I believe that figure of speech is called synecdoche, where a part is used to signify the whole. Just as Solomon’s criticism of sleep is actually a condemnation of slothfulness, the verses about alcoholic drink should be seen as referring to drunkenness, not the beverages themselves.

And, so you know, I think “barhopping” is a good example of the abuse of alcohol. Let’s not confuse the abuse of something with the thing itself. For example, materialism is a real problem in this country, yet that doesn’t mean we can’t own anything. There are many workaholics, yet we know that work in and of itself isn’t evil. Personally I feel that nationalism is a terrible problem in the church today, particularly in the United States, but that doesn’t mean we all have to move to the wilderness.

Grace and peace,
Tim Archer 

I have glanced through Solomon’s words several years ago, but it has bee a while. I found those words interesting because they seem to cover the broader thought of slothfulness, but I will have to go take a look at them again.

I believe there is a weirdness because of the past purity/prohibition movement in America, but I do find it as a consistency principle. For instance, I know of a group of Christians who all go out bar hopping and I am pretty sure their influence among others has been shot.

Thanks for stopping by. 

Thanks for stopping by and for your comment. I appreciate your words and your study. The reason for the culture statement is I see many Christians run to culture without taking a look at the evidence themselves.  I believe understanding culture gives us a great insight to the topic at hand, but I believe many people run to culture as justification.

I wrote these articles as a personal view. I have seen the direct influence of alcohol and even had it effect me as well, through my own choices.

Thank you again brother for your words. They are appreciated. 

A thought on being affected by culture: Christians throughout history have drunk alcohol. I’m not saying every Christian, but it was quite common. So much so, for example, that the Puritans brought more ale than water on their ships. Then American culture shifted, and alcohol came to be seen as evil. You will be hard-pressed to find this point of view outside of the United States. (excepting where U.S. missionaries have gone)

The church left alcohol to the world, and the devil has had a field day. Where drinking without drunkenness is common in many places, it’s somewhat rare here in the States. Where in the Bible people could drink “wine and fermented drink” as part of their praise to God, we have left the world with no witness as to how God wants alcohol to be used, rather than abused.

I’m not saying that you should drink. But I’m very glad that you have chosen to frame these posts as a personal statement rather than a pronouncement. We’ve had too much misguided pontificating on this subject over the years.

I won’t go on and on. I know you’ve read some of my thoughts from my blog.

Grace and peace,
Tim 

In looking at Solomon’s words, I would encourage you to examine what Proverbs has to say on the subject of sleep. Solomon took a hard line against that “evil” as well.

I would suggest that the “weirdness” that people feel upon seeing alcohol at a church event speaks more to American culture than anything else. Believers have at times felt that same weirdness regarding coffee, Coca Cola and other beverages.

The dangers of alcohol, particularly in our culture, are not to be taken lightly. But I don’t want to see us falling into the trap of Colossians 2:20–23.

Looking forward to reading your other posts.

Grace and peace,
Tim Archer 

And it drives me crazy to see parents attend a congregation outside of their own community because the bigger congregation has, “a better youth program.” What they are teaching their children is that you should not ask what you can do for the Lord’s church, but what can the Lord’s church do for you. They come here and say things like, “Our other congregation only had one or two other kids, so we left.” And I think, “You abandoned those other kids?! How horrible!” 

Sorry for the rant, but I just love what you had to say! Thanks for challenging us, brother! Have a great day!