Ellen G White

ELLEN WHITE AND THE ADVENTIST HEALTH, FOOD AND DIET MESSAGE
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Ellen Gould White was an American author and founder of the Adventist church. The Adventists use the teachings of Ellen White in their daily activities. The messages revealed to her in the form of prophetic words. She has spoken on various issues in life, which include Holy Spirit, mode of dressing, diet, and other controversial topics in the Christian faith. Her teachings are as per the current Christian lives and are based on the Biblical teachings. Ellen’s instructions are regarded divine and referred to as the lesser light because the Bible is taken as to be the higher light. Her lessons are part of the 27 fundamental beliefs of the Adventist Church.
In December 1871, Ellen received a revelation on diet and foods. The message was meant to help the Christians get a better understanding of what God required of them regarding the nutrition and their health. She explained that the word on the diet and foods was very much in connection with the third angel’s message and compared it to the relationship between the body and the hand. It was supposed to symbolize the importance of the topic on Christians. Therefore, it was impossible to talk about the third angel’s message without talking about the issues of diet and health.
Ellen teaches that the fall of humankind as recorded in Genesis was due to insatiable appetite by Adam and Eve that made them give into Satan’s temptations to eat the forbidden fruit.

Therefore, Christians are made aware of the voracious appetite which is part of humankind but which must always be overcome through sacrifice and self-denial. The Christians must still be ready to sacrifice that which seems precious to them for the sake of their faith. Discernment is required in everyday life of a Christian, and therefore they should always be ready to discern that which is right for them to eat and that which is likely to compromise their belief.
God’s initial plan for man was that he should live in simplicity, eating simple foods that are helpful to his health as while at the Garden of Eden, He only provided man with fruits and vegetables. No meat was available for Adam and Eve because death was not part of God’s plan. The natural foods are therefore the best for our bodies. They are a source of nutrition for the human body. These fruits, vegetables, and grains require a simple preparation, which is God’s plan for the Christians. The fruits, for instance, do not need any preparation as they are best eaten raw. Therefore, the Christians should embrace the natural foods made available to them by God.
For the past few years, people have experienced many lifestyle diseases of which most of them are associated with the diet. These diseases include conditions such as diabetes, gout, high blood pressure among many others. It is clear that if man stuck to the natural foods that God provide for him, most of these diseases could be avoided. A lot of suffering has resulted for those who suffer these conditions. Many of them cannot be treated and can only be managed with medications, which make it expensive for anyone diagnosed with the conditions. The diseases were not part of God’s plan on humankind and had only come by because of people’s disobedience to consume what God provided to them. Therefore, simple foods are the breakthrough to fighting the disease associated with diet.
The foods eaten by Christians should be prepared in the simplest way possible to benefit the body. God has given us knowledge of the different ways to make our food. Our foods should only be cooked merely without adding fat. In this way, the food can benefit the body and keep it healthy.
Just like Daniel in the Bible who refused to indulge himself with the food from the king’s table, as Christians we should be able to sacrifice to keep a clear mind. When Daniel was offered the food from the King, he refused and insisted on sticking on his simple meals. After ten days, he was wiser and healthier than those who took the king’s food. God will always be there to keep us healthy when we stick to the simple foods that He provides for us. The simple menu also helps us to keep a clear mind and make the right decisions in our lives just as Daniel proved to be wiser after the ten days of consumption of simple foods.
When Jesus was preaching to a crowd of people, he used two fish and five loaves of bread to feed the people. It was a miracle, and Christ could have chosen to use any food to feed the people, but He chose to use simple food. Jesus’ action was meant to send a message to the people on the kind of foods that they should be taking. Even when going for camping, Ellen teaches that the food that the Adventists carry should be simple and should keep enough clothing to keep them warm and healthy. Ellen also lectures on the importance of warm food, and she teaches that to maintain health, the Christians should make sure that they warm their food before they take it.
The Christians should only take that which is enough for them. They should avoid taking too much that can make their brains to sleep. They need to be alert all the time, and this is only possible if they decide to take that which is enough for them. Those with more than enough should be ready to share with the needy in the society. In this way, they can get God’s blessings and keep their bodies healthy. The food should be used sparingly with minimum wastage. After feeding the five thousand people, Jesus instructed the disciples to collect the leftovers. It was a lesson to all that no food should be left to go to waste and should instead be used sparingly. We should not leave food to fill our litter bins but should always be ready to be kind with those who lack.
St. Paul teaches that human bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit. For the spirit of God to dwell in their bodies, Ellen explains that Christians should keep them away from all that can make them unholy. All the appetites that can lead to sin should be avoided. Christians should strive to keep off everything that corrupts their minds and bodies to make a house for the temple of God to dwell. The Holy Spirit is supposed to be their guide in all the decisions that they make. Therefore, it is essential that Christians keep their bodies away from that which can drive the spirit of God away.
Ellen explains the basis of hospitality to visitors through the story of Jesus. Jesus has gone to visit Mary and Martha at their home. When he got there, Martha got busy preparing something to eat for Jesus as Mary sat with Him listening to His teachings. At one time Martha even asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her in preparing something for him. Jesus then explained to Martha that Mary had chosen that which is good by choosing to sit with Him. The story was meant to teach the Christians that the purpose of the visitors is not to satisfy their appetites but share ideas and thoughts with their host’s so much emphasis should therefore not be put on the food but the interaction of the visitor with the host. Those who entertain visitors should offer them simple foods made of fruits, vegetables, and grains. The foods should be prepared in the simple way possible to give the host time to interact with the visitor. The simple food ensures that the visitor does not overburden the host with additional costs, which are unnecessary. The visitor should be given that which the host can afford and should be part of the host’s daily food. Ellen’s teachings are meant to ensure that the people do not go through too much strain in trying to entertain their hosts. The poor are also not obliged to provide expensive foods to their rich friends, as they are only required to give their visitors part of their daily diet. The supply of food on family tables should be that an unexpected visitor could be made comfortable without overburdening the host.
