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Christian Living/Human Behavior

Why do you say that alcoholism is a sin when the Bible does not talk about alcoholism? It does condemn drunkenness in several places, but the closest thing to alcoholism is when the qualifications for elders and overseers are laid out in 1 Timothy and Titus "not given to much drink" or "not a lover of strong drink". I find the WELS seriously lacking when it comes to the subject of alcohol. Which is not what I have found on most other subjects usually if it is not in the Bible then it falls under Christian freedom. With alcohol however there seems to be some "adding in" so to speak. The Bible says that drunkenness is a sin, so that is true it does not say nor should it be automatically assumed that alcoholism is a sin.

There is an overwhelming amount of medical evidence that indicates it is a disease with both physical and mental characteristics. If alcoholism is a sin and a disease how can one repent of a disease? I can see how one can repent of drunkenness, but not a disease. Especially a disease that shows evidence that it is hereditary. Would it not be proper to treat the disease as a disease and the sin (drunkenness) as a sin? I would also like to state that just because it is a disease that does not excuse the sin.

You are right. One has to be very careful about calling alcoholism a sin. We don't want to lump all alcoholics under the umbrella of unrepentant sinners. There are believing Christians who are repentant for their abuse of alcohol. They are alcoholics--addicted to alcohol. They suffer from the abuse of alcohol. That's how they got to be alcoholics. God has forgiven them, and with God's help they have overcome the active practicing of their addiction to alcohol.

I don't know what you use as a definition of alcoholism. There may be something hereditary that makes a person more susceptible to alcoholism than another person. The person with the hereditary predisposition to alcoholism will only become an alcoholic by drinking alcohol. I may have a predisposition to obesity. My sin in connection with my predisposition to obesity would be to overeat to the extent that I would harm my body. You might know that you have a predisposition to obesity by looking at your blood relatives. If you knew that your grandfather and father were alcoholics, it might be a sin for you to drink any alcohol at all. The sin of alcoholism is the passage that you have quoted--do "not be a lover of strong drink." The sin of alcoholism is the love of something more than God and than God's gifts of marriage, children, gainful employment, responsibility in caring for body, etc. These things make up the sin of alcoholism. Alcoholism has the characteristics of a disease. But the practicing alcoholic carries with him or her a lack of the moral responsibility to God's Fifth Commandment and God's First Commandment among others.

A non-practicing, repentant believer in Jesus Christ who is addicted to alcohol has the disease of alcoholism, but has his or her sin forgiven. The practicing, impenitent, non-believer in Jesus Christ has both the disease of alcoholism and the sin. You are right when you say-- "Just because it is a disease it does not excuse the sin."

God's blessings!

What is the position of Lutheranism on its followers practicing social nudism?

You inquired about the position of Lutheranism regarding its followers practicing social nudism. Although we cannot give an answer for all of Lutheranism, I can give you my answer as I think about your question from a Scriptural position. When God created Adam and Eve, the first humans, they were created without sin. God introduced Eve to Adam and Adam to Eve. He created them to be husband and wife and that is what they became. We are told: Genesis 2:25 "The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame." They felt no shame because they were not corrupted with sin.

That all changed as God describes it to us through Moses, the author of Genesis. Chapter Three relates the fall into sin. When God asked Adam, "Where are you?" (3:9), Adam answered: (3:10) "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." Because Adam now knew sin, Adam now knew shame because of his naked body. Then in verse 21 of chapter three we are told: "The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them." Because of sin, clothing is made for the protection of man and woman from the elements, but also for protection because of sin.

Inspired by God, St. Paul speaks about the parts of the body in a discussion about spiritual gifts. He writes in I Corinthians 12:23 - "the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are not presentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment."

When we combine the two sections of Scripture, we see that Paul is talking about more than what society accepts as modest or not modest in covering the body. Paul is talking about sin and certain parts of the body that are covered because spiritual concern demands their covering in certain circumstances.

Since there is shame because of sin and since God gives clothing because of the shame that exists because of sin and since that was done for the benefit of man and woman and for their protection so that we can speak about not presentable parts that are covered for modesty sake, we have a Scriptural background upon which we can address social nudism.

