A Gospel-Centered & Biblical Approach & Understanding of Alcohol (PART 1)
PART 1:
A Gospel-Centered Approach to Alcohol
At our church, we would like to have wise, humble and gracious approach to discussing and enjoying alcohol as a church family. We believe that Jesus has provided us with forgiveness for past, present and future sins, and that while many of us have sinned in our misuse or misunderstanding of alcohol, Jesus also grants us freedom of conscience to enjoy all of his good gifts in moderation and thankfulness to the Glory of God!
I want us to see how God gives us "strong drink & wine" as a gift to be enjoyed in moderation for his glory and the good of ourselves and others, and how it is possible and good to have a healthy relationship with alcohol, while at the same time - like any good thing and gift from God (Sex, Work, TV, Reading, Art, Food, etc.) - we can become entitled, self-serving, over-indulgent, ungrateful and turn it into and idol or tool of abuse or misuse. At times we do need to personally abstain or avoid alcohol from a place of of wisdom, obedience & maturity. Other times, we can enjoy drinking to the Glory of God and the good of ourselves and others, by having it help cultivate rest, gratitude, fellowship and creativity.
I know that some people may be uncomfortable in gatherings where alcohol is present. Many have been taught or learned through experience to think differently about alcohol. Some of us were taught to completely avoid it because it is sinful and a tool of the devil. Others have seen it abused and hate what kind of pain it has brought to their families and friends. Some believe there's no problem or danger with it at all and we should drink to our hearts desire.
As a Christ-Centered, Gospel-Driven Church, we want to help correct and encourage a biblically-wise, gracious and humble approach to freedom and obedience in all areas of life, including our relationship with alcohol. We do also have a high respect for where everyone is in their personal story & journey and - at times - sobriety & recovery. We would never want anyone to feel pressured into either to partaking or abstaining from alcohol against their own conscience; in other words, we do not want to cause our brothers and sisters in the faith to stumble by binding anyone's conscience. As a church we have had the privilege of counseling and walking with people through various addictions to pornography, drugs, alcohol and more.
We believe the Gospel of Jesus is powerful enough to forgive, heal and set us free to enjoy all of his good gifts (ie sex, alcohol, nature, etc.) according to his good design, for the Glory of God and the good of ourselves & others! For some who are in recovery, after a period of sobriety, once of the best ways to heal from addiction and shame is to see others who have a healthy relationship with the very thing you abused and turned into an idol. You may not ever be able to have the same relationship with that gift that others do; but with time and healing, you can learn to appreciate and be in the presence of that gift once again whether you are participant or not.
Finally, I want to reassure and remind everyone, that we will not always "partake" every time we gather for fellowship. But only for occasional, special events and gatherings.
"PART 2: A Biblical Understanding of Alcohol" will focus more on specific study of Scripture passages, verses and texts that have been misinterpreted, misapplied or missed completely in the conversation about a Christian's relationship with alcohol.
I want us to see how God gives us "strong drink & wine" as a gift to be enjoyed in moderation for his glory and the good of ourselves and others, and how it is possible and good to have a healthy relationship with alcohol, while at the same time - like any good thing and gift from God (Sex, Work, TV, Reading, Art, Food, etc.) - we can become entitled, self-serving, over-indulgent, ungrateful and turn it into and idol or tool of abuse or misuse. At times we do need to personally abstain or avoid alcohol from a place of of wisdom, obedience & maturity. Other times, we can enjoy drinking to the Glory of God and the good of ourselves and others, by having it help cultivate rest, gratitude, fellowship and creativity.
I know that some people may be uncomfortable in gatherings where alcohol is present. Many have been taught or learned through experience to think differently about alcohol. Some of us were taught to completely avoid it because it is sinful and a tool of the devil. Others have seen it abused and hate what kind of pain it has brought to their families and friends. Some believe there's no problem or danger with it at all and we should drink to our hearts desire.
As a Christ-Centered, Gospel-Driven Church, we want to help correct and encourage a biblically-wise, gracious and humble approach to freedom and obedience in all areas of life, including our relationship with alcohol. We do also have a high respect for where everyone is in their personal story & journey and - at times - sobriety & recovery. We would never want anyone to feel pressured into either to partaking or abstaining from alcohol against their own conscience; in other words, we do not want to cause our brothers and sisters in the faith to stumble by binding anyone's conscience. As a church we have had the privilege of counseling and walking with people through various addictions to pornography, drugs, alcohol and more.
We believe the Gospel of Jesus is powerful enough to forgive, heal and set us free to enjoy all of his good gifts (ie sex, alcohol, nature, etc.) according to his good design, for the Glory of God and the good of ourselves & others! For some who are in recovery, after a period of sobriety, once of the best ways to heal from addiction and shame is to see others who have a healthy relationship with the very thing you abused and turned into an idol. You may not ever be able to have the same relationship with that gift that others do; but with time and healing, you can learn to appreciate and be in the presence of that gift once again whether you are participant or not.
Finally, I want to reassure and remind everyone, that we will not always "partake" every time we gather for fellowship. But only for occasional, special events and gatherings.
"PART 2: A Biblical Understanding of Alcohol" will focus more on specific study of Scripture passages, verses and texts that have been misinterpreted, misapplied or missed completely in the conversation about a Christian's relationship with alcohol.