I like beer. It is an organic drink that has ancient roots. I enjoy trying beers from breweries and microbreweries around the globe. I especially like Huntsville’s own, Olde Towne beer. Don Alan Hankins is quite the brew master.

So how can a pastor like beer? Well, there is a heritage of pastors and theologians who enjoyed beer, wine and other drinks. John Calvin is quoted to say, “if we study… why he has created the various kinds of food, we shall find that it was his intention not only to provide for our needs, but likewise for our pleasure and our delight… For, if this were not true, the Psalmist would not enumerate among the divine blessings, ‘the wine that makes glad the heart of man, and the oil that makes his face to shine.’”

I am not a fan of crappy, watered-down beer. Martin Luther said, “The selling of bad beer is a crime against Christian love.” He also said, “Beer is made by man, wine by God.” George Whitfield once wrote, “Give thanks to that friendly brewer for the keg of rum he sent us.” One sign in Olde Towne’s office quotes Benjamin Franklin: “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” (Most of the above quotes are from Drinking With Calvin and Luther, by Jim West. Another good resource is, God Gave Wine, by Kenneth L. Gentry.)

God had a perfect design for Adam and Eve. Basically, God told them to (1) Enjoy Me, (2) Enjoy each other, and (3) Enjoy My creation. They blew it by not believing and obeying Him. Adam’s sin destroyed the ability to truly enjoy God, enjoy relationships and enjoy creation. But the second Adam, Jesus Christ, died so that these relationships could be redeemed (bought back). Through Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the dead we are now able to (1) Enjoy God, (2) Enjoy His Bride – the Church, (3) Enjoy His Mission – reaching predisciples, the helpless and the hurting, and (4) Enjoy His Creation.

Drinking a beer to the glory of God falls in category 4. So does sex, power, money, food, materials, work and others. The redemption of God frees us to bring the abused gifts of God (sin) back into alignment of God’s design. Therefore, you can choose to abuse any of gifts (sin). Or, you can choose to bring God glory by the righteous and God-designed use of that gift.

God chose to reveal the sacrament of communion through wine. He did not make a mistake. We have been told to remember Him through this sacrament until He comes again. Regarding this someone was quoted to say, “Others drink to forget. Christians drink to remember.” Call the abuse of His gifts evil. Just be careful to not call any of God’s gifts evil.

I respect and support anyone who feels led or has chosen to abstain from beverage alcohol. Abstain to the glory of God. John the Baptist did. However, I do not respect any thought or movement that uses extra-biblical preference as a bully pulpit for all to abstain. If you choose to consume alcohol, remember that there are times when you should abstain out of discipline, safety, respect, and deference to others. Do all things with love in mind.

I close with this Scripture: “So whether you eat or drink or WHATEVER you do, do ALL for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 (emphasis mine)

Cheers!

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David Thew
Sojourn Founding Pastor

www.churchinabrewery.com

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David Thew
Sojourn Pastor
Thewblog
twitter.com/davidthew