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Christianity Today, July, 2007 |

Brewing Battle

Missouri Baptists frown on beer as evangelistic hook.

Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra | posted 6/29/2007 08:55AM

Church planters who receive money from the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) must now teach alcohol abstinence. The policy change was sparked by the Journey, a growing interdenominational church that ...

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Elizabeth

Posted: July 08, 2007 9:56 PM

As a Southern Baptist, I have seen many changes since I was a kid. I wasn't allowed to dance, my own kids took ballet, tap, and jazz and church members attended their recitals. However, changes within a denomination must come from within, not be imposed from those who disagree who are not a part. All churches/denominations must have some kind of standards for who they will or will not support in missions. If those standards leave out a particular mission work, that work should ask God for guidence for another place or way to find funding. If a work is of God, He will supply the need. Paul said "It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall." Romans 14:21 If a group wants to use a denomination's money, they must be willing to conform to both theological and behavioral standards. It is not legalism to only give money entrusted for mission work to missions that meet the standards expected by the members who gave the money.

len sterling

Posted: July 02, 2007 9:56 PM


There is probably nothing quite as unsettling as the theology of “God’s rules according to man”. Legalism at its best or the beginning of cultic type thinking or something in between; no matter how you see it, such narrow minded ideals are not from the scriptures.

Bascom

Posted: July 02, 2007 4:24 PM

CT itself dealt with this issue in an article by Robert H. Stein, “Wine-Drinking in New Testament Times,” June 20, l975, pp. 9-11. Stein makes the argument, based on reputable sources from antiquity, that today's alcoholic drinks are notably stronger due to the advent of distilling. (Norman Geisler cites this article extensively in a piece that is available online.) Furthermore, the practice of wine drinking in the first century, for example, was typically a mixture of mostly water to wine, 3-4 parts to 1 part. This appears to be something that small children drank as well. Don't know that I'd give my kids a glass of Chardonnay or an ice-cold Beck's beer. Would you? This context is greatly needed in this discussion. True, as Timothy George states, to argue a biblical mandate on abstinence is difficult, but to argue its wisdom might not be difficult considering historical context and the fact that modern medicine and alternative beverages now exist.

Andrew Tucker

Posted: July 02, 2007 10:10 AM

10 persons can go to a doctor and ask for a pain killer. 2 may only need it. That is the truth. I am 100 % positive that Great Jesus did not create alcohol wine. Alcohol causes retarded unborn babies and violence. For a persons pain, alcohol,marijuana, popies and others were created. I do not beleive that the bible is toatlly true. Most is. It says in the bible that Jesus is the son of David. In the beginning it was written that Jesus is the son of God. Another idea is that I will not kill a baby in war or out of war. If during war, I would take the baby in a heart beat. I love kids and creating christians. God is psychic. About Gods earthquakes, tornadoes and other disasters. Sometimes to win future wars or to stop abuse or humans pollution sins and other sins. Some babies die. God is a psychic. In Isaiah, a second world is promised. Understanding God and laws may take a while. Understanding such as how to be a servant and witness. Thank you for reading this. Psalms 99:9! Hill Pray!

Romans 14:12

Posted: July 01, 2007 11:12 PM


So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another

Nance

Posted: July 01, 2007 7:56 PM


"It's hard to argue that the Bible requires total abstinence." That's probably because it's not meant to be argued. In a society where the irreligious already oftentimes hold a pretty negative view of Christians concerning moral code, why we are strengthening that perception by arguing things that aren't even really Biblical is beyond me.

www.novuslumen.net

Posted: June 30, 2007 5:19 PM

What irritates me about this whole drama isn’t so much that “traditional Baptist values” exclude alcoholic consumption so much as those exclusive, value preferences are placed within a “biblicalness” that far surpasses what is biblical. And more so, this tradition and preference is completely acontextual and wholly unhelpful to reaching the “Other.” Prefer alcoholic abstinence if you must, SBC. But please, please do not equate traditional, value preferences with Scripture. And please, please keep your grubby dogmatic hands off of missional, gospel enterprises that reach people outside of the sterile, drooping walls of Churchianity!

Tomas

Posted: June 30, 2007 10:56 AM


Raised Episcopalian I had no issues with alcohol. I drank for 40 years. The booze destroyed my life. Now with 8 years of sobriety I prefer AA to "church."

Leslie

Posted: June 30, 2007 9:53 AM

My daughter was very involved in a campus ministry while attending college-she had her most meaningful discussions with her friends and others while in a bar, nursing a beer (she was of legal age!) She was able to discuss issues of spirituality and spread the gospel in a very meaningful way with kids who would never darken the door of a church, a bible study or student ministry gathering. So, while I agree that alcohol can be an addictive, unhealthy substance, we need to remember that "all things are permissable, not all things are beneficial" (1 Cor. 10:23-24) but not get bent out of shape regarding where we share and do not share the truth with lost souls.

Mike	Posted: June 29, 2007 5:35 PM

Jesus Christ turned Water into wine , not only wine but the very best wine at a wedding. Not drinking alcohol has nothing to do with making us Holy. Can we become Holy by our own works!! if so then we don't need Christ who is the only Holy One. This man made doctrine of self Holiness is in complete error, what did the church of the apostles believe on this matter. Look to the church's who are much more than 500 years old and you will find the truth. May the Lord always bless you

http://merehumanity.wordpress.com

Posted: June 29, 2007 5:28 PM

i think this is a very important article because the issue of alcohol among the evangelicals is taboo. there are so many among our parents' generations who think that its wrong to play cards, dance or drink alcohol. i remember a story of my dad's childhood, where he had invited a girl to prom, but on the night of prom, his parents wouldnt let him go, "because a good Baptist boy doesnt dance". i dont mean to belittle their stances on issues like alcohol, but rigid rules sounds a lot more like the shammai pharisees interpretation of Torah that Jesus cried out against. if a church is meeting in a brewery, SO WHAT!! they are reaching people the fundies will never reach. and Christ came for all people, not just those who believe alcohol is wrong. i think it is about time that american evangelicals wake up and realize that Jesus drank wine and didnt eat pork...peter

John	Posted: June 29, 2007 12:33 PM

I think this article merited a deeper discussion of the issue of alcohol consumption within different denominations. One can argue that holding church-sponsored meetings in a microbrewery isn't wise while still accepting that consumption of alcohol in moderation is an acceptable practice. As someone who brews his own beer as a hobby while remaining faithful, I know it can be a sensitive issue to someone who is either antagonistic towards religion or intolerant of any drinking whatsoever.

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