Quotations from the writings of Ellen G. White with the phrase . . .
s u p p o s e d e r r o r s ( 10 RELATED PHRASES )
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The phrase 'Supposed errors' appears 10 times in the writings of EGW See page on Original site Related phrase: Supposed faults ( 4 ) [ below ]
| Someone not so mindful as he should have been of Christ’s words, “Take heed how ye hear,” allowed his unsanctified ears to hear wrong, his perverted senses to imagine wrong, and his evil tongue to report wrong. Many a man will not come openly to talk with the one he thinks in error, but will go to others, and under the mask of friendship and sympathy for the erring, he will cast reflections. Sometimes he openly agrees with the one whom he covertly seeks to injure. Suppositions are stated as facts, without giving the person charged with wrong a clear, definite statement of his supposed errors, and without giving him a chance to answer the charges. This is all contrary to the teaching of Christ. It is the subtle way in which Satan always works. { 15MR 174.2 }
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| Some one not so mindful as he should have been of Christ’s words, “Take heed how ye hear,” allowed his unsanctified ears to hear wrong, his perverted senses to imagine wrong, and his evil tongue to report wrong. Many a man will not come openly to talk with the one he thinks in error, but will go to others, and under the mask of friendship and sympathy for the erring, he will cast reflections. Sometimes he openly agrees with the one whom he covertly seeks to injure. Suppositions are stated as facts, without giving the person charged with wrong, a clear, definite statement of his supposed errors, and without giving him a chance to answer the charges. This is all contrary to the teaching of Christ. It is the subtle way in which Satan always works. Those who do such things have set themselves up as judges, through admitting evil thoughts. One who engages in this work, communicates to his hearers a measure of his own spirit of darkness and unbelief; his evil surmisings sow in their minds the seeds of bitterness and suspicion toward one whom God has delegated to do a certain work. If he makes a mistake, it is seized upon, magnified, and reported to others, and thus many are led to take up the reproach against their neighbor. They watch eagerly for all that is wrong, and close their eyes to all that is commendable and righteous. { HM January 1, 1892, par. 6 }
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| If a brother is supposed to have erred, his brethren and sisters should not whisper it among themselves and comment upon it, magnifying these supposed errors and faults. Much of this work is done, and the result is that the displeasure of God rests upon those who do it, and Satan exults that he can weaken and annoy those who might be strong in the Lord. The world sees their weakness and judges this class and the truth they profess to love, by the fruits manifested in them. { 5T 615.1} |
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| If a brother is supposed to have erred, his brethren and sisters should not whisper it among themselves and comment upon it, magnifying these supposed errors and faults. Much of this work is done, and the result is that the displeasure of God rests upon those who do it, and Satan exults that he can weaken and annoy those who might be strong in the Lord. The world sees their weakness and judges this class and the truth they profess to love, by the fruits manifested in them. { 2TT 258.2}
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| The Lord calls for faithfulness in service. He desires servants who will be diligent to help those in error. The day of the Lord is right upon us.... Let not one stumbling block be laid before those who are seeking to know the will of the Lord. Do not make public the supposed errors you see in those who profess to believe the truth. What you have to say, say to them alone, with hearts filled with pity and tenderness.... { UL 297.6}
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| Those who feel it their prerogative to criticize their fellow men are doing the work of the enemy. The Lord has set none to correct the supposed errors of others; for by beholding these imperfections they themselves become harsh and self-centered. They compare themselves with themselves, and measure themselves among themselves. There are jealous and sensitive souls who foster their pride until, like an inflamed wound, it can not bear the slightest touch. They fancy that they have been slighted, when no slight exists, until they create in themselves the very evils they imagine in others. No man is to regard himself as appointed by God to dwell upon these objectionable features. Christ has given none the grace to do this work, and those who attempt it will make serious mistakes. Neither ministers nor people must educate themselves to think evil of their brethren, to watch for any slight or misconception of their own importance; for Satan is waiting to follow up any advantage gained. { RH November 21, 1899, par. 7 }
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| The enemy of truth, through the ministry of fallen angels, would be pleased to introduce uncertainty in the minds of many in regard to the doctrines that have been established by the sanction of the Holy Spirit. Disguised as one who has a deep understanding of truth, Satan will seek to point out supposed errors in that which needs no revision, and it will take much time and patient labor to restore confidence in those whose minds are unsettled by unnecessary changes. God forbids His servants to alter that which needs no change. (Ibid.) { 10MR 337.4 }
