I need help with a religion issue?

Question

My parents never took me to church as a child. Now that I am older I have married a man whose family is very religious. I feel that it is a sign that I need religion in my life. The problem is that I will in the future own a liquor store. Which religions will be acceptable of me? And I am yet to be saved (as I said I was never taken to church even as a baby) so how can this be handled?? I have been going to church but I feel like I am constantly being put down like one of the sinners the preacher is talking about because of this. I don't want to feel that way anymore. I need information..please help.

I don't really understand everything that is why I sound so stupid!! I tell my husband that I graduated with a 3.96 GPA from a university but I have a kindergarten education when it comes to God. It is sad...I am so behind.

Answer 1

lucylou,

I think Dierdre H gave a good answer about owning a liquor store.
You weren't planning on shortchanging customers or selling liquor to minors, were you.

I know that you have to get along with your in-laws some how, but the main characters in your life are YOU, God, and your husband.
What does your husband think about your religious state? Does he think the same way as his religious family? Is HE "saved"?

And God is involved too. Try praying, even if it is unfamiliar to you. Spend a few quiet minutes each day and remember that Jesus Christ, who loved you enough to suffer torture, humiliation, and death for you--is there and on your side.

If God sends you a sign, it will usually be accompanied both by other signs and by situations and people who will help you.

I don't want to offend other Christians (my church teaches drinking in moderation), but
1-the close arrival of your marriage,
2-your suspecting that you are being called by God.
AND
3-the soon arrival of the liquor store
--might all be a sign as to what God wants you to do when you are actually IN the liquor store.

By the way-
What was it they called Jesus?
Oh yeah..."wine-guzzler" (Matthew chapter 11, verse 19)

Answer 2

A Church should never make you feel like anyone is "putting you down". Real Christians know that that none of us are perfect, and that none of us is qualified to pass moral judgment on another.

Here's my somewhat biased advice.
Come visit the Orthodox Church. We are similar (in some ways) to the Catholic Church, and just as old.
Introduce yourself to people and explain that you'd like to know more about it. Most Churches will have a schedule for inquirer's classes, and probably recommend some reading.
I have to admit, the Orthodox are not so good at evangelizing, and aren't set up to explain ourselves very well on our websites, but we also won't pester you with requirements for 'getting saved'.
Come, and see.

Oh, by the way, we have an interesting calander that tells us which days are okay for drinking. You'll have to see it to believe it, but the whole thing actually makes a lot of sense once you understand it. It won't affect owning a liquore store.

Answer 3

First off, consider the fact that you've apparently gotten along in your life to this point without religion. Why then would you want to take a step backward into religion? If you're doing it to fit in, that's a horrible reason to do anything, much less allowing oneself to be brainwashed.

Not only are you risking your very mind, apparently you're willing to jeopardize your income, because you're apparently concerned about owning a liquor store just because the jesus freaks might not approve!

One thing you don't mention, is your husband a bible fondler as well? Is your "need" to become religious and dump the liquor store coming from him perhaps? Maybe not directly FROM him if he's not into it, but is he suggesting all this as to not make waves with his family? Either way, still a very bad reason to subject yourself to religion and avoid what I assume is a valuable inheritance.

In short, if going to church makes you uncomfortable, don't go. The question as to if you should own the liquor store shouldn't even have to be asked, but in this also I'd advise to hang on to that when and if it's available. Running it could give you the self esteem that you very much need, apparently.

Never change who you are for someone else. Change must come from within, not as a response to irrational outside forces.

Answer 4

I recently asked my uncle who is a minister about alcohol. I sited many parts of the bible where people "drank and they were merry"

a little background.. I have not been to church in 20 years and he came from a family of alcoholics.

He went on about someone he knew that was involved in a double fatality drinking and driving accident. Turned out, I knew the guy. That guy is in jail for life now and took a mother and her child. He says that I may not have a problem with alcohol, but a friend that I drink with may. He said that you don't want to promote it as a Christian because it is dangerous. Breathing LA air is dangerous too. Where do you draw the line? I say mass distribution of alcohol is crossing the line. sorry. Sell the store and invest in something else. sorry.

