In part 2 of this health message letter, A. W. Truman M. D. shares a serious study showing that God’s people need to obey His health laws.

To Break Health Laws Is Sin

“If we close our eyes to the light for fear we shall see our wrongs, which we are unwilling to forsake, our sins are not lessened but increased… It is just as much sin to violate the laws of our being as to break one of the Ten Commandments, for we cannot do either without breaking God’s law.” 2T, p. 70.

“To those who desire prayer for their restoration to health, it should be made plain that the violation of God’s law, either natural or spiritual, is sin, and that in order for them to receive His blessing, sin must be confessed and forsaken.” MH, P. 228.

Why do we see so little results when special prayer is offered for the healing of the sick?

Joshua was also on his face praying earnestly when the Lord told him to get up and clean sin out of the camp.

“It is labor lost to teach people to look to God as a healer of their infirmities unless they are taught also to lay aside unhealthful practices.”

Miracle Healing Encourages Sin

“Many persons bring disease upon themselves by their self-indulgence. They have not lived in accordance with natural law or the principles of strict purity. Others have disregarded the laws of health in their habits of eating, drinking, dressing, or working… If God were to work a miracle in restoring these persons to health, He would be encouraging sin.” MH p. 227.

“Men and women cannot violate natural law, by indulging depraved appetite and lustful passions, and not violate the law of God. Therefore He has permitted the light of health reform to shine upon us, that we may see our sin in violating the laws which He has established in our being.” 3T, p. 161.

Health Law Violators Not Translated

“Eating, drinking, and dressing are carried to such excess that they become crimes, and are among the marked sins of the last days…” 3T, p. 164.”And when premature death is the result of our violation of nature’s law,…Then are we not in the worst sense, transgressors of God’s law?” 3T, p. 165. We are to make ready a people prepared for translation. Active law violators cannot hope to share in that experience. God has written His moral law in His Word and upon human hearts. He has written His physical laws upon the members of our bodies. Which of these laws can one violate and not become a transgressor of God’s laws?

“The laws of the physical system are indeed the laws of God, but this fact seems to have been forgotten.”6T, p. 373. Please read the entire paragraph. “Our people are constantly retrograding upon health reform… Will our people see and feel the sin of indulging perverted appetite? Will they discard tea, coffee, flesh meats, and all stimulating food, and devote the means expended for these hurtful indulgences, to spreading the truth?” 3T, p. 569.

True or False?

The “right arm and hand” of the third angel’s message comprises a group of highly trained medical specialists together with a number of buildings, clinics, hospitals, sanitariums, nurses’ training schools, and medical colleges all fostered and guided by the medical department of the General Conference.

False

This is the view of many, but we challenge that statement as untrue, and also the conception from which it springs.

The “right arm” is not a person or a building, but a mighty healing, purifying, life-giving message, “essential” to the work of preparing a people for Christ’s second coming.

Health Reform Appears Needless

“You have stumbled at the health reform. It appears to you to be a needless appendix to the truth. It is not so; it is a part of the truth,… you are stumbling over the very blessing which Heaven has placed in your path to make your progress less difficult.” 1T, p. 546. Too bad to stumble over Heaven’s “inestimable blessing.” MH p. 147.

Health Reform Part of the Third Angel’s Message

“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.” CH p. 49.

The only difference between a  stumbling stone and a stepping stone is the use we make of them. Step upon this rock of health reform and be lifted to a higher plane physically, mentally, and spiritually or stumble over it and go down to defeat.

“The health reform, I was shown is a part of the third angel’s message.” 1T, p. 486.

“Present truth lies in the work of health reform as verily as in other features of gospel work. 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. They have not recognized it in its relation to the work of the message as the right arm of the body… When the third angel’s message is received in its fullness, health reform will be given its place in the councils of the conference…then the right arm will serve and protect the body.” 6T, p. 327.

Sanctification by Obeying the Truth

“There is no Bible sanctification for those who cast a “part of the truth” behind them.”… They have special exercises upon sanctification, yet cast the word of God behind them. They pray sanctification, sing sanctification and shout sanctification… Said the angel… “What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing though hatest instruction, and casteth my words hehind thee?”1T, p. 338

Then follows a quotation from 1 Peter 1:22, about “purifying your souls in obeying the truth,” and 2 Cor. 7:1, about “Cleansing ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness, ” etc. Then we are told “Here is Bible sanctification… It is sanctification received through the channel of truth. It is truth received in the heart, and practically carried out in the life.” 1T, p. 339.

Teaching Healthful Living is Appointed Work

As a preacher-doctor, what shall I do about this instruction? Should I close my eyes to this part of the truth, bury my head in the sand, and drive on hoping a portion of the truth will do for me a complete work of sanctification? My brother preacher and brother doctor does the message you preach, your “body of truth,” comprise the right arm message, or do you feel the church and the world can quite well afford to dispense with this phase of present truth, the purpose of which is to “lessen suffering in our world and to purify the church?” 9T 113.

