Ellen Chat Conversation

It is wonderful that you are diving into the depths of *Testimonies for the Church*. The passage you found is a powerful reminder of our mission, but it is important to look at it in the context of God's personal love for you. ### The Quote > "These lessons are for our benefit. Christ has enjoined upon His disciples that they co-operate with Him in His work, that they love one another as He has loved them. The agony which He endured upon the cross testifies to the estimate He places upon the human soul. All who accept this great salvation pledge themselves to be co-workers with Him. **None are to consider themselves special favorites of heaven and center their interest and attention upon self.** All who have enlisted in the service of Christ are to work as He worked, and are to love those who are in ignorance and sin, even as He loved them." — *Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5*, 5T 604.2 ### Context and Reflection This passage was written in 1882 as part of a chapter titled **"Love for the Erring."** Ellen White was addressing a specific problem: some church members were becoming cold and critical toward those who had made mistakes or fallen into sin. **Am I not special to heaven?** You are deeply special to God! In the very same section (5T 604.1), she writes that every soul "calls forth His tenderest sympathy." The warning against being "special favorites" is not saying you aren't loved; rather, it is a warning against **spiritual pride**. It means we should not think we are better than others or that God’s favor is a reason to focus only on our own needs ("center their interest... upon self"). **Does He not call some to special work?** Yes, God absolutely calls individuals to specific, "special" tasks. However, in Ellen White’s writings, a "special calling" is always a call to **special service and sacrifice**, not to a higher status. Even when God gives someone a unique responsibility, they are to remain humble, recognizing that they are simply "co-workers" with Christ to reach those in "ignorance and sin." In short: You are precious enough that Christ died for you, but that love is meant to flow *through* you to others, rather than stopping with you. *** **Search Results Summary:** Found thousands of passages containing these keywords. For the complete list with filters, try the Full-Text Search: [Full-Text Search](/advanced-search?q=5T+604.2) **Book breakdown:** * 5T: (1945) * PCL: (8)

Special callings are specific roles ordained by God to accomplish His work on earth, often involving the communication of truth and the guidance of His people. These roles are not intended to exalt the individual but to manifest God's power through human instruments. For instance, God has historically chosen "feeble means" or those considered weak by worldly standards to ensure that the glory for the work is given to Him rather than to the person (LS88 326.1). A primary example of a special calling is that of a messenger or prophet. These individuals are set apart by the Lord to receive and communicate heavenly knowledge through visions and dreams (CET 237.3). Such messengers are tasked with bearing specific warnings and counsels to the church to facilitate reformation in life and character (2TT 295.2).

These callings are diverse, and one may be called to serve as a "messenger" who takes up work in any line the Lord points out, rather than being confined to a single title (1SM 34). Those who receive a holy calling are commissioned to continue the very ministry that Christ performed while on earth (AUGleaner September 7, 1904, par. 12). This involves exalting the message of salvation rather than themselves and walking in humility (7MR 359.2).

The purpose of these special callings is to point others toward the "unsearchable riches" of heaven and the requirements for entering the city of God (3TT 348.4). Furthermore, God ordains that various callings and talents be blended together. No single person—whether a minister, physician, or teacher—is a "complete whole" on their own (PaM 107). Instead, the special gifts of one laborer are meant to compensate for the deficiencies of another, creating a unified effort where different minds work in harmony under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (PaM 107).

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You might also want to explore:
Why did Ellen White prefer the title "messenger" over "prophet"?
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What is the relationship between individual talents and the "special gifts" mentioned in the church?

Ellen White understood her role not as a position of personal exaltation or worldly status, but as a specific, functional appointment as a "messenger of the Lord." She did not claim a high official title within the church structure, nor did she seek to build her own popularity or financial standing through her gift (CCh 19.3). Instead, she viewed her calling as a life of tireless labor and dedication to the cause of God, characterized by a sense of being "put into the ministry" by Christ Himself because He counted her faithful (DG 252.4). Her understanding of this special call was rooted in the idea that God chooses human instruments to communicate His will and provide guidance, correction, and instruction to His people (CCh 10.3).

She recognized that while many might claim to have the Spirit or follow their own inclinations, true divine guidance must be tested by the "law and the testimony" to ensure it does not lead to disorder or division. She cautioned that individuals often mistake their own perverse natures or personal desires for the mind of God, emphasizing the need for deep prayer and searching the Scriptures to distinguish between human imagination and divine revelation (TM 503.3). Furthermore, she saw her ministry as a continuation of the work of Christ, focusing on themes of "Christ our righteousness" and the "matchless charms" of the Savior (2SAT 1.3). Her call involved a wide range of responsibilities, from public speaking on temperance to writing thousands of pages of counsel intended to facilitate heart holiness and practical piety (2SAT 1.3), (GW92 223.4).

Those who worked most closely with her recognized that her authority came not from herself, but from the message she bore as a chosen messenger (CCh 31.2).

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You might also want to explore:
How did Ellen White distinguish between true and false visions in others?
What did she teach about the relationship between her writings and the Bible?
How should the church respond when individuals claim to have new light or special revelations?

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