The Problem with “50 Reasons Why I Don’t Drink”

I know several people who have recently posted/shared an article titled 50 Reasons Why I Don’t Drink on social media. I am friends with them. They are good, honest, faithful people whom I admire. I believe they are well-intentioned. I love them and mean no ill toward them in what I’m about to write. However, since the author of this article invokes Christianity and consistently draws a number of false theological conclusions, and therein may very well lead fellow Christians to a false understanding of the Gospel freedom that is ours in Jesus Christ, I feel the need to respond.

Alcohol is one of the many good gifts—First Article gifts as we Lutherans like to call them—that God has given to humanity. God’s Word is not silent on the consumption of alcohol. Below is a sampling of what God teaches us in His Word:

• Melchizedek—a type of Jesus Christ—brings out bread and wine for Abraham (Genesis 14:18).
• Part of Isaac’s blessing to Jacob is that God would give him “plenty of grain and wine” (Genesis 27:28).
• The psalmist confesses that God is the One who causes the earth to sprout and grow, that man may bring forth “wine to gladden the heart” (Psalm 104:14-15).
• Solomon writes, “Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do” (Ecclesiastes 9:7).
• Isaiah’s picture of paradise includes “a feast of well-aged wine, … of aged wine well refined” (Isaiah 25:6).
• Through Joel, God promises to send His people “grain, wine, and oil” to satisfy them (Joel 2:19).
• Jesus’ very first miracle was turning water into an abundance of wine at a wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11).
• Wine is essential to the Sacrament of the Altar instituted by Jesus Christ and given to His Church to do until He comes again in glory (Matthew 26:27; Mark 14:23; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:25-28).
• Paul writes, “Let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink” (Colossians 2:16).
• Paul commends “a little wine” for the sake of the stomach and other ailments (1 Timothy 5:23).

As every Christian knows, drunkenness is a sin. No Christian can credibly dispute this. But drunkenness isn’t the issue here. The issue is whether a Christian may responsibly enjoy alcohol as a good gift from God.

To that end, here are the 50 Reasons and my brief response to each (be warned that you will hear a common theme in my response to every single reason):

1. I can’t be sober-minded if I’m not sober.

This is an argument against drunkenness (and other things that cause a person not to be sober-minded), not responsible drinking. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

2. Alcohol has an assignment: destruction.

Alcohol is an inanimate object and has no assignment at all. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

3. Alcohol is a depressant. Anything that depresses should be avoided at all costs.

Then why does Holy Scripture commend the responsible use of alcohol? Would the author also avoid at all costs any prescription drug that is also classified as a depressant. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

4. I don’t want to make my brother or sister stumble in the name of exercising my “Christian liberties.” My choice to drink could lead to someone’s demise.

I may exercise my freedom not to drink in the presence of someone who has a problem with alcohol. But that does not exclude the responsible use of alcohol elsewhere. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

5. Alcohol skews my judgment.

No. Excessive alcohol does that. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

6. Alcohol leaves me worse, not better.

No. Excessive alcohol does that. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

7. What I do in moderation, my children will do in excess.

Says who? My parents always drank responsibly. Neither my siblings nor I drink excessively. I eat in moderation; my children do not eat in excess. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

8. Even the unsaved know I shouldn’t drink. Bible in one hand, beer in the other—any lost person could point this out as a confusing contradiction.

Holy Scripture allows the responsible use of alcohol. To say otherwise is to call God a liar. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

9. Alcohol doesn’t bring others closer to the Lord when they see me drinking, but further away.

This may be the case with an alcoholic. As stated earlier, I may exercise my freedom not to drink in the presence of someone who has a problem with alcohol. But that does not exclude the responsible use of alcohol elsewhere. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

10. Alcohol doesn’t bring me closer to the Lord when I drink, but further away.

The responsible use of alcohol does neither. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

11. I want to be fully awake and ready for the return of Christ, not drowsy, sluggish and fuzzy.

The responsible use of alcohol does not hinder this in any way. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

12. Show me a family for whom alcohol has made a positive difference in their lives. You won’t be able to.

Good gifts from God can be enjoyed. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

13. I have never heard anyone say, “Wow, that gin and tonic made me feel so Christlike!”

Neither does watching television with my wife, disciplining my children, reading a book, doing my taxes, mowing the lawn, etc. That doesn’t make it wrong. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

14. I want to avoid all appearances of evil.

Alcohol, in and of itself, is not evil. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

15. Alcohol makes it much harder for me to practice the fruit of self-control.

No. But the abuse of alcohol might very well do that. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

16. Alcohol causes me to lose my filter.

No. But the abuse of alcohol might very well do that. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

17. Alcohol is a legal mind-altering drug.

Good gifts from God can be enjoyed. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

18. Alcohol is addictive.

That is why one guards against its abuse. Food can also be addictive (coffee, chocolate, etc.). That doesn’t mean food needs to be avoided. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

19. Alcohol is a numbing agent for pain and sorrow only Jesus can heal.

Good gifts from God can be enjoyed. Not everyone who enjoys an occasional drink does it to numb pair or sorrow. Those who do need help. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

20. Many regrets are associated with alcohol. (I can give you a whole bunch!)

Not the responsible use of alcohol. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

21. No one has ever said, “If only I had taken a drink, things wouldn’t have gotten out of control.”

Not the responsible use of alcohol. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

22. Alcohol causes me to act in ways I normally wouldn’t.

Not the responsible use of alcohol. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

23. Alcohol kills brain cells.

Good gifts from God can be enjoyed. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

24. Alcohol is a counterfeit and provides a false peace.

Good gifts from God can be enjoyed. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

25. The Bible says that no drunkards will enter the kingdom of God. Being drunk starts with one drink. I don’t want to see how far outside the lines I can color when eternity is at stake.

