Extremism and Healthful Living by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 1, 1916

Extremism and Healthful Living

By Editor

WE decry extremism; we have little use for cranks or for those who make it their life mission to harp continually upon some one phase or feature of Christian experience. Of course it is always a question as to just what constitutes extremism. Sometimes those who consistently stand for truth are counted as belonging to this class. In this connection we wish to consider the term as applying to those doubtless well-meaning but misguided individuals who take some detail of truth and carry it in the forefront as their escutcheon of faith, making it the test of orthodoxy and of discipleship. This sort of extremism we should seek to avoid in our own experience, and to discourage in the experience of others. But after all, what about the evils in the church against which the extremists cry out? Are they real evils? and do they exist in our lives? These are questions to which we should give careful personal consideration.

SPECIAL light has been given this church on healthful living. Many are endeavoring to follow this light to the best of their ability, but many others we regret to say are giving little heed in their personal experience to this instruction. In many homes but little thought is given in the matter of diet to the question of food values, to proper food combinations and proportion of food elements, or to scientific cookery. It is enough that the food is made palatable, and this is too often accomplished by the use of spices and condiments. The occupants of these homes are often made the objects of criticism. While the criticism may be unkind and in part even unjustifiable, is it not well for these good brethren and sisters to consider whether or not they have given occasion for it; whether they have thrown their influence in harmony with the light and instruction which has come through the Spirit of prophecy, or whether by willing ignorance, apparent indifference, or real antagonism they have exerted an influence against that instruction? While extremism on the question of health reform ought to be decried by every member of the church, at the same time should we not see to it that the church, so far at least as we are concerned, is walking in the light which has been given? Our brethren have no right to sit as judges as to what we should eat and drink; but will not the Great Judge hold us responsible for the manner in which we relate ourselves to the light we have received?—Yea, verily.

Not long ago we heard the wife of one of our workers severely criticized because of her showy hat and lavish adornment in dress. The criticism was not made to her personally, as it should have been, but was expressed to others and passed about the church while she was entirely unconscious of the feeling of her brethren and sisters. This was surely an unkind way of dealing with the question; but notwithstanding this, was it not her duty to consider whether her dress was of a character to occasion criticism? In assuming the position of a worker for God, or in linking her life indissolubly with one who acted in that capacity, it was her duty to stand as an example to the church, and entirely fitting that the church should expect her to be an example. We cannot escape the responsibilities of holy office. When we occupy positions as teachers in our schools, as physicians in our sanitariums, as managers in our publishing houses, or as workers in the conference, it is right that our brethren should expect us to exemplify in our experience the instruction which has been given to this people. Indeed, if we are not willing to do this, then we may well consider whether we should occupy places of leadership. Hence, when we come to consider some of these questions so intimately related to Christian experience, we find that they have two sides. In saying this we do not wish to give one iota of comfort to the unwise agitators and gossips and critics who exist in the church. By these, truth is too often wounded in the house of its professed friends. We should admonish the one class to seek to labor with zeal balanced by knowledge, sound judgment, and heavenly discretion, and the other class against even a passive opposition, which virtually amounts to nullifying, as far as their influence extends, the instruction given for our careful following. Avoiding all extremes, let us seek to walk in the light of the Lord and obey him in all his requirements.