This health message letter was written by A. W. Truman M.D. to the brethren of the Executive Committee of the General Conference of SDAs.

A. W. Truman is my Grandfather, and he wrote this letter in 1952 emphasizing the health reform message rejection as a reason for the lack of church growth. Stories shared in this first part are shocking, but I believe that there has been some growth as many voices have risen to declare the health message. This health message torch has also been picked up by other groups both Christian and nonChristian. Seventh-day Adventists could have better health and be better witnesses, if they would obey the whole counsel of God.

There will be a video of me, Tamara Luevano, reading the letter. The headings in the letter were added by me.

A memorial to Elder W. H. Branson and to the Brethren of the Executive Committee of the General Conference. Greetings!

Some Suggestions Not Faultfinding

Some of the suggestions from the Field are not of the destructive, faultfinding complaining type so often received from disaffected persons, but they are constructive and spring from a sincere desire to speed progress, and may merit prayerful consideration.

I have just received and carefully read the “Statistical Report — North American Division – Second Quarter, 1953.”

There is much in this report of encouraging progress, and for which we thank God, but I feel sure you Brethren who carry the chief burden of leadership share, with us under workmen in the Field, some keen disappointments.

Double Membership in Four Years

At the General Conference Session in San Francisco, in 1950, our hearts were thrilled with the rallying cry to “Double Our Membership In Four Years.” At “Such a time as this” was this achievement too much to hope for or expect?

With about three-fourths of the time elapsed, our gains in membership throughout the Unions of the North American Division have varied from 8.2% to 16.6% with an average of but 12%.

Reasons for Failure

Should not this revelation give us concern and cause us to pause and carefully and prayerfully consider possible reasons for no better showing?

Are we sure that we have put into operation all the directives of the “Captain of the Lord’s Host,” or have we been given, for the closing hours of the conflict, any specific instructions for the plan of the campaign and how to order the battle?

God’s Plans and Thoughts are Much Higher

“The instruction that the Lord has given concerning His work points out the right way.  God’s plans and God’s thoughts are as much higher than man’s plans and man’s thoughts as the heavens are higher than the earth. God’s voice is to be heard, His wisdom is to guide. He has outlined His plan in His word and in the testimonies He has sent to His people. That work only which is carried on in accordance with the principles of His work will stand fast forever.” 9T p. 235.

Although the following statement has specific reference to our schools, surely the principal stated is of general application.

“One point that should never be forgotten by our workers is that the Lord Jesus Christ is our Chief Director. He has outlined a plan….and He will not vindicate the course of those who lay this plan aside for lack of confidence in success.” 9T p. 75.

“We are God’s servants, and we are to be workers together with Him doing His work in His way, that all for whom we labor may see that our desire is to reach a higher standard of holiness.” 7T p. 96.

Watch the Video

There is so much information in this letter, so if you really want to absorb it all, I recommend that you read the letter and watch or listen to the video. 

Obeying God’s Plans

Suppose that Joshua, who met the Captain of the Lord’s Host on the plains of Jericho, had changed one of the directives for taking that city. Suppose that Moses in the construction of the Tabernacle had changed one of the specifications. Would “the glory of the Lord “have filled the Tabernacle?” “Thus did Moses according to all that the Lord commanded him, so did he.” Exodus 40:16. And before this chapter closes, we find the expression seven times repeated – “as the Lord commanded Moses.” “So Moses finished the work. Then a cloud covered the tent and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.” Exodus 40:33, 34.

Converted or Backslidden From What?

Please ponder the following tragic but illuminating statement: “The Lord does not now work to bring many souls into the truth, because of the church members who have never been converted and those who were once converted but who have backslidden.” 6T p. 370. “Converted” to what? “Backslidden” from what? The same paragraph makes the answer clear. “The subject of health reform has been presented in the churches; (By whom? When? Recently?) but the light has not been heartily received. 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. If the churches expect strength they must live the truth which God has given them.” 6T p. 370, 371.

Workers to Live Health Reform

An important directive to the church, slighted or ignored: “Make regular organized efforts to lift the church members out of the dead level in which they have been for years.” How shall we proceed? “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.” 6T p. 267. My brethren, have we made one such “organized effort” during the past twenty years? If so, when and by whom?

Ministers are to be Temperate in Eating and Drinking

“Ministers should be strictly temperate in their eating and drinking, lest they make crooked paths for their feet, turning the lame — those weak in the faith, out of the way. If while proclaiming the most solemn and important message God has ever given, men war against the truth by indulging wrong habits of eating and drinking, they take all the force from the message they bear.” CH p. 575. RH May 27, 1902.

The present condition, attitude, conduct, and example of many of our leaders and ministers are fraught with great personal danger to themselves and great injury and damage to the church. Positions of responsibility confer no security, provide no immunities, and carry no extra safeguards. They may instead increase one’s danger, like the tree on the top of the mountain which is more exposed to wind and storm.

