By: Robert Serreyn & Amy Bilberry

Question? Should a Christian work where alcohol and tobacco are sold?

Answer:

This is a question many Christians struggle with because they feel convicted that by working in a Store/ Casino that sells alcohol and tobacco, they are in some way encouraging or enabling others to sin by drinking, or smoking.

While the Bible is silent on the subject of selling alcohol and tobacco, there are scriptural principles that can be applied to this question.

Many people believe smoking cigarettes to be sinful in the respect that it is willfully harming to one’s body. However, overeating is just as sinful, if not more so because of the biblical commands to avoid gluttony (Proverbs 23:2, 20).

Proverbs 23:2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

Proverbs 23:20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh.

Does this mean that restaurant waiters and fast-food employees are causing others to sin by selling rich, fattening foods to them?

MY ANSWER…I say NOT

However drinking alcohol is EXPLICITLY DISCOURAGED in scripture and one to be avoided.

The Bible states in…

Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Proverbs 23:29-35 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? (30) They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. (31) Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. (32) At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. (33) Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. (34) Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. (35) They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.

To Answer the question, in some situations, where a person is obviously already intoxicated, or situations that break the law, it would be wrong to sell alcohol or tobacco to minors. However, in the day-to-day work environment, selling alcohol is no more sinful than working in a grocery store and the responsibility falls upon the buyer not the worker.

In Conclusion:

While there is no scriptural mandate against selling alcohol or tobacco, there are definitely things to consider that may make it a wrong choice for a Christian to work in these environments.

If one feels convicted by the Holy Spirit about WORKING at establishment like a Grocery store or Casino* that sells alcohol or tobacco, perhaps the Lord is speaking and it is time for a career change.

* Working at a Bar or Liquor Store is the exception to the rule that I can see, For NO CHRISTIAN should be working at those places.

Christians should act according to their convictions when it comes to matters such as these.

Ultimately, the decision should be made with prayer for wisdom, which God promises to grant to all without finding fault.

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.

The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.

-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8

-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24

-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9

“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23

IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH