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Seventh-day Adventism and the New Age Movement

New Age/Occult Markings on Ellen G. White's Writings -- "Mother Earth", "Vital Force"

The late Ellen G. White (November 26, 1827-July 16, 1915), known to Seventh-day Adventists as "God's Messenger" or "God's Prophet," used New Age/occult terminology and taught New Age doctrine via some of the pages of her voluminous published works.

For the sake of brevity I did not cite all the passages in which Mrs. Ellen G. White used the New Age term, "vital force" or "vital forces." Below are selected citations from Mrs. White's complete published works found at http://www.whiteestate.org. [Quotations are used in accordance with the Fair Use Copyright Law. Bold emphasis added]

 

New Age/Occult terms: Mother earth, Mother Nature

--Cited from The Health Reformer, March 1, 1871 and The Health Reformer, May 1, 1871

Ellen G. White referred to the earth as Mother Earth:

  May has come, with all her beauties of the sunshine, clothing nature with a glorious dress. Mother earth has laid off her brown mantle, and wears her cheerful robes of green. The trees and shrubs upon the lawn are decorated with their opening buds and flowers of varied tints. The peach and cherry are covered with blossoms of pink and white, and the pure music from a thousand of nature's happy and cheering songsters, unite to awaken joy and thankfulness in our hearts. {HR, "The Beautiful May" May 1, 1871 par. 1} (Emphasis added)

   The trees, shrubs, and flowers, will soon be attractive to the eye, inviting all who delight in the beauties of nature to enjoy life out of doors. The flowers and green foliage have not appeared, but mother earth has thrown from her bosom her white mantle, and she even now bears a cheerful aspect in the bright sunshine and shadows. All should now seek employment some hours every day out of doors. {HR, March 1, 1871 par. 3} (Emphasis added)

Ellen G. White chose Beltane (the highest holiday in Druid witchcraft) as the time to cite a lengthy passage by Fanny B. Johnson that contains New Age terminology and teaches New Age doctrine:

Lovely May is here. Enjoy her, all you who can, while she is with us. Read what Fanny B. Johnson, in Laws of Life, says under the caption, {HR, "The Beautiful May" May 1, 1871 par. 4}

Mrs. White endorsed Fanny Johnson's highly New Age passage in which she urged Mother Nature's children to "come out of doors, and take part in the grand entertainment which she has gotten up with wondrous skill, taste, and power":

OUT OF DOORS.

IN BEHALF OF OUR GOOD MOTHER NATURE, I HEREBY INVITE AND ENTREAT ALL HER CHILDREN WITHIN SOUND OF MY VOICE OR SIGHT OF MY PENTRACES TO COME OUT OF DOORS, AND TAKE PART IN THE GRAND ENTERTAINMENT WHICH SHE HAS GOTTEN UP WITH WONDROUS SKILL, TASTE, AND POWER. {HR, May 1, 1871 par. 5} (Emphasis added)

Johnson presented Mother Nature (not the Lord Jesus Christ) as the way for poverty-stricken, burden-bearing human beings to escape from their condition:

 MOTHER NATURE WILL TAKE YOU IN HER LAP, WILL WOO YOU WITH THE BREATH OF APPLE BLOSSOMS AND CLOVERS, WILL FAN YOUR CHEEK WITH PERFUME-LADEN AIRS, WILL SOOTHE YOU TO SLEEP WITH DROWSY HUM OF BEES, AND MURMUR OF STREAMS, AND RUSTLE OF MYRIAD FLUTTERING LEAVES, WILL WAKEN YOU WITH JOYOUS VOICES, WILL TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR SPIRITS THE PEEVISHNESS AND LITTLENESS THAT IS SURE TO GATHER IN A NARROW ROUND OF CARE, AND PUT IN THEIR PLACE SOMETHING OF HER SPIRIT OF CHARITY, AND LARGENESS, AND HARMONY, AND BRING YOU INTO SYMPATHY WITH THE DIVINE.

