Part I: Ellen White’s Passion for the Love of God in Christ
Childhood Conversion and Early Visions
Ellen White grew up in an intensely religious home. Her father was a class leader in the Methodist Church and even helped start a branch congregation on the south side of Portland, Maine, U.S.A., during the early 1840s. Ellen’s childhood and teenage personality was introverted and melancholy. She had an intense inner life with high personal expectations. Probably her principal fault as a child was keeping things bottled up inside. This resulted in a lengthy emotional struggle without answers to critical questions. Her conversion spanned a period of about seven years and went through three phases. She experienced a deathbed conversion, wrestled with justification and forgiveness of sin, and finally the issue of sanctification and holiness in terms of the second coming of Jesus. GOP 272.2
Her accident, which probably occurred in 1836 or 1837, set a new course for her life. A stone thrown by an older schoolmate broke her nose and made her a virtual invalid for the remainder of her childhood. Because of her injury, it was thought that she would die. In her weakness she simply gave her heart to Jesus and found peace. However as she recovered from her accident, she entered a new phase in her conversion process.GOP 272.3
Her accident interrupted her educational plans and produced bitter thoughts toward God. The next pivotal experience of her conversion was realizing that Jesus could forgive her sins, which she experienced at an 1841 Methodist camp meeting in Buxton, Maine, U.S.A.GOP 272.4
At the lowest point in her experience she had a dream of seeing Jesus.GOP 272.5
There was no mistaking that beautiful countenance; that expression of benevolence and majesty could belong to no other. As His gaze rested upon me, I knew at once that He was acquainted with every circumstance of my life and all my inner thoughts and feelings. I tried to shield myself from His gaze, feeling unable to endure His searching eyes; but He drew near with a smile, and laying His hand upon my head, said, “Fear not.” The sound of His sweet voice thrilled my heart with happiness it had never before experienced. I was too joyful to utter a word, but, overcome with emotion, sank prostrate at His feet. GOP 272.6
This view of Jesus was not a prophetic dream but rather a personal dream that gave her courage to talk with her mother about her doubts and fears. This led to the final step in Ellen’s conversion process. Eunice Harmon arranged for Ellen to talk with Levi Stockman—a Methodist Adventist minister whom she trusted. Stockman, who would die of tuberculosis before the 1844 Disappointment, was a man of deep spiritual experience. Perhaps for the first time, Ellen Harmon opened her heart and told all of her troubles. When she had finally poured out all of her sorrows, doubts, and fears, she saw that Stockman was weeping as well. The critical help he gave her would affect her for the rest of her life. He changed her view of God, she wrote of this interview: “My views of the Father were changed. I now looked upon Him as a kind and tender parent, rather than a stern tyrant compelling men to a blind obedience. My heart went out toward Him in a deep and fervent love. Obedience to His will seemed a joy; it was a pleasure to be in His service.” In later years the paternal love of God became Ellen White’s favorite theme. She also taught that it was Jesus’ favorite theme. Her favorite song was “Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” by John Wesley. To illustrate her passion on this topic, I quote the following:GOP 273.1
All the paternal love which has come down from generation to generation through the channel of human hearts, all the springs of tenderness which have opened in the souls of men, are but as a tiny rill to the boundless ocean when compared with the infinite, exhaustless love of God. Tongue cannot utter it; pen cannot portray it. You may meditate upon it every day of your life; you may search the Scriptures diligently in order to understand it; you may summon every power and capability that God has given you, in the endeavor to comprehend the love and compassion of the heavenly Father; and yet there is an infinity beyond. You may study that love for ages; yet you can never fully comprehend the length and the breadth, the depth and the height, of the love of God in giving His Son to die for the world. Eternity itself can never fully reveal it. Yet as we study the Bible and meditate upon the life of Christ and the plan of redemption, these great themes will open to our understanding more and more. GOP 273.2
Her entire great controversy narrative is framed by this theme. She wrote on the great controversy between 1858 and the end of her life. She published three sets of books, which culminated in the five-volume Conflict of the Ages series that is so beloved today. Ellen White wrote this series in terms of the love of God. The first book, Patriarchs and Prophets, begins with the words: “ ‘God is love.’ (1 John 4:16). His nature, His law, is love. It ever has been; it ever will be.” The last book, The Great Controversy, ends with the following words: “One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. . . . From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love.” Her most translated and widely read book is Steps to Christ. The first chapter of this book is on the love of God.GOP 274.1
