Depraved, but not totally

The one issue I have with some Calvinists is not having a correct understanding on the depravity of man.  Nowhere in Scripture is the doctrine of total depravity taught.  Now with this being said, I am not stating that mankind does not have a problem with depravity. The fact that I was "sinful at birth" infers inclination toward depravity and not a natural inclination toward righteousness.  In observing how some become more depraved over time, total depravity becomes a problem in a starting point in ministry.  If  you read The Four Noble Truths, you will see that even the Buddhist understands that he is depraved.
Now what does this do with alcohol and alcoholism?  Well, if one begins with the premise of total depravity then ALL sin may becomes too generalized and the solution too simple generic. Also, when a sin like alcoholism is looked at as simply that persons  "sin" problem and they cannot "handle" it, then it may allow me to think that drinking alcohol is "ok" for me.  This was not the mentality of Charles Spurgeon as noted in a previous post when confronted about the influence of alcohol among the people of England.  He understood the influence he had on others even though he did handle drinking responsibly. 
There is the idea that alcohol is not the problem and alcoholism is symptom of a deeper problem and in some cases that is true but some people just love too drink after one intoxicating drink they keep going.  An alcoholic beverage is sweet and made of water.  It can be addicting simply in of itself.  I can testify to this as well. The compulsion to drink increases.  Depravity increases as well.  People do things that they did not do before and think about thoughts that they may not have had before.  There is a mystery of lawlessness here to consider with depravity to consider. If one begins with the premise of total depravity, this becomes missed.  The bible teaches that lawlessness will increase over the course of human history.  This also true with the unregenerate. The fact that a Christian may dismiss their influence can cause a brother to stumble back into alcoholism because one drink is all it takes.
May the only offense be the cross of Jesus!

Charles Spurgeon and Drinking

It is noted in Christian history that Charles Spurgeon did drink alcohol even being a minister.   But there is more to this story.....

The temperance movement grew rapidly in England in the late 1800’s as a response to the widespread problems associated with drinking and increasing alcoholism.  Charles Spurgeon began to rethink his stance on drinking.  He known for his moderation on drinking and on occasions would drink.

It was noted in one service at that time that he said, “if I knew that another would be led to take it by my example, and this would lead them on to further drinking, and even to intoxication, then I would not touch it.” As a result, he became a total abstainer.

 

The 108 lb female and the Drinking Question

If one would go to the BAC charts, the 108 lb female with one drink would be considered impaired for driving and have a content for .04% BAC when they walk out the door after finishing the drink.  When a minister propose "all things in moderation" with alcohol and states that there is nothing wrong with a drink or two, then conveys that abstinent minister is off in his interpretation of drinking wine and a legalist, where would that minister be in his advice? Liable, I would say.

The Context of Strong Drink

Some assert that a Christian can drink as long it is in moderation by citing various passages. Certainly there are biblical passages that the support of the drinking of wine in moderation but what is meant by biblical moderation in the context that it is written.  Often scientific research by those in the medical field supports 1-2 daily servings of wine on a daily basis as healthy moderation. While research indicates that wine definitely does have some health benefits, to make a wise decision needs some further investigation into the details of modest servings of alcohol.  There are good sound doctors that even warn of these studies as they ignore other crucial issues like the risk of alcoholism.  There are some considerations to be made in the research that are dismissed in such studies like that of the amount of alcohol concentration in the serving, weight of the drinker, and the most crucial point in which the duration of time in which wine is consumed. One should not merely take to the Scriptures Paul’s statement to Timothy about how a little wine is good for the stomach and assume that a serving of wine with 13% alcohol by content fits the same context.   Prooftexting is important when reading the Bible.  Prooftexting involves studying the historical and cultural backdrop in which the letters are written while studying other passages as well on the subject.

In ancient times, the amount of wine, including fermented, was used in Roman and ancient biblical times to purify water that was stored in cisterns and wells. That was a major use of it. It was mixed with water at a very low ratio, consisting of the lowest ration of (3 parts water to 1 part wine-which was the lowest acceptable ratio; this produced a drink that typically from below 1 percent to 2.5% alcohol) and at times may even diluted wine up to (20+ parts water to 1 part wine). This means the majority of wines for common daily consumption ranged from less than .1 to 1% in alcohol percentage.  Furthermore, studies show that the ability to make wine ferment to a higher percent required quite a bit of sugar, strong portions would require much more time to ferment. This would indicate that strong wines were often a rare development for a common working man’s consumption due to availability and cost. Also, as a result, the higher content fermented wines would be esteemed by the elites of those times and less likely to be the hands of the common ancient citizen.  The consumption for common man would result in a much lower content of alcohol. Furthermore, Samuel Bacchiochi in his research even confirms the idea that the wines that were common for consumption were not left for fermentation. As a result, the fermented wines were more common and desired by the elites of those days and not the average citizen. Simply wines were not always were consistent in alcohol content and even the new wines in a couple of hours would have fractional content. Wine today is different than in ancient times. Often biblical admonishment against the “strong drinks” would be considered anywhere from 2.75% alcohol and above. In considering the percentage of alcohol is as follows in today’s markets mild table wines average at 7-10% per serving (6 oz glass serving). Also, beer averages at 5.5% per serving (12 oz can). Statistically virtually all alcohol marketed today is way above the norms per serving of ancient times and therefore considered strong drink. In comparing the alcoholic drink, the consumption for the average ancient citizen would be anywhere from less than .1% to maybe as high as 2.5% and could vary depending on how wealthy the family was. The wealthier a man or family was, the more likely they would obtain beverages above 3% alcoholic content.  This also would explain why King Lemuel in the Proverbs 30 was being advised that wine was not to be drunk by kings.

Before I embark.....

Before I embark on this topic,  I want to post something amazing in just drinking ordinary grape juice on a regular basis.

The following was noted by Web MD:

The flavonoids in purple grape juice, like those in wine, have been shown to prevent the oxidation of LDLs (the bad cholesterol).  In one study, published in 1999 in the journal Circulation, researchers at the University of Wisconsin Medical School in Madison discovered that after two weeks of daily use of grape juice, LDL levels significantly dropped among 15 patients (posted April 3, 2000).  The Mayo Clinic confirms such studies as well.

Something to think about......