iRockYouth

Is it awkward to talk about beer at church? I imagine just seeing this picture on a church website makes you feel awkward. What is it about church that makes the mention of drinking beer so hush - hush? If you were at The Rock on Sunday, you saw me pull out 2 bottles of Corona and a can of Miller lite. When we walk by the beer section in the grocery store and see shelves and shelves of alcoholic beverages, not many of us snicker - so what is different about church? It is all around our lives, so I wanted to talk about it in public. If drinking is okay - why do we hide when we drink and feel ashamed if someone catches us. If drinking is not okay - we should want to obey God and live as obedient children. So you see, alcohol is an issue that every single one of us will have to take a stand on one way or another. Scripture is God's revealed will for our lives and how we should worship and glorify Him. Ephesians 5:15-18 says that we should not get drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit. Also, Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2:1-3 that we should act as newborn infants and crave pure spiritual milk. I think these two verses share an idea - that idea is that God desires that we are people that grow towards Spiritual maturity by being filled and influenced completely by his Word. His Word should be to us as milk is to a baby - nourishing, giving strength, we should long for it, we should cry for it, we should be completely satisfied by it. Nothing should take its place. When we abuse alcohol, we are hindering our intimacy with God. 1 Peter 2:16 says that we should live as free men - how do they live? "Honor everyone, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the emperor." God has placed authority over us on earth: Police, government, parents, teachers, older siblings, etc. To obey our earthly authority is to obey God. If we are under 21, the answer is simple. It is illegal to consume alcohol and thus dishonoring to God. If we are over 21, we are still able to dishonor God in our use of it...but we have freedom. I hope that our discussion has opened up your heart to seeing how much of a delight it is to honor God by living a life of freedom and obedience. PETE