Ellen Chat Conversation

The decision to discontinue the use of coffee is presented as a vital step in preserving the physical, mental, and moral powers. Such stimulants are categorized alongside other harmful substances that are not only unnecessary but contain actual poisons (PCP 18). The use of these items is linked to the development of various diseases and is described as a ruinous indulgence that should be abandoned from a strictly health-oriented standpoint (CD 421.2). Beyond the physical impact, the consumption of coffee is identified as a habit that beclouds the brain and interferes with the ability to distinguish between good and evil (2SAT 196.4).

Because these stimulants affect the nerve-power of the mind, they leave behind negative traces that can hinder a person's recovery from illness (Te 88.1). Choosing to abstain from such drinks is viewed as a practical application of the biblical principle to do all things to the glory of God (PCP 18). True conversion is often manifested in the abandonment of injurious habits and the mastery of the appetite (TSDF 90.2).

Those who continue to use coffee and similar stimulants may find themselves more dependent on drugs and medical interventions, whereas many could find restoration by simply obeying the laws of health and utilizing natural agencies like pure water and air (Te 85.3). Total abstinence is recommended as the safest path for those seeking to maintain a clear conscience and a healthy body (MM 222).

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The use of stimulants such as coffee is described as a significant barrier to spiritual growth because of its direct impact on the mind and the nervous system. These substances are categorized as slow poisons that create a morbid excitement, which eventually leads to a state of exhaustion and a paralysis of the mental and moral powers (CD 421.6). When the brain is habitually stimulated, its natural activity is permanently lessened, resulting in a state of mental feebleness and impatience that acts as a warring element against spiritual progress (CTBH 34.5). Spiritual discernment is specifically compromised because these indulgences blunt the sensibilities of the soul. Those who continue to use such stimulants often find themselves unable to appreciate the true value of spiritual things or the weight of eternal truths (CD 425).

Because the intellect is beclouded and the energies are benumbed, the individual loses the ability to clearly distinguish between right and wrong, causing sin to appear less offensive than it truly is. The habit of using coffee is also identified as a form of idolatry that interferes with sincere worship and the development of a holy character. The nervous system becomes so dependent on these "darling idols" that the user feels they cannot function without them, a condition that breaks down the harmony of the entire system (Te 80.1). This physical and mental instability makes it difficult for a person to maintain the self-control and calm state of mind necessary to resist Satan's subtle temptations and to devote their full energies to the service of God (TSDF 149). Furthermore, the use of these stimulants is linked to a broader cycle of intemperance that hinders the work of reform. By fostering an appetite for increasingly stronger stimulants, these habits drain the vital forces and divert financial resources that could otherwise be used for the advancement of truth (TSDF 164.2).

Ultimately, the failure to overcome these intemperate habits results in a loss of potential achievement for the cause of God, the full extent of which will only be revealed in the final judgment (CD 421.6).

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What did Ellen White teach about the connection between physical health and the ability to resist temptation?
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