FALSE TEACHING # 8: VEGETARIANISM
Ellen White warned against eating meat and promoted vegetarianism.
“Among those who are waiting for the coming of the Lord, meat eating will eventually be done away; flesh will cease to form a part of their diet. We should ever keep this end in view, and endeavor to work steadily toward it. I cannot think that in the practice of flesh eating we are in harmony with the light which God has been pleased to give us. All who are connected with our health institutions especially should be educating themselves to subsist on fruits, grains, and vegetables” (Ellen White, Counsels on Diet and Foods, pp. 380-81).
“Let not any of our ministers set an evil example in the eating of flesh-meat. Let them and their families live up to the light of health reform. Let not our ministers animalize their own nature and the nature of their children” (Ellen White, Spalding and Magan, p. 211).
This teaching was part of White’s health program, which she claimed was given to her by divine revelation in 1863.
Today the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist’s Nutrition Council recommends abstaining from meat, fish, coffee, and tea.
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS
Here we will only deal with the issue of vegetarianism. From Adam to Noah, men were vegetarians, stemming from God’s command in Genesis 1:29-30, but after the flood, men were instructed to eat meat as well as vegetables (Genesis 9:3). Under the Law of Moses, the nation Israel continued to eat meat, and some animals were designated clean and others unclean. The Lord Jesus Christ lived under the law as a Jew and followed the Mosaic dietary system. He was not a vegetarian. We know that He ate fish (Lk. 24:42-43) and He ate lamb, which was required during the Passover (Exodus 12:6-8).
There are only three teachings about diet in the New Testament.
First, Peter was taught that the Old Testament dietary restrictions are no longer in effect for the New Testament believer (Acts 10:9-16). The truth of this was emphasized in that the command to rise, kill, and eat was repeated three times. This passage single-handedly refutes the following claims: that the Mosaic dietary restrictions are in force in the New Testament churches, that the Mosaic dietary restrictions were for health purposes (if that were true, God would have kept them in force), that eating meat is unhealthy, that vegetarianism is a superior program, and that is cruel to kill animals.
Second, we are taught that in the New Testament dispensation diet is entirely a matter of personal liberty (Romans 14:1-6) and we are not to judge others in such matters (Romans 14:13).
Third, we have a warning about those who teach against eating meat (1 Timothy 4:1-6) and we are told that to require a vegetarian diet is a doctrine of devils. This one heresy is sufficient to mark Ellen White as a heretic who was under the control of the Devil.
To go beyond the Bible’s clear teaching in this matter and to create dietary programs that purport to have a scriptural basis and or to be derived from extra-biblical prophecy or otherwise to have divine approval is heresy.
The New Testament plainly states that “every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:4-5).
Thus, according to Scripture, diet in this dispensation is a personal and individual matter. Each person is different, with his own metabolism, taste, culture, lifestyle, health, and occupation; and diet must be determined on this basis and not on some plan purporting to be from the Bible.
I am not saying that all diets are equally healthy; I am merely saying that there is no one diet that is required by the Bible, and vegetarianism is certainly not upheld by Scripture.
The writer of Hebrews warned:
“Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein” (Heb. 13:9).
Salvation and spirituality are not determined by what you eat but by whether or not you have submitted to the gospel of Christ’s grace. A doctrine of meats or special diet is a strange and unscriptural doctrine!
In spite of her own teaching against eating meat, which she claimed was based on a vision she had in 1863, Ellen White continued eating meat most of her life. This is documented extensively in “Oysters and Herrings” by M. Chugg and D. Anderson,http://www.ellenwhiteexposed.com/contra6.htm.
these false teachings of SDA are The Signs of The Times………..
Great information, I just bookmarked this.
What a great resource!
pliz i need more info on all sda lies,as im also in this system, but now i have many questions.
i want 2 clear all of these doubts.
I will be glad to point you to the Word of God for the answers
Your paper is somewhat slanted. The truth is that modern research is clearly showing the advantages of a plant based diet, and since God made the laws by which our bodies operate, that would certainly suggest that Christians look in that direction. Secondly, the fact that meat was given to Noah is obviously the result of the flood and the destruction of vegetation. The fact that Jesus ate fish or the passover meal does not advocate a regular meat diet. Daniel 1 is strongly suggestive of a vegetarian diet. I Cor. 10:31 tells us that we should eat and drink to the glory of God, and Romans 12:1-2 tells us that we should present our bodies a living sacrifice. God wants us to use our heads. If Vegetarianism is a healthy diet, we should follow it. Secondly, you take the EGW quote out of context. She is speaking to people to whom God has convicted on the subject, due to the increasing diseased condition of meat and animals. Certainly, then, people should listen. Do you think God is taking rebellious people to heaven? I certainly do not.
Also, Romans 14 is about meat or foods sacrificed to idols. It is not saying that diet is totally a personal matter. God holds us accountable for our care for our bodies, and “junk” food is not food, and we should not eat it. You completely misuse the vision to Peter. He was given inspiration that the POINT was not to consider PEOPLE common ( Jewish category ) or unclean. It was not doing away with avoiding unhealthy and unclean animals. They still are bad for us. Dietary principles are not Mosaic. They are good sense
Romans 14:2-3 says “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. ” Once you start teaching that a person must be a vegetarian it is false doctrine! Romans 12:1-2 is not talking about our fleshly bodies. (the flesh profiteth nothing! John 6:63) but speaking in a spiritual sense.
I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with eating better. I do. And also workout. There is just NO scriptural basis to say one must be a vegetarian to be right with God. Your statement proves my point. Not one verse mentioned just opinion.