Ephesians 5:15-20: Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Last week I discussed the phrase Do not get drunk on wine. I sought to deal with the topic of Christians drinking alcoholic beverages. I asked several people to review that particular article and offer comments. I wanted to be sure that I dealt with the topic from a balanced Biblical perspective.
I believe that the conclusion I offered is supported by the Word of God. A believer is free to drink, but he is not free to get drunk. As I discussed last week, God forbids drunkenness for a multiplicity of reasons. Based on the comments I received from a couple of brothers in Christ, I want to discuss one additional Biblical point.
The apostle Paul wrote in his epistle to the Romans, and in First Corinthians (chapter eight) about the interactions between the weak believer and the strong believer. In Romans 14:1-6 Paul said, Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
In this passage Paul deals with the handling of disputable matters. Many churches through the centuries have split because of disputes over various doctrines or practices in the church. Paul says that some believe they can eat anything including all meats, while others believe that they should eat vegetables only. Paul says the one who eats everything should not look down on the one who eats only vegetables, while the one who eats only vegetables should not look down on the one who eats meat.
Paul went on to say, that some treat every day alike, while some believers hold another day, such as the Sabbath, to be a special day. Paul said, Each one should be fully convinced in his mind.
Matters related to the practice of your faith, such as whether you eat meat, should be decided as a matter of conscience. That decision should not be dictated to you by another. In fact Paul ends chapter 14 by saying, So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. (Romans 14:22-23)
In other words if you believe it is okay to eat meat, you are free to do so. But, if you have doubts about whether you should eat the meat, then don't do it. If you can eat in faith, all is well. If you cannot eat in faith, then to eat would be sin. Likewise the parallel could be made with alcohol. If you clearly see your freedom in Christ to drink, then do so in faith, but if you cannot drink in faith, then it would be sin for you to drink.
In verse thirteen Paul writes, Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.
Do not judge the servant of another. We are all servants of Christ Jesus. We will all appear before God's judgment. It is of the utmost importance, as we discussed in previous articles, to walk in the love of God. (Ephesians 5:1-2) Remember the two great commandments are to love God with all that is within you, and to love your neighbor as yourself. Let each believer work out his own salvation with fear and trembling. Commit to love your brothers and sisters in Christ, and do not be contentious with them over their particular faith practices. Each believer has to work out in his own conscience certain decisions.
But, there is still the issue of the weaker brother. A brother could be weak in the area of his faith and conscience, and a brother could be weak in the area of his flesh. Allow me to emphasize, however, Paul is speaking of the weaker brother, not the critical brother. The critical brother will try to manipulate your practice of faith. Never give up your freedom for the critical brother. He is of the same spirit as the Pharisees.
But, there are the truly weak brothers and sisters in Christ, who have not matured in the Word of God. Look at verse fifteen, If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died.
Then Paul says in verses twenty and twenty-one, Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
Let's apply these verses specifically to the Biblical freedom to drink alcoholic beverages. If your freedom to drink would actually cause a fellow believer to stumble in the faith, it would be better for you not to drink. In our modern culture, I don't see this possibility as a huge issue. If it happens in your life, then you should heed the words of Paul. A brother with a weaker conscience should be taught the Word of God, so that his faith grows, so that he will not stumble no matter how his fellow believer practices his faith.
In today's western culture I believe a far greater issue is the fellow believer who has weaknesses of the flesh. There are many in the church who have in the past abused either drugs or alcohol. Perhaps, a few of them can learn to drink in moderation, but most of them need to never touch it again. So, as believers who are strong and who understand our freedom in Christ, we must also understand our responsibility to walk in love and to not put those who have weaknesses in this area in a position where they could fall captive again to drugs and alcohol.
I was told recently that a small, yet significant portion of the population, is genetically predisposed to addiction. They do not know when to stop. How does this work out in every day life? If you want a glass of wine, then drink it. But, if you are having someone over to dinner who has a problem with alcohol, perhaps you should consider abstaining from wine that night.
Many years ago I pastored a young man in Mississippi who had a history of alcohol and drug abuse. By the grace of God he was clean and serving God. He met a young woman and they decided to marry. I performed their wedding ceremony, and then he disappeared. I made several attempts to contact him. After while I did talk with him and heard the sad story. On his wedding night he wanted to drink one glass of champagne with his new bride. They drank that first glass, but he could not stop at one glass. One glass of champagne led this young man back into drugs.
We must be sensitive to fellow believers who have these weaknesses of the flesh. For Paul also said in verse seventeen, For the kindgom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
You are free to drink alcoholic beverages as long as you do not cross the line into drunkenness. However, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Be willing to lay that freedom down for an evening, or for whatever time period is necessary to serve the greater purpose of the kingdom of God. Don't allow a brother or sister to stumble because of your freedom.
Wayne L. Williams
wayne@fotwm.org