Three Basic Presuppositions That Hinder Acceptance

As we saw in chapters 41 to 43, the critical charges and allegations made against Ellen White generally rest on certain presuppositions by which critics judge the validity of her ministry:MOL 521.5

1. Those who believe in some form of verbal inspiration often base their criticism or rejection on the change of a word or a questionable date. ^{41See p. 470.}MOL 521.6

2. Those who are committed, consciously or unconsciously, to certain inadequate theological doctrines set forth by some Protestant reformers, reject key aspects of Ellen White’s teachings on the plan of salvation. Those who do not believe that Christ has two specific phases as High Priest after His ascension will forthrightly dismiss her contribution to the Adventist doctrine of the sanctuary and probably her teaching ministry in general. ^{42See p. 502.}MOL 521.7

3. Those who are uncomfortable with reproof of sin. ^{43“Disguise it as they may, the real cause of doubt and skepticism, in most cases, is the love of sin.” Steps to Christ, 111.} When a person falls into any one of these three categories, the usual response is the same as that given by those who do not accept the Bible as divine revelation—“It does not make sense to me.” For those who are motivated by self-will and pride of opinion, to hear God’s call to trust the message when the messenger makes human mistakes does not make sense.MOL 521.8

For those who are so motivated, to hear that God calls for people to separate themselves from conventional theological understanding, to go against the tide of a vast array of conventional Bible students, does not make sense.MOL 522.1

For those who are so motivated, to hear that God asks men and women to give up their pride of opinion, their security in always being “in command” of their lives, and their trust in status symbols by which they have established their “worth” and for which they are lauded, does not make sense.MOL 522.2

For proud, independent sinners, the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) do not make sense. Nor does the invitation to “deny himself and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mark 8:34) make sense.MOL 522.3

To exchange for a new Master one’s own desire to be the final judge as to what is best in life makes sense only after a person has capitulated to Christ. To see oneself for what he/she really is, is a fundamental, life-changing experience that leads a sinner to become a grateful, compliant son or daughter of God. Only after this profound surrender to God’s plans for one’s life will God’s plans make sense.MOL 522.4

In other words, it is contrary to an unbeliever’s common sense to give up what seems to be human security to become a disciple of Jesus. That is why God gives us “supercommon sense” through His Holy Spirit as He puts us into that place where we “see” life correctly.MOL 522.5

After the truth about ourselves and God’s plan for us sinks in, everything else that God is trying to say to us makes sense. Then the weight of evidence makes sense. Only then does the weight of evidence seem equivalent to common sense.^{44“In intellectual matters you can think things out, but in spiritual matters you will think yourself into cotton wool. If there is something upon which God has put His pressure, obey in that matter, bring your imagination into captivity to the obedience of Christ with regard to it and everything will become as clear as daylight.... The tiniest thing we allow in our lives that is not under the control of the Holy Spirit is quite sufficient to account for spiritual muddle, and all the thinking we like to spend on it will never make it clear. Spiritual muddle is only made plain by obedience. Immediately we obey, we discern. This is humiliating, because when we are muddled we know the reason is in the temper of our mind. When the natural power of vision is devoted to the Holy Spirit, it becomes the power of perceiving God’s will and the whole life is kept in simplicity.” Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, p. 190.}MOL 522.6