Book Review: Escape from the Flames:

Book Review: Escape from the Flames: How Ellen White grew from fear to joy.
Thompson, Alden. Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press 2005

In the Adventist church, Ellen White is probably best known for her writings, especially her counsel to the Church and her devotional commentaries on the Bible. But, she was also one of the founding members of the Adventist church, who grew and matured as she traveled on her spiritual journey. The question about how the writings of Ellen White relate to the Bible, and how the church and its members should understand her “authority”, has been debated ever since her death in 1915. The understanding of inspiration has always been at the core to understanding Ellen White and her writings, and in this book, Alden Thompson does a wonderful job addressing these questions and giving us a good look at who Ellen White was and what her writings were meant to be.
Thompson begins by spending some time on what The Church should look like according to Ellen White: A church that helps people, a church that is relevant to today, a church helps people focus on practical Christian living, a church that is accepting, where all can worship together and whose focus is on loving people
Thompson explores Ellen White’s comments on the topic of inspiration and the modern crisis over inspiration, as well as the issues and questions people point to; like the factual differences within scripture, the theological and experiential differences within scripture, what the prophetic gift is all about, an inspired writers’ use of sources, etc.
Thompson gives us practical, spiritual, and theologically sound reasons why we can embrace the ministry of Ellen White and benefit from her writings, as well as a context from which to come from as we live out relevant Christian lives today.
I think this is a must read for all those open to seeing who Ellen White was and what her ministry was all about.

Ron Aguilera
Senior Pastor, Santa Rosa SDA church