THERE WAS NEVER BETTER CHANCE FOR POVERTY-STRICKEN, BURDEN-BEARING HUMAN BEINGS TO ESCAPE FROM THEIR CONDITION AND INDULGE IN LUXURIES FURNISHED WITHOUT MONEY AND WITHOUT PRICE. I PROMISE YOU NATURE WILL SHOW NO FAVORS ON ACCOUNT OF WORLDLY DISTINCTIONS. SHE WILL MINISTER NO MORE GRACIOUSLY TO THE QUEEN OF A REALM THAN TO HER HUMBLEST MENIAL, PROVIDED THAT MENIAL BE LOYAL TO HERSELF. BUT TO THOSE WHO LOOK UPON HER WITH "LOVERS' EYES" SHE MUST OF NECESSITY BE PARTIAL. SHE SHOWS THEM WONDROUS THINGS IN HER PAGES, AND REVEALS HERSELF TO THEM AS SHE CANNOT TO OTHERS. {HR, May 1, 1871 par. 6} (Emphasis added)

Ellen G. White did not disclaim any of Fanny Johnson's New Age teachings and warn her readers to refrain from being wooed by the devil in Mother Nature's garb. An ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ would contradict Fanny Johnson and insist that Jesus Christ's invitation to the weary is the only one that is valid:

 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

The Lord Jesus Christ offers the only legitimate spiritual rest but the devil seeks to ensnare the weary with a counterfeit rest via Ellen G. White's endorsement of Johnson's "Mother Nature," who is known to New Agers as Earth Mother, or Gaia.

 

New Age/Occult term: Vital Force

Ellen G. White favored the occult term, "vital force." Vital Force is a foundational concept in New Age doctrine. Vital Force is another name for Chi which is commonly known in the West as life force, vital force, universal energy, subtle energy, etc.

Chi (also ki, qi or ji) - A “life force” pervading the universe that sustains the body & the material world. These terms & concepts come from Eastern beliefs but are most prominently used in the martial arts and in alternative healing. Both ki & chi can be seen in the following terms: Aikido, Tai Chi, Reiki (energy healing). This force may also be known as the life force, vital force, the vital energy, bioenergy, universal life force, or universal energy. The belief in such a force is at the heart of occultism and is also found in New Age beliefs. (1) [Emphasis added]

New Agers believe that Vital Force (subtle energy) is a nonmaterial force that sustains life:

vital force (bioenergy, cosmic energy, cosmic energy force, cosmic force, cosmic life energy, cosmic life force, elan vital, energy of being, force of life, force vitale, inner vital energy, internal energy, life, life energy, life force, life force energy, life power, life source energy, nerve energy, nerve force, personal energy, spirit, subtle energy, universal energy, universal life energy, universal life energy power, universal life force, universal life force energy, universal life principle, vital cosmic force, vital element, vital energy, vital energy force, vitality, vital life force, vital life force energy, vitalistic principle, vitality energy, vital life spirit, vital magnetism, vital principle, vital spirit): An alleged nonmaterial "force" that sustains life. (2)

Subtle Energy, vital force, universal life force, etc. (demon spirits) can be manipulated and sent on assignment to perform lying wonders (2 Thess. 2:9) via various forms of witchcraft that are often disguised as alternative medical treatments--such as Reiki and acupressure. Man cannot control or manipulate God (or healings from God)--ever. 

Man can manipulate demons (which disguise themselves under sophisticated and scientific-sounding terms) if he submits to the occult methodology necessary for their cooperation but the result of such sin (even if it is engaged in under the guise of New Age alternative medicine) is eternal destruction in the Lake of Fire.

 

 Ellen G. White's use of the term, "vital force."

[Bold emphasis is added.] Please note that  Mrs. White used the term, "vital force" in the same manner New Agers do today:

God has endowed us with a certain amount of vital force. He has also formed us with organs suited to maintain the various functions of life, and He designs that these organs shall work together in harmony. If we carefully preserve the life force, and keep the delicate mechanism of the body in order, the result is health; but if the vital force is too rapidly exhausted, the nervous system borrows power for present use from its resources of strength, and when one organ is injured, all are affected. [The Ministry of Healing, pg. 234] (3) [Note: in this passage Ellen G. White teaches that God gives vital force.]