“Every gospel worker should feel that the giving of instruction in the principles of healthful living is a part of his appointed work. Of this work, there is great need and the world is open for it.” MH p. 147.

Third Angel’s Message Call to Reform

The third angel’s message is a call to reform. Reform in Sabbath keeping, reform in tithe paying, reform in education, reform in dress, reform in reading, reform in associations, reform in music, reform in the healing art, reform in drinking, reform in smoking, chewing and snuff dipping, reform in diet, in our habits of eating and drinking. Is it for us to decide which of these reforms is nonessential and can safely be omitted from the Christian life? These reforms are not matters of the head but the heart. They are matters of conviction. They concern the conscience. They all have to do with character building, Christian growth, Christian perfection, and the PEARLY GATES.

“It should ever be kept prominent that the great object to be attained through this channel is not only health, but perfection, and the spirit of holiness, which cannot be attained with diseased bodies and minds.” 1T, p. 554.

We are fully aware that there are some regions of the earth where the people are poor and where vegetables, grains, and fruits are scarce and costly. Here fish or other flesh meats are the cheapest food. In such places, we are counseled to lead on gently. Surely God can distinguish between an excuse and a reason. Meat has always been only an emergency food, it was first permitted under a great emergency. The flood had completely destroyed vegetation.

Something better is the Lord’s program; not subtraction but substitution. We are not to give up anything that is food until we find something better to put in its place.

Poisons and Pearly Gates

Other Christian bodies teach against the use of liquor, tobacco, etc., and get nowhere. We teach against these hurtful, soul and body-debasing poisons and we get somewhere. Why? The answer is “poisons and pearly gates.” “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls… and there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth etc.” Rev. 21:21, 27.

But why did we stop in Haran? “Terah died in Haran,” but Abraham didn’t die there: “They went forth (as did the first group) to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.” Gen. 12:5 They persevered, kept going and they arrived.

In men over forty years of age, cancer of the lungs has become the greatest hazard of living. Men of that age who smoke are fifty times as liable to die from cancer of the lungs as those who do not smoke. The authority of this statement is none other than Dr. Alton Ochsner, President of the American College of Surgeons and Professor of Surgery at Tulane University Medical College.

Seventh-day Adventists and Cancer

It is rare indeed for a Seventh-day Adventist to die of cancer of the lungs, whereas hundreds of our people die of cancer of the stomach, colon, liver, and pancreas. Why is this? our health reform practices reach as far down in the anatomy as the lungs, but often not as far as the stomach, liver, and colon.

Says the servant of the Lord: “People are continually eating flesh that is filled with tuberculosis and cancerous germs. Tuberculosis, cancer, and other fatal diseases are thus communicated.” MH p. 313.

Cancer Death Prevention

How do multitudes acquire this living death – the cancer plague? They eat it, they drink it, they smoke it, they chew it, they sniff it, they “dip” it. Notwithstanding the conclusions of some faithless Seventh-day Adventists, health reform, practiced and lived, would save us from most of the ravages of this fatal malady.

Health and Diet Reform Conversion Needed

The only sure way to effect any reform is by conversion. People must be converted to health reform, to diet reform. No one makes any worthwhile progress in restricting enslaving appetites until this becomes a matter of conscience, a matter of principle, a matter of obedience to God, a question of the Pearly Gates.

Knowledge alone is not sufficient. Fear of disease is not sufficient. It requires something deeper – conversion based upon recognition of our accountability to God, the Creator, purchaser, and therefore the true possessor of these body temples.

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? Of any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy: (No Pearly Gate experience) for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1 Cor. 3:16, 17.

A careful survey would reveal the lamentable fact that Seventh-day Adventist physicians are no more conscientious or more consistent in their observance of these reform principles than are our minister — brethren. They too, have to be converted to health reform and it is the business of our spiritual leadership to convert them.

Restore the Health Message to its Rightful Place

Herein lies the basic problem of our medical college. If we do not recover our vision, our balance, and our true objectives and apply the effective remedy, how can we expect God to undertake on our behalf and preserve our medical school? What is the remedy? Restore the lost reformation, the withered arm, to its rightful place in the message of the remnant church, then our medical students will feel that they have some backing as they seek training to promote and achieve these true, higher objectives of their medical education and ministry.

Health reform, being a part of a spiritual message, can be truly represented and effectively given only by consecrated spiritual workers. A physician or nurse; be their technical training ever so complete, but who are not converted to health reform principles (conversion is the right word) cannot represent or teach these principles to others, but instead become a drag on the wheels and a stone of stumbling in the pathway of progress. It seems a paradox, but Seventh-day Adventist physicians, nurses, and dietitians have to be converted to the health reform message just as ministers and other members of the church before they will deny depraved appetites and practice these reform principles.

