Yet Another Year of Choices
By Barbara Dahlgren
Recently I heard a radio preacher tell people it was a sin to drink alcoholic beverages. This minister seemed pretty well-versed in the Bible and has a fairly large following. Yet I found his message disconcerting. It always bothers me when Christians try to support personal beliefs biblically. This tactic tarnishes the credibility of the Christian community.
Now I’m not suggesting we take tequila shots every time we see the word “winebibber” as we read the Bible. Although, this might encourage some to search the scriptures. However, to condemn those who drink a glass of wine with dinner goes to the other extreme. And that’s a problem – because people tend to go to extremes. Many who drink aren’t satisfied unless they are drunk; many who don’t drink aren’t satisfied unless they convince others they shouldn’t drink either. We tend to make our standard God’s standard. We think what we like God likes – whether it be music, clothing, hairstyles, food, or drink. Thus we make God over into our image, instead of the other way around.
God has given us many blessings. But every blessing can be a curse if not used properly. The following can be blessings or curses, depending on how they are used: food, sex, money, and even wine, beer, and other forms of fermented beverages. Not everyone who eats is a glutton. Not everyone who has sex is an adulterer, fornicator, or pervert. Not everyone who drinks is an alcoholic. The sin lies within abuse of the blessing, not the blessing itself. Why else would wine be spoken of as both good and bad in the same texts in 1 Samuel 1:14, 24 and Joel 1:5, 10?
Martin Luther summed it up well when he said, “Do not suppose that abuses are eliminated by destroying the object which is abused. Men can go wrong with wine and women. Shall we prohibit and abolish women? The sun, moon, and stars have been worshipped. Shall we pluck them out of the sky?”
There is nothing wrong with drinking alcohol for the right reasons such as medicinal purposes, celebrations, or to “gladden the heart.” (1 Timothy 5:23, John 2:1-10, Psalm 104:15-16) Drinking is not a sin; drunkenness is.
Consider this: Choosing to drink or not to drink alcoholic beverages is a personal choice not condemned by God. However, judging one who makes this choice is! (Matthew 7:1-5)
One final thought…
Others will judge you if you choose to drink or choose not to drink. So whatever you choose to do, do it for the right reason. That won’t stop people from judging you, but you’ll sleep better at night.
