A Touchy Subject

In recent decades, total abstinence from alcohol has become an uneasy topic in the Church. But it cannot be ignored. On the next few pages, three Free Will Baptists—from different generations and walks of life—share their views regarding this touchy subject.

The Case for Total Abstinence

By Tim Campbell

Beliefs about alcohol consumption in moderation in the church have varied down through history.

Early Free Will and General Baptist history reveals some who disagreed with the idea of total abstinence. Through the years, however, Free Will Baptists have come to the conclusion—based on biblical principles and evidence—that the proper stance for every Christian is total abstinence. This stand is so firm that the Church Covenant itself not only prohibits the sale of alcohol but also insists that Free Will Baptists refuse to sanction or endorse those who do:

We promise, by His grace, to love and obey Him in all things, to avoid the appearance of evil, to abstain from all sinful amusements and unholy conformity to the world, from all sanction and the use and sale of intoxicating beverages, and to provide things honest in the sight of all men.

 

Uneasy Silence

In recent years, few churches have been vocal in their stand for total abstinence. Few pulpits or teaching lecterns make a biblical case against alcohol. It is not enough to occasionally decry drinking with a witty comment or quip. We must go to the Word of God to make our case.

I sometimes wonder if Free Will Baptists are afraid to bring up the issue because of differences of opinion that trace back to the “wine issue” in the 1980s. Whatever your belief about the wine in the Bible, Scripture still points to total abstinence.

In his article, “A Christian Perspective on Wine Drinking,” Norman Geisler states, “Many wine-drinking Christians today mistakenly assume that what the New Testament meant by wine is identical to wine used today. This, however, is false. In fact, today’s wine by any biblical definition is ‘strong drink’ and hence forbidden in the Bible! What the Bible frequently meant by wine was basically purified water.” He goes on to point out that one would have to drink 22 glasses of wine in New Testament times to consume the amount of alcohol found in two martinis today.

Please do not miss the point. I am not calling into question anyone’s stance on the wine of the Bible. I am, however, pointing out that even if a person does believe that some wine in the Bible contained a degree of alcohol, the case must still be made for total abstinence.

Consider the results of alcohol in our own culture. No other drug is so abused. No other product has produced as much havoc, broken up so many families, ruined so many lives, and killed so many people. But it is culturally accepted—even promoted. My fear is that we are looking the other way, uneasy with a difficult and socially unacceptable topic.

We must make the case for total abstinence. We need to uphold the statement in our Covenant. I am firmly convinced we need to let it be known that Free Will Baptists believe drinking alcohol is a sin.

The Role of the Church

The Church has a responsibility to speak out clearly in favor of total abstinence. However, I also believe we should reach out to those whose lives have been destroyed by alcohol. We must stand firm in our belief in abstinence, yet reach out in grace and compassion to those caught in the trap of alcohol, taking them from where they are to where they need to be. As the Bible reminds us, they often do not know the dangers of the glass before them. “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1).

In the coming years, may God impress on Free Will Baptists the importance of this issue—the souls at stake, the families that hang in the balance—and embrace a public, unashamed stand for total abstinence. Whether a drop, pint, or barrel, alcohol has no place in the life of the Christian.

About the Writer: Tim Campbell is executive director of the Arkansas State Association of Free Will Baptists.

Biblical Principles on the Use of Alcoholic Beverages

By Danny Conn

They did it in the Bible! This is a common response today regarding drinking alcoholic beverages. But to excuse modern social drinking on the basis that “they did it in the Bible” ignores the full instruction of Scripture and the context of the culture.

While there were certain practices in the Old Testament that God temporarily allowed, we would not necessarily take that as His preferred standard of behavior. For instance, He allowed King David to have more than one wife, but it was not God’s ideal and it caused David much trouble. Following the same practice ruined his son Solomon.

It is worthwhile to note that the priests were prohibited from consuming any wine or strong drink during their service in the tabernacle or temple (Leviticus 10:9-10). Leaders were also counseled to refrain from wine and intoxicating drink (Proverbs 31:4). God calls His servants to be set apart and follow a higher standard. God’s Word is our guide.

• Condemnation of Drunkenness (Luke 21:34; Romans 13:13; Galatians 5:21). Not only do these verses denounce being drunk, they also speak against the “partying” or “carousing” often associated with drinking alcoholic beverages.
  

• Abstaining from that which has the Potential to Enslave (1 Corinthians 6:12; Ephesians 5:18). Believers should be under the influence of the Holy Spirit, not “spirits” or any other power.

• Condemnation of Strong Drink (Proverbs 20:1; Isaiah 5:11, 22; Isaiah 28:7). Intoxicating drinks were recognized to pervert one’s thinking and were responsible for errors in judgment and sin. These “strong drinks” were any type of intoxicating beverage, including beer. While naturally fermented wine can be intoxicating (7 to 15% alcohol or 30 proof), it is far less than the alcoholic content of modern distilled spirits and fortified wines. The Jews’ common practice was to dilute wine, presumably to reduce the risk of intoxication. The New Testament references to a little or not much may also suggest the idea of dilution. The condemnation of intoxicating drink seemingly requires that wine be diluted.

• Appropriate Medicinal Use (Proverbs 31:6, 7; 1 Timothy 5:23). Give to “those who are perishing,” “those who are in anguish.” The pain-relieving effects of alcohol are well known. These verses do not support social drinking. Rather they outline certain situations where it is appropriate to use alcohol as a medicine. In this view, social drinking could be compared with recreational drug use or drug abuse.

About the Writer: DannyConn is editor-in-chief for Randall House Publications.

