2 Corinthians 6:17. Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.
How effective you are in your ministry depends on knowing what God is saying to you in this verse. The issue of Christian separation from the world has been a highly debated subject ever since the church's inception during Paul's ministry. The Scriptures are unambiguous on this matter, and the New Testament overflows with some very emphatic warnings to Christian concerning the dan we face from the world around us (2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 John 2:15-17; James 4:4).
One of the most highly debated issues in the Christian world today is should a Christian drink alcoholic beverages or refrain from them. The most famous verification that consuming an alcoholic drink is alright is that Jesus drank wine. Maybe he did, and perhaps he didn't. It could very well be that the wine Jesus drank, as recorded in the New Testament, was new wine, which is most likely pure grape juice, not fermented. If that is the case and he meant for us to stay away from fermented wine or alcoholic content, then we would be breaking the heart of our Savior by drinking alcoholic drinks of any kind.
Some Christians say, "I drink wine, beer, or whiskey, and I don't see anything wrong with it." However, when we witness to a lost person and lead them to Christ, we will let them know that drinking wine or another strong drink is alright. Do we want to gamble the sweet walk we have with our Lord and Savior on whether or not a strong drink is something that Christ wants for us? If we tell the new Christian that it's alright to drink wine or other strong drink and it happens not to be the case, we have another problem described in the eighth chapter of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 8:9).
Do we want to gamble our eternal life on a question like this in exchange for a slight buzz that we might get from a glass of wine, beer, or whiskey? We are to be different from the world, not to fall into the worldly patterns that those around us might tempt us with. No one can say to you as a Christian if drinking a strong drink is alright or should be shunned; that is between you and your Savior. Study the Word and pray that God will lead you to the right decision. Then ask yourself this question:
If Jesus visited my house today, would I break out the strong drinks or try to hide them away in the cupboard somewhere?
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