| Clay
Church of Christ
- Clay, Alabama Social Drinking: Godly or Ungodly? The question of social drinking has taken on greater proportions in later years due to various factors. In general, our society is turning more and more to drinking as socially acceptable, and whatever restraining influence denominations have had in the past has long since evaporated, for many churches openly endorse social drinking, even to the point of serving alcoholic beverages at church gatherings – would you believe at teenagers gatherings? This has taken its toll among God’s children. The pressures in business and society have led many disciples to nibble on the fringes of social drinking, with some going so far as to publicly admit and endorse such. Along with this many preachers have quit open condemnation of such, and churches have taken a much more lenient attitude in exercising discipline. Whether the egg or the chicken came first here, I am not sure. But the question must be faced by every one of us either now or at the judgment day: is social drinking right or wrong? Will it draw us closer to God or drive us further away, or is it a morally and spiritually neutral matter? Let us consider a few points I believe pertinent to the issue at hand. The Marriage Feast Many try
to justify social drinking by Christ turning water into wine at the
marriage feast in Cana. (Jn.2:1-11.) At least three points are worth
note here:(1) Whatever Christ did on this occasion, it was not sinful, if we can put any stock in Heb.4:15, which says that Christ was “without sin.” But, according to Hab.2:15, Christ did sin if He offered an intoxicating wine: “Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, to thee that addest thy venom and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!” Lest one try to escape the force of the passage by weaseling out on the last part of the verse (an immoral design in offering wine), see if there are not separate woes given: (a) woe to him that giveth drink, and (b) woe to him that maketh his neighbor drunk to take advantage of him. Keil & Delitzsch offer the comment: “and also (in addition) making drunk.” (2) The light wines of Bible times cannot be compared with alcoholic beverages of today. Scholars inform us that the “strong drink” of the Bible had an alcoholic content of about 5½% to 8%. This is the strong drink that was condemned in no uncertain terms by the Lord. (Prov.20:1; 23:31-35.) The alcoholic beverages of today range all the way from beer (6%) to whiskey, gin, and brandy, (up to 90%). So, even the lightweight beer falls within the condemnation of the Lord. J.W. McGarvey states: “The liquors of this land (U.S.A.–J.D.T.) in the strength of their intoxicating properties differ so widely from the light wines of Palestine that even the most moderate use of them seems immoderate by comparison.” (Fourfold Gospel, page118) (3) There are some 9 Hebrew and 4 Greek words that always refer to an intoxicating beverage, and there is not a single instance of the use of any one of the 13 with God’s approval. The fact is that in the New Testament, the context often must determine whether or not an “intoxicating” wine is under consideration, for the Greek word “oinos” is used for both fermented and unfermented grape juice. Therefore, justification for social drinking must come from somewhere else; it is not to be found at the marriage. Timothy’s Wine “Be no longer a drinker of water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities”
(1 Tim. 5:22). The social drink defenders surely picked the wrong
passage here. This I consider to be one of the strong
“anti” arguments.Timothy had known the sacred writings from childhood (2 Tim.3:15), and his knowledge and attitude as a Christian was such that he wouldn’t even touch the stuff as medicine until commanded to do so! That’s a far cry from a cocktail before dinner or a beer to celebrate the New Year. The man who buys a “six-pack” at the grocery store doesn’t do it for his stomach. The woman who patronizes the liquor store doesn’t do it for her “oft infirmities.” Please don’t pervert this passage, brethren. The couple who celebrates that wonderful new job with a can of beer are not following Paul’s advice! Influence We
all agree that drunkenness is wrong. No problem here. But, tell me, how
do you go about reproving a drunkard with a can of beer or a martini in
your hand? Tell me, how? When
your neighbor learns that you drink an occasional beer, will this
enhance your spiritual qualities in his sight? Does this improve your
own spiritual outlook?Even if you do maintain your “temperate” use of alcohol, what of the example you set before potential alcoholics? Dr. A.C. Ivy has said, “When a person starts to drink occasionally, he or she takes a 1 in 9 chance of becoming a heavy or addicted drinker and chronic alcoholic. There is no way of telling in advance which drinker will become an alcoholic.” That’s pretty dangerous odds to play with. We could go on from this to the pauperism, child destitution, juvenile delinquency, crime and death that are the direct result of drinking. I don t believe there ever was a social drinker who set out to become a drunkard. Do you? Why gamble with leading a soul to earthly ruin and eternal hell? How many churches would employ an evangelist who drank socially? Ah, “bad influence,” you say. Right! But God has the same set of laws for all Christians. 1 Peter and Proverbs Still not convinced? Notice “carousings” (ASV) or “banquetings”
(KJV) in 1 Peter 4:3. The word is used only here in the New Testament,
and a study of then-contemporary literature shows it is “chiefly
applied to social drinking at the banquet” (Myer’s Comm).
Is it condemned? Peter says it was “excess of riot” and those who practiced such would “give account.”Notice the advice on how to avoid the woes of drunkenness: “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it sparkleth in the cup, when it goeth down smoothly: At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder” (Prov.23:31,32). Dear reader, what other possible interpretation could you put on that but “Take not the first drink!!” Volumes could and have been written. But when all is said and done, there is not one good thing, that can be said for drinking, social or otherwise. All the evidence collected from Noah to the present, shows that drinking weakens inhibitions against sin (Gen.9:30,31; 19:32-35), increases lust (Prov.23:31-35), removes good judgment (Lev.10:9,10; Isa.28:7), is deceptive (Prov.20:1), and takes the heart away from God (Hos.4:11). Preachers have quit preaching against social drinking; elders who refuse to exercise discipline have given up the defense of the faith (Jude 3) and no longer teach “all holy living and godliness” (2 Pet.3:11). May God help us to stand up and be counted on His side!!! – From the Par Street Anchor, December 1981
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