Day 20 On Drinking

There was a time in my life when there were too many drunk days and hangovers. I was already attending the church and even working on the ministry. I had my personal reasons that I won't use to justify my doings, but this to share how God moved into my life. 

My drinking was wrong not because it was sin in the eyes of the church but because I drink and get drunk with wrong motives. I drink at friend's houses, I got drunk by the beach, had hangovers from overnight session with cousins, tasted different liquors in those hiking nights. I buy beers in the 24-hr stores and drink in the comfort room of our boarding house (I live with Christian housemates so I keep it in my cabinet). All with bitterness and anger in my heart. 

But God was gracious, I woke up one day with revelations. He used people, used the church, used His word for me to learn. It took time. In my journey to healing, God showed me His love, His holiness that made the difference in my life. He didn't pointed it out saying I am not worthy of the calling or I am sinning because of my drinking. He just simply loved me and moved as I surrender this concern to God. I was wrong, that I admitted. He was gracious. 

If you will ask me if drinking wine and beer is sin, I will say no. It depends on why and how you drink it. The bible celebrates events with wine, as with wedding at Cana, the fermented drink offering in the old Testament (Numbers 28:7). Even consider wine as blessings (Deut 7:13), (Proverbs 3:10). 

The bible didn't say no to wine and drinking  What is wrong is drunkenness, being enslaved to wine, and alcoholism. (Titus 2:3) 

Now, if we occasionaly drink wine, we should be careful not to fall even if we are standing firm (1 Cor 10:12) as wine is a mocker and beer, a brawler.  (Proverbs 20:1). Drink but be warned of its potential misuse. There is a fine line between using it for celebrations and communion (drinking to remember) to using it to help ease pains (drinking to forget)

When we strip away all the man-made clutter that dims the Gospel, the full glory of Jesus shines much brighter. A good chunk of the dying world that’s rejected Christianity hasn’t said no to Jesus, but no to a pharisaical version of Him. Some people have been turned off by the Gospel because they’ve thought that becoming a Christ-follower meant giving up having a beer with your friends after work. If this is the “good news” we preach, then the true beauty of a crucified and risen King will become covered in the fog of a man-made, pharisaical “don’t drink” gospel.

Now am I drinking? No, not because of my religion but because I don't see a need for it in my desires to know Him more. I have been there and although I know I have been disciplined, I wouldn't want to put myself into the trap of its mockery, esp when I go thru some life trials. I will have to ask myself if time comes I will be asked to drink, will I be giving God glory if I take this? The bible says, wheter we eat or drink, we should do it for God's glory. All things are permissible but will it be necessary to have..one..glass. 

I won't use wine to forget pains (as once I believed the hearsay it is a cure), but if I shall drink wine, it will be for a celebratory toast or drink, and communion.