I’ve debated for a while about sharing my opinion on this subject. The reason is that there seems to be two very established camps on it. One says, “Never touch alcohol! It’s devil pee!” (I exaggerate.) The other says, “Hey, Jesus drank wine. It’s OK as long as you don’t get drunk.” as they stagger to the fridge to finish off that six-pack. (Again, exaggerating.)
I’m not writing this to say that believers who drink are sinning, or Christians who don’t drink should loosen up. My issue is with relevance.
There seems to be a misunderstanding about what it means to be relevant. Webster’s dictionary describes relevance as relating to the matter at hand, practical and social applicability, and the ability to retrieve material that satisfies the needs of the user. Somehow the meaning has changed in church culture. We’ve turned relevance into a subcultural fashion. It’s become about what we wear, what kind of music we listen to, and a “whatever” attitude about “old fashioned” values. If I listen to bands you’ve never heard of, read authors who only bash the church, get fresh ink every quarter, and drink socially then I must be relevant. There’s nothing wrong with that, but those things don’t make you relevant. (And yes, I know what an old codger I sound like.)
That brings me back to drinking. There’s a popular belief (even by people I highly respect) that refusing an alcoholic beverage from a seeker is a huge turn-off. That having a beer together communicates how accepting we are and may even open a door for us to lead them to Christ. That by not having a drink, we’re irrelevant. I strongly disagree with that.
For one thing, not all unbelievers are drinkers. When they refuse a beer, I’m sure their friends aren’t thinking, “What a jerk! He thinks he’s better than us.”
Many people just don’t drink and there’s no religious reason behind it (myself included). There are plenty of reasons why I don’t drink. Here are a few…
1. I don’t like the taste. Seriously, like furniture polish.
2. It’s too dang expensive. $9.49 for a six-pack of Samuel Adams? What the heck? $24.99 for a bottle of Bailey’s? I can think of hundreds of things I’d rather spend my money on.
3. I find it difficult to associate with a product that can be so destructive. I’ve seen it destroy homes, wreck healthy bodies, and take lives. (I know, food can do that too, but no one has ever been killed by a full driver.)
Secondly, I’ve heard many great stories of how people came to Christ and not once was it mentioned how meaningful it was when believers shared a drink with them. In fact, I’ve had the great honor of leading many people to Jesus without ever sharing a beer with them.
What I want to say is this: If you don’t drink, it’s OK! You’re not irrelevant. You’re not turning people off (and if you are, maybe you should evaluate your overall attitude). It’s alright if abstinence is a value to you. There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re not “old fashioned”, legalistic, or a pharisee.
Be free NOT to drink!
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Great insight Lee! I’m glad that they’re are others out there with an open mind, who CHOOSE not to drink yet aren’t judgmental towards those that do.
However I’d like to add one more reason for leaders not to drink. My Pastor and mentor once told me, “It’s not that having the drink is wrong, the problem is, the people we lead will do whatever we do to an extreme.” I choose not to drink because it may cause those that I lead to drink to a point where it is a sin. I can control myself, but I can’t control those I influence. However I can stand as a great example through my choice.
Lee,
Great stuff. I’m afraid alcohol is winning in our churches. It’s almost that those who take a stand against it are archaic. I appreciate your stand. Keep it up.
I believe as Christians we should abstain. I realize some say as you have pointed out to socialize and be a friend some drink with those that do. I can think of a couple examples that our not drinking was a greater influcence. In the biker world drinking is an accepted practice. We have always abstained “but” have actually gone to bars with those that thought they had to have a drink. I remember once such incident that took place years ago in Denver on a Muscular Distrophy run, this guy wanted to stop and have one. We stopped with him. He was seemingly embarassed to sit at a table with us when he was the only one drinking, and only finished part of the drink then we left to complete the ride. Reports that year had several hurt and I believe two fatalities because of drinking and riding. A year later that man came to an Easter service we had and told us that by us not drinking he was convicted of the need to change his ways and that Easter morning gave his heart to the Lord. #2 We did a toy run in Carlsbad and from that ride went with some others to a bar outside of town as a fun raiser for a “Bandito” that had had an accident and they were raising money to help with his expenses. We were setting in the bar near the food line when the leader of the Bandito group came in. He passed thru the food line, taking time to say hello to us and passed by the beer without taking one. He may have had one later but I think he passed that one by cause we were there. Just our presence changed his mind. We ride with some today that drink but don’t while they ride. Only after they stop for the day, be it at camp or…..might they have one. I believe our abstinance is a postive influence and may have saved lives because they chose to abstain.
I personally don’t don’t drink, but I don’t particularly have a problem w/ people who do. I say “Be Careful, Be Responsible & Be Wise” Remember:
I love the way Andy Stanly phrases it. “It’s not about whether it’s right or wrong, but is it wise in the sight of God?”
as a Christian overseas doing tentmaking missions stuff for the year and who loves a good beer (I blame college haha) I like your article. Well-said.
As a person who drinks, and who has also had the same debate on alcohol (far too often), I enjoyed your perspective immensely. The closest applicable Scripture (if we are talking moderation) I can think of would be found in 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1. Obviously, it’s a slightly different issue but the only passage that carries the same cultural issue. It sits right for my conscious anyhow. Actually, it has caused me to abstain several times (and maybe will permanently one day).
But since the topic is not morality, or even really drinking, I will stop there and say that a few chapters later (13) Paul discuss the only way to be truly relevant to ALL people – anything else (less) is just child’s play.
Thanks for the insight, Lee. Abstinence in any regard is a dying value. I’m always in full support of obeying the Voice in faith as He speaks to us personally about these “gray” issues. Love your article, and yours and Wendy’s willingness to listen and obey (despite the opposition).
Scripture does not necessarily forbid Christians to abstain from alcohol though it may be best to abstain from it for the sake of others who are weaker in the faith. (1 Corinthians 8:9-13) This is especially true if you are trying to present Christ to an unbeliever who maybe scrutinizing every little thing you do.
I like to think of it this way. We can all agree that there is nothing wrong with sex between a man and a woman within the context of marriage. And to argue that drinking is an aid or launchpad to bring non-believers to Christ is to say that sex can be used to bring non-believers to Christ as well and in both of these situations it is not only wrong but undermines the power of the Holy Spirit to work in the life and mind of the unbeliever. We can only plant the seed and God is the One that has to make it grow. (1 Corinthians 3:6) We can’t plant the seed if we conform to the world and salt that loses it’s flavor is worthless. Remain strong in the faith and remember that we are not alone in this race because the Holy Spirit is working even without all the gimmicks aimed to be “relevant”.