On Baptists and Booze
Friday, June 23, 2006 at 09:38AM 
At the annual meeting of the Southern Baptists, the following resolution was approved. The spirit of prohibition lives on!
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Resolution No. 5
ON ALCOHOL USE IN AMERICA
WHEREAS, Years of research confirm biblical warnings that alcohol use leads to physical, mental, and emotional damage (e.g., Proverbs 23:29-35); and
WHEREAS, Alcohol use has led to countless injuries and deaths on our nation's highways; and
WHEREAS, The breakup of families and homes can be directly and indirectly attributed to alcohol use by one or more members of a family; and
WHEREAS, The use of alcohol as a recreational beverage has been shown to lead individuals down a path of addiction to alcohol and toward the use of other kinds of drugs, both legal and illegal; and
WHEREAS, There are some religious leaders who are now advocating the consumption of alcoholic beverages based on a misinterpretation of the doctrine of "our freedom in Christ"; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Greensboro, North Carolina, June 13-14, 2006, express our total opposition to the manufacturing, advertising, distributing, and consuming of alcoholic beverages; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge that no one be elected to serve as a trustee or member of any entity or committee of the Southern Baptist Convention that is a user of alcoholic beverages.
RESOLVED, That we urge Southern Baptists to take an active role in supporting legislation that is intended to curb alcohol use in our communities and nation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge Southern Baptists to be actively involved in educating students and adults concerning the destructive nature of alcoholic beverages; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we commend organizations and ministries that treat alcohol-related problems from a biblical perspective and promote abstinence and encourage local churches to begin and/or support such biblically-based ministries.
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For a thoughtful and pastoral response from Justin Taylor, Click here: Between Two Worlds: The SBC Resolution on Alcohol
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Meanwhile, I went shopping for a new refrigerator. I think I found the one I want.
Any thoughts?
Reader Comments (115)
let's all raise a cold one to our sbc friends...here, here...i can drink to that! who says legalism is dead?
It is not for princes to drink strong drink. I'm a child of the king which makes me a prince.
how does anyone define drunkeness? is it relative to the consumer? do you define it by legal standards? if so, do you carry around a breathilyzer? how does one know that he has eaten too much and become gluttoness?
we all know that drunkeness is bad, but what is it exactly?
P.S. It's hrad to tpye when you're smkiong a cigar- the smkoe get's in yuor yees.
Drunkenness is any point at which alcohol takes over part of your faculty. The Bible clearly indicates that God’s people drank wine, but was wine in the first century the same as wine in our day? No. It was mixed with many parts water, so it had much less alcohol, even less than a regular beer today. It was like grape juice. Therefore, we cannot justify drinking wine today unless it is the same as the wine mentioned in Scripture. Jesus created this type of wine at Cana which was fresh wine, the most preferred. He had them fill the jars with water, I believe, to show us that it was unfermented mixed wine. In Acts, when they spoke in tongues, it was said that it was only morning to prove that they were not drunk. In most cases, drinking first century wine would take several hours or until evening to get drunk.
More people (especially men) die of Heart Disease which is related to a bad diet and lack of exercise than they do of alcohol related deaths.
As soon as the SBC leadership can get enough time away from the buffet line then they will begin to think a little more clearly on resolutions that are poorly argued from Scripture. :) Of course that will be a cold day in hell when this happens therefore - drink away my mates!
The Bible talks an aweful lot about the ABUSE of alcohol not the USE of it.
Wrong. Sorry, but the argument that you used was invented by teetotalers. Even if it were a little true, it doesn’t change the fact that an alcoholic beverage was being consumed. Moderation was key then, it’s key now. So where do we find this special first century wine to use in the Lord's Supper?
With the line of reasoning that you presented, explain the Corinthians getting drunk from of the wine of the Lord's Supper. Were they there all day long? How much wine did Noah drink, how much did Lot’s daughters have to give him?
And, I believe that Jesus had them fill the jars with water to show that one better than Moses had arrived - Moses' first miracle sign was to turn water into blood - Jesus' first miracle sign was to turn water into wine. I don't think John was concerned with showing us what kind of wine was produced.
Three Religious Truths:
1. The Jews don't recognize the Messiah.
2. Protestants don't recognize the Pope.
3. Two Baptists in a liquor store don't recognize each other.
Liberal Southern Baptists have in recent years been charging that conservatives' move toward creedalism is anti-baptistic, with which sentiment I've agreed and urged, come on in, the creedalism is fine! But I say the conservative SBC creedalists are still wading in the shallow end of the pool.
Barring revival, a list of how to live may be temporally useful; barring reformation, such a list may be harmful to your theology (yes, that was the Theologian General's Warning).
Case in point, Gordy's (above) use of Scripture. He may have joined the church I left a few years ago . . .
Why use fermented wine in the Lord's Supper? Isn't the wine a representation of Christ's blood? Don't you have to add something to wine to make it ferment? Isn't fermentation a decay process?
http://www.wcg.org/lit/booklets/alcohol/biblwine.htm
Just kidding!! When I was a devout baptist I would not touch a drop but as I started reading more reformed literature and truly searched the scripture to find out what the word teaches I came to the conclusion that be it a glass of wine or a cold beer once in a while it is no problem. Now I do hold that freedom in Christ should never be abused so if I know a weaker brother is bothered by this issue ,I will not drink in front of my brother or sister in Christ. Nor do I push it in anyones face but I will engage them in a good debate over the issue .
I have read the total prohibition arguments but find they go beyond the teaching of scripture . One reason I moved on from being baptist is in general I find they still have a lingering legalism in my circles and at times abuse the law in the thier preaching. That is not to say many Baptist are not wonderful believers in Christ , nor that reformed minded people are better , well we are HAHA, but it reflects the and understands , law and gospel better ....well must run ....my keg awaits .....