Why I don't drink beer!

Romans 14

 ¹³ Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. ¹⁴ I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. ¹⁵ If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. ¹⁶ Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. ¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, ¹⁸ because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

I  like beer. But, I don't drink any more. I used to. I stopped drinking beer many years ago for a simple reason. I did not want beer to be a stumbling block in my ministering to people. Both in the Christian community and non-christian community, it is expected that Christians do not drink alcohol. This isn't true for everyone but most people.  Alcohol and Beer are not evil and I certainly do not condemned anyone who drinks. Like I said. I like Beer. Drunkeness is a different story. Drunk Driving is absolute craziness. Under-age drinking is also wrong. But, Alcohol is not wrong.

I still chose not to drink and I do it for the Lord. It's a sacrifice that makes a statement that I care more about how I represent Christ than what I eat or drink. 

I go on many organized motorcycle rides with various groups. Many of them stop at Bars to drink. I also stop, go inside and enjoy ordering a diet or a water. I end up having the same amount of fun as everyone else. I just choose to do it without alcohol. One of these rides, I was referred to as a "do gooder" because I wasn't drinking. All of these bikers know I'm a Christian. I am on display. They want to know how I will act. They watch me to see if I will "fold". In their eyes, they are looking to see if I'm a hypocrite. Do I live up to the standards THEY have set for Christians? I think it's my own personal statement that I don't drink, but still don't condemn them. Many Christians really condemn people for drinking alcohol. This is so sad. They don't see the barrier they are putting between themselves and these people. We need to build relationships with people not destroy them. We can not let the use alcohol build a barrier. Christ didn't go into situations with Sinners condemning them. If I remember correctly, I think he challenged the so called "Sinless" people to cast the first stone. I also think they all turned away and left, ashamed. Just sayin!