VII. The Testimonies of Mrs. White.

Adventism and the Bible, Feature, J. Henry Monk

Mrs. White’s confession that she did wrong in listening to the suggestions of brethren concerning the water-cure institute, and of writing testimonies because of their suggestions, made room for a whole school of critics of her work, and the school was not slow in making its appearance. That was back in 1867. Fifteen years later (1882) opposition to her pretensions had grown to such proportions that she determined again to extricate herself from the tangled mass of criticism. But every move she made wound the cords of opposition more everlastingly about her.

She appealed to Paul. Paul listened to suggestion, and he was an inspired writer; so why not Mrs. White do the same? Very true, the critics admitted; but Mrs. White was reminded that it was Paul, and not his critics, who informed his readers that he had been told certain things “by the household of Chloe.” (1 Cor. 1: 11.) Fornication, Paul stated, had been “reported” to him. (1 Cor. 5: 1.) At another time he gave his “judgment;” he also said “I suppose” relative to a certain problem. (1 Cor. 7: 25, 26.) But in vain will one seek in the writings of Mrs. White for anything that had been “declared” unto her or “reported” to her, and neither will he find that she ever supposes or gives her “judgment.” No; Mrs. White has forever been shown directly from heaven-even with regard to the water-cure institute until it became necessary to confess the source of her information.

She wrote: “Let the testimonies be judged by their fruits. What is the spirit of their teaching? What has’ been the result of their influence?” (“Testimonies,” Volume V., page 654.)

We accept the challenge and undertake to produce the proof.

THE NATURE OF THE TESTIMONIES.

  1. They do not command belief.—“I have been shown that unbelief in the testimonies has been steadily increasing.” (Volume V., page 76.)
  2. They are limited in usefulness.—“The testimonies have no weight with those who know nothing of their spirit.” (Volume V., page 669.)
  3. They do not give additional light.—“Brother R. would confuse the mind by seeking to make it appear that the light God has given through the testimonies is an additional light to the word of God; but in this he presents the matter in a false light.” (Volume IV., page 246.)
  4. They have no legitimate place.—“The word of the Lord is sufficient to enlighten the most beclouded mind, and may be understood by those who have any desire to understand it.” (Volume V., page 663.)
  5. They bear the stamp of human production.—”They have been those who claim that the testimonies purporting to be given by the Spirit of God were merely the expressions of my own judgment, based upon information gathered from human sources.” (Volume V., page 683.)
  6. They presume to supplement the Bible.—“I took the precious Bible and surrounded it with the several testimonies to the church. Here, said I, the cases of nearly all are met. The sins they are to shun are pointed out. The counsel they desire can be found here.” (Volume V., page 664.)
  7. They creed-bind the Bible.—“The word of God is walled in with these books and pamphlets.” (Volume V., page 666.)
  8. They creed-bind the believer.—“The Lord has walled you about with light, but you have. not appreciated the light; you have trampled upon it.” (Volume V., page 666.)
  9. They are silly.—“If you lose confidence in the testimonies, you will drift away from Bible truth.” (Volume V., page 98.)
  10. They are a nuisance.-“They think the testimony of the Spirit of God is reproof uncalled for, or that it does not mean them.” (Volume V., page 674.)
  11. They contradict the Bible.—“In ancient times God spoke to men by the mouth of prophets and apostles. In these days he speaks to them by the testimonies of the Spirit.” (Volume IV., rage 148.). 

THE SPIRIT OF THE TESTIMONIES.

  1. They chill their readers.—“Many of our people are lukewarm. They occupy the position of Meroz—neither for nor against, neither cold nor hot.” (Volume V., page 76.)
  2. They are sarcastic and bitter.—“Some of the brethren have taken the responsibility of criticizing my work and proposing easier ways to correct wrongs. To these persons I would say: I take God’s way, not yours. I repeat, I do not accept your efforts.” (Volume V., page 677.)
  3. They are an incubator of the critical attitude.—“It has been urged that my manner of giving reproof in public has led others to be sharp and critical and severe. If so, they must settle that matter with the Lord.” (Volume V., page 677.)
  4. They neutralize Bible light.—“I have been shown that unbelief in the testimonies of warning, encouragement, and reproof is shutting away the light from God’s people.” (Volume III., page 255.)
  5. They create war among members.-“The searching testimony of the Spirit of God will separate those from Israel who have ever been at war with the means that God has ordained to keep corruption out of the church.” (Volume III., page 323.)
  6. They make one individual a judge over all others.—“If I have erred anywhere, it is in rebuking sin more firmly.” (Volume V., page 677.)

THE FRUITS OF THE TESTIMONIES.

  1. Hatred.—“Many have despised the faithful reproof given of God in testimony. I have been shown that some in these days have even gone so far as to burn the written words of rebuke and warning.” (Volume V., page 678.)
  2. Apostasy.—“Unless you make a thorough change, you will, not far hence, become weary of reproof, as did the children of Israel; and, like them, you will apostatize from God.” (Volume IV., page 332.)
  3. Division.—“Differences of opinion are constantly arising, and apostasies are constantly afflicting the church.” (Volume V., page 668.)
  4. Doubt and infidelity.—“If these persons do not humble their hearts before God, if they harbor the suggestion of Satan, doubt and infidelity will take possession of the soul, and they will see everything in a false light.” (Volume V., page 690.)
  5. Spiritual blindness.—“They will come to mistrust and disbelieve truths which are plain and full of beauty to others who have not educated themselves in unbelief.” (Volume V., page 590.)
  6. Stubbornness.—“These self-confident ones, determined to have their own way and to advocate their own ideas, will go on from bad to worse, until they will pursue any course rather than to surrender their own will.” (Volume V., page 671.)
  7. Hypocrisy.—“Some preachers are far behind. They have had repeated testimonies which they have utterly disregarded.” (Volume V., page 669.)
  8. Combativeness. — “They talked flippantly of the testimonies, and passed judgment upon them, giving their opinion, and criticizing this and that.” (Volume IV., page 443.)
  9. Unbelief.-“Some express their views that the writings of Sister White cannot be reliable.” (Volume V., page 673.)

I have arranged this list of quotations with the hope that the list would speak for itself. Evidently here is food for thought. The spirit of Adventism is easily read in these quotations. The dominance of Mrs. White stands out prominently. The extreme prominence of the testimonies themselves is revealed. The testimonies are a supplement to the Bible; they creed-bind the believer, and they insist that Adventists must lose their own individualities in Mrs. White. W. C. White, one of her sons, in an address at the General Conference, held in Washington, D. C., 1913, made the following statement, with which we close this chapter:

“I have known of messages of warning being sent to these men [officials in the Adventist ranks]. I have seen them read reproofs to themselves regarding the popular and accepted policies for the conduct of the work, and I have known the struggle it cost them to act upon the counsel given. I have knelt with them in prayer, and have heard their humble pleadings for grace to give up their WILL and way and for strength and wisdom to follow the course marked out for them.” (General Conference Bulletin, June 2, 1913.)

CONTENTS

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