Compared to times past, alcohol is a subject that seems to be on the rise in terms of leniency. As a society, we seem to become more and more involved with alcohol and its negative side effects. Even within the church, there seems to be a softening of saints with regards to alcohol. In this article, I will be presenting just a few reasons why Christians are to abstain from alcohol totally. We will do this by answering some of the most prominent questions we hear today in defense of alcohol and its cunning nature.

“What’s wrong with a drink? I won’t get drunk.” While there is a clear difference between drinking an alcoholic beverage and severe drunkenness, the crucial point is this: If one is consuming alcohol, with no purpose to become drunk, how will he or she know when to stop? The stopping point between a few drinks and being drunk is so thin that an impaired individual cannot spot the difference. One drink has the potential to lead into two. Two to four. Rather than taking a chance on losing your soul by participating in this deceptively “fun” activity, chose to abstain. Further answering this question, 1 Timothy 5:23 is a convincing verse for no alcoholic consumption. In it, Paul writes to Timothy and says not to only drink water, but “use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.” This necessarily demonstrates to the attentive reader that Timothy did not drink wine or other alcoholic beverages because Paul told him he should for his sick stomach. To anyone who says “See, Paul encouraged Timothy to drink alcohol, so that grants us permission,” I say this. “Go down to the drug store, and buy yourself some Pepto-Bismol or Tums.”

“Alcohol loosens me up and makes me feel good! You should try some.” To this statement, I respond by saying throughout the Scriptures we are told to be on our guard, to be vigilant, and to think with a sober mind (1 Cor.16:13; 1 Pet. 5:8). Alcohol leads to the exact opposite of being on guard, vigilant, and thinking soberly. Yes, alcohol can make one relax, and “feel good”, but brethren, this is an activity that we cannot participate in. Good fruits are not usually the byproduct of consuming alcohol. It is usually associated with things like sexual encounters, fights, and further bad choices.  Not once have I heard, “Dude, I went into the bar last night, got smashed, and the best thing happened...” Good decisions and alcohol do not mix, and will never mix.

These are among the reasons you should totally abstain from alcohol. I have witnessed an increased number of Christians gravitate to the idea that alcohol consumption is not wrong, as long as it doesn’t become an issue of alcoholism or drunkenness. This does not agree with the truth as it is recorded in Proverbs 20:1, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whoever is led astray be it is not wise.” Participating in alcoholic consumption is a choice. Let us make the sound and biblical choice of not participating in this sinful action. If you never start or never try it, you never have to quit the sin.

In the same manner, the use of “conservative” and “liberal” help identify what a congregation teaches and practices. A conservative church “conserves” the apostolic authority regarding the work and worship of the local church (Col. 3:17; 1 Cor. 4:6, 17). A “liberal” church, on the other hand, does not restricted itself to the authority of the Bible in its teachings and practices. Liberal is defined as “broad-minded, especially not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or traditional forms” (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary). Hence, churches that introduce innovations to the worship (i.e., instrumental music), organization (i.e., centralization of churches), and work of the local church (i.e., the social gospel) are “liberal” toward New Testament authority. They have gone beyond what is written (1 Cor. 4:6). Churches that oppose the use of instrumental music in worship, the social gospel, general benevolence from the church treasury, church support of human institutions, the sponsoring church arrangement, etc. are deemed “conservative.” They affirm that local churches, following the New Testament pattern, do not have these things. They reject and oppose innovations that ”go beyond” the doctrine of Christ (2 Jno. 9); that constitute a ”different gospel” from the apostolic doctrine in the New Testament (Gal. 1:6-9); and that do not follow the ”pattern of sound words” given in Scripture (2 Tim. 1:13; Phil. 3:17). To speak of “liberal” or “conservative” churches of Christ is not unscriptural – it correctly applies scriptural guidelines, and helps identify a congregation’s teachings and practices. Using these terms is speaking as the ”oracles of God.”

We might note that the term “denominational” church is not found in the Bible, either. But, by a church’s alliance with a area or worldwide collection of churches, and conformity to its body of doctrine, it is entirely proper and scriptural to identify it as a “denominational” church. The principle that we know a person by his fruits is also true of churches (Matt. 7:17-20; Rev. 3:1). To properly and factually describe a church’s fruit is certainly to speak as the oracles of God (1 Pet. 4:11).

Any church of Christ in the Bible that was faithful to the word of Christ and did not go beyond the doctrine of Christ was “conservative” in the sense that, like the church in Philadelphia, it ”kept My word, and have not denied My name” (Rev. 3:8). Should we not endeavor to be the same?

Christ said He will cut off His fellowship from churches that hold to false teaching and continue sinful practices (“remove your candlestick” refers to the removal of fellowship, see Rev. 2:5, 1; 1:12-13). When Christians (including a congregation or church), fall away from the faith, they have not remained in ”the faith” that was once for all delivered to the saints (1 Tim. 4:1-3; Jude 3; John 8:31-32). Those who do so are no longer faithful followers of Jesus (Jno. 8:31; 14:23-24; Gal. 5:4). 

We can have no confidence of being in fellowship with Christ when we are not careful to ”keep His commandments” – to do all things by His authority (1 Jno. 2:3-5; Col. 3:17). The same can be said of a local church (Rev. 2:5). 

Scripture Reading:  Psalm 103:1-5

How Secularists Reshape Society
Joe R. Price

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Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated.  07/30/2017