Expository Files 7.11
November 2000
The Front Page
Warren E. Berkley
Why I Do Not Drink
George W. Bush has said he does not drink at all. His reasons have to do with his (bad)
experience with alcohol and perhaps his wife's urging. It is refreshing to hear a public
figure claim total abstinence. We can hope and pray that this will get the attention of
young people, who continue to be under tremendous pressure to take the risks of alcoholic
consumption. And adults who already have a problem should give heed too. Though not for
all the same reasons, I do not drink. Below are some of my reasons:
- I do not drink because I was trained from childhood to abstain. I admit, with no
apology, that I am the product of the influence and nurturing of my early childhood and
family. There was not a drop of liquor, beer or wine in our home and I never observed
anybody drink alcohol in our family. We were simply taught not to drink at all. In Bible
classes and preaching, I grew up hearing good people use the Scriptures to confirm the
prohibition policy I learned from my parents. I suppose it could be said I was na�ve.
Many years into adulthood I became acquainted with members of the church who claimed to be
moderate drinkers, and I was both stunned and disappointed. I'm not talking about the
measured medicinal use of necessary alcoholic products. There are folks in local churches
who drink socially and use alcohol for recreational purposes -- some will argue that their
behavior does not come into conflict with Biblical instruction. When I first encountered
this, I was bewildered, since my whole upbringing was against social, moderate drinking.
One reason I do not drink is, I was trained to abstain. I do not resent that. It is a
policy I believe is wise.
- I do not drink because of the risks I would expose myself to. In Texas now, drivers are
considered legally intoxicated with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08%. There are
many factors that affect the rate of absorption and intoxication: body weight and
composition, individual metabolism, stomach contents, any medicines you have taken and the
situation, your mood and why you have chosen to drink - all of this is involved. Depending
upon all the variables - this level (.08%) could be acquired by a couple of drinks. Slight
mood changes and impaired judgment can begin before the legal figure is reached. So there
are legal consequences in addition to the increased chance of an accident. There are
health risks and the possibility of addiction problems. I want to be a faithful steward in
the use of all the gifts God has afforded me, both spiritual and physical. So I've decided
not to expose my mind and body to this drug. {In recent news, Congress is adopting .08% as
a national standard. States that fail to impose this will begin losing millions of dollars
a year in federal highway funds.}
- I do not drink because I do not want to give the liquor industry a dime of revenue. I
understand that this is the era of huge corporate diversity - and it may be that I'm
buying food products (crackers and cheese) from a parent company with direct liquor
holdings. I cannot control or even monitor the money chain after I buy my crackers. But I
will not give them any profit through their marketing of liquor. I am not aware of any
good at all the beer, wine and liquor industry can claim, especially when compared to all
the fatalities, broken homes and many other kinds of loss.
- I do not drink because I do not want to give anybody any encouragement or reason to
drink; I am concerned about my influence. I do not believe anybody can argue that there is
a clear, absolute line separating moderation from excess. Since this is so, my moderation
could influence someone beyond moderation into excess. Even those who argue in favor of
moderation must grant the principle written by the apostle Paul: "Therefore, if food
makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother
stumble," (1 Cor. 8:13).
- I do not drink because of what the Scriptures teach. When I consider everything the
Bible says about being sober-minded (Rom. 12:3; Tit. 2:6; 1 Pet. 5:8), it gives me
additional motivation to avoid the moderate or recreational use of alcohol. Then, when I
study passages that warn against intoxication, I find further reason for my personal
policy of abstinence (Eph. 5:18; Rom. 13:13; 1 Pet. 4:1-5). {See Footnote}.
- I do not drink because I'm impressed by the history of alcohol's influence. Noah's
choice to drink took away his modesty (Gen. 9:20-27). Lot was easily lured into sexual
immorality (Gen. 10:30-36). Belshazzar desecrated the sacred vessels plundered from the
Temple in Jerusalem (Dan. 5:2). Total abstinence was required of anyone performing a
sacred office or service under the law of Moses. A king was admonished to forgo
intoxicating drink while he judged the people (Prov. 31:4-5). A priest had to be fully
alert and sober while ministering in the Temple (Lev. 10:8-11). If moderate use of alcohol
is innocent and without consequence, why were these law written? Members of a local church
guilty of drunkenness are to be withdrawn from (1 Cor. 5:11), and drunkards "shall
not inherit the kingdom of God," (1 Cor. 6:9-10).
All things considered, this is the basis of my personal decision of total abstinence. I
cannot enforce this on everybody and I have no special authority to demand that my view
prevail. All I can do is explain my reasons and ask that the Scriptures be studied.
29 Who has woe?
Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions?
Who has complaints?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of eyes?
30 Those who linger long at the wine,
Those who go in search of mixed wine.
31 Do not look on the wine when it is red,
When it sparkles in the cup,
When it swirls around smoothly;
32 At the last it bites like a serpent,
And stings like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange things,
And your heart will utter perverse things.
34 Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the
sea,
Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying:
35 "They have struck me, but I was not hurt;
They have beaten me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?"
Proverbs 23:29-35
Footnote:
I do not assume that "wine" always means an intoxicating beverage. In some
passages, "wine" is simply a reference to the juice from the grape (in Isa.
65:8, still in the cluster). The context informs me of the specific use of the term. Thus
"wine" in Prov. 20:1 is "a mocker," while in other passages, nothing
in the context indicates fermentation (I do not believe Jesus produced an intoxicating
beverage in Cana, see John 2:1-12).
Regarding the passages often appealed to in First Timothy -- as I suggested earlier, I
am not opposed to any legitimate medicinal use of alcohol (1 Tim. 5:23). It is also my
view that 1 Tim. 3:8 condemns excess, but does not grant permission (it is flawed
reasoning to use a prohibition, as in 1 Tim. 3:8, to assert permission. Eccl. 7:17
condemns excessive wickedness -- but certainly grants no permission for a little!). So
when I consider the sum of Scriptural testimony and use that teaching to think my way
through the various arguments for moderation and the quibbles of men - my personal policy
of abstinence remains fixed.
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