Filipino Christians And Drinking

Christians are not forbidden from drinking alcohol since we are not subject to the law. Everything we do, however, must be founded on faith and how we interpret the Scripture in order to serve the Lord in our life. There must be a good reason why we do the things we do, not because of what we think, but because we are convinced by the Scriptures.

What would a believer think if he witnessed his pastor conducting a Bible study while drinking beer or another alcoholic beverage? Although there may be a few adult Christians who can justify such behavior, it is far from the norm in the Philippines. What about teaching your kids the Bible while holding a beer or wine glass? Consider organizing a church family potluck with wine and beer. A Filipino Christian must decide whether or not to drink wine or beer. Is this due to medical recommendations or plain socialization? Because the Philippines is located in a humid tropical region with frequent high temperatures, drinking wine or beer is not considered appropriate in our country. Furthermore, water is not scarce in our location.

Furthermore, since its discovery, drinking water has been miraculously provided for in our area. Rivers, lakes, river basins, and groundwater reservoirs are the main sources of water in the Philippines. In contrast to the ancient Near East at the time of Jesus Christ, where water was scarce, there is an abundance of water. In order to survive, they had to fight for water. In reality, their water is not treated during the period when pathogens can thrive. Paul's instruction to Timothy to drink a tiny amount of wine demonstrates that it is occasionally used as a medicinal treatment. Also, because the wine they drink hasn't been fermented, they have to be careful not to get too inebriated. Because our country is not as chilly as other European countries, there is no reason to consume wine or other alcoholic beverages. Nonetheless, a number of research indicate that this is not always the case. Their proclivity to consume excessive amounts of alcohol, which can develop to addiction and is detrimental to their health, is an issue. It should come as no surprise that they can fall into the same enticing trap as the ancient Near Easterners.

The Philippines aren't even in a water-scarce region of the Middle East. I can't think of any other reason for a Christian to consume these beverages. They are either more concerned with pleasing themselves or those around them than with pleasing God. I don't want to come across as a legalist, but I hope a Filipino Christian may use the Bible to justify his behavior.

A friendly Christian coworker shared the gospel with me several years ago. He is unaware that I am watching his behavior to see whether he will compromise by drinking these alcoholic beverages. And as a result of his testimony, I attended a Bible study, which led to my acceptance of Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Since then, I've used this occasion to share the gospel with my beer and wine-drinking friends. When people ask why I don't drink alcoholic beverages, I tell them that I stopped doing so after accepting Jesus Christ. This is my strategy for sowing the gospel seed in their hearts.

I recall a time when local Christians offered wine to a Filipino missionary who was sent to Europe to operate in a frigid climate. However, due to his theological convictions about alcoholic beverages, he was unable to ingest it. He did not, as one might anticipate, criticize the local Christians for their acts. Instead, he chose to honor the Lord because he felt strongly about it.

Please keep in mind that it is the act of acting without being convinced by the Bible via faith that leads to sin, not the use of wine or beer. Actually, the Bible says, "For whatever does not come through faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23). We obviously get our faith from reading the Bible.

(No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) – 1 Timothy 5:23