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Former Adventist Fellowship Forum » ARCHIVED DISCUSSIONS 1 » Is Ellen Gould White a false prophet? » Archive through August 4, 1999 « Previous Next »

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Cas
Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 1999 - 12:44 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I was very interested in one post that Lynn wrote (how can it be from Sat. July 31)about why she and others left the sda church and lost confidence in Ellen White.
As I have stated before I have not left the sda church, but after a few years of dissolusionment and reading books like the White Lie, etc.,and the vast information on the net like ellenwhite.org,etc., the thought has occured to me that I need to make a decision! But it has been a hard decision to make a decision!
It is time to put my anger away and let God deal with it. Getting over the anger is hard to do and I am afraid that I must have a lack of faith in God to let this go on for so long. The decision I am speaking of is whether I am to stay in the Adventist Church or if I am to go elsewhere and among other things, face the dissapointment from our families. (we don't go to church that much as it is). (my husband does not care much where we go or if we go).

I guess still in the back of my mind are all the quotes from Ellen White about the church seeming it is about to fall in the last days and, many will fall away, and among those that do they will be the most vicious to their former church. And you know all the rest of the taboo's to anyone even entertaining the thought of leaving. Those kinds of predictions are I guess meant to do what they are doing, and that is to make one feel fear and guilt.

I am trying to study the covenants now and how the Sabbath relates to the new covenant, whew it seems complicated.
If anyone else would be so inclined to wittness as to why they left the church and lost faith in Ellen White I think it would be helpful to myself and others to hear the reasons. God Bless.
Susan
Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 1999 - 1:54 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Cas, I left the SDA church before I knew all the dirt on EGW. I later became a Christian and began to do research. I'v only been convinced of the "cultic" doctrines for about 6mo., but I've had many concerns prior to this.

I've been wanting to do a study on what the bible has to say about false prophets. (I think I'll get out the Strong's tonight!) May I suggest the following verses, that come to mind right now?

"You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?" If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken prosumptuously. do not be afraid of him." Deut.18:21,22

"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!" Gal.1:8

"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book." Rev.22:18,19

I'm sure you know these. Just thought they might help. Have you checked out the website for the ministry of Mark Martin (ex-SDA pastor)? His stuff has been real helpful to me. Especially the tapes on the Covenants 1&2. They're at www.sdaoutreach.com.

I often wonder if EGW ever read some of these verses? I think that those who claim to speak for the Lord or those that teach are called to be extra careful (isn't there a verse to support this?) And aren't we to judge EVERYTHING in light of scripture? Even if one of her prophesies were false, how could one continue to give her any credibility? I just don't get it! Please don't think I'm to harsh. I just really don't understand. Some family members of mine are going through this same thing. At times I just want to smack them and say "enough already! How much proof do you need?" Obviously, I should not be a counselor.

Anyway,I know it's difficult to leave. Many people share your dillema. There are so many areas of your life that are affected. Emotional, social, physical and spiritual. It's devastating to learn that your sense of security is crumbling. I will pray for you, that God will give you His wisdom and peace.

In closing, one more verse, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on humam tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."
Your friend in Christ, Susan
Colleentinker
Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 1999 - 9:32 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Cas, keep checking the "Our Stories" page on this website. We already have two stories up, and Richard and I will have ours up soon.

Briefly, we left because after we finally realized that EGW was a false prophet, we finally realized that to have integrity we could no longer be members of a church that was founded on deception. One of the factors involved was realizing that we had to model acting on what we believed to our two boys.

The truth we discovered was that as we admitted that EGW was false, we were free to read the Bible without imposing her interpretations onto it. The really startling discovery we made was that as we read the Bible, asking for the Holy Spirit to help us understand it, we discovered the love of Jesus as a reality instead of as a theory. One day Richard looked at me and said, "I feel like I've just become a Christian for the first time!" That was my experience too.

Cas, it's crucial that you immerse yourself in the New Testament as you pray for direction. It's also crucial to ask Jesus to be with you as you read. And, as you are convicted of the truth, it's essential that you give your fear to Jesus and act on your convictions. When you act on your conviction, you gain insight and perspective, and the next step becomes more clear.

Richard and I found that at every step in our leaving, when we asked God to show us what to do and when to do it, the answers were always completely clear. We had no doubt about his will for us at each step. But he doesn't reveal any more than your next step. Don't expect him to show you in advance every step you'll take for the next year!

Remember, the truth will set you free. Truth is more than correct theology or a set of beliefs. Truth is reality in every area of life. As you commit yourself to knowing and embracing the truth, God reveals more and more of it to you. It's amazing how freeing it is to "go with" truth instead of your fear or your denial.

Be in prayer, and rely on Jesus for the courage to act on your convictions. If you're not sure what your convictions are, ask Jesus to reveal the truth. If you are really willing to know it, he will reveal it. Remember, in him is peace and freedom and love and security. If you are living in unresolved confusion, you have to make a decision to know and embrace reality. I often pray that God will help me to know what I need to know, understand what I need to understand, and change in the ways he wants me to change. He answers those prayers.

I'm glad to see you back on line, Cas. I wondered what had happened to you! I will be praying for you to have clarity and conviction and courage, and I will pray for you to find the peace and freedom your heart craves. Jesus loves you and your husband, Cas, and he will lead you to himself. The best part of your life is just ahead!

In him, Colleen
Joni
Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 1999 - 12:46 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Cas: Yes yes yes!!! This is so true what Colleen has said. Amen
Joni
Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 1999 - 1:26 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Colleen, where is the stories page? I don't seem to find it. What is the title.
Lydell
Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 1999 - 6:00 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Wow, Colleen, that was awesome! Hope you knew the Holy Spirit was typing through your fingers just then!

There is an awesome article on the subject of re-examining the sabbath at this website:
http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~rlm/brin.htm
Cleared up a lot of confusion for me.

We had become sick to death of hearing EGW spouted while we were in the SDA church. Mostly it was done as a way of justifying rudeness, coldness, and downright ugliness. So we had pretty much shoved her aside. Really the reason we left the denomination was that we finally had to look at the congregation we were attending and honestly say that if we had a friend who accepted Christ, there was no way in the world we could take them to this church and have them be safe to grow in God. And we certainly did not want our kids growing up thinking that those attitudes were the norm for Christianity!

After we left the church, and took two disgusting years to lick our wounds and waste time rehashing the hurts and stupidity we had seen there, we finally let God speak. He said, "go back and read Acts to find out what I want my church to be, and for crying out loud quit looking backwards already!" It was in re-reading Acts that we saw the inconsistencies with EGW as compared to the Bible. Burning her books was very freeing.

By the way, how about this verse too: Jer. 23:30 Therefore, declares the Lord, I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. ewwwww.

Colleen, are you soliciting other testimonies for your page? We have ours on another website and would really like to have them somewhere else. So much has happened in our lives since the time we wrote our stories initially. E-mail privately if you want to talk about that.
Colleen Tinker
Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 1999 - 11:53 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Our stories are on the "About Us" page. On the home page, "About Us" is the second button down on the left side. When you click on "About Us" it will take you to a page where you will find an "Our Stories" button. Click on that, and there you are!

We also have a link to our stories on the home page. Just over the picture of the cross is a NEW flag and the words, "Read our Stories." Click on "stories" and you'll get there.

Richard and I just put our story up. We would welcome stories from all of you! Please send your testimonies to me at tinkerc@aol.com

We'll post them. People's stories are the most powerful evidence of the Holy Spirit changing lives.

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