Beers, Brothers, and Bible Study | Jon Stolpe Stretched

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During our vacation, we stayed with my sister-in-law and her family for a couple of days in Columbia, SC. It was fun to catch up with my nieces and to get a glimpse into the lives of our extended family.

As part of the visit, I was invited to attend a men’s Bible study group where they were discussing the attributes of a Biblical man and husband. The discussion was interesting, and I definitely left the meeting challenged to step up in my role as a husband.

But there was something else that happened at the meeting that really got me thinking. As the men were filing into the house where we met, we small talked about the newest Burger joint to open up in Columbia, the latest happenings in their church community, and the Jerry Sandusky/Penn State latest news. As the small talk continued, the host came out with cookies and chips. And then two six packs of beer emerged from the kitchen that were strategically placed by the chips.

As the meeting started, a few guys grabbed a beer without a second thought. Not everyone participated in the beer, and it was certainly not forced on anyone nor was it the focus of the meeting. I just thought it was a great way for guys to be guys – a way to help some guys feel a bit more comfortable with the group.

I’m not sure if there’s any Biblical evidence, but I suspect there would be wine or other alcoholic beverages when Jesus gathered with his disciples. Can’t you just see Peter commenting to John about the great taste of the 4 B.C. wine?

I realize that this could be somewhat controversial for some. After all, the Bible clearly states that we shouldn’t do anything that causes another brother or sister to stumble. So having beer or wine at a small group meeting could be somewhat risky. But I also wonder if the risk is worth it people who are far from God are drawn one step closer to Him, because they feel comfortable and welcomed by a group of guys doing what guys do – talking about sports, drinking a beer, and talking about things that matter.

What do you think? Have you ever had beer at your small group meeting?

http://www.jmlalonde.com Joe Lalonde

Never had beer at a small group meeting but I wouldn’t be opposed to the idea.

Sometimes I wonder if we take the idea of making someone stumble with alcohol to the extreme. We don’t think the same of eating in front of someone who has a problem with overeating. Or watching TV with someone who is addicted to the set.
- http://jonstolpe.com/ Jon Stolpe
  
  Great point, Joe. I bet we fail a lot more when it comes to putting food in front of someone struggling with overeating.
  - http://www.jmlalonde.com Joe Lalonde
    
    I’m sure we do.
    
    It’s always frustrating seeing an overweight pastor slamming the evils and perils of this sin or that sin while ignoring the sin of gluttony.
    
    One thing that struck me as strange the other day. I’ve heard so often that the wine in the Bible was more like grape juice. Not fermented and basically non-alcoholic and that they drank it because their water was so bad.
    
    Two things I noticed in regards to this -
    
    1. If the wine was grape juice, what’s up with Numbers 6:3? “He must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or from other fermented drink. He must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins.”
    
    There’s a clear distinction between wine and grape juice…
    
    2. They say the water was nasty and dirty. Yet at the wedding where Jesus turned the water to wine. Why would the servants be willing to serve what could be dirty water to their master? You would think those guys would have been like “No way dude! Don’t you know how bad this water is? Our master is going to kill us!” Instead they go and serve him the water turned to wine.
    - http://www.tnealtarver.wordpress.com TNeal
      
      I agree with your point #1 (and #2 as well but #1′s the one I’ve heard often). This argument is a case of manipulating the truth in order to bend it to your belief system rather than the other way around.
      
      I find those who slam drunkeness or adultery or homosexuality seem to ignore gossip and slander and speaking the truth in love. Because of my addictive behavior with pornography and computer games, I know that I am saved by grace and absolutely love the Lord for His kindness toward a degenerate old goat like me.
http://deuceology.wordpress.com Larry Carter

Jon, I don’t drink. I don’t care if others do. Would I be offended by this? No. Would I be entirely comfortable? No. But that’s ok.
- http://www.theanalogoustruth.wordpress.com/ Arny
  
  I with you Larry…word for word…lol…
  I can’t stand the taste of beer….i tried….i just can’t…blah!!!
  But a margarita from couple times a year taste pretty good to me…
http://www.facebook.com/mattsilver77 Matt Silver

By choosing an image of Fat Tire, you’ve confessed that you not only like beer but you like good beer

If we take this to an extreme church policy position and mandate “offer beer” or “not offer beer” that’s just plain weird. We would be going outside the realm of “freedom in Christ” and replace it with “Pharisee Law.” At the same time, it seems weird to have a keg of beer sitting next to the coffee for a Saturday night service in order to “embrace freedom”

Small groups are the place where people are encouraged to get together to love God and each other in a REAL way. If guys in the group like beer, it makes sense to offer it. If they like country music, play it. If they want pizza, order it. As you do life together you learn all the stumbling blocks of each other and try to honor it. To Joe’s point… if a guys on a diet and loves crab dip, don’t bring it. A Texas Hold’em night would probably be a bad idea if someone in the group has a gambling problem.

What we should avoid doing (not saying this would happen if a small group or church forbid beer) is encourage people to compartmentalize their lives.
- http://jonstolpe.com/ Jon Stolpe
  
  This is going to be a fun discussion. Thanks for chiming in. And yes, I do like good beer – Fat Tire included.
  
  You bring up some great points.
  
  At the group I went to, they had a six pack of Fat Tire and a six pack of Sam Adams Summer Ale. All total, I believe six beers were consumed among 10 guys (not that I was counting). I’m sure it wasn’t an issue at this group. But I think it’s a great point…if one of the guys was struggling with drinking too much, it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to bring beer. To Joe’s point below, I bet we fall down so much more when we thrust food in front of someone struggling with eating in moderation.
  
  I’m looking forward to the dialogue on this one.
http://twitter.com/michaelegrasso Michael E Grasso

I must say that some of the best spiritual conversation I have had has been while sharing a beer. In a sense drinking responsibly is an example of discipline. As long as we are discipline and remain sober in mind, I see no real problem.
Eric Strohl

Agreed with Mike, as long as it’s not in excess and we show restraint. Hard to do sometimes for sure but the bible warns followers about being drunkards. Having a few beers and getting people to lower their guard to invite discussion is quite different than being a drunkard or a fool.
http://www.tnealtarver.wordpress.com TNeal

I think the whole beer-no beer discussion is more a cultural thing than a biblical thing. Certain church cultures make not drinking alcohol a sign of holy living. Other church cultures (Lutheran comes to mind here) emphasize the freedom we have in Christ. Americans tend to wrestle with the issue more than say the Germans or Russians. It doesn’t mean there’s no alcoholism in those places (In Russia, I’d say it’s epidemic) but there isn’t the stigma sometimes associated with drinking that’s attached by certain belief systems.

I remember hearing the story about an older Christian talking to a younger Christian about “not offending the weaker brother.” The younger Christian said, “I am the weaker brother.” It was the older Christian who was offended by beer, not the younger one.

As far as not drinking if you have an alcoholic in the group (or eating because someone’s on a diet), a friend who wrestled with alcoholism noted that someone else’s drinking didn’t lead to his falling off the wagon. I was surprised by his statement and John was one who took his sobriety seriously.
http://somewiseguy.com/ ThatGuyKC

Great post, Jon. And good questions.

I’ve actually thought of hosting a bible study group at a bar before, but had some trouble getting it officially sponsored by my church.

I can definitely see Jesus and the Disciples hanging out, talking about real life stuff and drinking wine or ale (Last Supper, anyone?)
http://www.newdrugaddictionguide.com/ drug addiction treatments

To make group refreshments, having beer is not big issues. But become as drunkard by having drinks always is being considered as offense.