“I am NOT Infallible”

said Ellen G. White

 

"In regard to infallibility, I NEVER claimed it; God ALONE is Infallible."  Selected Messages, Book One, pp 415 and 37 

"Let no one come to the conclusion that there is no more truth to be revealed.  The diligent, prayerful seeker for truth will find precious rays of light yet to shine forth from the word of God."  Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 34 

"There is no excuse for anyone in taking the position that there is no more truth to be revealed, and that all our expositions of Scripture are without error.  The fact that certain doctrines have been held as truth for many years by our people is not a proof that our ideas are infallible.  Age will not make an error into truth, and truth can afford to be fair.  No true doctrine will lose anything by close investigation.  Review and Herald, December 20,1892 

"We cannot hold that a position once taken, an idea once advocated, is not, under any circumstances, to be relinquished.  There is but One who is infallible --- He is the way, the truth, and the life. 

"If the pillars of our faith will not stand the test of investigation, it is time we knew it." Testimonies to Ministers, pp 105 and 107 

"The Bible and the Bible alone, is our creed, the sole bond of union; all who bow to this holy Word will be in harmony . . . Man is fallible, but God's Word is infallible. 

"We have many lessons to learn, and many, many to unlearn.  God and heaven alone are infallible.  Those who think that they will never have to give up a cherished view, never have occasion to change an opinion, will be disappointed.   

"In regard to infallibility, I never claimed it; God alone is infallible.  His word is true, and in Him is no variableness, or shadow of turning."  Selected Messages, Book One, pp. 416 and 37. 

"Our position and faith is in the Bible. . . . And never do we want any soul to bring in the Testimonies ahead of the Bible."  Evangelism, p. 256 

“We are not to accept the opinion of commentators as the voice of God; they are erring mortals like ourselves.  God has given reasoning powers to us as well as to them.  We should make the Bible its own expositor. 

“We must study the truth for ourselves.  No man should be relied upon to think for us.  No matter who he is, or in what position he may be placed, we are not to look upon any man as a criterion for us.  Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 106 and 110

“Whatever may be man’s intellectual advancement, let him not for a moment think that there is no need of thorough and continuous searching of Scripture for greater light.  As a people we are called individually to be students of prophecy.  We must watch with earnestness that we may discern any ray of light which God shall present to us.  We are to catch the first gleamings of truth; and through prayerful study, clearer light may be obtained, which can be brought to others. 

“Some of our leading brethren have frequently taken their position on the wrong side: and if God would send a message and wait for these older brethren to open the way for its advancement, it would never reach the people. 

“The rebuke of the Lord will rest upon those who would bar the way, that clearer light shall not come to the people. . . . Let no one run the risk of interposing between the people and the message of heaven.”  Gospel Workers, pp 300, 303, and 304. 

A spirit of pharisaism has been coming in upon the people who claim to believe the truth for these last days.  They are self-satisfied.  They have said, “We have the truth.  There is no more light for the people of God.  But we are not safe when we take the position that we will not accept anything else than that upon which we have settled as truth.  We should take the Bible, and investigate it closely for ourselves.  We should dig in the mine of God’s word for truth.”  Review and Herald, June 18, 1888. 

We need to begin all over again. . . . Errors may be hoary with age; but age dos not make error truth, nor truth error.  Altogether too long have the old customs and habits been followed.  The Lord would now have every idea that is false put away from teachers and students.  We are not at liberty to teach that which shall meet the world’s standard or the standard of the church, simply because it is the custom to do so.”  Testimonies for the Church, vol 6, p. 142.