Beer, Bohemianism and True Christian Liberty

In my view, what MacArthur is observing here is simple pushback at quite frankly un-Biblical positions regarding beverage alcohol—pushback of the same sort that worked to create the original “fundamentals”, really. Just as our spiritual forebears pushed back HARD at the encroachments of liberal theology a century ago—and in the process enshrined a number of Victorian social mores into our cultural fabric—smart young Calvinists today are pushing back HARD at what they see as un-Biblical encroachments on Christian liberty like Teachout’s “Two Wines” theories. Wine is prominent among YRRs because it is prominent in fundamentalism, more or less.

And they, too, often overshoot the goal, as the sad case of Perry Noble illustrates, and as MacArthur alludes to in his blog. The solution is for people, no matter what side they’re on, to come to Biblical theology in this regard and walk away from the errors of the past. You’ll see this not only regarding alcohol, but also dress, dancing, tattoos, language, and even marijuana. We are called to be not only sober in our blood chemistry, but sober in our thinking as well.

Too bad John MacArthur isn’t militant enough! (that would qualify as being “a shot”….. not at John)…….

I actually agree entirely with the essence of the article…..which seems to be a concern that too many Young Reformed and other kinds of evangelicals (I notice Jerry Vine in the comments is equally concerned about young leaders in the SBC)….. are too quick to embrace aspects of this culture…..which frankly may be more of Mac’s point than even wine, etc……

Straight Ahead!

jt

“It should not take a doctor of divinity to notice that Scripture consistently celebrates virtues such as self-control, sober-mindedness, purity of heart, the restraint of our fleshly lusts, and similar fruits of the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work in our lives. Surely these are what we ought hold in highest esteem, model in our daily lives, and honor on our websites, rather than trying so hard to impress the world with unfettered indulgence in the very things that hold so many unbelievers in bondage.” -John MacArthur, 8-9-AD 2011

To John MacArthur I say, Amen!

David R. Brumbelow

Tyler: :^). I actually waited until I had something worth sharing, and hopefully the point is well taken. What is going on with YRRs in many areas is in great part a “pushback” against overreach by the churches they grew up in—I’ve got many friends in this category.

Ironically, MacArthur’s writing demonstrates this principle. If we interpret John 2:1-11 in the ordinary way, by what means would we argue, as does Mac, that it is “peurile and reckless” for a pastor to promote the recreational use of intoxicants? (now about that coffee pot in your church or home….) Are abstentionist pastors holier than Christ?

Along the same lines, he’s incorrect when he implies that the best way to prevent problems with alcohol is to press church members to abstain completely; a great example is that England and the United States, with strong traditions of Prohibition, actually have more problems with alcohol than do France, Spain, and Italy. He’s also incorrect in asserting that YRRs are into “unfettered” freedom: as Challies points out, nobody is arguing in favor of getting drunk.

MacArthur also goes beyond evidence when he asserts that Biblical wine-drinking practices wouldn’t get someone drunk—again, not the testimony of Scripture. I believe he’s also off base when he argues that real Christianity is not about flouting taboos; isn’t that a significant part of what He did with regards to the Pharisees? Moreover, Christ calls us to violate some taboos today—a great example being to keep your silence when asked what constitutes marriage. No?

In other words, MacArthur’s blog post here is a mild, but significant example of the “overreach” that has permeated fundamental arguments in various areas, especially alcohol. Young people who read the Bible literally are increasingly rejecting this kind of thing, and the problem is not that they’re rejecting a requirement to abstain. The problem is that they’re overreacting.

And we shouldn’t overreact to that. Sober (Biblically speaking) in our blood chemistry, sober in our thoughts and arguments, too.

One thing that irritates me about human nature (which, sadly, includes me) is the pattern of reacting and over-reacting.

The way to correct an inbalance is not to walk to the other side, but to the middle. The Kingdom of God is not about legalism, but neither is it about brats who are over-reacting to their legalistic upbringing. They need ot work out their bitterness on the counselor’s couch, not via a movement.

It seems that some demonstrate their immaturity by adding extra-Biblical, legalistic impositions, and others by flaunting liberty without regard for the honor of Christ and the welfare of others. Is any of this new?

The oft repeated claim that countries like France have few problems with alcohol is, well, false.

