Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

We have been studying Romans 14 to see whether or not inherently sinful conduct is under discussion in this chapter. This chapter has be-come a battleground for fellowship. In every generation, those who have introduced things unauthorized have used Romans 14 to appeal for unity with those who oppose their unauthorized practices. The same appeal is being made today with reference to loose teaching on divorce and re-marriage. Some among us who believe the truth on divorce and remarriage are teaching that we can have fellowship with those who teach false doctrines on divorce and remarriage, and with those who receive into the fellowship of their local congregations brethren who are guilty of adultery (Matt. 19:9); they are appealing to Romans 14 to justify their looser fellowship.

So far in this series, I have shown that Romans 14 does not contain instructions that can be applied to sinful practices. We have shown that this is true by (a) refuting the alternative views on Romans 14 and (b) examining the textual evidences that point to the chapter being limited to authorized liberties. In this article, I intend to show that the instructions given in Romans 14 demonstrate that this chapter cannot be applied to matters inherently sinful.

The Instructions of Romans 14

1. Receive one another just like Christ has received you (14:1; 15:7). The word “receive” is translated fromproslambano which Thayer defines in the use of Romans 14:1 and 15:7 to mean “to receive, i.e., grant one access to one’s heart; to take into friendship and intercourse.” He continues, “God and Christ are said to proslabesthai (to have received) those whom, formerly estranged from them, they have reunited to themselves by the blessings of the gospel, Rom. xiv.3; xv.7” (548). The sense of the word is given in the modifying clause “as Christ also received us” (15:7). Christians are to receive one another just like Christ has received us (15:7). Whatever limitation one imposes on the meaning of “receive” with reference to brethren receiving one another (to make it mean something less than to “receive into one’s fellowship”) destroys itself on the phrase “as Christ has received us.” We are to receive one another just like Christ has received us.

Does Christ receive us so long as we are continuing the practice of our sin, defending it as an act of righteousness, and encouraging others to join us in the practice of our sin? If not, then we should not receive others who are doing those things. Does Christ “receive” us in the sense of treating us like a brother but less than “fellowshipping” us? If not, then this is not the sense of “receive” under discussion in Romans 14.

If Romans 14 “tolerates contradictory teachings and practices on important moral and doctrinal questions” (as taught by Ed Harrell in Christianity Magazine [May 1990]), then our obligation according to Romans 14 is to receive those who are so teaching and practicing. That would apply to those who are involved in adulterous marriages as well as those who de-fend people in adulterous marriages by teaching that these marriages are scriptural. In this event those congregations that refuse fellowship to the brother who divorces his mate for any cause and marries another stand condemned as guilty of violating Romans 14:1, for not receiving one’s brother. However, Romans 14 cannot be limited to this sin alone. My second article demonstrated that those who have constructed a list to limit which sins Romans 14 includes have not logically sustained their position. Hence, logically the application of Romans 14 to any sinful practice leads to the conclusion that we receive those who continue in the practice of every sin. If this instruction cannot be applied to such sinful conduct, then sinful conduct must not be under discussion in the chapter.

2. Do not engage in doubtful disputations (14:1). The Amplified Bible reads, “but not to criticize his opinion or pass judgment on his scruples or perplex him with discussions.” The instructions of Romans 14 therefore teach one (a) not to criticize the conduct of the other and (b) not to become involved in discussions trying to prove one is right and the other is wrong. When we apply these instructions to matters inherently sinful, we have the ridiculous position that a Christian cannot criticize the conduct of the sinner and cannot enter a discussion with him to show him wherein his sin lies. If this is the case, Paul violated his own principles when he rebuked the Corinthian fornicator (1 Cor. 5) and entered into disputations with the false teachers at Galatia (Gal. 1-4). If this instruction cannot be applied to such sinful conduct, then sinful conduct must not be under discussion in the chapter.

3. Do not condemn (14:10,13). Paul asks, “But why dost thou judge (krino) thy brother? . . . Let us not therefore judge (krino) one another any more.” Thayer defines krino in this usage to mean “to pronounce judgment; to subject to censure.” Can these instructions be applied to matters inherently sinful? If so, a person who condemns his brother for drunkenness is acting in violation of Romans 14. He is “judging” (“pronouncing judgment; to subject to censure”) his brother and Romans 14 says, “Let us not therefore judge one another.” However, Paul would stand condemned as a hypocrite for violating his own principle in his “judging” those who went to law with one another before unbelievers (1 Cor. 6:1-8). If this instruction cannot be applied to those practicing such sin, then Romans 14 does not pertain to sinful conduct.

