Q: I am a freshman in college and was wondering how the church feels about drinking. If I do it in moderation is it wrong?
A: Your question actually has two parts to it. The first teaching is the proper use of the things of this earth. You see everything on earth is given to us for our benefit. Think back to the whole Creation account where God gives all the “seed bearing plants all over the church and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food; and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground, I give all the green plants for food” (Genesis 1:29-30). That means that everything that we have should never be abused such as food, environment, resources, and drink. Now you say in moderation and that’s good, the Church has no problem with the idea of drink in moderation (I mean, in the Gospel of John, where does Jesus’ first miracle happen…at a party…making more wine!) but this comes into the second part of your answer.
We would also ask that you would follow the laws of the country as well, that means that if you’re not 21 don’t be drinking! And the other thing that I would ask you is that if you are over 21 be very aware of how you do moderate the drinking of alcohol. It is so easy to sometimes in the college setting or high school setting or with your peers or any one hat you are trying to impress, to just give in if they want to drink because you want to feel apart of the crowd. Like everything else that God has given us, alcohol can serve a good purpose, but not if it is being abused.
So I want to thank you for your question I know a lot of people want to ask and I would just say again in moderation is okay, but also only if you’re of legal age to drink. And if you’re not of age then don’t be so quick to grow up, there’s still going to be plenty of alcohol left when you turn 21…people drink it all the time and still they make more.
