I hate it when I get lumped into a "we" that I want nothing to do with. Christians are especially bad about this. For whatever reason, believers are under the delusion that true faith in Christ necessarily leads to their position on all sorts of things. It is not uncommon to here things like, "Of course, we're all Republican here..." or "We believe the world was created in 6 days about 10,000 years ago..." or "Of course we all know that miraculous gifts have ceased..."
The "we" that concerns me now is "We as Christians don't drink." I cannot tell you how many times someone has said that and looked at me as if they were stating obvious blatant fact. Many Christians were raised to believe that the Bible flatly condemns the consumption of alcohol. I know I was.
However, as I grew into my faith, and read the scripture for myself, I discovered that the case against alcohol consumption is as flimsy as a wet Kleenex. I don't want to sound dismissive, but I cannot fathom how someone could read the NT and think that there was something innately wrong with drinking alcohol. If so, Jesus is a sinner, and Paul actually suggested that Timothy sin to cure his stomach ache.
Having said that, I understand the need for caution here. I understand why some people scared by the abuse of alcohol, or by the appearance of approving the abuse of alcohol abstain from it altogether.
So where are you on this issue? Those of you who know me know my position (and for those who don't, I am a bit of a beer connoisseur). What issues are important for you as you think about this?
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I used to be a libertine, then a tee-totaling legalist, now I'm a moderate - how boring and predictable of me!
ReplyDeletePs 104.15!
Jesus turned water into what??? I once had a Sunday school teacher question if the wine of that time actually contained any alcohol - how we try to have the god we want instead of the God who IS.
ReplyDeleteThere is a concern for how our actions affect others. Do you think your affection for a fine brew might hinder your witness to others if they saw you sampling in public? Or does your ability to enjoy in moderation offer you an opportunity to reach those whom that tee-totalers by definition would not have the chance with which to interact. Sharing Christ over a dark ale - an interesting picture that I had not thought of before.
Bern,
ReplyDeleteyou are boring. show some fire you limp noodle! :)
Ray,
ReplyDeleteI had a similar experience about questioning the alcohol content in biblical "wine." it was worse because it came from a seminary professor with a phd in biblical studies!
i have found that my love of beer has provided opportunities more than it has hindered. we work in a culture where alcoholism is prevalent. one school of thought would say don't do it because they will see you and think their abuse is ok. another approach to provide an example of Christian enjoyment as opposed to dysfunctional abuse. I few weeks ago I was sharing Christ with some guys and they offered me a beer in the middle of it! i declined.
Why did you decline? Did you not feel like having one or what?
ReplyDeleteI was going to make a sarcastic comment about marital relations and adultery but I thought better of myself - obviously doing something properly and in moderation can't really be taken as license for abusers and if they do it's doubly their bad.
ReplyDeleteOk, so when I said tee-totaler I wasn't fooling. In addition to many crazy doctrines I considerd plausible or probable I figured wine in the Bible (when referenced positively) must refer to grape juice b/c why would communion have no-yeasted bread and yeasty drink? Yeast is evil in the Bible, remember? Well, except for Matt 13:33...
Ryan do you know Daniel the Anglican from DTS? That guy has bible studies at a local pub with believers and unbelievers in attendance - lucky fool!
Finally, I find that when certain road-block-obviously-not-a-big-deal-but-historically-blown-out-of-proportion positions are not held by believers it is quite disarming when talking to outsiders about Jesus.
one of the reasons i dont drink is because i want to be set apart.
ReplyDeletei know people who are really involved in church, but they have one foot in and one foot out in the world. they havent really experinced Christ and the life change that knowing Him brings.
they seem drawn to christians who drink because they want to justify their lifestyle and not have to surrender.
i guess some believers think that drinking makes them more relatable and will draw others to Christ and the church. i think Christ is enough and should be what draws others to Himself and His church:)
Ray,
ReplyDeleteI declined for one main reason, at the moment it seemed like accepting would have been a validation of their drunken lifestyle. i also declined because they offered me cheap nasty beer, ick. Also there was a group of 50 or so from a local church there, i didn't want to burn any bridges.
leslie,
ReplyDeletethanks for our thoughts!
on being set apart, i guess the question is does not drinking make us more "set apart." it would seem to me that being set apart is not simply being different from the world, but doing so in the direction of biblical truth and christ-likeness. if christ and the apostles drank (and they did) how does not drinking make us more like them? i was always taught that not drinking was more holy than drinking. i flatly deny that premise now.
as to your comment about those who are looking to justify a worldly lifestyle, that is a good point. but again, does 'not drinking' = 'surrender'? i see your point, but it would seem to me that unless we are talking about alcoholics, drinking is not the place to measure one's surrender to christ. it is not something the the nt commonly uses to do so.
bern,
ReplyDeleteyeasty drink, huh... that is a new one for me.
i don't remember daniel, but i second your sentiment!
outsiders do have a way of making you forget the intramural debates. they just don't seem to care. a so much of what occupies us is OUR baggage!
Ryan, I know you enjoy a great beer, but what about other alcohol? If it is indeed the amount of consumption/reasons for consumption/being biblically correct... what do you think about evangelizing while sharing margaritas???
ReplyDeleteDoes the form of alcohol matter?
Just curious as to your thoughts... and finally a topic I enjoy reading.. haha!!
Cheers! Merry Christmas !
~Salyna
Salyna,
ReplyDeleteGood question!
There are a lot of believers who, i think weirdly, are ok with fermented drinks (beer and wine) but not ok with distilled drinks. seems like an arbitrary distinction to me! the only thing i would say is that liquor requires more care so as not to become intoxicated. i say bring on the rum and dr. pepper, mmmm...
but just one.