ON THE last night of the Wa-Rite weight control program at the Beltsville, Maryland, church, three ladies in the commitment group I was in charge of waxed enthusiastic. They were neighbors and had been supporting and encouraging each other during the pro gram. Collectively they lost more than fifty pounds. But it wasn't the weight loss that pleased them so much as their general feeling of well-being. "We're thrilled about losing weight," they ex claimed, "but more than that we appreciate the health principles and the way of life we've learned. We're feeling better than we have in a long, long time."
Their experience can be duplicated in the testimonies of thousands who have attended Adventist health programs. Time after time I've had people say something like, "You know, I'm really an Adventist already since I've learned to live as Adventists do."
You undoubtedly have heard of the Loma Linda University studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of the Adventist life style as far as longevity is concerned. They have been given national and even international attention and wide publicity in recent years. The chart on the next page summarizes the "Adventist advantage."
This research has been uniquely con firmed by an independent life-style study carried out by the Human Population Laboratory of the California State Department of Health in Alameda County, California (see Allan Magie, "Good Life-style = Good Health," THE MINISTRY, January, 1977, pp. 29, 30). The impressive thing about this study was that it tested the effectiveness of the following seven "good health practices":
1. Eating breakfast almost every day.
2. Never or rarely eating between meals.
3. Never smoking cigarettes.
4. Usually sleeping for eight hours.
5. No more than moderate drinking of alcoholic beverages (Adventists, of course, refrain entirely from their use).
6. Often or sometimes engaging in active sports or swimming, taking long walks, gardening, or doing physical exercises.
7. Maintaining an ideal weight for height. For men this is between not more than 5 percent under and 20 per cent over the ideal, and for women it is between the ideal and not more than 10 percent over the ideal.
Dr. Lester Breslow and his team of investigators discovered that a person adhering to all of the seven "good health practices" listed above would be nearly six times less likely to die prematurely than would a person of the same age who practiced less than four of these. Those practicing none had the highest death rate.
Amazing Parallel
Seventh-day Adventists immediately recognize a very close and amazing parallel between the "good health practices" listed above and the life style outlined long ago in the writings of Ellen G. White.
It's humanly unexplainable that a young woman who had only a partial grade-school education and no training whatsoever in the health or scientific knowledge of her day should be able to come up with a package of "health principles" that corresponds so closely to those that only in recent years have been given full scientific backing and emphasis.
In his preface to the book Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, Dr. J. H. Kellogg, who ranks among the best-trained and most-recognized physicians of his time, testified to this fact: "It must be admitted to be something extraordinary, that a person making no claims to scientific knowledge or erudition should have been able to organize, from the confused and error-tainted mass of ideas advanced by a few writers and thinkers on health subjects, a body of hygienic principles so harmonious, so consistent, and so genuine that the discussions, the researches, the discoveries, and the experience of a quarter of a century have not resulted in the over throw of a single principle, but have only served to establish the doctrines taught. The guidance of infinite wisdom is as much needed in discerning between truth and error as in the evolution of new truths" (p. iv).
The only logical explanation for this remarkable insight is that, beginning in 1848, Ellen White was given a series of divine revelations concerning the kinds of health practices God wanted this people to follow in order to experience physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. Mrs. White herself clearly admits, "I was astonished at the things shown me in vision. Many things came directly across my own ideas" (Manuscript 7, 1867). In fact, it was a real struggle for her to change her own life style to conform completely with the health practices revealed to her. But she persisted and established the validity of these principles in her own practice, as well as in her preaching and writing.
Another dramatic current illustration of the validity and effectiveness of the Adventist life style as outlined in the writings of Ellen White is seen in the spectacular results being achieved with a similar simple program based on changing the way of life currently being conducted at the Longevity Center of Santa Barbara, California.
Hans Diehl, Director of Research and Health Education, reports that the pro gram there, under the direction of Nathan Pritikin and a staff of health specialists and physicians, has adopted a dietary approach to the treatment of angina patients that includes a radically low-fat diet, no added salt, sugar, or alcohol, and is basically a vegetarian, unrefined complex carbohydrate diet. Smoking cessation is strongly encouraged, and walking on a regular basis is a must.
They are getting what he terms "results unheard of in medical circles: 90 percent of confirmed hypertensives on medication left the facility normotensive and totally drug free. Sixty percent of confirmed diabetics on insulin and/or hypoglycemic agents were controlled and normal and totally drug free. Cholesterol levels dropped to an average of 160 mg. percent in the absence of drug treatment within 2 to 3 weeks. Angina patients who were unable to walk, or only with the assistance of 20 to 50 or more nitroglycerine (tablets) per day, walk during the last 2 weeks an average of 10 to 12 miles per day, without the assistance of vasodilators."
Here is dramatic evidence of even therapeutic value of the simple, good health practices Ellen White set forth for the Adventist Church more than 100 years ago.
What Shall We Do About It?
Specifically, then, what should be the relationship of the Adventist ministry to the principles of healthful living out lined by Ellen White?
The same God who revealed this way of life to the young woman chosen to set them before the church has unequivocally outlined the ministers' responsibility in this matter. It is twofold.
First, we read such statements as the following concerning the minister's responsibility to practice these health principles in his own life: "Health is an inestimable blessing, and one which is more closely related to conscience and religion than many realize. It has a great deal to do with one's capability. Every minister should feel that if he would be a faithful guardian of the flock, he must preserve all his powers in condition for the best possible service."—Gospel Workers, p. 242.
Many more such statements could be added that call the minister to an exemplary life style and relate health to sanctification (see, for instance, Counsels on Health, pp. 20-29).
Beyond this, however, is the responsibility to share what we have learned with both our church members and the world about us. Again, inspiration com missions us to include the health mes sage in the preaching of the gospel: "The principles of health reform are found in the Word of God. The gospel of health is to be firmly linked with the ministry of the Word. It is the Lord's design that the restoring influence of health reform shall be a part of the last great effort to proclaim the gospel message." —Medical Ministry, p. 259. (Italics supplied.)
Some startling directives make it clear that the minister himself must personally be involved in health education and evangelism: "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. ... I wish to say that the medical missionary work is God's work. The Lord wants every one of His ministers to come into line. Take hold of the medical missionary work, and it will give you access to the people. Their hearts will be touched as you minister to their necessities.. .. Medical missionary work, ministering to the sick and suffering, cannot be separated from the gospel." —General Conference Bulletin, April 12, 1901. (Italics supplied.)
Not only will our combining medical missionary work with the presentation of the gospel give us access to those in the world who would not otherwise respond to the evangelistic outreach, but notice what it will do for our churches: "Send into the churches workers who will set the principles of health reform in their connection with the third angel's message before every family and individual. Encourage all to take a part in work for their fellow men, and see if the breath of life will not quickly return to these churches." —Testimonies to Ministers, p. 416. The unmistakable implication is that it will.
With all the current evidence of the effectiveness of the Adventist life style given us long ago along with the specific commission to practice and preach the health message, what are we waiting for?
