Ellen G. White: The Early Elmshaven Years: 1900-1905 (vol. 5)

Ministers and Teachers Imbibe the Intriguing Views

Ministers and physicians who had a high regard for Dr. Kellogg began to imbibe his philosophy and to develop it in their own work, not sensing the point to which it would lead. One such was Elder E. J. Waggoner, who was also a physician. He was at one time editor of the Signs of the Times and the man who, with Elder A. T. Jones was used mightily of God at the General Conference in 1888 to bring a reemphasis on the message of righteousness by faith. Elder Waggoner, one of the denomination's highly respected speakers, was repeatedly called upon at the time of General Conference sessions to conduct series of Bible studies. 5BIO 283.1

At the General Conference of 1899, held at South Lancaster, Massachusetts, Waggoner was a delegate from England, where he was engaged in editorial work. In a discussion of health and temperance, Elder Waggoner was asked to make a presentation of some things he had been giving to the Battle Creek Sanitarium family. He opened with the rather bold statement: 5BIO 283.2

I thank God, brethren, that the Lord has taught me something in the last few months, and enabled me to teach something of how to live forever.—Ibid., 1899, 53. 5BIO 283.3

He recognized that some would feel that this was fanaticism, but he denied this. He asked the question: 5BIO 283.4

What is it that gives us life, no matter who we are? It is the life of God. How many lives are there in the universe? There is but one life, and that is the life of God. What is the life of God given to us for? That we may live it. And how long is the life of God to endure? Through eternity. What does He let us have this life for? and why does He bear it with us, and with this whole world? That we may take the life that He has already given, and know that it is eternal life.—Ibid., 53. 5BIO 283.5

He was asked by someone in the audience, “Do you ever expect to be sick?” 5BIO 283.6

He answered, “No; I expect to live forever.”— Ibid. 5BIO 283.7

In his presentation, which carried over into the afternoon, Waggoner referred to man's first breath. He noted that the first thing a human being does when he comes into the world is to breathe. This is what happened in Adam's experience. God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and he became a living soul. Man breathes the breath of life into his nostrils eighteen times a minute. “Brethren,” declared Dr. Waggoner, “God is wonderfully near.”—Ibid., 57. 5BIO 284.1

Waggoner went on: 5BIO 284.2

When a man knows and recognizes that every breath he draws is a direct breathing of God into his nostrils, he lives in the presence of God, and has a Spirit-filled life.... Let a man breathe by faith, and he will be full of the Spirit of God.—Ibid., 58.

Continuing his discussion, the doctor introduced another illustration: 5BIO 284.3

When Paul was stung by a viper, those standing by thought he would die. But he did not. Why? There was a power, a life, to resist, was there not? 5BIO 284.4

We are continually breathing in germs. You cannot go on the street, at least in the cities, without breathing in germs of tuberculosis. But we do not all have tuberculosis. We may be exposed to typhoid fever, and yet escape.... Why? Because, you say, there was a vitality to resist. 5BIO 284.5

But what is it that swallows up these germs? It is the life of God.— Ibid. 5BIO 284.6

The air is God's medicine, and good food is God's medicine. There is power, life, in the pure water, because God's life is in it.— Ibid. 5BIO 284.7

He went on to discuss the matter of bread: 5BIO 284.8

What do we put into the ground when we want corn? We plant the seed.... Now when you have a handful of good seed, that seed has the life of God in it.... When this is made into bread, life is in it still. We do not see the life, but it is there, and it is the life of God. It is His body, and we take His body and get life.— Ibid.

Someone in the audience asked, “Is the life of God in the bread?” 5BIO 285.1

“Yes,” Dr. Waggoner answered. 5BIO 285.2

The questioner asked further: “What is the difference, then, between this and the position taken by the priest?” 5BIO 285.3

To this Waggoner gave a rather devious answer, claiming that they were “diametrically opposite” (Ibid.). 5BIO 285.4

Dr. Kellogg, in giving a report a day or two later on the design of sanitariums, reiterated these concepts: 5BIO 285.5

As Dr. Waggoner was telling you the other day, we never eat anything good, but we are tasting God. It is a sacred thing to eat. This grows out of the fact that God is in everything.—Ibid., 1899, 119. 5BIO 285.6

At this same meeting Dr. Daniel H. Kress spoke of the marvelous work in the healing of a wound: 5BIO 285.7

The Lord is constantly at work. God works in us, constantly building up, repairing waste, and healing all manner of diseases. “I am the Lord which healeth thee.” But in addition to the fact that God is in every man, we must recognize that He is in everything—the food we eat, the air we breathe. These are a means of ministering life to man.—Ibid., 120. 5BIO 285.8