A WWJB event should NOT be conducted in a way that encourages people to drink irresponsibly
- People should not be encouraged to become drunk. God calls us to avoid drunkenness.
- People should not be allowed to become drunk. Cut people off if there is a concern. It is better to share an uncomfortable moment than to allow someone to become drunk.
- If someone has made the mistake of drinking too much, then they should not be allowed to drive home. Someone should give them a ride, or else someone should call them a cab. As stated in point (2), this should never happen in a WWJB encounter anyways.
- One should not share a beer with someone who believes God has called us to abstain from alcohol.
- One should not share a beer with someone that struggles with alcohol or has a history as an alcoholic.
- The leader of a group should make it clear that the group is not an appropriate choice for anyone that struggles with alcohol. If this is a concern with an attendee then it is probably best to ask them to leave. It is not healthy for such a person to subject themselves to temptation, and the group leader should
We need to honor Paul’s guidance in scripture. Wine (and beer) is “clean” and thus appropriate to drink, but it is better to abstain when we know it would cause someone to stumble with alcohol abuse.
Romans 14:20-21 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.
We also need to honor other’s faith in God. In keeping with the Paul’s remaining guidance in scripture (next two verses), we need to honor people’s decision to abstain from alcohol.
Romans 14:22-23 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
If someone’s personal faith believes God calls for abstinence from alcohol, then drinking would be purposeful intent that dishonors God according to their faith. We should not ask someone to drink alcohol if they believe it is wrong, but we should share our personal beliefs with them (such as this website). Each of us is on a continual journey to understand God and his will for our lives. Our beliefs can and should change over time as we learn more about God, but we should always honor the beliefs that people currently maintain by not tempting them to violate their faith in God.