Sponsored by the Pacific Union College's Dramatic Arts Society (DAS), Redbooks: Our search for Ellen White has caused a huge stir in the Online Adventist community. The play "explores the Seventh-day Adventist community’s relationship with its founder, Ellen G. White."There are a number of related blogposts on this with varying opinions yet with a common thread all through them. Here are some or them:
“Red Books: Our Search for Ellen White” to Premiere at PUC
Red Books and the Mosaic of Adventism
Ellen White, Hip-Hop and Courageous Conversations
What Do We Do with Ellen White?
More on Ellen White
The Story of Adventism
Before I go any further, the third act of the play was dialogue. You cannot have a one-way dialogue, it is then a diatribe. ;) So, if you disagree with something you read finish the post and write me a comment. I should also say I haven't seen the play so I can't comment directly on it, only as I understand it through the accounts I have read.
To spare you having to read those posts here is what I believe the common thread is: There is something wrong with the historic (traditional, conservative, however you want to put it) view of Ellen White and there needs to be a change. Now hang with me, you can read the whole posts for context using the links above but here are some quotes without context to back up my claim:
"...We’ve come to that place of confidence where we can take some heavy-hitting cynicism and iconoclasm coming from within, where we don’t look down upon our students and laity to the point that we need to resort to censorship or other oppressive measures to keep the appearance of ecclesiastical/theological unity, where we don’t need to defend every attack or ridicule hurled at Ellen White or our views of her. The church is mature enough be self-critical about the way we relate with our most revered cultural and historical icon—Ellen White." - Julias Nam/Progressive Adventism
"...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?" - Richard Doss/P. Richie's Place
"...there is a four-generation relationship to a prophetic figure like White.
The first generation in a new religious movement led by a charismatic person appreciates the spiritual gifts displayed in that person and at the same time recognizes them as a human being. The second generation puts the person on a pedestal after they are gone. The third generation tears down the pedestal and the fourth generation is left with nothing but a misunderstood and ill-defined wound or void.
If this is true (and I think it is, in one way or another) about the role of Ellen White and her legacy in the Adventist movement, then it is more largely true about the history of the movement altogether. What is the story of Adventism as you have heard it? What generation are you in?" - Monte Sahlin/Faith in Context
"Eryck and his crew have masterfully laid bare our inability to talk openly and honestly - without fear of banishment - about our diversity of opinion regarding our common roots. This inability to openly dialogue has led to tragic consequences, especially in the 1970s on our campus, Pacific Union College. " - Jon Thorton/Continuous Dialogue
Now, is it possible there is something wrong with the historic (Seventh-day Adventist) view of Ellen White? Quite likely. But I think there is a larger issue here and that is methods of Biblical interpretation. In a post here there is a record of a chat session between some of the characters in the play and some friends(?). I am not quite sure who exactly was involved. But what was interesting to me was a phrase used a few paragraphs
"Luke: Yes Matt, a prophet can be outdated because of the principle of the Incarnational Gospel. The gospel reaches people, society, where it is. Thus her message was for that time and place."
The idea of the "Incarnational Gospel" is something new to me. I did a bit of searching and wasn't able to find much on it. I was able to find something on it here and from that I can determine that the idea basically means that the gospel changes to fit the culture (time and place) that it finds itself in. This brings up the obvious question of what truths or beliefs are open to change when they are contrary to culture? How much variation should there be between a western Adventist Christian and a middle eastern or far eastern Adventist Christian? And what determines the amount of leeway that there should be?
This all though points to how you interpret scripture as being the real question at hand. It is really not about Ellen White (although it is the subject in this discussion), it is not about music, it is not about our styles and ways of worship: it is about how we, who claim to believe in the Bible, interpret that book. That is the question. I will submit to you that all the other beliefs hand off of our interpretation of the Bible. I can believe that the Bible is a fairy tale but I still believe in it. I can believe that the Bible only has good comments for some practical life issues but I still believe in it. The only difference is my system of how I apply those words to my culture and to me.
So when it says in 2 Chronicles 20 "Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper" that means different things to different people depending on how you read the Bible.
I guess my conclusion on the play and the debate is that unless Adventism can agree on how to interpret the Bible there will never be agreement on the other issues. You can have discussions and assemblies but until the principles you are working off of are the same the conclusions of necessity will be different. "He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?" Luke 10:26 - How readest thou?
One thing I do want to add before I finish is that often a misunderstanding comes through lack of contact. Walls get built and sometimes the event that created the need is long past but they remain erected out of tradition and stigma against the other side. This is true of both parties in this case. But take a look at the verse using whatever method of interpretation that you believe in and come and see.
"Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see."
Come and see - to those who haven't ever read anything from Ellen White or for those who haven't read anything in a while I would say, come and see. Take some time and read something from Steps to Christ or the Desire of Ages. I think that you will find, as I have, that Ellen White was inspired and that her writing is inspired and relevant for modern times.
God Bless!
