Abstaining from strong drink does not make one more spiritual. However, there is a principle that causes one to practice abstinence, and this principle has great
If one thinks of abstinence as a virtue in itself, and one practises abstinence religiously for its own sake, then one is not spiritual, but carnal, because one is following
Without controversy, Jesus Christ was a spiritual person. Yet he never bound or preached abstinence from certain foods or drinks, but declared all foods clean
Neither partaking of food or drink, nor abstaining from it, confers any measure of spirituality, because "God's kingdom is not food and drink, but righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy spirit"
For example, let us think of another kind of abstinence, namely vegetarianism. The popular perception of a vegetarian as more spiritual than a meat eater, is of pagan, not Biblical origin. One cannot rightly claim that vegetarianism makes him or her more spiritual than people who eat flesh. Likewise, abstinence from strong drink, simply as abstinence, adds nothing to one's
Bad attitudes develop from thinking of abstinence, or of indulgence, as more spiritual or righteous. She who abstains, and thinks her
In fact, both abstinence and indulgence are, in themselves, spiritually and morally neutral and of no religious value. Now, having pointed that out, let us look at the principle that does have enormous spiritual value, and which leads to abstinence
Consider the following
What is Paul saying here? He is pointing out that a thing can be lawful yet not mandatory. The law may permit you to do it, but the law does not require it of you. You can choose not to do it, because the law has not bound you to do it, and therefore you are not
For example, when Jesus and the Pharisees were discussing divorce, they said that Moses "commanded" divorce, but Jesus said that Moses "permitted" it
Now consider another related
What is Paul saying here? He is pointing out that the law might permit something, but that does not necessarily make it a good thing to do. It may not be profitable or helpful to do it. If it were an unhelpful or unfruitful thing do do, if it might tear down rather than edify or build up, then surely you would not do it even
Someone might say that if a thing is lawful, then it must be the right thing to do. If that were true, we would have to do everything that is lawful, because James says, "If one knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin"
Notice the spiritual principle here. We do not choose to do what we like, merely on the grounds that it is lawful, but rather we choose to do only what is profitable, beneficial, and edifying to everyone
This principle is but a bullant's whisker from the familiar golden rule, "Love your neighbour as yourself"
The great principle we have considered in this lesson leads to growth and fruitfulness. It orders our lives in many ways. One application of this principle is total abstinence from alchohol. The abstinence in itself has no spiritual value, but the principle leading to it is of great value indeed, and those who live by it show