place. Do not let this examination occur in a cold and distant manner, but rather kindly and gently, pointing the newly converted to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.«
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.
