Understanding Ellen White

4. Account for problems in communication

As we read Ellen White’s writings we need to keep constantly before us the difficulty she faced in basic communication. On one level there were the differing personality types she had to deal with. Some readers, for example, were sensitive, while others were insensitive. As a result, the same counsel could lead to extremes for certain individuals, while hardly moving others. UEGW 70.5

Beyond the difficulty of varying personalities, but related to it, is the problem of imprecise meaning in language and the fact that different people with different experiences interpret the same words differently. “Human minds vary,” Ellen White penned in relation to Bible reading: UEGW 71.1

The Bible is not given to us in grand superhuman language. . . . The Bible must be given in the language of men. Everything that is human is imperfect. Different meanings are expressed by the same word; there is not one word for each distinct idea. The Bible was given for practical purposes. UEGW 71.2

The stamps of minds are different. All do not understand expressions and statements alike. Some understand the statements of the Scriptures to suit their own particular minds and cases. Prepossessions, prejudices, and passions have a strong influence to darken the understanding and confuse the mind even in reading the words of Holy Writ. ¹⁴ UEGW 71.3

What Ellen White said about the problems of meanings and words in regard to the Bible also holds true for her own writings. Communication in a broken world is never easy, not even for God’s prophets. On the other hand, we don’t need perfect knowledge in order to be saved. As Ellen White repeatedly notes, the Bible (and her writings) was given for “practical purposes.” Human language, in spite of its weaknesses, is capable of communicating God’s message. ¹⁵ UEGW 71.4

The communication problems stemming from different mind-sets, personality types, and backgrounds even enter into the reasons for having more than one account of the life of Christ in the New Testament. The following statement helps us appreciate the challenges God faced in communicating with intelligent beings on a sinful planet. UEGW 71.5

Why do we need a Matthew, a Mark, a Luke, a John, a Paul, and all the writers who have borne testimony in regard to the life and ministry of the Saviour? Why could not one of the disciples have written a complete record and thus have given us a connected account of Christ’s earthly life? Why does one writer bring in points that another does not mention? Why, if these points are essential, did not all these writers mention them? It is because the minds of men differ. Not all comprehend things in exactly the same way. ¹⁶ UEGW 71.6

We need to keep the basic problems of communication that we have examined in mind as we read the writings of Ellen White. At the very least, such facts ought to make us cautious in our reading so that we don’t incorrectly emphasize this or that particular idea that might come to our attention as we study God’s counsel to His church. UEGW 72.1