The Gift of Prophecy (The Role of Ellen White in God’s Remnant Church)

Guiding God’s people

In Hosea 12:13 we are told that “By a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, / And by a prophet he was preserved.” Preserving or protecting and guiding God’s people was one of the main functions of the biblical prophets as well as of Ellen White’s prophetic ministry. Apart from writing the many books published during her lifetime, ^* for more than thirty-five years Ellen White contributed important articles almost every week to the periodicals published by the church in English, German, Danish-Norwegian, and other languages. Church members came to look for these weekly articles as messages from the Lord. Frequently they were used in the Sabbath meetings when no minister was present. GP 67.3

In these articles, Ellen White dealt with a variety of topics of theological and practical significance. One topic that she addressed repeatedly was the home ¹—the joy and love and peace that should be found in a Christian home. Another topic she dealt with frequently was health ²—lessons on health, and encouragement to faithfulness in health reform. “The gospel is to be bound up with the principles of true health reform,” she counseled (6T 379). GP 67.4

From time to time, she gave practical counsel on Christian living. How to keep the Sabbath was an important topic. “All needful preparation for the Sabbath should be made on Friday,” she said. “On Sabbath morning, if the weather is cool, let hot gruel be provided. Further than this, all cooking should be avoided as a violation of the Sabbath” (RH, May 8, 1883). GP 68.1

In these weekly articles, she touched on a variety of topics. In reply to the question “Should Christians dance?” she wrote that “dancing has no place in the Christian’s life. When you feel a desire to engage in this amusement, go in imagination to Gethsemane, and behold the anguish which Christ endured for us” (RH, Feb. 28, 1882). On the topic of jewelry she stated, “To dress plainly, abstaining from display of jewelry and ornaments of every kind, is in keeping with our faith” (3T 366). And on the duty of forgiveness she advised, “We must imitate the long-suffering of God toward us” (RH, Nov. 16, 1886). Some of the other topics with which she dealt were “Exacting Usury of Brethren” (RH, March 11, 1884), “May Christians Manufacture Wine and Cider?” (RH, March 25, 1884), “Unwise Marriages” (RH, Feb. 2, 1886), and “How to Deal With the Erring” (RH, Nov. 25, 1902). GP 68.2

While Ellen White was alive, these weekly messages guided the leadership of the church—when they were willing to listen. The messages “exercised a most helpful influence in uniting, organizing, inspiring, and keeping the advent movement. Even ministers of other churches made use of them.” ³ GP 68.3