To Drink or Not to Drink

First of all, this is a discussion in which I hardly ever participate. But I am glad to have the chance to think through and write down some thoughts about it. I have really prayed over this, and sought God’s wisdom about it. These are convictions that He has given me.

I agree that drinking in itself is not a sin. I know the Bible clearly says that drunkenness is the sin, not drinking.

I agree that Christians have every right and freedom to partake. It is whether or not they should exercise that right that I question.

There are a few reasons why I will not drink alcohol. The first two are not as important, but are still part of my decision.

#1. My grandfather was an alcoholic. My granddad held a gun to my dad’s head when he was five years old while he was drunk. My dad spent some time in bars before he was saved. 

Because of his background, my daddy gave up drinking when he became a Christian. He would never let us sit too close to the bar in a restaurant. My father in law would not even go IN a restaurant that sold alcohol! 

Therefore, if I was to partake of alcohol, I would be disappointing and dishonoring my father and my father in law. As you can see, this is a personal decision for me. However, how many people have relatives that have a similar background, and still choose to go ahead and drink? Have they thought of how this makes others feel in their family? Is it really worth upsetting their older relatives?

#2. There are many alcoholics in my dad’s family, my mom’s family, and my father in law’s family. I have no idea if alcoholism “runs in the family,” but I know that some people have more addictive tendencies than others. How am I to know if one of my children could develop an addiction to alcohol? Wouldn’t there be less chance of that if I never introduced it to them? Now I know what some may say; “Your kids could develop an addiction to tv, video games, sweets, Dr. Pepper or any number of things that could be bad if overdone.” But I have to think that those things don’t have the devastating consequences that alcohol abuse has; be it drunk driving, abusing behavior, financial ruin, etc….So again I ask, is it really worth it? Why open that door?

#3. The last reason I will not drink, is taken from Romans 14, referenced in an article I read concerning drinking in the Bible. That author states that wine in the Bible was indeed “strong drink”, because why else would God warn that drinking it could be a “stumbling block” to a “weaker brother”. This interpretation cannot be doubted. God did not prohibit drinking in the Bible. In the biblical culture, I suppose that most everyone drank wine. (There weren’t all that many options back then). But even in a culture where wine was accepted and perhaps even encouraged by God, He still warns his followers to be careful, lest the drinking be a “stumbling block” , or cause others to stumble. So since this is true….I would like to focus on the culture in which we live. In Alabama, and especially in dry counties like Blount County, there is a certain stigma about those that drink. It is thought by many to be something that one “gives up” when they become converted to Christ. My family has lived here for generation after generation, and that is the way it is for most of the people. (I know there are always exceptions.) I also realize it is not that way in other parts of the country, or other countries. Over in the Northwest or Northeast United States, it may be different. I know my good friend lives in France, and drinking is totally accepted there. People might even be MORE likely to listen to you share the Gospel there if you have a drink in your hand. But here in Alabama, it is different.

What if there was someone that God would have me to witness to, but that person is put off because I have a drink in my hand? What if they think, “well, I am not going to listen to them cause they are no different than me?”

Or what if I am unknowingly speaking to a recovering alcoholic while I have a drink in my hand, and this stunts his recovery?

I just want to be sure that I don’t do anything that would ever turn anyone off to the message that I bring as a Christian. 

And those are the reasons I don’t drink. I don’t question other Believer’s motives for doing so. I just simply ask that THEY question them. Pray about it. Don’t do it just to prove you have the freedom to. 

“Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.” (Romans 14:20-22)