LUCY

If you are humble about what you understand about the lord, you will be rewarded with knowlege. People that have big egos are the people that understand the least. Your humility gives you a huge advantage.

Answer 5

You have a lot of good answers already. I would like to add one thing: don't join a church just because that's the one your husband is a member of.

Your faith is yours. Make sure you find the right fit.

You said you feel like you're constantly being put down - do you think it's intentional? or are you internalizing the message?

Personally, I attend church to be uplifted, encouraged, to be filled with the Holy Spirit so I can make it through another week. I do not go to be condemned or made to feel bad or guilty.

I pray you find the right fit for you - regardless of what faith you find in the end.

Blessings!

Answer 6

...You are standing at quite a crossroads. I'm a Christian, and I don't have everything figured out, but would like to make some clarifications:
Religion does not "save" you. God saves you. Going to church every Sunday has nothing to do with it.
I don't think that you need religion in your life. You need God in your life.

What kind of church have you been attending? I would recommend that you sit down with the pastor or even your family and have them describe what being "saved" is really all about. Start there and see what progresses.

Answer 7

I don't have a problem with people drinking. Not all Christians do either. Catholics permit it, as do other Christians.

The question is how much liability will you feel if you think you are promoting alcoholism.

I'm an alcoholic, in recovery, and haven't had a drink in a while now. I don't think that the liquor stores or bars that I frequented were to blame.

The problem you might face is that many fundamentalist groups don't believe the Bible when it says that Jesus and the apostles drank wine. They like to say it was weakly fermented grape juice or other such nonsence. That culture drank wine. All have. Some wine is actually good for you.

Perhaps the questions you can ask yourself, being in that business might be:

How can you while owning such a store, promote safe drinking?

How can you inform people of their own responsibilities?

How much is actually "your business" when you see customers repeatedly coming in for cheap wine?

What is your own definition of responsibility?

Answer 8

First of all, we are all sinners, whether saved or lost. The only difference is the saved persons sins have been forgiven. I don't know any true religions that will be acceptable of owning a liquor store, simply because of the negative effects that alcohol causes on society. It sounds like to me that God is convicting you or calling you. If this is the case, then you don't want to ignore him. There comes a point in everyones life when God calls us to him and its up to us to answer his call. If we reject his call He doesn't promise us that He will call again. So we must act now. Answer these 5 questions:
1. Are you a sinner? Romans 3:23
2. Do you want forgiveness for your sins?
3. Do you believe Jesus died on the cross for you and rose again? John 3:16
4. Are you willing to surrender your life to Christ?
5. Are you ready to invite Jesus into your heart and Life? Romans 10:9-10
If you answered yes to these questions then all you have to do is SINCERELY pray this simple prayer and you will be saved:
Heavenly Father,
I have sinned against you. I want forgiveness for all my sins. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for me and rose again.
Father, I give you my life to do with as you please. I want Jesus to come into my heart and into my life. This I ask in Jesus name, Amen.
If you honestly and sincerely prayed this prayer then your sins were forgiven. No longer will sin separate you from God, because Jesus blood has covered them.
Now seek God's direction on how to handle this problem. The easiest way to seek his direction is by getting in His word (bible) and prayer.
I'll pray for you now!

Answer 9

Owning a liquor store is not a sin, it's a business and you are not responsible for how your consumers will consume their alcohol. Jesus drank wine and he was a perfect man. Therefore drinking alcohol is not sinful of us, it's when we over indulge and drink without modesty that it becomes sinful. Some religions follow the belief that it is a sin to drink, so if that's the case then jesus was sinful???? No he wasn't.
Be careful in your choice of religion should you ever decide on one.

Answer 10

I've said this before and I'll say it again religion is a choice and you can choose how you believe. I may/may not feel there is a God as I am Agnostic and question matters of faith. One thing I can tell you is that you needn't change yourself so long as you're happy in your marriage and respect his belief system...In other words don't try to change each other...FYI they were raising cups of wine all over the bible and much religious ritual involves wine so they have no right to be judging you on your ownership of a liquor store business. PEACE!