I’ve never heard the testimony of the newly sober man whose life was positively transformed through the consumption of alcohol. I’ve never heard the story of the family of 5 whose lives were saved because of the quick-thinking actions of another driver who just had a little alcohol before getting behind the wheel. And I’ve never heard of the mother whose child was born healthier because of the nightly glass of wine she drank while pregnant.
Why do I make these obvious statements? Because the subject of alcohol seems to be a hot topic for debate in my social circles recently – particularly among Christians. Some say alcohol consumption is fine and is no different than anything else used for recreational enjoyment as long as it is not abused. Others say alcohol is evil and there is no place for its consumption in the life of a Christ-follower. I personally don’t think either position is right. One seems irresponsible at best, while the other seems legalistic and biblically inaccurate. It’s one of those “gray areas” that the Bible doesn’t cheer or condemn. I think if we’re going to come to a reasonable conclusion about alcohol – as with any gray issue - we need to look deeper at the spiritual implications and what God’s word is conclusive about. Making a personal determination about alcohol for ourselves is based more on wisdom, maturity, and our understanding of God’s desires for His people than on a general blanket statement or position.
Before I go any further, let me preface with this: I do not believe that absolute abstinence from alcohol is a must for all Christians. The Bible doesn’t make that claim, and any time humans make up a rule that God doesn’t, it’s legalism – and I’m strongly opposed to legalism in any form. I have enjoyed a beer on occasion, and my wife enjoys an occasional glass of wine with our dinner. I am not one who believes that every sip of alcohol is sinful, and judging someone who exercises their liberty to consume alcohol is wrong. However, with freedom comes great responsibility, and there are some serious things to consider.
While I can think of many negative effects of alcohol, I cannot say that I know of any beneficial effects. I’ve personally known alcohol consumption to lead to physical and sexual abuse, unwanted pregnancies, abortion, child neglect, car accidents, disease, injury, and death. But I can’t think of anyone I know whose life was enhanced by alcohol. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry that uses sex to sell, targets young people, and contributes to a vast array of social, medical, and fiscal problems within society. While Christians do have the liberty to consume it, I’m not sure why we would want to pour our God-given money into that industry.
I’m also not sure that our ability to represent Christ and bring others to a saving knowledge of Him is not compromised by alcohol consumption. When we put ourselves out there for public display with a sign reading Christian hanging around our neck, we are literally saying, like Paul: “Follow me as I follow Christ.” In other words, watch me as I raise my kids, watch me as I love my wife, watch me as I work my job – Watch me as I live a life differently than the world lives. The Bible is clear that we shouldn’t use our freedoms in a way that causes someone else to stumble. What if the friend, neighbor, or co-worker who is “following me as I follow Christ” was the childhood victim of an abusive alcoholic father and a broken home, and every time she sees a beer in my hand she’s reminded of that pain. Am I likely to be the one to lead her into the healing arms of my Savior? What if the newly saved guy at church used to struggle with alcoholism before he came to Christ and my enjoyment of a beer in his presence is just the temptation he needs to justify his own consumption?
The Bible says that while all things are permissible for me, not all of those things are beneficial (1 Corinthians 10:23). In other words, just because it’s allowed doesn’t mean it does any good. The Message translation says it this way: Looking at it one way you could say, “Anything goes.” Because of God’s immense generosity and grace we don’t have to scrutinize every action to see if it will pass muster. But the point is not to just get by. We want to live well, but our foremost efforts should be to help others live well. As Christians, the question is not can we do it, but should we do it. Sometimes true freedom comes in knowing that although we have liberty to partake, we choose not to, because we have all we’ll ever need in the intoxicating love of Christ, so we’re going to put others’ needs ahead of our own.
The Bible also says, “Whatever you do – whether you eat or drink – do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). If we’re to do all we do for God’s glory – meaning to make Him known and recognizable, to illustrate who He is and magnify His character – don’t we at least have to ask ourselves if consuming alcohol can be for His glory in any circumstance? Can we have a beer for His glory? At the risk of sounding sarcastic I have to ask, is there any instance where drinking a beer can assist in making God known, illustrating who He is, and magnifying His character? And if it isn’t really done for His glory, I at least think we have to consider when and how we consume it if we choose to. Having a beer in my home alone with my wife at our dinner table is not as likely to cause anyone to stumble as having one at a bar in front of strangers. Notice I said “not as likely.” It could still be stumbling block if my wife was the victim of an alcohol-induced broken home. And if my kids are watching, it just may be the reason they decide it’s not so bad to have a drink as a teenager. After all, if Daddy does it, how bad could it be? Do I really want a child I teach in children’s ministry to run over to my table at a restaurant yelling, “Hi Mr. Luke!” while I lift my beer mug to my lips? I would be ignorant if I didn’t recognize that my ability to exercise my freedom could impact others in a negative way. And even if it doesn’t impact them negatively, can I honestly say it may impact them positively? Does it bring glory to God? Again the Message translation says it so poignantly: Do everything freely and heartily for God’s glory. At the same time, don’t be callous in your freedom, thoughtlessly stepping on the toes of those who aren’t as free as you are.
It’s true that the Bible does not condemn drinking – it only condemns drunkenness. Having a drink with dinner is not a sin, but being drunk (inhibiting self-control, losing inhibitions, and coming out from under the control of the Holy Spirit) is. But it seems to me like there is a fine line between the two. How much is too much? How do you really know how far you can go without stepping over the line? Wouldn’t it just be easier if you’re trying not to fall off a cliff to just not go near the cliff at all? There is one sure way to make sure you are never drunk. After all, you can’t be drunk if you don’t consume alcohol. Sure, you can have a drink – or two – and not cross the line of drunkenness, but you guarantee not to cross that line if you have none at all. Can you guarantee that your one drink won’t lessen your inhibitions? Can you guarantee that you won’t be more susceptible to temptation should it come your way after having a drink or two? If the answer is no, wouldn’t it just be easier to not go there at all? Why get close to the cliff?
So I conclude with this thought: Can a Christian drink alcohol as long as they don’t get drunk? Sure. Is there a place for judgment in the church of those who choose to exercise their freedom by consuming alcohol – NO. But having said that, I also believe the position of abstinence is a respectable and wise one. The more I grow and mature in my faith, and the more I head into a leadership role in the church, the more I consider my own freedom to consume alcohol, and the less I decide to drink (which wasn’t that much to begin with). Why am I even talking about this? I think I am just tired of the debate. I’m tired of people standing up with their self-righteous criticism and others standing up to defend their freedom in a foolish counter-attack. The Bible doesn’t condemn cigarette smoking either, but would we be as bold to stand up in Biblical defense of smoking? Probably not. Because it would just sound silly. Let’s stop debating the issue and just start trying to live in a way that brings glory to God, puts others first, and passionately pursues wisdom. To drink or not to drink is NOT really the question.
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