THE DANGERS OF DRINKING

“Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will utter perverse things. Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: “They have struck me, but I was not hurt; They have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?‭‭(Proverbs‬ ‭23:29-35‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

Beer, wine, whiskey—you name it, I don’t need it.  For me, it is not worth the danger.  Some may say they can drink, “socially,” but I cannot.  I am not judging you, but I am judging myself, and as I write I am seeking to lead you to sound judgment.

Clearly, drunkenness is sin.  Scripture forbids it in many places. Before I was saved, I did not drink alcohol because I liked the taste, but to get buzzed. I usually went beyond buzzed to blitzed.  I could have been the poster child for this Proverbs 23:29-35.  That is a matter of wickedness.

When you start down that path, how do you know?  Where is the need to do it?  Why run the risk?  There is the influence you also have on others, and even your family—will they be emboldened to try it, and will they be enticed to drunkenness? That is a matter of wisdom.

So, will I tell you the Bible forbids a beer or a glass of wine?  It does not, but neither does it demand that you do it.  There was a compelling reason for drinking some wine in the New Testament era.  Grape juice would naturally ferment, as they did not have the means to preserve it.  We do not face that issue today. In Bible times, water alone might often be contaminated as they had no means to purify it, except by adding some wine.  Paul told Timothy, “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.” (1 Tim.5:23). There was a health reason for its use.

What we see in our culture is the celebration and promotion of alcohol that often leads to excess. It is easy to be sucked into that vortex of vice or become a stumbling block to others.  How many broken homes, shattered lives, and deaths on highways result?  Someone near and dear to my heart is in prison now because of drinking and driving, resulting in a death.  I sat in a courtroom and listened to weeping family members speak of the pain of their loved one needlessly killed. 

I would like for you to weigh the wisdom of abstinence from alcohol. Rather than asking the question, “Can I have a drink?” to consider, “Should I?” What is the profit weighed against the peril?  You may come to a different conclusion—some Christians do—but as for me, I just say, “Give me a glass of water,” or “I’ll take a cup of coffee.”  That’s stimulating enough for me.  

LIBERTY IN THE MINISTRY

Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.  (1 Timothy 5:17)

Freedom is not the right to do anything you want, but the liberty to do all that you ought.  It is a liberating thing to get in my car and go where I want, but I must restrain how fast I go by the speed limit signs.  Similarly, in ministry there needs to be liberty for the pastor and associates—“the elders”—as they are called here to pursue their ministries without shackles that some congregations place on them.  Those liberties, however, involve responsibilities.  A train has great freedom of movement, so long as it is on its tracks, but let it derail and its progress has halted.  God has laid down some tracks for the minister and the members to move forward in His mission.  Paul warns us not to get off the rails!

Ministry needs liberty in substance (v.17-18).  The church does not pay her staff a salary for the work they do—or they could not afford it!  The pastor preaches the unsearchable riches of Christ and deals with immortal souls, where the issues are heaven and hell!  His reward will be in heaven, because the members simply could not pay him enough.  The man of God is not a hireling.  The burden of the Lord is thrust upon him and he will do his assignment whether anyone pays him a penny.  He has not simply taken this as an occupation among several options because he has chosen this field—no, God has chosen him.  So why does the pastor get a paycheck?  It frees him to pursue his work without needless concern for his family’s needs.  The shackles of debt and anxiety do not hinder him.  In the case of the one who leads the flock and feeds them faithfully and fruitfully, they are to be given a larger compensation—this inspires them to work even harder.

Ministry needs liberty from slander (v.19-22).  Some of the most grievous wounds a pastor ever suffers are from sharp tongues.  If a minister has to worry that he will be assaulted by slander, with no defense, it has the potential to enslave him to his critics.  Judas Iscariot was among the twelve, and there are some akin to him, that Satan strategically places in churches today.  This does not mean the pastor need not worry about morality, or has absolute authority over the congregation.  If he sins, he is to be confronted, but there is a Biblical process established here.

Ministry needs liberty from sickness (v.23-25).  Timothy was a “teetotaler,” and that is a good thing—normally.  In his case, however, a contaminated water supply was causing the shackles of sickness to hold back his ministry.  Paul tells him a small amount of alcohol can have a purifying effect on the water—so he is free to do that.  The concerns about alcohol were well-founded, however—and it is why priests and kings were forbidden from it while discharging their spiritual leadership (Lev.10:9-11; Prov.31:4-5).  Intoxication leads to immorality (v.24-25).  In our time, there is little need—most ministers have access to pure drinking water.  The principle is important.  If a pastor is not healthy, he will be hindered, and the church needs to insist he care for his body so he can care for their souls.  Let us liberate the ministry and God will bless that church.

THE DANGER OF DEFILEMENT

Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.  ‎So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.  (Leviticus 10:1-2)

The more you know of God, the more for which you are accountable.  The greater the responsibility we have with men, the stricter is God’s scrutiny with us.  James warned that men must be very careful about desiring to stand and speak for God because their judgment will be to a greater degree than that of others (James 3:1).  When a two year old child plays in their food and throws it across the room, a parent sees that as behavior to correct, but would not punish a child like they would if it were a twelve year old doing it.  The older child knows more, and is more accountable.  Those who minister the Word of God are students of Scripture and “to whom much is given, from him much will be required.”  (Luke 12:48)  If a private in the army makes a poor decision, then he will be held accountable, but not to the same degree that a captain would, whose bad decision may lead to the death of many or turn the tide in a decisive moment from victory to defeat.  Every Christian has some measure of influence.  Should we be defiled by sin, then we will harm ourselves—and some others.  It is a serious.  The severity of judgment, however, is greater for the pastor and church leader, for their influence is wider.  If I stumble—not just a few—many will stumble over me because I am leading.

