Christians for Beer!?

[Leslie Jebaraj]

I recently joined the group, Christians for Beer, on Facebook. Though I don't drink, I joined the group just to showcase the freedom that Christians have in Christ.

In America I know that some would still judge you for drinking beer. And in India, it is un-thinkable. I mean, beer and Christians don't mix. It is considered a sin, and a big one at that.

And beer is just an illustration of the legalism that abounds in some Christian circles. Movies, cigars, cards, dance, are just some of the other taboos among Christians.

Now, how does one who has come to understand grace begin to share the freedom in Christ to those who are unwittingly bound by the shackle of legalism?

[ScottL]

Good question - not just concerning alcoholic beverages, but with a variety of things. Of course, we all agree each person is different and so must be dealt with differently.

Concerning the alcohol issue, I am ok to have it. I actually must admit I love beer! :) I come from Memphis, right in the buckle of the Bible belt. So drinking is still considered up there in third place on the sin ranking list - right behind murder and adultery. But, oddly enough, I now live in Belgium where there are some 1,000 different kinds of beer (and a specific beer glass for each beer). Talk about filling up your cabinet with glasses! And many of these beers are made by the monks, though some might argue that the monks are not true Christians because they are involved in making beer.

I think it is a slow process of bringing people into knowing their freedom in Christ. Believing and teaching others that drinking alcohol is a sin comes from legalistic thinking, but that legalism might just be something more on the surface than the root. It takes time, dialogue, and prayer in determining how best to approach each person. I think that if we ultimately love the other person, dialogue with them, and serve them, we can 'win them over' to seeing their freedom in Christ. Not 'freedom to drink beer' (though that might be a part of it), but freedom to enjoy life and the things that God has given us.

Some good passages are:

Rom 14:14 - 'I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.'

1 Tim 6:17 - 'As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.'

It isn't so much about pointing out these passages to the person, though that might be helpful. But it is about communicating the heart of these passages, however that might happen.

Much of legalism comes out of us still wanting to please God, thinking that living a certain way and obeying certain rules will get us into the acceptance of the Father. Legalism usually flows out of the deeper root of perfectionism - I speak from experience in my own life. And perfectionism flowed out in my life from never being recognized or shown acceptance by my father unless I had done good. And so I tried to be perfect and do good all the time (in a sense, though I was really good at sinning in my young life since I was not a Christian). My dad tried to be perfect because he was never shown love unless he did right. And so that passed on to me, and I tried my best to please him. And this perfectionism led to legalism once I did come into Christ. So I have had to see the root of perfectionism destroyed first before I have seen the legalism go.

But not everyone walks in legalism due to the root of perfectionism. It could be another root such as a certain teaching has been ingrained in someone for 30 years (no R-rated movies, no beer, etc, etc). Three decades is a long time to hear such a teaching, and it works it's way into the deep crevices of the heart. And there are so many other examples.

But loving, serving, and two-way conversing will win people over as we look to the Holy Spirit to help us deal with each individual case. We want to communicate true grace.

Just some thoughts.

[Rey Reynoso]

My problem with joining the group wasn't so much because I didn't want to use my freedom to beat down some Christians who actually have a problem being alcoholics. I've seen a brother serving faithfully for 20 years convince himself that he was strong enough to go to a bar and is currently out of the Church because of the sin he proceeded to do, repeatedly even though inebriated.

I have no problem asking for a pint (and I don't drink most alcohol since its yucky) if someone is making it a Gospel issue. But i have a problem when folk ask for a pint merely to parade their freedom to those who are weak.

Cheers.

[ScottL]

Some good thoughts, Rey. It is always motivations that are central in all issues of life - alcoholic beverages, music, art, etc.

[Rey Reynoso]

Yeah that's why I like your slow approach that you listed above. We don't always know the best course to open the door to freedom but we can pray, talk and wait on God to continue to work.

ScottL said:

Some good thoughts, Rey. It is always motivations that are central in all issues of life - alcoholic beverages, music, art, etc.

