controversial.  Because it is controversial it will require time, it will require patience, it will require understanding.  Also, because of the side I will take on the issue, I may also be maligned, mocked, called an unbeliever, etc.  Why?  Why would I want to put myself through such an ordeal?  Why would I invite such frustration?  Why would I attempt to do something that may make others mad at me?  Why would I take something on, which may create an environment where others may misunderstand me? 

Ultimately, sometimes I do not know the answers to these questions.  I don’t know why I willingly take things on that upset others, that get me ‘in trouble’.  But the answer that keeps coming back to me is that I want Christians to be thinking rightly in all things for the honor of Jesus and the joy of his people.   I want people to be free from slavery and to enjoy all of the beauty of God’s beautiful and cursed earth.  In short I want to obey God with my thoughts and live in accordance with him by his grace.

What am I taking on?  Well, I am taking on required abstinence from alcohol as the proper stance of the Christian.  Why am I taking this on?  Well, primarily I am taking this on at this time because of the public stance of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Now, I am not trying to take on Southern.  I rejoice over Southern.  Rather, I am tackling a position that they recently, publicly articulated.  So again I want to say that I am taking on a position that is the position of teetotalism as the right response of Christians to alcohol.  With this I will also talk about the dangers, etc. of requiring abstinence from alcohol like many Christian colleges and seminaries do. 

So, here I go.  I do not know what will take place.  But I think it will be an interesting adventure.  I pray God will be in it helping us to think his thoughts after him, that he would be honored in our thoughts and our lives.

So to begin with you can listen to the audio of the forum on 'Alcohol and Ministry' at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Again, I am not specifically taking them on.  I am using this to begin the long road ahead of thinking through these issues.  Also, from now on all the posts related to this topic will be listed under the category 'Drink to the Glory of God?'.

The category is named this because I want to investigate the claim of whether a Christian can drink alcohol to the glory of God.  That is why there is a quesiton mark.  Immediately, of course, as soon as you read the question (Can a Christian drink alcohol to the glory of God?) you thought 'Yes' or 'No'.  Some of you may have thought 'I don't know, good question'.  But most of you, I would guess have a firm position on this.  This is what makes the discussion so difficult.  Anyway, now I am beginning to ramble, maybe I am just a bit intimidated to post this note.  Well, I refuse to give in to intimidation, so I am posting now...