Food should not be eaten very hot or very cold. If food is cold, the vital force of the stomach is drawn upon in order to warm it before digestion can take place. [The Ministry of Healing pg. 305] (4)

Sometimes the result of overeating is felt at once. In other cases there is no sensation of pain; but the digestive organs lose their vital force, and the foundation of physical strength is undermined. [The Ministry of Healing pg. 306](5)

These unpleasant symptoms are felt because nature has accomplished her work at an unnecessary outlay of vital force and is thoroughly exhausted. The stomach is saying, "Give me rest." But with many the faintness is interpreted as a demand for more food; so instead of giving the stomach rest, another burden is placed upon it. As a consequence the digestive organs are often worn out when they should be capable of doing good work. [The Ministry of Healing pg. 307] (6)

[Note: in the passage above, Ellen G. White attributed vital force to nature. Mrs. White's practice of citing God and nature as the source of vital energy is an example of Christian/New Age syncretism.]

Where wrong habits of diet have been indulged, there should be no delay in reform. When dyspepsia has resulted from abuse of the stomach, efforts should be made carefully to preserve the remaining strength of the vital forces by removing every overtaxing burden. [The Ministry of Healing pg. 308] (7)

In the following passage, Ellen G. White links Christian growth with vital force:

Let a living faith run like threads of gold through the performance of even the smallest duties. Then all the daily work will promote Christian growth. There will be a continual looking unto Jesus. Love for Him will give vital force to everything that is undertaken. [From Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 356-360] (8)

Those who think that perhaps Mrs. White used these terms unknowingly and innocently taught New Age doctrine, please understand that New Age teachings were not widely known in the United States in the 1800s. Ellen G. White learned these doctrines from someone...and that someone was not God.

Ellen G. White's "Christ" bestowed vital force:

He was the originator of all the ancient gems of truth. Through the work of the enemy, these truths had been displaced. . . . Christ rescued them from the rubbish of error, gave them a new, vital force, and commanded them to shine as jewels, and stand fast forever. [Manuscript 25, 1890.] (9) 

[Note: The context of this quote has to do with Mrs. White's defense of her practice of claiming authorship of material she did not write but she did use the occasion to link Christ with vital force. I ask which "Christ" might that be? It is the New Age Christ who afflicts his followers with subtle energy.]

In the next passage Ellen G. White was correct to warn against the dangers of drugs  but that does not negate the fact that she was functioning as an early spokeswoman for the New Age Movement by her continual promotion of the idea that vital force keeps the body in good health. We see Christian/New Age syncretism at work again via Ellen G. White's attribution of vital energy to nature in some passages and to God in others:

People need to be taught that drugs do not cure disease. It is true that they sometimes afford present relief, and the patient appears to recover as the result of their use; this is because nature has sufficient vital force to expel the poison and to correct the conditions that caused the disease. [The Ministry of Healing, pg. 126] (10)

Here Mrs. White attributed vital force to God:

The Lord will put new, vital force into His work as human agencies obey the command to go forth and proclaim the truth. . . . The truth will be criticized, scorned, and derided; but the closer it is examined and tested, the brighter it will shine. . . . [Selected Messages, book 1, p. 201] (11)

God endowed man with so great vital force that he has withstood the accumulation of disease brought upon the race in consequence of perverted habits, and has continued for six thousand years. . . . [From My Life Today, page 126] (12)

According to Mrs. White, vital force is highly desirable and parents should take care not to deny this force to future generations:

If the mother is deprived of the care and comforts she should have, if she is allowed to exhaust her strength through overwork or through anxiety and gloom, her children will be robbed of the vital force and of the mental elasticity and cheerful buoyancy they should inherit. [The Ministry of Healing, pg. 375] (13)

Children who are robbed of that vitality which they
should have inherited from their parents should have the utmost care. [Vital Vigor and Energy 204] (14)

Rather than tell her followers not to overwork lest they become too tired and run down, Ellen G. White presented the New Age concept that overexertion depletes vital force to the hurt of one's health:

Those who make great exertions to accomplish just so much work in a
given time, and continue to labor when their judgment tells them they
should rest, are never gainers. They are living on borrowed capital.
They are expending the vital force which they will need at a future
time. [From My Life Today - Page 142] (15)

Mrs. White promoted the New Age teaching that drugs destroy vital force:

Break Down Vital Forces.--Drugs always have a tendency to break down and destroy vital forces.--[Medical Ministry, p. 223 (General Manuscript entitled "Sanitarium," 1887).] (16)

According to Mrs. White, frequent child-bearing depletes women of vital energies. This of course conflicts with God's command to multiply and be fruitful and 1 Timothy 2:15: "...she shall be saved in childbearing..."

