“A healthy lifestyle has been an important part of the beliefs of the Adventist Church since its early years and remains so. We are still committed to live, share, and promote healthy living as expressed by the holistic Adventist health message entrusted to the Church. The Adventist health studies have confirmed the unequivocal benefits of increased longevity and quality of life through implementing such health practices.”
“These include a balanced vegetarian diet, exercise, drinking adequate volumes of water, regular exercise, careful exposure to sunshine, fresh air, abstaining from alcohol, tobacco, and other harmful substances, adequate rest and sleep, and importantly, trust in God. These practices enhance and maintain healthy immunity. Beyond those benefits of healthy lifestyle principles and preventive public health practices, the Church affirms and recommends the responsible use of vaccines as an important public health measure, especially during a pandemic. At the same time, the Church respects the rights of individuals’ freedom of choice for those who choose not to be vaccinated.”
“It is important to care for one another, taking others into account in our practices. This includes the prevention of the spread of deadly disease and, in considering the vaccine or not, having love for one another and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Then, together, we may move forward in faith, ‘bearing with one another in love’ and heeding Heaven’s counsel: ‘Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace’ (Ephesians 4:2, 3). Christ calls us to not be afraid and to place our assurance in Him as nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:31-39).”
(Excerpts from the communiqué of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s World Leadership Forum[1])
ST.network is a Seventh-day Adventist Church project that seeks to meet the concerns and questions its readers consider important from a Christian perspective on life. Time has shown that some of the most interesting topics for ST readers are religion and spirituality, health, education, family, and society.
At ST.network we have collected a series of evidence-based answers from professionals to some of the most frequently asked questions in the context of the pandemic crisis we are facing, including spiritual concerns. ST.network has already published a large collection of COVID-19-related articles since the beginning of the pandemic, which have been read by a record number of readers. They can be found in this dedicated section, which continues to be updated with new materials.
The following medical articles have been reviewed by Cristian Apetrei, MD, PhD, Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA, and by Costel Atanasiu, PhD, postdoctoral fellow at The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA.