“The Lesson”
One evening I got a call from my friend Joel who I went to church with. Joel was one of the men who helped lead me to the Lord. He was also an elder in the church.
Joel lived a few blocks away from my apartments and asked if he could come by and talk to me about something. When he arrived, a few minutes later, I knew he was upset about
something.
We lowered the tailgate to his truck and they sat down on the edge, and Joel proceeded to tell me how he had invited this young guy and his wife (who were recently visiting their
church) to his house for barbecue. Joel had invited several couples over that same evening (some from church and some not) to swim and have burgers by the pool. When the couple
arrived several people were having drinks and a few were having beer.
Joel continued to tell me that several couples had brought their children, and overall, it was a normal family and friends gathering. No one was drunk and no one out of line.
Light jazz music was playing outside and the scent of barbecue was in the air. For some reason though, the young couple seemed uncomfortable and after fifteen minutes or so they
made an excuse and left the party. Joel continued to tell me that he couldn't help but feel a little bad. He said he thought that they had been uncomfortable because there were a lot of
people drinking.
Joel continued, saying “No one was drunk man, and no one was getting out of line. You and I both know Bryan, that it's not a sin to have a drink”. “Do you think we were out of line
man? Joel asked.
I replied “Man...don't sweat it Joel. You guys weren't doing anything wrong. It's not a sin to have a drink and no one was drunk. You said that know one was out of line. If it was the
drinking that upset him, it was due to his ignorance of the scripture. Don't sweat it man. It's his issue not yours”.
Joel obviously felt better having another Christian friend validate his feelings, slapped me on the shoulder, told me thanks, shut the tailgate and went home.
I watched Joel drive off and thought to myself “It's pretty cool to be able to provide good solid advice and support to a Christian friend and brother”.
I walked back in to my apartment and closed the door...and slammed right into a wall of conviction...I was totally wrong. I kept hearing the apostle Paul talk about “...everything being
permissible, but not necessarily being beneficial” ( I Corinthians 6:12).Paul went on to say in 1st Corinthians 8:9-12, “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not
become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has
been sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience,
you sin against Christ”.
I was physically upset over the realization, so I called Joel up and I told him “Dude...I was wrong...what I told you...it was all wrong. You were right Joel, it's not sinful to have a drink, but it
is sinful if our having that drink causes someone else to stumble. I mean...we don't know what this guy is going through or what he's been through. Maybe he ha a drinking problem in
the past...who knows. Maybe they've been struggling with the whole Church/Christian thing, and then to see all of these people from church having a party, drinking and stuff. I think as
Christians we need to be a level above the norm. We need to be that example to the rest of mankind...all of the time...because we choose to. Not because we have to”.
I finished speaking and there was this awkward moment of silence, then Joel says “Maybe your right, but I think they were just trippin. I don't believe that God would want us to fake who
we are for anyone. I don't think He would want us to mislead anyone even if they're new to the Lord. It's this guys responsibility to read the Word so he'll know the truth. Then he wont
make those kind of mistakes”.
I didn't know how to respond for a moment, then I said “Look man, I love you, but after you left I got really convicted and then went in and read 1st Corinthians and just felt I had to call
you and tell you I was wrong. I don't mean to offend you”.
All of this happened on a Saturday night and I went to bed wondering if I was overanalyzing things. If I was just being a zealot or something, and shortly...I fell asleep.
The next day I was up early and off to church. I had to be there early to practice with the band before the service. I had played guitar most all of my life, but the group of guys I played
with now were really tight. The band was really good and most of our music was original. All of the services were recorded and the person running the Mixer Board always recorded the
music services. It seemed that everyone had a tape of our music. People would come to visit the church just for the music and the band was invited to churches throughout town to play
as guest musicians. We had even had invitations to record.
That particular Sunday, I and one of my band members Loval had planned to go visit a friend after church, who was in the hospital. Our friend was in the hospital for cancer and was
due to go into surgery the following day so Loval and I had told him we would come by after church on Sunday to visit and pray with him. It was a good service and I noticed many new
visitors of all ages there. As soon as the service was over, Loval and I got in Loval's truck and drove towards the hospital. On the way the passed a barbecue restaurant and decided to
stop and get a bite to eat before we went to the hospital. Loval and I went inside and were seated at a table. When the waitress came to take our drink orders I ordered a coke and
Loval asked me “would you mind if I have a beer”? and I replied “Of course not”...Only a second or two went by before I was again convicted.
“Loval” I said, “I have to tell you what happened to me last night”, and I proceeded to tell Loval what happened between Joel and I the night before. As I finished the story, the waitress
arrived with our plates and Loval asked her if she would just bring him an Iced Tea instead of a beer.
We were near finishing our meal when an elderly couple walked up to our table. “Excuse me young men” said the elderly woman “don't you two play in the band at Cornerstone
Evangelical Ministry”? and Loval answered “Yes mam we do”, and the woman continued, “Our grandson is the new Pastor at Cornerstone and we were visiting there today and heard
you boys play, and just wanted to stop and tell you how much we enjoyed your music. We don't believe we've ever heard the Lord use anybody through music as he is using you
gentlemen. We truly felt the spirit of God flowing through your music and just wanted to stop and let you boys know how much we enjoyed it. And we just wanted to thank you for
allowing yourselves to be used by the Spirit of God like you do”. The elderly couple shook our hands and left the restaurant.
Loval and I sat there quietly for a moment and Loval said “Oh my God...can you imagine what those two would have thought if they had seen me sitting there drinking a beer”. I smiled
and finished my coke and then Loval and I left the restaurant and went on to see our friend in the hospital.
I have never forgot the lesson the Lord had taught me that weekend and I've shared it whenever the Lord impressed it upon my heart. To this day I am amazed at the way the Lord will
use the everyday events in our lives to effect the live of others for His glory!
By:
Bryan Woods
09/22/07
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