Everywhere you may look you will see pale, sickly,
care-worn, broken-down, dispirited, discouraged women.
They are generally overworked, and their vital energies
exhausted
by frequent child-bearing. [Vital Vigor and Energy 203] (17)

While it is a fact that frequent child-bearing can be physically exhausting, giving birth has nothing do with losing a nonmaterial "force" that sustains life.

Mrs. White taught that snacking causes the unnatural stimulation and wearing of the vital forces. The context suggests that an imbalance of the vital forces leads to sin:

Children are generally untaught in regard to the importance of
when, how, and what they should eat. They are permitted to indulge their
tastes freely, to eat at all hours, to help themselves to fruit when it
tempts their eyes, and this, with the pie, cake, bread and butter, and
sweetmeats eaten almost constantly, makes them gormands and dyspeptics.
The digestive organs, like a mill which is continually kept running,
become enfeebled, vital force is called from the brain to aid the
stomach in its overwork, and thus the mental powers are weakened. The
unnatural stimulation and wear of the vital forces make them nervous,
impatient of restraint, self-willed, and irritable. . . . It is
difficult to arouse them to a sense of the shame and grievous nature of
sin. [Selected Messages, book 1, p. 201.] (18)
 

The God of the Bible is NOT the god of Vital Force

Ellen G. White, regardless of what she may have stated in her other writings, chose to repeatedly use the occult phrase, "vital force" to promote the pagan belief that "an alleged nonmaterial force sustains life."

The Bible clearly states that it is by the Lord Jesus Christ that all things consist:

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: Colossians 1:16

And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Colossians 1:17

It is in Jesus Christ that we live, move and have our being:

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; Acts 17:28

The Holy Bible refutes the New Age lie of vital force. It is by Jesus Christ himself, not a nonmaterial force, that all things consist. It is in Jesus Christ (not vital force) that Christians live and move and have their being. (Also see: Who Holds the Universe Together -- God or Life Force?)

 

It is God, not Vital Force That Sustains Mankind

This passage was cited earlier in the article, but in conclusion, please note that Ellen G. White taught her followers that vital force has enabled man to live on earth for six thousand years without becoming extinct:

God endowed man with so great vital force that he has withstood the 
accumulation of disease upon the race in consequence of perverted
habits, and has continued for six thousand years. . . . If Adam, at his
creation, had not been endowed with twenty times as much vital force
as men now have, the race, with their present habits of living in violation
of natural law, would have become extinct. [From My Life Today, page 126]

It is God himself, not a nonmaterial "vital force" who has mercifully sustained mankind's existence upon the earth for all these years.

Ellen G. White promoted the "vital force" doctrine of devils long before Eastern religious thought became prevalent in the United States and other parts of the western world.

 

 

MORE ARTICLES --New Age Markings on Ellen G. White's Writings

Notes:

(1) http://cana.userworld.com/cana_occultTerms.html
(2) http://www.rodsmith.org.uk/alternative-health/Alternative-health-glossaryU-Z.htm

(3) www.egwtext.whiteestate.org/mh/mh17.html - 11k
(4), (5), (6), (7)  http://www.egwtext.whiteestate.org/mh/mh23.html
(8) http://www.whiteestate.org/message/littlethings.asp
(9) http://www.whiteestate.org/issues/whitelie.html
(10) http://www.egwtext.whiteestate.org/mh/mh8.html
(11) http://www.whiteestate.org/issues/rev-insp.html
(12) http://egwlists.whiteestate.org/Lists/devotional/Message/1185.html
(13) http://www.egwtext.whiteestate.org/mh/mh31.html
(14) http://healthyliving.benabraham.com/html/vital_vigor_and_energy.html
(15) http://egwlists.whiteestate.org/Lists/devotional/Message/1201.html
(16) http://www.egwtext.whiteestate.org/cgi-bin/egw2html?C=59292588&K=015422082410817998
(17) http://healthyliving.benabraham.com/html/vital_vigor_and_energy.html
(18) http://www.whiteestate.org/issues/rev-insp.html#footnote-28

 

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