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Commentary on "Stewardship"
Day 4: Tuesday, June 9, 2009
This day's lesson says that care of the body is one of the most important disciplines we can practice because it gives God access to us by keeping us healthy so we can think clearly, perceive right and wrong, and make good decisions.
Problems
The biggest problem with this lesson is its focus on the physical nature of man which underscores the failure of Adventism to believe in the existence of a human spirit. This understanding denies the possibility that the extremely ill, the chronically malnourished, or the developmentally disabled can have a saving relationship with Jesus or that they are able to know the difference between right and wrong. The Bible says that spiritual things are not discerned by mental prowess:
"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." 1Cr 2:14
In contrast to the lesson's focus on diet, Jesus' teaching was that all foods are clean. When the Pharisees confronted Jesus about eating without ritually washing His hands, Jesus said it is not what goes into a person but what comes out of him that makes him unclean. He said,
"'Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him,since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?' (Thus he declared all foods clean)" Mark 7:18-19.
Moreover, teachings such as Adventism's health message are specifically condemned by the Bible: Paul says,
"Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer" (1 Tim 4:1-5).
Paul further elaborates that physical discipline has nothing to do with our ability to hear the Holy Spirit:
"If you put these things before the brothers,you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come" (1 Tim 4:6-8)
The Adventist emphasis on physical health and discipline puts it in the ranks of many non-biblically-based religions and philosophies such as Mormonism, Islam,and Buddhism which abstain from certain foods and meats as part of their spiritual practices.
Summary
- The basis for Adventism's error in focussing on physical health is a consequence of not believing that humans are composed of a physical body and a spirit.
- Contrary to the Adventist health message, all foods are clean.
- Forbidding any foods is a doctrine of demons.
- Physical training is of little value; we are to train for godliness.
Important Resouces
Be sure to watch this sermon: "Generous Living" by Gary Inrig. This is an excellent study on the Bible's teaching on giving. More of Gary's sermon's in the series "Dollars and Sense" are found here.
Copyright 2009 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised June11, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.
Official Adventist Resources
Standard Edition Study Guide Week 11
Teacher's Edition Study Guide Week 11
Easy Reading Edition Study Guide Week 11
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