The Introduction of the
Trinity Doctrine into the Seventh-day Adventist
Church.
Section
Seven
Ellen White and
the
Kellogg
crisis
(The Alpha of
heresies)
What did Ellen
White say about Kellogg’s book ‘The Living Temple’? That is the question that we
are seeking to answer in section number seven of this
presentation.
In the previous
section, we came to realise that John Harvey Kellogg had come to believe in the
trinity and that on his own admittance, he had included within his book, certain
theological statements concerning his beliefs about God. Whilst people today may
accuse Kellogg of teaching pantheism, it is well to remember that Kellogg always
denied these accusations.
To get an idea of
what Kellogg was really teaching about God, we need to look at some of the
statements that Ellen White made concerning his publication.
Regardless of
what terminology you use, whether it be Trinitarianism or pantheism, she had
only condemnation for what his book was teaching. As we review these statements,
it will be clearly seen that Ellen White viewed the whole affair as being a
major crisis for our church. Take note also that she said this crisis would be
ongoing.
Review and Herald
22nd October 1903
“I
have some things to say to our teachers in reference to the new book, "The
Living Temple." Be careful how you sustain the sentiments of this book
regarding the personality of God. As the Lord represents matters
to me, these sentiments do not bear the indorsement of God. They are a
snare that the enemy has prepared for these last days”.
This was a very
strong warning. It was not a warning given as a private testimony but rather, it
was given publicly in the Review and Herald for all to read and ponder. Note
that the issue in Kellogg’s book to which Ellen White objected, concerned, as
she phrased it, “the personality of God”.
Ellen White warns
that it is not given to us to “interpret”
God. She also repeatedly emphasised that God and Christ are separate persons and
not in any way ‘one person’. She said in the Review and Herald of 1st
June 1905
“Who was He who came to our
world to redeem the fallen race? Isaiah tells us: "Unto us a child is born, unto
us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name
shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace."
Let us make it known that
provision has been made for our redemption. Christ left the heavenly courts, and
came to this world to make an atonement for us. All who come to him in living
faith will be enabled to stand on vantage-ground.
As
God's servants proclaim these things, Satan steps up to some who have itching
minds, and presents his scientific problems. Men will be tempted to place
science above God. But who by searching can find out God? Men may put
their own interpretation upon God, but no human mind can comprehend him. This
problem has not been given us to solve. Let not finite man attempt
to interpret Jehovah. Let none indulge in speculation regarding his nature. Here
silence is eloquence. The omniscient One is above discussion.
Christ is one with the Father,
but Christ and God are two distinct personages. Read the prayer of Christ in
the seventeenth chapter of John, and you will find this point clearly brought
out. How earnestly the Saviour prayed that his disciples might be one with him
as he is one with the Father. But the unity that is to exist between
Christ and his followers does not destroy the personality of either.
They are to be one with him as he is one with the Father. By this unity they are
to make it plain to the world that God sent his Son to save sinners. The oneness
of Christ's followers with him is to be the great, unmistakable proof that God
did indeed send his Son into the world to save sinners. But a loose, lax
religion leaves the world bewildered and confused”.
The following
month, also in the Review and Herald (13th July 1905), Ellen White warned about the ‘new
theology’ that certain people were attempting to bring into the teachings of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church. She said in an article called ‘Lessons From the
First Epistle of John’
“"That which was from the
beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have
looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life (for the life was
manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that
eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us); that which
we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship
with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son
Jesus Christ." …
…
"And truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."
All through the Scriptures, the Father and the Son are spoken of as two
distinct personages. You will hear men endeavoring to make the Son of God a
nonentity. He and the Father are one, but they are two personages. Wrong
sentiments regarding this are coming in, and we shall all have to meet
them”.
Ellen White had
sounded the warning. She had made the issue clear.
‘New theology’
was trying to make its way into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She said that
this theology, if allowed, would destroy the distinction between God and
Christ.
In 1882 in ‘Early
Writings’ page 54, under the sub title
‘End of the 2300 Days’, Ellen White had said
“I
saw a throne, and on it sat the Father and the Son. I gazed on Jesus'
countenance and admired His lovely person. The Father's
person I could not behold, for a cloud of glorious light covered Him. I
asked Jesus if His Father had a form like Himself. He said He had, but I could
not behold it, for said He, "If you should once behold the glory of His
person, you would cease to exist”.