I would think that the WELS pastor might ask his member about the reasons the member practices social nudism. He might ask
  • about issues of rebellion against societal norms.
  • about feelings of lust or sexual desire that the member might be feeling in a situation of social nudism -- Matthew 5:27-28

  • The pastor might warn his member about the dangers of falling into temptation to lust and sin in the mind: Ephesians 5:3-4.
  • The pastor might warn his member about doing something -- in this case social nudity -- which might tempt others to sin.
  • Not everyone is a strong as the member might be. Romans 14:13
  • While we could never say that clothing or lack of clothing depends upon what is accepted by society, there is a responsibility that we have as Christians not to tempt others to sin by the clothing or lack of clothing that we wear. Our society does set certain standards regarding clothing.
  • We may consider those standards to be outmoded, restrictive, and totally wrong. Yet, we may abide by those standards out of love for God in this sense: we do not want to put ourselves into situations in which we will be tempted to sin; we do not want to put others into situations where they might be tempted to sin because of our actions or our clothing or lack of it.
  • Let the rule of Christian love fill your heart: I Corinthians 14:40. There are places where clothing can be worn or not worn without tempting yourself or others to sin. There are places where clothing or a lack of clothing would be a temptation to your self and/or others to sin. I would encourage you to be very discerning in your approach to social nudity. Don't be so proud as to think that you will not be tempted to sin. Don't be so naive as to think that you might not tempt others to sin. You will need to answer this question before your God. Consider it carefully. You do not want to be confronted by God on the Day of Judgment with the accusation that your practice of social nudism tempted yourself or others to sin.

May God bless you as you apply these thoughts to yourself and your question.

Is alcoholism a disease or a type of sin? A former Lutheran Pastor of years ago told me, "Alcoholism is not a disease. It is a form of sin. It's biblical name is "drunkenness". Is this true?

Alcoholism is a sin. Scripture teaches that it is not wrong to use alcohol in moderation. Paul encouraged Timothy to "use a little wine because of your stomach and frequent illnesses" (1 Timothy 5:23). Paul seemed to be recommending this for medicinal reasons. However, Scripture does condemn the abuse and excessive use of alcohol: "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery" (Ephesians 5:18). See also Proverbs 23:20,21,29-35; Luke 21:34; 1 Corinthians 6:9,10.

Alcoholism is also a disease. Like other drugs, it can be addictive. In such a case a person's body develops a chemical dependency to alcohol. Alcoholism also leads to other diseases such a liver failure.

When treating someone with alcoholism it is important to remember these two points. Otherwise one will not be treating the entire problem of alcoholism.

Where does one find in the Bible that the sign gifts (what are commonly called tongues, prophesy, miracles, words of knowledge, healings, etc.) have ceased (or will cease after the Bible was written)? It would seem that if they were needed at the time of the early church (and, of course, some of these occurred in the Old Testament) why would they not be needed now? If it were the case where having the Bible in written form is the answer to the fact that they went away why did just the 'sign' gifts cease? Also, it would seem one could use the argument that the Jews had the Old Testament that clearly spoke of Jesus coming so they wouldn't need the sign gifts to authenticate what they already had in written form (and in physical form for 33 years and 3 years of His miraculous ministry).

Let's, just for argument sake, say that all churches and doctrines that say these gifts aren't for today have been misguided and they really are for the church until Jesus returns. How would one know that they were authentic? I suggest that they would point to Jesus as they did in the New Testament (John 20:31-if the signs were done so that people would believe where does it say that they would end and stop leading the lost and hurting to believe?). Does the world and the church today still have need for them like they did in the New Testament time? How about a crippled beggar who needed to walk? Can he still find hope that God CAN (I realize not everyone was healed in the NT - Jesus only did what the Father directed Him to do) heal him, how about people being sent out for missions can they still trust that God will direct them (or warn them) through prophesy like Paul was warned?

I know the Bible answers all we need to believe in Jesus but what do you say to someone who is needed a miracle to heal them (i.e., something that modern medicine cannot heal and there are plenty of things--sorry God--only healed miraculously until the Bible was written, now you have to suffer? (now I know that Bottom line is that we know God gave them to the church and I know He had a reason for it (otherwise why would He give them to the church?) so is that reason still valid today and all time until Jesus returns?

