riverbrew friction
I've known there would be resistance to having a homebrew ministry at church, but since the first announcements last weekend the pastors and myself have received several unhappy emails that I've been more bothered by than I thought I would be. My first thought is that I'm really glad these people have brought their concerns to us rather than gossip. My second thought is that I'm very thankful for pastors who are quick to defend this ministry, and do a great and gentle job doing so.
The complaints have been exactly what I expected; people with emotional stories of alcohol abuse and lives they have seen it destroy, but I wasn't expecting to be as empathetic towards these people as I'm finding myself. Their stories are tragic, and I wish as much as them that alcohol was not abused, but the primary difference seems to be how we think alcohol abuse is best prevented.
I genuinely believe this ministry revolving around homebrewing beer is the best way to prevent alcohol abuse. Not only are we creating a forum to discuss alcohol related issues that doesn't currently exist in churches, but our explicit goal is to model and teach moderation. God is all about redeeming things which He created good and man has corrupted. Not abstention; redemption. When a Christian uses their mouth to speak lovingly to another person they are doing God's work of redeeming an often abused good. When a married Christian couple has unselfish sex they are doing God's work of redeeming an often abused good. When a Christian appreciates a pint of good beer they are doing God's work of redeeming an often abused good. If you put aside the emotional ties that some have with alcohol (or sex for that matter), you will see that they are really the same basic issue.
It would be foolish to think there were not people in 1st century Palestine that had seen lives destroyed by alcohol, and yet our Lord (and our example) was clearly a creator of great alcohol and one who often enjoyed drinking as a means to build relationships. We desire nothing less, and similarly, the question is being asked if in our views on alcohol are we trying to be more ethical than Jesus?
6 comments:
Hope you don't mind. I used a quote from your blog in a sermon. All about God redeeming the world, recreating the world, restoring the world rather than destroying it and starting again. Thought I'd mention it.
http://www.feedyoursoul.org.uk
No, I don't mind at all! I'd like to hear it in the context and such, I see you have MP3s on your church site, which is it?
Brett
Yes it was on the Theology of Work. I was trying to explain that work is important in this world and the next because God doesn't throw the world away and start again but renews and redeems this one. That's where your quote about beer came in handy. The url is: http://www.feedyoursoul.org.uk/article_new.php?article=59
Thanks again.
From the main page of the site it's mp3's on work if this comment isn't clear. It seems to get cut off.
http://www.feedyoursoul.org.uk
You make some good pints here... excuse me... good points. Sorry, couldn't resist. I hope that your brewing ministry goes well. I can't wait to read about how it all unfolds and how it is received. I've told my staff about it and gave them all the link to the site. It's started some fascinating conversations.
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