Union with Christ in the Writings of Ellen G. White
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Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 2015 Union with Christ in the Writings of Ellen G. White Katrina B. Blue Andrews University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Practical Theology Commons, and the Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Blue, Katrina B., "Union with Christ in the Writings of Ellen G. White" (2015). Dissertations. 1582. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/1582 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. Thanks for your cooperation. Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary UNION WITH CHRIST IN THE WRITINGS OF ELLEN G. WHITE A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy By Katrina B. Blue December 2015 © Copyright by Katrina B. Blue 2015 All Rights Reserved ABSTRACT UNION WITH CHRIST IN THE WRITINGS OF ELLEN G. WHITE by Katrina B. Blue Advisor: Denis Fortin ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: UNION WITH CHRIST IN THE WRITINGS OF ELLEN G. WHITE Name of researcher: Katrina B. Blue Name and degree of faculty advisor: Denis Fortin, Ph.D. Date completed: October 2015 Building on the work of nineteenth-century theologian Augustus Strong, five historical approaches to union with Christ identified by Bruce Demarest in the late twentieth century include: an ontological union, a sacramental union, a covenantal union, a moral or filial union and an experiential union. Given the identification of multiple approaches to union with Christ, my dissertation attempts to clarify Ellen G. White’s concept of union with Christ using Demarest’s categories as an evaluation tool. I traced the development of her writings on union with Christ from 1860 to 1898 to ask whether White’s approach is best described as an ontological, sacramental, covenantal, moral or filial or experiential union. While elements of some of the approaches Demarest identified are evident in White’s writings, such as the need for believers to experience Christ for themselves, no one category fits White’s approach exclusively. White’s approach can best be described using her own language. Union with Christ is a spiritual, vital, heart, mystical, indissoluble, moral union that connects repentant sinners to Christ and other believers. Her key metaphors used to describe the nature of this relationship are the vine and the branches, the mystic ladder and the golden chain. The vine and the branches explain how believers are intimately connected to Christ, receiving moral and spiritual power through the Holy Spirit who makes Christ present within. The mystic ladder illustrates Christ’s incarnation that makes union with Him possible. White also used the mystic ladder to describe the progressive nature of sanctification, ascending the ladder by faith and perseverance. The golden chain illustrates the love of the Father poured into the hearts of believers. For White, Christ metaphorically is the true vine, the mystic ladder and the golden chain. Believers partake of the divine nature and by exercising faith in Christ, become one with God. In my conclusion, I answered the following additional questions in relation to White’s writings: What is union with Christ? What is the nature of union with Christ? How is it formed? How is it maintained? What are its consequences? In brief, union with Christ is a believer’s free will, spiritual relationship with Christ. It is formed by repentance and faith and is maintained by living, active faith. Engaging in spiritual disciplines, may strengthen a believer’s union with Christ through prayer and Scripture reading, the daily surrender of the will, engaging with others and faith in Christ. Its consequences are multiple resulting in a transformed life and character. They include justification, sanctification, obedience and participation in the mission of Christ to redeem humanity. Christ’s goal is to reunite the inhabitants of heaven and earth by an indissoluble tie through a vital, spiritual relationship with Himself and the Godhead. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS………………………………………………………...... vii Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………….. 1 Background to the Problem…………………………………………….. 1 Statement of the Problem ………………………………………………. 23 Statement of the Purpose ………………………………………………. 23 Delimitations and Methodology……..………………………………….. 