For the stumbling crowd, there are those that might stumble if you play cards, watch TV or any movies, who listen to rock music ... there are those that might be tempted to gluttony by your ham sandwich at lunch, and who believe that eating the pork in the sandwich is a sin. I knew a guy who felt that anyone leaving a wallet, purse, any valuables out ... was an almost unbearable temptation. (He's in jail now because someone caused him to stumble.)
The problem is that we are creating meaning that isn't present in the text. People are converting from paganism. They used to believe that the idols were real God's. People at those pagan temples were selling the meat from the temple sacrifices really cheap. Christians who were "mature" i.e knowing good from evil just bought the cheap meat knowing that idols aren't anything at all. The problem is that the new converts really aren't sure. Because they aren't sure, some of them were "testing" these mature Christians by telling them that the meat they were being served was sacrificed to idols.
First, there is no admonition NOT TO BUY MEAT SACRIFICED TO IDOLS. Second there is no admonition NOT TO EAT MEAT SACRIFICED TO IDOLS. Third, even if the person serving the meat might be one of those "weak" Christians, IF THEY DO NOT SAY ANYTHING, eat what is placed before you. THIS IS NOT ABOUT STOPPING EVERYTHING THAT ANYONE MIGHT FIND QUESTIONABLE OR OFFENSIVE.
To apply this to alcohol, go ahead and buy what you want, and imbibe in what you want. (Just as being a glutton with the meat sacrificed to idols is not mentioned, but applies, assume that being drunk applies here as well.) Now, let's change the situation some. You run a halfway house where drunks come to dry out. The Holy Spirit, through you, wins a few of them to the Lord. A year later you decide to have 5 of them over for Thanksgiving dinner. You go to each one of them and ask, "Do you believe drinking alcohol is a sin for you." You get the following answers:
(1) Not only is it a sin for me, it is a sin for any Christian to drink any alcohol at any time, even in cough syrup.
When asked if they would be tempted, in any way, to do what they believe to be sin, they say emphatically, NO!
(3) Yes, drinking any alcohol would be a sin for me, but it is not a sin for anyone else.
(1) No, it's not a sin for me or anyone. I am no longer an addict, and wouldn't mind a glass of red wine. I like Cabernets.
(1) I believe it would be a sin for me to drink, and I am still having struggles.
So what does a Christian do? He does not serve alcohol for thanksgiving. Why? Because there is ONE PERSON who might be tempted to do something they believe to be sin showing up for dinner.
So Thanksgiving comes around and the one person who might have been tempted to do something they believe is sin is sick and can't make it. What do I do? I make sure that I have a nice bottle of burgundy for myself, a white for my wife, and a Cabernet for my other guest.
Apply the same thing to watching movies, playing cards, drinking coffee(Mormon converts) ...
Keep in mind that Jesus said that He came eating and drinking without restrictions (other than He was never drunk), and for this reason the "religious" were claiming that He was a glutton and a drunkard. Jesus didn't care two hoots about the fact that there were some "religious" people discrediting Him over His unrestricted usage of food and drink.
If we are "Christlike", and you are offended that any Christians would ever drink alcohol and would want nothing to do with them, then you can start with Jesus Himself. Then, since those showing up early to the Lord's supper who drank all the wine got drunk, you can discredit everyone in the first century church, including the writers of scripture.
