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Le Roy Froom on the Godhead

Le Roy Froom. Le Roy Edwin Froom (1890–1974) was a key figure in the church's transition history from a nontrinitarian to trinitarian belief. In his book, Movement of Destiny, of particular interest to us is the chapter entitled, "1931 Opens New Epoch of Unity and Advance." According to Froom, the decade from 1931 to 1941 "marked the end of an old epoch, and the beginning of a new day in unification and auspicious witness for us as a Movement" (Ibid. p. 421). In that decade Froom helped formulate a new "Baptismal Covenant" and Baptismal "Vow" which "was based upon our 'Fundamental Beliefs' statement of 1931" (Ibid. p. 420). This was significant in that it "stipulates in explicit terms our united belief in the First, Second, and Third Persons of the Godhead, or Trinity" (Ibid. p. 421). Additionally, it altered the concept of the Atonement as understood by the early Adventist pioneers.

Froom the revisionist. In that same decade, Froom was also instrumental in the revision of certain books. In his own words:

  • Ibid. p. 422: The next logical and inevitable step in the implementing of our unified "Fundamental Beliefs" involved revision of certain standard works so as to eliminate statements that taught, and thus perpetuated, erroneous views on the Godhead.

Manipulator of Spirit of Prophecy. Froom used partial data presentations, out of context quotations, and ellipses to make Mrs. White seem like she was supporting doctrines that she really was not (i.e. Trinity, [pre-fall, sinless flesh] nature of Christ, [completed] atonement [at Calvary]).

Evangelism

The best example of Froom's agenda is found in his book, Evangelism, published in 1946, which is a compilation from the writings of EGW. The section, "Misrepresentations of the Godhead," deals specifically on the subject of the Trinity. The following website, Exposing Le Roy Froom's Book Evangelism - Trueseeker Ministries, exposes these popular distorted quotes.

1. Is the Holy Spirit a Person? According to the book, Evangelism, the answer is yes.

  • Ev 616.6: The Holy Spirit is a person, for He beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. When this witness is borne, it carries with it its own evidence. At such times we believe and are sure that we are the children of God....

2. Personality of the Holy Spirit. According to Evangelism, the Holy Spirit is as much as person as God is a person.

  • Ev 616.5: We need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds.—Manuscript 66, 1899 (From a talk to the students at the Avondale School.).

3. Eternal Heavenly Dignitaries. Evangelism includes the heading, "The Eternal Dignitaries of the Trinity," for this section, thereby suggesting this is referring to the Trinity.

  • Ev 616.4: The eternal heavenly dignitaries—God, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit—arming them [the disciples] with more than mortal energy, ... would advance with them to the work and convince the world of sin.—Manuscript 130, 1901.

4. In Cooperation with the Three Highest Powers.

  • Ev 617.3: We are to co-operate with the three highest powers in heaven,—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,—and these powers will work through us, making us workers together with God.—Special Testimonies, Series B, 7:51. (1905).

5. The Heavenly Trio. The following quote is at variance with EGW's original handwritten notes as is documented in the commentary (i.e. Ibid.).

  • Ev 615.1: The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven, is the Spirit in all the fullness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour. There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ.—Special Testimonies, Series B, 7:62, 63. (1905).

6. The Power of God in the Third Person.

  • Ev 617.2: The prince of the power of evil can only be held in check by the power of God in the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit.—Special Testimonies, Series A, 10:37. (1897).

7. Pre-existent, Self-existent Son of God. By "pre-existent" it means before the incarnation. By "self-existent" it means existing independently of other beings.

  • Ev 615.2: Christ is the pre-existent, self-existent Son of God.... In speaking of his pre-existence, Christ carries the mind back through dateless ages. He assures us that there never was a time when He was not in close fellowship with the eternal God. He to whose voice the Jews were then listening had been with God as one brought up with Him.—The Signs of the Times, August 29, 1900.

EGW against compilations

EGW did not give approval or "license" to compilations of her writings according to the following quote:

  • 25LtMs, Ms 23, 1911, par. 3: Regarding the matter of publishing compilations of her writings, Sister White in 1894 wrote as follows:
  • Ibid. par. 5: It is true that there is a reason why some of these matters should be presented: but I would not venture to give my approval in using the testimonies in this way, or to sanction the placing of matter which is good in itself in the way which they propose.
  • Ibid. par. 6: The persons who make these propositions for ought I know may be able to conduct the enterprises of which they write in a wise manner; but nevertheless I dare not give the least license for using my writings in the manner which they propose. In taking account of such an enterprise, there are many things that must come into consideration; for in using the testimonies to bolster up some subject which may impress the mind of the author, the extracts may give a different impression than that which they would were they read in their original connection.

The compilation of the book Evangelism by Froom, et. al, fits the above description. It was written with EGW quotes presenting ideas not in the context of what she wrote, and certainly not in the context of her larger work.

Appendix

Further reading

  • LeRoy Froom and his Book Evangelism Exposed.
  • RH February 10, 1891: We are not saved as a sect; no denominational name has any virtue to bring us into favor with God. We are saved individually as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. And “by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” We may have our names recorded on the books of the most spiritual of the churches, and yet we may not belong to Christ, and our names may not be written on the Lamb's book of life.