Friday, March 09, 2007

More on Ellen White

Some of you may have had the opportunity to browse my very long post called, "What Do We Do with Ellen White?" These conversations about Ellen White have been happening more frequently this winter. The Red Books was his play that premiered recently at PUC has sparked quite a bit of debate. Several of my favorite discussions have come form Julius Nam's blog, progressiveadventism.com. Especially provocative recent post called Red Books and the Mosaic of Adventism. What Julius Nam has to say struck a cord in me. How can we as Adventists chart a way forward that doesn't require firing squads or church inquisitors? How can we learn to accept Ellen White for who she was, "messy and enigmatic," completely human and thus imperfect and sinful, as well as called and inspired by God to do ministry in her time and place? I am reminded of one of George Knight's favorite sayings: "Thou Shalt Not Do Theology Against Thy Brother!" This also fits with how we are to treat dear old Ellen. If she has become primarily an implement of war, animosity, and strife within our church, then we are all responsible for creating this monster. And who is responsible for slaying or taming the monster?

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