From the Inside Out

Abundant Life Church is hosting a series of panel discussions on Wednesday nights covering a variety of controversial issues that affect Christians and the church in general. Last week, they discussed Sects (issues that divide) including politics, stem cell research, and modesty. I was scheduled to be on the panel last week, but due to my colonoscopy sickness issues, I had to cancel. I was disappointed, but Gary graciously agreed to fill in for me. I’m sure he was fabulous.

This week, the discussion topic was focused on Drugs (things that addict). Questions centered around:

• Does the church turn a blind eye to gluttony?
• Is gambling wrong? What about church raffles, wall street investing, and the lottery?
• Should a Christian participate in social drinking?

While no one really took the “devil’s advocate” stance or stirred up debate tonight, the conversation and views of the panelists were interesting. None of the answers were too surprising, but a few great points were brought up. One of the most memorable quotes for me was, “If you ask a recovering alcoholic whether social drinking is okay, how do you think he would respond?”

Social drinking is a controversial topic in many Christian circles because Jesus drank wine. Many felt it wasn’t a “heaven or hell” issue, but the risks from drinking are high — do you really want to take that gamble? Even if you think you can handle it, you should ask yourself whether it could cause someone else to fall. If so, then you shouldn’t do it.

One thing that did surprise me was how gluttony is almost always mentioned along with drunkenness in the Bible. All Christians will agree that drunkenness is frowned upon throughout the scriptures, but we all seem to forget that gluttony is just as bad. Our body is the temple of God, and it should be honored as such. Overeating or drowning your sorrow in Blue Bell ice cream is just as wrong as being drunk. In some ways, it might be more difficult to stop being gluttonous because you don’t need alcohol to survive, but you need food. I guess that’s where God comes into the picture. He wants us to turn to Him for help. Why is it that we always try to fix problems on our own or try to find a cheap substitute? He should be the source of our strength and our source of peace — not alcohol, not gambling and not even food. Philippians 4:19 states, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Instead of reaching for the wine or the cookies to relax, get on your knees and talk to Him. He won’t disappoint you.

Next Wednesday is “Rock N Roll (things that can affect)” and the last week of May is all about the “Afterparty (things that will happen).” If you’re interested in hearing more about what real people think about these issues, visit us in Plano at 2021 E. Park Blvd. at 7 pm and join the conversation.