What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "What does the Bible say about conflict with siblings and the need to resolve hostilities during one's lifetime?"
Answer
The Bible and the spirit of prophecy emphasize that there must be no conflict among siblings, because believers in Christ are one. Differences should be resolved promptly and personally, rather than being worsened by gossip or taken to judicial authorities. Reconciliation is a fundamental duty that even takes precedence over religious sacrifices and offerings, because God does not accept worship while hostilities exist.
No Conflict Among Brothers
»It must not be any dispute between brothers. God has made this people the keepers of holy truths. You are one in faith, one in Christ Jesus. There must be no domination over God's inheritance... As long as a person is not sanctified in soul, body, and spirit, he will be in danger of showing an unfriendly disposition toward his brother who does not agree with his ideas.«
Personal Resolution Instead of Public Accusation
»If your brother sins against you," Christ explained, "go and correct him between you and him alone." Do not tell others about the injustice... Resolve the matter "between you and him alone." This is God's plan... Do not allow resentment to grow into malice. Do not let the wound fester and burst into poisonous words that stain the thoughts of those who hear them. Go to your brother and speak to him in humility and sincerity about the matter.«
Reconciliation Before the Sacrificial Service
»The Savior has set the rules that we should follow in our dealings with one another. In His Sermon on the Mount He said: "If you bring your offering to the altar and remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering at the altar and go; first reconcile with your brother and then come and offer your gift."... This duty you are obligated to fulfill before you present your offering to God. The offering will not be accepted until this duty is performed.«
Conflict Resolution Within the Community
»Another serious evil that arose in the church was that brothers went to court against each other. Sufficient provision had been made for the settlement of difficulties among believers. Christ Himself had given clear instructions on how such matters should be settled... "Would any of you, if he has a matter against another, bring it before the unjust rather than before the saints?«
Need for Immediate Reconciliation
»Do not allow a wound in the heart to fester. If a hasty word was spoken, withdraw it as quickly as possible through a confession, heal the wound and remain in the sunshine; thus you will not only be happy yourselves, but also a blessing to others.«
Abraham's Example to Avoid Conflict
»And Abraham said to Lot: Let there be no strife between me and you and between my herders and your herders, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you?"... Here another separation is presented. It makes a great difference when and how a separation takes place.«
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.
