Scripture:

Jesus’ followers are to show compassion, heal the sick, and pray for all people, including for sinners and our enemies. 

• “First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4

 

• “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go; behold, I am sending you out like lambs in the midst of wolves…Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is served to you; and heal those in it who are sick.” Luke 10:2-9

 

• “But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” Matthew 5:44

 

• "And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every affliction." Matthew 9:35

 

Ellen G. White:

Ellen taught, per divine revelation, that God's people should not to pray or even have sympathy for people of the world who were breaking God's commandments; sinners. 

• "I saw that Jesus prayed for his enemies; but that should not cause us to pray for the wicked world, whom God has rejected. When he prayed for his enemies there was hope for them, and they could be benefitted and saved by his prayers, and also after he was a mediator in the outer apartment for the whole world; but now his spirit and sympathy were withdrawn from the world; and our sympathy must be with Jesus, and must be withdrawn from the ungodly." Camden Vision, June 21, 1851, New York https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/756.1711 
  • SDA apologetics challenge the authenticity of this vision. Nevertheless, the inclusion of it in the EGW  Writings archives deserves consideration. Despite the challenge to authenticity, there is no proof it is not her letter and the writing style is comparable to her other letters. The vision also aligns with the context of Ellen's belief in the shut door theory during this time period in 1851, just before the close of the seven-year theory when she still believed that probation had closed in 1844, anyone outside of the Advent movement was lost, and Jesus was going to return in just four months in the coming October. "With my brethren and sisters, after the time passed in 1844, I did believe no more sinners would be converted. But I never had a vision that no more sinners would be converted, and am clear and free to state that no one has ever heard me say or has read from my pen statements which will justify them in the charges they have made against me upon this point." Letter 2, 1874 https://m.egwwritings.org/ro/book/3301.1#8 Although she denied here to having visions confirming her beliefs in the damnation of those outside of Adventism between 1844-1851, her writings still endorse visions teaching believers to remove their sympathy and prayer from sinners living outside of God's commandments. The issue is not with her mistaken beliefs, but with her claim to have seen visions from God confirming false and unbiblical teachings.

• "You inquire if we should pray for none that are sick except those in the third angel’s message, or pray for all that shall make application, etc. (James 5:14, 15) is our rule to follow. “Is any sick among you? Let them call,” etc. It is those that are among us. God has shown me those who keep God’s commandments [are] to have nothing to do in praying for the sick of those who are daily trampling them underfoot, unless it is in some special case where souls are convicted of the truth and are decided to move out upon it. The partition wall between commandment keepers and those who trample them underfoot should be kept up." Letters and Manuscripts, Vol 1, Letter 11, 1853 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/13961.2855001#2855014 

 

• “The brethren had met at his house and united in praying for the afflicted family. We were much worn and had the burden of labor upon us during the meeting and wished to be excused. I had resolved not to engage in prayer for anyone, unless the spirit of the Lord should dictate the matter. I had been shown that there was so much iniquity abounding, even among professed Sabbathkeepers, that I did not wish to unite in prayer for those of whose history I had no knowledge. I stated my reason. I was assured by the brethren that, as far as they knew, he was a worthy brother. I conversed a few words with the one who had solicited our prayers that he might be healed; but I could not feel free. He wept, and said that he had waited for us to come, and he felt assured that if we would pray for him he would be restored to health. We told him that we were unacquainted with his life; that we would rather those who knew him would pray for him. He importuned us so earnestly that we decided to consider his case, and present it before the Lord that night; and if the way seemed clear, we would comply with his request. The night we bowed in prayer, and presented his case before the Lord. We entreated that we might know the will of God concerning him. All we desired was that God might be glorified. Would the Lord have us pray for this afflicted man? We left the burden with the Lord, and retired to rest. In a dream the case of that man was clearly presented. His course from his childhood up was shown, and that if we should pray, the Lord would not hear us; for he regarded iniquity in his heart. The next morning the man came for us to pray for him. We took him aside, and told him we were sorry to be compelled to refuse his request. I related my dream, which he acknowledged was true. He had practiced self-abuse from his boyhood up, and he had continued the practice during his married life, but said he would try to break himself of it."... "When the young adopt vile practices while the spirit is tender, they will never obtain force to fully and correctly develop physical, intellectual, and moral character. Here was a man debasing himself daily, and yet daring to venture into the presence of God and ask an increase of strength which he had vilely squandered and which, if granted, he would consume upon his lust. What forbearance has God! If He should deal with man according to his corrupt ways, who could live in His sight? What if we had been less cautious and carried the case of this man before God while he was practicing iniquity; would the Lord have heard? Would He have answered? “For Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with Thee. The foolish shall not stand in Thy sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity.” Psalm 5:4, 5. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." This is not a solitary case. Even the marriage relation was not sufficient to preserve this man from the corrupt habits of his youth. I wish I could be convinced that such cases as the one I have presented are rare; but I know they are frequent. Children born to parents who are controlled by corrupt passions are worthless. What can be expected of such children, but that they will sink lower in the scale than their parents? What can be expected of the rising generation? Thousands are devoid of principle. These very ones are transmitting to their offspring their own miserable, corrupt passions. What a legacy! Thousands drag out their unprincipled lives, tainting their associates and perpetuating their debased passions by transmitting them to their children. They take the responsibility of giving to them the stamp of their own characters.” Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce, Ch 17 https://m.egwwritings.org/ro/book/20.3273#3277
  • This man who was struggled with sin, as every human being does, was denied to be prayed for. Jesus and his disciples, however, consistently prayed for those who were afflicted with temptation and struggling with sin. She also called the children of parents living in sin to be "worthless." Jesus, on the other hand, stated that if anyone causes a little one to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and be drowned in the deep sea (Matt 18:6). This signifies severe, divine judgment for leading vulnerable children into sin, and demonstrates the immense value and worth Jesus placed on children despite who their parents were.