Can I drink and still be a Christian?
Is it a sin to smoke? Is oral sex wrong since there’s no actual intercourse?
These are a few questions I get asked.
First of all, I have no intentions of turning what is black and white in Scripture into something grey. Neither am I trying to turn something grey to become black and white. That’s the reason why I will refer to what the Bible says.
While there are certain issues that the Bible doesn’t explicitly talk about, this doesn’t mean that it is quiet about that particular topic. There are certain principles we can glean from so that we can answer the questions we might have.
For example, someone might say that since there’s nothing about internet por.nography in the Bible, then it must be ok. Obviously, it won’t be there because computers didn’t exist. But the Bible does talk about lust and impurity.
Paul gives us a guiding principle in 1 Corintians 6:12.
“Everything is permissible for me” – but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me” – but I will not be mastered by anything.
Not everything is beneficial…
Beneficial for who? And for what?
Three questions we can ask ourselves…
1. Will it benefit me?
If you ask me, “Can I eat my cellphone?” My answer? “Sure! If you want to but it surely won’t be beneficial to you.”
Is it wrong? Not really.
Just because we can doesn’t mean we should.
2. Will it benefit others?
If a pregnant woman asks me, “Can I join our 7 day prayer and fasting and do a water fast?”
While the activity is very spiritual, I’m just not sure it’s very wise. We have to ask ourselves the question, “Will this thing benefit/affect the others?”
Just because we can doesn’t mean we should.
3. Will it benefit God’s kingdom?
Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” This means that whatever is going on in heaven, we desire to happen here on earth as well.
And if that is our prayer, then will this thing I do honor God and advance His kingdom? Or will it hurt the cause of Christ? Will I misrepresent His kingdom, since I am His ambassador?
These are tough questions but we do need to answer them. And when we do, I think we’ll have a pretty good gauge about what we need to do.
As Oswald Chambers said, “Holiness, not happiness is the chief end of man.”
“Just because we can doesn’t mean we should.”
Powerful indeed, sir.
powerful message, pastor! and very timely. i really need reminding of what is simply righteous living and what is ‘permissible’ …and the music video rocks!!! asteeg!!
your blog is not condemning, instead, it powerfully points to which direction we must go — with the Scripture as our map, we would never ever go wrong…
you are a blessing, Pastor Paolo!
Good one, P.Pao, very timely!
great stuff Pastor Pao, and very very timely! This is exactly the answer I have been looking for for the past few weeks.
Nice!!! People need to read this.
Very insightful and powerful entry!
Nice.. hope it’s okay to link
I have been struggling for a long time to quit but with this message I will definetly keep this in mind.:)
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i think the entry was nice. But somewhere along the way it kinda… erm…. =/. Most people are still confused as to what is what and would most likely want a clear answer to their questions. although I liked how the author put up some principles, and even if i know more or less the answers to the previously posted questions, it would still kinda help others to have a clear-cut answer, and enter the principles to explain them, not just presenting a very strict dogmatic approach to the matter.
asteeeg! God’s standard not ours.
IMO, the right question is not “Can I drink and still be a Christian” but rather “What is my motive if ever I drink at all?”
First of, we can learn that the Bible implicitly tell that Jesus did drink. He goes to parties with his friends. On the other hand, I think Jesus did not:
1. get drunk
2. drink for the sake of being “in”
I believe he did drink because:
1. when being merry as part of their culture, they drink
2. he connected with friends
Being Christian, in my opinion, is far beyond drinking or smoking.
wow…. nice entry
thanks for this.
Biblical standards not worldly standards.
Nice Blog!
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