Is it okay for a U.S. christian to own a liquor store?

[blackhole]

Personally I think it makes it worse if the person isn’t caring about putting a stumbling block in his brother’s path and is more concerned with worldly profit. I’m not insinuating that this is your intention at all but if I were in that situation I would run from it.

Actually, I expect to lose money from my endeavor.

 

[Not David]

I feel like drinking Christmas wine.

 

[ViaCrucis]

Right, but neither was eating sacrificed meat; yet Paul abstained. So again, in what kinds of situations do we apply the principle?

If you have a conscientious objection to consuming alcohol, then don't consume alcohol; and if you have a conscientious objection to working in or running a business which sells alcohol then don't work in or run such a business. Outside of that there is literally no problem with either.

Christianity has never had a taboo or prohibition against the consumption of alcohol. Only that drinking should be done responsibly and in moderation so as to avoid misuse and abuse.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[blackhole]

If you have a conscientious objection to consuming alcohol, then don't consume alcohol; and if you have a conscientious objection to working in or running a business which sells alcohol then don't work in or run such a business. Outside of that there is literally no problem with either.

Christianity has never had a taboo or prohibition against the consumption of alcohol. Only that drinking should be done responsibly and in moderation so as to avoid misuse and abuse.

-CryptoLutheran

But Paul did not have a conscientious objection. He abstained because of the conscience of someone else.

 

[ViaCrucis]

But Paul did not have a conscientious objection. He abstained because of the conscience of someone else.

And being conscientious for someone else is still a matter of your conscience. It's pretty obvious that we wouldn't be able to conduct ourselves solely on the basis of what someone else might think or judge us for--literally everything we'd do would be dictated by the whims of others and those whims would always be drastically different because individuals are different.

So the issue has to boil down to our own conscience and, in that, our care for others. Do not cause a weaker brother to stumble; so if you would like to apply that pragmatically to the topic of alcohol, it means don't go about drinking in front of struggling alcoholics, or acting arrogant. If you are in the company of someone who has a problem with this, don't shove your freedom of conscience into their face by drinking and being arrogant. Show humility, gentleness, kindness, compassion, let loving others be the driving principle of your actions.

How all these things play out in the play-by-play of life is, fundamentally, just part of living. There isn't a rule, commandment, or dictation for everything--sometimes we have to use our better judgment, allowing the things we have been instructed in guide our conscience and actions, and relying on God's mercy through our failures and missteps. And when we sin, we repent.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Cis.jd]

whoops.


I meant yes. It's fine. Keep it legal.

 

[SkyWriting]

My question: is it acceptable for a Christian to own a liquor store?

It's not acceptable for humans to judge the sins of others.
Hope that clears things.
What Does the Bible Say About Judging Others?

This covers all those "They ought to....." problems.

 

[PaulCyp1]

Is it OK for a Christian to own a food store, since so many people abuse food?

 

[chevyontheriver]

Your view proposes that just because Timothy had a "little wine" for his stomach (medical need) that its okay to do for recreation purposes. Which is an inherently flawed concept.

No. Not at all. My view is that Paul sees drinking wine in moderation is not a problem. Medicinally, socially, whatever.

The greek word used with Timothy, and a plethora of other verses, is onios (wine) which could quite mean grape juice as well.

Welch's grape juice long ago use to advertise their product as saying that it helps upset stomach. The greek word onios could be used to say either fermented or unfermented. Which is one point I tried to get across to you. That word back then was on par with saying "I am going to have a drink". That could mean either/ or now days.

Problem with that is grape juice outside of a fridge ferments. It's a natural thing if it has not been sterilized at bottling. And once opened, if not kept cold it ferments. It just happens. And the fermenting is what preserves the wine. So, outside of a few days at grape harvest time, it really was wine, with alcohol in it.

Next is the context. Which never really supports an agreement to use alcohol for recreation and fun.

The context includes the criteria for choosing bishops and deacons only a few chapters before. The criteria is that they not be drunkards, not that they be tea-totallers.

Even secular studies prove that even one drink begins to impair your body functions, and if we are to remain sober as scripture states, you would be one drink drunk.

That's your rhetoric, and if it makes you happy I'm happy for you. Jesus, on the other hand, made some fine wine. You can believe it was grape juice if you want, but the word is 'wine'. At least in my Bible. If yours says grape juice, enjoy that translation all you want.

 

[chevyontheriver]

The crowd I mostly hung around with were usually competing to see who could drink the most.

I know that kind of thing exists, regrettably. I would not hang around those people at all.

 

[topher694]

The wine conversation seems like it might be a bit off topic to me, but nevertheless...

The Bible does appear make a distinction at times between wine and strong wine. Back then they would often take fermented wine and dilute it with water, sometimes as much as 20:1... this kept the wine from spoiling while making it last a lot longer and mostly prevented it from causing people to be impaired. So "wine" in the Bible can probably describe many different levels of alcohol content.

