Ellen G. White—the SDA Church’s prophetic authority—claimed to be shown by God that, while she knows people need recreation, things such as dancing, playing cards, checkers and chess are forbidden by Heaven because they open up great opportunity for evil. The typical SDA defense for this has been that—in Ellen White’s day—these activities were associated with things that would bring one into temptation, so it was only counsel for that day.
This is a common tactic they use for some of the more outlandish stuff she said—like this.
The Bible nowhere suggests or says that any of the stated activities are inherently sinful. To claim that God revealed this would mean that to go against it would be a sin. This is extra-biblical bondage placed on Adventist’s that evidence why the charge of legalism has plagued the Adventist Church since it’s inception.
