It seems as if the Lord has been leading me recently to preach and write about various things in our culture and their impact on God’s people. This week there was a family of five that experienced a horrible tragedy. Four of the five members of the family were killed on a lake in our state of Georgia. A drunk boater hit this family’s boat killing all but one of the children. Summer is here and our families will be invited to cookouts and parties. Alcohol will be front and center at many of these. What should God’s people do? Drink or not? A few years ago, I wrote a paper when a question was posed to me along with a few other pastors concerning Christians and drinking alcohol. I thought I’d share it with you today.
Alcohol
“I like dark beer, red wine and whiskey. When I drink, that’s what I like. I like Guinness (or local stouts), Merlot, and sipping whiskey (no ice or water).”[1] This quote sums up the contemporary attitude that is not just gaining momentum but is already at full bore. In August 2013, Moody Bible Institute lifted its alcohol and tobacco ban for the 600 full-time faculty and staff.[2] Brian Regnerus speaking on behalf of Moody said the change “came out of a desire in Moody’s leadership to reflect a high-trust environment that emphasizes values, not rules,” and to “require no less than what God’s Word requires.”[3]
The positions listed for this response are defined in The Village Church, a website that addressed our subject. Moderation defines drinking as not sinful but that conscience and circumstances should dictate our action. Abstention has the position that drinking isn’t sinful or evil but we should refrain because of our love of the brethren and our desire not to cause him to stumble. Prohibition believes drinking alcohol is sinful and evil.
The topic of alcohol and the Christian is only one of the areas that have been affected by Post-modernism. It may be wrong for you but not for me. I am free, and I have Christian liberty would be the attitude. Our instructions for this paper mentioned, “a softening” concerning the subject of drinking. Statements abound in Christian periodicals and websites that basically prove that point. Drunkenness is a sin but not drinking is the mantra. Passages of scripture to prove this point are touted and pointed out. Ecclesiastes 9:7, “Drink your wine with a merry heart.” Ephesians 5:18, “Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess” [italics mine].
I understand the thinking many Evangelicals use for their continual moderating position. It is a reaction to stifling legalism. Even the author quoted at the beginning of the paper warned some drink to “self-medicate” because of anger toward restrictive parents, and others that want to show their “theological sophistication.”[4] It is an in your face attitude that is difficult to square with Paul when he says “if meat make my brother to offend I will eat no flesh while the world stands.” The post-evangelicals wear drinking as a badge of honor in my opinion.
The Old Testament scripture uses eight different words for alcohol. These words are Yakin (wine), tirosh (new wine), ‘asis (sweet wine), shekar (strong drink, to be drunk or intoxicated), hamer (wine in Chaldean language, ferment), sobe (wine, liquor, and drunken), mesek (wine mixed with spices), and mishrah (grape juice).[5] The writer or writers of the article at reformedpresbytery.com take each of these words and give bible passages in which they are used. Their conclusion is that the prohibition position isn’t biblical, but that Christians would be wise in abstaining.
However, prohibition advocates also use passages and word meaning just as the abstentionist and moderationist do. Batchelor claims tirosh means new or unfermented wine.[6] He also asserts in the New Testament that only one word is used for both grape juice and fermented wine, the word oinis.[7] Batchelor’s position is prohibition.
Personally, I side with Batchelor when he claims, “human nature will look upon any textual ambiguity as a ‘loophole’ to justify drinking alcohol.”[8] In most situations we justify what we desire. My hatred for booze has been long standing because of the hurt and pain drinking brought to our family. A wise saying from the past says, “When in doubt, don’t.” The issue of drinking and not just drunkenness has enough doubt to just abstain. I Corinthians 10:31, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God.” It is difficult to imagine holding a Budweiser up in the air claiming, “To the glory of God I drink this beer.” Batchelor summarizes his comments by saying, “It is sobering to realize that even 4,300 years later, the sin of Noah is still wrecking families today.”[9]
In conclusion, is there a time when drinking would be permitted? In my opinion drinking for medicinal reasons would be acceptable. I Timothy 5:23 is the familiar text dealing with this point, but there is differing opinions as to whether this allowance means fermented or unfermented juice. I suppose if the apocalypse happened it would be wise to have alcohol around for the sake of necessity and survival. Other than medicinal uses I have an issue with it for testimony’s sake. Perhaps this is so because of personal experiences within my family and a desire to try to glorify the Lord in all things.
Pastor Tom
[1] “Drinking Christians,” Experimental Theology, November 18, 2013, accessed February 6, 2015, http://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/2013/11/drinking-christians.html.
[2] Kevin P. Emmert, “Why so Many Christians Are Relaxing Over Drinks,” Christianitytoday.com, November 18, 2013, accessed February 6, 2015, http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/december/why-so-many-christians-are-relaxing-over-drinks.html?start=2.
[3] Ibid
[4] “Drinking Christians,” Experimental Theology, November 18, 2013, accessed February 6, 2015, http://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/2013/11/drinking-christians.html
[5] “The Bible and Alcoholic Beverages,” Reformedpresbytery.org, accessed February 6, 2015, http://www.reformedpresbytery.org/books/alcoholb/alcoholb.htm.
[6] Doug Batchelor, “The Christian and Alcohol,” Amazing Facts, accessed February 6, 2015, http://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/book/e/63/t/the-christian-and-alcohol.aspx.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.