Ask George Washington Whether the Adventist Health Message Is Relevant Today

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Ask George Washington Whether the Adventist
Health Message Is Relevant Today Denis
Fortin The Writings of Ellen G. White
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Obituaries in the Review and Herald (1857-63)

• Age of Seventh-day Adventists at death
• (1) Slightly more that ¼ died before age 7.
• (2) Another ¼ died between the ages of 10 and 29.
• (3) Thus, virtually ½ of all SDA recorded death
  in this period came before the individual
  attained his or her 30th year of life.
• Death frequently came with unexpected suddenness.

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Obituaries in the Review and Herald (1857-63)

• Causes of death Overwhelmingly from communicable
  diseases
• (1) Nearly ½ perished from pulmonary diseases
  (tuberculosis then generally known as
  "consumption")
• (2) Typhoid
• (3) Diphtheria
• "Domino effect

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Obituaries in the Review and Herald (1857-63)

• Death was no respecter of persons.
• Frequently the funeral services were conducted
  without the presence of a minister.
• Death was a common, frequent, and most unwelcome
  intruder in every Adventist family.

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Death of George Washington
The practice of medicine 200 year ago. One
reason why God needed to send Adventists the
health message (Mervyn G. Hardinge, A Physican
Explains Ellen Whites Counsels on Drugs, Herbs,
and Natural Remedies RHPA, 2001, pp. 37-38.)
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The Need Today
While mortality rates have been materially
lowered in the past 150 years, the health
condition of the average American is still
seriously at risk.

• United States ranks low in the World Health
  Organization's roster of wellness among the
  nations of the world.
• Cancer breast, colon, and prostate cancers
• Diabetes
• Heart disease-related deaths

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The Need Today

• Typical American diet is the major culprit in the
  nation's deteriorating health.
• Sugar consumption has risen by 250 in the last
  century.
• A century ago, 75 of all protein intake came
  from plant foods but today 75 is derived from
  animal sources.

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The Need Today

• In his or her lifetime, the average American
  today will consume (1995 estimates)
• - (1) 15 cows (4) 900 chickens
• - (2) 24 hogs (5) 1,000 lbs. of fish and
  game
• - (3) 12 sheep (6) 26,250 lbs. of dairy
  products
• This type of diet if high in protein and fat, low
  in fiber and carbohydrates, and deficient in
  minerals and vitamins is a sure prescription for
  early disease and untimely death.

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Seven Reasons for the Health Message
1. That we might live longer 2. That we might
enjoy the years we have. 3. That we might be
enabled to render service to God longer, more
efficiently. 4. That Seventh-day Adventists
might be a good witness for the Remnant Church.
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Seven Reasons for the Health Message
5. That we might help non-Adventists find the
benefits and blessings of good health. 6. That
our mental perception might be sharpened to
better understand secular and spiritual
truth. 7. That we might attain greater
spiritual growth and development.
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Uniqueness of the Health Message
Ellen Whites health message was not always
unique. Adventists were not always the first to
teach certain aspects of healthful living
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Uniqueness of the Health Message
What was unique about Ellen Whites health
message is its philosophical and theological
approach to health. She linked the Christians
physical condition and the spiritual experience
in a cause-effect relationship.
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Origin of the Health Message
Ellen White received instructions from God
regarding the health message. I have had great
light from the Lord upon the subject of health
reform. I did not seek this light I did not
study to obtain it it was given to me by the
Lord to give to others. (Ms 29, 1897 cited in
CD 493)
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Health Reform Visions
1. Vision of Autumn 1848 (CT) Injurious effects
of tobacco tea and coffee
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Health Reform Visions

• Vision of February 12, 1854
• (Brookfield, NY)
• Lack of hygiene among Sabbath-keepers
• Control of appetite needed.

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Health Reform Visions
3. Vision of June 6, 1863 (Otsego, MI) a. Care
for health is a religious duty. b. Most diseases
caused by a violation of the laws of health. c.
Condemnation of various forms of intemperance
stimulating drinks (alcohol), tobacco,
highly-spiced foods, overwork
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Health Reform Visions
d. Vegetarianism is advocated for the first
time. e. Proper dietary habits necessary to
control appetite. f. Control of the mind is
essential. g. Natural remedies offered over drug
medication pure air, water, sunshine, physical
exercise, adequate rest, fasting, proper
nutrition. (Trust in God was added in 1885).
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Health Reform Visions
h. Personal hygiene. i. Environmental
concerns. j. Health education urged. k.
Although these prescriptions are for all people,
the vision was given specially for the White
family.
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Health Reform Visions
4. Vision of December 25, 1865 (Rochester,
NY) Seventh-day Adventists should establish
health-care institutions to provide spiritual and
medical care to cure those already ill, and to
instruct people in methods of preventive medicine.
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But what is the health message Seventh-day
Adventists received from Ellen White?
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What is the health message?