During gatherings, fashionable cooking should be avoided. During meetings, people tend to overeat more than which they require which only results in overburdening their bodies during digestion. The organs of the body are overloaded by the excess food, which is likely to result in unforeseen diseases caused by organ failures. Adventists should not be enslaved by fashion and should avoid expensive foods during their gatherings. Ellen teaches that this is to prevent overburdening the poor hosts with the unnecessary cooking of fancy food. The simplicity of food also ensures that the people who gather sticks to the purpose of their gathering.
Less attention should be given to food, and true fasting should be recommended to all Adventists. Fasting should involve keeping away from all the stimulating foods. Simple foods should be maintained during the fasting session to preserve the purpose of the fasting and avoid distractions. The goal of fasting is to give more focus to prayers, and this is only possible if simple foods that are prepared in the simplest way possible are maintained in the diet.
Our bodies are different, and therefore people should always be ready to keep away from that which the system refuses to take. Ellen appreciates the diversity of our bodies and the different complications that the people undergo. She teaches that when one realizes, that he or she is having problems with a particular type of food, they should be ready to change their diet to maintain their health and avoid causing harm to their bodies. For instance, lactose intolerant people should keep away from milk to ensure that they keep their good health. Discernment is, therefore, a virtue that the Adventists need when deciding what to consume.
Different countries have different foods, and people should learn to appreciate that which is available to them. God has blessed different regions with different foods, and all the Christians must benefit from that which is accessible to them. Different meals are also prepared in different ways, and the Christians should depend on God’s knowledge to guide them in the easiest ways to make their foods.
In Ellen’s teachings, she appreciates the diversity of our occupations and urges that those that take part in hard labor should take that which is enough to sustain their energy needs. Those who lead a sedentary life, however, should avoid taking too much because their energy requirement is not much. If too much is taken by those who do not require it, it may result in diseases associated with our lifestyle. Those working in construction sites, mines and other areas where a lot of energy is required should choose that food that can provide them with the much-needed energy.
Ellen teaches the physiology of our digestion. Our bodies are only able to digest just the amount of food that is sufficient for our bodies. Too much food in our system becomes poisonous to us. The food results in bloat that causes discomfort to our bodies and even affects our daily activities. The excess food tends to clog the digestive machinery and can only be gotten rid of without benefitting the body. The organs become overworked in disposing of the excess food, which later results in hunger without giving the body time to rest. Ellen advocates for exercise to those who lead a sedentary life. The training is meant to improve their digestion and even help improve their blood circulation. She advocates for a walk after a meal because it helps one appreciate the beauty of nature and God’s creation. The time of the meals is significant. Late suppers may result in a sleepless night. They are not healthy for the body. Fresh air should also be provided to ensure that there is sufficient oxygen needed for proper digestion. The air that goes to the lungs should be maintained clean to ensure that lack of adequate oxygen does not slow the absorption. Good eating habits will help make the heart healthy and keep the brains clear, which results in good spirits and appropriate decisions.
Despite their tight schedules, people ought to keep their bodies nourished. The busy people are always urged to find time to take their meals at the right times and amounts as good health should always be paramount. Too much work might make someone lose his or her appetites, and this should be avoided by still finding time to nourish their bodies. Food should be taken in slowly and appropriately masticated to benefit the body. Slowly eating food makes it easier for our bodies to digest it and make the most of it.
Stress results in loss of appetite and all that can cause depression should be avoided. Someone’s responsibilities are likely to get him or her depressed, and this should be avoided for the sake of maintaining his or her appetite and good health. At times the stressed mind can make people take too much as the brain tends to be self-centered. Depression is not good for health and should always be avoided by trusting in God for providence and even seeking advice on issues that are stressing.
Foods that poison our bodies should not be taken. In the Bible, Zachariah, who was John the Baptist’s father was approached by an angel who announced to him that his wife, Elizabeth would bear a child who would be filled with the spirit right from his birth. Zachariah was instructed that Elizabeth was not to take any wine because the child she carried was full of the Holy Spirit. The message was to ensure that Elizabeth kept her body clean because the Lord’s spirit was on her. In the same way, Christians should not take foods that make them unclean. When John was born, he lived a simple life feeding on locusts. It demonstrated humility, which helped him keep God’s spirit. Simple foods help remind us our purpose in God’s creation and help us stay faithful to his calling.
In conclusion, people, especially Christians, should take White’s advice regarding dies seriously because of the benefits they stand to gain from the same. As she advices, different foods are essential for a balanced diet. They provide different nutrients, and therefore it is vital to have different foods in our diets to ensure that we benefit from the various nutrients offered by them. Health is an integral part of life, and it was the reason that it was part of the third message by the angel. Healthy bodies will help Christians serve God better and keep a clear mind to help them make the right decisions and judgments.
Bibliography
White, Michael Thomas. Ellen G. White’s counsel to leaders in conflict. Andrews University, 2015.