One of my favorite stories is about the missionaries who went to Europe and were shocked to see believers drinking wine and beer. Knowing that all consumption of alcohol was sin, these missionaries couldn’t connect with their brothers and sisters in Europe. However, they noticed that the believers there often looked at them and made comments under their breath. When the truth was finally revealed, the European believers were scandalized that the Americans went shopping on Sunday. (I suppose they eventually compromised and determined that they could fellowship as long as no one drank alcohol at the mall on Sunday.)
You see, this is what happens when we try to live under a religious flesh system. Whose system do we use? How specific should we get? How do we relate to those who do not share our system? The Church has spent a great amount of its energy fighting these battles. The only thing that happens is that our religious flesh system becomes more a part of us as we justify it in relationship with others.
We were never supposed to follow a system. The systems, whether religious or not, are part of the broken world. We are called to a relationship with the One who will lead us personally. Yes, He has given us His Word, wonderful information to help us through our days, but even His Word was never supposed to be taken apart from Him. He spoke to us as our Friend, our Father, our Redeemer, our Lover, our King—but never outside of a relationship.
He loves you and He wants you to come to Him. Ask Him His will. Tell Him your concerns. Listen for Him to respond to you in love.
Questions? Thoughts?
What if the beer was 1/2 off when they were at the Mall?
Hah! I suppose it would be acceptable then under the auspices of “good stewardship.”