Hi,<\/p>\n
I have received a recent invitation to attend a pre-nuptial party. I don’t have any objections to the occasion, nor any ill-feeling to the hosts or anything like that. What I am against is that some alcoholic beverages will be served during the party. I’m not sure what to do – either not attend and when asked why I don’t attend, I’d tell them the reasons, or I will attend but when the “drinks” will be served that’s the time I will object.<\/p>\n
What can you suggest how would I point out that their “light” drinking as they say is wrong. They are my workmates and friends. Some of them claim to be Christians. Some are Catholics. A majority of them find no harm to drinking as long as it’s moderate. Even their wives do find it harmless. My concern really is how and when would I tell them. Should I rebuke or explain to them publicly, as on this particular occasion, or privately?<\/p>\n
Thanks and regards<\/p>\n\t
My general rule is when an invitation features drinks as a reason to come, then I don’t attend. When I’m asked, I don’t make a big deal about the situation, but I explain that when a party is focused on drinks, I don’t like to attend because I am a non-drinker. If the party is focused on some other reason, I plan on making a showing. If I see a lot of drinking and carrying on, I greet the hosts but quickly leave. I’ll also leave if it is clear that non-alcoholic drinks are an after-thought or if alcoholic drinks are pushed.<\/p>\n
Questions will come up about why I choose not to drink, which I happily answer, but I never had to condemn non-Christians for their choices. Instead, if the topic comes up, I reason with others about the reasonableness of choosing to drink and God’s position on drinking.<\/p>\n
“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles–when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries<\/em>” (I Peter 4:1-3).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: Hi, I have received a recent invitation to attend a pre-nuptial party. I don’t have any objections to the occasion, nor any ill-feeling to the hosts or anything like that. What I am against is that some alcoholic beverages will be served during the party. I’m not sure what to do – either not attend and when…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[371],"class_list":["post-27921","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-alcohol"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":53950,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-wrong-to-attend-events-where-people-might-be-drinking-or-smoking\/","url_meta":{"origin":27921,"position":0},"title":"Is it wrong to attend events where people might be drinking or smoking?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 22, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have had some best friends since my school days, years ago. I am the only person among them who is baptized. We all meet twice a year and during that meeting they all drink and smoke. I don't drink or smoke since I was baptized. They are all\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":68364,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/when-the-guests-are-drunk\/","url_meta":{"origin":27921,"position":1},"title":"When the Guests are Drunk?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 15, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry Wane Benton Does John 2:10 say and mean \"when the guests are drunk\" as the NET so renders, or does the verse have a different connotation? My Interlinear renders this \"have well drunk,\" which is a far different meaning than \"are drunk.\" The interlinear rendering means only that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2618,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/do-the-words-carousing-or-reveling-condemn-social-drinking\/","url_meta":{"origin":27921,"position":2},"title":"Do the words “carousing” or “reveling” condemn social drinking?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 5, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: My preacher said that the words \"carousing\" and \"reveling\" are often misused today. Some have associated these words with social drinking. However, carousing and reveling refer to parties where drunkenness is either the goal or by-product of the party. I tried to discuss\u00a0I Peter 4:3\u00a0with him, suggesting that \"tippling\"\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":27468,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-you-handle-being-invited-to-a-bible-class-that-you-know-isnt-going-to-teach-the-truth\/","url_meta":{"origin":27921,"position":3},"title":"How do you handle being invited to a Bible class that you know isn’t going to teach the truth?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 19, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: How do I handle getting offers to attend studies and other programs from my friends who attend denominational churches? The conflict is them saying \"no\" when I invite them and me saying \"no\" when they invite me. I know it's not worship. Would I be able to attend those\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":61083,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-is-it\/","url_meta":{"origin":27921,"position":4},"title":"Why Is It? (Norman)","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 29, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"by Morris D. Norman via\u00a0Gospel Power, Vol. 16, No. 1, Jan. 4, 2009. We see so many in today's society that are doing so many things to destroy health and shorten life. There are many campaigns and many public advertisements to keep people from the evil of drugs, drink, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":43928,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-wrong-not-to-attend-a-family-dinner-hosted-by-a-couple-who-are-living-together-unmarried\/","url_meta":{"origin":27921,"position":5},"title":"Is it wrong not to attend a family dinner hosted by a couple who are living together unmarried?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 11, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Dear Jeff, Is it wrong for me to not attend a family dinner because the ones hosting it are living together unwed? They are not Christians, they are Baptist. I do not want to approve of sin be it through words or actions. 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