A. E. LEMON, M. D by A. E. Lemon

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Jan 28, 1904

A. E. LEMON, M. D

By A. E. Lemon

The Holy Temple - No. 3

A. E. LEMON, M. D

THE temple is where God dwells. And where does he dwell?—In the mind (Eph. 3:17); for it is the mind that makes the man. “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Prov. 23:7. “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Sam. 16:7. Then if we are to keep the temple holy, it is the heart that we must watch. It is in the mind that sin originates. All law-breaking and disobedience to God come from within. And so it is the mind rather than the physical body that should receive our first attention; for if the mind is conquered and under the control of the Spirit, then the care of the physical body, which is temperance, will appear in its proper place as one of the fruits of the Spirit. Gal. 5:23.

Much attention is being paid to the

study and adoption of what is called an “Edenic diet.” Diet reform is of God. He has graciously given us much light on this subject in the Testimonies. But the Testimonies repeatedly state that they do not teach principles and truths in addition to the Bible, much less contrary to it. In fact, if the Testimonies need proof that they are genuine, there is no more positive proof of their genuineness than the fact that throughout every volume they are continually calling our attention to Christ as our example, and the Holy Scriptures as our guide.

Then if we know what the Bible teaches in regard to the true position and office of health reform, we need have no fear of conflicting with the Testimonies. And if we know what Christ taught on this subject nineteen centuries ago, we know what he would teach to-day; for he is “the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever.” Heb. 13:8. Now his teaching on the subject of defiling the man is very plain. All of Christ’s lessons were suggested by some incident or object. His talk on humility was suggested by the striving of the disciples for first place; his talk on the resurrection was suggested by the question of marriage in heaven; and his talk on defiling the man was suggested by the Pharisees’ complaint that the disciples did not wash their hands before eating. And when he had answered their question, “he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand.” Surely a subject worthy of such an introduction from him is well worth our serious attention. He “called the multitude,” as if he were about to utter a great truth. Hear him: “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth the man.” Matt. 15:10, 11. “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts. . . . and defile the man.” “Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it can not defile him?” Mark 7:14-23. No amount of reasoning can confine this plain teaching of the Saviour’s to the mere subject of washing of hands. Verse 19 shows that it covers “all foods.”

† Now this doctrine of Christ’s is certainly not meant to teach us that we should eat all kinds of unwholesome foods. Such a conclusion would be simply flying to the other extreme, equally as false as the one the parable seeks to correct. But it does certainly teach that no amount of dieting will keep us from defiling the human temple. It teaches that the temple is defiled not by eating and drinking, but by thinking impure thoughts. And it teaches that if our hearts are right with God, we can eat the most wholesome food to be found in the circumstances in which God has placed us, without fear of being defiled.

Well might the Saviour say to many of us now, as he said of old, “Seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink.” “But seek ye first the kingdom of God.” Luke 12:29; Matt. 6:33. “The kingdom of God is not meat and drink.” Rom. 14:17.

Brethren, we have the message of the coming kingdom. Let the proclamation of the message as the third angel delivered it to us, receive our undivided attention. Let us preach the message.