p. 17 | The Health and Temperance Work by H. N. Sisco

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 17, 1915

The Health and Temperance Work

By H. N. Sisco

Reasons for Giving Health and Temperance a Place in Our Evangelistic Campaigns, and Suggestions How to Do It

THE apostles tell us that health for the body is not to be separated from health for the soul. “Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 2. The expression “even as” indicates “in like manner” or “in the same degree as;” that is, the writer is solicitous for the health of the body as well as that of the soul. If God in this manner couples together the welfare of the soul and the body, surely we should not separate them.

The apostle Paul writes: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.” Rom. 12: 1. The sacrifice formerly, it will be remembered, was to be without blemish physically; and in like manner are we in this dispensation to present our bodies unto God as far as possible physically perfect. In so doing we are rendering to him spiritual service, we are offering him reasonable worship. See margin Revised Version. In caring for the body, then, we are worshiping God, as well as when we read the Bible and pray. True reformation of the soul is accompanied by reformation of the body.

This method of combining physical and spiritual labor was the advice of the apostles, and the practice of the Master. At the opening of his public ministry it is recorded, “And Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness among the people.” Matt. 4: 23. He also taught this method to his disciples as he first sent out the twelve to preach. “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons: freely ye received, freely give.” Matt. 10: 7, 8. What God hath joined together, let not man lightly put asunder.

This method is taught also by the “Testimonies for the Church” in our day. “Medical missionary work is the right hand of the gospel.”—Vol. VII, page 59. “When properly conducted, the health work is an entering wedge.”—Vol. VI, page 327. “Medical missionary work is the pioneer work of the gospel.”—Ministry of Healing, page 144. “Medical missionary work is in no case to be divorced from the gospel ministry.”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. VI, pages 240, 241. “The gospel ministry is an organization for the proclamation of the truth to the sick and to the well. It combines the medical missionary work and the ministry of the word.”—Id., page 300. “Every gospel worker should feel that the giving of the instruction in the principles of healthful living, is a part of his appointed work.”—Ministry of Healing, page 147. These quotations and others that might be given show the true relation between the gospel and the health work.

In addition to the above, there are certain beneficial results that will accrue if we give the health and temperance work its proper place in our evangelical campaigns. In the first place, it will set us on vantage ground in our efforts for others. Emphatically, this is the time to ally ourselves with the best class of every community on the liquor question, and on all other associated health questions.

In the second place, it will educate new converts. As the principles of health are a part of the message, those uniting with the church ought to be thoroughly instructed in them.

It will educate old converts. Many of our own people always attend the public evangelical efforts for others. Some of these perhaps have forgotten their teachings and practices of former days. All such ought to be born again—to health principles.

It will also tend to rejuvenate our health work generally. For some years our medical work has not been making progress commensurate with that of other branches. In some parts of the field the medical department exists almost wholly on the letterhead of the conference stationery. Now may not one reason for this condition be that we have not thoroughly instilled health principles into the lives of the people in the first place, or have failed to do adequate follow-up work after they have come into the church? The preaching of the full free gospel will do much to solve our vexing medical problems and to revive the health and temperance work among us.

But how shall all this be accomplished? Every tent or hall effort should have at stated intervals, perhaps once a week, a health and temperance service. Platform lectures may be given alone, or be illustrated with charts; slides may be used; demonstrations may be given, etc. If possible, one of our physicians who is also able to do public work, should give the instruction. If a sanitarium is near, it will be glad to assist. In the majority of cases, however, no sanitarium is at hand, and no doctor, nor even a nurse. Under these conditions the work will fall on the preacher. Physiologies, books on hygiene and on simple diseases and treatments, articles on tea, coffee, alcohol, and tobacco, the use of drugs, etc., are to be had easily these days, and at a moderate price. With a reasonable amount of time and application to these subjects, good work can be done for the people without a medical education. Much is said in the Testimonies about the medical worker being able to do gospel work; but it must be remembered that much is also said as to the gospel worker’s being able to do health and temperance work. It is encouraging

that our Ministerial Reading Course this year contains a volume designed to supply some of this instruction.

Now, all that has been said as to the desirability of the minister being able to do medical work, applies as well to the Bible worker, and even more so; for she will have many an occasion to give the treatment as well as teach the principles of health. An especially ideal combination is the nurse who is a good Bible worker. Our schools and sanitariums ought to be turning out many Bible workers and nurses equipped for this combined service, for our evangelical work would be stronger if it could put into the field more true medical gospel workers.

Every public effort should have a liberal supply of health books, periodicals, and tracts for sale or to give away. These are to be displayed in a conspicuous place, and be in charge of some one who will push their distribution. Such literature makes excellent material for house-to-house work. We have some good tracts on alcohol, tobacco, and a variety of other subjects. Our Youth’s Instructor is a live publication along antinarcotic and antialcoholic lines, and Health and Temperance will be of more value for the summer’s campaign than ever before. The little book recently published, “The Shadow of the Bottle,” is receiving wide commendation and quick sales. All this ammunition ought to be used in the present season’s campaign.

The press may be used to a larger extent. The editor is coming to be more powerful than the orator, and this fact needs to be taken advantage of. Today witnesses more health and temperance and general social uplift work than ever before, and this makes it easier for our health principles to play the part of the entering wedge.

When all our workers engage in gospel ministry to both spiritual and physical needs of mankind, then will they find more abundant success. This was the Master’s method.

H. N. Sisco, M. D.