Ellen White's Perspective on Coffee and Health

Ellen White was shown that the use of coffee is harmful to physical, mental, and spiritual health, as it acts as a deceptive and injurious stimulant that wears away the life forcesCCh 105.1+2.

The Nature and Effects of Coffee

• A Hurtful Stimulant: Coffee is classified alongside tea, tobacco, and alcohol as an artificial stimulant that creates an unnatural appetiteCD 421.4+1.

• Deceptive Energy: Its first effect is exhilarating, exciting the nerves of the stomach and brain to impart a short-lived energy that makes fatigue seem forgotten; however, this is followed by exhaustion and prostrationTe 76.5+1.

• Physical Consequences: Continued use of coffee is linked to several physical ailments, including headaches, wakefulness, palpitation of the heart, indigestion, trembling, and a sallow, lifeless appearance of the skinCCh 105.1+2.

• Mental and Spiritual Impact: These "nerve irritants" cause restlessness, impatience, and mental feebleness, which act as a warring element against spiritual progress and can even blind the mind to the law of GodCCh 105.1+2.

Spiritual and Moral Responsibility

• A Matter of Temperance: True temperance involves dispensing with everything harmful, including coffee, which is considered a narcotic injurious to the brainTSDF 76.5+1.

• Control of Appetite: Christians are called to bring their appetites under the control of reason and the converting power of God, as nothing that defileth shall enter His kingdom 1 Corinthians 10:3120MR 6.1+1.

• Stewardship of Means: The money expended on coffee is described as worse than wasted, as it continually harms the user and diverts funds that could have been placed in the Lord’s treasury1EGWLM 407.1+2.

• Breaking the Habit: In some cases, the coffee habit is as difficult to break as a liquor addiction, yet it must be overcome to grow in grace and cherish virtueCH 441.3+1.

Counsel for Reform and Education

• Personal Example: Ministers and gospel workers are urged to bear a positive testimony against coffee and practice what they teach so their lips are undefiled when proclaiming the truth20MR 6.1+2.

• Gradual Changes: While stimulants like coffee can be left at once, Ellen White advised that general changes in diet be made carefully to avoid injuring the constitutionCD 498.1.

• Health Education: Church members should be educated in schools of health and cooking classes on how to live simply without the use of irritating stimulants9MR 86.3+2.

• A High Standard: Before God's people can stand as a perfected people, they must practice self-denial and cleanse the appetite of things they know to be unhealthfulTSDF 150.4+1.

Exceptional Circumstances

• Medicinal Use: On a specific occasion during a period of severe sickness, Ellen White noted that she drank a cup of strong coffee with a raw egg solely as a medicine2SM 302.7.

• Institutional Policy: In Seventh-day Adventist medical institutions, coffee is not to be served to patients, as it leaves traces of evil behind; however, exceptions might be made in "some special case" where a patient particularly desires it in their room1MR 241.3+2.

"Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God" 1 Corinthians 10:31.

Here is an outline of the counsel provided by Ellen White regarding the use of coffee ☕:

I. The Nature and Classification of Coffee

• A Hurtful Stimulant: Coffee is identified as a hurtful indulgence and an artificial stimulant, occupying a place in the scale of narcotics alongside tea, tobacco, and alcoholCH 441.3+1.
• A Brain Narcotic: It is classified as a narcotic that is injurious to the brain and the various organs of the bodyTSDF 76.5.
• Deceptive Action: The substance excites the nerves and creates a short-lived energy that makes a person forget their fatigueTe 76.5.

II. Physical Health Consequences

• Exhaustion and Prostration: While it elevates the system "above par" temporarily, the aftereffect is a corresponding drop "below par," leading to exhaustion and paralysis of the physical powersTe 76.5+1.
• Systemic Ailments: Regular use is linked to indigestion, heart palpitations, trembling, and chronic headachesCCh 105.1+1.
• Visible Effects: Those who drink coffee often carry marks on their faces, characterized by sallow skin and a lifeless appearanceTe 76.5+1.

III. Impact on Mental and Spiritual Life 🌿

• Mental Enervation: The activity of the brain is lessened by the habit, and the mind becomes enervated unless a determined effort is made to overcome itCH 441.3+1.
• A Warring Element: The restlessness, impatience, and mental feebleness caused by coffee act as a warring element against spiritual progressCH 441.3+1.
• Obstacle to Grace: It is impossible for those who love and use such stimulants to grow in grace, as the animal passions tend to control the higher powers of the mindTe 93.1.
• Spiritual Blindness: Breaking the laws of health through these indulgences can lead to a blinded mind that fails to discern the requirements of the law of GodCCh 105.1.

IV. Moral and Financial Responsibility

• The Sin of Indulgence: Using these forbidden articles creates a condition in the system that the Creator never designed, making such indulgence a sinTe 104.3.
• Stewardship of Means: Money spent on coffee is described as "worse than wasted," as it continually harms the user and diverts funds that should be placed in the Lord’s treasury1EGWLM 407.1+1.
• Difficulties of Addiction: For some, the habit of using coffee is as difficult to break as a liquor addiction is for a drunkardCH 441.3+1.

V. Counsel for Reform and Health Education ✨

• Temperance Pledges: Those advocating for reform should include coffee and tea in their temperance pledgesCH 441.3+1.
• The Power of Example: Ministers must be under the converting power of God to overcome these habits so they can speak with undefiled lips20MR 6.1.
• Training and Education: Churches should establish schools of health and cooking classes to teach members how to live simply without the use of irritating stimulantsCME 18.1.
• Preparing a People: A perfected people must cleanse their appetites and practice self-denial before they can stand before GodTSDF 150.4.

VI. Specific Applications and Exceptions

• Medicinal Use: During a time of severe sickness, Ellen White recorded using a cup of strong coffee with a raw egg exclusively as a medicine2SM 302.7.
• Sanitarium Guidelines: While coffee is not to be served as a standard in medical institutions, it may be allowed in special cases where a patient particularly desires it in their room1MR 241.3+1.
• Method of Change: While coffee may be left off at once, general changes in the diet should be made carefully to avoid injuring the constitutionCD 498.1.

VII. Conclusion 🙏

• The ultimate goal for every Christian is to bring the appetite under the control of reason and to do all things to the glory of God 1 Corinthians 10:31.