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Commentary on "The Blessings of the Prophetic Gift"
Day 7: Friday, March 20, 2009
Today's lesson centers of the reliability and credibility of Ellen White as a messenger of God with special attention given to her 'health message'.
Problems
As has been already stated, one of the primary problems with the 'health message' is that proof texts are taken out of context and used to promote her idea of good health. In doing so, attention is diverted from the original Biblical issues that these passages are addressing. For instance, it has been shown that what pollutes our bodies, the Temple of the Holy Spirit, is not what we put into it but what comes out of our mouths from our hearts, the source of evil desires of every description. Perhaps even more important is that the gospel is not about a health message, regardless of how important it may be to have healthy bodies. The gospel centers on what Jesus Christ did to save our souls from the consequences of sin. As for her health message being better than her contemporaries, that is open for debate. If her advice were really inspired words from God then we have a right to expect what she said as being totally correct, not mostly or largely right. Those she appears to have borrowed her ideas from never claimed to be totally correct. They were only speaking from a foundation of the best that modern research had to offer at that time or place in history.
Let's look at how it was God's intention to directly rule over the Nation of Israel through priests, judges and prophets. Then, we will examine how God intends to direct the affairs of the Church and each individual Christian within the Body of Christ.
Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. (I Sam. 8:4-9)
When Israel demanded to have a king like the rest of the nations it was God they were rejecting. Some might contend that Ellen was a prophet and that is why her teachings are to be followed. We have already considered the question of the truth of her teachings. Her prophecies have not always passed the test of time and much of what she said contradicts Scripture, issues we have already considered. Furthermore, we have seen in Rev. 22:18,19 that there is a curse placed upon those who add to or take away from the inspired words of God. Know then, that when you follow a false prophet you are rejecting God in the very same way the Israelites did when they demanded that a king rule over them.
Earlier in the week we saw how the role of the Holy Spirit is to personally indwell, empower and instruct each believer. As members of the Body of Christ, we are to mutually to build up and support each other through the gifts given to each believer by the Holy Spirit.
And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Luke 22:25-30)
Summary
Each member of the Body of Christ has direct access to God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The canon of the Scriptures has been closed since the apostles and prophets of the first century, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, recorded the very words of Jesus Christ. This means that there is no room for another prophet, much less a false one. It is a paradox of Adventist theology that it promotes physically healthy bodies on the principle that to do otherwise would defile the temple of the Holy Spirit yet deny his role as a seal of our salvation and to illumine us with an understanding of God's word.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; (I Peter 2:9)
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