Megalungs Health Week - Friday

Peter Jeynes

Trusting in Divine Power

“Dear friends, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”

You have heard two of our speakers close the evening meetings with that phrase. For a change I have opened the meeting – with that verse from the Bible.

It’s only natural, of course that I should want you to be healthy – because of course you’d feel pretty upset if I said to you, “I wish you ill will and painful sores.”

No, we want the best for ourselves and others.

We have been talking about good health and addressing the issue of how to create the conditions for good health.

The basic advice has been – simple diet and a simple lifestyle based on whole foods. That obviously means that we would be suggesting the avoidance of processed foods.

Frozen peas are good, they aren’t processed. Canned beans in water are fine – they aren’t processed. A nice vegetable curry is likely to contain all sorts of things we might not expect. Salts, sugar, preservatives, colourings.

Taking dietary supplements is also not the route to good health. If you need Omega oils, or extra vitamins or essential vitamins – in the case of normal healthy people – we shouldn’t need the extras.

We should cut down on fats – but we shouldn’t avoid all fats – the body does need fats.

I liked the way that Edgar put it last night – eat lots of coloured vegetables that are high in nutrients and low in calorie content.

Justina effectively gave the same advice – as did Doctor Mabeza on Monday.

Our good Doctor added a little more as he gave the ingredients for a healthy lifestyle that can easily be gleaned as he described the Blue Zones for us.

The ‘Blue Zones’ are 5 areas of the world that have a large number of people who tend to live long, healthy and active lifestyles.

Included in that group are the Seventh-day Adventists from Loma Linda in California.

They are an important group as they are the one heterogeneous group studied. The Adventists are just Californians. They come from many racial groups. What defines them is not good genetics but a good lifestyle.

We could then add to the good diet the following things that you need for a long, healthy, happy and active life – a community lifestyle which included a whole lifestyle that included physical activity throughout life.

With that quick survey I want to add something else about those Adventists. They set out to attain a good lifestyle with a plan.

Edgar outlined that plan, or at least a part of the plan, as he gave us that NEWSTART acronym.

The final element of the plan is to trust in God.

When we set out to plan this series we wanted to be able to be able to defend our decisions by saying that we have proof about this, that or the other.

We didn’t want to say, “I think this” or “the speaker I heard about said” .. we ought to be able to give a scientific background.

Some might suggest that we shouldn’t have to depend on science.

My wife and I have a friend in Lincoln whose name is Efty – she is Greek and so her full name is Eftichia. If she were a man her name would be Eftihus – and that is a good Bible name – that we often pronounce as Eutychus – but should be pronounced as Eftihus.

She comes from a town called Verea – which we know in the Bible as Berea.

The Christians in that town were commended because they tested things out – they checked out what they read.

It’s good to check things out. We should check out people’s statements – the Bible affirms that.

I have a friend who sends me emails that give me various warnings.

One such warning told me that if I received a mail from a certain company I could earn a lot of money if I clicked on the link they gave.

What do you do when you get such advice?

You trust the email and click on the link?

No – your common sense tells you that you would be scammed.

You could, of course, check the source out. You check it out with a Google search and are told that this scam has been running for so many years and that it is a hoax – or worse.

When we started this series out we wanted you to be able to check out what we say.

So how on earth do we check out if a Trust in God actually helps your health? Is there any scientific evidence – or should we just accept that for good health we should just trust in God?

Jonathan Gallagher used to work at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in the area of public relations.

He was asked to write about Ellen White’s understanding of faith – and chose to discuss intelligent faith.

He writes this,

“As a way of describing her understanding of what faith should be in relationship to thought and evidence Ellen White frequently uses the term “intelligent faith.” He quotes this from our Victorian writer – whose authority we trust,

““‘…Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.’ Here is a test which all may apply if they will. None need be left in uncertainty and doubt.

There is always sufficient evidence upon which to base an intelligent faith. But God will never remove from any man all occasion for doubts. Those who love to dwell in the atmosphere of doubt and questioning unbelief can have the unenviable privilege. He who turns from the weight of evidence because there are a few things that he cannot make plain to his finite understanding, will be left to the cold, chilling atmosphere of unbelief and skepticism, and will make shipwreck of faith.”

Signs of the Times, December 30, 1886.  Article entitled “Intelligent Faith.”

Our writer doesn’t define the evidence – but if I tell you that it is good to exercise you can come back to me with the scientific evidence that this is so.

If I tell you that a vegetarian diet is a good thing to follow then you can come back to me with scientific evidence – no problem.

Can you measure the effect of trusting God and the effect on health?

The Huffington Post, read HERE is

I noted this quote from the article ..

