EVERYTHING GOD CREATED IS GOOD. 1st Timothy 4:4. Initially, it was God’s will for man to eat only plants, but since the days after the flood, God has freely allowed us to eat meat—but not blood—because that is how He created us to sustain life. We are now instructed to eat what’s set before us with thanksgiving to preserve our physical life.
A problem with occultist individuals is that they choose to follow their own will to determine what they believe is right and condemn those who disagree. Asceticism attracts those who want to achieve their own salvation on their own terms and in their own way. By this self-willed choice they impose on themselves and others, they deny the permission God gave us to eat whatever is set before us, “asking no questions,” and they go against divine Persons.
To some, it seems like only a small thing—nothing we need to worry about. But behind these man-made restrictions is a hostility that burns against the Holy God and His right, by creation, to be the supreme and only authority over His creation. He is the One who called what He created “good” and still maintains and sustains life as He originally designed. To put man’s will above God’s is sin. To suggest that what God created is bad casts a dark shadow on Him. It is what is inside that separates man from God, not contact with the physical world. God’s creation was good and right at the start. The deceitful heart of man has him contaminated by sin and separated from God.
Many occultist groups oppose traditional, God-ordained marriage, which is a means for humans to nurture, comfort, and care for each other. After the flood, Noah and his sons were told to be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth. Cultic groups add to evil with supposedly “scientific facts” and even treason, promoting a “Down with God; up with man” attitude. They lead their followers and their false teachings into everlasting night.
Strict self-discipline of the body does not erase sin or make someone righteous. We should not rely on our style, credentials, or success to influence us into thinking we control what happens to us. Always pay close attention to what a teacher says about the Lord Jesus. And remember, anything that does not exalt Him and testify that He is God is dangerous.
Celibacy and abstaining from certain foods are often seen as signs of spirituality and signals of God's approval. Everyday human life is overlooked or implied to be sinful, rather than accepted and appreciated with gratitude to our gracious God for creating everything for His glory and our delight. Choosing to be a vegetarian and remaining unmarried are personal decisions and have nothing to do with "the faith." The problem is that many people are being misled by this false teaching that contradicts the truth of God's word. Such false teachings go against God's provisions and the natural understanding instilled in us by our Creator. Not only do they oppose God's plans, purposes, and intentions, but they also diminish God's praise and delight, depriving Him of what He has intended for us.
False teaching denies God, His word, and His work. A person's vegetarian diet or celibacy does not somehow sanctify them. Divine authority is clearly taught in the Scripture and is not validated by personal opinion or preference. Everything God has created is good and should be accepted gratefully as His gracious provision. We need to recognize and appreciate these gifts, rather than take them for granted. All that God has provided should be used in ways that are right and that please Him, as well as for our enjoyment, not for wrongful purposes or improper ways. The characteristics of these last days and deceiving teachings should remind us of our need for divine wisdom and guidance.