Can Christian's Drink Alcohol?

Because of my blog title, and because it's a question I have heard and seen Christians bring up, I am address the question: can Christians drink alcohol?

Now, many people have already addressed this question, but as I said I probably should too.

How I wish to do this is to take what a prominent teacher says about drinking. When I typed it in on the searchy thing I came across Greg Laurie's post on it: Greg's Drinkin Stance

After reading it, I thought given my blog name, a Christian, and a drinker I should address this and thus present my belief on the matter.

Now, I am not criticising Greg as a person.  I don't know him at all.  I have heard him on the radio before, but couldn't tell you what he said.

Instead, I wish to show that people with his belief, tend to lean the argument on their side by not actually addressing the question and ignoring evidence that doesn't fit this point.

I do this, also, because I believe as a spiritual leader he should know better than to present a lopsided view of an issue many Christians deal with.  It's important, and people deserve ALL information available - not just opinion and straw man arguments.

The question is whether Christians can drink alcohol.  The question ISN'T: can Christian drink excessively and abuse alcohol.

Greg doesn't answer the first - the question people actually ask.  He answers number two: which, as far as I know, isn't up for debate.

So let's look at Greg's response:

"The Bible tells us the story of John the Baptist,who was set apart by God from the time he was in his mother’s womb. In Luke 1:15, the angel said of John, “He will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb” (NKJV).
John gives us a good model for life: he drank neither wine nor strong drink."

No, but he did eat locusts and honey...I doubt that Greg is a consumer of the former.  John was set apart, by God, for a specific purpose.  That he didn't drink, wasn't the purpose.  That is, John wasn't set apart just to NOT drink.  It was a small, minor, part of what John was there to do...and that John didn't drink doesn't follow that we can't.

"Personally, I don’t drink at all. That is due, to some degree, to coming from an alcoholic home and seeing the devastation that drinking can bring."

For sure, excessive drinking can. I don't disagree, however, alcohol also masks the true problem that goes beyond drinking.  Working with folks who live with mental illness, I know that people self medicate with alcohol among other substances - alcohol isn't their root problem: their illness is.  I can't speak to Greg's life growing up, so I won't.

"I can’t think of a single good thing that comes from drinking, but I can think of many bad things that
come from it: broken homes, violence, accidents, people killed on the road by drunk drivers, addiction,
destroying your health . . . the list goes on."

Yep, Greg all those can happen with drinking.  And many happen without alcohol too.  Because we can think of bad things that happen when something is abused and misused doesn't mean the "thing" is bad.  When used properly, does the list still hold?

Greg here is not arguing apples to apples.  He arguing abuse of alcohol vs. responsible use.

I would agree, ABUSE of alcohol is a sin - as abuse of ANYTHING is a sin.  Money, sexuality, gluttony, etc.  Abuse does lead to destruction of lives, no doubt about it.  But that's not the same as common sense use.

"Drinking will never make anything better, only worse."

Health Experts Disagree

Though they do mention in the article that " too much alcohol can have many harmful effects on your body."

Again, ABUSE can have harmful effects, proper use can have healthful effects.

And another for good measure: Beer Does a Body Good.

And Paul, whom he quotes, also said this to Timothy: “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine [oinos] because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses” (1 Timothy 5:23)

Greg might not be able to think of anything good that can come from drinking, but that doesn't mean there isn't.  I agree EXCESSIVE drinking doesn't lead to anything good, but that's not what the question is...

But Greg doesn't relent arguing the incorrect point:

"Every illustration of drunkenness in the Bible is a disaster:
Noah became drunk, and in his nakedness, he acted shamelessly.
Lot became drunk and his daughters committed incest with him.
Belshazzar, in Daniel 5, had a drunken feast and worshipped his false gods. He lost his
kingdom that night.
Many a kingdom, family, career, ministry, and life have been lost through drinking."

"Through EXCESSIVE drinking," it should read.

Nowhere in the Bible do you read about RESPONSIBLE drinking leading to problems...

"As Paul told the Corinthian believers, “‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12
NIV).
 I don’t want to be under the power of anyone or anything but Jesus Christ!"

Does moderate drinking equate alcohol taking power over your life?

"Here’s a revolutionary thought: If you don’t drink, you will never get drunk. If you do drink, you may get drunk. Is it worth the risk?"

If you eat the wrong types of food you might get fat. Is it worth the risk?

If you drive your car, you might get into an accident and be killed.  Is it worth the risk?

If you go swimming, you might drown.  Is it worth the risk?

Actually I find this the silliest argument, as we can do this all day with various things.  As the saying goes, "Life is Dangerous."

But here's one for you, Greg: if you live your life, you might SIN.

Scratch that: you WILL sin.

Is it worth the risk?

"But here’s another question for you: Could your so-called liberty ever cause another believer to stumble in their faith? 1 Corinthians 8:9 says, “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.”

But this goes for ANYTHING!  I would agree, that if we are too focused on or abuse something it can be a stumbling block - but good grief if we stopped to take inventory, we'd do nothing but that and not get around to living life.

"John never touched alcohol, but was instead “filled with the Spirit.” The Bible says, “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18 NLT). It’s better to be filled with the Spirit than with the spirits."

Greg's parting shot seems to state that one cannot be filled with both.  Of course, if one truly was filled with alcohol as they were with the Spirit they'd be dead.

We are not talking about being "filled" with alcohol Greg - we are talking about responsible drinking.  Of which Jesus was more than okay with.

Here is a great link on wine and drinking in the Bible: Alcohol in the Bible

But in Greg's post, he doesn't mention ANY this.  He only argues HIS one side. That doesn't, I believe, answer the question.

I don't believe this to be good teaching.  I believe that good teaching presents all sides fairly.  A teacher doesn't present a lopsided argument that doesn't actually address the question being asked.

Again, I'm not attaching Greg personally.  I'm sure he's a fine man.  But I do believe that he didn't fairly answer the questions many in his fold dearly wanted answered.

So, to answer the question: yes Christians are allowed to drink.  Drinking alcohol is NOT a sin.

But, like everything in life for many it CAN lead to and become a sin...but alcohol is not alone in that boat.

So celebrate the gift of God that brewers and winemakers have received and enjoy a glass, or two - if you wish.  If not?  Then that is just fine as well.