The location of the text “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” is significant, as is also the “Wherefore.” The Apostle has just traced the sad story of Israel’s wilderness experience. They all got out of Egypt in one night, all headed straight for Canaan, and had many wonderful experiences, “but” they didn’t arrive. By way of admonition, we come into this narrative seven times. If Israel could not gain an earthly Canaan without giving heed to God’s instructions with regard to diet, how can we hope to win a heavenly Canaan unless we profit from their experience and succeed where they failed: “Now these things were our examples to the intent we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.” 1 Cor. 10:16.

Lusting for Meat

Are we told what the evil things were for which they lusted? “And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust…..”Can He provide flesh for His people?” Psalm 78:18, 20.

“For ye have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, who shall give us flesh to eat?” Numbers 11:19. The final result was the only graveyard in the Bible which God named “Kib-roth-hat-ta-a-va.” The “graves of lust.” I would not want a marker there for I fear that none of those graves will be disturbed for – at least – another one thousand years.

How much cleaner are the diseased cattle, or the filthy and diseased chickens, ducks, and turkeys, of the twentieth century after Christ, than were the desert quail, fifteen centuries before Christ? “Neither be ye idolators as were some of them as it is written, “but not a word is here written about the calf they “bowed down to” but only those things they “sat down to eat and drink and (then) rose up to play.” 1 Cor. 10:7.

The Spirit of Prophecy on Trial

There is no use begging the question, the basic issue at stake in the Health Reform Message is the position and the authority of the Spirit of Prophecy in the remnant church. The Spirit of Prophecy is on trial in the church over this specific issue in the relation of diet to character and destiny,  but far more important to us is that, we too are on trial over the same issue. There is no question or controversy over these writings as they pertain to more diligent Bible study, more sacrificial giving to missions, greater faithfulness in tithe-paying, Sabbath keeping, or over liquor, tobacco, etc. The test to us comes over the counsels on health habits, diet, etc. — These darling idols, which are too precious to despoil or dethrone.

With the worker and the church member, the Spirit of Prophecy, as an inspired gift to the church, rises or falls with our acceptance or rejection of these writings as they pertain to the restriction of depraved, lustful appetites and passions. Shall we by our inconsistent habits of eating and drinking, give the lie to our pretense of accepting these writings as inspired, and thus continue to weaken the faith of the rank and file of our church members in the inspiration of this gift? Shall we set up our personal judgment as the final arbiter of inspiration, as do other higher critics with respect to the teachings of the scriptures?

It is written, “There are those who ought to be awake to the dangers of meat eating, who are still eating the flesh of animals, thus endangering the physical, mental, and spiritual health. 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.” CH p. 575. Do you wish to take a chance on that? We have been watching it for several decades.

Minister Calls Health Message Unscientific

While Medical Secretary of the General Conference, I crossed the Atlantic in company with an elderly SDA minister who was the apostle of this movement in Europe for nearly fifty years. He had concluded that the writings of Mrs. E.G. White, pertaining to diet, were unscientific, impractical, and unreliable, and he had rejected them as being only the opinions of an individual. At the table, he ate his meat regularly and sometimes imbibed beer and tried to defend both.

One day he came into my stateroom and, seeing several copies of the “red books,” he felt it his duty to give the young worker some seasoned counsel. He labored for nearly three hours in an effort to unsettle my confidence in the Spirit of Prophecy, a faith that had been deeply rooted in the example and teaching of a Seventh-day Adventist mother. I was not surprised. He was consistent. It was “all or none.” This brother spent the closing years of his life in an effort to tear down that which he had labored fifty years to build up. What a tragedy!

GC Secretary that Smoked and Drank

While I was in Washington, an article on healthful living by Dr. D. H. Kress appeared in one of our church papers. He was severely criticized by one of the Secretaries of the General Conference and particularly for his reference to Daniel’s faithfulness to God in matters of diet; the Secretary was contending that the only reason Daniel refused the King’s meat and wine was because these had been “offered to idols.” This brother was scheduled to speak the following Sabbath in the Takoma Park SDA Church, on the subject “Go Further With Jesus.” Before the Sabbath arrived, a friend of the church led my associate to the back of a poorly lit upstairs room in downtown Washington, where our preacher brother was seated at a table, a half-smoked cigarette between his fingers and a half-consumed stein of beer by his plate. “Let him that thinketh he standeth.” Look out!

Results of Ridiculing the Health Message

Over a period of years, I attended our Autumn and Spring Councils when two brothers, high in the counsel of the church, amused themselves and others by making health reform and those who taught it, or lived it, the butt of public jest and ridicule. More than once these men have scanned the dining room or the cafeteria to note where I was sitting and would then loudly call out — “Dr. Truman, do you drink cereal COOOFFFEEE! Do you eat peanut BUTTTERRR? One of these brothers developed early senile dementia, and for years would get lost in his own home; the other surrendered his credentials for misconduct. How do those fare today who try to set the right example in living and teaching these principles? Men become weary of being made the subject of public jest and ridicule by their brethren.

