In my opinion the New Testament tends to show the eating of foods, and other things like that to to be unimportant as compared to how one treats others.
I agree, Habanero. Mark 12:30, 31, NIV:
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
I agree also! but really, what professed Christian would disagree? (even apart from SDAs) who would as a christian really deny this, or disagree?
I myself can't think of even one...
The truth is in how love is defined and demonstrated by God and in how we ourselves define that, and understand and follow and emulate that, or don't-- according to prayer, studying, knowledge and convictions, and our relationship with him.
Isn't this so?
These things either prove our faith and knowledge of God, or our lack of that?
Right?
We are known by our fruits-- to Him and to each other....
and we can recognize each other by our obedience, or recognize that others are not yet our brethren, or are refusing right now for whatever reason, or don't understand, or even never will agree or do so, by these same standards and principles??
But regardless of why, we are ALL known by our fruits (actions and words) It doesn'treally matter why, for our Creator has made all known, He leaves none in ignorance and gives all a choice. So, when it comes down to the end. There are only two groups.... Ane each have made a choice...
But how and by who?
I myself think that confusion and deception about all of this seems to rule in this world and especially in our church...as we want to define love according to our experiences, and our feelings and thoughts and self justifications, or accordig to the rationalizations and reasonings, and wisdom of this fallen world. The enemy leads and whispers all of this to us, he doesn't care which ditch we fall in or which error or sin we embrace, he only seeks to destroy God via his professed followers. So we see what looks good and makes sense and justifies our reasoning, rather than the Lords will, ways, and character, and that is the way of this fallen world
but that will never triumph.... Why? That is never the definition of truth.The Lord alone IS. Jesus Christ alone is the way, the truth and the light.
We either achknoldge, accept and reflect that same light or we represent, and reflect lies.
For He alone is the definition of truth... Only God ~IS~ love.
So really what is the true definition of love? And what does the bible, God's inspired word to us, reveal and say about how to tell if we know if we truly love God or others, or to test ourselves, or how to examine ourselves, and which way to walk in faith and in love?
That seems to me to be VERY important.