The third angel's message is present truth for this generation. As a part of that message, we have been given the health principles. These God-given principles constitute an important part of the truths committed to this people to give the world. The importance and magnitude of the health work should be understood, appreciated, and faithfully placed before ministers and conference workers by the conference president. Instead of discussing this question from my own viewpoint, I thought it would be more profitable to bring before us the light which God has given on this subject in the Spirit of prophecy. The following counsel has been given:
"Every gospel worker should feel that the giving of instruction in the principles of healthful living, is a part of his appointed work." "Wrong habits of eating and the use of unhealthful food are in no small degree responsible for the intemperance and crime and wretchedness that curse the world."—"Ministry of Healing," pp. 147, 146.
The supreme objective in the teaching of health principles "is to secure the highest development of body and mind and soul." When the conference president pioneers the way, and by precept and example advocates health principles, the majority of workers and people over whom he presides will follow his leadership. If the conference president is indifferent and fails to see the importance of this phase of the message, what can be expected of workers and people under his supervision? A willful violation of these God-given principles by the chief executive of the conference will surely produce its harvest of lost confidence and spiritual declension among his constituents.
There are those who feel that the teaching of health principles should be delegated to the medical department, to doctors, nurses, dietitians, et cetera—to a group highly specialized among us. But God never designed that the whole responsibility of proclaiming the health message should be carried by physicians and nurses alone. This great work 'which is an integral part of the third angel's message must be proclaimed by all. It is the duty and privilege of every president to plan for the propagation of the health message in all parts of his conference territory. Those who are not converted to the health principles are incapable of teaching these principles to others, and this is true of the doctor and the nurse, the minister and the conference laborer. The health message came to this people by divine revelation, and it is a part of the threefold message that we must proclaim to the world. In the "Testimonies," it is written:
"The health reform, I was shown, is a part of the third angel's message."—"Testimonies," Vol. I, p. 486. "Keep the work of health reform to the front, is the message I am instructed to bear. . . . I am instructed to say to health reform educators, Go forward. The world needs every jot of the influence you can exert to press back the tide of moral woe. Let those who teach the third angel's message stand true to their colors." "The work of health reform is the Lord's means for lessening suffering in our world and for purifying His church."—Id., Vol. IX, pp. 113, 112.
The president, by virtue of his office, is pastor of all the churches in the conference. It is his duty therefore to encourage the entire ministerial force to teach and practice both publicly and privately the uplifting health principles, which are such an important part of the third angel's message. If this plan were generally followed, we would not see such widespread indifference concerning these God-given principles. To us comes the clarion call:
"Make regular organized efforts to lift the church members out of the dead level in which they have been for years. Send out into the churches workers who will live the principles of health reform. Let those be sent who can see the necessity of self-denial in appetite, or they will be a snare to the church. See if the breath of life will not then come into our churches. A new element needs to be brought into the work." "There is a message regarding health reform to be borne in every church. There is a work to be done in every school. . . . The selfish, health-destroying indulgences of men and women have counteracted the influence of the message that is to prepare a people for the great day of God."—Id., Vol. VI, pp. 267, 370, 371.
Brethren, there is no possibility of our misunderstanding the counsel given. The whole spiritual leadership of the church must be enlisted in the proclamation of the health message in these closing days of earth's history. The General Conference action of the Autumn Council session of 1936 at Forth Worth, Texas, marked a forward move with respect to health principles. This action called upon every conference and institutional worker throughout the world field to unite in an advance step in health practice and in the promotion of health principles. These recommendations, we believe, have had a far-reaching, uplifting influence and will bring great strength to the cause of God wherever advocated. These actions should be brought to the attention of all our workers, churches, and people, over and over again. They are as follows:
A Forward-Looking Action
"We express as our conviction that there has been in some measure through the years a failure to heed this counsel. We appreciate the loyalty to this instruction which has marked the lives of many of our devoted brethren and sisters. We recognize also that the large majority of our workers have been true to these principles. It is to be regretted, however, that some have not fully sensed the responsibility of leadership in being examples to the church in the observance of health principles. We believe that the time has fully come when the principles of healthful living should be given their Heaven-designed place in the practice and teaching of every church leader and of the church at large.
"We, therefore, as the representatives of the Seventh-day Adventist Church assembled in Autumn Council, voice our high regard for the principles of health given to this people. We recommend that these principles receive the hearty and sympathetic support of our leaders and people throughout the world.
"It would be quite impossible to specify the various details of these principles. They pertain to the food we eat and the air we breathe, to exercise and rest, to the use of water for drinking and bathing and in the treatment of disease, to the clothing we wear, to our homes and their surroundings, to the nonuse of drugs and narcotics, to the preparation of food and a balanced dietary, to the state of the mind in its influence on the functioning of the physical organs, and other details too numerous to mention in this connection.
"We believe that the question of diet constitutes a very important phase of healthful living; and, because of the great danger to health attending the use of flesh foods, that our workers and people, especially under conditions where a balanced nonflesh dietary is available, should choose their dietary from nonflesh foods, making use of flesh only under exceptional circumstances as an emergency food.
