Cedars, December 2019

December 2019 6 CAMPUS POLL AND ANALYSIS by Breanna Beers T he church’s approach to alcohol has varied wide- ly throughout history and still causes controversy across and within denominations. The Cedarville University employee and student hand- books prohibit alcohol consumption while enrolled or em- ployed. All sign a Community Covenant affirming many things, including adherence to the handbook. So how do Cedarville students view alcohol consumption once they have finished school? In a Cedars poll of nearly 1,300 students, over half of them said they would probably or definitely drink at some point after graduating. A third of them said they definitely or probably would not drink. However, 63% of students said they likely would not drink regularly. The survey sent out to Cedarville students to obtain data for this article received nearly three times the usual number of responses, reflecting the weight of this topic in evangelical culture. Why should someone choose to abstain? What does moderation look like? Is quantity the only consideration? How can believers disagree well? How will the gospel best go forth? Answering these questions requires recognizing the nuance that exists where Scripture teaches biblical principles rather than defining exact mandates. In his book, “The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World,” theologian and co-founder of The Gospel Coalition D.A. Carson drew the comparison between circumcision for Jewish believers and alcohol for the modern church. Acts 16 records that Paul circumcised Timothy to avoid that particular cultural barrier in Timothy’s ministry. By con- trast, in Galatians 2, Paul did not require circumcision of Titus, even when it was demanded by the believers. Paul refused to circumcise Titus, Carson wrote, “not because it didn’t matter to them, but because it mattered so much that if he acquiesced, he would have been giving the impression that faith in Jesus is not enough for salvation.” Paul was willing to accommodate cultural preferences to advance the gospel; he was “rigidly inflexible” when those cultural preferences become a prerequisite to the gospel. Carson extended the analogy to the modern discussion of alcohol consumption: “If I’m called to preach the gospel among a lot of people who are cultural teetotalers, I’ll give up alcohol for the sake of the gospel. But if they start say- ing, ‘You cannot be a Christian and drink alcohol,’ I’ll reply, ‘Pass the port.’” Both abstinence and moderation are allowable po- sitions, each with their own risks. Abstinence can lead to pride, exclusiveness and judgmentalism; moderation comes with the temptation to excess, poor stewardship and idolatry. Thus, it is important for those who drink to con- sider not only how much they drink, but why they do so. Similarly, the abstinent must consider why they abstain, as well as how they view fellow believers who don’t. As pastor, author, and teetotaler John Piper wrote for Desiring God, “I want to hate what God hates and love what God loves. And this I know beyond the shadow of a doubt: God hates legalism as much as he hates alcoholism.” Alcohol is often controversial within the church be- cause for some, it may be completely innocuous, while for others, it is utterly life-destroying. Alcohol abuse is a real problem with real effects, and Scripture makes it clear that blithely continuing in a lifestyle of alcoholism is not an option for the Christian. Like any sin, alcohol addiction should be met by the church with grace, accountability and desire for restoration. For this reason, abstinence from alcohol may be a pragmatic choice for some people. A person is not legalistic for setting guardrails for themselves to help them obey bib- lical teaching, nor are they weak for recognizing their own temptation to sin. Our survey found that 15% of Cedarville students said they might avoid alcohol due to a family history of alcohol- ism — compared to 32% concerned about the loss of inhi- bitions due to drunkenness, 29% with moral or religious concerns, 28% worried about health effects and 21% influ- enced by their family’s abstinence. Historically, alcoholismhas been understood as amed- ical problem, a moral failure, or a socioeconomic symptom. And despite the lack of modern medical evidence, the dan- gers of alcohol abuse were abundantly evident to biblical authors. Both the Old and New Testaments caution against wanton drunkenness — see Proverbs 23:20, Romans 13:13 and Ephesians 5:18 for a few examples. However, these cautions against abuse of alcohol did not preclude its use, according to Scripture. Deuteronomy 7:13 and Proverbs 3:9-10 describe wine as a blessing from the Lord to be enjoyed. Jesus not only turned water into wine at Cana, but established the drinking of wine as one of the fundamental sacraments of the church in Communion. Christian liberty to drink alcohol demands not only moderation, but self-giving charity, along the lines of the precedent set in Romans 14. The attitude of the Christian toward alcohol should be the same as toward any issue where Scripture leaves room for ambiguity: to keep the gospel in focus. In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Paul wrote, “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. … I have become all things to all people, so that by all possible means I might save some.” This perspective helps believers clarify the correct questions to ask when it comes to alcohol consumption: not “Is alcohol acceptable or evil?” but, “When is standing out a distinctive witness, and when is it a needless barrier? What is the real motivation behind either drinking or abstaining in any particular circumstance? How can believers who dis- agree maintain the unity of the body of Christ?” Our survey indicates that students’ plans are influ- enced by their families’ practices. Only one-third of stu- dents whose families never drink said they would definitely drink after graduating, compared to nearly half of students whose families frequently or occasionally drink alcohol. Similarly, less than one in 10 students whose families drink said they would never drink alcohol, compared to almost twice that rate among students whose families abstain. Age was also a significant factor in students’ deci- sion-making: 70% of students over 21 said they would probably or definitely drink after graduating. This is likely influenced by their social circles: three-quarters of students over 21 reported that more than 60% of their non-Cedar- ville friends drink. This topic is obviously one students think about and discuss. Surrounded by faithful faculty and fellow believers those discussions can shape students’ lives around biblical principles that will guide them beyond their time here. Breanna Beers is a junior Molecular and Cellular Biology major and the campus news editor for Cedars. She loves exercising curiosity, hiking new trails, and quoting “The Princess Bride” whether it’s relevant or not. Students Asked About Alcohol Use and Their Future While alcohol consumption is prohibited for students, there is much to consider from Scripture beyond school The dangers of alcohol abuse were abundantly evident to biblical authors.