• 1. There is a significant link between the
  Christian's physical condition and spiritual
  experience.

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Health and Spirituality

• "The health of the body is to be regarded as
  essential for growth in grace and the acquirement
  of an even temper. If the stomach is not properly
  cared for, the formation of an upright, moral
  character will be hindered. The brain and nerves
  are in sympathy with the stomach. Erroneous
  eating and drinking result in erroneous thinking
  and acting" (9T 160).

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Health and Spirituality

• Our physical health is maintained by that
  which we eat if our appetites are not under the
  control of a sanctified mind, if we are not
  temperate in all our eating and drinking, we
  shall not be in a state of mental and physical
  soundness to study the word with a purpose to
  learn what saith the Scripture --what shall I do
  to inherit eternal life? Any unhealthful habit
  will produce an unhealthful condition in the
  system, and the delicate, living machinery of the
  stomach will be injured, and will not be able to
  do its work properly. The diet has much to do
  with the disposition to enter into temptation and
  commit sin. (Ms 129, 1901 in CD 52)

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What is the health message?

• 2. The body, in general, and the mind (with its
  central nervous system), in particular, are the
  only medium through which God can communicate
  with human beings.
• This point is likely the most important concept
  in the entire Adventist health message.

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God communicates to us through our mind

• The body is the only medium through which the
  mind and the soul are developed for the
  upbuilding of character. Hence it is that the
  adversary of souls directs his temptations to the
  enfeebling and degrading of the physical powers.
  His success here means the surrender to evil of
  the whole being. The tendencies of our physical
  nature, unless under the dominion of a higher
  power, will surely work ruin and death (MH 130).

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What is the health message?

• 3. Although he/she follows correct health
  practices as a "sacred duty," yet in the act of
  obeying nature's health laws and basic health
  principles, the Christian "earns" nothing toward
  his salvation and eternal life.
• Salvation is not a matter of eating and drinking
  (Rom 1417).

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The health message is intended to help the
process of sanctification

• We are not our own. We have been purchased with
  a dear price, even the sufferings and death of
  the Son of God. If we could understand this and
  fully realize it, we would feel a great
  responsibility resting upon us to keep ourselves
  in the very best condition of health, that we
  might render to God perfect service. But when we
  take any course which expends our vitality,
  decreases our strength, or beclouds the
  intellect, we sin against God. (continued)

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The health message is intended to help the
process of sanctification

• In pursuing this course we are not glorifying
  Him in our bodies and spirits which are His, but
  are committing a great wrong in His sight. Has
  Jesus given Himself for us? Has a dear price been
  paid to redeem us? And is it so, that we are not
  our own? Is it true that all the powers of our
  being, our bodies, our spirits, all that we have,
  and all we are, belong to God? It certainly is.
  And when we realize this, what obligation does it
  lay us under to God to preserve ourselves in that
  condition that we may honor Him upon the earth in
  our bodies and in our spirits which are His? (CH
  43)

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What is the health message?

• 4. The Christian, in every act of life, seeks to
  be guided by two great principles
• (a) Actively seek to promote and maintain life
  and good health (CD 395)
• (b) Do the very best possible in every
  circumstances in life in which we find ourselves
  (HP 60).

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What is the health message?

• 5. Christians will strive to follow the
  principles of "true temperance"which is defined
  as
• (a) "judicious" moderation in the use of all that
  is good and health-producing, and
• (b) "total abstinence" from all that harms and
  hurts.

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True temperance

• True temperance teaches us to dispense entirely
  with everything hurtful and to use judiciously
  that which is healthful. (PP 562)

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What is the health message?

• 6. The body can be polluted, defiled, and
  ultimately destroyed, through various bad
  health-habits
• (a) Ingestion of all deleterious food/drink and
  harmful substances
• (b) Insufficient (or a lack of the right kind of)
  physical exercise (ML 138)
• (c) Overworkoften coupled with insufficient
  rest/relaxation (1T 618)

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What is the health message?

