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1 Corinthians chapter 6, looking
to verses 12 through 20. Paul writes, under the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit, all things are lawful unto me, but all things
are not expedient. All things are lawful for me,
but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the
belly and the belly for meats. But God shall destroy both it
and them. Now the body is not for fornication,
but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God hath both
raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by His own power. Know ye not that your bodies
are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members
of Christ and make them the members of Enharlot? God forbid. What? Know ye not that he which
is joined to an harlot is one body? For two, saith he, shall
be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the
Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that
a man doeth is without the body. But he that commiteth fornication
sinneth against his own body. What? Know ye not that your body
is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have
of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price.
Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which
are God's. The question that I want to examine
from scripture in our time together tonight as well as next Lord's
Day evening is, should Christians drink alcohol? Should Christians
drink alcohol? To drink or not to drink? That is the question. Who can
deny that this particular question has been and continues to remain
a passionate debate among Christian people. In my 21 years of being
a Christian, in my friendships and conversations with others
who I sincerely believe to be genuine born-again believers,
I have heard some present what they believe to be strong biblical
evidence against drinking alcohol, and some present what they believe
to be strong biblical evidence that would permit the drinking
of alcohol in moderation. In my 14 years of being a pastor,
among my diverse associations with various fellowships, I have
heard some pastors preach sermons encouraging Christians to abstain
from alcoholic drinks altogether. And I have heard other pastors
preach sermons on the believer's liberty to drink alcohol so long
as they do not become drunk. Bringing it closer to home where
we live and where we worship, in my almost nine years of being
the pastor of this flock, I have heard others who sincerely love
the Lord among our church who fervently say that Christians
should never drink anything that contains alcohol. And I have
heard others who sincerely love the Lord among our church who
would contend that there is nothing wrong with having an occasional
beer or glass of wine every once in a while. So my question to
you is, Who is right? Which side of the argument is
more faithful to Scripture? There are people on both sides
of this issue who give biblical verses to support their beliefs. There are people on both sides
of this issue who have genuine testimonies of salvation and
are humble, God-fearing people. There are people on both sides
of this issue who are very confident that their side is the right
side. So who's right and who's wrong? Is it okay for Christians to
drink in moderation or should Christians abstain from drinking
altogether? Well, let me begin by having
us recognize the main questions that lie at the heartbeat of
the debate as it relates to Christians drinking alcohol. If you're taking
notes, this is point number one. Point number one is the heartbeat
of the debate. And the heartbeat of the debate
centers around three main disputes. Dispute number one centers around
the alcoholic content of biblical wines and alcoholic drinks. Dispute number two centers around
whether the Bible permits drinking in moderation or altogether prohibits
drinking. And then dispute number three
centers around whether drinking alcoholic beverages in moderation
is a matter of Christian liberty. These three disputes are at the
heartbeat of the question at hand, and they are the primary
dividing beliefs that Christians on both sides of the argument
present. So let's consider them very briefly.
Regarding the issue of alcoholic content, Some say that wine in
the Bible is very different than the wine that can be purchased
at the store today. Those who adhere to this side
of the argument often declare that biblical wines were nothing
more than what we know to be grape juice. Therefore, such
drink was tolerated and even celebrated as a rare drink to
enjoy on special occasions. Some among this group also argue
that the wine mentioned throughout scripture was so diluted and
considerably weak that it hardly had any alcohol at all. Others
say that if wine was really unfermented grape juice, then why doesn't
the Bible just say grape juice? Why don't we read of Jesus turning
water into grape juice? Why don't we read of Paul specifically
saying to the church in Ephesus, be not drunk with grape juice,
which is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit? On the one side,
those who oppose the drinking of alcohol say that the wines
mentioned in the Bible were not fermented anywhere near to what
it is today. They say that the wines of the
Bible had an incredibly low alcohol content, so drinking alcoholic
drinks, including wine, is much different than it used to be.
