Some
ask about the issue of alcohol and other drugs being included in a Doctrinal Statement. Doctrinal Statements usually do not speak to
this issue because they are focused on foundational truths of the Bible. While I oppose the recreational use of dangerous
mind-altering drugs, I agree this issue does not rise to the level of the
inerrancy of the Bible or the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ for our
sins.
Nevertheless,
the issue of drugs is important and should be spoken to. The old Church Covenant that dates back to
the 1850s speaks to this issue. While it
is a little dated, it is a good clear statement on this and a number of other
issues. Many churches still use it and
it is available in various forms at LifeWay.
See links to the Church Covenant below.
Some
churches write their own Doctrinal Statements and Church Covenants and would
like to include a statement warning about drugs. Our church uses the following statement:
We believe
abstaining from the recreational use of dangerous drugs (alcohol, marijuana,
opioids, etc.) is both safe and wise. Drugs should only be used for
strictly medicinal purposes, and even then, with great caution.
(Proverbs 20:1;
Proverbs 22:3; Proverbs 23:29-35; Mark 12:30; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1
Thessalonians 5:6-8; 1 Peter 5:8)
Anyone interested is welcome to incorporate this statement in their own Church Covenant or
Statement of Faith.
For
more details, or a defense, concerning this statement on alcohol and other drugs,
see the book Ancient Wine and the Bible: The Case for Abstinence, as well as
other articles here at Gulf Coast Pastor.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor,
February 20, AD 2019.
Articles:
Other
Articles in lower right margin.
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