Am I compromising by just drinking a glass of wine a few days each week?
Question:
You see, I do drink wine on occasion, in moderation. I may have a glass of wine 2 or 3 evenings a week while cooking dinner, or I may go several days without drinking any. I do not drink beer or hard liquor. I do not drink and drive. And it is extremely rare that I would drink any wine in public, such as a restaurant. I used to drink more often, but since the birth of my children, the Holy Spirit convicted me of that, and so in my eyes, the small amount of alcohol I consume today has been acceptable. But am I compromising?
I am very interested in another author's work on alcohol. I then decided to come to use the computer to look up information on "Old Testament Alcoholic Beverages". This is how I came upon your web site. I have briefly looked over your material but just printed it out so that I can read and study the content.
I will admit that I have some mixed feelings over this matter. On one hand, I wonder what harm my amount of alcohol consumption can do? On the other hand, what message am I sending to my children? Do I want them to drink when they grow up? Am I drinking "to the glory of God?" Why does the Bible seem so controversial in its message on wine? And I am just now finding out what the Bible refers to when it says "strong drink". There are many questions I have as I begin my study, and as I write this message to you, I feel as though it would probably just be best if I quit drinking completely. It is probably no mistake that God led me in this direction this morning. However, there is a part of me that cannot imagine never having another drink of red wine. It's like trying to imagine never having another cup of coffee - which I also enjoy. But I do want to please God and hearken to His leading. And I so want to be a godly mother whose children "rise up and call blessed".
Answer:
There are several articles on alcohol which I hope you get the chance to study in-depth. But I want you to think about one thing: You avoid drinking and driving but have you given thought to what would happen if after just finishing off some wine, your child fell and had to be rushed to the hospital, but you knew it won't be safe for you to drive? Fortunately, we have alternatives, but the problem is that at that moment in time you are not at your best alertness -- you are not sober. There is the keyword that every Christian should consider. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (I Peter 5:8). Too often we skip over-familiar words without realizing what is being said. It is hard enough to resist Satan's temptations. Do we make Satan's job easier by clouding our minds, even a little bit?
I have found that people who want no restrictions on sex find the Bible's teaching on sex controversial. People who think lying can be justified at times find the Bible's teaching on telling the truth to be controversial. Even Jesus was the center of controversy. But all that controversy arises because the Bible doesn't always teach what we want to hear. It teaches the truth.
