NoelHeikkinen.com

RiverBrew 2

May 19, 2007 Uncategorized

.:mood:. Proud
.:itunes:. Jenny Was a Friend of Mine by The Killers

I mentioned last week that Riverview was launching a new ministry called RiverBrew. And yes, “brew” is beer, not coffee. It’s an easy mistake to make if you know our church (Steve Fee once called us “the most caffeinated church in America.”)

Since this group is officially launching this weekend, I wanted to make a few observations. First, a promotional video they put together:

Basically, this ministry will teach people how to home brew their own beer. Here, again, are their objectives:

* To worship God through appreciation of his creation
* To build community and friendships through a common bond
* To model and exhort enjoyment in moderation of God’s gifts; quality over quantity
* To break down misconceptions about the Biblical view of alcohol
* To resume the Church’s historical role as making the finest beer in town

Here are some reasons I am glad this ministry is launching:

It is an example of young men taking a risk for the Gospel.
The guys who are starting this ministry are not doing so solely because they like beer (which they do). They’re also not doing it to buck the system (which it will). They are doing it because they have seen the increased popularity in home brewing and see the Gospel opportunity it provides. They will be able to reach people that are currently untouched with the Gospel.

I am sure they will receive criticism for their risk, and I am sure they will be gracious in the face of this criticism. It is a big risk and I am praying it will pay off huge with eternal rewards.

It is innovative.
This very well may be the first of its kind (at least in modern American history). It is certainly the first time I have ever heard of a ministry like this. I love innovation and I will try anything moral once. As Mark Batterson has often said, “everything is an experiment.”

If this goes well, awesome.

If it goes poorly, awesome.

It provides what our Secular Culture needs right now.
There is a time and place when the best thing a Christian can do is to abstain from alcohol for the sake of the Gospel. I believe that time is over in our culture.

American Christians are now known much more for what we are against than what we are for. That must change.

We, as a culture, are very well versed in the dangers of alcoholism, drunk driving, and the like. What we desperately need in America right now is examples of moderation. That’s why I love the tagline of this ministry: “Quality over Quantity.” Or as Jeremy Mason has said, “Drink less beer…drink better beer.” Amen and amen.

It provides what our Christian Culture needs right now.
American Christians need to remember that historical Christianity has not had a problem with moderate alcohol consumption. Only over the last century or so have we become a “dry” faith. The Bible, while clearly warning about the dangers of drunkenness, calls wine a blessing from God.

We also have to be careful to think that we can be “holier than Jesus.” Saying that abstaining from alcohol is more moral than moderate consumption is ranking ourselves above Jesus who drank wine. That is not wise.

I want to close with a quote from an essay written by Jeremy Mason for the RiverBrew page on our church’s website:

The history of the church has been deeply rooted in the responsible enjoyment of beer and alcohol. Beer has never been the focus, just one of many great joys along the way. Brewing has been a thing of beauty, always focused on the joy that a good brew can bring. It seems that many theologians have been accompanied by a good beer as they have set forth to fight the good fight of truth and faith. If history is any indication of the future, I expect the church will continue in its unabashed appreciation of God’s great nectar. In this pursuit, there will always be someone in town who is brewing the best beer, why not make it the church?