Let Us Live as Our Pastors…and drink no wine.

• 1 Timothy 3:3 (NKJV) A bishop then must be…not given to wine

“Not given to wine.”

I am very comfortable with making this a very clear black and white admonition – “no wine” (teetotaler).  However, I know that not every Christian agrees with me.

I’ve heard the arguments from both sides.  I am convinced that there is a very clear case against drunkenness and yet I know there are some in the body of Christ that believe drinking in moderation is OK.

I doubt the issue will be finally resolved this side of eternity.

But here’s my question: “Why drink alcohol?

In modern western culture, drinking alcoholic beverages comes with a lot of “extras” – few if any that lend themselves to living a Christ-exalting life.

Furthermore, according to which study you reference, the number of people who become alcoholics after taking their first drink is 1 in 7.  Now, let’s suppose for the sake of argument that 1 out every 10 people who eat ice cream contracted cancer.

You do not have to attend the Fort Mill Church of God long to know that I occasionally enjoy popping the top off a container of ice cream and enjoying some pistachio or butter pecan ice cream.  However, if I knew that by my example and encouragement that one out of every ten people in my congregation would develop cancer, I would never, ever, eat another bite of ice cream.  Yet many think nothing, both by example and admonition, of encouraging others to drink.  How can this be?

In addition, if you drink wine “for your stomach’s sake” there is medicine far better than wine that has been developed since New Testament times that you can take for your upset stomach.  And if you are worried about unclean water, bottled water is far cheaper than beer and wine, and if it is your heart you’re worried about – stop eating Big Macs and take fish oil and an aspirin.

Bottom line, how you live as a Christian matters.  Tag on to the title of Christian the title of “spouse”, “parent”, “friend”, “boy-friend”, “girl-friend”, “co-worker”, “youth leader” or a number of other titles and the stakes get even higher.

I hate legalism.  I despise the development of lists that say if you conform to these things you’re OK.  However, I am also very, very wary of my liberty as a Christian.  Liberties must be handled with care and great responsibility.  As Paul put it concerning our liberties: “It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.” (Romans 14:21)

In reality, the issue of drinking alcohol is just one of many issues that we must decide on.  For some issues it is a clear right or wrong decision.  Yet for other issues it is not so much a right or wrong decision but an abstinence issue for the sake of others.

How then shall we live?

Getting back to Paul and his answer to the “eating meat sacrificed to idols” issue: “Therefore if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble” (I Corinthians 8:13).

In other words, the answer to how we should live as devoted followers of Jesus Christ goes beyond being right doctrinally or proving that you are not bound by legalism and enters the arena of “being your brother’s keeper.”

Life is complex and some issues do not lend themselves to easy, clear black and white answers.  But on that day when you give an accounting of your life here on earth to your Creator, when your words and deeds will be judged on their impact on those you lived among, I don’t think you will regret one bit having taken the high road by saying, “I will abstain because I am my brother’s keeper.”