Can The Christian Drink Alcohol?

by Tom Wacaster

Determining right and wrong is not always set out in what we might call "direct statements" (i.e., "thou shalt, thou shalt not").  This is where discernment comes in.  We are to use wisdom to discern right and wrong (Heb. 5:12), and "prove all things" (1 Thess. 5:21-22).  Principles learned from a careful study of God's word are then applied to the decision making process.   This is particularly true when it comes to partaking of alcoholic drink.  The world's attitude can be summed up with five words: "Nobody thinks anything about it."   But how do you know that?   And what if it could be proven that nobody thinks anything about drinking alcohol - what people think is not our standard.   A careful study of the Bible leaves the distinct impression that the child of God is to stay as far away from the things of the world rather than seeing how close he can get to it without sinning!  Paul told Timothy "flee these things," which in the context suggests abstinence from anything and everything that would war against the soul. May I suggest to you some reasons why the child of God should abstain from alcoholic beverages?

First, because of the fruit associated with the drinking of alcohol.  Physically, alcohol does irreparable harm to the body that God has given us.   The leading cause of death among alcoholics is due to the effects that alcohol has on the cardiovascular system. Brooke Allen made the following observation: "Many of the body's physiological functions can be affected by the use of alcohol. Recent evidence proves that a variety of diseases are brought about by a substance  that coats the body's red blood cells causing them to stick together in clumps. These clumps are called 'sludge,' and are created by the ingestion of alcohol."  It has been proven beyond dispute that when ingested, alcohol destroys brain cells, and brain cells are the only cells in the body that do not regenerate.  When brain cells die, they can never be replaced.   But physical harm is not the only damage that imbibing alcohol produces.  There is also the social harm. Clayton Pepper [deceased] served as family counselor for many years.  Here is what he had to say:

I know of no other factor that contributes more than drinking to family problems, divorce, juvenile delinquency and to the degrading of man. It breaks my heart to see the fruits of alcohol. I see children naked and hungry, whose mothers and fathers waste their earnings on alcohol.  A four-year-old child was brought into court for being drunk on the street.  A teen-age girl whose mother is dead spent the night on the porch because she was afraid of being molested by her drunken father. A boy, after his drunken father ran him away from home, stole money to buy food. A mother had a baby which weighed less at three months of age than when it was born. She took money given to her to buy milk and bought alcoholic beverages instead. Twelve teen-agers were arrested at a disorderly Halloween party where beer was served. I have seen as many as six children taken away from a drunken mother. A Nashville newspaper carried the story of the slaying of a 14 year old girl by a 17 year old boy whose 17 year old wife was expecting a child soon. The boy was quoted as saying that all this would not have happened if he hadn't been allowed to go to a club and drink. He shouted from his cell: "They ought to padlock that place and burn it to the ground."

In his book, Broken Homes and Handicapped Children , V.E. Howard documented the fruits of alcohol socially more than three decades ago and it has not gotten any better since then.   My friends there is so much wrong with the fruit of beverage alcohol that it would be impossible to put it into the limited space we have in this bulletin.   The question we might ask is, "What good has it ever done?" It's fruit, both ancient and modern, is entirely on the wrong side of the ledger.  Why in the world would any Christian seek to defend this vicious killer which has created more false hopes and generated more social ills than any one thing?  

Second, drinking alcohol is wrong because of what it does to the soul.  Peter wrote, "Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul" (1 Pet. 2:11).  Ask yourself, "Does drinking of alcohol contribute to or lessen any of the following?"  Does it give one a greater degree of love for the Bible and increase his study  habits?  Is one who drinks alcohol more prone to pray or meditate on things that are good and  holy?  Can the drinking of alcohol provide spiritual growth and development of Christian character?  To ask is to answer!  Put in the form of a simple syllogism:  Major Premise: All things which war against the soul are things from which the Christian is commanded to abstain.   Minor Premise: The drinking of intoxicants is a thing which wars against the soul.  Conclusion: Therefore, the drinking of intoxicants is a thing from which the Christian is commanded to abstain.

Third, drinking of alcohol is wrong because of what it does to your influence and Christian example. Hear the word of the Lord:  "Walk in wisdom (or circumspectly) toward them that are without, redeeming the time" (Col 4:5). "Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works" (Matt. 5:16).  "Let no man despise thy youth but be thou an example toward them that believe in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity" (1 Tim. 4:12).   "The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity" (Matt. 13:41).  "Give no occasion of stumbling to Jew or Gentile" (1 Cor. 10:32).  Can a person really expect to bring a lost soul to Christ while holding a Bible in one hand and a glass of whiskey in the other?  I think not!

Finally, drinking alcohol is wrong because all of the so-called "defenses" for social drinking are nothing more than a grasping at straws in the wind.  Space will not allow us a close examination of the arguments presented by those who might imbibe strong drink.  My observation over the years has been that every single argument in defense of social drinking is an appeal to subjectivism, feelings, "I think," or "I feel," rather than a carefully thought out and logical examination of the subject.  Jesus never did turn water into intoxicating wine, all the sophisticated foolishness to the contrary.   Any degree of drunkenness is still drunkenness, and one drink of alcohol still begins the process of drunkenness .  The biggest problem with these so-called defenses is that they are never based on a thus saith the Lord; and therein is the problem at it's roots!