The absurdity of social drinking justifications

Last Sunday morning, I preached on the subject of alcohol. It was presented to show that no bit of alcohol is safe, social, or condoned by the Bible. I felt it necessary to share a few more answers that are often cited as possible contradictions to God’s command regarding alcohol consumption.

In 1 Tim. 3:3 some of the qualifications of Bishops (Elders) are given. It is written that the elder is not to be given to wine. Yet, in verse 8, we find that for a deacon to be qualified, he must be not given to much wine (cf. 1 Tim 3:8). This presents a potential problem for many who are confused. Yet, if we remember, a warning against excess does not approve the action in and of itself. Consider Ephesians 4:26. Paul writes, “Do not let the sun go down on your wrath.” Does that mean that wrath is okay to be practiced before sundown? By the logic of the social drinking proponent, it must.

If we go a little further in the same passage, we find a description of the Godly wife of a deacon. “Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things” 1 Tim 3:11. This is similar to the commands regarding the aged men in Titus 2:2. “That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.” If we read verses 3-4 of that chapter, we find instructions for aged women and what they are to teach the younger women, as well as how the young men must live. “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.” Titus 2:2-6

After reading all of this, it seems a bit difficult to decipher, but not so. All we have to do is remember what God has said. Implied consent is not found anywhere in the Word of God in regards to alcohol. If we remember 1 Peter 4:3-4, the excess of wine does not mean a little is okay. We see that in verse 4 excess of riot is mentioned. Shall we engage in moderate riot? I would certainly hope not.

Finally, did you catch all of the details of the passages we have read? If we are to read as the proponents of social drinking do, we would settle on this: elders cannot drink, but deacons can. Deacons can drink, but their wives cannot. Older men cannot drink, but older women can. I think you can see how ridiculous that idea is.

(Some excerpts of the book The Truth About Moral Issues by Don Blackwell have been used in the compilation of this article.)

Grace and Peace,

Ryan

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