Fellow Adventists, let’s talk—briefly and honestly.
We didn’t discover the health message; we systematized it. Long before Blue Zones were trendy, we were warning about sugar, preaching whole foods, and publishing longevity data. If this message truly sharpens the mind, strengthens discipline, and extends useful life, then a fair question follows: Why doesn’t it visibly shape our leadership?
This isn’t about looks. It’s about energy, clarity, credibility, and sustainability. Adventist leaders carry intense cognitive and emotional loads—committees, travel, stress, constant decision-making. If anyone needs the benefits we claim the health message provides, it’s them.
The problem isn’t ignorance; it’s translation. We often appreciate the health message without actually believing it. Belief changes behavior. Appreciation just nods along. We quote Ellen White while normalizing exhaustion, overwork, and lives powered by catered carbs and late nights. We affirm that lifestyle affects spirituality, then live as if prayer can override biology.
Somewhere along the way, we baptized burnout.
But the health message assumes limits, rhythms, rest, movement, and simplicity. It insists that God works with the body, not around it. Ignoring that isn’t sacrificial—it’s inconsistent.
Imagine leaders who model rest, simple eating, movement, and boundaries—not as vanity, but as stewardship. Healthier leaders listen better, react less defensively, and lead longer without burning out.
The most persuasive argument for the health message isn’t a seminar. It’s a leader whose life quietly works.
We have the data. We have the theology. We have the manual.
If we really believe it, it should show—especially at the top.
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