• (d) Feeding the mind upon impure thoughts (2T
  408)
• (e) Improper posture (Ed 198)
• (f) Abuse of bodily organs
• (Over-eating or eating too rapidly dinking too
  much liquid at mealtime irregularity in meal
  times snacking between meals physical
  over-exertion straining)
• (g) Failure to employ natural remedies or in
  sufficient amount

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What is the health message?

• 7. God's church has an obligation to establish
  health care and educational centers to provide
  for two great needs
• (a) To provide healing for those affected with
  illness and disease,
• (b) To propagate preventive methods in a program
  of health education

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Health care and education

• I was shown that we should provide a home for
  the afflicted and those who wish to learn how to
  take care of their bodies that they may prevent
  sickness. (1T 489)

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What is the health message?

• 8. Wherever possible, healing should be
  accomplished through natural remedies
• Nutrition
• Exercise
• Water (pure)
• Sunlight
• Temperance (abstemiousness)
• Air (pure, fresh)
• Rest
• Trust in divine power

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Natural remedies

• Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest,
  exercise, proper diet, the use of water, trust in
  divine power these are the true remedies.
  Every person should have a knowledge of natures
  remedial agencies and how to apply them. (MH 127)

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What is the health message?

• 9. The original Edenic vegetarian diet of fruits,
  nuts, grains, and vegetables is still the ideal
  diet today.
• (a) Flesh foods (meat, fish, poultry) and certain
  dairy products are increasingly undesirable and
  unsafe for human consumption.
• (b) When flesh articles are removed from the
  diet, adequate nutritional substitutes must be
  provided.

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The Edenic diet is best

• Grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables
  constitute the diet chosen for us by our Creator.
  These foods, prepared in as simple and natural a
  manner as possible, are the most healthful and
  nourishing. They impart a strength, a power of
  endurance, and a vigor of intellect, that are not
  afforded by a more complex and stimulating diet.
  (MH 296)

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What is the health message?

• 10. In seeking the reform of others, attitude may
  be even more important than precept.
• The greatest patience, kindness, courtesy, tact,
  and discretion must be exercised by the
  health-reformer at all times, if he/she is to be
  truly effective in exercising a positive
  influence for good.

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Attitude Matters

• Of all people in the world, health
  reformers should be the most unselfish, the most
  kind, the most courteous. In their lives should
  be seen the true goodness of unselfish deeds. The
  worker who manifests a lack of courtesy, who
  shows impatience at the ignorance or waywardness
  of others, who speaks hastily or acts
  thoughtlessly, may close the door to hearts so
  that he can never reach them. (MH 157)

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Attitude Matters

• Those who understand the laws of health and who
  are governed by principle, will shun the
  extremes, both of indulgence and of restriction.
  Their diet is chosen, not for the mere
  gratification of appetite, but for the upbuilding
  of the body. They seek to preserve every power in
  the best condition for highest service to God and
  man. . . . There is real common sense in dietetic
  reform. The subject should be studied broadly and
  deeply, and no one should criticize others
  because their practice is not, in all things, in
  harmony with his own. It is impossible to make an
  unvarying rule to regulate everyone's habits, and
  no one should think himself a criterion for all.
  (MH 319-320)

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Breadth and Scope of the Health Message
The health message is more than vegetarianism
(though it includes it). It is more, even, than
the more broad question of diet and nutrition
(though it includes these, too).
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Breadth and Scope of the Health Message
It embraces a total concept of wellness and
lifestyle, including (among other things)
physical exercise and mental hygiene. It is
concerned with the prevention of disease, not
merely its cure. It embraces the maintenance of
good health, as well as its recovery.
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Practicality of the Health Message
Dr. J. H. Kellogg (1895) When a new thing is
brought out in the medical work, I know from my
knowledge of the Spirit of Prophecy whether it
belongs in our system or not. If it does, I
instantly adopt it, and advertise it, while the
rest of the doctors are slowly feeling their way
and when they finally adopt it, I have five
years' start of them. On the other hand, when
the medical profession is swept off their feet by
some new fad, if it does not fit the light we
have received, I simply do not touch it. When
the doctors finally discover their mistake, they
wonder how it came that I did not get caught (A
Critique of the Book Prophetess of Health
(1976), pp. 16-17).