So, What's The Big Deal?

"13 Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in your brother’s way. 14 (I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean.) 15 For if your brother is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy that one Christ died for by what you eat. 16 Therefore, do not let your good be slandered, 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then, we must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. 20 Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong for a man to cause stumbling by what he eats. 21 It is a noble thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother stumble. 22 Do you have a conviction? Keep it to yourself before God. The man who does not condemn himself by what he approves is blessed. 23 But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from a conviction, and everything that is not from a conviction is sin."
Romans 14:13-23

Good Morning Beloved,
Welcome to worship, we're so glad to have you here!

There are obviously a number of issues that are dividing our world, politics, racism, social injustice, privileges and rights to name a few. There are also a number of topics today that are dividing the church as well. Some of which you may recall, we discussed in our previous lesson. The subject of alcohol is certainly a highly sensitive topic among many Christians and the church today. There are many churches which have diverse opinions. Some requiring total abstinence from alcohol in order to be a member, while others are more liberal, even having beer tents at community events.

Let's bow our heads in prayer.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for gathering us, Your church, together today. Thank You for preserving Your truths in Your written Word, for those saints, who went before us, who by inspiration of Your Spirit, provide us with Your Word. Lord, I pray today, that this be not just another message, but that it be a Word from You, our Lord, to all of our hearts.

Father, I pray, that if there is anything in our lives that causes another brother or sister to stumble, to grieve, or to suffer any spiritual loss, reveal it, bring it before us, burden and convict our hearts, then remove it from our lives, that we may walk in love toward the one for whom our Savior died.

Lord, I pray that our lives would be without offense, without offense toward You, who died for us,
without accusation toward ourselves and without offense toward our brothers and sisters for whom You also did die. This I pray for the sake of Your church, for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
May it all be for Your glory and increase in Your kingdom.
In Christs' name
Amen

Alcohol has been around a long, long time, in fact, as far back as Genesis. As recorded in Genesis chapter 9, Noah made, drank and got drunk on his own wine. Until Prohibition many churches used wine for communion. Thomas Bramwell Welch, a physician, dentist and Wesleyan Methodist Connexion, created grape juice as an alternative to wine for communion. Thomas and his son Charles E. Welch, also a dentist, would later start Welch's, juice company, was incorporated in 1893. After the lifting of prohibition, alcohol became a major problem in the United States. And, it still is today!

The American Medical Society classifies alcoholism a disease, and alcohol as an "addictive drug." Yet, alcohol is readily available and heavily advertised. With the spread of Covid-19, the state governments closed nearly every kind of business and all churches, however, state stores, those which sell alcohol, were deemed as "essential businesses."

An estimated 88,000 people, approximately 62,000 men and 26,000 women, die from alcohol-related causes annually, making alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States. 14.4 million people over the age of 18, suffer from alcohol use disorder. The number of alcohol-induced deaths, excluding accidents and homicides: 35,823. 62.1% Americans drink regularly. 10% adult drinkers are alcoholic, 10 million. 60-100 billion is spent each year by government to educate and help with alcohol related problems. 50% of all traffic fatalities and 33% injuries are b/c of alcohol. According to the 2018 NSDUH, an estimated 401,000 adolescents ages 12–17 suffer from alcohol use disorder. In 2019, the number of deaths for adolescents aged 15–19 years was 10,886. In 2017, alcoholic liver disease deaths were 22,246. "Alcoholism has a profound effect on the entire body, especially the brain, heart, pancreas, mouth, liver, and immune system. In spite of its negative impact, more Americans than ever before consume alcohol on a regular basis", according to Talbot Recovery.

There are a number of people who have the belief that wine is "good for you," having the same anti oxidants in grape juice as there are in wine. Some go on to say, "Alcohol doesn’t effect me." However, a 200 lb. man, after one drink has a .02 blood alcohol level. The liver only metabolizes one drink an hour. .08 is legal limit over 21. So with two drinks, a 200 lb. man will be at .05-.06. A feeling of warmth, relaxation, mild sedation, exaggeration of emotion and behavior, decrease reaction time; impaired judgment about continued drinking. Whiskey provides a feeling of warmth, however, it actually thins your blood, resulting in making you colder.

