Christian Behavior and Health
As taught in the Seventh-day Adventist tradition
The call to holistic holiness, including the health message as the 'right arm' of the gospel.
In the Seventh-day Adventist tradition, the question of how a Christian should live—what they should eat, how they should treat their body, and what they should allow into their mind—is not a matter of peripheral ethics or cultural preference. It is a question of "Sanctuary theology." The subtopic of Christian Behavior and Health answers a fundamental inquiry: How does the reality of Christ’s current ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary transform the daily, physical existence of the believer on earth? To the Adventist, the body is not merely a vessel for the soul, nor is health a hobby for the disciplined; rather, the body is the "living temple" (antitypical to the Hebrew Tabernacle) where the Holy Spirit seeks to dwell.
By the end of this lesson
- **Identify** the theological link between the cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary and the "cleansing" of the human body temple in Adventist thought.
- **Distinguish** between the Adventist "Wholistic" view of human nature and the traditional "Dualistic" view (body vs. soul) that often leads to the neglect of physical health.
- **Explain** how the laws of health are considered moral obligations within the context of the Third Angel’s Message and the preparation for the Second Coming.
- **Articulate** the biblical basis for abstinence from harmful substances (alcohol, tobacco, unclean meats) based on the "Temple" motif of the New Testament.
- **Trace** the historical development of the Adventist Health Reform movement from the 1863 vision to contemporary medical missions.
- **Defend** the practice of "Mental Hygiene" using Philippians 4:8 as a filter for modern media, entertainment, and social interaction.
- **Apply** the "NEWSTART" principles to a daily personal routine as a form of spiritual worship and service.
- **Compare** the Adventist perspective on the "Sanctity of Life" and the body with mainstream Christian views that may view health as a secondary or optional matter.
Scripture
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