Trouble Brewing: A relaxed attitude toward drinking?
It seems that almost all denominations and churches are having to re-establish the essentials of The Faith from the non-essentials of their personal convictions. Old traditions, customs and “our way of doing things” are being weighed and found wanting. Christianity Today published a very telling article about the Southern Baptist and other organization’s struggle for clarity on the issue of alcohol and their ministers. This is one issue, but how it is being handled is very telling of a bigger problem. Are churches and leadership and denominational structures willing to separate the essentials of the faith from their faith traditions? At this point, do they know what the essentials are anymore?
Does anyone really focus on the essentials of the faith anymore? Can someone step outside their traditions and not be labeled a heretic by those closest to them?
For the 15 years, I’ve been a part of an organization myself that has held a strong stance against the drinking of alcohol since the 50’s (they drink nothing at all … not even in moderation). It is preached and taught against. It is looked down upon, but it is strangely not in their beloved articles of faith; though they do declare boldly that they wholly disapprove of co-ed gym classes where boys and girls play baseball together.
What’s the point, you may ask? My point is that I know we have to have “house rules” for churches and organizations. But we need to call a spade a spade, and house rules are based on the personal convictions or even the spiritual convictions of a church’s or denominational leader. Okay, I get that. It is leadership. God expected Moses to draw a line around Mt. Sinai where the people couldn’t cross over, and then didn’t tell Moses the details of where the line should be. That’s what pastors … of which I am one … that’s what we do. But the reason I have chosen this particular ministerial organization to be part of is because of their Fundamental Doctrine; it is so pure and simple. Every organization has house rules, but when the house rules overshadow the essentials in importance, there is a major problem.
But can we please have some honesty? Can we have some thorough study of scripture, without trying to start with a conclusion and find out how the Bible can support it? Yes, alcohol can be abused. So can coffee. I myself am having to limit myself because coffee is tearing up my stomach one drink at a time. But the issue isn’t really about alcohol, or music styles, or tatoos, or church-appropriate clothing, or hair length, or tithing. What does the Bible label sin? What does the Bible say will keep someone from the kingdom? That is our list of don’ts. If a pastor or denomination has personal convictions or spiritual convictions given by God above this list of don’ts, please explain the biblical principle behind that conviction … and don’t declare it as sin.
I’m truly afraid we have brought many personal convictions into the essentials of the Faith and called them necessary. It is confusing new converts, which is frustrating those who have been in our churches for awhile and don’t wrestle with these questions anymore.
The Christianity Today article, which is a good read by the way, is a good indicator of where denominations are changing on their view of alcohol … but this is really only a surface level issue. The bigger issue remains untouched.
What say ye?
cara
Great food for thought. Thanks for sharing!
May 09, 2009 @ 11:13 am
Josh
I read that article last week, as well. Coincidentally, we are having a panel discussion this Wednesday at my church discussing things that can addict. Topics are food (Has the church ignored gluttony?), gambling and drinking.
“I’m truly afraid we have brought many personal convictions into the essentials of the Faith and called them necessary.”
You hit the nail on the head with this statement. Too many people have realized the prohibitions that we preached as absolutes are matters of personal conviction, so they’ve thrown out everything they were taught. When we equate hair length with baptism (just as an example), we are misleading the flock, IMHO.
May 12, 2009 @ 12:54 pm
Ben
Are you saying that we as church members or they as leaders are just mislabeling drinking as sin and placing it above the actual list of sins to avoid? I think it goes without saying that you can have hair and skirts to your ankles and lips that have never been immersed in a fermented beverage, but if you don’t love thy neighbor, you are missing the point. I also, however, believe in drawing the line in your walk. It doesn’t have to be sin to be avoided. Isn’t that where “standards” vs law comes in?
May 14, 2009 @ 11:04 am
tobystevens
On Ben’s question, the problem is both leadership and church members labeling something as sin for all people that the Bible doesn’t specifically say is a sin for all people.
Consider meat offered to idols or observing the Sabbath. Very hot topics in their day … like drinking today or church-wide holiness “standards”. In the Roman church (Romans 14) the Jews had the Old Testament written words from God forbidding it. It was part of their identity. But because of Jesus, it was no longer applicable as a law, only as a principle. The gentile Christians had no personal qualms about it at all. There was a great divide in the church over it. Sound familiar?
Paul’s advice? Romans 14:22, “Whatever you think on these things (these disputable matters as referred to in Romans 14:1) … whatever you think about these things, keep it to yourself.” This is a peace-keeping verse.