There are some who believe that shots are okay, since their smaller - 1 shot = 1 12oz. beer. This is not an endorsement, or judgment, as to whether or not drinking is right or wrong, these are just the scientific facts.

Alcohol continues to be a major source of confusion within the church. And, I'd like to point out, that there are people who love Jesus who are on both sides of this issue. So, what does the Bible actually say? All Christians can agree drunkenness is sin. 

Isaiah 5:11-12, teaches us, "Woe to those who rise early in the morning in pursuit of beer, who linger into the evening, inflamed by wine. At their feasts they have lyre, harp, tambourine, flute, and wine. They do not perceive the Lord’s actions, and they do not see the work of His hands."

While Proverbs 23:19-21 says, "Listen, my son, and be wise; keep your mind on the right course. Don’t associate with those who drink too much wine or with those who gorge themselves on meat. For the drunkard and the glutton will become poor, and grogginess will clothe them in rags."

We're told in Ephesians 5:18, "And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:"

I believe we can certainly conclude, to get drunk is sin. I think all believers can agree on that.

Turn with me in your Bibles, to the book of Romans chapter 14. Before we begin, I'd like to state a few things, to sort of set the tone for our lesson from this marvelous epistle from the apostle Paul to the Romans.

In coming to Jesus Christ, we have been set free! Amen? We are from any former religious taboos and restrictions of the Old Testament. Therefore, we are free to enjoy all of the good gifts that God has created for us to enjoy. And, there are really no limitations as to what we might enjoy, in speaking of God's good and perfect gifts.

Now, I'd also like to point out, that of course, this does not, in any way, shape or form, include the freedom to sin. I want to make that clear. We are not given the freedom to sin. However, we are given the freedom to enjoy all the good things that God has provided for us. And, I suppose we could say that the basic idea of Christian liberty or Christian freedom, is that in Christ, we are the recipients of the blessings of the New Covenant, meaning we are free to enjoy all that God has provided without any restrictions in terms of non-moral things.

I'd also like to point out, that there are a number of these things, that have absolutely nothing to do with morality, they have nothing to do with that which is clearly set forth in Scripture, as related to sin. These types of things, these are neutral things. Things that are the elements of which Christian liberty is made. Now in order for us to understand how we react to all of this, in environment of available things that in and of themselves are not evil, we must seek instruction from the Word of God. 

The reason for this, is because within the church of Jesus Christ, there are going to be people, strong, faithful believers, who fully understand their freedom to enjoy all the good gifts that God has given them as long as they don't abuse them, in such a way that becomes sinful. And on the other hand, there are also going to be believers, who are also strong and faithful, that because of their background, their upbringing, traditional beliefs and experiences, are bringing into their Christian experience a whole lot of do's and don'ts, things that convict them, things that cause them to believe that these things are not permissible. And as such, we potentiate a strong belief, a great moral and biblical conflict within the church today. Creating a great divide, between those who want to fully exercise their freedoms to the fullest extent and those who want to confine themselves to a limited perspective, in terms of Christian liberty and freedom.

And as we begin to study the portion of Scripture today, we will find that this is Paul's concern. That this kind of conflict, taking place within the church, can most assuredly, disrupt the unity of the church. Christs' church. The apostle Paul takes great care, in this thoughtfully written epistle, to conciliate the church, with an attitude of love, in regards to these kinds of issues, to strengthen the church, rather than dividing it.

Allow me to read to you from our text, as you follow along with me in your Bibles, from Romans 14:13-23.

"Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in your brother’s way. (I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean.) For if your brother is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy that one Christ died for by what you eat. Therefore, do not let your good be slandered, for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then, we must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong for a man to cause stumbling by what he eats. It is a noble thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother stumble. Do you have a conviction? Keep it to yourself before God. The man who does not condemn himself by what he approves is blessed. But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from a conviction, and everything that is not from a conviction is sin."

However, to drink, in and of itself is not a sin. In fact, God says some positive things about alcohol. In Psalm 104:14-15, it says, "He causes grass to grow for the livestock and provides crops for man to cultivate, producing food from the earth, wine that makes man’s heart glad— making his face shine with oil—and bread that sustains man’s heart." 

Isaiah 55:1, "Come, everyone who is thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!"

Jesus drank wine, Matthew 11:18-19 , "For John did not come eating or drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."

There have been some who say, "maybe he was drinking grape juice." If that were true, why would they accuse him of being a drunkard if it was just grape juice. In fact, you may remember, Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine.

So if drunkenness is sin however, drinking is not, then what do we need to know about drinking? Though drinking may not be a sin, abstinence may very well be the best way for a believer to keep from sinning. Why? Because living a life of holiness that is pleasing to God means living in the middle of two polar opposites. On one side, it is incredibly legalistic, while the other side, is completely immoral.

We are called to have to live a life of balance and to do that means we may have to sacrifice a few things in this life that may not be sin, things you know you just cannot say no to, things you have a difficult time letting go of, things that will hurt your relationship with Christ, or things that set a bad example for others, causing them to stumble.

The problem is, our natural tendencies are sinful, evil and immoral. No one needs to teach us how to be bad. We instinctively know how. So, when it comes to the issue of alcohol, it is my personal belief, that it is better to not drink at all, then to have a devil on our shoulder tempting us, causing us to worry about how much is too much, or succumbing to peer pressure, or worrying about if my drinking might lead someone down a wrong path. Beloved, believe me, it typically does, I know, I've been there! And, that's a road I don't intend on going down again.

Besides alcohol there are many “gray areas” the bible never directly addresses like smoking, tattoos, clothing (what’s appropriate for school or church or swimming), should we watch rated R movies, should we watch TV shows that portray any sex or violence, should our kids play Grand Theft Auto, should teenagers kiss or even hold hands, should we listen to music that is not categorized as “Christian”?

Now, as believers, followers of Christ, we as individuals have a responsibility to look at everything we do, all of our conduct, and apply this idea of the conviction, conscience, and consideration to it. Why? Because we are to live a life that is first and foremost pleasing to God. Matthew 6:33, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you."

I Corinthians 10:31 says "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory."

Its about pleasing and glorifying Christ not pleasing man. I will sacrifice because I want to please God. I want to please God, by not causing a brother to stumble because of my conduct and because I want my life to radiate Christ in a positive example and way.

Let’s take this issue of alcohol today and apply Paul’s process of conviction, conscience and consideration to see why abstinence may very well be the best choice for us, as Christians.

Paul tries to help with these “gray areas” by giving us 3 things to look at to determine if what we have questions on should or should not be permissible in our lives. Conviction, Conscience, and Consideration.

Conviction means "that which anticipates." Does he look forward to what he is going to do in high anticipation and enthusiasm? Conscience asks, “"Does he look back on what he has done, wondering if he were right or wrong?" Consideration asks, "Are other people negatively affected by what he does?"

Our beloved apostle Paul wants to help us find that difficult balance between legalistic Christian and an liberal Christian. In Romans 14:1, "Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about doubtful issues." Here, Paul warns us as believers to stop condemning questionable matters which are not forbidden in scripture. A person who is weak in faith does not know what they should do on certain matters of conduct. We may not agree with them however, we need to accept them. You may not like their tattoos, their ear rings, that they wear jeans and a t-shirt to church, or work on Sundays, or watch Harry Potter movies but you must accept them as your fellow believer in Christ and stop judging for things that are not condemned as sin in scripture.

