In light of the adoption of the resolution, On Alcohol Use In America, at the June SBC Annual Meeting in Greensboro, the bloggers have gone nuts. In regards to the alcohol debate, there are many cries of "legalism" echoing about the blogs that view teetotalers as "jack booted" fundamentalists who wish to restrict everyone's liberty with cultural concerns. Others are castigating those who fly the banner of "our freedom in Christ" proclaiming that they seek a license for their sin. I believe there is another voice that is pretty much absent from the debate about alcohol. That voice is the one which proclaims grace and Christian liberty, but also recognizes the importance of responsible Christian living and the dangers of alcohol.
We often hear in the news that
America has a drug problem. Frankly, I agree with that acessment. In discussing that problem, we could talk about the dangers of cocaine, marijuana, meth, or heroin, but then we would be overlooking America’s #1 problem drug. That drug is not any of those aforementioned illegal substances, instead it is a legal drug called ALCOHOL.
Alcohol has produced more deaths than any other drug. Over 55% of highway fatalities are alcohol related. It causes heart problems, liver problems, and powerful addictions. There are over 17 million alcoholics in America today, and the number is increasing. Alcohol addicts, by far, outnumber the addicts of any other drug. And what about the misery index? When you consider the death, disability, psychosis, and addiction that alcohol causes, it surely produces more misery than any other drug.
But what makes alcohol so dangerous is that it is sold legally. Not only is it sold legally, but it is as widely available as a bottle of ketchup, a bottle of shampoo, or a baby’s bottle of milk. It is just another package of consumer goods. It is widely advertised on TV, radio, billboards, and magazines. Alcohol distributors will spend $600 million, asking you to drink their brand. And note this; Americans will spend $25 billion on beverage alcohol this year. Not million, billion!
But in spite of all the damage alcohol causes, we continue to ignore its evils. Now, some Christians are spending their time debating whether the consumption of alcohol is Biblcial or not. I think those friends miss the point. As Paul the Apostle wrote, "Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is helpful. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be brought under the control of anything ( 1 Corinthians 6:12 Holman Christian Standard Bible)."
My friend, Dennis Swanson, has written a fine essay, Abstinence for a Life of Wholehearted Service which makes a great contribution to the debate. You may link to it by clicking on the title. After reading the article and considering the information presented above, see if you don’t agree that abstinence from alcohol consumption is a Biblically sound conclusion that is practical and evidences judicious prudence. Even with liberty comes responsibility.