Health Reform a Joke

Health reform, to man today, is one huge joke, the subject of jest and merriment. But moral dereliction and disgrace are no joke; cancer of the stomach is no joke. A ruptured appendix with peritonitis is scarcely a topic for fun-making.

My brethren, what are we coming to? We are not coming to doubling our membership in this, or in any other quadrennium, until we confess our sins of disloyalty and disobedience and believe and consistently practice and forcefully preach the entire message, Health Reform included.

Righteousness by Faith and Physical Law

We may preach “righteousness by faith,” the “reception of the Holy Spirit,” and write books on evangelism, nothing than which could be of greater importance, but unless we square our lives in harmony with the whole message, and become sanctified by obedience to the whole truth, will not the appalling disaffections and apostasies from the Faith and the paucity of our evangelistic results, rise up in the end and mock us? Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” II Cor. 7:1.

We rightly conclude that we can have no confidence in the message of “righteous y faith,” as preached in the worldly churches, divorced as it is from a call to obedience to God’s moral law. How much better is our message of righteousness by faith if divorced from an appeal for obedience to God’s physical law? “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” II Cor. 7:1.

What Work Ought to be Done

“This is a work that will have to be done before his people can stand before Him a perfected people.” 9T p. 154. What work ought to be done, might be done, could be done, should be done? No! What work will have to be done? The same paragraph declares — “Those who have received instruction regarding the evils of the use of flesh foods, tea and coffee, and rich and unhealthful food preparations, and who are determined to make a covenant with God by sacrifice, will not continue to indulge their appetite for food that they know to be unhealthful.

“God demands that the appetites be cleansed and that self-denial be practiced in regard to those things which are not good. This is a work that will have to be done before His people can stand before Him a perfected people.” Vol. 9, p. 153, 154.

Brethren, if this work will have to be done, will not someone have to do it? The manuscript from which this was taken was read before the General Conference in Washington on May 31, 1909. That is more than forty-four years ago and our hearts cry out “How long oh Lord how long?” Since that was written the situation in our churches throughout the field, respecting the health reform message has been progressively deteriorating and who seems to be concerned enough to do anything about it?

Health Reform Considered Extreme or Fanatical

No man can today present the health reform message before our larger churches, be it ever so well balanced, without being considered an extremist or a fanatic. Why? Because of the inconsistent attitude and the unworthy example of the majority of our spiritual leaders, who either complacently ignore this great reform message or who are openly hostile and antagonistic to it.

Let us not deceive ourselves by expecting and planning for a great spiritual revival among our churches without an accompanying thorough reformation!

If No Health Message, No Loud Cry

In the face of the issues at stake, is it too much to expect, is it wicked to hope and pray, that God may soon give us an administration, one of whose real burdens shall be, to restore to the church and the world, the lost reformation? Without this, The Health Reform Message Reformation, we shall never be fitted for the loud cry of this message, and it can never come!

“God’s people are not prepared for the loud cry of the third angel.” 1T p. 486. Why not? Read the paragraph.

Health Reform Part of the Third Angel’s Message

“The health reform, I was shown, is a part of the third angel’s message and is just as closely connected with it as are the arm and hand with the human body. I saw that we as a people must make an advance move in this great work. Ministers and people must act in concert. God’s people are not prepared for the loud cry of the third angel. “They have a work to do for themselves which they should not leave for God to do for them.” What work are they to do? “He has left this work for them to do. It is an individual work; one cannot do it for another.

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Gluttony is the prevailing sin of this age. Lustful appetite makes slaves of men and women, and beclouds their intellects, and stupefies their moral sensibilities to such a degree that the sacred, elevated truths of God’s word are not appreciated. The lower propensities have ruled men and women. In order to be fitted for translation,” etc. 1T p. 486.

Sneering at Health Reform

“Some have sneered at this work of reform and have said it was all unnecessary.” 1T p. 487. “There seems to be in them a heart of unbelief, and as this reform restricts the lustful appetite, many shrink back. They have other gods before the Lord. Their taste, their appetite is their god; and when….their sin is pointed out, their idols shown them, they do not wish to be convinced; and although God’s voice should speak directly to them to put away those health-destroying indulgences, some would still cling to the hurtful things which they love. They seem joined to their idols, and God will soon say to his angels: Let them alone.” 1T p. 486.

God can wait just as long as we can, but will He? Is it not perilous to defer this personal cleansing of the soul temple? Note the following taken from 1T p. 618.

