1.  Because alcohol is in the category of adiaphora, Christians will until Jesus returns have differing views on it.

2.  The differing views are a result of faith.  Those who are strong of faith see alcohol as indifferent, thus they may enjoy their liberty or they may restrict their liberty, but ultimately they see alcohol as indifferent.  Those who are weak in faith see alcohol as evil in and of itself.  Thus, they see no liberty with alcohol, and see any consumption of alcohol as sin.

3.  To drink alcohol to the glory of God in Romans 14 is to drink in such a way as to not cause a brother to stumble.  This means that the strong will not flaunt his liberty in front of the weak.  This also means that the strong will be careful to know his company if he consumes alcohol in a group.  This freedom brings responsibility (i.e., Spiderman) so that the strong knows as much as possible where others are in their faith before he exercises his freedom.  Love, it seems, requires this.  Thus, in light of Jen’s question(s), I think there is caution to the strong to be careful when and how alcohol is consumed (I will speak to this a bit more, once we cover 1 Cor).  Not because the consumption is evil, but because of love for another.  As much as possible, then, I think consumption should be done in private, but not in seclusion.  Consumption in restaurants is not forbidden, but it is risky.  Again, not because the consumption is wrong, but because of love for another.

4.  The weak in faith regarding alcohol are not expected to remain weak in faith.  The weak in faith are to grow in their faith, so that they become strong.  Does this mean, that all will one day drink alcohol to show their strength?  No!  Because if we must prove our strength, then we are not strong, we are still weak.  But it does mean that as the weak grow in their faith, they will come to see alcohol as adiaphora.

5.  The freedom of the strong cannot be taken away by an institution, denomination, or church.  If a church, institution, or denomination makes a requirement of abstinence for Christians regarding alcohol, they have just replaced Christ as Lord of the conscience for the believer.  Even if they say that is not what they are doing, according to biblical teaching, teaching explicit in Romans 14, that is exactly what they are doing.  It is to this issue that I will turn next, before we move on to 1 Corinthians.