Pastor J. Vernon McGee, an American ordained Presbyterian minister, pastor, Bible teacher, theologian, and radio minister, once wrote, "One group of believers is not to sit in judgment upon another group of believers about questionable matters of Christian conduct. Some things are not expressly condemned in Scripture, but some believers separate themselves from these things. And if they want to do this, that’s their business. These things are not to separate believers."

Conviction: Romans 14:10-13, "But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you, why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before the tribunal of God. For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to Me, and every tongue will give praise to God. So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in your brother’s way."

The point is, every one of us are going to give an account someday on how we lived our lives. Far too many of us have taken the legalistic approach to things and we are more worried about what others are doing, how others are living, that we forget to make sure we ourselves are right with God. Let's be honest, we love to point out other people’s sins. We love to point out how other people are gossips, liars, adulterers, grumblers or whatever. But what we need to do is to take a hard look in the mirror at ourselves and quit judging others.

I believe that the biggest reason we can identify hypocrisy, deceit, and a lack of genuineness in others is because that they are all within our own hearts. This first part goes with what I have already spoken about in that we need to quit judging other people’s conduct that is not condemned in scripture and we need to have some conviction about our own life choices or conduct. We all need to ask ourselves, "Is what I am doing and how I am living pleasing to the Lord? Does my conduct and my life radiate Christ in a positive example and way?"

Some of us need to quit worrying about who reads Harry Potter books and start focusing on fixing our own gossip problem. Some of us need to quit criticizing how Joe and Jane are raising their kids when your own kids are out of control. Some of us need to quit acting so shocked about the movie that little Billy was aloud to see while you go home each night and stare at porn. We are so quick to make others feel convicted and judged yet we never look at the convictions of our own hearts.
I need to quit worrying about others and focus first on how I am living my life. Am I overcoming my convictions? Because I give an account the best thing for me is to be as far away from evil or the temptation of evil as possible. I Thessalonians 5:22- We need to stop and really think about whether its worth it or not. Do you approach alcohol with enthusiasm or is there even a little bit of questioning in you on whether or not you should do it? You need to start and maybe think about why you drink in the first place? Do you drink to relieve stress? The Bible says, “cast all your cares on Him.” I abstain because I want to stay away from even the appearance of evil and alcohol, although not a sin, gives off a very negative appearance because of how many problems it causes.

Conscience: Romans 14:14-17- Another way to say this is it’s not a matter of "can I" but "should I"?
There are many things we can do that are not openly condemned in scripture. The bible doesn’t say we can’t drink, but should we? It doesn’t say I can’t watch rated R movies, but should I. It doesn’t say I can’t wear a thong, a Speedo but seriously "should I?" It’s not about "can I" but its about where is this conduct going lead me, where is it going to take my heart? If the conduct takes you down a path of sin or has even the slightest chance of taking you down a path to sin then you need to cut it out of your life no matter how much you enjoy it and regardless of whether the bible condemns it or not. If you can’t handle rated R movies because the explicit language and the nudity tempts me to have vulgar language and look at pornography then I probably need to cut it out of my life.

If I can’t drink with friends without risking getting drunk or if drinking is the only thing that you think will help you relax then you need to cut that out of your life. Why? Because it is causing you to sin, to put something before God. In other words, drinking has become a false idol. In I Corinthians 6:12, teaches us, "Everything is permissible for me,”but not everything is helpful. "Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be brought under the control of anything."

Our free will gives us ability to do anything we want from murder to drinking to driving into a building just for fun but it is not necessarily beneficial. Paul here says, "listen to your conscience." Now, skip down to Romans 14:22-23, "Do you have a conviction? Keep it to yourself before God. The man who does not condemn himself by what he approves is blessed. But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from a conviction, and everything that is not from a conviction is sin."

Paul is telling us, if you have any doubt as to whether you should drink then you shouldn’t. If you have doubts and you do it, then it is sin. And if there is any question that your drinking will cause others to stumble then don’t do it. Because you will be sinning by causing others to stumble and sin.