“The relationship between prayer and health has been the subject of scores of double-blind studies over the past four decades. Dr. Herbert Benson, a cardiovascular specialist at Harvard Medical School and a pioneer in the field of mind/ body medicine discovered what he calls "the relaxation response," which occurs during periods of prayer and meditation. At such times, the body's metabolism decreases, the heart rate slows, blood pressure goes down, and our breath becomes calmer and more regular.

This physiological state is correlated with slower brain waves, and feelings of control, tranquil alertness and peace of mind. This is significant because Benson estimates that over half of all doctor visits in the U.S. today are prompted by illnesses, like depression, high blood pressure, ulcers and migraine headaches, that are caused at least in part by elevated levels of stress and anxiety.”

Do we trust the Huffington Post?

We would actually need to check that out – as you can’t neccesarily trust a journalist – especially if he or she is saying something you want to agree with.

It’s at this point I have to pour a bit of cold water on this effort to prove Trusting in God affects health positively.

You see you will have read a number of articles in Christian magazines and seen reports on 3ABN, a major Christian satellite TV station saying that there is a link between prayer and health.

These quotes all come from one source. If they had read a little further they might have noted that the research is doubtful and was not done scientifically.

Wikipedia has a whole lot of writing saying that there is no absolute proof that prayer helps. There is a fair bit of research on prayer, at least $5,000,000 worth – but no definitive proof.

So you are thinking, “Our Pastor is letting us down.”

No – give me a chance. I’m letting you know the importance of checking things out – and the need to not just believe because it is easy to do that.

You then need to look a little deeper – because all I have mentioned is that prayer affects healing.

Neil Nedley is a Seventh-day Adventist Doctor – he really does believe that trusting in God affects our health. Dr. Nedley is well known and writes giving checkable references for what he produces. Not all of the health writers do that.

This is a sample of what he writes ..

“One fascinating study looked at the religious experience of those Americans who reached the golden age of 100. Among the centenarians, the researchers found that religiosity significantly enhanced physical health. Although there are still many unanswered questions, the benefits of trust in God are due to more than simply attending religious services.Furthermore, the far-reaching benefits of faith seem to transcend age and racial boundaries. A recent study of black Americans found that those who engaged in organized religious activities had improved health and life satisfaction.Even those who engaged in religious pursuits outside of an organizational structure experienced this boost in satisfaction. Indeed, one of the most consistent findings—across racial groups—is that spirituality profoundly improves quality of life

The internet article goes on – and has lots of proper scientific references - which you can check up in the book the article is based on. You can check out exactly what he writes.

Is it important to check up on health advice?

A few years back one health speaker encouraged people to boil rice for at least 60 minutes until it is edible. No references - oh, and no taste or texture to the rice either. Nor could the writer say why this was the healthy way to cook rice. Your job is to ask me if I can give references to that. I can.

For me trusting in God does have an effect on my health.

On Tuesday Justina was asked a very direct question.

“What should I do when I get sick?”

The question is important. It came from a healthy person. Healthy people do get sick.

Our health message fits us to stay well – but doesn’t guarantee that we won’t get ill.

I eat healthily, I exercise, I take part in group activities. I have high blood pressure and my eyesight is poor.

What should we do when we get ill?

One, Justina, said, “We are to trust in God first and ask Him for healing.”

I believe in that. I have done that. I have experienced it and have performed that for those in need of healing. It works.

However after that I’m always going to make sure my Doctor knows I am unwell and I’m going to listen to His advice.

A recent series of articles have come from some of the Pentecostal churches. A few of their Pastors are saying that people who have been prayed for should simply trust in God, know that they are healed and stop taking medicine.

That is presumption.

Trust in God for healing and health does not mean we do not need medicines. Trusting in God doesn’t mean that we can neglect basic health care – we would always want to continue to work on the preventative level.

Our sensible nutrition, sensible exercise, the free use of water internally and externally, sensible exposure to the sun’s healthy rays, temperance in all things, breathing clean fresh air, sensible amounts of rest and relaxation as well as our trust in God are norms for our life.

To then think we might avoid the use of medicines is, sorry, a foolishness.

I wear glasses. My eyesight is appalling and getting worse. If I take off my glasses to show my trust in God – I would have to walk home and risk bumping into the odd lamp post.

I have friends who are type 1 diabetics. No insulin – early grave.

I know people who have cystic fibrosis. If they don’t take their multitude of pills their digestion goes wrong, they end up with a massive pseudomonas infection – they die.

A broken leg does not heal healthily simply with a prayer.

Extreme pain does not leave when we pray. Anaesthetic gases are there for a reason.

Trust in God – doesn’t mean we need not take our pills, potions or use the many excellent remedies that God, in His wisdom has provided for us through scientific research.

I have to end now.

Trusting in God is most definitely the way to go.

A wise man was once accosted with the suggestion that answers to prayer are simply a matter of coincidence.

His reply was this, “when I pray things happen. When I don’t pray – things don’t happen.”