Truly the right arm is at work in many parts of the world. When we follow God's plan victories are certain. -God expects greater and greater victories as we near the end. He expects greater and greater use of this important evangelizing phase of the third angel's message. Notwithstanding the remarkable growth of the right arm, there are lives and fields that have barely been touched by its influence.
We must keep in mind that the medical phase of this movement is not the message itself. It is only a part of the message, but a very important part. It is the right arm, and when rightly used will serve to protect the body.
Note these words from Mrs. E. G. White: "The health reform is an important part of the third angel's message; and as a people professing this reform, we should not retrograde, but make continual advancement."—Counsels on Health, p. 49. The question that comes ringing home to us is, "Are we making continual advancement?" In some places we have made advancement, but in others the right arm seems to have undergone atrophy somewhat akin to withering. Any part of the human body that does not have constant use tends to become weak.
Why do we in so many cases consent to work in such a handicapped manner? Why do we go around with a palsied, withering right arm dangling uselessly at the side, when we might enjoy the advantages of a vigorous arm opening doors never before opened? It is time to cut off the cast from the arm, and to remove that arm from its bandages, and instead of merely wiggling the little finger, put the entire arm into action, even as did our Pattern.
That continual progress is to be made is further emphasized in these words from Counsels on Health: "I wish to tell you that soon there will be no work done in ministerial lines but medical missionary work. . . . Our ministers are to work on the gospel plan of ministering. . . . You will never be ministers after the gospel order till you show a decided interest in medical missionary work, the gospel of healing and blessing and strengthening."—Page 533
The medical work of this denomination falls naturally into two different phases. The first is the individual, or personal, phase; the second is the church, or collective, phase. The second we accept without question, for this phase deals with the advantages that accrue to the church as a whole. The first we find ourselves more reluctant to recognize, because it deals with us individually. One is private business; the other is the business we run. Our failure to recognize these two phases explains in some measure our distorted vision of the medical work as. a whole.
Let us consider these two phases separately, beginning with the personal phase. As pointed out, this deals with the individual's relationship to the instruction concerning healthful living that has been given the remnant church over a period of one hundred years.
Let us glance back to the middle of the nineteenth century. What was the state of knowledge in things medical? Perhaps it would be more correct to ask concerning the state of ignorance. What were many of the beliefs and practices of those days? Even a casual examination of these will convince anyone of the necessity of instruction.
At that time calomel, nux vomica, antimony, and other poisonous drugs were in common use for almost any disease man suffered. Night air was considered dangerous, and for a fever patient to be given fresh water was out of the question. Malnourished and anemic patients were bled to let out the poison. About the turn of the eighteenth century so great was the ignorance concerning the treatment of disease that George Washington was bled until he could stand it no longer.
Besides this the early believers in the Advent cause were using tea, coffee, and tobacco, and failed to make a distinction between clean and unclean meats. They did not realize that these practices had anything to do with soul sanctification and preparation to meet their Lord. These, with many other harmful practices and popular errors in diet, needed correction. Hence, Mrs. E. G. White was given detailed instruction in the form of testimonies for the church, pointing out these errors. The use of tea, coffee, tobacco, alcohol, and flesh was strongly condemned.
Even before this another pioneer, Joseph Bates, had recognized the truths of healthful living and had gradually adopted reform principles. Many of the early believers heeded the instruction that came from the Lord. To them it was a personal matter. They recognized the advantages that would come to them individually. Great advancement was made in health reform.
Now let us glance forward to the present time, and ask ourselves whether this light is needed today. Is civilization with its increase of knowledge doing better? Do we need the instruction? Are we so wise that all our practices have come into line with scientific advancement? Would that such were the case! Scientific men still smoke the poisons of tobacco. They still imbibe their alcohol. They still feel they must stimulate themselves with coffee and cola drinks. True science condemns all these. They are poisonous to the body. The fact is that we are slaves to appetite regardless of science.
Within the ranks of Seventh-day Adventists are many ardent supporters of the reform message. Others are silent, and sad to say, a few even hold it up to ridicule. These latter only deceive themselves, for they do not realize its importance, nor do they recognize what it means to them personally. If they did, they would have no more to say against it.
Says the Spirit of prophecy: "If Seventh- day Adventists practiced what they profess to believe, if they were sincere health reformers, they would indeed be a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. . . . Many who are now only half converted on the question of meat eating will go from God's people, to walk no more with them."—Ibid., p. 575.
Others besides Seventh-day Adventists make use of the church phase of medical work. They do a noble work in ministry to the sick. But almost without exception, Seventh-day Adventists alone recognize the relationship of the individual to healthful living as a part of their religion. Not only is this reasonable, but it is Scriptural. "Whether therefore, ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." i Cor. 10:31.
Recognition of God's ownership is what makes the difference. The conflict in Eden was over appetite. The first victory Christ won in the wilderness was regarding eating. Daniel and his companions ate according to principle, and God's blessing was with them. The results will be the same today. Furthermore, in following the grand truths of health reform we shall find an aid to victorious living. Take the following statements as witness:
"There is no encouragement given to any of the sons or daughters of Adam that they may become victorious overcomers in the Christian -warfare unless they decide to practice temperance in all things. If they do this they will not fight as one that beateth the air."—Ibid., p. 51.
"As our first parents lost Eden through the indulgence of appetite, our only hope of regaining Eden is through the firm denial of appetite and passion. . . . The controlling power of appetite will prove the ruin of thousands, when, if they had conquered on this point, they would have had the moral power to gain the victory over every other temptation of Satan. But those who are slaves to appetite will fail in perfecting Christian character."—Ibid., pp. 573, 574.
This is true for the simple reason that we are following God's plan. None should ever think of one bit of instruction as being unreasonable. Nor should we accuse God of being arbitrary. Every ray of light that has ever come to this people is for our good. Thousands of believers the world around can testify to better health as a result of making the health message a personal matter. It does not exist solely for an evangelization agency. It is for you and for me.
Instead of considering it a restriction of our liberties, we should welcome it as an aid to more abundant health. Prize it for what it will do for your nerves, brain, heart, stomach, and skin. There is real common sense in the adoption of a health-reform program. Satan will always try to make us think differently. He tried that on Eve. She doubtless did not realize the truth of what God said, but since that time the whole world has found out that God was right. The Spirit of prophecy refers to the importance of our medical program in the following decided manner:
"The gospel of health has able advocates, but their work has been made very hard because -so many minis ters, presidents of conferences, and others in positions of influence, have failed to give the question of health reform its proper attention. They have not recognized it in its relation to the message as the right arm of the body. While very little respect has been shown to this department by many of the people, and by some of the ministers, the Lord has shown His regard for it by giving it abundant prosperity. When properly conducted, the health work is an entering wedge, making a way for other truths to reach the heart. When the third angel's message is received in its fulness, 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 house hold arrangements. Then the right arm will serve and protect the body."—Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 327.
Shall we not as medical workers, ministers, and laymen of the great Advent Movement live out the principles in our own lives, and go on from victory to victory? With this we pass to the next phase—the medical program of the church as a whole.
—To be continued in December
