a conversation about “social drinking”
Here is a email I received about social drinking. Below is my response. I look forward to hearing your responses.
Hi Troy, It’s me again, I don’t have your email & I don’t know where to write for sure, sooo, I’ll ask you about these things that are bothering me and if others read this, I’ll just have to live with someone not agreeing or being ready to debate the issues. #1 (for now) As I’ve grown older and hopefully grown in my Chrstian walk, I’ve always had trouble with certain prejudices. They are getting worse. I know that God wants me to be like him and agapeo love people. It’s hard not to judge but to understand their circumstances & all that. Why is it so o.k. for so many Christians these days to drink and openly do it with others (Christians & non) & who knows what else? I was saved out of that gutter, the alcochol and drug abuse and the lifestyle. So I cannot understand those that say they are a Christians, yet behave like the world,supporting the alcohol industry & openly flaunt it Even. Pastor Duncan told me to… “everything is permissable, not everything is beneficial…
I think that is Corinthians? I’ll have to look it up again. Anyway, then I ask Pastor Rick the same type of thing and he said “love them anyway”. O.k. this is the clincher, where the stubborness and judgement comes in. (And I know I am a sinner too)! I also know God does not grade sin as we see it, as one worse than the other…but I would like … to find out what you think about this issue. Also, if your brother/sister does this and offends another brother/sister or causes them to sin…what happens? What if I behave like a baby and said, “Well if they can do it, I can to”. I know I can’t! What’s my issue? I want them to stop it! Why? Does it hurt God? Can’t He handle our sins? Yes, I know the answer to that. To me it hurts the whole church! But what can we do about it? It’s like telling teenagers not to have sex, and they do it anyway…well not all of them. But I quit here and I’d like to know your thoughts. It’s o.k. to write on my wall, I will take my stand!
My Response
So many reflections. Here are some thoughts that come to my mind:
- We can’t be judgemental. We must love. The mark of Christian maturity is loving people. The Scripture is clear on this mandate.
- There is a difference between making proper judgements and being judgemental. I think attitude and motive on our part is what defines the difference
- The Bible is very clear that getting drunk is sin. If a person is getting drunk on any level they need to repent and turn to God.
- I am a Bible person. The Bible is the final authority for my thinking. Sometimes I wish the Bible would say, “don’t drink”. But I wouldn’t be a good student of the Bible if I pretended the Scriptures said this.
- Yes—we should avoid doing something if it offends people
- You cannot compare social drinking with sexual sin. Not even a close comparison. The Scripture is clear about sexual sin. The Bible is silent on social drinking.
- I personally don’t drink. As a leader this is my conviction. Yes, I would say to people, “Follow me as I follow Christ” But, I can’t mandate this at all.
