Q: Is it wrong to drink alcohol? I have friends in my church who tell me it’s wrong, but I grew up in a family where it was a part of life.

A: The Bible does not say, “Thou shalt not drink alcohol.” The Bible does say, “Thou shalt not get drunk;” The Bible is very clear about that. Of course, if you never drink, you’ll never get drunk and that’s the safe thing. Many Christians have come to the conclusion that it’s best not to drink. However, there are other Christians that have come to the conclusion that social drinking is acceptable. It’s the excessive drinking—getting drunk, being addicted and abusing alcohol—that is the sinful part.

Let’s give each other the freedom to differ on this—letting each person making the decision they believe is best for them. I do believe that if you pray about it, God will bring you to the right decision.