So a line should be drawn according to Romans 14, but by each individual. When it comes to disputable matters (those issues outside salvation and the lists of hell-sins) your line can be in a very different place than mine is … and we can both live in a pleasing way to God. That is, unless we push our beliefs about disputable matters onto other believers, or condemn them for not having their line where ours is (Romans 14:1-3).
And Pastors ought to explain all the different lines that can be drawn around these issues. But to label it as sin for everyone … is sin because it is adding to the word of God.
Again, the major problem is not knowing the essentials … which opens the door for many disputable matters to be considered essential. Think infant baptism, confession to a priest, banning the color red from your wardrobe, praying to Mary, banning pork, watching TV, etc.
Later, in Galatians 1:6, Paul lambasts the church for falling into “another gospel”. Because they didn’t understand the essentials of the faith, they took up other issues as essentials. In this, Paul believed it perverted the Gospel of Jesus (vs 7).
That said, where should church-wide lines be drawn?
How should pastors instruct both the weak and strong in faith who all worship together under one roof?
May 14, 2009 @ 4:50 pm
Ben
I think we agree…I know me and Jesus do. (Remember that?) It’s a labeling issue. I’m all for setting standards and following those standards as a matter of santification. I agree that that the Pastor is responsible for clarifying what is sin and what is a standard and the members are responsible to not condemn those who don’t set the same standard. On how to instruct weak and strong under one roof: Stand up and set the line where you believe God wants you to. It’s your flock and it should not be an issue whether you will offend with standards or not. Love others(which you do obviously)but don’t be afraid to say “This is what I believe will get us into heaven and separately this is what I believe may bring us closer to God.” Two different lists. Both very important, I think. T.F. Tenney preached that “Core Values” message that perfectly addressed just this. A good friend would send it to you like he promised. I’ll get on it.
May 14, 2009 @ 5:32 pm
Jeff Wagner
I recently read an article where the author proposed the idea that if we truly believe the stands we have taken on holiness, etc are salvation issues… then we need to introduce that to people along with repentance, baptism, and infilling of the Holy Ghost. If not, we are deceiving the potential convert, by not explaining “the whole truth” as we believe.
I have to say, that really made me think.
So to follow along with your blog, if one believes that “house rules” are essential salvation, shouldn’t their integrity dictate that they explain this in introductory salvation?
I’m torn either way, it really is a point to ponder….
May 15, 2009 @ 10:51 pm
tobystevens
With my work, I get to spend a lot of time in a reformed Lutheran church, and one thing I’ve noticed is that the same issues apply to them as did the Baptist and Pentecostal and Apostolic and Methodist churches I attended. They all had house rules that overshadowed the essentials of the faith, and it became quite a problem for them.
To God’s glory and to the patient humility of those involved, I have seen great unity come out of divided churches. This is possible!
May 15, 2009 @ 11:32 pm
tobystevens
I’m thinking of doing a bit on the essentials of the faith. After reading all of this, and your thoughts, what do you think?
What do you feel the Bible states as essentials? Or, better put, what does it take to be in covenant with God … and stay in it?
May 15, 2009 @ 11:34 pm
claudia michal
There is a course called Alpha ..I believe Eldon and Wendy went through it .I Know of three churches here in Manhattan offered it. So I believe it was very bible centered …Our pastor actually made dinner for everyone before the study to promote fellowship .Not sure if it was part of the course …but it help the group get to know each other ……On the other subject ..alcohol I would pose the question for each to answer ..Is it producing fruit in your life ?
May 20, 2009 @ 5:05 am
claudia michal
The axe is already at the root of the tree ,Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and cast into the fire.Luke 3:9…Does it for me !!!
May 20, 2009 @ 5:13 am
Kathy Y. Stevens
I’m a little late in responding to this; I have to admit that I’ve been lax (summer’s been too busy) in keeping up with your blogs. I felt that I had to respond after your blog was the center of a discussion we had around the pool one Friday afternoon. Egads! there were both males and females there! I can understand that a line may have to be drawn simply because most people don’t know how to actually think for themselves. That sounds rather harsh but it is true. Most people are like cattle. They simply follow who is leading them.
Those who can think and reason, I believe, should be allowed to do so. There are always going to be those “holier than thou” who must follow the rules to the letter because they don’t have enough sense to do otherwise. Consider the source… the other night in church, I couldn’t help but notice a 20 something old girl sitting in my pew. True, she was wearing a dress that came to her ankles or close. The problem was that the fabric of the dress was quite clingy… you could actually see the straps of her bra and her panty lines. One must ask – is that modest? Yet, nothing is said from the pulpit about that…
Jul 01, 2009 @ 12:10 am