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Eldest Son Henry White
—White Estate |
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Family Planning: a "Hypocritical Liar"?
This accusation comes to us from Doctrines of Demons, a 1999 booklet by
former Adventist and retired physician Jack Gent, who was born in 1922.
Charge
Ellen White encouraged couples to enlarge their
families no more quickly than they had the time, means, and ability to properly
clothe, feed, and educate the little ones. Most people would have no problem with such advice.
To these considerations Ellen White also added
an evangelistic one: certain individuals blessed with the capabilities and talents
needed for engaging in soul winning work should try to not multiply their home
responsibilities to the point that they take themselves out of the Lord's work. Again, many
would find this counsel reasonable.
But Dr. Gent does not. Moreover, he believes that he has discovered that she has been hypocritical
in this matter of family planning. To his criticism of her counsel he adds the following observation:
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In view of Paul's statement that these teachings came through hypocritical liars,
I find an editorial comment in the compiler of their material from Limboline
to be on track:
Also interesting is to note that DF97-C applies ever so aptly to Ellen herself.
She -- claiming to be the prophet for earth's final days -- yet went ahead, and in rapid
succession, had four children.—bold added.
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Edson and Willie White
—White Estate |
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Analysis
We wish we could say that Dr. Gent was being facetious, but he appears to be serious.
Yet consider the following facts that he forgot to mention:
- James and Ellen White were married on August 30, 1846.
- Their eldest son Henry was born on August 26, 1847, and died in December 1863.
- Their second son Edson was born on July 28, 1849.
- Their third son Willie was born on August 29, 1854.
- Their fourth son John was born on September 20, 1860, and died that December.
Thus James and Ellen White had four sons in 14+ years of marriage. Did Dr. Gent
think that they should have had their four sons spaced out
over 30 years instead?
Incidentally, while evangelism was pretty dead in 1847 and 1849, it definitely was not
after about 1851. Perhaps it is merely coincidental, but James and Ellen's third
and fourth sons are spaced out more, which certainly could have allowed her to concentrate more
on evangelistic pursuits than if they had been born closer together.
Thus their children were spaced out, and caring for them did not pull her out of the Lord's work
for years and years.
Give Us Your Opinion
| Was Ellen White hypocritical regarding family planning? |
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