4. Do not set at nought your brother (14:3, 10). These verses read as follows: “Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. . . . But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” The word exoutheneo is translated “despise” (14:3) and “set at nought” (14:10). The word is defined by Thayer to mean “to make of no account, to despise utterly.” There are some who are to be treated like “a heathen man and a publican” (Matt. 18:17); there are some concerning whom Paul wrote, “with such a one no not to eat” (1 Cor. 5:11). These are brethren who persist in the practice of their sin. Did Paul violate his own teaching in Romans 14:3, 10 when he commanded brethren not to receive brethren involved in sin? If Romans 14 applies to things inherently sinful, he did. If the instructions of Romans 14:3, 10 do not apply to those continuing in their practice of those things inherently sinful, then Romans 14 does not include sinful conduct.

5. Do not put a stumbling block in front of another (14:13). Romans 14:13 says, “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.” This makes perfectly good sense when applied to authorized liberties. Romans 14:13 is instructing the man who can eat meats without violating his conscience not to conduct himself in the exercise of his liberty in such a way as to encourage a man who cannot eat meats without violating his conscience to sin against his conscience. Try applying that to sinful conduct. On the one hand, let us assume that the “strong man” is the man who cannot commit fornication and the “weak man” is the one who commits fornication from a clear conscience. Then Paul is telling the man who abstains from fornication not to practice his abstinence in such a manner as to cause his brother to abstain from fornication. On the other hand, let us assume the “strong man” is the man who commits fornication without violating his conscience (Does anyone believe that Paul could call such a person a “strong” Christian?), and the “weak man” is the man who abstains (Is the man who abstains from fornication the weak man?). Then we have the absurd position that Paul is saying that one can commit his fornication so long as he does it in such a manner as not to cause his brother to stumble. If the instructions of Romans 14 do not fit such sinful conduct, then the context is not discussing sinful conduct and is limited to matters of authorized liberties.

6. Bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves (15:1). In Romans 15:1, Paul wrote, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” I can understand these instructions when they are applied to matters of authorized liberties. Paul is instructing the man who thinks he can eat meats to forego the exercise of his liberty for the sake of his weaker brother. He should not be so selfish in pleasing himself that he destroys his brother for whom Christ died for the sake of doing something that is a matter of indifference. Let us see if this instruction will fit sinful conduct. On the one hand, what is the result if we assume that the “stronger brother” is the one who does not believe that he should commit fornication and the “weaker brother” is the one who commits fornication without violating his conscience? In that case, Paul is instructing the stronger brother not to press his abstinence views to the point that he censures and condemns his weaker brother; he should bear with the infirmities of his weaker brother, accepting him in his practice of sin. On the other hand, we must consider the result if we assume that the “stronger brother” is the one who can commit fornication without violating his conscience (does anyone believe that Paul could call such a person a “strong” Christian?) and the “weak man” is the man who abstains (is the man who abstains from fornication the weak man?). In that case, we have the absurd position of Paul instructing that the strong man can commit fornication so long as he does not cause a brother to violate his conscience by following this example. If the instructions of Romans 14 do not fit such sinful conduct, then the context is not discussing sinful conduct and is limited to matters of authorized liberties.

7. Please one’s neighbor (15:2). In Romans 15:2, Paul instructs, “Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.” That makes sense if one is applying this to matters of authorized liberty. In that case, Paul is teaching the principles by which he lived in 1 Corinthians 9. He relinquished his liberties in order to win more people for Christ. When we apply this to sinful conduct, we have the absurd position that one can practice his sin so long as he does it in such a way as not to destroy his brother. Hence, if he can practice his sin without enticing his brother to sin, he has God’s approval in continuing his sin. If the instructions of Romans 14 do not fit such sinful conduct, then the context is not discussing sinful conduct and is limited to matters of authorized liberties.

8. Keep it to yourself (14:22). In Romans 14:22, Paul wrote, “Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.” This passage is teaching the obligations one has in connection with his personal liberties. If a person chooses to eat meat, he should quietly practice what he wishes to do. He should not start a campaign to teach every other person in the congregation to act as he acts. The same is true for the one who chooses to abstain from meats. When we apply this to sinful conduct, we reach absurd conclusions. The man who believes he can commit fornication is then instructed to practice his fornication in such a manner as to keep his brother from being encouraged to violate his conscience by committing fornication. So long as he can commit his fornication without causing others to sin, Paul is saying, “Happy is he that condemneth not himself in the fornication which he alloweth.” On the other hand, if we assume the stronger brother is the one who abstains from fornication, Paul is saying, “Keep your belief that fornication is sinful to yourself. Don’t preach it and condemn your brother who practices fornication.” If the instructions of Romans 14 do not fit such sinful conduct, then the context is not discussing sinful conduct and is limited to matters of authorized liberties.

