of the methodology of the survey, the statistics are very intresting. for example of those members who read Ellen White daily 85% stated that they had a strong relationship with Jesus Christ while 59% of those who do not read her stated this. 82% of those who read Ellen White regularly also have daily Bible study while only 47% of those who do not read her had daily study.What does this mean? Well, there are benefits to reading Ellen White regularly. It also might suggest that in practice a lack of Ellen White reading usually manifests itself in lack of Bible reading among Adventists...And vice versa...It also might illustrate that it is not "reading" Ellen White that necessarily contributes to the legalism that so many people think is rampant in the church at the present time.
What I like about reading EGW is that when you finish a book of hers, you don't think "wow, she writes so well." Instead, you just can't stop thinking about how awesome Jesus is =)
ReplyDeleteJosue,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments!
You know her Conflict of the Ages series is very vivid and inspiring. I can remember one prominant Adventist preacher who quotes the conflict of the ages at length in sermons just weaving it in without necessarily stating he is quoting her. The conflict of the ages is very inspiring in this regard...
However I wish to ask you, do you feel the same response when you are reading say the Testimonies to the Church or something like Early Writings?
I've read these study results before and likewise found them very interesting. On a personal note, while the CofA series seems to definately give a clearer picture of Jesus, the Testimonies most often convict me in areas where I already know I am lacking. Other books, like Early writings, Life Sketches, Colporteur Ministry, Ministry of Healing, etc. actually inspire me to action! So I think the results are fairly widespread for me, depending on the material in question.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, I found it interesting that you stated that so many feel legalism is rampant. While I find that from outsiders and some of the younger church members, most of the older and more established members in the faith are actually concerned about the liberalism of 'new theology' (at least this seems to be true in my conference). As always, I enjoyed your post! Definately food for thought ...
Michael
Michael,
ReplyDeleteI do not belive that Legalism is rampant in the church. I was trying to emphasize that any legalism that you find in the church you cannot chalk it up necessarily to EGW. I believe that that mainstream American "evangelical" Adventist "thinks" that legalism is rampant and sometimes those who hold such a position place some of the blame on EGW....Perhaps I could have been clearer...
I could be wrong but I think that the critique of the new Theology from the historic adventist movement is largely not even known about by your average Mainstream American Adventist.? Further, I would state that that Gsopel that?the historic Adventist movement has declared to be the "new theology" has actually won the day and is currently assumed true by mainstream Adventism.? I would argue this is why so many believe that the church has rampant legalism in it....
When you say that it has "won the day", do you feel the new theologies gospel is accurate and viable? Just curious ...
ReplyDeleteMichael
Man Michael, you got me scared that I am not being clear...
ReplyDeleteI don't know what you mean by "accurate and viable", but I think that the evangelical gospel is largely a truncation of the gospel that Adventism has been called to preach and thus we should critically examine it rather than wholesale accepting and preaching it.
When I say "won the day" I am not saying that it "should" have won the day, I just think from my vantage point that it is current mainstream Adventism.? I think on any given Sabbath in America you are more likely to hear what you call "new theology" than say an "Andreasen-esque" understanding...I thought your comment made it seem as though more people had a problem with the supposed?"new theology" than really do.? I would also argue that?some of these?people who decry?the standards going down also beleive in what you call "new theology..." But as one person said...I reserve the right to be wrong.??
After having said that, I do have problems with the movement calling itself "Historical Adventist" though but that is another post and you didn't ask that...
Sherman,
ReplyDeleteDon't worry ... you are being clear. I'm just a little critical and have heard so much 'between the lines' and Orwellian double-speak from theologically-minded people that I am cautious and like to have the lines explicitly drawn out. That being said, I have to agree that the majority of the Adventists I know do not even have an understanding of what the 'historical' issues are and why people like myself feel the need to decry the standards and proclaim the present truth in it's historical context (at least as I see it). I think I'm going to do a series of posts on my blog about the various 'historical' positions and perhaps we can take up the conversation regarding issues with historic adventism there.
God Bless,
Michael
Michael,
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me know that I am being clear.
However I am a little troubled by what appears to be a slight "anti-theologian" bias. You state that theologians often engage in "Orwellian double-speak." I think that sometimes what can be classified as double-speak is actually being careful or recognizing that language itself holds ambiguities. For example when you ask me if I think that the evangelical gospel is "accurate and viable" I didn't answer that question. I don't know what you mean by your use of these terms. So instead I answered a different question, "Do I think that the evangelical gospel is truncated or missing important pieces that we have been called to teach." Some might consider that "double-speak," I think it is simply attempting to be careful...
God Bless and keep on posting...
[...] Sherman Cox II points us to a transcript of a devotional talk by James R. Nix, the director of the Ellen G. White Estate. Nix spoke about a survey by the North American Division a couple years ago. One of the survey questions asked if the respondents regularly read Ellen White’s writings. 2,848 were classified as readers and 5,375 were non-readers. After crunching the data from the other survey questions, these findings were published in Ministry magazine in October 1982. [...]
ReplyDelete