Rule makers, the humans, are usually rooted in the love of power. It is a form of narcissism common in politicians and very dangerous to citizens.
Here's a quote from Ayn Rand.
The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. - Hal Thurow

You need to have rules in society, otherwise anarchy or worse will rule. However, I think that we all suffer from well-intentioned legalism more so by man-made rules than anything else. Political correctness, for instance, has gone mad in our country. - Frits

I think even in our faith we need to ask ourselves how much of what we do to honour God is actually honouring to God and not honouring to a manmade tradition or a manmade mandate.

Live by scripture, "sola scriptura," and you won't have to guess. - Gracie Benz

Gracie Benz-This brings me back to the question: To what extent do we really know which rituals in church are man-made or ordained by scripture? - Frits

Frits, If a church has rules or regulations that will not line up with a Bible verse then there is a good chance that rule is not Biblical. Some of mans rules are good when it is for the upbuilding of "The Church" but if it is to just promote the local Church than that one will probably be man made. All worship is to honor, praise, and lift up the name of God. I am a Pastor of a Church but I am not worthy, nor do I need or should I be praised. All glory is to be given to God, but some Church's do give more respect then need be to their Pastor. - Jerry

Legalism seems like it takes different forms in different denominations. However, one thread that seems to run through several denominations is a rule against drinking alcohol. This seems so obviously legalistic. Scripture tells us not to get drunk, but nowhere does it forbid alcohol. Jesus drank wine often, he provided it at a wedding! Yet we still have denominations forbidding wine at weddings. Is it just me, or does this seem rediculous to anyone else? - Austin

Bryant's take on alcohol is similar, Austin, as far as it not being forbidden to drink alcohol. But, he always adds that we should not cause others to stumble, as laid out in 1 Corinthians 10:23-32. While you and I may have no problem drinking socially and keeping that under control, there are those who struggle with alcohol, and who may be recovering alcoholics. I think that is something important to keep in mind, especially for a church if they were to consider deciding whether alcohol would be served on their premises. - Rick Y

Call me old fashoined or a tea sipper but when you have dealt with as many family members as I have, who have wrecked the lives of innocent people you would not be in favour of alchol either. All drunks and alcholics start with one social drink. I had an uncle, cousin, nephew, neice, grandfather and several friends who have been killed by drunk drivers who was out just for a social drink. I was out eating the other night and I noticed in the Mexican resturant sitting at tables near me was five or six parties drinking and there was not at either table a designated driver and every table had children sitting at them, one table had a baby who was just a few months old. I know this because I watched them get into their vehicles to leave. I am against alchohol in any form for consuming just for a beverage. Yes I used to drink and when you go out just for kicks and drink and then the next morning everything is either fuzzy or you cant remember anything then tell me how something seems to be right. As for the statement of it being legallistic, well we need to go to the scriptures for reproof.
Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Romans 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
We need to think before we start saying there is nothing wrong with this because alchohol is an addicting product. The body will began to crave this mixture when it gets into the blood stream and it will eventually become habit forming. It is the same way a person becomes a drug addict, the body craves somethings more than others. One thing leads to another. I was told a good saying a long time ago; A social drinker is just as kin to a drunk, as a pig is to a hog. Start doing one and chances are you will become another. - Jerry

Austin, You are right that wine is not forbidden but no one is to get drunk. I will err on the side of legalism however in feeling that churches do best by not allowing drinking on the premises because they can not monitor an individual's consumption and reaction to alcohol. Romans 15:1 "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves." I personally would not want to be in the position of being a stumbling block to one who is weak in the area of alcohol. Even so I do respect your opinion and would not choose to fight about it. - Janice

Jesus was a social drinker. - Erik

I went to a Baptist wedding once where alcohol was forbidden. I've never been so bored at a wedding in my entire life. - Olberman

Consider your hour of boredom, Olberman, could have meant a lifetime of freedom from living in a wheelchair for someone who was spared being in an accident with a drunk driver from that wedding. - Janice

Let's ban airplanes then. No one ever travels, but then no one dies in a plane crash. Perfect world.

I've never driven a car oiled up. - Olberman

I don't drink, just one more problem in life I don't need and like Jerry my husband lost 3 different family members unnecesarily to it. Granted anything can be done to excess, but for some reason most people can't handle it. I just don't need it for fun or to drown my troubles. I can go to the Lord for help in difficulties. - Becky

Olberman, I tend to agree with your take that the absolute banning of something because something bad might happen is absurd. However, for insurance purposes the church cannot allow alcohol on the premises. Beyond that, there is the desire to avoid the sense of impropriety. As a rule, it is better to avoid it outright (when you are affiliating an event with the church) than to test the waters of moderation. The conversation turned to alcohol through the comments section and not the devotion, please keep that in mind. - David

Olberman, Have you ever been hit by a drunk driver? My huband and I were and thanks to God we were not seriously injured but our car was in bad shape. The young fellow who hit us was driving his employer's car so he not only got hauled off to jail but lost his job,etc. I really felt badly for him even though he potentially could have taken our lives. I think having been through that experience gives me a different perspective than where you are coming from. I hope it never happens to you but if you ever walk in the shoes as a victim of a drunk driver you may change your opinion. - Janice

Janice, then you believe ALL guns should be banned too? You can take your argument, remove "alcohol" and substitute in "guns". - Olberman

Drinking and driving is terrible though, and by no means do I support it. One can not make any rational argument in its favour, nor do I think it is a non-issue. This is not even a Christian vs. atheist argument. - Olberman

The point I was trying to make was that prohibiting alcohol is legalistic. It's purely a man made rule that I'm sure Jesus would reject. Legalism is an enemy of Christ, no matter how well intentioned. I don't know how these pastors that teach that kind of thing can sleep at night. Some denominations also teach that dancing is wrong. I mean, come on! - Austin