Twenty two years
of revelation concerning God and Christ never changed Ellen White’s theology. In
Testimonies Volume 8 pages 268-269 (1904), she wrote that the scriptures totally
deny any oneness in person concerning God and Christ. She
says
“Testimony of Scripture
The Scriptures clearly indicate the relation between God and Christ, and they
bring to view as clearly the personality and individuality of
each.
"God, who at sundry times and
in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in
these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all
things, by whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory,
and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His
power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the
Majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by
inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the
angels said He at any time, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten
Thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a
Son?" Hebrews 1:1-5.
God is the Father of Christ;
Christ is the Son of God. To Christ has been
given an exalted position. He has been made equal with the Father. All
the counsels of God are opened to His Son.
Jesus said to the Jews: "My
Father worketh hitherto, and I work. . . . The Son can do nothing of Himself,
but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also
doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all
things that Himself doeth." John 5:17-20.
Here again is brought to view
the personality of the Father and the Son, showing the unity that exists between
them.
This unity is expressed also
in the seventeenth chapter of John, in the prayer of Christ for His disciples:
"Neither pray I for these
alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they
all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be
one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory
which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are
one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that
the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast
loved Me." John 17:20-23.
Wonderful statement! The unity
that exists between Christ and His disciples does not destroy the personality of
either. They are one in purpose, in mind, in character, but not in
person. It is thus that God and Christ are one.
The relation between the
Father and the Son, and the personality of both, are made plain in this
scripture also:
"Thus speaketh
Jehovah of hosts, saying,
Behold,
the man whose name is the Branch:
And He
shall grow up out of His place;
And He
shall build the temple of Jehovah; . . .
And He
shall bear the glory,
And shall
sit and rule upon His throne;
And He
shall be a priest upon His throne;
And
the counsel of peace shall be between Them both."
Zechariah
6:12, 13, A. R. V. 270”
Four years later
in 1908, there was no change in her understanding. She said that the teaching
that God and Christ was ‘one person’ was of satanic
origin.
Review and Herald August
6th 1908 also Volume 9 of the Testimonies pages
67-68
“Dangers in Speculative
Study.
The light of truth which God
designs shall come to the people of the world at this time is not that which the
world's men of learning are seeking to impart, for these men in their research
often arrive at erroneous conclusions and in their study of many authors become
enthused with theories that are of satanic origin. Satan, clothed
in the garb of an angel of light, presents for the study of the human mind
subjects which seem very interesting and which are full of scientific mystery.
In the investigation of these subjects, men are led to accept erroneous
conclusions and to unite with seducing spirits in the work of
propounding new theories which lead away from the truth.
There is danger that the false
sentiments expressed in the books that they have been reading will sometimes be
interwoven by our ministers, teachers, and editors with their arguments,
discourses, and publications, under the belief that they are the same in
principle as the teachings of the Spirit of truth. The book Living Temple
is an illustration of this work, the writer of which declared in its
support that its teachings were the same as those found in the writings of Mrs.
White. Again and again we shall be called to meet the influence of men who are
studying sciences of satanic origin, through which Satan is working to make a
nonentity of God and of Christ.
The Father and the Son each
have a personality. Christ declared: "I and My
Father are one." Yet it was the Son of God who came to the world
in human form. Laying aside His royal robe and kingly crown, He
clothed His divinity with humanity, that humanity through His infinite sacrifice
might become partakers of the divine nature and escape the corruption that is in
the world through lust”.
Ellen White
realized that if accepted, what Kellogg was teaching in his book would
eventually lead people to believe that the Father and the Son were one person.
She said that this was Satanic error. She also said that Kellogg (in his book)
by doing this, was making God and Christ a nonentity.
The original
trinity teaching says that God is three persons in one. The human mind cannot
conceive that three persons are one person or one God. This is unexplainable as
well as not being taught in the scriptures. As Ellen White plainly said, these
type of theories are of satanic origin and should not be
expressed.
Ellen White saw
clearly where the teachings of ‘The Living temple’ would lead. She made it very
clear that, except in the sense that they are one in purpose for the salvation
of mankind, God and Christ are two separate persons and not one,.
She said clearly that they were not one person.
Here are some
more of Ellen Whites statements directly made in connection with Kellogg’s book
‘The Living Temple’.