Conclusion

Those who apply Romans 14 to include sinful conduct gut the chapter of any relevant application. After teaching that Romans 14 includes sinful conduct, they are unwilling to abide by the instructions given in the chapter about how to treat those practicing the sinful conduct they say is under discussion. By their unwillingness to apply the principles of Romans 14, they give silent testimony that Romans 14 does not apply to sinful conduct. The instructions of Romans 14 make good sense when they are applied to matters of authorized liberties (things God allows but does not demand). These are the only matters under discussion in Romans 14.

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: No. 21, p. 2
November 2, 1995

By Ron Nelson

With surprise shock some ask, “What exactly are you trying to say? Are you expecting me to believe one receives salvation from sins at the time of baptism? A person receives salvation before having to obey Christ’s command of baptism, doesn’t he?”

Do you love Jesus the Christ and agree salvation is only through the blood of Christ (Rev. 1:5; Matt. 26:28)? Do you agree there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1)? Do you doubt the necessity of baptism for the remission of sins? If you do, please take a moment to examine the topic of baptism. Since Christ commanded baptism (literally immersion), and since we love him, let us allow him to settle the controversy.

Jesus says, “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mk. 16:16).

While speaking to Nicodemus, Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of the water and Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

On the day of Pentecost when Jesus the Christ established his church, the apostle Peter preached the first gospel sermon. The 3000 who responded were commanded by Peter and the rest of the apostles to, “Repent and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirt” (Acts 2:37-38, 41).

In response to the message of Jesus the Christ, Saul of Tarsus was asked by Ananius, “And now why do you de-lay? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16). After becoming an apostle he later wrote, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Gal. 3:26-27).

In another place the apostle Paul explained, “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death?” (Rom. 6:3) He continues in verses 4 and 5, “Therefore we have been bur-ied with him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.”

Paul also declared that baptism is an act of faith, “Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead” (Col. 2:12).

The apostle Peter corroborated this teaching, “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that he might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit . . . when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you  not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:18-22).

Jesus tells us, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Our love for God is expressed by our keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome (1 John 5:3).

People who have been told that immersion is not essential to salvation are often shocked when reading these verses of the Bible and sometimes respond, “What are you trying to say? Do you believe I am still in a lost condition? The truth is not determined, however, by what man says, but by what the word of God says (Prov. 14:12; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Lk. 6:46). The Bible clearly teaches that in order to be saved, one must be baptized into Christ for the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Baptism is the moment when one enters the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, contacting the blood of Christ (Heb. 10:22). Are you outside of Christ? Why not believe and be baptized today!

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: No. 20, p. 22
October 19, 1995

By Thomas Bunting

“Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2).

“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest. Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:35).

“Beside those things that are with-out, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches” (2 Cor. 11:28).

“Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:7-8).

“But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted to you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us . . . As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children” (1 Thess. 2:7-11).

“But we brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire (1 Thess. 2:17).

“Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone” (1 Thess. 3:1.

“For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good re- membrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you” (1 Thess. 3:5-6).

My talent for writing is far too limited to convey to you what lies upon my heart. I want so much to convey to you the feelings I have in my heart for those who need to leave a foreign work and cannot find anyone to replace them. I desire to try to help you understand the anxiety and frustrations these are experiencing and the many tears they are shedding. The country and the people with whom they have worked for a number of years, have a special place in their hearts.

It isn’t just a question, “If you need to go home, then go!” It isn’t that simple! This work and the young Christians are so much a part of their life, that to leave them without any help is like leaving loved ones when they need you most. If you haven’t experienced this, then it is probably difficult for you to understand the feelings of these men and their families. They know the need! They know that this work must not be left on its own! They are the sole workers in their respective country, how can they leave it when there is no one to replace them? You talk about a “rock and a hard place”  you probably can’t imagine the feeling unless you have been there.

Men, like Joe Rose and family in Bulgaria and Jay Horsley and family in Lithuania, have given years to establish and strengthen the young churches in their respective countries. They need to leave, but also realize that the work must not be left with-out workers! I can tell you that they are agonizing over this dilemma. Their hearts are bleeding as they see the time approaching and no volunteers have come forward.

In the words of Jesus, “Say not, There are yet four months . . . look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (Jn. 4:35). These men need to hear from someone now ! They are bearing the burden, not only of the day-to-day problems, but the “care of the churches” (2 Cor. 11:28).

