Does Eating Dairy or Meat Affect Your Salvation?

Eating dairy and clean meat is not a test of salvation, although following health reform is vital for physical and spiritual vigor2MR 107.1+1. While the diet given by God in the beginning did not include animal food, your relationship with Christ is based on accepting the terms of salvation made plain in His Word2MR 107.1+1.

The Nature of Health Reform

• Not a Test of Fellowship: The question of whether you eat meat, butter, or cheese is not to be presented as a test of your standing, as the true test involves the keeping of God's holy law and the Sabbath2MR 107.1.

• Progressive Education: We are to educate others on the evils of objectionable foods rather than driving these requirements upon them2MR 107.1.

• Meeting People Where They Are: In teaching health reform, we must meet people where they are, especially the poor who may rely on bread, milk, and eggs for nourishmentTSDF 120.9+1.

• Biblical Invitation: The Lord invites everyone to come and eat that which is good, even offering "wine and milk without money and without price" to those who thirst Isaiah 55:1-2.

The Use of Dairy and Eggs

• Current Status: The time has not yet come to say that the use of milk and eggs should be wholly discardedTSDF 119.9+1.

• Nourishment for the Weak: Some who have prematurely abstained from milk, eggs, and butter have become weak and unable to work, which brings the health reform into disreputeCD 207.6+1.

• Remedial Properties: Eggs, in particular, contain properties that act as remedial agencies in counteracting certain poisons12MR 169.4+1.

• Future Changes: While animal products like milk and butter are becoming more dangerous due to increasing disease in animals, we are to wait until the Lord prepares the way and circumstances demand their total removal8MR 384.2+2.

The Question of Meat

• Health and Character: Eating the flesh of dead animals is not the most healthful practice and can stimulate lower passions at the expense of moral and intellectual powers6T 112.1+2.

• Safety Concerns: It is a serious question whether it is safe to use flesh-food at all in this age because of the prevalence of disease in the animal creationCTBH 117.3+1.

• Gentle Transition: For those accustomed to meat, it is often better to use eggs or milk as a less objectionable substitute rather than making changes that are too abrupt12MR 172.3+1.

• Personal Mercy: In cases where nourishment is scarce or an individual is struggling with intense cravings, a small amount of the least hurtful meat might do less injury than the stress of the craving itselfCTBH 117.3+1.

Spiritual Priorities

While it is impossible for those who give the reins to appetite to attain to Christian perfection, we must move cautiously and wiselyCTBH 46.3+1. Our burden is first to discard clearly sinful indulgences like alcohol and tobacco, while treating the subject of eggs, butter, and cheese with reason and moderation2MR 107.1+1. "Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good" Isaiah 7:14-15. Above all, do not bring yourself into perplexity by premature and extreme restrictionsTSDF 119.9+1.