2003-08-11 - Summer Question

Part 6

Zechariah 9:15-17 The Lord of hosts will defend them. And they will devour, and trample on the sling stones; and they will drink, and be boisterous as with wine; and they will be filled like a sacrificial basin, drenched like the corners of the altar. And the Lord their God will save them in that day as the flock of His people; for they are as the stones of a crown, sparkling in His land. For what comeliness and beauty will be theirs! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine the virgins.

"I got one for you........... Where does it say we should not take a single drink of wine? I have read a lot about being drunk but not a single drink."

The topic of the consumption of alcohol is something that tends to divide Christians. Some have strong convictions about the use of alcohol and others are much more free in their practice of drinking. The Bible is clear that we should not get drunk. We see that in Deuteronomy 21:20, 21, where being drunk led to death. "And they shall say to the elders of his city, 'This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey us, he is a glutton and a drunkard.' Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death; so you shall remove the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear of it and fear." We see in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 6:9, 10) that drunks will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Clearly the Bible condemns being drunk. It does not, however condemn the use of alcohol in moderation. The Bible warns strongly about how we use alcohol. It even says that a heavy drinker will come to poverty (Proverbs 23:21). In response to the above question I would say that I have not seen anywhere in the Bible where it states that we should not take a single drink. However, there are evils associated with drinking that the Bible clearly warns us about.

It is faith alone that can satisfy our hearts. The drunkard never understands this truth. This is why the drunkard will not inherit the kingdom of God and will die the second death. Christ died for sin, but in coming to Christ through faith in His death and resurrection for our sin, we are to die to sin also. We are to put the deeds of the flesh behind us and live up to our spiritual calling as children of God. We may enjoy the bounty of God's creation, but we have no right to abuse it to satisfy our own selfish lusts. Being drunk may give some momentary pleasure or euphoria (until the next morning), but it pales in comparison to living a life that is pleasing to our Lord.

I know it is possible, even likely, that some reading this may struggle in this area. Never forget that in Christ there is forgiveness and mercy. This is true for all the areas that we may struggle in. In Christ there is compassion. In Christ there is a set of arms that are always open and ready to accept us back and forgive our transgressions of His will. We can never loose sight of the fact that no matter what we have done, we are simply one step away from the arms of grace.

"Drunkenness is temporary suicide." Bertrand Russell"

Total abstinence is easier to me than perfect moderation." Augustine

Soli Deo Gloria,
T-

tim@cfdevotionals.org
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