“God requires all who believe the truth to place themselves in the best possible condition of bodily health, for a solemn and important work is before us. Health of body and mind is required for this work; it is as essential to a healthy religious experience to advancement in the Christian life and progress in holiness, as is the hand or foot to the human body. God requires His people to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. All those who are indifferent and excuse themselves from this work, waiting for the Lord to do for them that which He requires them to do for themselves, 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.”

Preparation Needed for God’s Refreshing Power

“The refreshing power of God comes only on those who have prepared themselves for it by doing the work which God bids them, namely, cleansing themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 1T p. 619. Since this course is the only way the church may receive the refreshing power of God for the finishing of the work, why don’t we try God’s specified program? What are we waiting for? Could we not afford to try it just once if only to prove that it would end in failure?

It is crystal clear that none can eat and drink their way into the kingdom of God, but many, many will eat and drink their way out of that Kingdom. Is it not equally clear that no one can sabbath his way in or tithe his way into the Kingdom? It is all a question of loyalty to God and obedience to His laws.

Message for Mind, Soul, and Body

Heaven’s sanctifying message for this hour embraces the entire three-fold man; A message for the mind, Christian education, containing no sophistries, no evolution, no fairy tales, and I believe, no funny page or comic strips; A message for the soul, the pure doctrines of the Bible. But is there no cleansing, purifying message for the body? Indeed there is. We call it health reform.

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thess. 5:23. One cannot have a clean, pure mind in a corrupt, unclean, polluted body. Obedience to all the message is required for this threefold work of sanctification. Knowledge of truth will sanctify no one. Obedience to the truth is the one essential which sanctifies.

Health Reform’s Two-fold Purpose

Please note the two-fold purpose of the health reform message – “The work of health reform is the Lord’s means for lessening suffering in our world and for purifying His church” 9T p. 113. Shall we use the Lord’s means for purifying His church or try to invent some means of our own?

It seems clear from the study of the Scriptures and the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy, that the final great test for the world will be over the commandments of God and particularly the fourth commandment: God’s moral law.

Health Reform One Great Test

It seems equally clear that one great test for the remnant church will come over the question of the necessity for obedience to God’s physical laws, Health Reform, as emphasized and urged by the Spirit of Prophecy. Those who teach these health truths are often accused of narrowing the reform message down to matters of diet, particularly flesh-eating, tea and coffee drinking, etc. We place emphasis here because here is just where the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy place the emphasis, where the test comes from, and where the major benefits lie.

Did Israel’s attitude and practice in matters of diet have anything to do with their arrival in Canaan, their destiny? There is nothing over which we exercise control that so profoundly affects our health as the food we eat. Before our food becomes bone and brain and muscle, it becomes blood and the “life of the flesh is in the blood.” “For (the blood) it is the life of all flesh. The blood of it is for the life thereof:……for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof.” Lev. 17:11, 14.

Teach the Health Reform on a Physiologic Basis

So many times I have been counseled by leading brethren, “Go ahead doctor and teach the health reform, but keep the teaching of it on a purely health and physiologic basis.” How can we do that when both the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy writings place it solidly upon a moral and spiritual basis? Health reform rests upon a spiritual and moral foundation because it rests upon a sound physiologic and health basis. Tobacco is a moral evil and defiles the soul because it injures the body, and “whatever affects the body has a corresponding effect on the mind and the soul.” MH p. 315.

After stating that many die of diseases wholly due to meat eating (a rather serious physical effect) – while the real cause is not (even) suspected by themselves or others.” Note what follows: “The moral evils of a flesh diet are not less marked than are the physical ills.” (Moral death – a rather serious effect). Read on: “Flesh food is injurious to health, and whatever affects the body has a corresponding effect on the mind and soul. MH p. 315.

“The failure to follow sound principles has marred the history of God’s people. There has been a continual backsliding in health reform, and as a result, God is dishonored by a great lack of spirituality.” CH p. 578

True or False?

To violate natural law and thus to injure our bodies by wrong habits of eating and drinking is not a sin. Let us see, “The liability to take disease is increased tenfold by meat eating.” “The intellectual, the moral, and the physical powers are depreciated by the habitual use of flesh meats. Meat eating deranges the system, beclouds the intellect, and blunts the moral sensibilities.

“The use of tea and coffee is also injurious to the system. To a certain extent, tea produces intoxication…. and gradually impairs the energy of body and mind…tea is poisonous to the system. Christians should let it alone. The influence of coffee is in a degree the same as tea, but the effect upon the system is still worse.” 2T p. 64, 65.

Conclusion

This concludes part 1 of the letter. Make sure that you are subscribed to this blog and the Youtube channel so that you will be notified when part 2 is done. It took many hours to do the video and the blog post. It may be two weeks to a month before it is done.

If you missed the first letter, called God’s Design in our Sanitariums, you can find it at the following link.

https://healthyhomesteadingadventures.com/category/health/archibald-william-truman-m-d-writings/

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