Special Testimonies Series B
No 2 Page 51 (also Selected Messages Book One page
201)
“As a people, we are to stand
firm on the platform of eternal truth that has withstood test and trial. We are
to hold to the sure pillars of our faith. The principles of truth that God has
revealed to us are our only true foundation. They have made us what we are. The
lapse of time has not lessened their value. It is the constant effort of the
enemy to remove these truths from their setting, and to put in their place
spurious theories. He will bring in everything that he possibly can to carry out
his deceptive designs. But the Lord will raise up men of keen perception, who
will give these truths their proper place in the plan of
God.
I
have been instructed by the heavenly messenger that some of the
reasoning in the book, "Living Temple," is unsound and that this
reasoning would lead astray the minds of those who are not
thoroughly established on the foundation principles of present truth. It
introduces that which is naught but speculation in regard to the
personality of God and where His presence is. No one on this earth
has a right to speculate on this question. The more fanciful theories
are discussed, the less men will know of God and of the truth that sanctifies
the soul”.
Miscellaneous manuscripts
and collections. The Kress collection KC19
Takoma Park, Washington, D.
C. May 24, 1905.
“The book, "Living Temple,"
contains specious, deceptive sentiments regarding the personality of God and of
Christ.
The Lord opened before me the true meaning of these sentiments, showing me that
unless they were steadfastly repudiated, they would deceive the very elect.
Precious truth and beautiful sentiments were woven in with false, misleading
theories. Thus truth was used to substantiate the most dangerous errors.
The precious representations of God are so misconstrued as to appear to
uphold falsehoods originated by the great apostate. Sentiments that
belong to the revealings of God are mingled with specious, deceptive theories of
Satanic agencies”.
Spalding and Magan’s
unpublished manuscript testimonies 1985 (SPM.324)
“A Warning of
Danger. St. Helena, Cal., Sept. 23,
1903. To the teachers in Emmanuel Missionary College:--
. . . Perilous times are before us. Every
one who has a knowledge of the truth should awake, and place himself, body,
soul, and spirit, under the discipline of God. Wake up, brethren, wake up. The
enemy is on our track. We must be wide awake, on our guard against him. We must
put on the whole armor of God. We must follow the directions given in the spirit
of prophecy. We must love and obey the truth for this time. This will save us
from accepting strong delusions. God has spoken to us through his Word. He has
spoken to us through the Testimonies to the church, and through the books that
have helped to make plain our present duty and the position that we should now
occupy. The warnings that have been given, line upon line, precept upon precept,
should be heeded. If we disregard them, what excuse shall we
offer?
The new theories in regard to
God and Christ, as brought out in "The
Living Temple", are not in harmony with the teaching of Christ. The Lord Jesus
came to this world to represent the Father. He did not represent God as an
essence pervading nature, but as a personal being. Christians should bear
in mind that God has a personality as verily as has
Christ”.
Please read
carefully that last paragraph again. It really is very
important.
As we have
previously noted, shortly after the Review and Herald had accepted Kellogg’s
book for publication, the publishing house burnt to the ground. Nevertheless,
God still allowed Kellogg to have his book published and be distributed among
Seventh-day Adventists. It may be asked as to why God allowed this to happen and
why he allowed the apostasy to develop as far as it did without Him intervening.
Here is what Ellen White had to say on that matter.
Special Testimonies Series B
No 7 page 36-37
“St. Helena, Cal., October,
1903.
God has permitted the
presentation of the combination of good and evil in "Living Temple" to be made
to reveal the danger threatening us." The working that has been so ingeniously
carried on he has permitted in order that certain developments might be
made, and that it might be seen what a man can do with human minds when
he has obtained their confidence as a physician. God has permitted the
present crisis to come to open the eyes of those who desire to know the
truth. He would have His people understand to what lengths the sophistry
and devising of the enemy would lead.
Men have given to our leading
physician allegiance that is due to God alone: and he has been permitted to show
what self-exaltation will lead men to do. Scientific, spiritualistic sentiments,
representing the Creator as an essence pervading all nature, have
been given to our people, and have been received even by some who have had a
long experience as teachers in the word of God. The results of this insidious
devising will break out again and again. There are many for whom special efforts
will have to be put forth to free them from this specious deception.
