•1:13 PM
Is drinking alcohol wrong if done in moderation?
Topic(s): Christian Life
Most people would say that getting drunk is wrong, but many people feel that there is nothing wrong with social drinking, when done in moderation. There may be a difference in degree of intoxication between a social drinker and a drunkard, but there is really very little difference between the two. Whether the person drinks a great deal, or only a little, the alcohol impairs him. Drinking moderately makes one moderately drunk. God has never allowed moderate sin. Sin is sin in His sight.
Wise King Solomon said, Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise (Proverbs 20:1). He asks, Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder (Proverbs 23:29-32). Solomon's vivid words depict one of the great dangers of consuming alcohol --- at the last it biteth like a serpent.
People drink for many reasons. Sometimes it is because of loneliness, or pain, or failure. Often people just want to follow the crowd, or have a good time. Those problems the drinker wants to escape from through the bottle are still there when he is sober again, though. Christ came to help us overcome the problems that face us. Among the Christians at Corinth were former drunkards. Paul reminded them, Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
God intended for Christianity, not alcohol, to fill the void in people's lives. Paul wrote, Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:18-19).
Some say that drinking is not really that serious, compared to other sins. That does not excuse it in God's sight, however. According to 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, cited above, God classes the drunkard with idolaters, fornicators, and thieves. Alcohol devastates millions of families each year. The influence and power of alcohol bring broken homes, traffic fatalities, and general chaos. Whether alcohol is used moderately or immoderately, it is sinful and opposed to the will of God. A significant percentage of people who try to social drink end up as alcoholics, unable to curb or control their desire for alcohol. With all the well-known problems of alcohol, why take a risk by social drinking?
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