NEWSTART-CC Program: Temperance
By Dr. Delfin R. Hernandez Jr.
📷📷Temperance- Using good things moderately and avoiding the bad is obviously wise, yet often hard to practice. Temperance can be neither bought nor earned, but is rather an important gift of God, a “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22, 23). Moderation in all things is a thread woven throughout the fabric of NEWSTART Lifestyle programs. In this program, all parents are encouraged to avoid vices and other evil habits and sessions and practice moderation in everything.
📷Temperance lexically means as moderation or voluntary self-restraint. It is typically described in terms of what an individual voluntarily refrains from doing. It is also defined as habitual moderation in the indulgence of a natural appetite or passion, especially in the use of alcoholic liquors- total abstinence from alcoholic liquors. Here are the prescribed health practices in temperance:
o Parents do not smoke cigarette of any kind. They believe that smoking is very dangerous to their health.
o They do not drink liquor. Drinking alcohol has adverse effect to their health.
o They do not go to cabaret, beer houses, sex saloon, or any questionable places of immorality.
o They do not take forbidden drugs or any chemicals that adversely affect their health.
o They avoid drinking energy drinks or caffeinated drinks or any stimulant drinks that adversely affect their nervous system.
o They do not overwork nor underwork. They work moderately.
o 📷They avoid reading silly and immoral readings nor watching scenes that may stimulate their thinking to be sexually maniac or commit immorality.
o They do not consume junk foods nor drink cola drinks filled with so much sugar and chemicals.
o They avoid as much as possible gambling or any forms of gambling.
o They avoid activities that consume their time on futile things which are not productive for good.
o They control their temper. They are meek and slow to anger. They avoid to speak evil.
o 📷They think first before they act. They consider first the possible consequences that may happen if they do such thing. They study first before acting on such choices of decision.
o They avoid eating too much salt or food with more synthetic, poisonous additives.
o They avoid too much sweet or anything beyond moderation.
o They consider that everything must be done in moderation. Too much is dangerous.
o They avoid all shades of evil. They do all they can to shun evil and choose what is right.
Ellen G. White says "True temperance teaches us to dispense entirely with everything that is hurtful, and to use judiciously that which is healthful."—Patriarchs and Prophets. p. 562.
📷It should be realized that true temperance includes the intelligent use of all that is beneficial to body, mind, and soul. Thus temperance leaves the mere realm of restraint and enters the sphere of positive action. There cannot be room for any activity which might in its action or tendency be detrimental to the physical, mental, or spiritual health of the individual. And even beyond the restrictive, every healthful practice must be incorporated into the daily life in right amounts to be of the utmost benefit. (ministrymagazine.org.)
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