I am now authorized to say
that the time has come to take decided action. The development seen in the
cause of God is similar to the development seen when Balaam caused Israel to sin
just before they entered the promised land. How dangerous it is so to exalt any
man that he becomes confused, and confuses the minds of others in regard to the
truths that for the last fifty years the Lord has been giving his
people.
Few can see the meaning of the
present apostasy. But the Lord has lifted the
curtain, and has shown me its meaning, and the result that it will have if
allowed to continue. We must now lift our voices in warning. Will our people
acknowledge God as the supreme Ruler, or will they choose the misleading
arguments and views that, when fully developed, make Him, in the minds of those
who accept them, as nothingness?
These words were spoken to me
in the night season. The sentiments in "Living Temple" regarding the
personality of God have been received even by men who have had a long
experience in the truth. When such men consent to eat of the fruit of the tree
of knowledge of good and evil, we are no longer to regard the subject as a
matter to be treated with the greatest delicacy. That those whom we thought
sound in the faith should have failed to discern the specious, deadly influence
of this science of evil, should alarm us as nothing else has alarmed
us”.
This statement
“God has permitted the present crisis to come to
open the eyes of those who desire to know the truth”, I find to be very
interesting.
God’s ways are
not our ways. By allowing this crisis to develop, God was bringing to the
attention of His people, the truth about Himself and His Son. God chose to use
this opportunity to speak plainly through Ellen White.
Ellen White also
said that this crisis served as a warning from God to show how sophisticated
that Satan can get with his deceptions.
Notice also that
she said that it was “men who have had a long
experience in the truth” that were being confused. She also said that
Kellogg’s teachings was confusing what God had been telling His people for the
last fifty years (i.e. since our beginnings as a remnant people).
Ellen White said
that if accepted, Kellogg’s theories about God and Christ would totally
undermine the faith of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. As we also noted in the
last section, she repeatedly said that the theories contained in ‘The Living
Temple’ were based on the ideas of
pantheism.
Special Testimonies Series B
No 7 pages 48-49
“There has been growing up a
spirit of criticism, and a lack of faith in the gospel ministry, and this has
continued until the present time. Now the publication of "Living Temple" has
brought about a crisis. If the ideas presented in this book were received,
they would lead to the uprooting of the whole construction of the faith
that makes Seventh-day Adventists a chosen, denominated people.
The light that has been given
I dare not withhold. The Lord has appointed me as His messenger, and I must
speak the words He gives me. The testimonies that have been given by the Lord
for nearly half a century in regard to the ministerial work, and the management
of our sanitariums, must come before the people, that our brethren and sisters
in the faith shall understand the light that God has been pleased to give
regarding the different branches of the work to be carried on at this time.
Pantheistic
ideas
regarding God in nature are framed by Lucifer, the fallen angel. The
strange part of the matter is that these ideas have been accepted by so many as
beautiful truth. But that which they think is light will lead them into
dense darkness. It is a distinguishing feature of the experience of Seventh-day
Adventists to give glory to God. When we give glory to human agencies, when we
have unlimited confidence in man, speaking of the excellence that we suppose him
to possess, we worship we know not what. Let God be exalted. Let frail, erring
human beings humble themselves before Him”.
How subtle are
Satan’s deceptions and how strange said Ellen White, that these ideas have been
accepted by so many as what she terms
“beautiful truth”.
The Lord’s
messenger protested profusely about what Kellogg had written. She continued to
say that it was of satanic origin. In 1904 she had this to
say
Battle Creek letters 1928
(BCL102) (manuscript October 1904
“Instruction Regarding the
Medical Missionary Work
It is not safe to trust in Dr.
Kellogg. I dare not do it. I have not written to him much, recently, but I may
have to send something soon. I have not the least confidence in his present
attitude toward many things. I learn that notwithstanding all I have written
regarding "The Living Temple" a book that was written under the
inspiration of the arch-deceiver; notwithstanding with many plain
messages that I have delivered in the "Review and Herald" and in letters to our
brethren in responsibility, Dr. Kellogg now admits only a few of the mistakes he
has made, and still supposes that in former years I taught the same errors. This
reveals a blindness beyond conception. All that I can now do is to watch
developments closely. I can not see that it would do the least particle of good
to say more than I have said.
The
sentiments advocated in "Living Temple"
make this book a dangerous production; for in the book is taught
an insinuating, deceptive science of Satanic origin. The articles
from my pen that have been published in the "Review" have, I understand, hurt
terribly the feelings of some; but I intend to protest decidedly
against the many deceptions that are coming in to lead souls
astray”.
Ellen White
described what Kellogg was teaching as an “insinuating, deceptive science of Satanic origin”,
that she intended to “protest decidedly
against”.
Can I just pause
here for a moment and remind you of something that I said earlier on in this
presentation.
What I had
previously said was that through the time of Ellen White, all the pioneers,
including her own husband, were teaching what is commonly referred to as a non
or anti-trintarian view of God.
What I find
amazing is that if God did want us to believe and teach that he was a trinity of
beings, then why did not Ellen White, not even once, tell her own husband or any
other of the pioneers, that they were wrong in what they were
teaching?
I say this
because when Kellogg spoke in terms of a wrong view of God, especially if he was
using theological statements concerning the trinity, Ellen White protested
profusely at what he was teaching. So if the pioneers were teaching wrong views
of God, then why did she not say anything to them?
Whilst this
silence may not be conclusive proof that God approved of the anti-trinitarian
stance that the pioneers were taking, He does expect us to reason these things
through in an intelligent manner.
Ellen White said
that Kellogg’s main problem was that he was trying to “define God”. She repeatedly warned that this
should not be done.
Loma Linda messages 1981
(LLM.253)
“(Letter October 1903. Copied
November 5, 1903, addressed, "To Medical Students and
Nurses:")
The teaching regarding God
that is presented in "Living Temple" is not such as our students need.
Those who seek to define God are on forbidden ground. We are to enter into
no controversy regarding God, -- what He is and what He is not. He, the
Omniscient One, is above discussion. Those who express such sentiments
regarding Him show that they are departing from the
faith”.
This was not the
first time that Ellen White encountered views like those presented in Kellogg’s
book. She repeatedly warned about defining the nature and personality of
God
Spalding and Magan’s
unpublished manuscript testimonies 1985 (SPM.328-9)
“Giving Heed to Seducing
Spirits. "Elmshaven", Sanitarium,
Cal., October 9, 1903. Dear
Brethren Magan and Sutherland:-- I
am sure that the Lord will work to bring you upon higher ground, where you will
not be so severely harassed or perplexed.
…
…. However favorably our physicians and
others may view the theories regarding God that are presented in "The Living
Temple", I must tell you that these theories are faulty, incorrect,
false. All through the book passages of scripture are used, but many of
these scriptures are used in such a way that they are misinterpreted. These
scriptures, read in their connections and understood in their simplicity, do not
sustain the theories that the writer is endeavoring to maintain.
Those who present such
theories are lost in the woods. They know not the nature of the theories that
they are handling. I know how dangerous these theories are. Before I was
seventeen years old, I had to bear my testimony against them before large
companies, and all through my experience for the last fifty years I have
had to meet and oppose these delusive theories.
Soon after Dr. Kellogg first
connected with the Sanitarium, I was shown that he was in danger of
entertaining false views of God. I labored with him, telling him
that his case had been presented to me, and that I had been shown just what the
holding of such ideas would lead to. … I have ever done all that I could to save
Dr. Kellogg's soul, but of late I have not written to him as frequently as in
former years. I am greatly disappointed that so many of our medical missionary
workers seem to be spiritually blind. I can not regard them as safe teachers.
They are sowing tares among the wheat. Those who venture to speak of God
as He is spoken of in "The Living Temple", are on very dangerous ground.
I say, and have ever said,
that I will not engage in controversy with any one in regard to the nature and
personality of God. Let those who try to describe God know that on such a
subject silence is eloquence. Let the Scriptures be read in simple faith, and
let each one form his conceptions of God from his inspired word.
No human mind can comprehend
God. No man hath seen him at any time. We are as ignorant of God as little
children. But as little children we may love and obey Him. Had this been
understood, such sentiments as are in this book would never have been
expressed”.
Ellen White
clearly said that God’s nature and personality could not be defined, yet she
said that Kellogg’s book was not all error. This is the deceptiveness of Satan.
He often mingles truth with error, like sugar laced with poison. Kellogg used
scripture all the way through his publication as well as using Ellen White’s
writings. Perhaps it would be better said that he misused scripture and Ellen
White.
