Hi,<\/p>\n
I work at a grocery store and am about to begin my training for a promotion. This promotion will involve various new tasks, such as closing the store, opening and working in customer service, handling cash, and, my main concern, working in our coffee and alcohol section. I personally do not drink and am learning about what the Bible has to say about alcohol.<\/p>\n
For some context on the section, it is not your typical bar. There are also smoothies and coffee there, and most people will grab a drink, do their shopping, and leave. It’s not mixing drinks or bartending; it’s more so handing someone a cup of wine or beer and leaving it there.<\/p>\n
My question is: Would it be okay to work in this section? I am leaning toward “no” because I don’t think I should put up that image, and that’s not for a performative reason, but to keep in mind how I represent myself as a Christian and how I bear the image of Christ.<\/p>\n
I was talking to someone about it, and they were saying how at the wedding, Jesus provided the wine. However, I am aware of the differences in the wine compared to today. This is still one point this person made.<\/p>\n
Overall, I’d like to hear your thoughts on this point and the reasons I should not work in this section. I still plan to talk to my manager to see if it’s an option to learn it without working my shifts in this department. If that’s not an option, what are your thoughts? Should I not take the promotion?<\/p>\n\t
The word “wine” in the New Testament is a generic term referring to any product made from grape juice. By itself, you cannot determine whether alcohol was involved or not. See:<\/p>\n
You are correct that you need to consider your reputation as a Christian, as you represent the Lord to the world around you. Jobs that require supplying products that would be wrong for a Christian to use would be wrong because we cannot promote sinful behavior.<\/p>\n
Talk to your manager and explain that you have religious limitations on what you can do. If accommodations can’t be made, I would personally decline the position.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: Hi, I work at a grocery store and am about to begin my training for a promotion. This promotion will involve various new tasks, such as closing the store, opening and working in customer service, handling cash, and, my main concern, working in our coffee and alcohol section. I personally do not drink and…<\/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,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[371,105,659,104],"class_list":["post-95532","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-alcohol","tag-employment","tag-jobs","tag-work"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":31529,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-you-pick-a-job-when-so-many-can-involve-sinful-things\/","url_meta":{"origin":95532,"position":0},"title":"How do you pick a job when so many can involve sinful things?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 30, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: It seems like there are a lot of jobs where a person comes in contact with alcohol and cigarettes and other morally improper things. For instance, if someone works at a restaurant they might end up pouring and serving alcohol, or maybe a musician who plays at a restaurant\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":87216,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-someone-work-for-a-company-that-is-involved-in-alcohol-and-gambling\/","url_meta":{"origin":95532,"position":1},"title":"Should someone work for a company that is involved in alcohol and gambling?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi Jeffrey, I hope all is well with you. I would appreciate your thoughts about a company's activities and the Bible's guidance on working for that company. The company in question is a large retailer that does much good for society by providing food and other items at low\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":7436,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-a-woman-wearing-a-covering-work-in-a-store-selling-alcohol\/","url_meta":{"origin":95532,"position":2},"title":"Can a woman, wearing a covering, work in a store selling alcohol?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 17, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: What about women who wear covering among the regular population? Is it a sin to let the woman who wears a covering to work in a store where they sell beer or things of the sort? I need to know if I am sinning if I do not wear\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":13548,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/am-i-compromising-by-just-drinking-a-glass-of-wine-a-few-days-each-week\/","url_meta":{"origin":95532,"position":3},"title":"Am I compromising by just drinking a glass of wine a few days each week?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 3, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: You see, I do drink wine on occasion, in moderation.\u00a0 I may have a glass of wine 2 or 3 evenings a week while cooking dinner, or I may go several days without drinking any.\u00a0 I do not drink beer or hard liquor.\u00a0 I do not drink and drive.\u00a0\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":64496,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/am-i-being-judgmental\/","url_meta":{"origin":95532,"position":4},"title":"Am I being judgmental?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 9, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I had a dear friend who used to preach in the Lord's Church. When his daughter was married, he had an open bar at the reception. I was so upset and shocked. I was told I was judging. Is this something we should warn those we love about? The\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":22449,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/was-timothy-a-nazirite\/","url_meta":{"origin":95532,"position":5},"title":"Was Timothy a Nazirite?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 16, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Was Timothy a Nazirite? It appeared that he was reluctant to take the wine ( grape juice) so I know that if he was a Nazirite he would not take even grapes or grape juice for medicine. 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