These men, and others like them, know and understand the statements of the apostle Paul when he speaks of having “you in my heart” and “how greatly I long after you” (Phil. 1:7-8). Like Paul, they have cherished them as their children and exhorted and comforted them as a father. They would give their very own souls to the brethren because they are dear to them (1 Thess. 2:7-11). They may be taken from their presence, but “not in heart” (1 Thess. 2:17).

It is my understanding that Joe Rose and family are hoping to return to the States in December 1995, and Jay Horsley and family are returning to the States in May 1996. Will you not lighten their burdens by volunteering to carry on the fight in Bulgaria and Lithuania?

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: No. 20, p. 9
October 19, 1995

By Gary L Coles

Brad Johnson was just an average 17 year old boy. He was a senior at the Midway Senior High School, and was looking forward to attending Community College the following fall. He was an above average football player and had a decent shot at getting a football scholarship. His girl-friend, Kathy, was also planning to attend Community College. Brad and Kathy had been dating for about a year and were falling in love with each other. Yes, all was right in Brad’s little world.

One Friday night Brad and Kathy decided to attend a party that one of Brad’s friends was having at his house. On the way, Kathy reminded Brad to take it easy on the drinking. Brad assured Kathy that he would only have a couple of beers, just to be sociable.

When they arrived at the party, they noticed there was a lot of noise and activity. In fact, the noise was deafening. At first, Kathy just thought everyone was having a good time. However, as she surveyed the room, she noticed a large group of people standing around a table. As she and Brad walked closer to the table, she saw why. Lined neatly in a row were three beer kegs. Kathy immediately grabbed Brad’s arm and pleaded with him to leave. Brad laughed and assured Kathy that everything would be all right. The guys were just having a good time. At that moment Brad’s friend, Kirk, brought him and Kathy a glass filled with beer. Brad took the glass and drained it with a few quick swallows. Kathy glared at Brad in disbelief and refused to accept the glass of beer that Kirk was offering her. Brad laughed at her and proceeded to drain her glass as well. Kathy just shook her head and left Brad to sit by herself on the sofa. Brad just shrugged his shoulders and told Kirk that Kathy was a teetotaler. Kirk and Brad laughed and went to get some more beer.

For the rest of the evening Kathy sat by herself on the sofa. She could not believe how Brad was behaving. This was not the Brad she had fallen in love with. She thought about calling her father and asking him to come and pick her up. She decided against doing that. It might embarrass Brad.

Finally, at two in the morning, the party began to break up. Brad went to the sofa and asked Kathy if she were ready to go home. Kathy noticed that Brad’s speech was slurred and that he was weaving around a bit. On the way to the car, Kathy asked Brad to let her drive him home. Brad wouldn’t have it. He insisted that he was fine and told Kathy to shut up and get into the car. Kathy was deeply hurt by the way Brad had just spoken to her. Her first thought was to burst into tears and run away as quickly as she could. She knew that getting in the car with Brad in his drunken condition was foolish. Nevertheless, she got into the car anyway.

On the way home Kathy asked Brad to pull over and let her drive. Brad again insisted that he was fine. Kathy knew better. Brad was weaving all over the road. Kathy became frightened and began to wonder if they would get home safely.

Suddenly, for some unexplained reason, the car was out of control. Brad frantically tried to regain control. Unfortunately, his drunken condition would not allow it. For a moment he thought he was about to regain control, when suddenly the car veered to the right and off the road. For just a moment he glanced over at Kathy and noticed that she had raised her arms up to protect her face and began to scream. He looked ahead and saw why. Just a few feet ahead a huge oak tree stood in their path. Brad put both feet on the brake pedal and pushed as hard as he could. It didn’t do any good. He next heard the sickening sound of metal crunching, glass breaking, and a blood curdling scream. Then everything went black.

When Brad regained consciousness, he found himself on a table in the emergency room of the Community Hospital. A doctor was standing over him with a light checking his eyes. The doctor asked Brad a few questions to determine if Brad had suffered any brain trauma. The doctor then told Brad how lucky he was to be alive. He informed Brad that he only had a few scrapes and bruises and was free to go.

As Brad was sitting up and preparing to leave, he suddenly thought of Kathy. He asked one of the nurses if the girl that had been with him was all right. He noticed a hesitancy in the nurse’s response. She told him that his father and mother were waiting in a waiting room down the hall. They could answer any questions he might have.

When Brad walked into the waiting room, he saw his mother sitting on the sofa crying and his father looking out the window. When Brad’s mother saw him, she immediately ran to him, embraced him and asked if he was ok. Brad said that he was fine and proceeded to ask about Kathy. Brad’s mother returned to the sofa sobbing and his father continued to look silently out the window.

