April 27, 2001

It is fascinating to me how some faithful Christians believe that the use of beverage alcohol is not condemned in the Bible, and that these same Christians will condemn the use of illicit drugs, not on the basis of morality but illegality. The Bible does condemn the use of beverage alcohol by direct statement, by example, and by implication.

Notice, first the Bible’s condemnation by example. Consider Noah, who drank wine to the point of drunkenness, and it seems passed out with his nakedness exposed (Genesis 9:20-23) and Lot, who drank wine to the point the he did not know that his own daughters had lain with him (Genesis 19:30-36). The consequences of their drinking were far reaching. If Noah had not been drinking, Ham would not have seen his father’s nakedness and told his brothers, and thus his descendants may not have been cursed (Genesis 9:22,25). Obviously, Ham’s decision to sin was of his own accord, but the situation with his father may have been the motivating catalyst. The offspring of Lot and his daughters were the Moabites and Ammonites who were a thorn in the flesh of Israel for years and years. It is obvious that drunkenness was at least a partial cause of these situations. Should the Christian imitate that which is for good or for evil (3 John 11)?

The account of Noah and Lot brings up some interesting considerations. The scoffer will say, "Yes, but these men got drunk. The Bible condemns drunkenness but not the drinking of beverage alcohol." To this foolishness I would ask, how many drinks did Noah and Lot drink? Ten? Eight? Five? Three? What exactly is the measurement which determines who is drunk and who is not? If after three drinks, by some subjective measurement I am considered drunk, does that mean after one drink, two drinks, 2 ½ drinks that I am not drunk and my actions still pleasing to God? If I am not sure at what point I am drunk, do I drink until I am drunk one time and then drink less from then on? How would this relate to Romans 14:23, where Paul writes, "But he who doubts is condemned if he eats [or we might say, drinks, rlb], because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin." One easily recognizes how precarious is this position.

These Old Testament examples clearly show the sinfulness involved with beverage alcohol and the consequences thereof. Can the right thinking Christian believe that use of beverage alcohol is pleasing to God?