Is Vegetarianism a Salvation Issue for Seventh-day Adventists?

Recently the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist church held a week long conference on Health in Geneva, Switzerland attended by 1,150 health leaders from around the world. In the keynote address delivered on Sabbath July 12, 2014, Church President Elder Ted Wilson made a strong appeal for the importance of vegetarianism as part of our health reform message. Within his presentation he made reference to the controversial nature of this subject as it is well known that more and more S.D.A.’s around the world are unreformed flesh eaters and that the opposition to health reform, vegetarianism in particular, is growing. He specifically mentioned incidents where he has been maligned as a “fanatic” for defending his views and practices.

Wilson noted: “I want to tell you I feel sad when I hear of places that think that because you talk about healthy living, you’re a fanatic; if you talk about the sanctuary service, and its completeness, and the righteousness of Jesus, that you are some kind of a quack; if you talk of Jesus’ soon return, that you are a fanatic; if you talk about promoting the values in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, that you belong in another century.

“I want to tell you brothers and sisters: The principles in God’s Word and the Spirit of Prophecy are as fresh today as they were when they were written,” he said, drawing loud “amens” from the audience.

Let us look at some of the statements from the Spirit of Prophecy that make reference to flesh eating and determine for ourselves if it is a salvation issue, a subject that Elder Wilson did not delve into and of utmost importance for all professed Seventh-day Adventists (S.D.A.’s). This is especially relevant to the church body as a whole since, as the ANN report stated, “studies suggest that nearly half of North American Adventists are vegetarians, but many believers in other parts of the world such as South America and the former Soviet Union eat meat, and some have resolutely resisted change.” So one must wonder, what will be the fate of those who continue to disregard these inspired counsels and eat as they please making their bellies their god?

Those Preparing for Translation

“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.” — Counsels on Diets and Food, p. 380.4 (also Counsels on Health, p. 450)

“Moral principle, strictly carried out, becomes the only safeguard of the soul. If ever there was a time when the diet should be of the most simple kind, it is now. Meat should not be placed before our children. Its influence is to excite and strengthen the lower passions, and has a tendency to deaden the moral powers. Grains and fruits prepared free from grease, and in as natural a condition as possible, should be the food for the tables of all who claim to be preparing for translation to heaven. The less feverish the diet, the more easily can the passions be controlled. Gratification of taste should not be consulted irrespective of physical, intellectual, or moral health.” — Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 2, p. 352

“I have stated before them that, from what was shown me, but a small number of those now professing to believe the truth would eventually be saved–not because they could not be saved, but because they would not be saved in God’s own appointed way. The way marked out by our divine Lord is too narrow and the gate too strait to admit them while grasping the world or while cherishing selfishness or sin of any kind.” — Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 2, p. 445

“I was shown that the work of health reform has scarcely been entered upon yet…. There seems to be in them a heart of unbelief, and as this reform restricts the lustful appetite, many shrink back. They have other gods before the Lord. Their taste, their appetite, is their god, and when the ax is laid at the root of the tree, and those who have indulged their depraved appetites at the expense of health are touched, their sin pointed out, their idols shown them, they do not wish to be convinced; and although God’s voice should speak directly to them to put away those health-destroying indulgences, some would still cling to the hurtful things which they love. They seem joined to their idols, and God will soon say to His angels, Let them alone. . . . I saw that we as a people must make an advance move in this great work. Ministers and people must act in concert. God’s people are not prepared for the loud cry of the third angel. They have a work to do for themselves which they should not leave for God to do for them. He has left this work for them to do.” — Counsels on Health, p. 453

Comments: In just these few passages we see that the work of health reform within the church has scarcely been entered upon. Few S.D.A.’s realize the important of letting health reform be progressive and striving to eat the original diet God designed for man. This is becoming quite apparent as the world is increasingly waking up to the dangers of not only consuming animal flesh, but along other forms of contaminated food such as genetically modified organisms (GMO’s), non organic foods containing pesticides, growth hormones, and hundreds of synthetic chemicals not designed for human consumption. It appears only a small number of professed S.D.A.’s will choose to be saved in God’s appointed way.

Who are Those Preparing for Translation from the S.D.A. Church?

Elder Wilson did not address the details of who it actually is that are going to be translated vegan vegetarians from the Seventh-day Adventist Church and make ready to give the Loud Cry of the three angels messages when they are to be repeated with power and force. If he would come forth and proclaimed that it is the 144,000 who are the ones who will be fitted up for not only translation, but to proclaim the Loud Cry after the church is purified he would have been not only be called a fanatic but he would have been quickly branded the ultimate heretic for teaching the Shepherd’s Rod message! Please examine the study outline on the sealing of the 144,000 that will provide more details.

A Time will Come to Even do Away with All Animal Products

“Let the diet reform be progressive. Let the people be taught how to prepare foods without the use of milk or butter. Tell them that the time will soon come when there will be no safety using eggs, milk, cream, or butter, because disease in animals is increasing in proportion to the increase of wickedness among men. The time is near when, because of the iniquity of the fallen race, the whole animal creation will groan under the diseases that curse the earth.” — Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 7, p. 135

“The time will come when we may have to discard some of the articles of diet we now use, such as milk and cream and eggs; but it is not necessary to bring upon ourselves perplexity by premature and extreme restrictions. Wait until the circumstances demand it, and the Lord prepares the way for it.” — Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 9, p. 162

If health reform is to be progressive what about the consumption of other animal products such as milk, cream, and eggs? These food articles are just as toxic and dangerous as animal flesh yet one hardly hears of the dangers of consuming these food articles within church circles. Perhaps the next fellowship meal will provide you an answer as you pay attention to the number of cooked dishes containing cheese, white flour products, meat analogs, and a multitude of sugary desserts prepared with dairy products and refined sugar just to name a few. Could it be that the following scripture is applicable to the serious health problems that face many S.D.A.’s?

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” — Hosea 4:6

There once was a man who joined the church and was very happy one day when his mother came to visit and agreed to attend Sabbath worship services at the local S.D.A. church. The pastor delivered a very nice sermon but the one thing that stuck out was when the mother commented afterwords to the son, “Why is the pastor so fat when you people claim to follow a health message?” At the time the son was speechless to give an answer but later, after much study and prayer to the Lord, it became apparent that things were not all right at the head of the work and that God was soon about to enter in and carry out a purification within the ranks including those who disregarded the health reform message and were setting a poor example for others by their intemperance. Discovered among many comments from the Spirit of Prophecy on this sort of apostasy in the church was this startling statement regarding the fate of those who disregard inspiration and are content to follow the leaders. Something to ponder indeed and realize that it does matter to God how we take care of our bodies.

“The class who do not feel grieved over their own spiritual declension, nor mourn over the sins of others, will be left without the seal of God. The Lord commissions His messengers, the men with slaughtering weapons in their hands: “Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.”

Here we see that the church–the Lord’s sanctuary–was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light and who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for miracles and the marked manifestation of God’s power as in former days. Times have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His people in judgment. Thus “Peace and safety” is the cry from men who will never again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God’s people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that would not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children all perish together.” — Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 5, p. 211

Tagged as: diet, Health Conference, health reform, Seventh-day Adventists, Ted Wilson, vegan, vegetarian, vegetarianism