Daniel 10:2-3
2In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.

3I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

Prophets and Kings: At the very outset of their career there came to them a decisive test of character. It was provided that they should eat of the food and drink of the wine that came from the king's table. In this the king thought to give them an expression of his favor and of his solicitude for their welfare. But a portion having been offered to idols, the food from the king's table was consecrated to idolatry; and one partaking of it would be regarded as offering homage to the gods of Babylon. In such homage, loyalty to Jehovah forbade Daniel and his companions to join. Even a mere pretense of eating the food or drinking the wine would be a denial of their faith. To do this would be to array themselves with heathenism and to dishonor the principles of the law of God.

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Nor dared they risk the enervating effect of luxury and dissipation on physical, mental, and spiritual development. They were acquainted with the history of Nadab and Abihu, the record of whose intemperance and its results had been preserved in the parchments of the Pentateuch; and they knew that their own physical and mental power would be injuriously affected by the use of wine.

Daniel and his associates had been trained by their parents to habits of strict temperance. They had been taught that God would hold them accountable for their capabilities, and that they must never dwarf or enfeeble their powers. This education was to Daniel and his companions the means of their preservation amidst the demoralizing influences of the court of Babylon. Strong were the temptations surrounding them in that corrupt and luxurious court, but they remained uncontaminated. No power, no influence, could sway them from the principles they had learned in early life by a study of the word and works of God.

Had Daniel so desired, he might have found in his surroundings a plausible excuse for departing from strictly temperate habits. He might have argued that, dependent as he was on the king's favor and subject to his power, there was no other course for him to pursue than to eat of the king's food and drink of his wine; for should he adhere to the divine teaching, he would offend the king and probably lose his position and his life. Should he disregard the commandment of the Lord he would retain the favor of the king and secure for himself intellectual advantages and flattering worldly prospects.

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But Daniel did not hesitate. The approval of God was dearer to him than the favor of the most powerful earthly potentate--dearer than life itself. He determined to stand firm in his integrity, let the result be what it might. He "purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank." And in this resolve he was supported by his three companions.

In reaching this decision, the Hebrew youth did not act presumptuously but in firm reliance upon God. They did not choose to be singular, but they would be so rather than dishonor God. Should they compromise with wrong in this instance by yielding to the pressure of circumstances, their departure from principle would weaken their sense of right and their abhorrence of wrong. The first wrong step would lead to others, until, their connection with Heaven severed, they would be swept away by temptation. unyielding in his mastery of self

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Strict compliance with the requirements of Heaven brings temporal as well as spiritual blessings. Unwavering in his allegiance to God, unyielding in his mastery of self, Daniel, by his noble dignity and unswerving integrity, while yet a young man, won the "favor and tender love" of the heathen officer in whose charge he had been placed. Daniel 1:9. The same characteristics marked his afterlife. He rose speedily to the position of prime minister of the kingdom of Babylon. Through the reign of successive monarchs, the downfall of the nation, and the establishment of another world empire, such were his wisdom and statesmanship, so perfect his tact, his courtesy, his genuine goodness of heart, his fidelity to principle, that even his enemies were forced to the confession that "they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful."

So is every unhealthy activity a sin?

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. James 4:17

As Thomas indicates above, sin is not believing in God, not trusting Him to save us from our depraved appetites. (The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - 1 John 2:16) Ellen White makes the distinction that both physical and moral decay result from flesh eating. Many of us are ready to doubt this advice and throw contempt upon the prophet of God's own choosing. Ellen White is dead and unaffected by the ridicule, but Jehovah registers every slight made against the messengers of His appointment. We are all responsible for our influence. I write this not for those who desire a battle, but for some who may be unsure of God's instruction for these last days.

"Wherefore if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend." 1 Corinthians 8:13.

Gordon

Greetings,

This evening, I am not sure what to say to some of you..., except that I presented the Bible Study according to the scriptures that I know. And my heart aches when so many call themselves Adventists and do not accept our prophet's testimony for what the Lord wants.

The joy of the Lord is for us as a people to be prepared to live in heaven today. To be examples of the believer.

With regards to comparing the Passover lamb and lusting...My heart sinks yet more:(.

"So is every unhealthy activity a sin?" All that I can say is that God teaches us to know as His people what is right and what is wrong. That in order for us to know right from wrong, we have to study, pray and ask for the Holy Spirit to teach us all truth, and this must be done with a contrite heart. For the heart that is unwilling to be broken on the Rock, just will not be broken. It must not be me calling sin sin, it will have to be us opening up our Bibles and search, search, comparing and searching and praying for the Holy Spirit to convict your heart. What is conviction? It is being planted in the foundation of Christ and that Rock cannot be moved.

This I do believe, that God provided people food in the wilderness and while they were without understanding of His commands, He provided their request. But afterward when they learned what God wanted them to do and how to live; so when they asked for flesh with education our Lord called it lust. Whether or not you choose to believe what happened in the recorded Holy Scriptures, you will have to pray, study and ask for the Holy Spirit.

Please understand I am not seeking for you to change your minds, but I was asked to share and I did.

The purpose of this study was share, and for each of you to pray, study and ask for the Holy Spirit.

With Christian Love,
Your Sister in Christ Jesus,
Cheri

Will, I don't recall reading any where that Daniel ate flesh or drank wine. Could you give a text for your statement?

I gather that is the gist of the study "Jesus is still in heaven cause people are eating meat"
What a joke.. I don't eat meat, but this is over the top. Shall we grow beards, keep the feast days cause Christ isn't hear yet.
Unbelieveable, unbiblical, and clearly hypocritical. THis is what is called a lie, vegetariansim taugt to be the way to holiness, yet Christ ate meat... Oh boy.. what next?

Greater reforms should be seen among the people who claim to be looking for the soon appearing of Christ. Health reform is to do among our people a work which it has not yet done. There are those who ought to be awake to the danger of meat eating, who are still eating the flesh of animals, thus endangering the physical, mental, and spiritual health. Many who are now only half converted on the question of meat eating will go from God's people to walk no more with them. {CD 382.1}

"When the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come." Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own. {COL 69.1}

Cheri, what can I say. You presented some texts that you know, and others presented some texts that they know. As I see it, the only testimony that has been clearly rejected this far in this thread is yours. So are you the prophet mentioned above?

Well, with regards to equating lusting with meat eating...
The thread is after all called "a bible study on vegetarianism", and the topic has been on eating of meat, even though you at times have thinly veiled it under true sinns, such as coveting. If coveting is what you truly were refering to in that post, then I admit comparing it to the passover lamb was wrong. But then you must admit that it is equally sinfull to covet carrots or apples or peas as it is to covet birds as did Israel in the desert. If you do not admit this, then your point is just what it looked like, an argument not against coveting as such but as against coveting meat specifically. And then comparing it with the passover lamb is quite justified, IMHO.