A decade ago the level of alcohol consumption surpassed milk in America. Now America has surpassed France as the largest consumer of alcoholic beverages in the world. The "drink" is common. Should it be among Christians?
Drunkenness is a sin (I Corinthians 6:9). But one defends "social or moderate drinking" by stating they can handle their drink. They explain that they know when to say when. The question we shall address, "Is it lawful in the sight of God according to His law of expedience?"
Paul gives three ways to help us identify if we should be involved with an activity. The first will be addressed in this article. The other two later.
"All things are Lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient!" We should ask, "Is it an advantage to the Christian Faith? We are responsible for our influence. Romans 14:13 "... that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way." One explains that he can "hold his liquor." But if he offers someone else a drink, or his influence encouraged another to drink and they became drunk he has sinned. "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak" (Rom 14:21).
A man and wife rushed to the ER as their daughter and her boyfriend died. An officer explained to the parents that they had left the prom and later were found in a fatal crash due to intoxication. The father in a rage declared he would kill the person that sold his daughter (a minor) alcohol. Later that night he decided that a "shot" might help him to sleep.
He opened his cabinet to find a note in place of his bottle. It said, "Dear Daddy, It is a big night for us. We didn't have any whisky and knew you wouldn't mind if we borrowed yours. Thanks, Your Little Girl."
Many alcoholics report their first drink was taken at home. One philosophy that is similar to the golden rule is, "Always act in such a way that whatever you do could be employed as a general rule that all people could follow." Alcohol can not fit into that formula. It can't be expedient in the Christian faith.
The above article appeared in the Mt. Juliet Messenger, November 14, 1999
Drunkenness is a sin ( I Corinthians 6:9). But one defends "social" or moderate drinking by saying it is not condemned in the scriptures. We will ask, "Is it lawful in the sight of God according to His law of expediency?" Part one (last week) we found that drinking alcoholic beverages is not expedient.
Paul gives two more ways to help us identify if we should be involved with an activity.
"I will not be brought under the power of any." Paul is commanding Christians to avoid things that are addictive and
controlling. Alcohol is a hard master. Listed are a few descriptions of the person under the power of alcohol.
You say it will never control you. That is what all alcoholics thought
until it was too late.
A group of college age youth exited a tour bus early one morning in New York City. Some began to point and comment to each other about the "wino" in the store front. He looked up and replied, "You can laugh if you want to, but you may be here beside me next year!"
Nobody plans on being a wino! Educated individuals, young and old, men and women are brought under its power. They give up everything to have another swallow. But with God's help one can overcome! But with God's warning one can avoid it altogether!
"All things are Lawful, but all things Edify Not."
If it doesn't build up the kingdom of God, it needs to be reconsidered. If you are transacting business in such a way that it shames the Lord's church, you need to deal differently. If your language is so crude that it would startle others for you to invite them to worship, you need to stop talking that way. Righteous living is an advantage to building the kingdom. Your invitations to worship will be ineffective with an alcoholic beverage in your hand. Your influence of drinking alcohol would be detrimental if the younger Christians followed your lead. If alcohol tears down, instead of building, we must leave it out!
Drinking alcohol is an issue of selfishness. The Christian avoids it because of his consideration and love for the soul's of others. The person that claims the "right to drink alcohol" does not demand that right because it is best for others. It is a selfish attitude! Jesus said, "If any will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Mat. 16:24). Selfishness must be destroyed in our lives if we are to follow Christ.
Bottom line equation: selfishness + alcohol = Deadly Influence
Christ + purity = Spiritual Influence
...Without Him we would be nothing!