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Justification for Drinking?
A study by Harvard researchers tracked 38,000 men, aged 40 to 75, for 12 years. The results revealed that "those who drank alcohol had 35 to 40 percent fewer heart attacks" and that "the best results came from drinking almost every day." The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.We are certain that there will be some folks, even some of our brethren, who will quickly latch onto this study and use its results as a further argument to "justify" the practice of "moderate, social drinking." This is anticipated, unfortunately, because there have always been some who desperately want to prove that drinking - at least moderate drinking - is "OK." Their arguments are flawed, and their conclusions are wrong.
For sake of argument, let's say that the new Harvard study is correct. Never mind that such studies are routinely discredited by the next "research" that comes down the pike. Also disregard the obvious and awful consequences of 'problem drinking' that wreck the lives of millions of people every year. Even if we ignore these things, the argument still fails to "justify" the practice. Consider this parallel example:
Imagine that a "new study" finds that the adrenaline rush that comes from robbing banks is beneficial to one's health. It invigorates the nerves, expands cardiovascular function, and stimulates one's immune system - it may even provide a cure for AIDS (why not!?!). Now, if such research was true (obviously it's not!), would one be "justified" to go out and rob a bank? Certainly not! Any health benefit, real or imagined, would not offset the plain condemnation of stealing found in the word of God (Ephesians 4:28).
Now, here's the point: God's Word clearly and absolutely condemns drunkenness AND so-called "moderate" or "social" drinking (Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Peter 4:3). Questionable "studies" about health benefits notwithstanding, it is still a sin to drink alcohol. Think!