Brad’s heart began to race and tears began streaming down his face as feelings of dread and remorse began to envelop him. Then his father turned from the window and asked him to go with him. As they were walking down the hall, Brad noticed the stern steel expression that was on his father’s face. Brad asked his father several questions about Kathy. His father just ignored him and continued his silent walk down the hospital hallway.

They came to a set of double doors that would take them into the ICU. Brad’s heart began to leap with joy. She’s not dead, he told himself, she’s only hurt. Brad noticed that at the end of the hall was a large observation room. As they got closer, he saw that there was a lot of activity in the room. When they reached the window, Brad’s father turned to Brad and asked him to look into the room.

As Brad looked into the room, he saw a person lying on a strange looking table. Going into this person were all types of wires, tubes and hoses. A few of the wires appeared to be connected to some type of screws that had been embedded into this person’s skull.

A nurse moved and then he was able to see the face of the person lying on the table. Brad’s stomach began to twist and turn. His vision became blurred by tears. The person lying on the table was Kathy. Brad could see that Kathy’s beautiful long blond hair had been shaved so the screws could be placed into her skull. His beautiful sweet Kathy remained motionless on the table.

Brad’s father finally began to speak. He told Brad that Kathy had suffered a spinal cord injury. Her spine had been severed. She would never walk again. In fact, she was permanently paralyzed from the neck down.

Brad fell to his knees and began to sob uncontrollably. His beautiful Kathy, the girl he loved with all his heart, the girl he planned to marry one day, would be unmercifully trapped in a motionless body for the rest of her life, all because of his stupidity. Why hadn’t he listened to Kathy when she pleaded with him to leave the party? Why hadn’t he allowed her to drive him home? His pride and arrogance had done this. His concern about his “Big Man” image had tragically shattered Kathy’s life.

Brad’s father looked down at his son lying prostrate on the floor and placed his hand on Brad’s shoulder and said, “Son, I truly believe your pain and suffering will far surpass Kathy’s.”

Comments

The preceding story dramatically depicts a tragedy that is taking place in our country today. Millions of our young people are falling into the Teen Trap of drinking alcoholic beverages. Many teens believe that drinking makes them look grown up and will enhance their status among their peers. This way of thinking has created a trap from which many teens never escape.

Statistics seem to show that drinking among teens is a significant problem. Of the 20.7 million 7th through 12th grade students nationwide, 10.6 million say they have drunk an alcoholic beverage. That is 50%. This same survey revealed that eight million of these students drink weekly.

Beer is by far the most popular alcoholic drink of teens today. This is primarily due to the easy access of beer. Minors illegally consume more than one billion beers each year.

Young people are also operating under the mistaken notion that beer is a harmless drink. They don’t realize that one can of beer, five ounces of wine, or one wine cooler has roughly the alcohol equivalent of one shot of vodka. Most young people do not know that a 12 ounce can of beer has the same amount of alcohol as one shot of whiskey.

What about the young people in the church today? Are they truly aware of the dangers of drinking? Have we as parents and leaders in the church, done an effective job in convincing our young people that drinking alcoholic beverages is not something a Christian does?

So often I have heard people say, “The Bible does not explicitly condemn the moderate drinking of alcoholic beverages.” Oh really! Please take note of Philippians 2:15: “that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among who you appear as lights in the world.” You tell me how a Christian can possibly comply with this passage of Scripture while standing around with a can of beer in his hand?

Unfortunately, many Christian parents have been setting a very poor example for their children. By their example, they have been saying to their children, “Go ahead, drink up, there’s no problem.” Then, when their children find themselves in a similar dilemma as illustrated in our story, they hang their head in sorrow and disbelief and ignorantly say, “Why did this happen .. . where did I go wrong?” It is time for Christians to wake up and see that drinking is not only dangerous and stupid  it’s sinful!

In 1 Corinthians 5:5 we are told, “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?” For too many years, many congregations have been entirely too tolerant of social drinking. Many have placed drinking in that nebulous category, often called a “gray area.”

Our Bible classes and pulpits are going to have to do a better job of convincing people that abstinence is the only scriptural approach to drinking. Throwing a few Scriptures at an audience or a class is not going to convince anyone. Unfortunately, too many have become too calloused for that approach to work anymore. Preachers and teachers must powerfully and dramatically show the destructive effects of drinking. Furthermore, preachers and teachers need to take the Bible and use it to present an irrefutable argument against drinking. Finally, elders need to discipline those individuals who stubbornly refuse to comply with God’s teaching on this matter. Doing this may help some of our young people to avoid the teen trap of drinking.

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: No. 20, p. 6-8
October 19, 1995