I was involved in a little "showdown" last week, trying to convince a group of Christians that drinking might not be the best activity to include in their free time.  I suggested that drinking isn't the whole issue:  It's more about the cursing, dirty-joking, and other things that follow.  And it's also about the Christian's image in the eyes of outsiders.  If I'm at a bar with a drink in my hand, do my actions and words say that I'm a Christian?  Would I be able to give a reason for the hope I have?  If so, would it be intelligible?  I brought up a few other points, and all in all, I felt like I had a pretty solid case (I felt a bit like a lawyer, which was strangely fun).  And even if any of my points could be argued against, I felt that I still had a pretty solid case because it involved drinking, and in the world of Christianity, drinking is one of the gray areas that usually leans towards black instead of white. 

Most of the people agreed with me.  I expected a few questions, and I got these questions from the very people I expected to get them from.  I had answers to these questions, though I didn't think I would completely convince anyone of my point of view.  And that's fine.  One person's main point was that he liked beer.  Understandable.  I can't blame him for that.  But what I found amazing, just completely astonishing, was the vociferousness of the arguments from the people that disagreed with me.  As I was speaking, I watched one guy's reactions to everything I said, and I was surprised how much of a stir it caused within him.  He would twitch in his seat as I said certain things, and his face would contort as he attempted to hold back his angry expressions.  I invited comments and suggestions in the middle and at the end.  One of my points was that Christians' hypocrisy is one thing that turns people away:  Some Christians say one thing and do another.  His main argument was that Christians' legalism is what really turns people away:  Some Christians adhere to such a strict set of laws that it bores people and sends them looking for something more interesting and less damning.  I could see his point, but I asked him, "So do you think Christians should drink so that they don't appear legalistic?"  I don't think drinking will solve our problems with legalism.  If anything, I think it would make things worse. 

But I guess my main point is that I was completely and utterly shocked by how much criticism I received (though none of it was actually voiced, I could "sense" it).  Here I was, trying to persuade a group of Christians to be good Christians, to not blend in with the rest of the world, and to honor God with their actions and words.  It wasn't like I was trying to convert a bunch of devil-worshipping pagans.  And it also wasn't like I was trying to force my beliefs about abortion and stem cell research.  The things I was talking about were ideas that any Christian would agree are good ideas.  These ideas are Biblical.  They cross the boundaries of denominations, people groups, and even the Christian/Catholic/Orthodox divide.  And yet these ideas were met with a brick wall.  And it just really got to me. 

Part of it might be the fact that I like to be right.  I admit it.  I enjoy being on the winning side of an argument, and I try to form rational and logical thoughts that will help prove my point.  But I think I am right in this situation.  I haven't always been this gung-ho about not drinking, but my opinions have grown stronger and stronger over time.  But besides my little stint with selfishness, I'm at least a little saddened by the message that was being sent:  People are too proud or too stubborn to change, they'll argue their way out of tight places, they'll justify their actions until they're red in the face, and they'll fight to the death to prove their point of view.  So the whole discussion about drinking is thrown out the window.  It has almost nothing to do with drinking.  It has everything to do with pride.  And convincing someone that their pride is getting in the way of their relationship with God is a very hard thing to do.  I guess I just feel a little helpless.