Preacher's Pen

The most common argument made in favor of social drinking has always been ""The Bible only condemns drunkenness, not drinking."" While this is certainly subject to debate (try a word study from 1 Peter 4:3) additional medical evidence continues to pour in that the line between drinking and drunkenness is indeed an extremely fuzzy one. An article in the Dallas Morning News (09/07/99) concerning Texas' recent lowering of the blood-alcohol level by which one is said to be legally drunk contained several interesting quotes. A Ms. Quiroz, spokesman for an organization funded by the liquor industry, says plainly that the difference in a blood-alcohol level of .10 and .08 (the new standard) is ""invisible . . . [however] they're things like someone's judgment about taking risks and the ability to process and evaluate information to make a decision.""

The article goes on to discuss how body size, percentage of body fat and even one's sex all determine how fast one becomes intoxicated when drinking. Tim Hurd, of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says ""alcohol reduces the ability to react and control a vehicle. Every additional drop of alcohol causes additional effects along those lines."" Ms. Quiroz finishes the article by saying ""It's interesting, one of the first pieces of judgment that goes away is the ability to tell how drunk you are.""

Can any serious disciple read such material and then say ""I can drink without becoming drunk?"" or ""Alcohol is okay for Christians?"" Honestly! Every authority continues to say that determining the difference in drinking and drunk is nearly impossible. Further, the more one drinks the more difficult it is to tell if one is out of control and drunk! Since all admit that drunkenness is a sin why would we have any interest in participating in something that admittedly leads toward sin, all the while destroying our judgment and self-control along the way? Read Proverbs 23:20-35. ""Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober . . . ."" (1 Peter 1:13).