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Question: Is it wrong to work in a store that sells cooking Sherry?
Alcoholics come in to buy it. Can God forgive me if I keep on
working there?
a. It is wrong to participate in sin, or to give ones approval
or consent to sin: "and have no fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness, but rather even reprove them" (Eph.5:10).
b. Because one works in a store that sells products that are
subject to abuse does not make one a participant in sin; nor does
one thereby extend approval or consent to sin.
1) For example, it is reported that some will buy
products that contain alcohol, such as some over-the-counter cold
medicines, and drink them for the alcohol. That does not mean it is
wrong to work in a store that sells the cold medicine.
c. Another consideration is this: there is a difference in
working at a grocery store or convenience store that sells cooking
Sherry, and working at a package store or a lounge. To illustrate:
as a customer, I could buy a gallon of milk at a convenience store
that sold cooking Sherry, but I would not buy that same gallon of
milk at a package store. I believe one could work at the
convenience store or grocery store, and have an honorable job w/o
violating Scripture; whereas one could not to work at a business
whose very design it is to sell intoxicants.
d. Regarding the matter of forgiveness: You need to understand
that even if a thing is right, it is sin if you violate you
conscience. This principle is seen in Romans 14:23, in a context
where Paul is teaching that even though it is right to eat meat,
for one to eat meat when he thought it to be wrong (as many in the
first century did because of its association with idolatry) is sin.
"But he that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because he eateth not
of faith; and whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (14:23).
1) Therefore, if after a consideration of Bible passages
and principles, one believes it to be sin to work in such a store,
he needs to immediately find another job.
If you have corrections, questions, comments or suggestions about these questions and answers, please contact Leon Mauldin directly at [email protected]
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