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About Sal
Expertise
I am privileged to be able to offer an alternative insight into the complicated world of Seventh-Day Adventists (SDA) theology. I will rely heavily on the Bible, but will also consider history and use logic in exposing deficiencies in SDA teachings. I would ask anyone who is considering becoming a SDA or if you are already in the SDA church, but are searching for the truth, to please allow me to offer a different explanation for the claims of the SDA. Remember : "The truth will set you free" (John 8:32). I can answer your questions pertaining to the beliefs and history of the SDA. I am not able to answer questions concerning spirituality or church discipline.

Experience
I have extensively studied the theology of the Seventh-Day Adventists (SDA) for a number of years. I have many books and tape sets produced by experts in this field of study. I have debated current members of the SDA church. I have a great desire to help these people see the truth.

Education/Credentials
M.S. degree in Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics

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Seventh-Day Adventists - More - Additional response to clean and unclean – Is Sal really serious?

Expert: Sal - 10/26/2009

Question
Sal, Sal, Sal, you continue to miss the point! Let me try to shift your focus if possible.

You appear more concerned with what is currently happening here on planet earth and that is causing you to not see the bigger picture. It is obvious that you can quote scripture like a librarian but do you actually appreciate and comprehend its complete meaning on a universal level?

SDA’s do not dwell on the current situation here on earth. We are totally focused on the new earth and the total elimination of sin from the universe. Sin initiated by Lucifer which has brought us to where we are today.

When a person shifts their thinking everything falls into place. The question of clean and unclean meat doesn’t matter in the earth made new because once there we will resume the original course God intended us to follow before the fallen angel Lucifer introduced sin to the universe. The diet that God instructed our first parents to follow in the Garden of Eden - which was followed up until the flood - will be our diet in that new earth.

You say that “God gave us all things as food, but not all things are healthful”. I could not agree with you more. Eating unclean meats can cause some serious health issues! Eating undercooked pork, bear, walrus, fox, rat, horse, and lion meat can cause trichinosis. Blowfish, considered a delicacy in Japan can kill the people eating them if not prepared by a highly experienced cook. These meats and many others were declared unclean by God for a reason. They are not healthful in the same way that some types of mushrooms and other green herbs are not healthful. But you would have us believe that God intends for us to eat any meat we desire.

Is God is practicing with us here on the earth? Is He constantly changing his mind about what He will allow and not allow? Is God is making this up as He goes along, playing by ear? I believe absolutely that the Master Composer, Master Physician, and Infallible Creator of the universe clearly knew the best food for humans since after all He is the one that designed and created us.

I am sorry Sal but the answer is easy. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit so why would I defile my temple with anything, plant, animal or otherwise, that is not healthy and could cause damage – whether immediately or long term - to my body?

So go ahead and eat all the unclean meat you want because as we all understand abstaining from meat, whether clean or unclean is not a requirement for our salvation… That lies in Jesus alone. Just enjoy it while you can because our current eating habits are most definitely going to change in the new earth when we will once again be eating the foods that God originally intended.

Answer
Dear Brother John:

Now you are talking about something completely different than the original question. Our original concern was whether Noah was permitted by God to eat so-called "unclean" animals. What does the Scriptures say? "Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything" (Genesis 9:3). So we know that every animal, whether clean or unclean, was given to Noah as food. The Bible is extremely clear on this point. Now you have switched the original focus to what will be in the future new earth. Whatever will be in the new earth does not change the fact that God told Noah, "Everything that lives and moves will be food for you." The distinction between clean and unclean animals as food was only given by God during the Mosaic Covenant and ended with that covenant. In the New Covenant "all food is clean" (Romans 14:20; see also Romans 14:14). Our Lord himself declared that the distinction between clean and unclean foods was no longer applicable, "Thus he declared all foods clean" (Mark 7:19).

If in the new earth God commands us to be vegetarians then we should be obedient to Him. However, that is not the case at this time. For example, it is not sinful to eat ham. Therefore, we are not disobedient to Him if we eat what was once declared unclean under a different covenant which we were never under in the first place.

I think that it is a good idea to eat healthy and exercise in order to keep our bodies in good shape. However, it's not a requirement. Someone who eats high fat meals and is sedentary is no less a Christian than one who eats healthy and exercises. You have the Christian freedom to only eat vegetables if you wish, but others have the same freedom to eat high fat meals.

"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him" (Romans 14:1-3).

Brother John, let's accept each other as Christian brothers and not think negatively about a brother or sister who eats differently than we do. For as you admit in your last paragraph it's a "disputable matter" not bearing on our salvation.

Have a Blessed Day,
Sal

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