A couple of days ago I asked some questions about alcohol and whether the bible condemns all consumption of it as sin.  On the face of this it seems pretty certain that it is not.  Any casual reader of the stories of Jesus would recognize the fact that His first recorded miracle was turning water into wine.  And there are other direct references of His very own consumption of it.  Yet I have read and heard many arguments about it being sin.

There are those that will use all kind of pretty far out excuses to say that this is not really saying what we think.  The scripture is not saying what it seems to say.  Grape juice?  Really?  Are we to believe that God is just trying His best to confuse us?

There are those that, in the past and probably still today, say that it is even wrong for a Christian to serve or sell alcohol.  Again, I point to Christ’s first miracle.  If I should not serve or sell it then why in the world would Jesus turn water into it?  We seem to still have tremendous problems with self-righteousness.

These thoughts and questions are not really the reason I raised this question though.  For some very thoughtful, adult insights about the consumption argument in general, please read Tuesdays post and comments.  Everyone who responded made points I not only believe to be correct but I hold to them myself.  And I especially think that when you vow or commit to something as Heath and Jason did as ministers, then you should adhere to those commitments like they pointed out that they did.

If the organization you join says you have to stand on one foot for 30 seconds and face east at 8:00 am every third Tuesday and you agree, then you must do it whether it makes sense or not, if you are a person of integrity.  The health and danger issues are also valid reasons why not drinking makes sense, and the witness in a culture that definitely glorifies alcohol as the means to get drunk is not one the Kingdom really needs.  I don’t drink myself for some of these reasons.

As I stated though, I brought it all up for the same reason I have brought up other things recently.  If we spent as much time as some do on defending these obviously unbiblical beliefs such as drinking being sin, with as much zeal and commitment, in reaching out to those outside the Kingdom, we could really glorify God. Instead we waste tremendous amounts of time on our own legalistic views and arguments.

Alcohol is only one small part of a whole host of things that some Christians seem to want to focus on in spite of the fact that they have a mission to do.  Appearances are important as some believe when talking about drinking, but what about the appearance of condemnation we portray that is not even biblically justified.  When the lost of this world see us bickering and fighting and even bringing the charge of heresy against a minister that obviously is not heretical, what do they think?  I will tell you what they think because it was not that long ago that I thought it.  They think that there is no God.  And if there is He is not that big, not that great, and not that powerful because His whole family is so hypocritical and unloving of even each other.

We must reach out in love to a lost and dying world and to do that we have got to stop adding our own lists of sins to Gods.  That is what Jesus condemned about the Pharisees and the bible even warns us about adding to His word, but we just don’t seem to get it.  This world of lost souls is not concerned about our petty arguments and disagreements about alcohol, about divorce, about creation, about (dare I say it) initial evidence.  What this worlds lost souls are concerned about, whether they even know it or not, is the eternal destination of their very being.  And even if they are not concerned, we must be.

As I said on my post about creation recently, let’s stop all the arguing about pet doctrines and interpretations in front of the kids, so to speak, and wait until we get behind closed doors.

Love you all

Tags: alcohol, Appearance, Belief, Bible, consumption, Creation, Culture, God, Interpretation, Kingdom, Love, Righteousness, Self, Sin, witness

I have two goals in mind while writing this today.  The first is to say Happy Birthday Tammy.  I love you and hope you are having a good time.  And hopefully being refreshed also. 

My wife, Tammy, is out of town with some of the ladies from our church.  They go on a trip every year to get away and do whatever women do when they get away.  But today is her birthday and I wanted to let her know that I am thinking of her and also let her know and the world know how much I appreciate her.  I would not be here if not for her, especially her prayers.   And I mean that literally. 

Prayer is the second thing I want to touch on.  Do you pray?  How often?  Do you believe it actually does anything? 

Depending on the theological worldview a person holds, there are a lot of different beliefs about prayer.  For those who believe in the meticulous sovereignty of God prayer is actually only a means to somehow see ourselves as lined up with His will.  It can’t really bring about anything that God has not already brought about.  In this view does it really do anything?

In James 5:16 we are told that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man actually accomplishes a lot.  How does it accomplish anything if all is already decided?

It seems to me that prayer does actually get Gods attention and lets Him know we need or want something.  But if it is to bring something about it must be effectual.  What does that mean?  The dictionary definition in part says effectual means…capable of producing an intended effect; adequate.  So if this is the definition of effectual we must realize that what we ask of God has to be in line with His word and His will or it is not going to be either capable or adequate.  He will not do anything for us that is not lined up with His will. 

Prayer must also be fervent.  The definition of fervent is…

So prayer must also be for something that we really desire: desire with all our heart and spirit.  Something we want so much that we are willing to lay aside the things that take up so much of our time for.  How often do we just throw up empty words to heaven and then get mad or feel forsaken when God could not really tell whether we were serious or not? 

And prayer must come from a righteous man or woman.  And since none are righteous (Romans 3:10), this has to mean that the prayers that God can answer have to come from someone that has the righteousness of Christ applied to them.  Someone covered by the blood of Jesus. 

Therefore it looks like we can conclude that, if we are serving Jesus Christ, if we are one of His, if we are serious, zealous, and passionate about our needs, and if we ask for what is in line with God’s will, we actually have a voice in the Kingdom of God.    

Prayer is one of the most effective weapons we have in our arsenal against the unseen forces that are all around us.  Prayer is a weapon and its proper use is what makes us an effective soldier to be used by God in this battle to the death we are engaged in.  Hence the term, prayer warrior. 

I thank God that my wife, Tammy, is a prayer warrior.  She is in the midst of the fray daily.  The enemy has seen her effectiveness and I know this firsthand.  And if not for her, like I said in the beginning, I would not be here. 

I just want her to know that I am there, beside her, praying with and for her, no matter how tough the battle gets.

Why don’t we all band together in effectual fervent prayer.  And actually do something.

Happy Birthday, Sweet T.  I love you and

Love you all

Tags: Faith, Power, Prayer, Righteousness, Spiritual Warfare, Weapons, Zealous