Use Inimical to Spiritual Life—Tea and coffee drinking is a sin, an injurious indulgence, which, like other evils, injures the soul. These darling idols create an excitement, a morbid action of the nervous system.—Counsels on Diet and Foods, 425. (Te 80.1) MC VC

Those who indulge a perverted appetite, do it to the injury of health and intellect. They cannot appreciate the value of spiritual things. Their sensibilities are blunted, and sin does not appear very sinful, and truth is not regarded of greater value than earthly treasure.—Spiritual Gifts 4a:129. (Te 80.2) MC VC

Less Susceptible to Holy Spirit’s Influence—To a user of stimulants, everything seems insipid without the darling indulgence. This deadens the natural sensibilities of both body and mind, and renders him less susceptible to the influence of the Holy Spirit. In the absence of the usual stimulant, he has a hungering of body and soul, not for righteousness, not for holiness, not for God’s presence, but for his cherished idol. In the indulgence of hurtful lusts, professed Christians are daily enfeebling their powers, making it impossible to glorify God.—The Sanctified Life, 25. (Te 80.3) MC VC

Fosters Desire for Stronger Stimulants—By the use of tea and coffee an appetite is formed for tobacco, and this encourages the appetite for liquors.—Testimonies for the Church 3:563. (Te 80.4) MC VC

Some Have Backslidden—Some have backslidden and tampered with tea and coffee. Those who break the laws of health will become blinded in their minds and break the law of God.—The Review and Herald, October 21, 1884. (Te 80.5) MC VC

God’s People Must Overcome—Those who have received instruction regarding the evils of the use of flesh foods, tea and coffee, and rich and unhealthful food preparations, and who are determined to make a covenant with God by sacrifice, will not continue to indulge their appetite for food that they know to be unhealthful. God demands that the appetites be cleansed, and that self-denial be practiced in regard to those things which are not good. This is a work that will have to be done before His people can stand before Him a perfected people.—Testimonies for the Church 9:153, 154. (Te 80.6) MC VC