Has anyone read “The Great Controversy” book by E. G. White? I’m currently considering it as a Christmas gift for my father – an 85 year old Baptist.
I also might read it myself some day.
Is there anything to be wary of?
As a previous Seventh-Day Adventist, I would say avoid it. Funny thing is, the real great controversy is the author herself.
Greetings, Larry.
I grew up a Seventh-day Adventist and have, by grace, fled its manifold delusional doctrines. I cannot say that every piece of SDA literature is dreadful. However, “The Great Controversy” provides a very narrow religious and historical perspective which places the Sabbath, and largely the Adventist church, as central to God’s past, present, and future design for the world. This, of course, is to the exclusion of all other Christian faiths which are denounced, one and all, as comparatively flawed in their teachings and thus subject to the allegedly evil jurisdiction of the notorious Beast of Revelations: the Pope and Catholic Church at large. This ideology has stemmed and encouraged if not outright disdain for the Catholicism, paranoid fear for its adherents, to the extent that with every new papal appointment, there arise suspicion, finger-pointing, and expectation that he must be the villainous Anti-Christ.
For example, such poppy-cock has already long circulated regarding Pope Francis, who was accused by Hugo Gambetta, a former practicing SDA minister, of plotting the extermination of Seventh-day Adventists worldwide, in revenge for the Pope’s brother allegedly converting to the denomination. This brother of Pope Francis has since been proven otherwise–indeed, deceased at the time initially designated for this supposed conversion to Adventism. You can listen to some of the nonsense here or simply google:
youtube.com/watch?v=whvn-EyofX0 In the face of criticism, the pastor was forced to recant his absurdities. Some Adventists, at least, did not jump to conclusions; but many more did and still hold Pope Francis with contempt. It is absolutely ridiculous! This is, incontrovertibly, the fruit of “The Great Controversy”, and, among the shelves of “Christian” conspiracies, a more sour, unhealthful volume of rubbish you will never read. I beg you to stay clear of it!
It is annoying to me to think how much Christ suffered on the cross for our sins and, since then, how terribly courageous Christians suffered for His sake; yet this woman has the nerve to argue one commandment over all as the deciding factor for salvation. :tsktsk: Then, at the same time, if you were to browse her other books, like her “Testimonies” volumes, “Messages to Young People”, “Counsel to Parents, Teachers, and Students” etc., you will find a set of rules longer than the Nile River, listing endless exhortations in the name of God! All these things, along with her prophecies, are purportedly inspired, shown her by Heavenly Messengers. (I must add that most Adventists conveniently ignore these other rules.) Take all that into account and heaven would be an empty place, indeed. No one has ever gone and none of us can go, not even her, for she was said to engage, 'til her death, some of the very activities she decried. If one cannot trust her words in these books, I do not see how anyone could wish to read the “The Great Controversy”, except for informative or entertaining purposes to see her flagrant historical inaccuracies and deranged ideology. Doubtless you and your precious father have worthier ways to pass the time.
There are other fine, more uplifting Christian literature to give as a gift. Please do try another choice. Your mind and soul will be better at peace for it!
God bless
Inquest