Sometimes people do not realize that Ellen White’s first three major prophetic visions during 1844 and 1845 had Jesus at the center. In her first vision—the Midnight Cry—it is Jesus that the Advent people were following on the path. When they were discouraged, Jesus raised His arm, and a light “waved over the Advent band.” In her second major vision—the Bridegroom—it was Jesus that led His people from the holy to most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. In her third major vision—the New Earth—it was Jesus who personally showed Ellen White the future glories of the new earth.GOP 274.2
Writings Up to 1888
It has often been said that it was not until later in her life that Ellen White really came to understand righteousness by faith. It is true that her writings do show greater breadth and eloquence during her last decades. Yet she wrote at the 1888 Minneapolis, Minnesota, Seventh-day Adventist General Conference session, “I see a beauty of truth in the presentation of the righteousness of Christ in relations to the law as the doctor [E. J. Waggoner] has placed it before us.” “This was not new light to me, for it had come to me from a higher authority for the last forty four years.” A year later when asked about the “new light” on righteousness by faith as presented by A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner, she remarked: “Why, I have been presenting it to you for the last forty-five years—the matchless charms of Christ. This is what I have been trying to present before your minds.” GOP 274.3
Peter van Bemmelen has written a helpful paper on the theological significance of this phrase “the matchless charms of Christ.” He observed that during the 1850s Ellen White repeatedly used this phrase and others like it.GOP 274.4
If Christ be in us the hope of glory, we shall discover such matchless charms in Him that the soul will be enamored. It will cleave to Him, choose to love Him, and in admiration of Him, self will be forgotten. GOP 275.1
They will look to the blessed Savior who has given himself for them, and, with admiration and love for him who is smiling upon them, raise their voices and sing to his praise and glory, while they feel and realize the matchless depths of a Savior’s love. GOP 275.2
I lay down the pen, and exclaim, O what love! What marvelous love! The most exalted language cannot describe the glory of heaven, nor the matchless depths of a Savior’s love. GOP 275.3
Ellen White’s publications reveal that her grasp of Christology was more clearly defined than her peers. In particular, her writing on the great controversy is profoundly Christ-centered. When one examines the first little book, she wrote on this theme, the chapter headings speak for themselves. The headings include: “The Fall of Satan”; “The Fall of Man”; “The Plan of Salvation”; “The First Advent of Christ”; “The Ministry of Christ”; and so forth. The first 80 pages largely emphasize the life and death of Jesus. Ellen White first presented the great controversy theme on Sunday, May 23, 1858, while in the midst of writing her book. The effect was profound. Uriah Smith reported: “When the course of the narration had brought us down to the days of the first advent, the humiliation, the suffering, and finally the crucifixion of the Savior, especially then did not only the silent tear but even the audible sobs of many in the congregation announced their hearts were touched by the sufferings of the Son of God for rebellious man.” The initial focus was on Jesus and the plan of salvation. So affected were the people that they stayed and listened until 10:00 p.m. that night and then continued with testimonies until 11:00 p.m. The meeting closed reluctantly.GOP 275.4
During the 1860s and early 1870s she gave careful attention to the connection between Christ’s divine and human nature. During these years she gave extensive insight on the human nature of Christ. She described Jesus as having “natural infirmities” or a “fallen nature” by which she meant human weakness caused by a body that was diminished as a result of the fall of Adam. At the same time she clearly wrote in 1869: “He is a brother in our infirmities, but not in possessing like passions. As the sinless One, His nature recoiled from evil.” She remained consistent throughout her life that though Jesus had innocent infirmities He had no sinful propensities.GOP 275.5
On His divine nature, Ellen White wrote in 1878 of Jesus as “eternal,” making her likely the first Adventist pioneer in print to do so. Even E. J. Waggoner, in 1890, was presenting Jesus as having a beginning at some point in the ages of eternity. Her writings on the deity of Jesus were explicit and unmistakable. “In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived.” GOP 275.6
Her personal correspondence reveals a passion for Jesus and His saving power. An example is a letter she wrote to her son Willie from a camp meeting held in Oakland, California, in 1874.GOP 276.1
