All Christians have submitted themselves to Christ with the commitment to follow His example and seek those things that are heavenly and not worldly (1 Pet. 2:21; Col. 3:1,2). That means when a question arises as to how a Christian should behave or what choice one should make in a difficult situation, all must be guided by Jesus and His Word and not what is acceptable in the world. The requirement is to come out from among the world and be separate (2 Cor. 6:17). In other words, if you examine the life of a Christian and a sinner side by side and you don’t see any difference between their choices, influence, speech, dress, etc, then there is a glaring problem because whoever “wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). This is the situation when it comes to moderate drinking.
Most Christians have no problem with the fact that God condemns drunkenness (1 Cor. 6:10,11; Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:21); however, there are some who believe that God approves simply drinking a beer or a glass of wine and “not getting drunk.” The current legal limit in the U.S. for a DUI conviction is .08% blood alcohol concentration. This is the equivalent of 2 drinks (2 cans of beer or two 5 oz. glasses of wine). What is interesting is that according to an Alcohol Impairment Chart (penndot.pa.gov), the government recognizes that alcohol is a problem even after having 1 drink (.04% BAC). The chart records that by simply drinking moderately, “impairment begins.” Impairment is defined as “loss of function or ability” (m-w.com). This is actually what the apostle Paul said too when he gave the command: “be not drunk with wine” (Eph. 5:18). The term, “drunk” indicates the process of “being filled with” alcohol in the sense of becoming stupefied or excited by it. According to the American Medical Association, “Alcohol use—and misuse—is common in society and can carry health risks” (ama-assn.org).
It is amazing that even those in the world recognize that alcohol as a beverage (even in a moderate form) is not a good thing. That is why there are laws and limitations put into place so that people will not harm themselves or others because their mental faculties have been diminished by it. Christians must separate themselves from alcohol. God wants us to be sober-minded “keeping our head about us” (1 Pet. 4:7), to exhibit self-control (1 The. 5:6), to abstain from those things that are known to be evil (1 The. 5:22), and be a positive influence on others by letting our light shine leading them to glorify the Father (Mat. 5:16). None of these principles can be accomplished by drinking alcohol as a beverage in any way.
~Derrick Coble
Most Christians have no problem with the fact that God condemns drunkenness (1 Cor. 6:10,11; Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:21); however, there are some who believe that God approves simply drinking a beer or a glass of wine and “not getting drunk.” The current legal limit in the U.S. for a DUI conviction is .08% blood alcohol concentration. This is the equivalent of 2 drinks (2 cans of beer or two 5 oz. glasses of wine). What is interesting is that according to an Alcohol Impairment Chart (penndot.pa.gov), the government recognizes that alcohol is a problem even after having 1 drink (.04% BAC). The chart records that by simply drinking moderately, “impairment begins.” Impairment is defined as “loss of function or ability” (m-w.com). This is actually what the apostle Paul said too when he gave the command: “be not drunk with wine” (Eph. 5:18). The term, “drunk” indicates the process of “being filled with” alcohol in the sense of becoming stupefied or excited by it. According to the American Medical Association, “Alcohol use—and misuse—is common in society and can carry health risks” (ama-assn.org).
It is amazing that even those in the world recognize that alcohol as a beverage (even in a moderate form) is not a good thing. That is why there are laws and limitations put into place so that people will not harm themselves or others because their mental faculties have been diminished by it. Christians must separate themselves from alcohol. God wants us to be sober-minded “keeping our head about us” (1 Pet. 4:7), to exhibit self-control (1 The. 5:6), to abstain from those things that are known to be evil (1 The. 5:22), and be a positive influence on others by letting our light shine leading them to glorify the Father (Mat. 5:16). None of these principles can be accomplished by drinking alcohol as a beverage in any way.
~Derrick Coble