One Body, Many Members, One Touchy Subject

By Nicholas Dennis

I never met my Grandmother. She died before I was born, due to alcohol-related illness. My mother grew up in an Irish Catholic family where drinking is still a religious practice. When I was in 8th grade, my best friends were Samuel Earney and Keith Thompson. Keith was the most devout Christian teenager I knew, never wavering on his convictions.

That year, his youth group was traveling to a Christian youth concert when a drunk driver hit them. Keith died in the wreck. A revival began at my school with his funeral and manifested itself in students organizing F.A.D.D. (Friends Against Drunk Driving). My experiences have significantly influenced this conclusion: I am against the use or sale of alcohol. If I were not Free Will Baptist, I would still be against it, and I want to be up front regarding my position.

This article does not address the familiar Free Will Baptist objections to alcohol. Instead, this article deals with another dangerous issue that plagues our denomination—the disruption of fellowship and accountability over the alcohol debate. By analyzing the Treatise, perhaps we can attain a clearer picture of this problem and propose solutions from an unusual perspective.

Free Will Baptist Treatise, Part 1: Church Covenant, paragraph two:

We promise, by His grace, to love and obey Him in all things, to avoid all appearance of evil, to abstain from all sinful amusements and unholy conformity to the world, from all sanction of the use and sale of intoxicating beverages, and to “provide things honest in the sight of all men.” [emphasis mine]

Every member of a Free Will Baptist church that has committed itself to the Treatise also commits individually to uphold its doctrine. Those who defy (not disagree, but defy) this statement regarding alcohol are wrong, because they have first agreed to abstain. What’s more, churches that knowingly allow people to become members without supplying a Treatise and instruction about particular distinctions like abstinence from alcohol are also in the wrong. I say this because I fear many churches shrink from addressing these matters head-on.

I was born in 1989, making me part of the Millennial Generation. When observing those my age and younger, I see a tendency to adamantly agree with abstinence while young, question moderation in high school, and end by adamantly opposing self-denial of alcohol in college.

I have met many young adults within the denomination who drink quietly, waiting for the Treatise to change (and frankly, waiting for the older generation to die off). Obviously, many factors play into this, but I believe this quiet opposition is a result of churches avoiding this important issue.

I do not believe anyone would disagree with Romans 12:17, so why are we not being “honest in the sight of all men”? Are we not obligated to voice our concerns, disagreements, or confusions within the local church so we may better come into harmony and unity? Is this topic too heated for a local body to address? A dire need exists for Free Will Baptist (of all generations) to communicate openly regarding these matters.

Just as it would be irresponsible to instruct a child that stealing is sin without explaining why, the same is true of allowing a section of the Treatise to stand without properly divulging its intent and purpose. Ignorance can lead to legalism.

Free Will Baptist Treatise, Part 1: Church Covenant, paragraph five:

We agree to accept Christian admonition and reproof with meekness, and to watch over one another in love, endeavoring to “keep the unity of the Spirit” in the bonds of peace, to be careful of one another’s happiness and reputation, and seek to strengthen the weak, encourage the afflicted, admonish the erring, and as far as we are able, promote the success of the church and of the Gospel.

As siblings in the family of God, we are charged to love one another and express that love in watchful care. It is essential to remain accountable to other believers, to ensure our reputations reflect a people set apart for God’s holy purpose. It is frightening how individualistic the Christian faith has become in Protestant America. We have stressed the need for a personal relationship with God to the point we often neglect the need to assemble spiritually as well as geographically.

Intimate relationships that build and sharpen one another are key. When we are divided on issues or neglect to address them directly, we all suffer. Churches (and denominations) are doomed to fail if we cannot communicate on tough subjects, and members vulnerable without reproof or correction. We must understand that “a threefold cord is not easily broken” (Ephesians 4:12). If we are not unified on major issues, we cannot hope for genuine, effective unity. We will become vulnerable to the attacks of Satan.

Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth” (1 Corinthians 10:23-24). We should ask ourselves: are we seeking the good of our brothers or ourselves in this matter? Are our arguments and opinions born out of a self-fulfilling desire or concern for others?

Paul continued by asking in verse 29, “For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?” This seems to be the battle cry of those who oppose the Treatise statement: “If alcohol use is not an issue for me, and I can refrain from intoxication, why should I conform to the stricter standards of another’s conscience?” Paul concluded his thought in verses 32 and 33: “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved."

The Church's mission is to seek and save the lost and to see fellow believers finish the race and keep the faith. In Romans 9:3, Paul stated, “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren.”

I cannot believe the Apostle Paul would allow any involvement in simple pleasures to cause a doubt to arise regarding his relationship with God. Nor would he place his wants before the great need he recognized around him. Love for his fellow man far outweighed his desire for things of this world.

I choose not to drink. I find—apart from my beliefs about it—that its costs far outweigh any possible benefits. Its use is, at best, a slippery slope for any believer. The issue does not end with alcohol, however. If I were asked to stop wearing red clothing for the sake of my brother, I hope I would sacrifice that privilege gladly. I believe everything comes into perspective when we focus on eternity.

I hope you will be open, honest, and forthcoming to other believers. Let nothing stand in the way of your fellowship. Choose to strengthen our bonds, become accountable in all things, love one another, serve sacrificially, and put the happiness of others before our own. With these in place, and with a good dose of humility, we can appropriately approach heavy issues of our faith with clear minds, caring hearts, and a mutual determination to see God glorified.

About the Writer: Nic Dennis is a 2012 graduate of Welch College and serves as Youth Minister at Cross Timbers FWB Church in Nashville, Tennessee. He and his wife Laura Beth just celebrated three years of marriage.