The Spiritual Journey at Kroger

After we brought Karis home from the hospital, I was sent out to pick up some prescriptions and a few minor groceries we needed. Somewhere along the line, someone had shared with Charity that a little wine each night helps increase a mother's milk supply (where do women get this kind of information?). Since none of our babies have excelled with weight gain at the beginning, Charity decided to give it a shot. A few observations from me as I purchased a bottle of Sangria:

1. I had no clue what I was doing. I've never had alcohol. I'm certainly not a "wine guy." I avoided it for years, probably for the wrong reasons, but also because their is some history of alcoholism in my family. I struggle with moderation in many things in my life, and don't see the wisdom of potentially adding one more thing to that list. I also don't drink alcohol simply because I don't want to. It smells funny to me. I've never understood the concept of an "acquired taste." (I don't like cigarettes or coffee either). If I put something to my mouth and didn't like the taste or the effect the first time, why would I keep doing it till I finally enjoyed it? Because of all this, I had no idea what to look for. What color is Sangria? Heck, what IS Sangria? What should it cost? Are their good and bad brands? How big a bottle should I buy? I stammered around the aisle for far too long asking myself all these questions. Of course, I only felt more stupid that my daughter Rachel is in the cart loudly (that's the only volume she has) asking me, "Dad what are you doing?" I felt like a total moron.

2. I didn't get carded. I'm only 29 and I go to make my first alcohol purchase of my life, and no one even wants to see my I.D. Depressing. I told myself it must be because I had a three year old with me, but reality says it's probably the gray hair that's showing up more and more. I'm now an "old man" to the teenage cash register girl.

3. I really kept wondering who would see me. I knew I was doing nothing wrong, yet I didn't want to bump into anyone I knew. I've been thinking about this element for quite some time and I see three different types of personalities I could have bumped into.

a) CONCERNED CONSERVATIVE--This is a person who's world would have collapsed had they seen the bottle in my cart. "Could a pastor really be buying alcohol?" Basically, they've decided they shouldn't drink (hey, I'm in their boat there), and have also decided that due to their convictions, no one else should drink either. It gets spiritualized by making comments about "worrying about what students in our youth group would think" or "you may really cause a weaker brother to stumble." Arguements are made far more in relationship to the condition of our American culture, rather than the Word of God. They'll state that an elder should be above reproach, specifically in the area of alcohol (to which they are right, Timothy says that too!) but they will wonder if buying one bottle will make people question whether I am truly above reproach. They have made up their mind, set their own standards (that go beyond what Scripture says, though I think they mean well...to honor God) and then want to impose those standards on everyone else. There's a part of you that fears bumping into this person, as a pastor, because you know they could make your life very difficult.

b) FREEDOM FIGHTER--This is the person who would make too big a deal out of the purchase as well. But, instead of condemning the purchase, they see this as a wonderful victory. They would, in a way, feel like I've finally arrived in spiritual growth, evidenced by the freedom I have to purchase alcohol. However, this person would probably be bummed when I would explain that I don't plan on touching the stuff (seriously, why drink something that smells like wet feet?). They'd further be bummed to find out that if this "medical experiment" does not work, this is probably the last bottle I will buy. This person has found a freedom in a Christian liberty, but sometimes can tend to look down on those who don't feel the same freedom. Freedom is beautiful and the person is so excited to have found it. Sometimes, however, their excitement causes them to be blind to the fact that others may not share their opinion. The freedom can be carried too far, at times, even ignoring other principles that come into play. (ie. While Scripture does say there is nothing wrong with alcohol, just with getting drunk, it's still wrong to allow a teenager to "experience this freedom" since federal law prohibits their consumption of alcohol. You break a governmental law, which Scripture says we are to submit to, for the sake of achieving some other freedom?) I didn't want to see this person either. Feeling like making them happy was probably going to involve me sacrificing some form of commitment for me...or at the very least, this thing would be made into a bigger deal than it is.

c) ACCOMMODATING AMBIGUOUS--This person sees what's in the cart. Maybe they mention it, maybe I do. But when the discussion comes up, they neither condemn nor congratulate me. Rather, they shrug and explain that it's just one of those things that we'll never know about. Discussion, or worse yet, disagreement, scares them away from engaging in a conversation. Rather than digging into the Scriptures, going before the Lord in prayer, and entering conversations with others who are reading and praying...they just decide to ignore it all together. You'll never know where they stand (whether inside they are upset or pleased with you) and you never really get a chance to adequately explain what you believe (they are far more comfortable to move on from the conversation to other things). Honestly, this is the person I'd probably least like to run into. With the "conservative," I know however far they'd want to take this issue, they don't have a Biblical leg to stand on, therefore I believe my church would support me (and maybe the Lord would use this to start a very productive discussion in our Body). The "freedom fighter" will probably leave discouraged by me, but I don't really care. I figure that over time, they will hopefully see that I delight in the freedom from sin God has given (though I do not always practice it) but longed to be a slave to righteousness. Hopefully, in time, they can see the motive in my heart for my actions (but if not, isn't God alone really the only One who can?). This ambiguous person, however, would drive me nuts. Sure, there are things we can not know for certain, but does that mean we quit in the chase? I would want to explain to the person they have a responsibility to study the Word and come to conclusions. It's one thing to search God's Word and come away with the conclusion that the Bible is not direct on an issue. Just the study alone will benefit your walk, and more importantly, reveal the heart of God to you. It's a whole different thing to view the Bible as a "Magic 8-ball." Give it a shake and ask the question, "Does the Bible say it's ok for 21st century Americans to drink recreationally?" Then when the person doesn't get the immediate "yes" or "no" from their study, they give up...choosing not to look any farther. That scares me.

I left Kroger thankful that I didn't bump into any of these three people. (Actually didn't bump into anyone I knew). But it also reminded me to continually humbly submit my life before Christ. Without His grace, I can easily become any of these three.