Special Testimonies Series B
No 2 Page 49 (also Selected Messages Book One chapter
24)
“Washington, D.C., August 7,
1904. My dear Brother : -- I am given a
message to bear to you and the rest of our physicians who are connected with the
Medical Missionary Association. Separate from the influence exerted by the book
"Living Temple;" for it contains specious sentiments. There are in it
sentiments that are entirely true, but these are mingled with error.
Scriptures are taken out of their connection, and are used to uphold erroneous
theories.
The thought of the errors contained in
this book has given me great distress, and the experience that I have passed
through in connection with the matter has nearly cost me my
life.
It
will be said that "Living Temple" has been revised. But the Lord has shown me
that the writer has not changed, and that there can be no unity between him and
the ministers of the gospel while he continues to cherish his present
sentiments. I am bidden to lift my voice in warning to our people, saying, "Be
not deceived; God is not mocked."
Without any
further explanation, it can be seen that what Kellogg was teaching was regarded
by Ellen White as being extremely dangerous. We should never underestimate what
Kellogg was teaching in his book about God. It really was a crisis for our
church, although you may not hear it mentioned very much
today.
Ellen White
referred to Kellogg’s theology concerning God and Christ as the “alpha of deadly heresies”. In describing it as
such, she was saying that this was the beginning of the heresies but she warned
that it was not the end. She said that the “omega” would follow and would be received by those
who were “not willing to heed the warning God has
given”.
Special Testimonies Series B
No 2 Page 50 (also Selected Messages Book One page
200)
“I
am instructed to speak plainly. "Meet it," is the word spoken to me. "Meet it
firmly, and without delay." But it is not to be met by our taking our working
forces from the field to investigate doctrines and points of difference. We have
no such investigation to make. In the book "Living Temple" there is
presented the alpha of deadly heresies. The omega will follow, and will be
received by those who are not willing to heed the warning God has
given”.
You may be asking
just what do I believe is the ‘omega’ heresy? That is not something that I am
going to attempt to define. I am going to leave that up to you the reader to
conclude as your knowledge increases and the future unfolds before your eyes.
All that I will say is that Kellogg’s book, according to the messenger of God,
contained the ‘alpha’ of heresies which deceived many, even those who were very
experienced in the truth. She emphasised that the ‘omega’ heresy, will in like
manner be received by those who are not willing to heed God’s warning.
We must not
underestimate the ‘omega’ heresy. We must search for ourselves to find out just
what is the ‘omega’ or else run the risk of being deceived and lose our own
salvation.
How did that
which Kellogg wrote in his book relate to the message that God had given to His
remnant people? Ellen White had this to say
Special Testimonies Series B
No 2 Page 51 (also Selected Messages Book One page
201)
“As a people, we are to stand
firm on the platform of eternal truth that has withstood test and trial. We are
to hold to the sure pillars of our faith. The principles of truth that God has
revealed to us are our only true foundation. They have made us what we are.
The lapse of time has not lessened their value. It is the constant
effort of the enemy to remove these truths from their setting, and to put in
their place spurious theories. He will bring in everything that he possibly can
to carry out his deceptive designs. But the Lord will raise up men of keen
perception, who will give these truths their proper place in the plan of
God”.
Kellogg was
teaching that the human body was the temple (dwelling place) of God. In one
sense he was perfectly correct but the emphasis was that God, through the Holy
Spirit (whom he believed was a person like the Father and Son), was in everybody
and that through Him God would cleanse the temple (the inner soul). What Kellogg
was teaching was clouding the message that God had given to His people. Whilst
the soul temple does need cleansing, so does the temple (sanctuary) in heaven.
Kellogg’s book
was not making clear definitions between God, Christ and their work for humanity
within the heavenly sanctuary. It only served to cause confusion. Lines had to
be clearly drawn between truth and error. Through Ellen White, God made these
lines very clear.
As we have seen
in the previous section, at the very centre of Kellogg’s confusion was the
personality of the Holy Spirit.
Kellogg regarded
the Holy Spirit as a person like the Father and Son. He also saw the Holy spirit
as being the means of the omnipresence of God. It was because of this that he
saw the personage of God as being in everything and in everybody. This is what
was causing the confusion.
Ellen White
constantly emphasised the need for speaking clearly and plainly about God and
Christ. She had this to say about what Kellogg was saying in his book.
