Drinking, just like smoking cigarettes, is permitted for the Christian

But, in the words of a wise old man I know,
Smoking ain’t a sin, it’s just stupid.

God makes it very clear as Christians we are to lay down our lives for others, especially the weaker of our Brothers in Christ. If you ever hope to be a leader among the Brethren you have to let childish things go, like this juvenile clutching at your rights. Last I checked in the Bible God never said you have any rights, in Christ Jesus, except to be Justly condemned to Hell… just like me.
But it is such a popular thing today to claim we can smoke, drink, and some say even to do pot (I draw that line RIGHT there, unless you have a legitimate medical reason). In Paul’s day, professing Believers even were having sex outside of marriage (no Believers DO THAT do they?!?)! But such license is NOT what God says for the Believer.
Yes, He does say we are to be sober in our self-evaluation. That is not a condemnation of drinking, but merely a useful word.
Moving on…

Can you REALLY walk into your old bar and have a seat as if nothing has changed in you?

Now, this is not a legalistic presentation that all Christians MUST NOT drink. No, I just say Christians SHOULD not drink, if they have any guilt doing so. It is far wiser, and better for my brother’s in Christ, that I present a clean and pure example by not engaging in what I CAN do for the sake of those who cannot STOP doing those very things. Again, this is not a condemnation, merely an observation.

But what about my rights?
When I first came to Christ I was a heavy smoker. I also drank beer, allot, and I even liked to have some tequila sometimes. I had lots and lots of reasoning I could show you, from Scripture, as to why I was ALLOWED to do those things. But none of that mattered the day I pictured myself being “caught” by someone I just witnessed to, as I would be coming out of the liquor store.
It was that day I said to my wife that I cannot justify drinking heavily any longer. Love drove me to it. Well, I thought it was love, anyway. Now I am just not quite so legalistic about it all…
(Easy now, don’t blow a gasket)

“Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.”
Romans 13:8

I realized I didn’t have the right to cause another to stumble, was not very loving to do so, EVEN IF their struggle was really just weakness they should “get over”, and I was not actually sinning to engage in my “rights” to drink a beer, once in a while. My right isn’t the point here and neither is yours. We need to be the bigger mensch, the loving, older friend, the wiser head; I need to die to MY self, not require another to die to themselves.

Wow, now I am going to be called a legalist. Someone just did do that, as a matter of fact. Well, so be it. If those reading this cannot see the wisdom in laying aside their rights, no matter WHAT those “RIGHTS” are, in order to not have anything cause trouble for a weaker member of Christ, then I can’t help them. Indeed, even the world looks dimly at a Christian in a bar, don’t they? Why? Should a Believer go to a sex shoppe? How about shoot up?

But, if you do see the point, understand this: You WILL be better for it. Just don’t get all huffy-puffy or I recommend you go back to drinking, QUICKLY. But this is NOT a mandate from God, not drinking. Jesus did, clearly. So, if you see me with a six-pack at the Grocery, just stop and look in the mirror.

Funny thing
But something very odd did happen to me, once I ended excusing my license (on anything): The act permitted myself to die a little more to this self I will not have later. I found out just what a HOLD my flesh had dug in me (does have in me about almost anything – shall we talk about your coffee drinking?). I’ve never been reminded of beer so many times in these last years, never had such CRAVINGS for a cigarette, or been tempted in SO many things, than I have had since becoming a “real” Christian (I had to throw that in there, sorry).

All we former smokers like to say we’ve quit MANY, MANY times, don’t we?

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
Paul, the Apostle 1Cor6:12 (WEB)

…brought under the power…
Is this legalism?
I am in no way advocating the Southern Baptist legalism diatribe I have heard many times, claiming none may be in authority who drinks (I say “drinks” because having one beer makes you a drinker, one glass of wine). I know of a dear brother who is OH SO PROUD he never drank alcohol, even once. No, I will not be judging anyone on this, thanks. Such things are not a “sin unto death”, so I have no place to say otherwise. I can merely encourage you to be thoughtful about this… it will take quite some time to come to a real conclusion, I assure you.

One other point, read Paul’s words in 1Cor6:12 again; Everyone must be fully convinced in their own hearts (unless it’s a specific mandate), to not be under the POWER of ANYTHING, but the Spirit of God HIMSELF.

If you were caught by a person you witnessed to walking out of a liquor store would you be uncomfortable?

Can you REALLY walk into your old bar and have a seat as if nothing has changed in you?

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another.” – Jesus. John 13:34 (WEB)

And what did Charles Spurgeon say on this particular point?
Yeah, me too… I DO love a good cigar…. ah man.

Patrick Burwell
OnlyJesusSaves.org Ministries