Sneak Peak into the Book, “Under the Law”

“Have you ever smoked, drank or got a tattoo? On a personal level, I have smoked a few and drunk a few, never got a tattoo, sounds painful and that stuff not going to leave your body. What happens when your 50 or 60 and you have a tattoo that says, “Party like a rockstair” or maybe your really religious and you get that one religious saying tattoo on your skin, then time down the road you changed religious beliefs? Akward moments for the rest of your life after that. I have seen other people go way to the left or right on this topic and because of their religious beliefs, they will never drink or smoke or get a tattoo, because their christians. Then you think, oh how noble or honoring or religious of you to make that commitment. I was that way too. I lived my life thinking, “Oh nope, can’t drink, smoke or get tattoos because I’m a good christian guy.” What if though, I told you that being a christian didn’t mean being unable to drink, smoke or get tattoos? Here are a 2 myths about being a christian, that most christians don’t know about, because they don’t read the bible, they only listen to whatever the pastor says behind the pulpit, which is only that pastor’s very own opinion or view.

1. Drinking. The bible doesn’t forbid drinking, but it does forbid not drinking. No kidding. Here a few verses.  1 Timothy 5:23 “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.” If it was a sin to drink, why would Paul tell Timothy to drink wine in that verse. Now, background on this verse, in those days, water wasn’t good to drink, the water was duty and it made people sick, but even today in places around the world, water makes people sick, water is duty in a-lot of places, we as americans get an different benefit with water then most people in the world. So Paul said stop drinking duty water and drink wine, but if it was a sin to drink, than why would paul command them to drink it? Answer, it’s not a sin to drink. Now, why should we not drink, because drinking could intangle us to enter into a sin called drunkenness. To get drunk is a sin. drunkenness is when you lose all common sense. Galatians 5:21 “and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” God draws a line and says, “you can only come this far”. Keeping limits is a key to this. When I drink I have one and only on special days. Ecclesiastes 9:7 “Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.”  Last point is that this is a gift from God. When we are in heaven, I believe wine will be up there, but not down in hell, because wine is a gift from God to people.
2. Giving 10% to the church isn’t all to biblical either. We see this teaching popping up in the old testament alot, but the truth is, the new testament gives no teachings pointing to this idea. Most churches will try to use old testament teachings to get people to give a 10th of their income, but that teaching wasn’t given to the church to follow, it was given to the Jewish people to follow. Malachi 3:6-9, many churches will try to use these verses to try to get people to give a tithe to their church. But if we look closer, God is speaking to the Jewish people in this passage. Verse 6 says, “…your ancestors you have turn away from my decrees…”, the Jewish people always turn away from God throughout the old testament. Verse 8 says, “In Tithes and offerings….your whole nation…” Two things, if this was mint for the church to obey, then why are we not giving offerings too? Tithes and offerings are what the Jewish Law commanded to do as requirement to have an right relationship with God. This verse also says, “Your Whole Nation”, one Nation, One People, christians are many nations and people, the Jews are One Nation and One People. Therefore, this passage is speaking to the Jewish people and not to the church.

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