I spoke to the people last Sunday afternoon upon the sufferings of Christ. . . . Christ crucified, Christ arisen, Christ a living Savior, Christ our Advocate in the heavenly courts, Christ coming again, is the power and the wisdom of God. . . . The cross of Calvary is God’s power and wisdom, His way of saving sinners. The light reflected from the cross of Calvary makes the plan of salvation so simple that children may understand it, so powerful that none but those who are controlled by the power of Satan can and will resist it. GOP 276.2
Perhaps the most compelling statement by Ellen White on her passion for Jesus is in the form of a picture rather than with words. In 1873 M. E. Kellogg designed a graphical representation of the history of the world that he had published in lithographic form titled: The Way of Life From Paradise Lost to Paradise Restored. Placed side by side in the center of the picture was the law of God hung upon a tree and Jesus hanging upon the cross.GOP 276.3
James White revised it slightly in 1876.GOP 277.1
After her husband’s death, Ellen White finally had the picture re engraved in a costly major revision. The new lithograph placed the cross of Christ central to the picture and removed the equal position of the law of God. She also retitled it Christ the Way of Life. This picture was published in 1883, five years before the 1888 General Conference session.GOP 277.2
Ellen White and Jesus After 1888
Ellen White was nearly 61 years old at the time of the 1888 General Conference session. The remaining 26 years of her life were most productive in writing. During these years she published her greatest literary and spiritual masterpieces. These later books give particular emphasis to the life of Jesus and gospel themes. Books include Steps to Christ (1892), Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing (1896), The Desire of Ages (1898), and Christ’s Object Lessons (1900). Other major books written during this time, such as Education (1903) and The Ministry of Healing (1905), also emphasize themes on the nature of Christ and the plan of salvation.GOP 278.1
During the 1890s, while she was in Australia, Ellen White did much writing for Desire of Ages. The work on this book brought out strong emotions that were expressed in her personal diary and in her correspondence. These comments reveal the depth of her feeling toward Jesus.GOP 278.2
Oh, how inefficient, how incapable I am of expressing the things which burn in my soul in reference to the mission of Christ! . . . I know not how to speak or trace with pen the large subject of the atoning sacrifice. I know not how to present subjects in the living power in which they stand before me. I tremble for fear lest I shall belittle the great plan of salvation by cheap words. GOP 278.3
My whole being longs after the Lord, I am not content to be satisfied with occasional flashes of light. I must have more. GOP 278.4
In writing upon the life of Christ I am deeply wrought upon. I forget to breathe as I should. I cannot endure the intensity of feeling that comes over me as I think of what Christ has suffered in our world. GOP 278.5
I awoke at three o’clock a.m. I feel deeply the need of casting my helpless soul upon Jesus Christ. He is my helper. He is my all and in all. I am weak as water without the Holy Spirit of God to help me. GOP 278.6
I find tears running down my cheeks when I think of what the Lord is to His children, and when I contemplate His goodness, His mercy, [and] His tender compassion. GOP 278.7
One of Ellen White’s most touching and spiritually compelling letters is written to Elizabeth, her twin sister, in 1891 when she died. Lizzie, as she was called, did not live as a Christian through most of her adult life. It was never published, and was intended to be personal. It reveals Ellen’s spiritual longing for her sister and her love for Jesus.GOP 278.8
I love to speak of Jesus and His matchless love and my whole soul is in this work. I have not one doubt of the love of God and His care and His mercy and ability to save to the utmost all who come unto Him. . . . Don’t you believe in Jesus, Lizzie? Do you not believe He is your Saviour? That He has evidenced His love for you in giving His own precious life that you might be saved? All that is required of you is to take Jesus as your own precious Saviour. I pray most earnestly that the Lord Jesus shall reveal Himself to you and to ReubenGOP 279.1
Dear sister, it is no wonderful thing that you have to do. You fell poor, suffering, and afflicted, and Jesus invites all of this class to come to Him. . . . Friends may feel sorrowful, but they cannot save you. Your physician cannot save you. But there is One who died that you might live through eternal ages. Just believe that Jesus will hear your confession, receive your penitence, and forgive every sin and make you children of God Will you give yourself in trusting faith to Jesus? I long to take you in my arms and lay you on the bosom of Jesus Christ. . . . With Jesus as your blessed Friend you need not fear to die, for it will be to you like closing your eyes here and opening them in heaven. Then we shall meet never more to part. GOP 279.2