I gotta wonder if those that are so hard about drinking Christians, are just as hard against Christian gossipers, dividers, slanderers, strife makers, etc.
What does God hate worse, those that have some wine, or those that spread strife....
What does God hate worse, those that have some wine, or those that spread strife....
It's the nature of the beast. We are always passionate about the things that the Lord has delivered us from and what we deem as untouchable - we try to portray that onto others and that is wrong as some have pointed out already.
I experienced this very thing when I was a young convert. The pastor of the church was ranting about smoking ( apparently he had seen some members smoking ) and I myself didn't smoke so the preaching had no relevance to me.
Deep within my spirit I heard the Lord say "What is the difference between someone smoking themselves to death and eating themselves to death?"
I was horrified - I thought to myself "Where did that come from?" ...I say that because the pastor was as big as a house and yet the was ranting on those bad sinning "smokers".
So, I agree with your synopsis - gossipers, dividers, slanderers and strife-makers are in the same boat as those that think others shouldn't do what they wouldn't do, if they are condemning others.
Sometimes I find this scripture handy in these types of situations along with no doing anything in front of others to hurt someone else if they are weak in an area. ( Just have your glass of wine when they are not there - no harm done )
Romans 14:22 (NASB)
[SUP]22 [/SUP] The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.