French Combat Youth Binge-Drinking
“In decrying the excessive alcohol consumption of their compatriots, American and British health experts have long pointed to France with special admiration. Here, they said, was a society that masters moderate drinking. In wine-sipping France, the argument went, libation is just a small part of the broad festival of life, not the mind-altering prerequisite for a good time. The French don’t wink like the English do at double-fisted drinking; they scorn people who lose control and get drunk in public. It’s a neat argument. But it sounds a little Pollyannish now that France itself is grappling with widespread binge-drinking among its youth. Worse still, fully half of 17-year-olds reported having been drunk at least once during the previous month.” -Time Magazine, July 17, 2008; quoted in “Ancient Wine and the Bible: The Case for Abstinence.”

http://gulfcoastpastor.blogspot.com/2015/07/problem-drinking-outside-us…

David R. Brumbelow

David, it’s worth noting that demonstrating that there are problems in France (or elsewhere) does not address my argument. You would need to provide an estimate of relative risk. Here’s an example which indicates that binge drinking is higher among youth in the United States than it is anywhere else in the western world.

Yay prohibitionism? Yay age 21 to drink? Or does that drinking age of 21 merely ensure that young people are likely to learn about alcohol in a frat party or other illegal setting instead of from their parents? And might we find that at such parties, people will tend to drink inexpensive beverages that are easy to conceal—say vodka and even “Everclear”? That they would tend to drink more like Russians than like Frenchmen?

(BTW, I got a kick out of your blog’s assertion that people claim Russia is an example of a culture of safe drinking…there are many wonderful things about that country, but their relationship to vodka is not one of them…no person who knows anything about Russia would make that claim)

Congratulations, by the way, on more examples of overreach to which people will, per Ed’s comment, respond. There is a point, brother, where we need to realize that while YRRs are responsible for their own actions, we are also responsible for our contributions to the environment in which they find themselves.

I know of one situation where a young man professed Christ, and was rescued from a destructive addiction to booze. He married, fathered children, and was doing reasonably well, growing in a church with people who largely abstained from booze. He was doing well abstaining. Then some YRR people got to him and he ended up transitioning to join a YRR church. Once there, they encouraged him to start drinking again because its a ‘sin’ not to drink. So he began again. You know the rest of the story. He drank more, and more, the addiction returned full force, and it destroyed his marriage, family, etc.

**edited to fix the acronym YRR (Young Restless Reformed) which was wrongly spelled YYR.

[Darrell Post]

I know of one situation where a young man professed Christ, and was rescued from a destructive addiction to booze. He married, fathered children, and was doing reasonably well, growing in a church with people who largely abstained from booze. He was doing well abstaining. Then some YYR people got to him and he ended up transitioning to join a YYR church. Once there, they encouraged him to start drinking again because its a ‘sin’ not to drink. So he began again. You know the rest of the story. He drank more, and more, the addiction returned full force, and it destroyed his marriage, family, etc.

(Just a nitpick: you mean “YRR,” not “YYR.” The phrase is “Young, Restless, Reformed.”)

O.K., I’ve not heard before anyone say that YRR’s teach, “it’s a ‘sin’ not to drink.” Can someone provide a link or a quote as an example?

My bad on the typo…YRR is what I meant. If I recall correctly, I have seen someone post that belief right here on Sharper Iron, that it is essentially a sin to avoid drinking the gift from God, booze.

As to your request for a link, it was linked in the MacArthur article linked above:

https://books.google.com/books?id=fy9x6J0p8EYC&pg=PT115&hl=en#v=onepage…

“My Bible study convicted me of my sin of abstinence from alcohol. “

Here’s the link MacArthur provides. Don’t know how widespread it is, but apparently telling people that not drinking is a sin is a real thing, and apparently these people never read about the Rechabites or Nazirites in Scripture.

Again, swing the pendulum from the Biblical center, and it doesn’t stop there without a LOT of effort.

Darrell Post,

A preacher’s wife told me of a similar situation.

A young man struggled with and gave up alcohol. His wife got him in church. A man from the church took him to a ball game and started drinking, so the new Christian did so as well.

He went right back to his alcoholism.

His wife called the church and said she thought her husband would be safe with them. She also said they would never come back to that church.

David R. Brumbelow

I have not heard the “it’s a sin not to drink” line but I have heard comments that not drinking means that you must not be “mature” as a Christian, that you are “weak” or that you have “legalistic” tenancies, etc.

These days I get more “grief” from Christians when the topic of my not drinking comes up vs non-Christians. FWIW - I don’t consider drinking a sin unless it is done to excess or done by kids under 21 so I rarely bring up the topic unless a Christian starts talking about going to some big party or night club where it is apparent that drunkenness is a part of the fun.