Featured A Caution For Every Christian That Drinks Alcohol

God made wine to gladden the heart of man. Jesus made wine in abundance to celebrate a marriage. Yet, some of us have the attitude “I’d like to insist drinking is a sin, but I’m forced to admit that Jesus drank wine. Therefore drinking isn’t a sin. But, still don’t don't because you might cause an alcoholic brother to stumble.” Don’t hold a begrudging attitude about our liberty and of what really is a blessing from God.

Paul’s comments about drinking and eating meat are specifically about avoiding non-kosher wine and meat in front of Christians of weak faith. They have nothing to do with whether someone who sees you might be an alcoholic The New Testament was written in a region that observed the old covenant of God, where foods were to be kosher to be consumed. Jews were raised this way. Jews rightly spent their lives this way. The early church was overwhelmingly converts from this Judaism. It was a huge deal to tell early Christians that it didn’t matter if your meat and wine was provided by gentiles. But, Paul still drank wine. He just kept it kosher (Paul continued to practice Judaism for evangelical reasons). Jesus(!) still drank wine. He just kept it kosher (it wasn’t until after the cross that kosher laws no longer applied).

The “stumble card” is way over-played by Baptists. I’m having a hard time even imagining a situation where you’re drinking might cause a brother to stumble. Maybe if you have a recovering alcoholic living in your home it might be best not to have alcohol in the house.

I don’t think it wins anyone to Christ do teach as the Pharisees, Muslims, and Mormons that drinking is wrong. Your witness isn’t tarnished by responsible behavior, but by abusive or hypocritical behavior.

 

The opinion piece encourages avoiding the consumption of alcohol for the sake of our "witness."

I have never claimed that the responsible and moderate use of alcohol is wrong, so I am not compromising my witness.

I actually had my drink of wine when I was 33. I was at an extended family function (an Italian branch of the tree) and there was a toast to celebrate some event - don't even remember what I was - and my hosts assumed I was a legalistic Baptist and we're trying to figure out what to serve me. I told them to just pour me a glass of wine like the rest of the guests. I was thinking of Jesus' command to His disciples to eat whatever is set before them. I was a witness in that group and I needed to accept their hospitality as a sign of acceptance of them.

I didn't finish the glass, but I did have a few sips through the evening and there was a massive shift with the openness people had with me.

Since that time I have had numerous opportunities to share my faith and it all began with that glass of wine.

The funny thing is that I almost never drink alcohol at home. There's a single beer that has been in my fridge for two months, untouched. I had an unopened mini bottle (about 6 ounces) of white wine that sat in the fridge for more than a year that was consumed by my wife last Friday night when she had a headache and couldn't sleep. I usually use the bottles for cooking.

I work for a firm where many of my coworkers are heavy drinkers - not much moderation at all - especially when we are on business trips. Many of our meet-ups are in the hotel bar and dinner meetings in a microbrewery. I actually rarely have an alcoholic beverage among them aimply because I don't want it. But at at least one opportunity toward the beginning of the trip I will have a glass of wine to make it clear that I am not a legalistic Christian. The difference before and after I have a glass of wine is surprising. People are much more open with me.

So, my primary reason for the consumption of alcohol is for the purposes of being a witness.

 

I disagree. I come from a family of alcoholics (maternal side) and from my point of view it would be a definite danger for me to go to a family outing and join in with the "carousing".

It could be a source of damage to me as a Christian.

"Oh Hank went where and did what!?"

Not that I am a teetotaler but I refrain when necessary in order to nip things in the bud.

HankD

 

I'd never say I drink for the purpose of being a witness. But, people who don't drink are at risk of being seen as anti-social, and not drinking for religious reasons makes someone look cultish. Neither of these helps a Christian's witness. The claim that we shouldn't drink at all, for the sake of our witness to the unsaved, is false.

 

I enjoy a glass of beer or wine, but in public the Christian has to be very careful to drink in moderation. A lot of people would just love to see a Christian get tipsy and ruin his witness. Better by far to drink nothing than to drink too much.

 

I agree. It's one reason I do not buy drinks when I do street evangelism because for the sake of testimony.

 

So you are saying it's okay for me to hold a Mikes in one hand and a Bible in another when I open air? How would that look to the lost that pass me by???

 

Depends. One lost person might think you're a hypocrite for drinking another might think you're not as judgemental as other Christians. Ppl will make excuses any way you approach them unless God has first wrought grace within their heart.

 

Sipping your fruity malt liquor while 'open airing' is illegal, whether you're drunk as a skunk or think you're still drinking 'moderately' (or both).

 

This I did not know.

 

Though probably not intended, this comes across as being a bit judgmental, not just of those who preach total abstinence but also those (like myself) who choose not to drink. And I've been to many social functions where alcohol was being consumed, with table mates drinking "adult beverages" and me staying non-alcoholic, and never had our respective choices be an issue.

 

I don't think our brother intended to be judgmental, but he is making a strong statement regarding an issue where there are a lot of strong and uninformed opinions expressed through the years.

Yes, that has been me, most of my like. For all practical purposes, I rarely drink. When I am at the doctor's office and they asked about alcohol intake, I have to tell them that I drink upwards of three glasses of wine a year. I get the strangest looks. After that response, they usually mark down that I don't drink.

Yes, I have no problem with that. I'm the guy that has often gone to "Happy Hour" at a bar and had a soft drink. I usually treat the table to an appetizer to be sociable and to put something on everyone's stomach while they have their beer/wine.

Yet there are times when I am a guest in a home and expected to receive hospitality, or in a group of people who don't know well, but know from my firm's profile that I have a degree in theology and they think I am waiting to condemn them for having a drink because of a lot of bad teachings over the years. In those cases, I'll often ask for a glass of wine to set people at ease. It really makes a huge difference in how I relate to some people.

 

Is it easy for most to get tipsy? (Serious question.) My wife can feel the warmth of a glass of wine, but never gets drunk - although she does not drink if she has any alcohol - but she is a very small woman. A glass of wine does not even register with me. FWIW, I'm the size of an NFL lineman or an Olympic shot putter.

I suspect (although please correct me if I am wrong) that it is unusual to get drunk unless you are willing to do it.

 

Hard Lemonade?!?----LOL, take a guess! Now if you had a 5th of cheap rye in a brown paper bag......

Listen, Ive sat with guys in bars (with beers flowing) and have witnessed to them. Christ didnt come to minister to the saved.....he came for the sinners!

 

Yes I agree. However to the IFB you are wrong as they would auto assume you are in the bar to get drunk.

 

Definitely being very careful in public! Now, the best way, IMO, is for a husband and wife to enjoy some together to relax.

I can't drink because of medication, but sometimes my wife does have some wine on occasion.

 

You are wrong. The first casualty of drinking is self-awareness. Someone who has drunk too much will think he's being clever, witty and attractive, and just one more drink won't do him any harm, whilst his friends are finding him embarrassing and others are finding him offensive.

Who is going to listen to the witness of a guy who made a fool of himself through drink last night?

 

Yea....never had any positive experience with those people.....always trying to run your life...... pastors become local Pope like figures......no thanks.