This is why God dealt so quickly and severely with Nadab and Abihu.  They were priests, and given the responsibility to represent God to the people and bring the people to God.  They had privileges others could not enjoy—of touching the holy things and entering the holy place of the tabernacle.  How they lived their lives and performed their duty would be a direct reflection on the God they served.  They took a sacred duty and kindled a strange fire.  We might sum their sin up as the sin of presumption.  They took upon themselves a duty reserved for their father, Aaron, the high priest.  They used their own censers, instead of the ones consecrated for this purpose.  They acted on their own authority instead of obeying the Word of God.  There is no record they sought God’s will before they acted, but rather acted out of self-will.  It is also possible they were under the influence of alcohol instead of the Spirit (Eph.5:18), since there is a specific prohibition for priests concerning abstinence from alcohol given in verses 8-11.  There are many in church life today trying to do God’s work with carnal means.  They presume to accomplish sacred duties with worldly methodologies—and what it invites is the judgment of God.  It is defilement that brings death.

Our lives as Christians will either be a stepping-stone to help people to God, or a stumbling block to hinder them from God.  Jesus said it would be better to have a heavy millstone tied around our neck, be thrown into the sea, and drown, than to cause others to stumble.  When a pastor or church leader falls, they defile the holy name of God (Lev.10:3) and harm the holy people of God.  May the Lord guard us from defilement!

THE SHEPHERD’S STANDARD: The Abstinence from Alcohol

“A bishop then must be…not given to wine” (1 Timothy 3:2,3 NKJV)

Calvin comments, “By the word πάροινον, which is here used, the Greeks denote not merely drunkenness, but any intemperance in guzzling wine.”^[1]

It is interesting that some preachers—mostly among the young “reformed” movement—champion study around a table in a beer joint, Bible in one hand and a brew in the other.  That they are free to do that under grace, could be debated, but whether they are wise to do it is another matter.  One might find this personally permissible (though I do not), yet to be publicly promoted is a dangerous thing.

In our culture, the intentionally hyped up levels of alcohol bring a particular danger.  They are not to be compared to Jesus sitting with His disciples and drinking a small amount of wine with a meal—a wine that was the product of natural fermentation and then typically diluted with water.  That was a different time and a different culture than where the pastor serves today in America.  Drinking the types of beverage alcohol popular today is playing with fire—and many will be burned.  You will not become a drunk if you never take a drink—and the risk is not worth any kind of reward associated with frequenting a pub.

Even in twenty first century America, many who might indulge in booze, will be surprised to find a preacher doing so.  It can needlessly damage your testimony, and recklessly become a stumbling block to others.  There are simply too many other things to drink—flavored waters, teas, coffees, sodas, and the like—which are safe and tasty to consume.  When Paul said to Timothy, “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities” (1 Tim 5:23), he was speaking to a “tee-totaler,” advocating that polluted water could be treated with a little alcohol to purify it.  Dave Miller’s article is helpful: https://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=11&article=1208.

Alcohol never did one good thing for me prior to my conversion, but it did nearly destroy my life—and had my life ended then, Hell would have been my fate.  I have no need of it now.  In the course of ministry I have seen its horrible effects on too many people, and cannot justify even “social drinking.”  The perils exceed any positives.  The shepherd must lead his people to safe pastures instead of into risky places—by his actions and not only his speech.

A PRAYER

Father,

Help us resist the tide of popular opinion and stay with a clear mind, focused vision, and steady gait as one who abstains from alcohol.

In the Name and for the Glory of Your Son,

Amen.

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^[1] Calvin, J., & Pringle, W. (2010). Commentaries on the Epistles to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (p. 80). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

THE SHEPHERD’S STANDARD: The Sobriety of Shepherds

“A bishop then must be…able to teach; not given to wine” (1 Timothy 3:2 NKJV)

The Word of God must govern the pastor’s life.  He is given over to serve the Lord, and not liquor.  There can only be one Master—and if a man is dominated by drink, He cannot be directed by Deity.  A faithful shepherd will be filled with the Spirit and not filled with booze (Eph.5:18).  His intoxication is to be with God alone.  The message of Scripture is to be given with clarity and not with the confusion of a clouded mind and slurred speech!

The Old Testament priests were forbidden to minister while under the influence of alcohol.

Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying: “Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die.  It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations…” (Leviticus 10:8-9) 

We, who represent our Lord to the flock dare not risk the marring of that model by being drunk.  How can we become a drunk, if we never partake of alcohol, even the so-called, “social” sip?

“A godly pastor would certainly want to give the best example and not be an excuse for sin in the life of some weaker brother.”^[1] 

John MacArthur states,

More than a mere prohibition against drunkenness…An elder must not have a reputation as a drinker; his judgment must never be clouded by alcohol (cf. Pr 31:4, 5; 1Co 6:12), his lifestyle must be radically different from the world and lead others to holiness, not sin (Ro 14:21).^[2]

This may seem an antiquated idea, and there could come the accusation of legalism.  Instead, it is a wonderful thing to be free from the enslaving potential of this powerful force.

A PRAYER

My Lord,

Thank You for setting me free from the bondage of alcohol.  Now, I am mastered by a strong Savior and not strong drink!  Help me to ever be an example of holiness—not just in what comes from my mouth, but also in what goes into it.  May I lead others to the same liberty from liquor I have experienced by the power of Christ!

In Jesus’ Mighty Name,

Amen.

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^[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 220). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[2] MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Ti 3:3). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.