Good gifts from God can be enjoyed. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

26. Alcohol is a waster—money, gifts and talents, destinies and so on.

Good gifts from God can be enjoyed. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

27. Alcohol leads to really bad behavior. It is a factor in 50 percent of violent crimes.

Good gifts from God can be enjoyed. Alcohol, used responsibly, is a good gift from God.

28. Alcohol distracts and derails you from living the victorious life for which Christ died.

No. Sin does that. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

29. Wisdom is the principle thing that I need to pursue at all cost; alcohol makes me stupid.

I agree that godly wisdom is good, but w=here does Scripture say that “wisdom is the principle thing that I need to pursue at all cost”? Alcohol does not make anyone stupid. The stupidity is there before someone abuses it. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

30. Alcohol has ruined many, many marriages.

No, it hasn’t. But the abuse of alcohol can do that. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

31. The only influence I should be “under” is God’s.

Good gifts from God can be enjoyed. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

32. The Bible tells me to be alert; alcohol delays my reaction time.

The Scripture’s call to be alert has nothing to do with reaction time; if it does, then all those who are severe physical or mental disabilities are sinning simply by having a condition. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

33. If I don’t start drinking, I’ll never have to stop.

Good gifts from God can be enjoyed. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

34. Alcohol severely tarnishes my testimony.

No. The abuse of alcohol does that. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

35. Don’t want your teenagers to drink? Yep, same reasons apply to you.

I teach my children this: Good gifts from God can be enjoyed. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

36. God is holy; alcohol is not.

Using this logic, the author should stop living in a house, driving a car, eating food, and pretty much everything else outside of hearing God’s Word, receiving His sacraments, praying, etc. because all of these earthly things are common (not holy). Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

37. Alcohol and prayer don’t mix.

Good gifts from God can be enjoyed. Just because someone may not “mix” alcohol and prayer does not make them mutually exclusive. Sex and prayer don’t necessarily mix either. That doesn’t mean a husband and wife cannot enjoy this gift from God. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

38. Alcohol and Bible study don’t mix.

See #37. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

39. Alcohol lowers my resolve to resist temptation.

No. The abuse of alcohol does that. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

40. Alcohol = Brokenness (broken lives, health, dreams and so on).

No. The abuse of alcohol does that. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

41. When the world sees us drinking, it sends the message that Jesus isn’t enough.

I suppose the author thinks that people who eat also send the message that Jesus’ isn’t enough. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

42. Moderate drinking? How about moderate pornography or moderate heroin use or moderate lying or moderate adultery?

Unlike the sins lists, alcohol is not inherently sinful. It is abuse of alcohol that is. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

43. Christians are called to live a life of total surrender and separation from the world.

Our call to be in the world but not of the world does not mean that alcohol is sinful. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

44. Alcohol makes me forget. It can make me forget that I am married, that I am saved and so on.

No. The abuse of alcohol can do that. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

45. “I don't get drunk. I only have one or two drinks.” If they didn’t affect you, you would drink soda.

This statement does not logically make sense. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

46. I should never look to the glass or bottle for joy, which can only be found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The author is telling me that I cannot find any joy in my family, my wife, my children, my friends, my church, etc. because joy can “only be found in the Lord Jesus Christ.” You don’t understand the First Article of the Creed. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

47. Alcohol fills my mind with impure thoughts.

Alcohol is incapable of putting any thoughts (good or bad) into your mind. The devil, the world,you’re your own sinful flesh do that. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

48. If it could hinder my faith walk or love walk or dishonor the lordship of Jesus Christ, I need to forsake it.

Tell that to Jesus, who turned water into wine. My marriage could hinder those things, as could my parent, my children, and a whole host of other things. I don’t forsake them because they are capable of doing that. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

49. Alcohol doesn’t help me run the race that Jesus has marked before me to finish with more accuracy. It does the polar opposite.

The responsible use of alcohol neither helps nor hinders my faith. It is one of many good gifts that God has given us. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

50. For any argument that tries to justify Christian drinking, there are at least 50 other reasons not to. The writing is on the wall. It’s not God’s best for Christians to drink.

There is no such thing as “Christian drinking.” There is, however, freedom in Holy Scripture and the Gospel to enjoy this good gift from God responsibly. To say otherwise is to call God a liar. Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly.

Did you catch the common thread woven into every answer? Alcohol is a good gift from God; Christians are free to enjoy it responsibly. God’s Word says so. I hope the author will search the Scriptures on this issue. Speaking out against the abuse of alcohol and working to help those caught up in this sin would be much more beneficial than forbidding something that God allows. On that point I believe we can all agree.

The original article 50 Reasons is found here.