On the other side, those who support the drinking of alcohol
say wine is wine, beer is beer. The Bible actually speaks of
drinking wine in a positive sense so Christians can drink as long
as they do not drink in excess and become mastered by alcoholic
beverages. This is dispute number one. Dispute
number one centers around opinions regarding the fermentation process
and the difference of alcoholic content between wines back then
and wines available to us today. Tied in with this first issue
is the second issue, which is the dispute about whether the
Bible altogether forbids the drinking of alcohol or whether
the Bible cautiously permits the drinking of alcohol. Again,
the two sides. Some Christians argue that because
the wine and alcoholic beverages of the Bible is different than
it is today, that Christians should not be drinking such beverages. Other Christians argue that the
Bible doesn't have a direct command against drinking alcohol entirely. The only specific command that
is given is refraining from drunkenness. So the one side says Christians
shouldn't have anything to do with wine, with alcoholic drinks,
because the Bible says, Proverbs 23, 31, look not thou upon the
wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup,
when it moveth itself aright, suggesting an encouragement of
refraining. The other side says, the Bible
says, Ecclesiastes 9.7, go thy way, eat thy bread with joy,
and drink thy wine with a merry heart, for God now accepteth
thy work, suggesting a limited participation of it. This is
dispute number two. Dispute number two centers around
what exactly the Bible allows and forbids. And then we have
dispute number three. Dispute number three centers
around the issue of whether drinking alcoholic beverages in moderation
is an issue of Christian liberty. Some argue that drinking alcohol
is such a strong God in this world and an obvious worldly
practice that Christian people should abstain from it altogether
because it is an unquestionable stumbling block to so many people.
Others argue that drinking an occasional glass of wine or can
of beer in private is a matter of Christian liberty. So long
as one does not become addicted to alcoholic beverages, so long
as one does not become drunk, so long as they are drinking
in private, without those who struggle with alcoholism, they
have liberty to enjoy alcohol in small quantities. Those in
this camp would argue Just as Christians have Christian liberty
to drink unhealthy energy drinks if they please, just as Christians
have Christian liberty to drink a pot of coffee throughout the
day, just as Christians have Christian liberty to eat unhealthy
snacks and processed foods from time to time, so I have Christian
liberty to enjoy a glass of wine or a beer if I so please. These are the three main disputes.
that both sides present in their argument for and in their argument
against drinking alcohol. The heartbeat of the debate centers
around, number one, the fermentation process and alcoholic content
of beverages, which sometimes leads to a debate of Greek words
and the ratio of water to wine. Number two, it centers around
whether the Bible actually permits the drinking of alcohol. And
then number three, whether consuming small quantities of alcohol from
time to time is a matter of Christian freedom. This is the debate. One preacher says one thing,
another preacher says another thing. One Bible scholar presents
one side, another Bible scholar presents another side. One Christian
argues one way, another Christian argues another way. Martin Luther
enjoyed drinking beer, John Wesley preached against drinking. Many
Puritan preachers, whose book I love, drank alcohol in moderation. Other preachers who I greatly
appreciate, such as John MacArthur, to my knowledge, abstains from
alcoholic beverages. So where do we go from here?
Who is right and who is wrong? And how can we assess which side
is more biblical? And more importantly, what specific
Bible commands and principles should lead us to make a personal,
biblically sound answer to this hotly debated question? Well then my second point, I
want us to think about five general biblical statements that are
often made that both sides should be able to agree upon at least
to some degree. Whether you are for drinking
alcohol in moderation or against drinking alcohol altogether,
I believe that there are five main statements that are often
made using scripture where the one side might be able to understand
where the other side is coming from as it relates to their differing
viewpoints. Point number two, general biblical
statements. about alcoholic drinks. The first
general statement that does hold weight is the truth that there
is no direct command against the drinking of wine. We can
argue what we think about wine and what it means and how it
may differ from then to now, but we must come to agree that
there is no straightforward command against the drinking of wine. There is not a commandment among
the Ten Commandments that says, Thou shalt not drink wine. Likewise, there is no commandment
that says, Thou shalt not drink beer. We can argue Hebrew and
Greek words. We can argue the differences
between wine and strong drink. We can argue our thoughts about
distilling processes. We can argue our thoughts on
fermentation and differences between wines back then and wines
today. But I think we can agree that
there is no straightforward blanket command that says drinking wine
is a sin against God. I'm just trying to be honest.