I know that some of you might be saying right now, "Well, pastor, I’m not convicted. You might think those things are wrong but they aren’t wrong to me." It doesn’t matter if you think they are wrong or not, are they beneficial? Are they making your relationship stronger with Christ? Are they setting a good example for new believers around you? Is what you are doing have even the smallest chance that it could impact someone negatively? Could it cause you to go down a path that comes to a fork in the road, a road that leads you to sin?

Allow me to speak candidly here, about what I do know about alcohol, if I never take even the first drink of alcohol, I will never have to worry how it might reflect upon God, I will never have to worry about being "mastered" by it. Nor will I ever have to worry about how much is too much.

Here's something I'd like to encourage you to consider, "Why is it the gray issues we pursue, tend to lead towards the darkness rather than the light? Because, our human nature always wants to test the boundaries! We want to know how far we can go without crossing the line into sin?

Beloved, if we are truly seeking the Kingdom of God, if we truly desire to know Christ and be close to Him, then shouldn’t our first desire be to go towards the light? And stay as far away from the darkness as possible?

Consideration: People are watching, your boss, your co-workers, your children, spouse, and church family are all watching. Romans 14:20-23, "Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong for a man to cause stumbling by what he eats. It is a noble thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother stumble. Do you have a conviction? Keep it to yourself before God. The man who does not condemn himself by what he approves is blessed. But whoever doubts stands condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from a conviction, and everything that is not from a conviction is sin."

From the moment you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you were set apart as a child of God. Your life was no longer about you, and your desires but it was all about serving God, whole heartedly, mind, body and strength. You are living in this broken fallen world, as an alien, a foreigner, a stranger. I Peter 2:11-12, "Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you. Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation."

We don’t have much time and what time we have needs to be focused on living out God’s purpose for our lives. When you proclaim Christ as savior, people will start watching how you live. I Timothy 4:12, says, "Let no one despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."

In Closing....

Beloved, we have to quit trying to see just how far toward the dark side of gray areas we can go without falling completely into sin and begin focusing our attention on making everything about our lives, a pleasing fragrance, a life glorifying to God.

I now abstain from alcohol because I don’t want there to be even the slightest chance that my example could hurt someone, or cause someone else to stumble. We may, even as Christians, not think it’s a big deal but how do you know your drinking , even if its just once a month won’t cause your children, your spouse or your friends who see you drink become alcoholics? I don’t want people to look at me "and say, “Well, I saw Pastor Brian drink, so it must be okay." And what if they start drinking and become an alcoholic. What if they have a few too many, and drive? If I abstain from drinking, then I don’t have to worry about it.

And, it's not just alcohol we need to worry about. As Christians, we must set a higher standard of living in general. We need to be aware, be very conscious of how we talk, what we watch, or listen too not because we want to become legalistic. Because you and I want our lives to be the best possible representation of Jesus Christ. We are chosen! We've been set apart. The truth that we are God’s beloved child, should drive us, in every way, every single day to want to become better. We should want to cut  everything out of our lives that are tempting us to sin, cut out the things that may cause our brother to sin.

I want to challenge you today, on this issue of alcohol, to just think. While it may not be a sin and not forbidden to drink according to scripture the abuse of alcohol is a sin. Drunkenness is a sin. I would challenge every Christian in here today to approach alcohol with conviction, conscience and consideration. While the Bible doesn’t call it a sin it is clear that the result of drinking alcohol can cause a brother to stumble, it can cause you to become addicted, to cause offense to others and can very easily have a negative impact on the witness you are trying to proclaim it seems to make sense from these that abstinence from alcohol is the best option if you want to guarantee to have a positive effect on the people around you who don’t know Jesus as Savior.

More than anything else I just want you, as Christians, to love one another, accept one another, to stand in unity, set apart from the world. By these things, they shall know to whom we belong.
May the grace of God be with you all and always.

And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen

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