Why I Do Not Drink–Part #3

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Feb 3, 2012 in Christian Living | 2 comments

This post is part of a series on my personal reasons for not becoming involved in social drinking. These are my beliefs to which I arrived after studying the subject and examining the effects of alcohol. This is not to be an exhaustive series, but a short series to challenge your mind.

Before reading this post, I would encourage you to read Part #1 and Part #2.

Considered to be the 8th best advertising campaign in history¹, The battle raged in the early 90’s “Tasted great! . . . Less filling!” I am not sure about wine and other alcoholic beverages, but I do know the beer commercials have a tendency to become part of American culture. If you are in disbelief, consider the Clydesdales, the “best” Super Bowl commercials and the famous phrase, “It doesn’t get any better than this.” The media of alcohol fills our culture.

As Christians, we are affected by culture. Even though Paul states that Christians are to be the living sacrifices of the world (Romans 12.1,2). Paul further expresses his thoughts concerning what is termed as “Christian living” in Ephesians 5.17-21,

“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Paul uses a very interesting phrase that many over look; the phrase is short and simple, but the context of Paul’s writing is huge. Here is the statement, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit…” What is filling your life?

Are our lives filled with the Spirit or do we cloud them with other things? I prefer to be sure my life is filled with the Spirit and it does not become clouded with the influence of alcohol.

Additional Points:

Others have researched the words behind Ephesians 5.17-21 and have a point I believe is worth a look. Many people believe the word drunk is the process of arriving at a state of drunkenness that begins at the first drink. Here is a quick bullet list of the thoughts which are related to the definition of the words:

• The word “drunkenness” in Ephesians 5:18 means more that what many people realize.
• Vine’s Dictionary – “To make drunk, or to grow drunk, marking the process of the state expressed, to become intoxicated.”
• Young and Haynes – “To begin to be softened.”
• E.W. Bullinger – “To grow drunk.”
• Thayer – “To get drunk, to become intoxicated.”

I hope my thoughts challenged you in your life. I see my purpose is to challenge others out of their comfort zone and to challenge them to search their beliefs more often.

Just my thoughts,

Why I Do Not Drink–Part 2

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Feb 3, 2012 in Christian Living | 0 comments

Earlier this week, I began writing my personal beliefs on why I do not drink. If you have not read “Why I Do Not Drink – Part #1” I encourage you to read it before continuing.

Having fought the battle over alcohol as a beverage before I see that is causes great emotional stress to others. For some reason, the personal choice to drink weighs heavily on people shoulders as they determine what course to take in life.

When one appeals to social drinking the phrase, “A little won’t hurt” usually appears in the discussion. I wonder if those words are spoken out of study or out of personal preference?  I do not hesitate to say the majority speak out of personal preference of finding a way to justify their actions. To further justify actions one will say , “The Bible does not say that I can’t; so a little won‘t hurt.” Can one participate in pornography because “a little won’t hurt?” The Bible does not specifically speak against pornography, so can one view it a “little bit” and not be harmed?

(By the way, the Bible speaks of principles and morality which leads one to find pornography as a sin even though the Bible no where says, “Thou shalt not view pornography.”)

Many people tell me their drinking does not bring a buzz, but it is a social thing. I wonder when the actual buzz occurs. In the 1960’s during am American Medical Association meeting a phrase in the minutes stands out regarding the effects (buzz) of alcohol,

“There is no minimum blood alcohol concentration which can be set at which there will be absolutely no effect.”

Furthermore, how does one tell the point where they get a buzz?

The early philosophers of the day have some interesting words regarding ancient wine. To understand the words used, we must determine the meaning by definition, language, context and culture. Culture does not make something right, but it assist in understanding the words. Here are some words from people of times past:

Early Words:

• “…though called wine, it has not the effect of wine, for it does not taste like wine and not intoxicate like ordinary wine.” (Aristotle, 384-322 BC)
• "For all sick, wine is most useful when its forces have been broken by strainer.” [“Protropos” is] "must  which flows spontaneously from grapes.” (Pliny, 24 – 79 AD)
• Regarding first century wine, “you can drink 100 glasses without fear of intoxication.” (Horace)

Just my thoughts,

Why I Do Not Drink–Part #1

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Feb 1, 2012 in Christian Living | 4 comments

This subject is not an easy one because of the personal emotions, personal actions and background will be a part of the discussion. Even the Bible brings this subject to light by proclaiming it a blessing (Psalm 104.15) and condemnation Proverbs 4.17. An examination of the words of the Bible as well as a few points in the background provide for an interesting discussion.

Having friends outside of church who invite us to parties and other neighbor events usually brings a discussion of things. Some find out I am a minister and immediately tell me the last time they read the Bible. Others will say. "That’s nice." and proceed to the other side of the room.  Others will continue to discuss religion and problems of the world. The best part for me is when someone offers me a beer and I respectfully turn it down and see the look on their face; that is when the questions usually start.

It is also like my heart doctor, who told me that because of my medical condition I should have a glass of wine a day, then followed with, “You are young. Get out and drink and get close to God when you are old.”

One of the frustrations I have experienced as a minister is to hear Christians bragging over drinking alcohol. It drives my head spinning because I have seen the drastic and traumatic effects of alcohol in people lives.  I have seen families destroyed, marriages broken and lives lost. This is not to say that others areas of life have brought dramatic effects, but drinking, in my experience, has brought more of those events, more long lasting effects and is less likely to be thought of as the problem.

