And here, too, is the great cause of MENTAL WEAKNESS and INEFFICIENCY. In turning from God's word to FEED on the WRITINGS of UNINSPIRED MEN, the mind becomes dwarfed and cheapened. It is not brought in contact with deep, broad principles of eternal truth. The understanding adapts itself to the comprehension of the things with which it is familiar, and in this devotion to finite things it is weakened, its power is contracted, and AFTER A TIME IT BECOMES UNABLE TO EXPAND.
Both in the {Battle Creek} Tabernacle and in the college the subject of inspiration has been taught, and finite men have taken it upon themselves to say that some things in the Scriptures were inspired and some were not. I was shown that the Lord did not inspire the articles on inspiration published in the Review, neither did He approve their endorsement before our youth in the college. When men venture to criticize the Word of God, they venture on sacred, holy ground, and had better fear and tremble and hide their wisdom as foolishness. GOD SETS NO MAN TO PRONOUNCE JUDGMENT ON HIS WORD, selecting some things as inspired and discrediting others as uninspired. THE TESTIMONIES HAVE BEEN TREATED IN THE SAME WAY; BUT GOD IS NOT IN THIS.--Letter 22, 1889.
Some have stumbled over the fact that I SAID I DID NOT CLAIM TO BE A PROPHET; and they have asked, Why is this?
I have had no claims to make, only that I AM INSTRUCTED THAT I AM THE LORD'S MESSENGER; that He called me in my youth to be His messenger, to receive His word, and to give a clear and decided message in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Early in my youth I was asked several times, Are you a prophet? I have ever responded, I AM THE LORD'S MESSENGER. I know that many have called me a prophet, but I have made no claim to this title. My Saviour declared me to be His messenger. "Your work," He instructed me, "is to bear My word. Strange things will arise, and in your youth I set you apart to bear the message to the erring ones, to carry the word before unbelievers, and with pen and voice to reprove from the Word actions that are not right. Exhort from the Word. I will make My Word open to you. It shall not be as a strange language. In the true eloquence of simplicity, with voice and pen, the messages that I give shall be heard from one who has never learned in the schools. My SPIRIT and My POWER shall be with you.
"Be not afraid of man, for My shield shall protect you. IT IS NOT YOU THAT SPEAKETH: IT IS THE LORD THAT GIVETH THE MESSAGES OF WARNING AND REPROOF. Never deviate from the truth under any circumstances. Give the light I SHALL GIVE YOU. The messages for these last days shall be written in books, and shall stand immortalized, to testify against those who have once rejoiced in the light, but who have been led to give it up because of the seductive influences of evil."
Why have I not claimed to be a prophet?--Because in these days many who boldly claim that they are prophets are a reproach to the cause of Christ; and BECAUSE MY WORK INCLUDES MUCH MORE THAN THE WORD "PROPHET" SIGNIFIES.
When this work was first given me, I begged the Lord to lay the burden on someone else. The work was so large and broad and deep that I feared I could not do it. But BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT the Lord has enabled me to perform the work which HE GAVE ME TO DO.
Those who have helped souls to FEEL AT LIBERTY TO SPECIFY WHAT IS OF GOD in the TESTIMONIES and WHAT ARE THE UNINSPIRED WORDS of Sister White, will find that they were helping the devil in his work of deception. Please read Testimony No. 33, page 211 [ Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 682], "How to Receive Reproof."--Letter 28, 1906.
If Brother Daniells is not in Battle Creek, please read to the church
what I am sending you. I have many letters to write, and I can not add
more to this now. There is just one thing the Lord calls for, and that
is, for every man, minister, or physician, or lay member, to confess his
own sins. Each one will have a hard battle to fight with his own perverse
self. Those who have stood directly in the way of the people, having a
clear realization of their perilous condition, will have an account to
settle with God. THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED SOULS TO FEEL AT LIBERTY TO SPECIFY
WHAT IS OF GOD IN THE TESTIMONIES, AND WHAT ARE THE UNINSPIRED WORDS OF
SISTER WHITE, WILL FIND THAT THEY WERE HELPING THE DEVIL IN HIS WORK OF
DECEPTION. Please read Testimony No. 33, p. 211, "How to Receive Reproof."
(Or, Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 683).
What book can begin to compare with the Bible? It is essential for every child, for youth, and for those of mature age to understand; for IT IS THE WORD OF GOD, the word to guide all the human family to heaven. Then why does not the word from God contain the chief elements which constitute education? UNINSPIRED AUTHORS are placed in the hands of children and youth in our schools as lesson books -- books from which they are to be educated. They are kept before the youth, taking up their precious time in studying those things which they can never use. Many books have been introduced into the schools which should never have been placed there. These books do not in any sense voice the words of John, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." The whole line of study in our schools should be to prepare a people for the future, immortal life.
The Bible is designed of God to be the book by which the UNDERSTANDING MAY BE DISCIPLINED, the SOUL GUIDED AND DIRECTED. To live in the world and yet to be not of the world, is a problem that many professed Christians have never worked out in their practical life. Enlargement of mind will come to a nation only as men return to their allegiance to God. The world is flooded with books on general information, and men apply their minds in searching uninspired histories; but they neglect the most wonderful book that can give them the most correct ideas and ample understanding.--Review and Herald, Feb. 25, 1896.
You know that we were not so open-minded then as we are now. And when our doctrines were questioned we, too, like our brethren, did not honestly and unbiasedly give a fair hearing to the views of others.
When we were in their place we, too, in our lukewarmness zealously defended every doctrine, even though we ourselves were not clear in some of them. This we did only because the doctrines which were taught in the church by our own Ministering brethren we, too, presumably believed were correct. And so we, as blindly as they believed one hundred per cent of whatever was taught in the church, not considering that much of it came through uninspired men. Inspired or uninspired did not make any difference to us then, as it makes no difference to them now. We, too, were in a terrible sad deception and right along with them knew not or believed not, that we were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, although the Lord Himself said so! Rev. 3:14-18. We continued in that state of mind until the scroll unrolled. Then our eyes were opened: THE DOCTRINES AND INTERPRETATIONS WHICH DID NOT COME THROUGH INSPIRATION WE THEN CLEARLY SAW THAT THEY WERE ONLY "DEVISINGS OF MEN." Neither did we see beforehand that the Sabbath and the church were turned into institutions for raising goals and for merchandising -- means for dishonoring God and for robbing the poor to feed and clothe those who are keeping the whole church in the terrible Laodicean sad deception.
So looking at it from this angle, we were not much better than the best of the Laodiceans. What makes the difference between us and them is that the light has illuminated our path, but it has not as yet reached them. THE CREDIT, THEN, FOR WHAT ADVANCEMENT WE MAY HAVE MADE IN THIS REVIVAL AND REFORMATION EFFORT IS NOT OURS, BUT GOD'S.