Note, I'm not taking a stance here, just providing some additional information to consider.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

I wouldn't. Any business that preys upon human weakness is dangerous. I'm not against alcohol by itself, but this is a predatory business. Alcohol is a drug and is easily misused and is addictive. I think it can legitimately be used, but it too often is misused. Any business that preys upon human necessity is also dangerous.

By that logic, You'd better not sell fried chicken either.

 

[Leet]

A Christian (or anyone tbh) who owns a liquor store/bottle o will see the most devastating cases come in day in and day out. It will break your heart. Alcoholism is a bit of a thing amongst some of my relatives, it's a weak spot for me too. Once there's a face on the condition, you'd have to be hard of heart to keep raking in the cash on it. Just saying.

 

[BNR32FAN]

I know that kind of thing exists, regrettably. I would not hang around those people at all.

Unfortunately I was very stupid for most of my life. I give praise and thanks to God for pushing me into a corner where the only way out was thru Him. Now that old me is gone and I live to serve Him.

 

[SkyWriting]

By that logic, You'd better not sell fried chicken either.

Pizza is a real bad one too.

The line is out the door with poor people at little caesars.

America has some of the world's saltiest pizza

 

[SkyWriting]

The wine conversation seems like it might be a bit off topic to me, but nevertheless...

The Bible does appear make a distinction at times between wine and strong wine. Back then they would often take fermented wine and dilute it with water, sometimes as much as 20:1... this kept the wine from spoiling while making it last a lot longer and mostly prevented it from causing people to be impaired. So "wine" in the Bible can probably describe many different levels of alcohol content.

Note, I'm not taking a stance here, just providing some additional information to consider.

The wine killed bacteria that made the water bad.
Bacteria in water is a problem.

 

[section9+1]

By that logic, You'd better not sell fried chicken either.

I don't get the analogy.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

I don't get the analogy.

"Any business that preys upon human weakness is dangerous"

Can't sell any food because of fat people. Type II Diabetes is a killer.

 

[RaymondG]

1Co 9
19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

1Co 10
27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

--------------

I am not interested in owning a liqour store. However, my interest is a near-direct correlate. I am not going to explain what it is, because that will derail the thread.

My question: is it acceptable for a Christian to own a liquor store? It seems that it would make it difficult to share the gospel with a lot of people, because of our society's negative view; they assume a Christian shouldn't do such a thing. However, immediacy does seem to be a major function. If Paul was a Jew to the Jews, and something else when dealing with others, then clearly those role would contradict. If the Jew found out about Paul's behavior before others, he would be offended; Paul didn't seem to be worried about this (unless Paul took an inclusive approach, and did nothing that would offend anyone, anywhere, at any time). It seems that Paul's concern was for the immediate; for example, he might not eat sacrificed meat in front of them, but he might eat it in private. Or he might own a liquor store, but he might not purchase it in front of the offendable parties.

And what about quasi-immediacy? Specifically this: if you decide that it's okay to own the liquor store and you buy it, but then someone that you're speaking to directly finds out and lets you know that they think it's wrong, do you have to sell the store?

Lastly, how far do we take this? If we own a beautiful car and someone says we should have instead spent that extra money to feed the hungry, do we have to sell it and do just that? cf. Pro 31 and also the coat of many colors. Regarding which issues (cars? liquor stores?) or in which situations (immediacy?) or other factors (majority opinion?) do we become all things to all people?

And remember that Paul publicly stated (in the Bible) that Timothy was to drink an alcoholic drink (wine). This offends many Christians.

I would say for me, It goes against my conscience, so I would not do it. I do not, however, feel it would be a sin for you to do so.

I dont think about whether or not the ones buying the drink, would get drunk or not....or whether they are alcoholics. What i think about, is the possibility of one getting drunk off of something I sold then, and then going into a car and killing someone else who had nothing to do with the transaction. I guess, I would feel linked in some way to the outcome.....One innocent is dead, another is in Jail.....and I have a few extra bucks in my pocket. And it could be argued that, had I not sold the product, the incident would not have happened....as soon as it did. Of course we could say they would of just got it from someone else anyway.......But that is the thing.......I would rather it be gotten from someone else....and not me....for i desire no connection to it at all.

That being said, If you were to own a Liquor store, I'd go in to buy wine from you and will expect a good christian discount...so thanks in advance.

 

[RaymondG]

Is it OK for a Christian to own a food store, since so many people abuse food?

By that logic, You'd better not sell fried chicken either.

Pizza is a real bad one too.

The line is out the door with poor people at little caesars.

Drinking Liquor can have far more negative consequences than eating food.....and probably should not be compared.

Eating too much can directly kill the eater only....... While Drinking too much liquor can kill you and those around you.

Just compare the numbers.....How many innocent people are killed a year by those who drank too much liquor... And how many are killed by those who ate too much food?