Murph asked:
Why is it needful . . .
Your question presupposes an unproven assumption, to wit, that what is right is what is needful.
If that were truly the case, then I would be sinning every time I fired up my kitchen gadgetry to concoct an elaborate meal for myself. After all, I can survive just fine on a small bowl of rice, a few raw vegetables and fruits, maybe a glass of milk and occasionally some meat.
It isn't needful that I spend any more time washing, slicing, cooking, or seasoning my food than is absolutely necessary to ensure that I meet my nutritional needs and don't poison myself. And yet no one would argue that I am sinning if I go through the unnecessary steps of turning raw ingredients into a spicy pasta dish for no other reason than the pleasure it gives me to prepare and consume my food in that form.
And so it is with alcohol. Wine may not be needful, but it is pleasurable, and it is said to be one of God's many blessings to man that may be lawfully enjoyed in moderation. I do not need a pragmatic reason to drink; it has divine approbation, and that is sufficient for me.
and why is it worth the risk of offending a brother?
I believe this risk is often overstated by well-intentioned people who are trying to make the case against alcohol stronger than it really is.
In speaking of meat sacrificed to idols, Paul says it may be openly and freely bought and consumed, no questions asked, even right there in the heathen temple (1 Cor. 10:25-27, 8:10). He does address the possibility of being seen by a weaker brother, but his advice is to "beware," not to "abstain" (8:9-10) for his sake. Paul warns us not to flaunt our liberty with no regard to the consequences to others, but on the other hand he does not tell us to curtail our liberty completely for their sake. Rather, he says to practice discretion.
[ September 24, 2002, 01:00 PM: Message edited by: Ransom ]