They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Skirts

Growing up Baptist (though I don't think all Baptists are like this), I was never really exposed much to people who drank alcohol. I remember one time when I was about 14 or so opening the fridge at a neighbor’s house while babysitting, seeing a few bottles of beer, and thinking how sad it was that these parents would keep alcohol in the house for their children to see(!). I worried for that next generation of sweet children that would surely grow up to follow in the footsteps of their sinful parents, and probably take it even further, and maybe even become alcoholics(!). Such silly thoughts were my natural thought processes at that time, not because my parents were legalistic, but just because that was the culture I grew up in.

When I became a bit more learned in the Scriptures, I really wasn’t sure what to think. I rejected that drinking alcohol was inherently wrong, but was it acceptable? I still didn’t think so. Wasn’t it a terrible witness to others to drink? Surely it doesn’t look good. But what does the Bible say? I was happy with the complicated weaker brother/stronger brother/just-abstain-and-you-don’t-have-to-worry-about-it answers from others.

But I can’t say that I ever really understood that answer, either. Gus and I don’t really drink alcohol except the communion sip every Sunday (gasp! serving alcohol in church!), not because of conviction, but because we really don’t like the taste. So, even if only in theory, I would like to figure out what to make of this issue.

Let’s take another example: wearing long skirts. Some Christians are convicted that women should wear long skirts. Those, I would say, are the weaker Christians. Does that mean that I should wear skirts so that I don’t tempt the weaker Christians to go against their consciences? And let’s say that in my particular neighborhood, women who wear pants are assumed by Christians and pagans alike to be pagan. Must I then wear skirts so I make sure everyone knows I am a Christian? What does such an action say about Christianity? The pagans would think that “skirt-wearing=Christianity.” The Christians’ belief that “skirt-wearing=Christianity” would also be strengthened. How does the legalistic cycle ever end this way?

In his discussion on house rules vs. God’s rules in Standing on the Promises, Doug Wilson writes,

“Let each be fully convinced in his own mind” (Rom. 14:5b). The Bible makes room for house rules. This instruction from Paul comes in the context of setting a dispute in the church about eating vegetables and observing special days. But the principle here merits our close attention because the modern church has more than her share of “debatable matters.” Unfortunately, the fact that we have many opportunities to apply Paul’s instruction does not mean that we necessarily do…

The Bible does not teach, “There is no answer on those debatable issues, so leave the other guy alone.” Consideration and courtesy are not relativistic. There is a correct answer. Paul, for example, gives us the right answer on the vegetarian issue, but also says that those who know the right answer are to defer to the weaker brother’s conscience. The strong are to defer to the weak. So Christians have the right, according to Scripture, to eat only vegetables, even though God calls it a weakness. Now if someone becomes imperialistic and insists that everyone else eat only vegetables, the clear duty of the church is to oppose such legalism. In Colossians, Paul requires us not to submit to decrees which say we are not to handle, taste, or touch (Col. 2:20-22). Christians must not obey the legalist. But if a weaker brother (or simply a brother with whom we differ) is applying this standard to himself alone, or to his own household, then we are to leave him alone.

My dad recently told me about my great-grandmother who was very religious and believed that women should never cut their hair (it’s their covering, you know). People have weird convictions about all sorts of things, but Christians en masse are not required to follow those convictions. Why is it so regarding alcohol?  If we are to protect the weaker brother's conscience by abstaining from alcohol, then why should we not also abstain from other "smaller" things like wearing pants and cutting hair?