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| Jesus’ eye is constantly upon these little ones of His fold, and those who are trying to leave all to follow Him. If a brother or sister is supposed [i.e., presumed] to err, do not whisper among yourselves, commenting upon, magnifying, and exaggerating supposed errors of others. Do not backbite with your tongue. A great deal of this is done in our churches and the result is the displeasure of God and exulting of Satan that he can weaken and annoy those who might be strong in God. The world sees their weakness; the world judges the truth they profess to love, by the fruits they see manifested by these who claim to believe the truth. { 12MR 278.2 } |
| If a brother is supposed to err, his brethren and sisters should not whisper it among themselves and comment upon it, magnifying supposed errors and faults. Much of this work is done in the Ligonier church, and the result is, the displeasure of God is upon those who do it, and Satan exults that he can weaken and annoy those who might be strong in the Lord. The world sees their weakness, and judges this class and the truth they profess to love, by the fruits manifested in them. { 15MR 136.3 } |
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| Butler then discussed the criticisms brought by certain persons who had leveled accusations against the church of suppressing the early E. G. White writings. He declared, “They have claimed to be very anxious to obtain these writings to show up their supposed errors. They now have the opportunity.” { 3BIO 208.2 }
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s u p p o s e d f a u l t s
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| Parents should have had wisdom not to sympathize with inexperienced, indulged children, in regard to what they termed too strict discipline. The children in these things were not as much to blame as their parents. And Bro. Bell should not have been so very sensitive over the errors of his pupils, even if he knew their parents did credit all they repeated to them. He should have considered that all that parents or scholars might say of him did not affect his character in the sight of God. But that which they had said to his injury did affect seriously their characters in the sight of our Heavenly Father. It was more in accordance with the feelings of their unsanctified hearts to judge another’s conscience, and to pick flaws at his supposed faults. This produced less pain, less self-humiliation, than to closely examine their own hearts, and with just, discerning eyes see their own faults, and pronounce judgment against themselves. { PH123 6.2 }
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| There will ever be some who take delight in dwelling upon the real or supposed faults and failures of others, and who employ their time in seeing, hearing, or reporting something that will destroy confidence in the person criticised. Few are without visible faults; in most persons careful scrutiny will reveal some defect of character; and upon these defects in others, some professed Christians delight to dwell. The habit strengthens with indulgence, and a love for gossip becomes their ruling passion. They gather together the tid-bits of reports, — all of them, it may be, utterly devoid of truth, — and feast upon the scandal, and share it with others as a rare delicacy. { RH August 28, 1883, par. 5 }
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| I was pointed back and saw [that] when the trouble arose in Jackson, much of it was caused by not following the Bible rule. There was too much talking over brother’s or a sister’s faults among the band or church, and the brother that was thought to be in the wrong [was] kept in ignorance that any trial was existing in the minds of others concerning him until his [supposed] faults had been talked over and over by nearly all the church. He felt the coldness of his brothers and sisters but knew not the cause until it broke out all of a sudden, and he [was] made aware of what had been going on. Then the confidence that he had previously had in his brethren was shaken, his love for them was weakened, and a breach was made at once in the band that was previously united. { 17MR 341.3 }
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| But when a child hears an older person constantly talking about the faults of someone else, he in turn is imbued with the same spirit of faultfinding and criticism. The seeds of contention are being sown. Oh, how can professed Christians indulge in such a work! Two nights before I left my home, I was charged, during the visions of the night, to tell the congregation that I should meet at Oakland on the Sabbath, that the wicked words coming from their lips regarding the supposed faults of God’s servants who are doing the very best they can to spread the truth and to advance His work, are all written in the heavenly books of record. Unless those who speak these words repent, they will at last find themselves outside the city of God. God will not allow a quarrelsome person to enter into the heavenly city. { 1SAT 375.2 }
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