Ellen White on Serving Tea and Coffee to Unbelievers

No, there is no evidence that it is acceptable to serve tea or coffee to anyone, including unbelievers or seekers; rather, the instruction is to maintain a clear and consistent standard of temperanceCD 495.4+1. While we are to show the utmost kindness and hospitality to all classes of people, we must not compromise our principles by providing health-destroying stimulants3SM 238.2+2.

🍵 The Standard for Hospitality

True hospitality is a Christian duty and a privilege, but it does not include serving injurious substances1MCP 179.4+1.

• A Consistent Example: Even when entertaining guests or visitors, we are to "hang out our colors" and show exactly who we are by not feeding believers or unbelievers with tea, coffee, or meat17LtMs, Ms 231, 1902, par. 12.

• Following Christ's Pattern: Jesus accepted the hospitality of all, including the Samaritans and publicans, and treated them with courtesy, yet He always sought to elevate their thoughts to spiritual things rather than indulging in worldly habitsDA 150.5+2.

• Hospitality Without Compromise: We are encouraged to welcome strangers into our homes, as some have entertained angels unawares, but this is to be done with simple, wholesome provisions Hebrews 13:22TT 568.2+1.

🚫 The Impact on Unbelievers

Serving these stimulants to seekers or unbelievers actually hinders the work of the gospel2T 386.3+1.

• Losing Influence: If we claim to believe in health reform but work against its principles in practice, we hurt our own souls and leave a wrong impression on the minds of both believers and unbelieversCCh 233.7.

• A Stumbling Block: When those who advocate the truth reveal at their tables that they are not "straight-laced" by drinking tea or coffee, they become stumbling blocks and fail to be safe teachers4MR 372.2.

• The Power of Example: Unbelievers are often won to the truth when they see that Christians actually live out the things they teachEv 514.3+1.

🏥 Guidelines for Institutions and Meetings

Specific instructions exist for our public institutions and gatherings to ensure that a correct representation is madePH100 31.1+1.

• Sanitariums: In health institutions, no tea or coffee is to be served unless there is a very special case where a patient particularly desires it, and even then, it is to be served only in their private room1MR 290.4.

• Camp Meetings: At camp meetings, while individuals may have a warm drink on the Sabbath if they wish, they are not to feed others—whether believers or unbelievers—with tea or coffee17LtMs, Ms 231, 1902, par. 12.

• Wholesome Alternatives: Instead of traditional stimulants, we should provide hygienic alternatives and palatable meals that correctly represent health reform20MR 2.3+2.

💡 The Goal of Reform

The ultimate purpose is to bring every appetite under the control of reason and the Spirit of GodTe 81.2+1.

• Total Abstinence: The temperance pledge should specifically embrace coffee and tea because they are hurtful stimulants that wear away the life forcesCTBH 34.5+1.

• A Living Sacrifice: We are called to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which requires us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds Romans 12:1-223LtMs, Lt 162, 1908, par. 7.

• Love and Truth: In laboring for the drunkard, the tobacco devotee, and the tea and coffee user, we are to educate them in matters of temperance from the Word of God9MR 86.3+1.