The second generic statement I want us to consider is the
statement about the Bible's condemnation against drunkenness and enslavement
to wine. Those Christians who are favorable
of drinking in moderation will tell you not only that there
is no specific command against drinking alcohol, they will also
tell you that what is specifically commanded in God's word is drunkenness. Now again, I'm presenting just
the statements that others make on both sides. I'm not taking
a side yet. We need to understand something
of where both sides are coming from. Statement number one is
the Bible doesn't say drinking is a sin. Statement number two,
the Bible doesn't condemn drinking small quantities of alcohol in
moderation. It only condemns drunkenness
and addiction to alcoholic beverages. And then statement number three,
there are many passages of scripture that speak of drinking wine in
positive terms. For instance, Ecclesiastes 9.7
says, drink wine with a merry heart. Deuteronomy 7.13 and 11.14,
we read of God blessing Israel and prospering them with wine. In Psalm 104, 15, we read of
wine making the heart of man glad. In Amos 9, 14, we read
of wine being associated with God's favor. And in Isaiah 55,
1, we read of God, through the prophet Isaiah, inviting others
to buy wine and milk without money and without price. So the
argument goes, if wine is a great sin, as you suppose it to be,
then why does God reference it so positively? If wine should
be forbidden by Christians, then why did Jesus turn water into
wine? The argument goes, drinking wine
in moderation was permitted to the Jews in the Old Testament.
It's spoken positively about in the New Testament, so why
should we abstain from it altogether? That's statement number three.
And then statement number four. Wine in the Bible was encouraged
for medicinal purposes. Wine was encouraged to be used
for illnesses and even at the point of death. Proverbs 31,
Solomon says that strong drink should be given to those who
are perishing. In other words, it can be a needed
help to those who are in pain at their death. They may not
have access to morphine, but they may have access to alcoholic
drinks that may help relieve pain. 1 Timothy 5.23, Paul tells
Timothy, drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy
stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. Again, whether you
are for or against drinking, I think we can collectively agree
that such truths are in the Bible. Alcoholic drinks are mentioned
in a positive way as it relates to bodily illnesses and physical
pains. And then statement number five,
if we are going to remain fair and balanced about this topic,
we must, we must, we must acknowledge that the Bible very frequently
mentions alcohol in a negative way. Like it or not, God throughout
his word does mention many dangers associated with drinking wine
and alcoholic beverages. Genesis 9, 20 through 26, Noah
became drunk with wine and it led to acts of immorality and
family trouble to say the least. Genesis 19, 30-38, Lot drank
wine and became so drunk that it led to his daughters taking
sexually advantage of him, which led him to have a shameful, incestuous
relationship with his own daughters. Leviticus 10, 9 through 11, God
commands the priests not to drink wine nor strong drink that they
might be able to tell the difference between the holy and the unholy. Judges 13, 4, Judges 13, 7, Judges
13, 14, God commanded Samson's mother three times not to drink
wine nor strong drink. Proverbs 21 says that wine is
a mocker and strong drink is raging. Proverbs 23 19-20 says
that a wise person will not be among those who are heavy drinkers
of wine. Proverbs 23 29-30 says drinking
alcoholic beverages can cause woe, sorrow, strife, complaining,
wounds without cause, and red eyes. In fact, Proverbs 23, 31
specifically says, look not thou upon the wine when it is red,
when it giveth his color in the cup, because it can easily become
a snare. It can be as a poisonous snake
that can harm you. Proverbs 31, four through five,
Solomon says, kings, princes, and others who rule and judge
must not drink alcohol because alcohol perverts good judgment. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon acknowledges
that he gave himself to drinking wine to find satisfaction in
life, and it did not satisfy. In Daniel 1, 5-17, we read of
Daniel refusing the king's intoxicating wine and was blessed for it along
with his abstaining friends. Daniel 5.4 we read of Belshazzar
making a feast, drinking wine, and praising false gods as he
became drunk with wine. Hosea 4.11 we read of wine depriving
men of their reasoning abilities. Habakkuk 2.15 says, Woe unto
him that gives his neighbor drink with the intention of looking
upon someone else's nakedness. Luke 115, the angel of the Lord
tells Elizabeth, John the Baptist's mother, that John will be great
in the sight of the Lord and will not drink wine nor strong
drink, because he will be filled with the Spirit from his mother's
womb. Matthew 24, 48 through 50, we
read that a drinking servant is a servant who is unprepared
for his Lord's return. 1 Corinthians 6, 10, we read
that drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God. Ephesians
5, 18, we read that the believer is to be filled with the spirit
in contrast to being drunk with wine. 1 Thessalonians 5, 6, and
7, we read that Christians are to be watchful and sober as they
wait for the coming of the Lord. I could go on mentioning text
after text after text that speak negatively about drinking wine
and strong drinks, but I think you get the point. There are
many specific commands, many warnings, many narratives that
encourage Christians to be fearful of alcoholic drinks and to stay
away from it. Well, Pastor Casey, many of the
references you mentioned speak of drunkenness, not the occasional
beer or glass of wine. Okay, okay, I'll give you that.
