The Seventh-day Adventist Church was conceived in an experience of genuine love permeating the sixth church of Revelation, and was born in a travail of soul by those few who risked everything as they recognized a genuine work of the Holy Spirit. It was in this circumstance that the Lord called a messenger, Ellen White, to counsel and warn His people as they faced the final conflict.
But with the indisputable doctrinal evidence of "the truth," this "first love" of His remnant people faded away as pride crept in and the "rich-and-increased-with-goods" attitude of the seventh church of Laodicea took over. The power of the Spirit of God attending Ellen White's ministry was evident and constrained church leadership to recognize the divine authority, yet as a whole they were seldom in true heart-sympathy with its deep spiritual probing. This inner resentment is typical of humans and is evident all through ancient Israel's history. As a consequence the ability to discern the working of the Holy Spirit faded away.
The time would come in 1888 when the mighty Third Person of the Godhead would actually be "insulted" by the responsible leadership of the church. Had it not been for Ellen White's ministry, it is doubtful that the movement would have survived, a fact which gives evidence of our deep seated unbelief. There was a blindness to the solemn truth of "the third angel's message in verity," and the place of the cross in this message eluded our brethren. It remains today to be genuinely understood.
Ellen White recognized the problem and over the years continued to warn the church. Early on she said:
"We have been so united with the world that we have lost sight of the cross, and do not suffer for Christ's sake. ... In the acceptance of the cross we are distinguished from the world"[1]
Much later she repeated the thought:
"There is too much bustle and stir about our religion, while Calvary and the cross are forgotten."[2]
"The bustle and stir about our religion" made us content with published reports of "great progress" and eventually a pattern has been set to laud numerical increases and outward institutional grandeur and prestige as proof of heaven's blessing. It was right and proper that the work spread and prosper, but this material growth has been mistaken for the true purpose of the movement which in gospel terms must be the spiritual preparation of a people for the return of Christ.
Our lack of discernment has been in sharp contrast to the fervent messages of counsel given to us by Ellen White, until today we are smothered with glowing reports in the church press. Our denominational pride and lukewarmness in many nations and cultures present a staggering problem which time will not remedy. Our undone condition makes the True Witness declare that He feels like throwing up (Rev. 3:16, 17). What heaven wanted to do for us a century ago was rejected and the Holy Spirit was "insulted."
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