Two Lifestyles

Christianity & Alcohol

In Matthew 11:16-30 we are told of two lifestyles. On the one hand a man with a restrictive diet, who abstained from various kinds of drinks and avoided bad company. Jesus’ cousin had chosen that kind of lifestyle and he was criticized as crazy. On the other hand, Jesus occasionally ate and drank with sinners and he was criticized as a gluttonous drunkard. What was John’s purpose? It was to call people to repentance. What was Jesus’ purpose? It was also to call people to repentance. In many ways they had the same purpose, but their methods were different. One ate and drank with sinners, the other abstained and lived apart. Neither lifestyle received criticism from heaven. Some Christians go to bars in hopes of saving sinners and others avoid them. There is no reason to criticize either lifestyle.