The Great Controversy (1911), page 508, paragraph 2:

Satan is continually seeking to overcome the people of God by breaking down the barriers which separate them from the world. Ancient Israel were enticed into sin when they ventured into forbidden association with the heathen.

In a similar manner are modern Israel led astray. “The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:4.

All who are not decided followers of Christ are servants of Satan. In the unregenerate heart there is love of sin and a disposition to cherish and excuse it. In the renewed heart there is hatred of sin and determined resistance against it.

When Christians choose the society of the ungodly and unbelieving, they expose themselves to temptation. Satan conceals himself from view and stealthily draws his deceptive covering over their eyes.

They cannot see that such company is calculated to do them harm; and while all the time assimilating to the world in character, words, and actions, they are becoming more and more blinded.

In this first passage, Ellen White seems to say that Christians should not associate with ungodly people.

BALANCING STATEMENTS

However, in this passage from the same book, we find balancing statements.

The Great Controversy (1911), page 69, paragraph 3 (bold supplied):

While the Waldenses regarded the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom, they were not blind to the importance of a contact with the world, a knowledge of men and of active life, in expanding the mind and quickening the perceptions.

From their schools in the mountains some of the youth were sent to institutions of learning in the cities of France or Italy, where was a more extended field for study, thought, and observation than in their native Alps.

The youth thus sent forth were exposed to temptation, they witnessed vice, they encountered Satan’s wily agents, who urged upon them the most subtle heresies and the most dangerous deceptions. But their education from childhood had been of a character to prepare them for all this.

Two paragraphs later, we have this great passage on being a missionary for Christ.

The Great Controversy (1911), page 70, paragraph 2 (bold supplied):

The spirit of Christ is a missionary spirit. The very first impulse of the renewed heart is to bring others also to the Saviour. Such was the spirit of the Vaudois Christians.

They felt that God required more of them than merely to preserve the truth in its purity in their own churches; that a solemn responsibility rested upon them to let their light shine forth to those who were in darkness; by the mighty power of God’s word they sought to break the bondage which Rome had imposed.

CHECKING THE BIBLE

So, what is Ellen White trying to say? Is she contradicting herself or can we reconcile these passages?

I believe Ellen White is giving Biblical counsel in these passages.

For example, the Bible talks about the dangers of associating with ungodly people.

Consider 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 (NIV):

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

“Therefore come out from them
and be separate, says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”

Also, 1 Cor. 15:33 (NIV) says, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’”

However, we have these seemingly contradicting verses (Luke 5:27-32; 15:1-2; Matt. 11:19) which tell us that Jesus hung out with ungodly people. He did this to call them to repentance (Luke 5:32).

RECONCILING THE TWO VIEWPOINTS

So, how do we reconcile those Ellen White’s passages and these Bible verses?

There seems to be two principles we can derive.

First, we must consider our motivation.

If we do associate with ungodly people, we should do so motivated by a desire to love, serve, and evangelize. Too many Christians associate with ungodly people without Christ’s missionary spirit. This is dangerous and often leads Christians to sin with non-Christians.

Second, we must evaluate our spiritual training and maturity.

Many Christians are not ready to associate with ungodly people. They may need training in friendship evangelism. They may be struggling with habitual sin. Or they may be easily influenced.

Whatever the reason, church leaders and spiritually mature Christians should love, serve, mentor, and train less mature Christians. Through their guidance and example, less mature Christians can develop the skill and maturity to reach ungodly people.

Finally, I close with this plea. Many Christians are unwilling to associate with ungodly people. Yet Christ calls his followers to be more and more like himself. This includes associating with ungodly people for the purpose of evangelism.

How are you preparing yourself for ministry towards the ungodly?