Principles & Practice of Health Evangelism
Chapter 26
Health Evangelism Revitalized
Textbook pages 264-274
Seventh-day Adventists are certain about several things. The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord our God. Jesus is coming soon. This gospel will be preached in all the earth and then the end will come.
We have a health message. Those who live it are the healthiest people in the world. Healthful living will be a prominent component of the restoration promised to those who trust Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
We are challenged by this quote of Ellen White.
Troublous time are upon us now and we anticipate that things will be getting worse in the future. Some envision health evangelism as being the last limited avenue of service open to us at some time in the future when other avenues of witnessing are closed.
I prefer to think of health evangelism as a superior form of witnessing. Health evangelism has a practical health producing quality that demonstrates that what we say works. Health evangelism reveals Jesus as the power who saves physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Health evangelism is scientifically accurate when wisely using data from studies done in populations from around the world, which has thoroughly validated the inspired prophetic ministry of Ellen G. White. Health evangelism rejects false methods of healing.
Natural science operates within the limits of intrinsic human capabilities. Health evangelism goes beyond an individual’s capacity for behavior change. It adds evangelism to science. It points to the Creator of science who has power over all the elements of nature and power over His submissive needy creatures who reach beyond themselves for help.
Health evangelism offends human pride. It takes the frustrated, unsatisfied, failing person away from the modern, shining towers of science and places him in the often-mundane local church. The church which in the end is the only home Christians have in this world. The church that is the theater of God’s grace.
Health evangelism utilizes unlikely practitioners for behavioral intervention, church members who themselves suffered from the same habits, and addictions as those who come for help. These examples prove the effectiveness of the offered cure.
If God is effectively changing those who are as weak and prone to failure as I am, then there is hope for me too. Every church member has something to do, encouragement to give, prayers to offer, availability when needed, friends to make, love to share, but most of all an example of righteous living to live.
Health evangelism works by simple means. God’s methods are always simple. Prayer works. There is a flood of assurances in God’s word not found in all the self-help books. Divine behavioral therapy is a more effective tool than cognitive behavioral therapy. There is more help outside yourself than you will ever find by looking for power within yourself.
Health evangelism requires individual effort. Success is not found in a pill a practitioner prescribes for you, or in surgery performed on you. You need to be the one to act in your own behalf. The steps that always stumbled before will now step successfully toward your goal. God will enable you to achieve not fail.
Health evangelism really works. The testimonies of victory day by day and week by week encourage all others in the struggle. The success of one becomes the success of another.
Health evangelism results in new convictions. That the God of health evangelism is the only God. Old prejudices are abandoned, old creeds forsaken. It is not reasoning, it is not teaching, but experience that creates these new convictions. I now know for certain what transforms and what doesn’t, what saves and what doesn’t.
Health evangelism generates gratitude. You are thankful because you have received and continue to receive God’s help. You have received help you could find nowhere else. The profound gift prompts profound gratitude.
Health evangelism inspires worship. Your whole being is so flooded with gratitude to God. It prompts questions, “What do you believe in your church?” which is code for “I want to know more about this God who changes me.”
Health evangelism is an economical enterprise. It changes more lives for less money than any other form of witnessing. Health evangelism purifies the church. Church members shape-up or ship-out.
Health evangelism will be realized for the evangelistic powerhouse it is when data collection and analysis are valued. We are members of a skeptical church power structure that is data driven but is also responsive to the leading of the Holy Spirit especially when bolstered by supporting numbers.
Health evangelism has many proponents but has suffered from limited success or outright failure when the vision was flawed, and essential elements were missing.
I believe that health evangelism will be the last viable witnessing modality remaining when the church is limited in its witnessing by governmental restraint. But I believe that health evangelism can rather immediately become the superior form of evangelistic endeavor. This will occur once it is organized and implemented in the way that it was intended to be conducted.
May God help us work for ourselves and others in the ways He intended. Even so come Lord Jesus.
We have a health message. Those who live it are the healthiest people in the world. Healthful living will be a prominent component of the restoration promised to those who trust Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
We are challenged by this quote of Ellen White.
- “I wish to tell you that soon there will be no work done in ministerial lines but medical missionary work.” General Conference Bulletin, April 12, 1901 par. 21
Troublous time are upon us now and we anticipate that things will be getting worse in the future. Some envision health evangelism as being the last limited avenue of service open to us at some time in the future when other avenues of witnessing are closed.
I prefer to think of health evangelism as a superior form of witnessing. Health evangelism has a practical health producing quality that demonstrates that what we say works. Health evangelism reveals Jesus as the power who saves physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Health evangelism is scientifically accurate when wisely using data from studies done in populations from around the world, which has thoroughly validated the inspired prophetic ministry of Ellen G. White. Health evangelism rejects false methods of healing.
Natural science operates within the limits of intrinsic human capabilities. Health evangelism goes beyond an individual’s capacity for behavior change. It adds evangelism to science. It points to the Creator of science who has power over all the elements of nature and power over His submissive needy creatures who reach beyond themselves for help.
Health evangelism offends human pride. It takes the frustrated, unsatisfied, failing person away from the modern, shining towers of science and places him in the often-mundane local church. The church which in the end is the only home Christians have in this world. The church that is the theater of God’s grace.
Health evangelism utilizes unlikely practitioners for behavioral intervention, church members who themselves suffered from the same habits, and addictions as those who come for help. These examples prove the effectiveness of the offered cure.
If God is effectively changing those who are as weak and prone to failure as I am, then there is hope for me too. Every church member has something to do, encouragement to give, prayers to offer, availability when needed, friends to make, love to share, but most of all an example of righteous living to live.
Health evangelism works by simple means. God’s methods are always simple. Prayer works. There is a flood of assurances in God’s word not found in all the self-help books. Divine behavioral therapy is a more effective tool than cognitive behavioral therapy. There is more help outside yourself than you will ever find by looking for power within yourself.
Health evangelism requires individual effort. Success is not found in a pill a practitioner prescribes for you, or in surgery performed on you. You need to be the one to act in your own behalf. The steps that always stumbled before will now step successfully toward your goal. God will enable you to achieve not fail.
Health evangelism really works. The testimonies of victory day by day and week by week encourage all others in the struggle. The success of one becomes the success of another.
Health evangelism results in new convictions. That the God of health evangelism is the only God. Old prejudices are abandoned, old creeds forsaken. It is not reasoning, it is not teaching, but experience that creates these new convictions. I now know for certain what transforms and what doesn’t, what saves and what doesn’t.
Health evangelism generates gratitude. You are thankful because you have received and continue to receive God’s help. You have received help you could find nowhere else. The profound gift prompts profound gratitude.
Health evangelism inspires worship. Your whole being is so flooded with gratitude to God. It prompts questions, “What do you believe in your church?” which is code for “I want to know more about this God who changes me.”
Health evangelism is an economical enterprise. It changes more lives for less money than any other form of witnessing. Health evangelism purifies the church. Church members shape-up or ship-out.
Health evangelism will be realized for the evangelistic powerhouse it is when data collection and analysis are valued. We are members of a skeptical church power structure that is data driven but is also responsive to the leading of the Holy Spirit especially when bolstered by supporting numbers.
Health evangelism has many proponents but has suffered from limited success or outright failure when the vision was flawed, and essential elements were missing.
I believe that health evangelism will be the last viable witnessing modality remaining when the church is limited in its witnessing by governmental restraint. But I believe that health evangelism can rather immediately become the superior form of evangelistic endeavor. This will occur once it is organized and implemented in the way that it was intended to be conducted.
May God help us work for ourselves and others in the ways He intended. Even so come Lord Jesus.