The Testimony of Jesus

Chapter 16—A Balanced Acceptance

Naturally in our study of either inspired or uninspired writings, we inquire, What application have the principles herein set forth to our day and generation? It is proper to make this inquiry in relation to the writings of Mrs. E. G. White. She passed to her rest in the year 1915, dying at a ripe old age, her faith undimmed and her zeal for service to the Master unabated. She rests from her labors, but her works follow her. TOJ 131.1

To what extent should her writings be regarded as truth for the present hour? Did not many of them apply years ago, and have no application at the present time? Some would answer this last question in the affirmative. They claim that times have changed, that terms employed have other meanings today than formerly, that we have reached an age of new ideals and standards, and therefore our obedience to the instruction given years ago should be modified accordingly. Thus many reason not only regarding the writings of Mrs. White, but concerning the instruction in the Sacred Canon also. TOJ 131.2

That some of the instruction to the church through Mrs. White was local in its primary application, we do not deny. This is true also of many prophecies found in the Bible. When one reads the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, and the lesser prophets, he must recognize that much of their instruction had first reference to the days in which they lived. By their warnings they were seeking to avert the judgments which threatened Israel of old. But the principles which they set forth not only applied to local conditions in the days in which they lived, but in many instances can be applied with great profit to conditions existing in the world and in the church at the present time. TOJ 131.3

The same is true, we believe, of the writings of Mrs. E. G. White. On many occasions through the years she dealt with conditions in the church as they arose. Her instruction applied primarily to the day in which she lived and the conditions which were before her; but much of this instruction, the same as the instruction given by the prophets of old, had a more far-reaching application. To the extent that similar conditions might arise in the church in any future period, this instruction would apply with equal emphasis. Indeed, in much of the instruction that was given, the special application seemed to be to the closing days of the history of the church. A striking example of this is afforded in the concluding chapters of the books Early Writings and The Great Controversy. TOJ 132.1

The same argument employed by opponents of this movement against the application of Old Testament Scriptures to the present time is used by some in impairing the force of the instruction given in the Testimonies in its application to present-day conditions. It is comparatively easy to reason in this way, to accept from the writings of the Lord’s messenger those statements which meet our mind and strengthen our position, and give emphasis to the campaign in which we are engaged, and discredit or ignore other statements from the same source which may be contrary to our desires or cut across our plans and our habits of life. TOJ 132.2