Drink

DRINK

We now find ourselves in times which, to me, are very sad.  These are times spoken of in Scripture when men  will stop up their ears and refuse to hear sound doctrine.  These are times when folks who call themselves followers, will find increasingly more imaginative ways to dilute Scripture and rationalize sin and selfish behavior.

In these times, I have often been labeled as a legalist for attempting to teach the commands of Scripture.  Of course, all of my accusers ignore the true, classical meaning of legalism:  Trusting in the keeping of the law for  salvation.  At worst, I'm guilty of a hyper-vigilant "brand" of teaching Scriptural commands and teachings.  The sad truth is that the modern "earstoppers" don't see that their "this much obedience and no more" brand of obedience is much more closely akin to legalism, and is actually not obedience at all.  For if one says:  “No, Lord", what he's really saying is that The Lord is really "no lord" at all.  If He's not Lord of all, He's not Lord at all.

Some of the most common talking points of the proponents of drink are these:  Jesus drank wine; a little wine    for the belly's sake; I don't to get drunk; I'm covered by Grace and am not under the law; Paul said 'all things are legal'.  I suppose, to some, these all sound good, but they don't really address the issue.

It's true that Jesus drank wine, but be not deceived, it was a vastly different sort than we have these days, not to mention the fact that the water was more dangerous than the wine.  Jesus also had no refrigeration, no running  water, no indoor plumbing and probably had lice and dissentary most of His life.  We are not in those circumstances.  Similarly, a little wine for the belly's sake was advice for treatment of a digestive disorder which was  most likely caused by the water.

Finally, under the "I don't drink to get drunk"/"Scripture says 'don't get drunk', not 'don't drink' " column, I offer this:  If being drunk is a sin, but drinking is not, where is the line drawn?  Scientifically, it has been proven that even one drink produces deleterious effects on the health and a measurable impedement to judgement.  So, how much of our minds is it OK to give away, and how “out of our minds” can we be and still not sin?

Very often in Scripture we are called to go far beyond the socially excepted norm and reach to greater heights of devotion and obedience.  In Col 3:23-24 we are admonished to do all heartily as to The Lord.  Jesus gave the following examples and others.

Murder.                                Matt 5:21-22

Lust.                                     Matt 5:27-28

Forced servitude.                 Matt 5:40-41

Forgiveness.                        Matt 18:21-22

If these principles of excellence in obedience hold true in so many cases, can this same approach possibly not apply to drunkeness and drink?  1 Cor 6:19-20

From the first time alcohol is mentioned in Scripture (Gen 9:20-21) it is coupled with drunkeness and this drunkeness always accompanies a moral failure and is never associated with purity or godliness.  Although wine and alcohol are mentioned frequently in Scripture, a similar abundance of references are devoted to warnings  about alcohol.  Here are just some of them:  Lev 10:9; Num 6:3; Deut 21:20; Prov 20:1, 21:17, 23:20-21, 29-32, 31:4-5, Is 5:11-12, 28:1-3,7-8, 56:12, Hos 4:11, 7:5, Joel 1:5-6, 3:3 Amos 6:6-7, Matt 24:49-51, Luke 21:34,  Rom 13:13, 1 Cor 6:10, Gal 5:21, Eph. 5:18, Heb. 2:15. For the sake of perspective, let us also note that adultery, slavery, multiple wives, and concubines are also mentioned in Scripture, but no one of repute mentions these things as "OK"  or acceptable by virtue of their oft mentionedness.

After all of this, many will begin to object as if this were some pet notion of mine and that, if what I say is true,  then these very standards should apply to all behaviors and that I have, therefore, painted myself into a corner.  To this I say "yes".  However, it is no corner.  It is simply the passage from the very small "I'll only obey this   much" room to the larger "my all on the alter, take up my cross" room.  It may help to try these 8 tests which I   borrowed.

Is it expedient spiritually?

Is it edifying to me?

Will it "slow me down" spiritually?

Will it bring me into bondage?

Will it hypocritically cover my sin?

Will it violate the Lordship of Christ in my life?

Will it help other Christians by it's example?

Will it lead others to Christ?

Certainly, our every action can't possibly pass all eight tests every time, but as it appears to me, alcohol doesn't  pass muster on any of them!

There is precious little that can be said of alcohol that is "good", and much that can be said of it being "bad".    My final point is this:  To cling to alcohol is the very picture of tending to the flesh and ignoring the spirit.   ...and he who is deceived thereby, is not wise.  Prov. 20:1