All THings really are lawful! #ChristianLiberty

"All things are lawful for me, but not everything is beneficial. All things are lawful for me, but I won't be mastered by them. Meat is for your tummy, and your tummy is built for meat. Both will be rotting flesh someday." Paul to the Corinthians, paraphrased from memory.

Biblical Hermaneutics for Idiots: When someone repeats themselves in text, it's not by mistake. Paul was making a point.

ALL THINGS ARE LAWFUL!

Christianity liberty 101.1

Enjoy what God has made without worshipping it or wrecking it.

Now, Paul does qualify this liberty.

1. Not everything is great for you. (i.e. Gluttony, Addiction, Abuse of others and self, etc)

2. If you get addicted, stop (7 Deadly Sins, Gluttony, Baptists!, etc)

My former church LOVED to talk about how this passage should emphasize the restrictions.

Problem: Paul said the same phrase TWICE.

Ergo, the emphasis is on LIBERTY, not restriction.

Christian Liberty 101.2

If your lifestyle is actively leading someone to enslavement to said lifestyle, TONE IT DOWN!!

Alcoholism is real. I drink alcohol. If someone is actively trying to drink less alcohol because they are addicted, I

1. Won't buy them a shot

2. Usually won't drink around them.

3. Will encourage them to tone it down.

ABSTINENCE FROM ALCOHOL IS NOT BIBLICAL!

Proverbs: Don't stay LONG at the drink

uhh, there's more. someone look it up

Paul encouraged Timothy to drink wine because it really does aid digestion. LOOK IT UP.

It's the addiction, or involuntary worship of said drink that God doesn't like.

HE prefers you worship HIM.

NOT the Booze

But one drink a day is, yes, good for you. Your lovely liver can safely metabolize one serving of alcohol (8oz beer, 4 oz wine, 1 oz shot per Hour) That's from my TIPS training as a bartender.

Note to Baptist Friends: IF you really have a problem with this, I have, ok, I'll try to keep it to one word:

GLUTTONY

(i. e. Potlucks)

Enjoy Responsibility, and buy your DD's dinner!