酒精、警醒與基督徒的選擇 Alcohol, Sobriety, and the Christian's Choice
前言
幾年前，我曾與一位弟兄討論有關飲酒的議題。
回頭再看，我並不想證明當時誰對誰錯。我更在意的是，今天的我是否能夠用更冷靜、更謹慎的方式來思考聖經所教導的原則。
Several years ago, I discussed the subject of alcohol with a brother in Christ.
Looking back, I am not trying to prove who was right or wrong. What matters more to me is whether I can now think through these issues in a calmer and more careful way according to Scripture.
一、聖經不只有命令，也有必要推論與榜樣
Scripture Includes Commands, Necessary Inferences, and Examples
聖經的權威不僅來自直接的命令，也來自必要推論（necessary inference）以及神所保留下來的榜樣。
The authority of Scripture comes not only through direct commands, but also through necessary inference and the examples preserved in God's Word.
如果我們只接受明文禁止，許多界線與原則都會變得模糊。
If we only accept explicit prohibitions, many biblical boundaries and principles become unclear.
例如加拉太書 5:21、彼得前書 4:3、以弗所書 5:18 等經文，都提醒信徒遠離醉酒與屬肉體的放縱。
Passages such as Galatians 5:21, 1 Peter 4:3, and Ephesians 5:18 warn believers against drunkenness and fleshly excess.
必要推論（Necessary Inference）
前提一：
神命令基督徒保持警醒、自守、謹慎。（彼前 5:8）
Premise 1:
God commands Christians to remain alert, watchful, and self-controlled (1 Peter 5:8).
前提二：
飲酒具有降低警覺性、自制力與判斷力的風險，而聖經也一再警告酒的危險。（箴言 20:1）
Premise 2:
Alcohol carries the risk of reducing alertness, self-control, and judgment, and Scripture repeatedly warns about its dangers (Proverbs 20:1).
因此可以合理推論：
如果神要求信徒保持清醒與節制，而飲酒可能削弱這些特質，那麼敬虔的人自然會傾向避開這種風險。
Therefore, a reasonable inference follows:
If God requires believers to remain sober-minded and self-controlled, and alcohol may weaken those qualities, then a godly person would naturally choose to avoid that risk.
二、神可以超越祂的啟示，卻不會違背祂已啟示的真理
God May Transcend His Revelation, But Never Contradicts It
民數記 23:19 說：
「神非人，必不致說謊。」
Numbers 23:19 states:
"God is not a man, that He should lie."
提摩太後書 2:13 說：
「祂不能背乎自己。」
2 Timothy 2:13 states:
"He cannot deny Himself."
既然神反覆強調警醒、自守、避免醉酒、遠離危險，那麼我們不應期待新約在另一個地方突然把飲酒描繪成值得追求的事物。
Since God repeatedly emphasizes alertness, self-control, avoiding drunkenness, and avoiding danger, we should not expect the New Testament to present drinking as something desirable or worth pursuing.
三、聖經記載人的行為，不等於神認可人的行為
Description Does Not Necessarily Mean Approval
聖經經常記錄人的行動，但記錄不等於認可。
Scripture frequently records human actions, but recording an action does not necessarily mean approving it.
例如大衛曾利用酒精削弱烏利亞的判斷能力，希望掩蓋自己的罪。
For example, David used alcohol in an attempt to weaken Uriah's judgment and conceal his own sin.
這個例子反而顯示，酒精更容易被用來降低人的警覺性與判斷力。
Rather than endorsing alcohol, this account illustrates how it can be used to diminish alertness and sound judgment.
四、真正的問題是什麼？
What Is the Real Question?
多年來，我越來越覺得，真正的問題其實不是酒本身。
Over the years, I have increasingly felt that the real issue is not alcohol itself.
而是：
如果神要求我們保持警醒，而人又無法準確知道自己何時開始受到影響，那麼我們為什麼要把自己放在一個必須不斷測試界線的位置？
Rather, the question is this:
If God requires us to remain alert, and people cannot always accurately determine when they begin to be affected, why place ourselves in a situation where we are constantly testing the boundaries?
個人的選擇
A Personal Decision
我二十多歲時曾經喝酒。
I drank alcohol in my twenties.
但自從 2009 年成為基督徒之後，我逐漸認識到自己的軟弱。
After becoming a Christian in 2009, I gradually became more aware of my own weaknesses.
因此，我不願意再增加額外的風險，也不願意讓自己靠近可能削弱警醒與自制的事物。
For that reason, I no longer wished to add unnecessary risks or move closer to things that might weaken alertness and self-control.
所以我選擇不再飲酒。
Therefore, I chose not to drink alcohol anymore.
這不是為了證明自己比別人更屬靈，而是出於對神的敬畏，以及對自己軟弱的認識。
This is not because I consider myself more spiritual than others, but because of reverence for God and an honest recognition of my own weaknesses.
留言
張貼留言