Zach Nielson (Fb|Twitter) recently posted an excellent series about alcohol. Each one is worth reading and I encourage you to click on the links to each of Zach’s posts:
Part 1
In the next few days I want to interact with what Pastor [James] MacDonald presents here. I care little about resurrecting a tired debate about alcohol and Christians, but I think there are deeper issues in this message that I would like to address.
In his message he gives six reasons why he believes that total abstinence from alcohol should be the norm for all Christians. His six reasons are:
1. Because drunkenness is a sin and not a disease.
2. Because alcohol impairs wisdom.
3. Because alcohol is an unnecessary drug.
4. Because alcohol is destructive.
5. Because alcohol is addictive.
6. Because wisdom calls me to set it aside.
Part 2
Highlight:
Consider The Lord’s Supper and the example of Jesus. Should we assume the only time that Jesus and his disciples drank alcohol was in a very unique and sacred moment when Jesus ushered in the New Covenant and they never before nor never after participated in alcohol? Was this just a ceremonial one time event? I should think not.
If you want to make the case (like Pastor MacDonald) that alcohol is never fit for those in prominent positions of leadership then the disciples who where given the responsibility to usher in a whole new epoch in Christian history would certainly have had to observe total abstinence. Obviously, this seems to have not been the case.
Part 3
Highlight:
The problem with the statement, “Alcohol is destructive” is that is fails to make careful distinctions. What would you think if I said, “Sex is destructive”? I hope you would pause and think about that for a second. It seems that sex taken out of it’s God-ordained context is very destructive, but sex in the right context is very beautiful and affirming.
Part 4
Highlight:
[MacDonald's Reason #] 5. Because Alcohol Is Addictive
Yes, and so is sex, eating, exercise, and a whole host of other things. Just because alcohol (or anything else) may be addictive for one Christian, doesn’t mean that alcohol should be abstained from for all believers. Should we abstain from sex because it has even more addictive power than alcohol?
Part 5
Highlight:
How many times in the Gospels did Jesus and his disciples offend religious people? If you are a person who is offended by all consumption of alcohol by fellow Christians, are you also offended when you read in the Bible that Jesus turned water into wine, drank wine at the Last Supper, and that he clearly spent much time with those who consumed alcohol (Luke 7:34)?
Part 6
Highlight:
Our churches should not be divided on these types of issues. When it comes to this message, I fear that Pastor MacDonald has contributed to an ethos at his church that is unhelpful and unbiblical. We should be communicating freedom on extra-biblical matters and not give such a strong word on one side or another. Most Christians are spring loaded towards legalism and we should not add fuel to that fire. In the end, these posts are probably less about alcohol and more about healthy ecclesiology.
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Go read the posts in their entirety and interact with the ideas either at Zach’s blog or in the comments section below. This is a conversation worth having and long overdue.
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The 'preacher' misses one basic component: until we had safe ways to treat water wine was the safest thing to drink…… Everyone drank alcohol regularly including Jesus. Also, he ignores Jesus' first miracle in Mark where he clearly adds to the 'fun' of the wedding……
It would be interesting if someone in Italy would come up with the same 'sermon'. There they drink everyday, however, the social norms are you drink with a meal and you never have more than two drinks at a time.
An age old debate it seems, but everyone has their opinion. I personally prefer the bible's teaching about it. Allowable, but be smart about it. Pastor Norm at Harvest London preached on it back in October. You can find his message titled as 'The Miracle Worker'. Sounds off topic I know, but Jesus' first miracle in the bible did involve wine.
Thanks for the post Michael, I wonder if we were to take a snapshot of the views of the church over the centuries, would this argument have legs to carry it along? It seems many people (generalization) in the Christian context who favor abstinence of alcohol ignore our brother's and sister's from the past, points of view.
Ken Kantzer suggests this about historical theology:
"The role of the church's teaching from the past is like that of an elder brother in the faith. It not only helps us interpret biblical passages but also shows how the Scriptures were applied practically in the historical and cultural situations of the past. By observing the changing situations to which Scriptures has been applied across the centuries, we are aided in our own practical applications of Scripture to our day."
Peace!
Derek
Something I’ve been struck with lately is something that Paul did with a divisive practice. The practice was circumcision. There were people at the Galatian church who were saying; “you can’t be a Christian and be uncircumcised, you must get circumcised”. I feel this is exactly what people are saying about alcohol; “you can’t be Christian and not abstain, you must abstain”. Paul saw the gospel in danger and responded with vehemence. Paul counteracted the practice of circumcision by not having one of his disciples remain uncircumcised. He was sort of saying “Oh Yeah”. I find it even more interesting that Paul called this defending the gospel. What would it look like for us to attempt to defend the gospel in the controversy of alcohol?
