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About John Fields
Expertise
I can intelligently and respectfully discuss MOST thoughtful questions pertaining to doctrinal issues within the Churches of Christ. I feel myself to be especially adept when answering questions regarding the Gospel of Christ and baptism. I always strive to be humble, realizing that there are some issues that are respectfully and honorably debatable. I realize that the Bible is perfect and able to provide any truth that the seeker of truth is after. At the same time I realize that though I am very conscientious about pointing people in the right direction, I am still a fallible human being and certainly capable of making mistakes. I will always give my opinion AS my opinion and strive not to state as fact something which cannot be supported by good logic or a good thorough study through the scriptures.

Experience
I am a minister within the Churches of Christ. I have been preaching for 14 years and have been on five separate mission trips to the Volta Region of Ghana, West Africa. I have preached the Gospel to literally thousands of people and it is my passion to do so.

Education/Credentials
I graduated with honors from Atkins High School in Atkins, AR in 1984. I went on to get my Bible degree at Harding University in Searcy, AR where I graduated Cum Laude.

You are here: Experts > Religion/Spirituality > Christianity - Restorationism > Churches Of Christ > Alcohol

Churches Of Christ - Alcohol

Expert: John Fields - 10/13/2009

Question
Can you give me a reference to an Old Testament LAW that generally condemns consumption of alcohol in any amount? I'm not asking about drunkeness or special cases such as priests going into the temple. I'm just asking about a general, catch-all, condemnation of consuming alcohol in any amount, even if you don't get drunk.

Answer
The only law I know of which condemned the consumption of alcohol in any amount was the Nazirite vow detailed in Numbers 6:1-21. The Nazirite vow was of a highly symbolic nature. They were not to consume anything with yeast in it because yeast represented sin. For instance, they could not eat regular bread because it had yeast in it. The prohibition against drinking wine or strong drink in the Nazirite vow was likewise due to the yeast inside, NOT the alcohol itself. The Nazirite was not even allowed to touch grapes, to say nothing of eating them because they COULD have contained yeast.

God had laws concerning alcoholic beverages. I will name three with some comments.

Numbers 28:7 'Then the drink offering with it shall be a fourth of a hin for each lamb, in the holy place you shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to the LORD.

Would God regulate a sacrificial law about a drink offering if it was sinful practice in and of itself? Logically one would think he would forbid drinking if it was a sin, not tell you how to offer a drink offering to Him. Since God was obviously not encouraging sin here, one can only logically conclude that drinking in and of itself was not wrong, only the abuse, DRUNKENNESS, was wrong.

Deuteronomy 14:26 "You may spend the money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household.

God was here saying that individuals at the time could spend their money for wine or strong drink. He obviously would not have done so had he considered it a sin.

Leviticus 10:9 "Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you will not die--it is a perpetual statute throughout your generations.

Nadab and Abihu, priests and sons of Aaron, had apparently been drinking when they went in to serve God in their duties. Their drinking had caused them to not be as careful and reverent toward God as they should have been, thus, God killed them with fire. As a result of this a new law was instituted for the priests not to drink prior to performing their religious duties. Notice the wording of the law. Do not drink wine or strong drink WHEN you come into the tent of meeting. We see the qualifier was WHEN they were in the tent of meeting. This seems to mean that when they were NOT in the tent of meeting performing their duties there was no prohibition.

Now one might ask, "If all these things are in the scripture why are their people condemning it or condemning others who do it?" Sadly, there will always be Pharisees, people who create law or mis-apply tradition and enforce it on others. Maybe they were taught that drinking was wrong under any circumstances. I was taught this. I've heard some say that one drink is one drink drunk. I now believe this to be nonsense, since, when I could study on my own, I could see that scripturally this is PLAINLY not so.

Those things said, we are told in the New Testament to be careful not to do anything in a way that would cause others to stumble. Drinking has ruined MANY lives because it has led so many people to addiction. One should always guard themselves against temptation and question their own motives for why they want to do a thing.

Examples of times when one could drink responsibly and no sin or problems arise, from my point of view would be: If you have a small group of friends you know well who, having a proper understanding of this, will not be encouraged to sin; If you like a moderate amount, in your coffee, a dish, a dessert, a candy, or just a glass of it by itself; special occasions with family like anniversaries; medicinal uses, etc. This is not an exhaustive list.

On the other side I think one should be extremely cautious about drinking anywhere at anytime in order to fit in and to be seen drinking. I can't see that this would ever be a good thing and could lead many to sin and addiction. Also consider that some can be addicted almost immediately, which is obviously a great danger.

By the way, I have discovered a book which details a way to supposedly break alcohol addiction more than 80% of the time. If anyone would like the info they can email me and I will send it.

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