[Gina]

I've always thought it a little weird to "proclaim" one's freedom, such as my husband's Lutheran relatives who sort of flaunt the fact that they don't fast. It does make for hedonistic family dinners, however.

Anyway, maybe it's just me, but it seems that quietly celebrating your "freedom" could potentially do more good, in that it doesn't embitter or entrench people, or violate tender consciences. I think of the verse that says when confronting people in sin to do so carefully lest you also be tempted.

[Vince]

I really enjoyed Chapter 6 of Mark Driscolls book "radical reformission" the sin of light beer. He talks about separating from culture like a Pharisee, blending into culture like a Sadducee, ruling over culture like a Zealot, ignoring culture like a Essene. He speaks about how all of these seek after godliness as we define it and not as God defines it.

He then goes on to say..."my bible study convinced me of my sin abstinence from alcohol, so in repentance I drank a hard cider over lunch with our worship pastor"

Martin Luther once wrote "While I sat still and drank a beer with Philip and Amsdorf, God dealt the papacy a mighty blow"

John Calvin's annual salary package included upwards of 250 gallons of wine to be enjoyed by him and his guests.

Biblical Occasions to drink alchol in moderation

1. Celebration Gen 17 14-20
2. The Lords Supper Matt 26:29, Mark 14:25, Luke 22:18
3. Medical Purposes Prov 31:6 1 Tim 5:23
4. Worship Exodus 29:40, Numbers 28:14, Matt 26:27, 1 Cor 11:25-26
5. Thanksgiving to God Proverbs 3:9-10
6. Happiness Deut 14:26

[ScottL]

Good thoughts, Gina. It is not only in the motivations of what we do in life, but also our motivations in how we address those things in our lives. We don't need to 'flaunt' our freedom, but be loving and gentle with it, all that we might enjoy the fullness of our freedom in Christ.

[Gina]

Also, you'd have to say that in our culture, at least, the hedonistic element could use some tempering by the ascetic. When do we ever deny ourselves anything?

Full disclosure: I love a good frothy ale.

[H]

I agree that making the drinking of alcohol into a sin is adding to Scripture; however, I do believe certain people simply shouldn't drink (and I won't have a drink around them). I like red wine (good for you, too!) but if I know I will be dining with someone who believes drinking is sinful, or has had a problem with alcohol in the past, I don't exercise my freedom, because in causing someone to stumble, I sin.

[Lisa Robinson]

I agree with Rey on this one. In embracing grace and the freedom that we have in Christ, the greater burden is in consideration of other members of the body, especially those that are weak. And I don't really see how a mass and public advertising like Christians for Beer would not have any impact on the weaker christian, who may even struggle with issues of addiction.

[Raquel]

Now, how does one who has come to understand grace begin to share the freedom in Christ to those who are unwittingly bound by the shackle of legalism?

Just by being comfortable with my relationship with Christ and myself. This isn't to say that I go around flaunting (wearing pants, not living on a commune, etc) the walk that I'm on. I figure that as long as they aren't casting judgment on those that enjoy instruments in worship (or whatever) then, I'm genuinely happy that their abiding in whatever they feel like God is calling them to. The whole different parts of the body thing.

Concerning those that do cast judgment (which is probably what you were getting at), I'm afraid that I don't have much experience with that. They tend to flee from me as soon as I open my mouth . But I can guess that the answer would be the same... being confident in our relationship with Christ so that they might see that it's possible to have faith in the grace of Christ with works as fruit (aka the middle ground).

[Raquel]

P.S. The whole beer thing I think is silly. I'm not worried about addicts as much as I'm worried about our body overcompensating for it's obvious insecurity about being religious geeks. The world could care less if we drink beer or not (although we do this in a lot more areas than just drinking). It just makes us look like teenagers who are obsessively concerned about making a point about our uniqueness.
We are outcasts.
And I think we ought to get used to it and find comfort in it.