Paul said, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Rom. 12:1. This earnest appeal for the dedication of the body as a living sacrifice toGod, calls for a consecration of the physical powers that is frequently overlooked.
"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own ? For ye are bought with a price : therefore glorify God in your body, and in your Spirit, which are God's." 1 Cor. 6:19, 20.
Here the same apostle, in writing to the Corinthians regarding specific matters pertaining to the physical body, appeals to them to recognize it as the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit and to glorify God in the body and in the spirit which are God's. All through the writings of the Spirit of prophecy the physical, mental, and spiritual are inseparably linked together ; and science definitely recognizes this interrelationship.
In the April Ministry we called attention to the "Associated Clinic of Medicine and Religion" established in New York for the purpose of ministering to the threefold needs of the many patients who suffer from physical, mental, and spiritual ills. That the physical body does indeed play a role in relation to spiritual life, is clearly taught in the counsels to the church, as may be noted in the following statement:
"True religion and the laws of health go hand in hand. It is impossible to work for the salvation of men and women without presenting to them the need of breaking away from sinful gratifications, which destroy the health, debase the soul, and prevent divine truth from impressing the mind."—"Testimonies," Vol. VII, p. 137.
Should not we as a people learn an important lesson from the striking experience of ancient Israel in their disregard for the instruction given them respecting healthful living, especially as pertains to diet and control of appetite ? Are the results of worshiping at the shrine of indulged appetite any less tragic or disastrous today than they were in that former day ? We all know the answer.
It is well known that we need not go beyond the dining table to find the explanation for many physical ills and for feeble religious aspirations in the experience of many in the world. Do we personally benefit by these observations, and bring the lesson home by abandoning unhealthful practices?
"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."—"Ministry of Healing," p. 130.
The advantages of "biologic living" are now generally recognized and popularly taught by voice and pen, but seldom is any thought given to the virtues of healthful living except as they influence the state of physical well-being. In fact, some in the church contend that health principles are to be restricted solely to the field of the biologist, and that in no sense do they pertain to moral or spiritual matters. As a people, we have been given the blessing of light on this subject, and therefore we should understand the true relationship between obedience to physical laws and victorious Christian living.
"It is impossible for a man to present his body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, while continuing to indulge habits that are depriving him of physical, mental, and moral vigor."—"Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene," p.11
"Let none who profess godliness regard with indifference the health of the body, and flatter themselves that intemperance is no sin, and will not affect their spirituality."—"Counsels on Health," p. 67.
Thus it is clearly revealed that physical habits and practices influence spiritual experience and "moral vigor." Therefore, we conclude that "biologic living"—living in harmony with nature's laws—for health's sake, is virtuous and worthwhile; but healthful living, prompted by regard for God's laws and His counsels and in order to present our body "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God," is a still higher and holier objective. Such a purpose brings the individual into an experience in complete obedience that makes for physical well-being, intellectual vigor, and perfection of character.
"The Spirit of God cannot come to our help, and assist us in perfecting Christian characters, while we are indulging our appetites to the injury of health, and while the pride of life controls."—Health Reformer, September, 1871.
"A great lesson is learned when we understand our relation to God, and His relation to us. The words, 'ye are not your own, ye are bought with a price,' should be hung in memory's hall, that we may ever recognize God's rights to our talents, our property, our influence, our individual selves. We are to learn how to treat this gift of God, in mind, in soul, in body, that as Christ's purchased possession, we may do Him healthful, savory service."—"Counsels on Diet and Foods," p. 56.
The individual who understands something of the wisdom and beneficence of nature's laws, which are ordained of God, who observes them in honor of his Creator and not from a sense of sacrifice or self-denial, whose intelligent obedience is prompted by love and a desire to be in harmony with God and to glorify Him in physical living, is having an experience in victorious living that will promote happiness in this life and will aid in preparation for the life to come.
The ultimate end result of earthly life, if the salvation of God is accepted, is the restoration of the image of God in man, which was lost in Eden. That restoration must take place in the physical, mental, and moral nature of man.
The appeal is to place our bodies, and all pertaining thereto, in complete, willing surrender on the altar as a living sacrifice, "which is your reasonable service."
This is true sanctification. It is not merely a theory, an emotion, or a form of words, but a living, active principle, entering into the everyday life. It requires that our habits of eating, drinking, and dressing, be such as to secure the preservation of physical, mental, and moral health, that we may present to the Lord our bodies—not an offering corrupted by wrong habits, but 'a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.' "—Id., p. 165.
Healthful living for health's sake is virtuous, but healthful living to be in harmony with God's laws and to glorify Him in body, mind, and soul, is the Christian's high calling and privilege.
H. M. W.
Practical Hygiene Living
In a recent article ("Health for the Having, Reader's Digest, May, 1938), Dr. William R. P. Emerson stressed the virtues of simple, practical measures pertaining to healthful living. He points out that theoretically the average person thinks of health as a prized possession, whereas in reality his body is commonly abused, and practical everyday measures that make for health are held more or less in contempt. To quote one statement, "If there ever was a golden cure-all, here it is: Fresh Air and Sunlight ; Proper Food and Eating Habits; Regular Exercise; Adequate Rest."
It is indeed heartening when such an eminent physician stresses the importance of observing the simple principles of healthful living. One is struck by the similarity of his counsel to the statement in "Ministry of Healing," page 127, which we have taken as our platform of natural remedies: "Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, the use of water, trust in divine power, —these are the true remedies."
It should be our aim to make plain the fact that observance of a few simple rules of hygiene will go a long way in ensuring buoyant health. "Many transgress the laws of health through ignorance, and they need instruction. But the greater number know better than they do. They need to be impressed with the importance of making their knowledge a guide of life."—Id., p. 126.
Thus it is that many disregard the laws of nature and regard as of little consequence such matters as eating between meals, regular exercise, adequate rest, a healthful, balanced dietary, fresh air and sunlight, etc. Many who have been taught these principles regard them with surprising indifference. Nevertheless we must persevere in health education, and make it known that these commonplace rules are still "the summation of all that the wisest physician knows about health." And furthermore, the observance of them constitutes all that is needed in order to prevent much of the sickness that now affects in some degree eighty per cent of the population. It should be our purpose to make our people intelligently health-conscious and health-conscientious.
H. M. W.