When making a decision to drink I would ask you consider the others in your life. Recently, in a discussion with someone who has not religious leanings, the topic of alcohol came up. The individual mentioned going to a denominational minister’s house only to be stunned when the minister was serving beer at a "church function." The individual recounted how weird it was to see someone who, especially being a minister, was serving alcohol at a "church event." This individual went on to explain to me how inconsistent that seemed with the beliefs of a Christian. Is consistency as issue when it comes to drinking?

For me, it is a question of wisdom. The words of Solomon ring in my ears when I see others, especially Christians drinking, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise." (Proverbs 20.1; ESV) Those words are from the pen of one of the wisest men to walk the Earth and he shares his wisdom with his readers.

Solomon continues his thoughts on drinking alcohol in Proverbs:

“Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things. You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast. ‘They struck me,’ you will say, ‘but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I must have another drink.’"

 

(Proverbs 23.31-35; ESV)

Tomorrow brings “Why I Do Not Drink – Part #2.”

Just some thoughts for today,

6 Reasons Why I Do Not Attend Your Congregation

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Jan 26, 2012 in Christian Living, Church Growth | 2 comments

This is written from the perspective of a visitor. Last year, my family and I took the entire month of February away from local ministry and travelled to various congregations, both near and far, and enjoyed some time visiting. We learned much about the attitudes of congregations towards visitors and it is reflected in the words below.

Let the words challenge you and make you uncomfortable. If they anger you, get up and do something about them. If you think they are right, get up and change the way your congregation is seen in your community.

Here they are, “6 Reasons Why I Do Not Attend Your Congregation”

• “When I visited, you asked me to full out a visitor card, talked about how much you appreciate visitors but no one spoke to me.”

• “I saw no joy in your congregation. As the church sang ‘To Canaan’s Land’ no one was smiling and they sang like a funeral. I thought Jesus was a joy not a bore.”

• “I saw a Bible, but I never saw Bibles. I thought Christians were people who studied the book not talked about studying the book.”

• “Your services talked about being lights in a dark world, but I never heard of your congregation before today. You said your church has been around for 50+ years and I grew up here and never knew of you.”

• “I felt awkward because I had to sit on the second row because all of your members sat in the back and on the aisle seat. They seemed glued to their chairs.”

• “You saw that I had children and no one helped me find a Bible class. There were no signs on the doors to help along the way.”

Just some thoughts,

Powerful Questions for a Powerful Week

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Jan 7, 2012 in Challenge, Christian Living | 0 comments

The following article will be located on the back the bulletin for tomorrow, but I wanted to share it with you today. Begin your week with some powerful actions of encouragement.

As many of you know, I dislike checklists because it can take away from the meaning behind the action, but I want to share with you a checklist you can use this week to make this a powerful week of encouragement.

•  Greet each visitor today.
•  Stick with the Daily Reading schedule for “31 Days with Jesus.”
•  Pray specifically for one member of the congregation every day this week.
•  Send one card every day to a member of the congregation.
•  Attend every service/Bible study.
•  Invite one family to services for next week.

Will you check off every box this week?

Now is the time to take action, not just for ourselves, but for the others in our lives. Each of us need encouragement in our daily walk and we should be encouraging others along the way. Use this week to start your progress of encouragement.

Just some thoughts,

Four Marks of a Maturing Congregation

Posted by Chris Gallagher on Jan 3, 2012 in Christian Living | 2 comments

The spiritual life of a Christian is never stagnant; if it is not growing, then it is decreasing. There is no middle ground where a Christian’s spiritual life can remain at one point, there must be movement. This movement is determined by our actions. Peter writes of the spiritual maturing process…

“For this very reason, "make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

(2 Peter 1.5-8; ESV)

As a member of the body of Christ, when we are growing spiritual it will naturally effect others. When we grow we begin sharing the burdens of others (Galatians 6.1; Romans 15.1), we edify one another (Hebrews 3.13), we teach others (Titus 2) and we begin sharing the word with others because we cannot help but speak of Jesus (Acts 4.12)

Because our spiritual growth effects others, I made a list below of “Four Marks of a Maturing Congregation”, what would you add to the list?

Four Marks of a Maturing Congregation:

• Fellowship – Members know each other outside of Sundays and Wednesday.
• Assistance – Because the members are bearing one another’s burdens, have knowledge of each other, and progress towards the same goal, assistance is given without a shocking announcement to the congregation. (Galatians 6.1; Romans 15.1)
• Attendance – The numbers game is a difficult one to play with attendance, but a maturing congregation will have high attendance based on membership because people are coming (1) to worship and study God’s word, (2) to edify the brothers and sisters and (3) to continue on their spiritual process of growing closer to God. (Note: Hebrews 10.24-25 – Remember verse 24 is the beginning and reason for verse 25)
• Finances – The church in Macedonia gave "beyond their means of their own accord" (2 Corinthians 8.3). The church in Macedonia knew how much they could give and they gave beyond it. I believe this is a sign of maturity because the Macedonians knew there was a greater purpose to finances than physical stuff.

Just my thoughts,

Thanks again.