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...to the culture.
Should we...
...engage it as the emergents say?
...or ignore it as the anabaptists say?
...incite it as fundamentalists say?
Suppose you found out that I spent an evening in a tavern in an attempt to rub shoulders with a specific person, to live where they live, to experience their experience, to feel their pain, to be qualified to share truth into their specific situation, what would you think?
Would your opinion change if you found out I had smoked a couple cigars?
How much more would it change if you found out I had a couple shots of whiskey?
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4 comments:
"Suppose you found out that I spent an evening in a tavern in an attempt to rub shoulders with a specific person, to live where they live, to experience their experience, to feel their pain, to be qualified to share truth into their specific situation, what would you think?"
I'd say you were following the example of our incredible Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
"Would your opinion change if you found out I had smoked a couple cigars?"
Nope. Don't see much harm in that.
"How much more would it change if you found out I had a couple shots of whiskey?"
To what end? Were you trying to get drunk? Were you trying to medicate the pain of life with alcohol? Or were you simply loving your friend?
This past Labor Day I went to a party I had been invited to. Now there are some parties where alcohol is merely present-- to be enjoyed in proper moderation. There are other parties where alcohol is the focus-- the goal is to just simply get wasted. In this particular Labor Day party the distinction was clear. Alcohol was the FOCUS of the party. I chose to abstain in that case. I'm glad I did. Are there hard and fast rules to be applied? Would that life was that easy.
Walk in the Spirit. He'll give you the wisdom and discernment to determine the best choices to make. Above all, apply generous portions of grace.
God Bless You, my brotha. I'd love to have a beer and smoke a stogey with you some time! ;-)
And, btw, what should we do with the culture, dp?
If I were to find out you spent an evening in a pub - smoked a couple cigars - and drank a few shots - I would be offended - because you hadn't invited me. Enrage the culture then go hide in a pub? . . . idunno...
Well, as dp said, you can do those things and remain perfectly blameless. Besides, isn't it an interesting thing that our current Christian culture demonizes alcohol and tobacco, when neither is outlawed by scripture? Only *over*indulgence is frowned on.
But I far prefer a nice cabernet with some good cheese and a handful of almonds... And don't blow your smoke my way, if you please. Or at least smoke a pipe with some that nice-smelling tobacco! :-)
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