Special Testimonies Series B
No 2 Page 52 (also Selected Messages Book One page
202)
“One and another come to me,
asking me to explain the positions taken in "Living Temple." I reply,
"They are unexplainable." The sentiments expressed do not give a
true knowledge of God. All through the book are passages of scripture. These
scriptures are brought in in such a way that error is made to appear as
truth. Erroneous theories are presented in so pleasing a way that
unless care is taken, many will be misled.
We need not the mysticism that
is in this book. Those who entertain these
sophistries will soon find themselves in a position where the enemy can talk
with them, and lead them away from God. It is represented to me that the writer
of this book is on a false track. He has lost sight of the distinguishing truths
for this time. He knows not whither his steps are tending. The track of
truth lies close beside the track of error, and both tracks may seem to
be one to minds which are not worked by the Holy Spirit, and which, therefore,
are not quick to discern the difference between truth and error”.
Mysticism and
confusion … two elements of satanic origin. Yet Kellogg, (in his own wisdom),
repeatedly said that he sincerely believed that what he put in his book was in
harmony with what Ellen White wrote as well as being in harmony with what the
other pioneers believed and taught.
The Lord’s
servant constantly denied that this was true. She also said that the theories
about the presence and the personality of God that Kellogg was teaching in his
book was the ‘alpha’ theories and that the ‘omega’ would “follow in a little while”.
Special Testimonies Series B
No 2 Page 53 (also Selected Messages page 203)
“In the controversy that arose
among our brethren regarding the teachings of this book, those in favor of
giving it a wide circulation declared: "It contains the very sentiments that
Sister White has been teaching." This assertion struck right to my heart. I felt
heart-broken; for I knew that this representation of the matter was not
true.
Finally my son said to me,
"Mother, you ought to read at least some parts of the book, that you may see
whether they are in harmony with the light that God has given you." He sat down
beside me, and together we read the preface, and most of the first chapter, and
also paragraphs in other chapters. As we read, I recognized the very sentiments
against which I had been bidden to speak in warning during the early days of my
public labors. When I first left the State of Maine, it was to go through
Vermont and Massachusetts, to bear a testimony against these sentiments.
"Living Temple" contains the alpha of these theories. I knew that the omega
would follow in a little while; and I trembled for our people. I knew that I
must warn our brethren and sisters not to enter into controversy over the
presence and personality of God. The statements made in "Living Temple" in
regard to this point are incorrect. The scripture used to substantiate the
doctrine there set forth, is scripture
misapplied”.
Well, there we
have it. The views of Ellen White concerning God and Christ, as she was called
to speak out against the teachings found in Kellogg’s book, ‘The Living Temple’.
In relation to the trinity concept that was prevalent at that time, these
statements, made in the early years of the twentieth century, are clearly seen
as being non trinitarian.
It must also be
noted that the Kellogg ‘crisis’ came about a long time after she wrote ‘The
Desire of Ages’ (1898), the book in which, according to those who support the
trinity doctrine, say that Ellen White made statements that led the church into
a full blown trinity concept of God.
In an attempt to
harmonise the statements of Ellen White concerning Kellogg’s book, with some
sort of a ‘trinitarian’ theology, there are many Seventh-day Adventists today
who believe and teach that there are three separate stand alone, co-equal
persons in one Godhead all being God in their own right.
Some of these
people even go to the lengths of saying that in His pre-existent state, Christ
was not really the Son of God, neither was God really the Father of Christ,
rather they say, the persons of the Godhead were only ‘role playing’ in their
quest to save mankind from the inevitable results of sin. Could this ‘role
playing’ teaching be part and parcel of the ‘omega’
heresy?
This ‘modern’
trinity concept is diametrically opposed to the original trintarian view which
portrays God as being a unity of three persons in one. The original view
portrays the Son as an everlasting generation (belonging to the indivisible
substance) of the Father, with the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father or Son
or both.
That is why today
there is a division of theology within the Seventh-day Adventist Church
regarding the trinity. There are those who see God as being three persons in one
person (one God) whilst others see three separate stand alone and co-equal
persons all being God in one Godhead.
More could be
said here about how right through to her death, Ellen White never spoke of God,
Christ and the Holy Spirit as one person in unity. Nevertheless, it is claimed
by most of those who promote and advocate the trinity doctrine, that it was the
writings of Ellen White that led the Seventh-day Adventist Church to the
trinitarian position that it takes today concerning God.
