Question: “Most Adventists argue on the issue of eating meat. Some claim to base the argument from Mrs. White and they say that even they that eat meat will not enter into heaven. How come God created the animals when we’re not allowed to eat the meat?”

Answer: “Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food” (Genesis 1:29, NIV).

There will need to be some points of clarification to this question.

1)    The first point needing clarification is that “most Adventists” do not argue against meat eating; this is because most Adventists eat meat.

2)    Second, Mrs. White encouraged people to move away from eating meat for health and spiritual reasons, but she did not regard meat-eating as a sin. For example: “I advise every Sabbath-keeping canvasser to avoid meat eating, not because it is regarded as sin to eat meat, but because it is not healthful. The animal creation is groaning” 0277790139 (Manuscript Releases, Vol. 16, 1889). Jesus ate meat, but He was not a sinner (see Luke 24:42, 43).

3)    And finally, there will be many people in heaven who ate meat. Mrs. White ate meat for many years of her life. At the same time, many will lose heaven because meat eating became their god and it led them to turn away from God (see 1 Corinthians 10:5-11; Numbers 11:4, 33). The issue here is temperance and keeping our bodies as the temple of God by eating the best food we can for God’s glory rather than making our bellies a god (see 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20; 10:31; Philippians 3:19).

With that clarification let’s address the question. God created the animals to be our companions not to be killed for food. Death was not God’s plan for creation, for it is an enemy of God (see 1 Corinthians 15:26). God loves and cares for all His creation, even the animals (Luke 12:6). God allowed us to eat clean animals after the flood, when most vegetation was destroyed (see Genesis 7:2), but when God makes this planet new again there will be no more death in all the creation including animals (see Revelation 21:1-4; Isaiah 11:6-9). And in these last days when disease is so prevalent in animals [bird flu, mad cow disease, etc], God is encouraging us to return to the Genesis diet of fruits, nuts, grains and vegetables in order secure optimum health. 

                                                                                                                                                                    Question: Looking at 1 Timothy 4:3, does it clash with Ellen G. White’s teachings on health reform?

Answer: “And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food’” (Genesis 1:29, NKJV).

This verse in Genesis indicates that God’s originally plan for our food was a vegetarian diet. 1 Timothy 4 when studied carefully is actually encouraging us to get back to God’s original diet:

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith [God’s Word, Romans 10:17], giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (verse 1);

“Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (verse 2);

 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain [hold oneself off, refrain] from meat [foods], which God hath created [fabricated, founded, (formed originally)] to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth (verse 3).

“For every creature {original formation, product (created thing)} of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving” (verse 4):

“For it is sanctified {consecrated} by the word of God and prayer” (verse 5).

Each of the bolded words are taken from the Greek New Testament translation of the original words. The food that God original created for us to be received with thanksgiving and prayer, the food that is consecrated by God’s Word is found in Genesis 1:29. After the flood God permitted mankind to eat flesh food, but it was not part of God’s original diet and we will not be eating animals in heaven because there will be no more death (see Revelation 22:4). Everything God originally created for food (the Genesis diet) is good and nothing to be refused so don’t hold yourself from it, especially in these last days when disease in animals is so prevalent.

Therefore, since Ellen G. White’s writing are a lesser light pointing toward the greater light of the Word of God, her teachings on health reform would be in harmony with these Scriptures. (For a more detailed study on this you may go to our free downloads on our web site (lbm.org) and look for the Bible Study 101 outlines).