"Our workers should present to the church of Christ our health principles the same as every other phase of present truth, and by their own personal example lead the members of the church in faithful obedience to the instruction we have received. Every individual should apply these principles faithfully in his own personal experience and in a spirit of generosity to his brethren. We call upon every conference and institutional worker throughout the world field to unite with us in this high and holy purpose."—Review and Herald, Dec. 10, 1936.
We have been told that "when the third angel's message is received in its fullness, health reform will be given its place in the councils of the conference, in the work of the church, in the home, at the table, and in all the household arrangements. Then the right arm will serve and protect the body."—"Testimonies," Vol. VI, p. 327. The following counsel has been given concerning our camp meetings:
The large gatherings of our people afford an excellent opportunity of illustrating the principles of health reform. Some years ago at these gatherings much was said in regard to health reform and the benefits of a vegetarian diet, but at the same time flesh meats were furnished at the tables in the dining tent and various unhealthful articles of food were sold at the provision stand. Faith without work is dead ; and the instruction upon health reform, denied by practice, did not make the deepest impression. At later camp meetings those in charge have educated by practice as well as by precept. No meat has been furnished at the dining tent, but fruits, grains, and vegetables have been supplied in abundance."—Id., p. 112.
"Let not foods or confectionery be brought upon our campground that will counterwork the light given our people on health reform."—"Counsels on Diet and Foods," p. 329.
In many of our camp meetings, there is need for a radical reform along these lines. "As we near the close of time, we must rise higher and still higher upon the question of health reform and Christian temperance, presenting it in a more positive and decided manner."—"Testimonies," Vol. VI, p. 112.
A hard, denunciatory spirit never brings desired results. This method of reform should find no place among us. Many times those given to extreme views have denounced the ministry as a whole, charging them with gross indifference to health principles, Although we have no sympathy toward those so inclined, is it not a fact that many of us ministers have nevertheless often failed to follow the counsel of God in these matters, and thereby forfeited to a large degree the benefits of the health message ? The Lord has spoken in no uncertain terms concerning these matters.
"The gospel of health has able advocates, but their work has been made very hard because so many ministers, presidents of conferences, and others in positions of influence have failed to give the question of health reform its proper attention."--/d., p. 327.
"The light which God has given upon health reform cannot be trifled with without injury to those who attempt it ; and no man can hope to succeed in the work of God while by precept and example he acts in opposition to the light which God has sent."—"Counsels on Health," p. 562.
Health reform as a vital force, as a living, purifying agency, will surely return and accomplish a mighty work under God for the remnant church. The health message in its broader aspects touches all phases of living; yet the prohibitions on the indulgence of appetite have led many to step aside and assume an indifferent attitude toward the proclamation of the whole health reform program. This should not be.
"No man should be set apart as a teacher of the people while his own teaching or example contradicts the testimony God has given His servants to bear in regard to diet, for this will bring confusion. His disregard of health reform unfits him to stand as the Lord's messenger."--"Testimonies," Vol. VI, p. 378.
Brethren, do we accept this statement and the following strong counsel from the same source?
"All are now being proved ; many to whom precious light has been given desire to return to the fleshpots of Egypt. Many who are supported by the tithe from God's storehouse are by self-indulgence poisoning the life-giving current flowing through their veins. Disregarding the light and the warnings that God has given during the last twenty-five or thirty years, some continue to gratify their desire for flesh meat.
"We are not to make the use of flesh meat a test. But we may and should consider the influence that professed believers who use flesh meat have over other churches. Those who use flesh meat disregard all the warnings that God has given concerning this question. They have no evidence that they are walking in safe paths. They have not the slightest excuse for eating the flesh of dead animals. God's curse is resting upon the animal creation. Many times when meat is eaten it decays in the stomach, and creates disease. Cancers, tumors, and pulmonary diseases are largely caused by meat eating.
"As God's messengers shall we not bear a decided testimony against the indulgence of perverted appetite? . . . God has provided an abundance of fruits and grains, which may be healthfully prepared and used in proper quantities. Why, then, do men continue to choose flesh meats ? Can we possibly have confidence in ministers who at tables where flesh is served join with others in eating it?"—Mrs. E. G. White, in Pacific Union Recorder, Oct. 9, 1902.
In conclusion we would present one more pointed testimony:
"The light of health reform is opened before the people of God at this day, that they may see the necessity of holding their appetites and passions under control of the higher powers of the mind. This is also necessary, that they may have mental strength and clearness, to discern the sacred chain of truth, and turn from the bewitching errors and pleasing fables, that are flooding the world. Their work is to present before the people the pure doctrine of the Bible. Hence health reform finds its place in the preparatory work for the second appearing of Christ." - —"Spirit of Prophecy," Vol. II, p. 44.
It appears plain and conclusive from the foregoing statements of the Spirit of prophecy that no man can properly function as a teacher, gospel minister, conference laborer, or president of a conference, who is not a living example of these great truths.