We don't say that God cannot still give the gifts today if he chooses. We simply note that the tongues of today are not languages as those that the apostles received were, that in Acts the gifts were always given by the apostles who were witnesses of Christ's ministry, that there can be no more apostles, that we are not promised the gifts will endure till Christ's return, that we are repeatedly warned against false wonders in the last days, and, most important of all, that those who claim the gifts today do not teach according to Scripture, but teach a false ecumenism.

Is boxing a Christian sport?

In general, particular sports in and of themselves are neither "Christian" or "non Christian." Boxing, like other sports, falls into the area of life we call adiaphora - things that God has neither commanded nor forbidden. In other words, God has left it up to a Christian's freedom whether he wishes to participate or not in such activities. Scripture nowhere forbids the believer's participation nor commands that he must take part.

Of course, the participant's attitude in any sport can still be very important. If a participant takes part in any sport because he enjoys inflicting severe bodily harm to his opponent (a football player who intentionally seeks to injure a member of the opposing team, for example) that would be a sin against the 5th Commandment. A Christian would want to participate in any sport by using his God given talents to the best of his ability, according to the rules of the sport. By such participation, the Christian can bring honor to his Savior even in an activity which in and of itself is an adiaphoron.

The specific sport you asked about, boxing, would follow the same principle of being an adiaphoron. If someone participates in boxing merely because he loves to inflict injury on his opponent, such a motivation would be sinful. However, there would be nothing inherently sinful to merely seeking to win a boxing match while honoring safety factors instituted for the well being of both participants (such as padded gloves; rules about legal and illegal punches).

I am a WELS practicing Christian. I often think about raising children in this world and it scares me. It scares me more than anything. I know I should have more faith. I don't know what I would do if my child was kidnapped, or brutally murdered. I don't know what I would do if my child would grow up an unbeliever. My fears are so strong that they are a great hindrance to having children. I believe strongly that God makes us His children through baptism, and that the Holy Spirit keeps our faith alive, and that God gives us the strength to resist temptation. I know this. But what if my child grows up and is influenced heavily by a world which condemns our true Christian beliefs as "hate crimes" by just speaking out against homosexuality? Is my faith weak, or are my fears justified? Doesn't Revelations teach that the times will get "unbearable"? Sure, our names are written in the book of life, but aren't the "odds" against any human keeping his/her faith?

Your concerns about raising children in a society that is indeed increasingly hostile to absolute truth in general and Christian truth in specific are very understandable.

However, if we live as if the devil and those who do his will are in control of this world, we have missed a very important and comforting point of Scripture. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the victorious ruler of all things. For instance, the book of Revelation does indeed mention some very troubling and difficult times as the world grows closer to its end. But the beauty of that very book is that every vision of Revelation ends in the glory of heaven with a countless host of saints singing praise to God for the eternal victory they enjoy (Revelation 5:9-14; 7:9-17; 11:15-19; etc.).

The message of Revelation is clear: no matter how dark it may look at times, and especially in the last times, God and his people always win.

Or again in Matthew 24:24, after mentioning that there will indeed be many false prophets and false christs who will deceive many, Jesus promises us that those deceptions cannot deceive God's elect children. Or look at Psalm 2, as the nations rage against the Lord and his Messiah, what is God's reaction? "The One enthroned in heaven laughs" (Psalm 2:4). God laughs because no one can overthrow his Son and his kingdom. By faith, you and I are a part of that kingdom just as is every child washed in the water of baptism!

Finally, remember, that as God's people, we are the salt and light of a decaying and dark world. And, if God let's this world continue for another generation, our children will be that salt and light in the next generation. Christian parents sharing the Word with their children is one tool God uses to give the gift of another generation of those who are salt and light to the world!

Let your concerns for the world's sinful influence lead you to share the Word regularly and faithfully with any children God may give you. But do not let such fears rob you of the opportunity to receive that blessing of children. While we do not have any specific promise of God that every child born to Christian parents will arrive safely in heaven, yet Scripture again and again points out that in Jesus Christ we and our children are victors in this world, not victims (Romans 8:31ff). And that will always be true through him who is with us "to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). Dear Christian, the "odds" are not against us, but against Satan!


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