But you must acknowledge that drunkenness always starts with
one drink. And many times, when you have
one drink, it's easy to justify another, and another, and another,
and another, and before you know it, you're plastered. Let me pause here and say, this
is my problem with Christians and pastors. who want to give
me biblical arguments for their drinking habits, all while remaining
silent about the negative aspects of alcohol. My problem is that
many times, not all the time, but many times, those who boast
about their liberty to drink are completely silent about all
the biblical texts that speak negatively about alcoholic beverages. I distinctly remember visiting
a church in Oregon during the COVID era, and the pastor of
the church preached a message on Christian liberty And while
the immediate point of the pastor's sermon was about vaccines and
the wearing of masks and Christians having the liberty to do what
they feel the Lord would have them to do in that specific instance,
it quickly took a turn to the pastor from the pulpit tolerating
Christians getting tattoos, watching rated R movies, and drinking
alcohol. For 10 to 15 minutes, The pastor
was giving explanation after explanation as to why he thought
Christians had the liberty to drink alcohol if they wanted
to, all without saying one word against alcohol. Not one warning. Becky and I
left so very disappointed. It was obvious that among the
congregation there were new believers listening to the pastor biblically
justify drinking. It was obvious that there were
children among the church who were hearing their pastor give
a blanket allowance for drinking. And I was frustrated that my
own children were supposedly hearing a man of God tell them
that they have nothing to worry about in drinking alcoholic beverages. I'm sorry, but this is my righteous
fury with pastors and Christians who want to talk about their
liberty and getting tattoos and going to the casinos and going
to the secular dance clubs and dancing to provocative music
and drinking alcoholic beverages. Many times they focus in on their
supposed liberty to do certain things while purposely remaining
blind to the obvious dangers that such practices often lead
to. I'm just throwing it on the table.
Let's just be fair, balanced, and honest. You can say that
the Bible doesn't say thou shalt not about alcohol. I'm fine with
that. You can say the Bible only condemns drunkenness. Okay, I'm
with you. You can say that the Bible speaks
of wine in positive ways. I get it. You can say that you
have Christian liberty to drink in moderation in private, as
long as you don't post your pictures online as a stumbling block to
others on Facebook. Go ahead. But you must be honest
with scripture in recognizing that there are a lot of Scripture
references that speak negatively about the consumption of and
the association with alcoholic beverages. If we would be honest with the
Scriptures tonight, both sides should be able to agree in this
point. The fifth statement that must
be acknowledged is the obvious, obvious danger of alcohol. It cannot be passed over. It
must not be dismissed as some trivial reality. Do you think when Noah started
drinking that he could handle it himself? Well, obviously it
came to a point where he couldn't. Same thing with Lot and the others
who got drunk from one drink to the next, to the next. Now looking beyond what the Bible
specifically says in our third point, I want us to think about
several incontestable common facts about alcoholic beverages
that are consumed in our day. Just as I presented several generic
statements about alcohol from a biblical standpoint in my second
point, In my third point, I want to present several generic realities
about alcohol from a secular, non-biblical standpoint. These are simply well-known facts
about alcohol that must be acknowledged by everyone, believer or unbeliever,
those who drink alcoholic beverages and those who refrain from drinking
alcoholic beverages. Again, we're just throwing all
the facts on the table. We haven't even sought to answer
the question yet. Five facts about alcoholic beverages
in general. The first truth that cannot be
denied is that alcohol is a very addictive drug. Yes, alcohol is widely considered
as a drug. It is sometimes referred to by
the chemical name ethanol. According to addictioncenter.com
and alcoholhelp.com, alcohol is classified as a central nervous
center depressant. This means that alcohol has an
impact on your brain, your emotions, and your discernment. Alcohol,
and I quote from these websites, shared this designation with
many other well-known drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and LSD. It is the most commonly addictive
substance in the United States. America's number one problem
