What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "Why was the message of righteousness by faith, presented by Ellen White in the 1850s, silent until 1888?"
Answer
The documents indicate that the message of righteousness by faith was often obstructed by a lack of spiritual consecration and a reliance on human methods rather than God's guidance. Church leaders and members frequently resisted the light sent from heaven, falling into a state of "carnal security" and formalism that prevented the message from being fully received or proclaimed. Additionally, some rejected the message because they feared it would lead to fanaticism or because it conflicted with their existing prejudices and opinions.
Resistance and Spiritual Blindness Obstructing the Light
»Again and again the Lord has sent His Spirit to change the attitude of His people by infusing into the church a living, working principle. But unconsecrated elements have been at work, and the church has been rocked to sleep in the cradle of carnal security. The God of Israel has opened the windows of heaven and sent to the world rich floods of light, but that light has been rejected. The spirit manifested in Battle Creek has been the spirit of many churches. The power of God, the rich grace He longs to bestow, is not desired unless men can themselves mark out the way in which God shall work.«
Obstruction by Leaders and Unbelief
»When I see how much the Spirit of God is needed, and how much it is appreciated, I feel wholly reconciled to visit these places. ... After the severe trials and hard labor I have undergone in Battle Creek, only to be met with a refusal to receive the message, this spirit refreshes my soul. ... The men who should have held up my hands in the work have been laboring to the best of their ability to weaken and discourage me. ... Time and time again the Lord has longed to communicate His Spirit in rich measure, but there was no place for it to rest. It was not recognized or valued.«
The Danger of Formalism and Deception
»The testimonies of the Spirit of prophecy which were received during the year 1887 gave warning of danger. They named again and again a specific evil, a deception into which the church was falling. That deception was pointed out as the fatal mistake of drifting into formalism; the substitution of forms, ceremonies, doctrines, machinery, and activities for that heart experience which comes alone through fellowship with Christ Jesus our Lord.«
Rejection and Ridicule of the Message
»The true religion, the only religion of the Bible, that teaches forgiveness through the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour, that advocates righteousness by the faith of the Son of God, has been slighted, spoken against, ridiculed. It has been denounced as leading to enthusiasm and fanaticism.«
Prejudice at the 1888 Conference
»Reference is here made to the attitude which some took in resistance to the emphasis given to the message of righteousness by faith at and following the General Conference session of 1888. ... Prejudice and opinions that prevailed at Minneapolis: See for the backgrounds of the Minneapolis Conference of 1888.«
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.