6 Reasons Your Church Needs Beer (http://www.arnizachariassen.com/ithinkibelieve/?p...
1. Beer is good for the community. Beer reduced inhibitions and nowhere are people more inhibited than in church. Congregants want at least one chair between them and the person next them. Even better if they get the entire pew to themselves. With a few pints down them, on the other hand, that invisible wall, that awkward space is all but gone. People will start laughing together, they will start crying together. They will even hug! Paul's "holy kiss" might once again become commonplace, and not a relic of the Bible sped through by embarrassed readers-aloud. In addition to strengthening the ties between those already in the local church, the stranger will be welcomed with open arms, both his presence and his strange thoughts. Which leads me to the second point.
2. Beer is good for the church's communal theological inquiry. Here again alcohol's inhibition reduction is beneficial. Imagine if people actually asked what was on their mind and weren't afraid of embarrassing themselves because they weren't among the chosen few in the front five pews, because they didn't know the jargon or didn't worry about having the Bible quoted at them. Imagine if people actually voiced those fleeting thoughts, objections and ideas. Theology would then, at last, actually be done in the church and by the church. Dogmatics, you could say, would finally become church dogmatics. Beer would not only have people doing theology and doing it more freely, but would strengthen people's ties to the church while simultaneously opening the doors to new ideas from outside the church. (Maybe that's why church leaders are against alcohol!)
3. Beer is good for the worship. Have you ever heard drunk people sing? Of course you have! It's about 80% of what drunk people do. They don't do it well, no – but they do it with sincerity! With vocal chords and emotional capabilities lubricated by some good brew, the church's worship would be amazing. It would be loud, brash, unashamed and totally in keeping with that unruly Holy Spirit. Liturgy would be shouted back at the minister. Hymns and choruses would sung on top of lungs along to bands unafraid to actually jam. And I can't imagine what would happen in charismatic churches with all their tongue speaking and other pneumatological craziness.
4. Beer is good for moral reflection. If you're like 90% of Evangelicals, you've been taught that beer is bad. Consuming of alcohol is something that heathens and liberals do. But look at it this way: Drinking a beer is a physical manifestation of you re-evaluating your morals, of you thinking through, maybe for the first time, how you act out your faith. And it will be an entry into wider reflection, a small, very fun step in the direction of the examined life. And in light of the points raised previously, you'll do it with your friends and you'll have a great time.
5. Keeping with the morals, beer supports Christian brothers and sisters. Or, more specifically, brothers. Some of the best beers in the world, Trappist beers in particular, are made by monks in Belgium and Holland. Trappist monastics brew this heavenly ales in order to keep their communities afloat and to support charitable causes. By buying Trappist beer you not only get some of the best tasting beer you'll ever try, but you'll also keep some of your brothers in Christ in their special monastic service.
6. Beer will introduce you to the finer things in life. Not all beer will do this, granted, but if you do take my advice and buy some Trappist beer you will be introduced to a fascinating world of subtle flavours that will titillate your taste buds and satisfy your soul. Now, I'm not suggesting hedonism for it's own vacuous sake. I'm suggesting that enjoying God's gifts can be a worshipful activity and experience. Slowly savouring a glass of fine beer will inspire deep gratitude to the Lord for the blessings he has bestowed upon you, your ability to enjoy them and for existence itself. Fine beer will further introduce you to other tasty beverages like wine, whiskey, brandy and the like. Which means even more thanksgiving. This thanksgiving is great in solitude, but fantastic communally, with brothers and sisters in the church. Imagine a service of beer tasting. No, imagine the Eucharist with gourmet beer. Beautiful!
I totally disagree with Jason. Alcohol, is by it's very nature, a depressant. Alcohol, lifts inhibitions and allows the consumer to believe they have the ability to think rationally. Alcohol, is an excuse for abusive behaviours in some. Alcohol destroyed my family and ensured that my mother died without ever having known or fulfilling her own dreams, not because she was an alcoholic but because my father was. Alcohol should be outlawed as should any drug, chemical or substance that changes a person's perception of reality.
Say good bye to Tim Horton's and glue! Prohibition obviously worked the first time, so why not bring it back again – with a wider scope.
Certainly alcohol has destroyed families (something I know about all too well from those who are close to me), but is it to blame? Or is it the choices of those who use it irresponsibly as a salve for their wounds?