I was sitting by the pool yesterday, thinking about a recent conversation I had with a coworker, and I came across a slight revelation.
My coworker and I were discussing the issue of drinking alcohol and whether or not it was a sin. Many Christians in the Bible Belt see a glass of wine as a sin. They say that since drunkeness is a sin then consumption of any alcohol must be terrible. However, there are some Christians that think it's ok. They justify it with the fact that Jesus turned the water into wine and that throughout scripture wine is the beverage of preferrence.
So here is my revelation: If you think about it, excess of nearly anything is a sin. Excess of eating is gluttony, which is a sin. Excess of talking can become gossiping, which is a sin. Excessive television can lead to idolatry. Excessive pain medications can lead to an addiction. The list goes on and on. So do we deprive ourselves of everything because it could turn into a sin?
I'm not saying to ignore what you already feel towards things. Everyone has their own convictions and there is nothing wrong with that. If you can't handle a glass of wine without drinking the whole bottle then it could be a sin for you. If you can't handle a piece of pie without eating the whole thing then it could also be a sin. I've often heard the statement that everything is ok in moderation. However, that is not the point I'm making. There are many things that are not ok in any form. Most of them are illegal.
If we're going to focus on how something can "become" sinful, we can't just point towards alcohol. We have to take everything into consideration.
On a similar note, it seems silly to argue over such small things when there are people out there desperate for God. So many are turned away from Christianity because they're presented with a guideline to get into heaven. Let's quit pointing fingers. God loves you. The end.
