I see no problem with drinking alcohol as long as it’s done responsibly. But I can’t help but feel guilty when having a beer around my Christian friends that don’t drink. Where does this guilt come from?

I think you are probably the only person who can answer this question for you. But, I can give you some possible answers. I hope that you will pray honestly about which one applies to you (if any). I applaud your desire to seek out the answer. Guilt (like anger) can often be a “barometer” to helping us find out some deeper issue that we need to deal with.

The cultural context of your own upbringing discouraged drinking by believers as a sign of a “new life” in Christ. There may be historical reasons for this that have not occurred to you. You may feel a sense of guilt because of the teachings of your own family or “home church” that you have chosen to go against.

The choice you have made to drink might be a sign (for you) of an “acceptable” rebellion against the perception of Christians as “straight laced” or “uptight.” Are you choosing to drink to “prove something,” to yourself or others? The guilt may be a challenge from your own “inner self” that you haven’t really made your own choice. You have made an “image” choice.

Guilt could come from the Holy Spirit, who has made you “tender” toward your Christian friends. Paul deals with this, as he tries to teach the early Christians about caring about other believers: “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit… It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.” (Romans 14:17, 21)

I firmly believe that if you honestly place this issue before God in your prayer times, God will give you what his answer is. If you are confident you are acting within the desire of God for your life, the guilt should disappear, because you are acting on God’s behalf, and with God’s approval.