is not an illegal drug like cocaine, marijuana, meth, or heroin. It is a, quote, legalized one
named alcohol. According to the National Council
of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, alcohol is the most commonly
used addictive substance in the United States. 17.6 million people,
or one in every 12 adults, suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence,
along with several million more who engage in risky, binge-drinking
patterns that could lead to alcohol problems. More than half of all
adults have a family history of alcoholism or problem drinking,
and more than seven million children live in a household where at
least one parent is dependent on or has abused alcohol. The first truth that cannot be
denied about alcohol is that it is a very addictive drug. The second truth that cannot
be denied about alcohol is that it can and often does lead to
serious health problems. Alcohol causes many health problems. Look it up for yourself online.
The articles are endless. and they are being circulated
more and more. In fact, just this week, I saw
two recent articles that were posted on Fox News about the
negative health impacts of alcohol written by doctors. I posted
them right here. Healthcare experts are warning
of heightened cancer risks. inflammation and insomnia, insufficient
nutrition, the worsening of existing conditions, the negative effects
of medication interactions, increased pain sensitivity, various mental
and cognitive effects. Some are suggesting that alcohol
use has been found to increase the risk of dementia and so on
and so forth. It seems that more and more doctors
are being bold in telling their patients and the world at large
that alcohol is not good for your heart, your brain, or your
waistline. Some neurosurgeons are suggesting
that the best thing to do is to refrain from alcohol altogether. Dr. Brett Osborne says, quote,
I don't want it, speaking of alcohol in my practice, I don't
want it for my patients, I don't use it myself, it's bad, get
rid of it. The third truth that cannot be
denied about alcohol in a secular sense is the truth that alcohol
has always had an obvious association with other godless activities. We haven't even entered into
the argument in a biblical standpoint yet. This is just obvious to
the world at large. Even those who are not Christian
people know this to be true. When the unbelieving world thinks
of alcohol, they do not instinctively think of Jesus Christ. They do
not inherently associate the consumption of alcohol with godly
Christian people. They do not come to the excitement
of Friday nights and going to the dance clubs and going to
the bars with the doing of God's will. They do not think of things
associated with honesty, justice, purity, and things that are lovely
and of good report. When the unbelieving world thinks
of alcohol, they think of having a good time and finding a way
to, quote, escape life. Yes? And most of the time, having
a good time and escaping the reality of life is typically
associated with acts of fornication and adultery and dancing in sexually
enticing ways to vile, ungodly, blasphemous music. Isn't this what we see glamorized
through television shows, movies, and commercials? Isn't this what
the music videos of every genre of music are all about? Isn't
this what we hear being promoted through the alcoholic industry
through their radio commercials and their billboards? The enticement
of drinking alcohol is have fun, forget your problems, Feel good,
and it's all without God in the picture. Life's short, take the
shot. I don't get drunk, I get awesome. Let's get ready to stumble. If
you can't be happy, at least you can be drunk. The fourth truth that cannot
be denied about alcohol is that alcohol is a factor in many crime-related
incidents. Alcohol is a factor in many crime-related
incidents. This is a reality that cannot
be denied. According to alcoholhelp.com, alcohol is involved in more homicides
across the United States compared to other substances like heroin
and cocaine. The Bureau of Justice Statistics
suggests that nearly one-third of arrests and violent victimizations
involve the use of alcohol. Alcoholhelp.com reports that
nearly 10,000 people are killed annually on United States roadways
due to alcohol-related accidents. Thousands more suffer from injuries
due to intoxicated drivers. Close to 70% of alcohol-related
violent acts occur in the home. An estimated 1.4 million incidents
of alcohol-related violence are committed against strangers every
year. One article I came across suggests
15% of robberies, 63% of inmate partner violent incidents, 37%
of sexual assaults, 45 to 46% of physical assaults, and 40
to 55% of homicides in the United States involved the use of alcohol. If we're going to be honest about
alcohol in a general sense, We must acknowledge these truths.