This was the very
same problem in the ‘alpha’ heresy. Ellen White said
“In the controversy that arose
among our brethren regarding the teachings of this book, those in favor of
giving it a wide circulation declared: "It contains the very sentiments that
Sister White has been teaching." This assertion struck right to my heart. I felt
heart-broken; for I knew that this representation of the matter was not true”.
(Special Testimonies Series B No 2 Page 53 also Selected Messages Book One page
203)
As we near the
end of this section, let’s take a quick look now at the fundamental beliefs of
the Seventh-day Adventist Church as far as the trinity teaching is concerned.
The second of the twenty seven fundamental beliefs says
“There is one
God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal
Persons” (Seventh-day Adventists Believe … A Biblical Exposition of 27
Fundamental Doctrines page 16)”
The question is …
“does this statement of belief portray the ‘original’ trinity teaching based on
the Nicaean creed or is it the alternative (modern) view, i.e. three co-eternal
and co-equal persons in one Godhead?” Either way, God is not portrayed as an
individual person as believed and taught by the pioneers of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church, as well as by Ellen White.
This is why
George Knight in the Ministry magazine of October 1993 in an article called
“Adventists and Change”
said
“Most of the founders of
Seventh-day Adventism would not be able to join the church today if they had to
subscribe to the denomination's Fundamental Beliefs. More specifically, most
would not be able to agree to belief Number 2, which deals with the doctrine of
the Trinity.
For Joseph Bates the Trinity was an
unscriptural doctrine, for James White it was that "old Trinitarian absurdity,"
and for M. E. Cornell it was a fruit of the great apostasy, along with such
false doctrines as Sunday keeping and the immortality of the
soul”
Now whilst I agree that George Knight is undoubtedly
correct when he refers to what these pioneers thought about the trinity
doctrine, I also believe that his statement falls far short of the truth. He
says that the non-trinitarian view of God was the view of “most of the founders of Seventh-day Adventism”.
As to yet, I have not found any of the founders who would agree
with our present day theology concerning God and His Son, whichever view of the
trinity is taken.
As we leave this
section, I believe that it would be beneficial for us to remember what Ellen
White has said about the ‘new theology’ that was making its way into the
Seventh-day Adventist Church in her time. She did say that this would be an
ongoing problem.
“Again
and again we shall be called to meet the influence of men who are
studying sciences of satanic origin, through which Satan is working to make
a nonentity of God and of Christ. The Father and the Son
each have a personality. Christ declared: "I and My Father are one."
Yet it was the Son of God who came to the world in human form”
(Review and Herald 6th August 1908).
“Be not deceived; many will
depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.
We have now before us the alpha of this danger. The omega will be of a
most startling nature” (Special Testimonies series B No 2 Page 16 1904
also Selected Messages Book One page 197).
“One thing it
is certain is soon to be realised,--the great apostasy, which is developing and
increasing and waxing stronger, and will continue to do so until the Lord
shall descend from heaven with a shout. We are to hold fast the
first principles of our denominated faith, and go forward from
strength to increased faith. Ever we are to keep the faith that has been
substantiated by the Holy Spirit of God from the earlier events of our
experience until the present time”. (Special Testimonies Series B, -
page 57 Sanitarium, Cal., Dec. 4, 1906. SM1: 206-7 also New York Indicator
7-2-1906)
“And
truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." All
through the Scriptures, the Father and the Son are spoken of as two distinct
personages. You will hear men endeavoring to make the Son of God a nonentity. He
and the Father are one, but they are two personages. Wrong sentiments regarding
this are coming in, and we shall all have to meet them”. (Review and
Herald. 13-7-1905)
“Wrong sentiments are coming
in” said Ellen White in 1905
“and we shall have to meet
them”.
You can see how
Ellen White warned about making God a non personal being. We have also seen that
she constantly said that that God and Christ are two separate persons. But what
about the third person? After all, you cannot have a ‘trinity’ without a third
being. This ‘third being’ of course is the Holy Spirit, but how does He (or it)
fit into the picture?
In
section eight we shall look at the scriptural evidence and what Ellen White had
to say about the third person of the Godhead.
If
you would like to comment on what you have just read, then here are a number of
email addresses to which you can reply.
First preference terry_sda@blueyonder.co.uk
Second preference terry_sda@bristol000.freeserve.co.uk
Third preference terry_sda@hotmail.com
SECTION EIGHT FOLLOWING
Terry Hill
Bristol
England