Response to a Letter about Alcohol Consumption

Here’s our response to the letter posted earlier today:

Thanks friend, you’ve asked about an important issue in our day because there are many today flaunting their freedom in Christ while others are pointing fingers at anyone who drinks at all. Alcoholism is a profound problem in our culture, and it is even more of a problem in other cultures. Christians need to respond to such issues thoughtfully, and we need to be aware of the best research on both the health dangers and benefits.

So let me establish some parameters for my thoughts:

First, regardless of what the critics are saying, the Bible does not demand total abstinence from alcohol for all of God’s people. Anyone who does that is a zealot who is using the Bible to foist a morality on others that the Bible doesn’t have.

Second, the Bible enjoins moderation or the wise use of alcohol as it assumes people will be drinking alcohol. So, the Bible can say that wine makes the heart glad and at the same time say “don’t get too glad,” because it says we are not to be drunk on alcohol. Eph 5:18. Jesus himself used wine as a symbol of the exceeding joy of the kingdom (John 2:1-11) and that was a natural connection to celebration for Jews of his day.

Alcohol was a common drink in Bible times from Noah through Jesus’ day (I saw a grape press from the 1st Century in Nazareth this summer), the alcohol was not as strong as ours is today, but there was enough alcohol to get folks drunk, so that is why they were told not to get drunk.

Third, there is a Bible tradition of abstinence from alcohol, from Samson to John Baptist, but there is nothing that indicates this was either common nor was it seen as the special mark of piety. Abstinence is a good and wise option for Christians; it is not the posture of the most advanced Christian or the sign of total dedication.

These, to me, are biblical facts. Anyone who says abstinence is required for Christians is simply not in accord with the Bible; but we also are encouraged by the Bible to think that abstinence is a genuine if not also important option.

Mature Christians ought to trust others to act wisely in these matters; mature Christians don’t need to censure the wise decisions of others.

Having said that, alcohol ought to be consumed in moderation and wisely. That is, in a way that does not lead to drunkenness and in a way that is not intentionally scandalous or reckless with others.  It is reckless to flaunt alcohol in front of those who struggle with alcoholism. But those who are against it can’t claim the higher moral ground by saying they are “scandalized” if that means they are against it. To be “scandalized” means to fall into the sin of drunkenness; it does not refer to the ambiguity some feel because someone disagrees with something they hold to be important. Leaders ought to be wise in their consumption, though I don’t believe it is wise for churches or denominations to think they are taking the high road by demanding abstinence for leaders or pastors. This is an issue of wisdom and not ruling or ordinance.

Now come questions directed at those who are deeply concerned about the drinking/drunkenness culture at American universities. How best to be a Christian in such environments? What do Christian students do who have friends who are drinking too much and who are concerned about those friends? I recommend two strategies, both of which require that the Christian speak to friends in friendly but firm ways about foolishness and potential dangers. First, some will take the wise strategy of never drinking publicly in order to witness to a different order among those for whom the alcohol consumption culture shapes the shallow joy of weekend bashes. Second, some will make it clear that they want to drink responsibly and will hold it to one drink and one drink only. In both of these situations friends can genuinely talk to friends and call attention to health issues and the damaging impact that drinking can have on morals (I’m thinking here especially of the hook-up culture) and on one’s integrity and safety (rape, endangerment, etc).

Many Christian university students have chosen to avoid the bar and party scenes altogether and have formed other kinds of social events, not just because they want to avoid temptations and alcohol but because they want to build a virtuous character rooted in other practices and fellowship.

I drink a glass of wine with most dinners; I drink beer sometimes, but always good beer.