COMMENT ON DRINKING
Tue, Jan 19, 2010
David Holliday offers this comment on our previous posting on drinking…To read the original comments click here…
Thanks for taking the time to weigh in on our site.
I think that we all agree that it is dangerous to drink and drive because it compromises our judgement. If drinking comprises our driving isn’t drinking going to comprise our efforts to live a Christian life ? If drinking is going to compromise our effort to resemble Christ then that would appear to be a good reason for avoiding it. It would be interesting to know how many Christian’s lives have been ruined by taking that first glass of alcohol. As a Salvationist I recognize how alcohol has destroyed many people’s lives and that of their spouse and family. I witness to the sadness that God has experienced over such events by practising abstinence.
In the early days of the SA many of the early converts were former alcoholics. Salvationists learned to be on their guard against the world and the devil. This is indicated in some of the older songs such as “take the world but give me Jesus”. Holiness means to be in the world but not of the world. We are set apart. (John 17:13-18) We are holy. That is a sacred privilege not a slur on our character. Holiness is a gradual process as we allow God’s will to influence our thinking and actions in such matters. There will always be peer pressure to conform and a fear of being different. St Peter fell to that temptation when he denied knowing Jesus. Having worked with addicts for the last 8 years I have discovered that the roots of addiction are often found in a desire to compromise to experience acceptance of other people. As Savationists we have compromised in so many different ways as technology has improved and we have become wealthier, but I believe along with General John Gowans that “in a world of shifting values there are standards that remain, I believe that holy living by God’s grace we may attain. All would hear the Holy Spirit if they listened to his voice (that is the key to any question relating to Christian living) if they listened to his voice” (song 324 SAB) Scripture is vitally important but we have to read the scripture with the help of the Holy Spirit to relate it to today’s issues. For example scripture is silent about gene therapy and cloning. These are issues for which we need to pray for God’s guidance. Our response to the consumption of alcohol should also be the outcome of our prayer to God regarding his will in this matter.
When I am with non Christian friends and choose a non alcoholic drink instead of alcohol it gives me an opportunity to show, and explain if asked, that much of my fulfillment and joy in life is the result of living to please God and not myself. Interestingly enough the step 11 of Alcoholics Anonymous route to recovery from alcohol addiction says :
“sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God (as we understood him) praying only for knowledge of his will and the power to carry it out.
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