Alcohol plays a factor in encouraging others to sin in other ways. Alcohol plays a factor in many
crime-related incidents. The fifth truth that cannot be
denied about alcohol is that alcohol consumption has led to
and will forever lead to the destruction of marriages, homes,
family relations, friends, and lives. I would bet most, if not all,
of the adults in this room can think of specific people and
specific instances who have severely hurt others emotionally, mentally,
physically, or sexually, and alcohol was involved. I will
not do a survey of hands, but I think you know what I'm talking
about. Some of you have seen things and heard things from
family members, friends, and neighbors that you wish you had
never heard or seen before. and alcohol was involved. Some
of you have heard the horror stories of those who used to
be faithful church members, faithful pastors, faithful Sunday school
teachers, faithful deacons and so forth, who took one drink,
after another drink, after another drink, and now they're headlong
in the world. Some of you will humbly acknowledge
that you used to be among those who harmed others through the
use of alcohol. You thought you could handle
it on your own, but over time, drinking alcohol handled you. Listen, I've not even given my
subject, my opinion on the subject. I'm just presenting obvious facts
about alcohol in general. The obvious fact that I want
to leave you to chew on this evening is the fact that alcohol
has been and sadly will forever be a substance that can easily
lead to other sins. and specifically the destruction
of marriages, the destruction of families, the destruction
of friendships. It can lead to the waste of money,
the committing of sins of infidelity. It can lead to others neglecting
their duties and responsibilities. It can lead to financial strain
and regret after regret after regret. If we're going to speak honestly
about this subject, We must acknowledge these five general truths. I'll give them to you again.
Alcohol is a very addictive drug. Alcohol can lead to many severe
health problems. Alcohol has always been an encourager
to other sinful activities. Alcohol is a factor in many crime-related
incidents. Alcohol has led to and will forever
lead to the destruction of marriages, homes, family relations, friends,
and lives. Next week, we will continue looking
at this particular question, specifically looking at the biblical
principles that should guide us in making a wise decision
regarding our relationship with alcohol. The question is, should
Christians drink alcohol? We will search it out more next
Lord's Day evening. But for now, we throw all the
facts on the table. For now, I'm hoping both sides
will just be honest about their side and the arguments that other
people give for their doing or not doing certain things, all
right? I'm not hoping that this will
turn into civil war in our church, God forbid. But in every controversial
subject, if you've been here for years, in every controversial
subject, it's always been my desire to just be honest, to
lay everything out on the table so that you and I can go back
to the scriptures, Acts 17, 11, to strive to be Berean believers
so that we might make a wise decision for ourselves. I can't
make the decision for you. You can't make the decision for
me. Every one of us will stand before
the Lord and give an account for ourselves. Every one of us
is a testimony to others, so we must assess our testimony
by the scriptures. And we must do so in a way asking
ourselves, what is the most wise thing to do? What is the most
excellent thing to do? So I'm hoping this week that
you will join me in just prayerfully asking the Lord, Lord, teach
me. Teach me what your word says.
All right, both sides. All right, don't just grab onto
your preconceived ideas. Don't just clench your heart's
fist and say, the pastor's not gonna get me out of what I already
believe. Just say, Lord, I'm open to be
taught. I'm open to be challenged. Whatever
your word says, That's what I want, all right? That is my humble
pastoral plea, all right? We'll look at this question more
next week. Let's pray.
Should Christians Drink Alcohol? (Part 1)
Series Glorifying God with Our Bodies
| Sermon ID | 127251830195248 |
| Duration | 44:06 |
| Date | |
| Category | Sunday - PM |
| Bible Text | 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 |
| Language | English |
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