On Alcohol (the drinking kind)

During my short tenure here in blogosphere I have become painfully aware of an issue that appears to have taken on "life or death" importance since the most recent meeting of the SBC. It's the issue of whether or not the Bible speaks against the Christian's liberty to consume alcoholic beverages. I have been engaged in at least four different blogs where discussion - wait, that's too mild - where heated and often Christ dishonoring assaults have been made from those on both sides of the issue. I must say, however, that it is my experience that those who would promote the Biblical position of moderation (I say Biblical not in the sense of "most accurate", but in the sense of "basing one's position on Scripture) have been, for the most part, the ones who suggest that it is a conviction issue. In other words, it is my experience that (most of) the moderationists (can I call them that?) take the position that if you are convicted (and convinced) that the consumption of alcohol is blessed by God (not the abuse of alcohol), then the only requirement is that you do all to the Glory of God. In like manner, most of the comments I've seen by moderationists have inferred the same attitude toward those who would abstain - i.e. that if that is their conviction, then their only obligation is to be fully convinced and abstain to the Glory of God. Maybe it's a bias of mine (as I would put myself in the moderationist camp), but I truly have seen less judgement from the moderationists than the abstentionists (is that a word?). To be fair, I have witnessed the cry of "legalist" from the moderationists, but I think maybe that cry is in response not to the abstentionists view of alcohol as much as it is their attitude toward the moderationists. It has been my experience that, for whatever reason - and I'm sure there are many - the abstentionists fear that a moderationist view of alcohol will permeate the SBC - if not Christianity itself. In response to that, not only have they developed extensive and elaborate arguments for multiple uses of the word "wine", why Jesus didn't drink real wine, etc., but they have (and I realize this is a generalization - not all abstentionists would do this - possibly not even the majority) made abstention of alcohol into a "Scriptural absolute", thus justifying their condemnation of anyone who would dare consume a glass of "real" wine (strong drink according to most of the posts I've seen). Don't misunderstand me - the Godly exchange of ideas, Scripture interpretations, etc. is both edifying and strengthening. Judgement from those who abstain, however, or disdain from those who do not abstain, is immoral according to Rom. 14. Is there not a point where we who drink in moderation can lift our wine glasses with the glasses of those who abstain (whatever may be in those glasses) in honor of God's love, blessings, sovereignty, and son Jesus Christ? Please do not post dissertations on why you believe the Bible prohibits alcohol - that issue has already been addressed ad-nauseum on several other blogs. This post is not about defending the consumption of alcohol - it is about the judgemental approach some abstentionists take toward moderationists and - to be fair - the despising approach some moderationists take toward abstentionists.

Post Tinebrae Lux