Abstinence or Redemption

In follow up to the post below on the SBC, I also found a post by Drew Goodmanson from San Diego with this interesting comment on Christian viewpoints on alcohol consumption. I'm quoting part of it below, and you can click on the link below for the full post.

Alcohol, Acts 29 & the Gospel

Most Christians hold one of 3 common views of alcohol (see: Jesus Christ-King of the Brews):

a. Prohibitionist: The Bible teaches that alcohol consumption is totally forbidden by scripture.
b. Abstentionist: Although the Bible does not expressly forbid the drinking of alcoholic beverages, the consumption of alcohol in our society is reckless and should not be condoned.
c. Moderationist: Alcohol is permitted for Christians as long as consumed in moderation and in a careful manner.

All three of these positions begin in defeat. Are we willing to say anything is beyond redemption?

"The church, the bride, is a redemptive community. We live not only the experience of redemption (I'm redeemed/being redeemed) but also the works of redemption (I'm redeeming). That's why our mission is both words and works, speaking and doing redemption. And if we are working out our salvation through being redeemed and redeeming, then our response to cultural abuses is not to abstain but to redeem. That not only pushes us to maturity by teaching us how to eat, drink, and have sex to the glory of God (though it won't come easy), but it is also a witness to the world that God redeems.

* The pervert throws away the pornography (abuse) and learns to love sex with his wife (redemption).
* The glutton hittin’ up the all-you-can eat buffet 6-7 times (abuse) and learns to order a salad with light dressing instead (redemption).
* The alcohol abuser stops drinking until drunk (abuse) and learns to stop enjoy a beer or two as from God’s bounty (redemption).

As long as we make the issue "abstaining," or retracting from culture, we will miss expressing and embodying redemption. And I'm afraid the message we will send is that good things can be perverted beyond redemption." (Taken from Celebration According to the Gospel)

The last few sentences are priceless:

To move from a place of being a redemptive community to one governed by our own laws (not God's) produces a much more hidden and prevalent sin of self-righteousness and legalism. And sadly legalism is far more rampant in the church than alcoholism.