Ellen G. White and Her Critics

Chief Weakness in the Argument

We do not doubt that through the centuries various devout Christians have had unusual spiritual experiences. There is nothing in the Bible that requires us to believe that God never opens the eyes of anyone but a prophet to a scene of spiritual glory, or never gives to any but a prophet a sense of the divine presence. EGWC 84.2

The principal weakness in the contention of some critics, that Mrs. White’s visions were simply like the singular experiences of certain saintly persons, is this: The argument proves too much. Bible critics often use precisely the same argument to explain away the claims of Bible prophets! Indeed, modernist churchmen, who express great love for the Holy Book, but who deny its unique authority and claims, use essentially this argument. But Mrs. White’s critics affirm their confidence in the Bible as being exactly what it claims to be, the voice of God to men. We think we hear her critics replying to Bible critics and modernists on this wise: EGWC 84.3

“We do not grant for a moment the patronizing contention that the ancient prophets, though sincere, were self-deluded men who enjoyed spiritual exercises essentially the same as those enjoyed by many other devout believers in God. We do not believe that self-deception can bring forth such fruitage as the Bible produces. We think it irrational to hold that self-deception can carry with it the compelling power for righteousness that the Bible carries.” EGWC 85.1

With this answer that Mrs. White’s critics give to Bible critics, we heartily agree. Yet both we and Mrs. White’s critics know that this answer will never silence these Bible critics who insist that they can read God’s Book from Genesis to Revelation without finding therein anything spiritually unique! EGWC 85.2

We who believe in Mrs. White’s claim to the gift of the Spirit of prophecy, use essentially the same line of reasoning in defense of her claim that we use in defense of the ancient prophets. ^* In this we think we are consistent. Nor do we feel that our defense is necessarily weakened because her critics declare they can read her writings from beginning to end without finding therein anything spiritually unique. We believe that her writings will offer their own testimony to those who are willing to read and to consider the fruitage produced by them over a hundred years of time. For her we would contend, as we earnestly contend for Bible prophets, that it is irrational to hold that self-deception can carry with it the compelling power for righteousness that her writings carry! Nor can self-deception carry with it the far-visioned wisdom and planning that her writings have displayed as they have given direction to a vigorously growing religious movement now active in almost every country in the world. EGWC 85.3