On Having A Beer...

We have been studying the gospel of John in my Sunday school class. Yesterday, we were in chapter two - the wedding feast at Cana. As some of you are aware, this is where Jesus turns 180 gallons of water into wine. If you do not know the story, you should read it. In short though, Jesus, his family and some of the disciples are at a wedding celebration. Early on, the wine runs out. This is disastrous because, back in the Day, Jewish wedding celebrations were known to last for as much as a week. Mary brought the wine shortage to the attention of her son. After an exchange of some terse words, Jesus acceded to his mother's request and fixed the problem. Suddenly there was more than enough wine for everyone and a good wedding present leftover for after.

There was wine. And overabundance. There was a new start for two people. A new life. It was Jesus' way of announcing his new kingdom - a place of overabundance, new life and a new start.

Oddly, my students had other questions. Many, particularly those older than me, have an issue with use of adult beverages. They grew up in tee-totaling households and were taught in church that drinking alcoholic beverages is a sin. My thought is that they strain out gnats, but that is not where this is going.

Evangelical and fundamentalist churches developed a 'no alcohol' stance back in the 19th century during the women's temperance movement. Even though this movement was the precursor to the suffrage and women's right movement, and finally, feminism, many in these churches still cling to the 'no alcohol' policy. I remember my grandma saying to grandpa, "lips that touch alcohol will never touch mine". Grandpa listened. The sentiment was passed on to future generations. My Dad, now 80, has never had a drink in his life. And so it goes.

Not so with me. Let me tell you why.

The Bible does not forbid the use of alcoholic beverages. God's first people, the Jews, would drink wine at Passover. They had vineyards and they made wine. It probably was not like our wine. The alcohol content would have been lower, but they consumed it daily. It was too dangerous to drink the water.    

Jesus drank wine, so much so, that he was accused of being a wine-bibber, whatever that is. Jesus went to a lot of parties.  Some say that the 'new' wine of Christ's day had no alcohol in it. This is wrong. The alcohol content may have been lower, but it was still present. Middle eastern people of that time were wine and beer drinkers. There was noting wrong with it. There is nothing wrong with it.

Like a lot of things though, use of alcohol can be abused. Drunkenness is a sin. But so is gluttony, greed and avarice. Obesity is a major problem in the Church in America. When Christians gather, they eat and sometimes it's more than a feast. As a people that is not supposed to focus on the pleasures of the flesh, we seem obsessed with food consumption. It has become our comfort in stressful times and so we eat.

What's funny is watching two Christians at a fellowship dinner, plates heaped to overflowing, discussing the drinking habits of the general public or even other Christians. As they shovel scoops of chicken and noodles into their jowly, doubled chinned faces. mashed potatoes at the ready, they talk about 'Joe Smith' at the next table that they know has beer in his refrigerator at home.

Here is something for them to think about. You are intoxicated with calories. Slow down. God and the ladies at church will make more. Try about half a plate with a glass of wine or beer. Enjoy a nice dessert wine with your pie. Have some conversation later in the day over a beer.

It's called moderation people!

Be moderate in everything accept moderation. If you cannot be moderate, then give up whatever it is you need to give up. You say, "but I have to eat or I'll die." I say, "Eat to live, do not live to eat."

It's the same with alcohol consumption. If you cannot do it in moderation, then do not do it and do not beat up others that can. We are adults. Grow up and live like it.

You say 'what about all the societal problems alcohol causes?'

Ya, there are many things like that. It comes from abuse and not moderation.        

My point? The world will not end because your brother enjoys a beer or two with his supper at the end of the day. God does not care. Your human rules come from the 19th century and not timeless truth. Get over it and get over yourselves. Live like Jesus. Enjoy life and serve others at the same time. The Christian life is good. It's abundant. You've been reborn. Why don't you live that way?