24 2. APPROACHES TO UNION WITH CHRIST IN THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY: AUGUSTUS STRONG AND BRUCE DEMAREST…. 27 Introduction …………………………………………………………….. 27 Augustus Strong’s Doctrine of Union with Christ……………………… 29 What is Union with Christ? ………………………………………… 31 The Nature of Union with Christ…………………………………… 34 Consequences of Union with Christ for the Believer………………. 42 Bruce Demarest on Union with Christ …………………………………. 44 Historical Approaches to Union with Christ Explained by Demarest 45 Union with Christ as an Ontological Union ……………………. 45 Union with Christ as a Sacramental Union …………………….. 47 Union with Christ as a Covenantal Union……………………… 49 Union with Christ as a Moral or Filial Union ………………….. 52 Union with Christ as an Experiential Union …………………… 54 The Nature of Union with Christ…………………………………… 58 Results of Union with Christ……………………………………….. 61 Practical Implications of the Doctrine of Union with Christ……….. 62 Conclusion……………………………………………………………… 65 3. ELLEN WHITE ON UNION WITH CHRIST: THE 1860s AND 1870s …. 67 Introduction …………………………………………………………….. 67 Brief Biography of Ellen White………………………………………… 71 White’s Earliest Views on Union With Christ …………………………. 83 “Power of Example” (1861) …………………….…………..……… 84 Call to Faith, Unity and a Deeper Experience of Christ ..………….. 87 Expanding Terms: Spiritual Union with Christ …………………….….. 96 Conclusion……………………………………………………………… 104 iv 4. UNION WITH CHRIST: THE 1880s………………………………………. 107 Introduction …………………………………………………………….. 107 Introduction to White’s Life in the 1880s ..................………………….. 108 Channels of Light and the Golden Chain of Love……………………… 112 Sanctification and Soul-to-Soul Union…………………………………. 114 “Important Testimony” (1882)…………………………………………. 118 “An Appeal” (1882) ……………………………………………………. 124 The Mystic Ladder ……………………………………..………………. 130 Union with Christ From 1883 to the Late 1880s……………………….. 139 Modern Revivals: Not in Union with Christ …………………………… 142 The Need for Unity and Union with Christ …………………………… 144 Conclusion……………………………………………………………… 150 5. UNION WITH CHRIST: THE 1890s………………………………………. 152 Introduction …………………………………………………………….. 152 Introduction to White’s Life in the 1890s …..…….……………………. 153 Union with Christ and the Trinity ……………………………………… 154 Steps to Christ (1892) ………………………………………………….. 162 Union with Christ: A Mystical, Spiritual Union ……………………….. 181 Union with Christ and the Father …………………………………….… 182 The Desire of Ages (1898)……………………………………………… 184 Conclusion……………………………………………………………… 197 6. EVALUATION AND CONCLUSION…………………………………….. 199 Introduction …………………………………………………………….. 199 Summary of the Development of White’s Concept of Union with Christ 200 Did White View Union with Christ as an Ontological Union?………… 204 Did White View Union with Christ as a Sacramental Union? …………. 210 Did White View Union with Christ as a Covenantal Union? ………….. 212 Did White View Union with Christ as a Moral or Filial Union? ………. 212 Did White View Union with Christ as an Experiential Union?………… 214 Ellen White’s Concept of Union with Christ………………………….. 217 What is union with Christ?…………………………………………. 218 Illustrations of Union with Christ……………………………… 219 What is the nature of union with Christ?…………………………… 220 How is union with Christ Formed? ………………………………… 223 How is union with Christ Maintained? …………………………….. 224 What are the Consequences of Union with Christ? ……..…………. 226 Conclusion……………………………………………………………… 228 Suggestions for Further Research ……………..……..………………… 232 APPENDIX A ……………….…………………………………………………….. 233 v Excursus: Ellen White’s View of the Soul ..…………………………… 233 Introduction ………………………………………………………… 233 Non-Immortality of the Soul …………………..……………………….. 235 The Constitution of Humans ..………………………………………….. 237 The Mind and the Soul …………………………………………………. 242 The Problem of Sin and the Entrance of Christ to the Soul ……………. 246 Eschatology and Cleansing of the Soul Temple …….…………………. 251 Heretical Views and White’s Response………………………………… 253 Contemporary Seventh-day Adventist View of the Soul ………………. 259 Conclusion……………………………………………………………… 263 BIBLIOGRAPHY ………………………………………………………………….. 265 vi ACKNOWLEGMENTS I wish to acknowledge with deep gratitude the following people who have made this study possible. I am forever grateful to my parents for their provision, for believing in me and encouraging me in my pursuit of higher education. Thank you to David Blue, my spouse and life partner, who gave up his job, moved across the United States and walked through this entire program with me. I also give thanks