The Christian and Alcohol
- Apr 18, 2008 - 6
As published in the Criswell Theological Review
Excerpt:
Recently, Barrett was enjoying lunch with a good friend. When their conversation turned to their children, he mentioned that his daughter had just turned 21. They talked about life with older children and then his friend asked him if he had bought his daughter her first drink on her twenty-first birthday. He replied that the idea had never occurred to him. He certainly never expected a dedicated evangelical Christian, which this friend certainly is, to ask him that question.
The thought that Barrett would introduce his daughter to alcohol, and even legitimize it by buying the first drink, was abhorrent to him. Yet, to this man, who is a member of a denomination that is much more open to the use of alcohol, buying your child her first drink was just part of the coming of age process.
Barrett admits that he bought all three of his children their first McDonald‘s french fries. In fact, he confesses that he guarded that privilege very carefully and looked forward to seeing the delight in their eyes the first time they bit into those crispy, salty, tender morsels. As bad as a regular diet of McDonald‘s food would have been if his children had taken too much of a liking for their food, Barrett considered that first introduction an important moment of bonding with each of his children.
We suppose Barrett‘s Christian friend felt similarly about his first drink with his child, but for most Baptists treating your child to her first meal at McDonald‘s and introducing her to the use of alcohol are not the same things.
This brief exchange illustrates the differing attitudes among Christians toward alcohol use…
The full article is available in PDF (172 KB) courtesy of the Criswell Theological Review.
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6 comments (post your own) feed
1 On Apr 19th, 2008, at 6:37am, Greg Jones wrote:
While Scripture clearly condemns drunkenness, it does not prohibit alcoholic consumption.
Jesus certainly turned the water into wine and not fruit juice. We can confirm that this wine had a potential to induce drunkenness if not used responsibly based upon the Governor’s comments about most people bringing out bad wine last after people have “good and drunk”.
While I have never taken a drink in my life and therefore have no motive to justify myself on this issue Biblically, we would do well NOT to impose man’s laws on our brothers and sisters should we have a stricter conviction on this matter.
2 On Apr 22nd, 2008, at 12:40pm, chelz in mississippi wrote:
I agree with you, but as stated in the whole article of Mr. Land’s, millions of people are addicted or related to someone who is addicted. Should we participate or encourage something that has almost NO value? I just had a debate type talk with a “babe” in Christ and he is absolutely against alcohol but scripture wise the only prohibition is drunkeness. This subject is a tough one. We abstain for various reasons. One being that we live in the Bible Belt and for us our witness is more important than alcohol. Two, we came from alcoholic parents and alcohol just doesn’t appeal to us. At the same time I want to balanced for my children’s sake. If I teach them that to drink alcohol is a sin then I am lying. What we do teach is that being drunk is a sin and that drinking alcohol can lead to worse things. This is really a sorted subject with hot heads on both sides.
3 On Apr 22nd, 2008, at 1:15pm, Stephen Joiner wrote:
I COULD NOT DISAGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS POST MORE. My father in law was an alcoholic and I have seen the devastation that it has caused. As a pastor, I have seen hundred of lives ruined by alcohol. I believe the Bible says we should choose that which is best. In today’s society there are many other choices and to be a part of an industry that destroys so many lives is adhorrent to me.
4 On Apr 22nd, 2008, at 9:04pm, chelz in mississippi wrote:
My case in point..... I did say that we don’t participate in alcohol consumption.
5 On Apr 23rd, 2008, at 10:06am, Stephen Joiner wrote:
Correction, because of the time delay, when I said the previous post at that time it was the FIRST one by Greg Jones. I apologize to the other post that came in between the comments.
This is a major issue in our society today. As citizens of heaven, as children of God, our standards must be higher than to lead others to a path that will destroy their lives, their marriages, their children.
6 On Apr 23rd, 2008, at 10:21am, Dale Welch wrote:
I was a victim of years of alcohol consumption. As a child my family had very few weekends without “knock down drag out brawling in our home” because of alcohol. OUr family could never have a positive cook out or family gathering because my father and his brother’s had to drink and it would end up in a fight before it was all over. I could go on and on. I for one cannot in any way, other than medicinal purposes, justify the consumption of alcohol. There just isn’t any positives at all with this product.