The Health Reform Message Given by Inspiration

This reform message, which corrects hurtful habits of living, cleanses the soul temple, and lengthens the life span, was not wrought out by the efforts of doctors and nurses but was given to the remnant church for the healing and blessing of the world, by inspiration (through Divine Revelation).

“The health reform, I was shown is a part of the third angel’s message.” 1T, p. 468.

Health Reform to Guard Against Evils

“Our Heavenly Father sent the light of health reform to guard against the evils resulting from a debased appetite, that those who love purity and holiness may know how to use with discretion the good things He has provided for them, and that by exercising temperance in the daily life, they may be sanctified through the truth.” CH p. 121.

There is not one true principle of health betterment now being emphasized by scientific medicine, by workers in the fields of hygiene, dietetics, and sanitary science, which has not been a part of the wonderful “body of truth” held by Seventh-day Adventists for three-quarters of a century.

A Lukewarm or Chilly Indifference

“Is it not most unfortunate that with some, a lukewarm or chilly indifference, with others a cold lethargy, born of careless indulgence, and with a few, an open, more or less militant opposition to this phase of present truth should have for so long robbed the church and through it robbed the world of this disease-preventing, and health restoring message which every well informed medial man know, could have banished half the disease and much of the intemperance and crime and wretchedness that curse the world?” MH p. 146.

Eternity alone will reveal the enormous financial loss to the church, occasioned by unnecessary illness and premature breakdown of workers, and perhaps the greater spiritual loss occasioned by our prolonged neglect and failure to properly exemplify and sufficiently emphasize these life-saving principles before the church and the world.

Is Health Reform at the Front?

“The Lord of the Harvest” the “Chief Director,” the “Captain of the Lord’s Host,” has given a Divine Directive to help the church meet the need of this crisis hour – “Keep the work of health reform to the front.” Is that where the leadership of the church has kept it? Is that where we have it now? Why not?

Surely, many of our ministers, physicians, and other workers and a host of our church members would gladly join the spiritual leadership of the church in a great forward advance, a great reformatory movement along the lines of cleansing our body temples as a prerequisite to the infilling of the Holy Spirit’s power for the finishing of our appointed task. How much longer must these wait for that leadership?

My Brethren, will this reform work, can this work of agitating the question and of urging obedience to these reforms begin again, where it started, at the top with the leadership of the movement or must it begin at the bottom with the humble rank and file of our church membership?

Health Mileposts Passed Years Ago

We are not unmindful of the great and good work being done in our church crusade against liquor, tobacco, swine’s flesh, etc., but many Seventh-day Adventists passed these mileposts ten, twenty, thirty, or more years ago. Why did our leadership cease to lead us on in other progressive reforms?

Awakening Soon Among the Common People

“But the Lord will use in the accomplishment of his work means that we do not now see. He will raise up from among the common people, men and women to do His work even as of old He called fishermen to be His disciples. There will soon be an awakening that will surprise many. Those who do not realize the necessity of what is to be done will be passed by, and the heavenly messengers will work with those who are called the common people, fitting them to carry the truth to many places.” B-75-05, Loma Linda Messages p. 131, 132.

Since this “work will have to be done,” surely it will be done and somebody will do it. The only way the Lord can save some of our workers is by the graveyard route – men, who might have lived on to bless the world by their ministry.

“This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.” Isaiah 50:11. Some other men’s light will go out in the blackest darkness.

“Some are indulging lustful appetite which ward against the soul… and unless they entirely reform, will go back and take their position with the rebel host who stand under the black banner of Satan.” 1T, p. 548.

Joined to Idols

“They seem joined to their idols – (“taste,” “lustful appetite,” “health-destroying indulgences”) and God will soon say to his angels, let them alone.” 1T, p. 486.

“All those who are indifferent and excuse themselves from this work,… will be found wanting when the meek of the earth, who have wrought his judgments, are hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.” 1T, p. 619.

“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.” RH May 27, 1902.

A Large Class Abandon Their Position

“As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition… men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren.” GC p. 608.

Conclusion and Appeal

“Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” will you not, our dear brother Branson, with other leading Brethren, the Editor of the Review, etc., begin a vigorous crusade to repair the gap, heal the breach, round out the message, restore the withered hand and arm, and bring back to the church this lost reformation, to be passed on in a fountain, a flood of blessing and healing to a fainting, distracted, suffering, dying world?

Is there any other matter appealing for more urgent attention, or promising a richer fruitage or a more abundant harvest? May the Lord give you “heavenly vision,” dauntless courage, and Divine strength, to lead us no in such a crusade. Is not this hour late?

Your fellow worker,

Dr. A. W. Truman

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