The Position of “The Bible, and the Bible Only” and the Relationship of This to the Writings of Ellen White

A Creed Would Vitiate the Spirit of Prophecy

It was not long after this that the question was referred to incidentally, in the setting of the adoption of a creed. At a conference at Battle Creek on the evening after the Sabbath, October 5, 1861, the brethren discussed the adoption of a statement as a basis for church membership. As he spoke at length, James White said: PBORWEW 9.4

“I take the ground that creeds stand in direct opposition to the gifts. Let us suppose a case: We get up a creed, stating just what we shall believe on this point or the other, and just what we shall do in reference to this thing and that, and that we will believe the gifts too.

“But suppose the Lord, through the gifts, should give us some new light that did not harmonize with our creed: then, if we remain true to the gifts, it knocks our creed all over at once. Making a creed is setting the stakes, and barring up the way to all future advancement.

“God put the gifts into the church for a good and great object; but men who have got up their churches, have shut up the way or have marked out a course for the Almighty... A creed and the gifts thus stand in direct opposition to each other.

“Now what is our position as a people? The Bible is our creed... We take the Bible and the gifts of the spirit, embracing the faith that thus the Lord will teach us from time to time.”—The Review and Herald, October 8, 1861. Reprinted in Witness of the Pioneers, p. 26.