What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "Write a letter from Ellen White's perspective to someone who wants to leave the church due to allegations that she erred and plagiarized in the Damien case. Encourage them to stay without denying the problems."
Answer
My dear child in Christ, I write to you in love and with deep concern for your soul. I have heard that you are considering leaving the church because you have been led to doubt—doubt in my faith, in my integrity, in my calling as a servant of God. I plead with you, stay with us. The church does not fall because individuals have failed. It is God's fortress, His refuge in a contradictory world, and He has not forsaken it because people—even those closely connected to the work—make mistakes or fall under criticism. You see only part of the work; but I am grateful that God does not leave His servants alone, but teaches them to examine, to change, and to stand firm—even in the face of accusations. Listen to what God has taught through revelation: that truth is unshakable, no matter how deceptive the shadow that threatens to cover it for a moment. Stay, so that you do not break under the yoke of ignorance. For whoever leaves the church has no support left amidst the storms that will inevitably come. You are not a child of doubt—you are a child of light, and your place is here, in the covenant of believers who struggle and doubt, yet do not give up.
The Church—God's Unshakable Fortress
»»The church is God's fortress, His refuge in a contradictory world. Any betrayal of the church is a betrayal of Him who purchased humanity with the blood of His only begotten Son. From the beginning, God has composed His church from pious souls. In every era, the guardians of the faith have borne self-sacrificing witness to the community. God has sent His angels to serve His church, and the gates of hell could not prevail against His people. No single opposing force has risen that God has not seen. He has not forsaken His church, but has recorded in prophetic declarations what would happen. All His plans will be fulfilled. Truth is divinely inspired and preserved, and it alone will achieve victory over every opposition. Weak and faulty as it may appear, the church is the only thing to which God gives His highest care. It is the hall of His grace, in which He delights to show His power openly, to transform hearts.««
Remaining Unharmed by Doubt—Truth is Unshakable
»»Although the advocates of truth do not all act as they should—because they are not sanctified by the truth they proclaim—the truth itself is unchanging; its luster remains undimmed. Even if some distort the truth through wrongful action, it is nevertheless not impaired. For whoever among us all also commits errors—the truth itself is unshakable. Its origin is heavenly, its purity and its value are inalienable. It lives—for it is immortal. My beloved sister, hold fast to the truth! Gain an experience for yourself. You have individuality. You are responsible only for how you apply the light that shines on your path for yourself. The lack of virtue in others will be no excuse for you. That others distort the truth through unholy deeds does not make you less responsible. A solemn duty rests upon you to raise and bear the standard of truth. Even if the bearer of the standard is choked and falls, do not let the precious message be crushed in the dust. Pick it up—and carry it aloft, even at the risk of your good name, your earthly fame, and, if necessary, your life.««
The Community—Place of Testing, Peace, and Improvement
Regarding the one who errs in the community, God's people are carefully instructed to follow the directions of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 18. Humanity belongs to Christ—purchased at an infinite price, bound by the love that He and His Father have shown for them. How carefully, then, should we treat one another! People have no right to suspect evil. Church members must not act on their own impulses. They are not even permitted to voice accusations against the erring brother—for thus they plant the seed of evil in other hearts. If a brother commits a sin, do not tell others about it. Say: "Go and show him his fault alone." So is God's will. Do not say: "I will not fight." But say: "Let me help." For whoever helps another helps God Himself. If you recognize your brother's sin, correct him—not in public, not before everyone—but in love, in peace, in faith. That God forgives sins does not mean that you approve them. But know who you are: You are not alone. The community stands ready to carry you—just as Christ carried the burden of the lost child. If you go, you do not go—but if you stand firm, you too will one day understand what it means to love, to test, and to preserve the truth.
Love, Compassion, and Standing Together in Faith
»The teachings of the New Testament apply to us: Christ has commanded His disciples to work with Him, to love one another as He has loved them. The suffering He endured on the cross testifies to the value God places on the human self. All who accept this salvation commit themselves to be fellow workers in His work. No one may consider themselves especially loved. All who have engaged in the service of Christ must work as He did—and love those who live in ignorance and sin. Yet among us, as a people, compassion and love for the tempted and erring are often too short. Many show great coldness and sinful negligence—portrayed by Christ as those who pass by on the other side and keep as far away as possible from those who need help most. The newly baptized often has hard struggles with ingrained habits or a particular form of temptation—and is overcome by an overpowering passion or inclination, falls into frivolity or actual error. Energy, prudence, and wisdom are required—so that he may be brought back to spiritual recovery. In such cases, the words of Holy Scripture apply: "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." And: "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves." Yet how few of the followers of faith recognize this compassion! When someone errs, others tend to make the matter as bad as possible. What others omit, they judge with cruel strictness. Errors committed out of ignorance, negligence, or weakness are exaggerated into intentional, premeditated sin. And while they watch souls go astray, some say: "I told you so!" Thus they take the attitude of Satan—they rejoice over the fulfillment of their evil suspicions. We must deal with the imperfect with great patience and love—for Christ has commanded us to restore such ones—and He holds us responsible for choosing a path that does not bring despair and ruin.«
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.
