No Drinking Parties

Shelby G. Floyd

December 13, 2006

The inspired apostles of Jesus Christ were strong in their contention for total abstinence. In a statement to the Christians at Rome, Paul, exhorted, “Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." (Romans 13: 13-14.) You will notice in that statement that “revelry and drunkenness” are condemned.

Abstain From Drinking Parties

Every Christian realizes that drunkenness is wrong, but there are some religious people who believe social drinking to be right. Let us see if this is true? The word revelry in Romans 13: 13, is from the Greek word komos, and is defined,

“a revel, carousal, that is in the Greek writing properly a nocturnal and riotous procession of half drunken and frolicsome fellows who after supper parade through the streets with torches and music in honor of Bacchus or some other deity, and sing and play before the houses of their male and female friends; hence, used generally of feasts and drinking parties that are protracted till late at night and indulge in revelry.” (Thayer, page, 367.)

Therefore, according to this definition, not only is drunkenness wrong, but also reveling, which involves feasts and drinking-parties that is protracted until late at night.

The Recabites Drank No Wine

Jeremiah the prophet exhorted the people of Judah and Jerusalem to obey God their father like the family of the Recabites obeyed their father Jonadab, who commanded them to drink no wine:

Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying: "This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go and tell the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem, 'Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?' declares the LORD. 'Jonadab son of Recab ordered his sons not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather's command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me. Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, "Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your fathers." But you have not paid attention or listened to me. The descendants of Jonadab son of Recab have carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.' (Jeremiah 35:12-16).

Total Abstinence Is The Right Thing To Do!

God always blesses his people when they do the right thing. He blessed the Recabites because they gave heed to their father’s instructions and obeyed what he commanded them to do. As a result, God promised them that they would always have a man to serve him:

Then Jeremiah said to the family of the Recabites, "This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'You have obeyed the command of your forefather Jonadab and have followed all his instructions and have done everything he ordered.' Therefore, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'Jonadab son of Recab will never fail to have a man to serve me.'” (Jeremiah 35:18-19).

Christian people do not be deceived about drinking alcoholic beverages. The word of God plainly declares such behavior to be sinful:

The time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (1 Peter 4:3-5 ESV).