I was online the other day, when a post caught my eye.  It asked the question; can a Christian drink alcoholic beverages?  I have also seen recently other questions similar to this; can a Christian smoke, can a Christian have tattoos, or piercings, or how should a Christian dress.  And you will have those that say that drinking in of itself is not sin.  That to get drunk is the real sin.  There are arguments for and against by Bible Scholars and leaders of different denominations concerning these things.  You can go to various clergy and church leaders, and you will get many different opinions and scriptures that will affirm of repudiate the question at hand.  So I responded on that post that I emphatically do not think it is wise or correct to drink alcohol of any sort.

But then I began to reason within my heart as to why I believe like I do.  Is it because I have seen firsthand what drinking does to a family or to an individual.  To see family and friends that have let alcohol control their lives and destroy their bodies.  To see people who would rather be homeless and drink, than to give it up and try to face life again.  And this not only applies to alcohol.  But in every decision that we make if we claim to be Christians. Or could it be that I have heard it preached and taught ever since I got saved and began attending church that drinking is wrong.  Because a church doctrine or statement of faith advised against it. I saw many different responses to the article that was posted.  Some said that they just have a couple of beers now and then.  Some said that the Bible says that we should not be drunk as in excess, but to drink is not a problem.  I can see where people are coming from.  For I too since becoming a Christian have drank……..   Not beer, but wine coolers.  It was no big deal I thought.  Just 2-5% alcohol.  That’s hardly enough to get me drunk I thought.  But then I began to question why it was that I wanted to drink alcohol to begin with.  I prayed to the Lord about this.  And He asked me a question in return.

He asked me if drinking would enhance my relationship with Him?  Why would I want to test the limits of his Grace and Love?  You see  God was not telling me NO NO NO NO, but instead, He began showing me what being a Christian is all about.  It’s not about what I can get away with.  The question He posed to me, I now bring to you.  Why would we, after Jesus has washed us with His holy blood, and made us a new creature in Christ, want to dabble in the worldly things any longer.  Does drinking bring Honor and Glory to Christ?  Does having a tattoo or piercing enhance our relationship with Him?  Are we just a Christian (so called) so that we don’t have to go to Hell, or did we enter this relationship with Him so that we can serve Him to the best of our ability?  So that we can draw as close to Him as we want to.  His desire is to have us right next to Him.  Guiding us, loving and blessing us in all of our actions.  I realized that it wasn’t about what I can’t do as a Christian, but what we can do being a reborn child of the Most High God!

I’m afraid that in the day that we live, we seem to be asking the wrong questions.  We ask the Lord, how far can I push the subject at hand, instead of asking Him, Lord what can I do to be more pleasing to you?  What should I put away from my life, that when people see me, they see you?  When the Lord asked me that question some years ago, I began to realize that I didn’t become a Christian so that I could now have a ticket to Heaven and in turn just do whatever I wanted, as long as I didn’t go too far. When I surrendered my heart to Christ 30 years ago this coming June, I entered into a covenant with Him.  As 2Cor. 5:17 says: Therefore if any man be IN CHRIST, he is a NEW CREATURE, Old things are passed away, BEHOLD, all things are become NEW.  That means I put away the old things from my life that can be detrimental, and take up the new life in Christ.  Did I become perfect? NO…………………., not by any stretch of the imagination.  I have sinned many times over the years.  I have grown, stopped, regressed and went back and repented countless times.  This is not about being perfect…………… it’s about being committed…………. To Christ.

This is not just about alcohol.  It is newness of life all around.  My speech changed.  My thinking has been rearranged.  So that It’s not about what I shouldn’t do, but more about what would He have me to do.  What would be pleasing to Him.  So not should I drink, smoke, etc….., but would this please God and would it bring Him glory.  Sure, I can drink a beer, but would that be a good representation of what a Christian should do.  I can dress a certain way, talk any way I want, live a life of excesses, but does it Please God.  My point is, I can tell you as a minister, don’t do this, or this, or this, but instead I will ask you the question………………..  Does what you are questioning God about have a positive influence on your life, or those around you.  For me the question is clear, on alcohol, and many many other vices that people have.  For me, it is a BIG NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I don’t see Christ getting any benefit from me drinking.  Surely my family would not. How can we tell people of God’s redeeming power and then miss the mark by living the Old Life.  Remember, we are NEW CREATURES.   I don’t see Him getting Glory for many of the things we see in this age, that we as Christians want to dabble in.

So that is my response in length, to a question that was posed last week.  The Bible is clear on what our duty is as Christians.  To love God with All of our hearts, minds, souls and strength.  To love our neighbors as ourselves.  To keep ourselves UNSPOTTED from the world.  You may say, well I have to sin.  But God says that we can live ABOVE SIN.

Be encouraged today.  God is with us, IF we are with Him.

For This I’m Thankful…………………………………..