Wednesday, July 25, 2007

spirits and the Spirit -- alcohol and faith

Many religious people have a propensity for rule-making. Often, this entails a list of do’s and don’t, designed (in theory) to promote spiritual health and ward off negative influences. In some cases these rules are a means of salvation, a way of actually attaining eternal life. In other cases the prescribed regulations determine religious status and/or promote growth.

Before dismissing the rules mentality, it is important to recognize that there are indeed rules in the Bible, intended to benefit humankind. The ten commandments and the golden rule have served humanity quite well for millennia. Not only is there is nothing inherently wrong with rules, but sometimes the rules actually prompt wisdom and healthy living. The key, I think, is to determine what the precise rules are and whether they are applied properly. So it is when it comes to the matter of drinking alcohol.

Certain segments of the church reject the use of alcohol, decrying its consistent abuse and advocating that believers abstain. Others, while not technically advocating abstinence from alcohol, simply frown upon its regular use. Often the impetus for such decision making is not that alcohol is inherently wrong but that it is safer to avoid. Thus, so the thinking goes, if being drunk is wrong, why not abstain from drinking entirely? That way, there is no chance of ever getting drunk. By avoiding alcohol, we show that we are really serious about our walk with God.

The problem with all such rules, however, is that they are simply arbitrary. While the Bible does oppose drunkenness, there is simply no obvious reason for all believers to abstain from alcohol entirely. Jesus drank alcohol and even created it for others (see John 2). Other biblical characters likewise partook of wine and similar beverages. So, what are we to make of the issue of spirituality and alcohol?

First, it is important to recognize the obvious, which is that alcohol is a potentially harmful product. Being a depressant, alcoholic beverages cause us to relax and tend to lessen our inhibitions. Many people have become addicted to alcohol, and many lives have been ruined through its misuse. As Proverbs comments, “Wine is a mocker and strong drink is for fools.” Second, the bible certainly teaches that it is improper to reach a state of intoxication. Though it is difficult to determine where the line is that separates sobriety from drunkenness, it is quite evident that countless individuals cross that line regularly. If we define drunk as being under the control of, our basic guide is this: “Do not be drunk with wine, but be filled with the Holy Spirit.” That is, rather than allowing alcohol to govern our lives, the chief influence should be God. Third, it is evident within Scripture that the proper use of alcohol is both acceptable and potentially good. Though we should, perhaps, consider that in the ancient world the drinking options were severely limited, thus necessitating a greater prevalence of wine–after all, diet coke was not on the menu–it is nonetheless true that alcohol was considered a regular part of the social environment of that day. Jesus and his disciples drank wine. Indeed, the supper that commemorates his death involves the use (not abuse) of wine. What’s more, Jesus did not think it improper to initiate his miraculous ministry by creating wine at a celebration where alcohol had already been flowing freely. This is not to say that he advocated or facilitated drunkenness but that he evidently lacked the rigid scruples of some of his contemporary followers. Fourth, none of this eliminates the principle that we should avoid anything–be it alcohol or something else–that actually endangers us morally or spiritually. While these are matters of wisdom and individual conscience, they are important to keep in mind. Thus, a person who becomes abusive or who is prone to addiction should obviously avoid alcohol entirely. The point here is neither that alcohol is inherently wrong nor that abstinence is necessarily a better choice. What really matters is that we do whatever is good for our spiritual health and that of others. Jesus uses hyperbolic language to make this very point: “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off” (Mark 9:43ff).

Some drink because it’s “cool,” while others refrain for the same reason. But the key is not whether or not we drink. The real issue is living for God within the sphere of spiritual liberty. If it hurts you, stay away from it. If it truly hurts someone else, avoid it. Not sure? Pray and seek wisdom. If you can do something responsibly, go for it. 1 Corinthians provides the key: “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (10:31).

Thursday, July 12, 2007

the pain of pastoral stereotypes

One of the things I most hate is the stereotypes associated with certain “Christian” terms. Indeed, even the name Christian has many silly and unhealthy ideas associated with it. But one idea has, for me, been perhaps the greatest nuisance, and that is the term pastor. Recently, John Smulo wrote a blog dealing with many of these same things, and so I thought I’d add my own, for my experience as a pastor has often frustrated me to the extreme.

Just to fill you in, right now, we are meeting in my home in a very casual manner, and I probably wouldn’t refer to myself as a pastor. Sometimes, others do, and that’s okay, I guess. But after having experienced some 13 plus years in this role, I have to say that the negatives probably outweigh the positives.

When you are a “pastor” people have all kinds of crazy ideas about you. For example: You are somehow gifted at prayer, a specialist at hospital visitation, a pro at being “holy” and “spiritual” and “religious” and a whole host of other things. Some refer to you as “reverend,” and many are leery of letting their hair down when in your presence. Some don’t want to offend you, thinking that your only life experience is in doing weddings and funerals and appearing appropriately somber when the occasion calls for it. Others think you have some sort of backstage pass that affords you access to things that most people aren’t privileged to see. Still others treat you like a good luck charm, a good guy to have around and have on your side. Generally, you are thought to lack the real-world expertise and to have ears easily offended by four-letter words, the sight of alcohol, and the mere mention of sex.

First of all, let me say that many of the stereotypes mentioned here are true, having been earned by countless individuals who truly measure spirituality by such things and who really do look like many assume they would–rigid, corny, out-of-touch, etc.. Second, let me also add that I am nothing like the stereotypes, at least not when it comes to the supposed magic that flows from the title and position. While I have lead churches in the past and still play a role in some of these matters today, I really struggle with the assumptions that people make when they hear you are a “pastor.”

Though I am not ready to abandon the notion of pastor as taught in the New Testament, and while I certainly desire to fulfill some of the characteristics associated with this usage, I have no desire to be treated as a “pastor” in common, stereotypical fashion. Whether right or wrong, I have to admit that I am sickened by the whole feel of this stereotype.

No, I don’t think I am better than anyone out there, pastor or not, and I don’t intend to demean anyone who is sincerely doing the best he or she can to lead God’s people. God bless them. At the same time, I also can’t pretend that I am anything less than turned off by the traditional pastoral stuff.
Indeed, it saddens me that my perceived role as a pastor has sometimes made me wonder about my own sincerity. When you visit enough hospitals and do enough funerals, you begin to wonder if you’re doing these things because they are right or simply because you are supposed to do them. While duty sometimes demands that we do what’s proper no matter what, it is numbing when the perceptions and expectations of people actually hinder your own spirituality. What I’m saying is that I want to visit hospitals and pray and a whole lot of other things not because someone expects me to do these things but because I feel called and compelled to do so.

In other words I want to be spiritual in the best sense of that term. I want to follow Jesus, whatever that means, to the best of my ability. I want to live the right way, to care, to be kind, to be bold, to be wise, and to exude love. But I want to do these and similar things as a person who lives with others in the real world, and I don’t want some ridiculous stereotype to stand in the way of my (hopefully) honest efforts to be authentic, to be me.

God knows that I get in the way of the truth enough as it is; I don’t need the extra baggage that comes from those determined to make me wear the garb of out-of-touch, meaningless religiosity. Lord, save me (us) from the crazy ideas, the assumptions, the predictable expectations, the enslaving influence of pastoral/Christian/whatever stereotypes. Let me be me . . . for you and for others.