Everything in Moderation

By Dr. Ken Matto

(Phil 4:5 KJV) Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

There is one saying found among Christians which has almost become a lifestyle principle. There are many Christians who believe that you can partake in anything as long as you do it in moderation. Of course, they are thinking of things like eating, drinking, etc. As long as you do not overindulge, then you are doing fine.

Well this type of thinking is not only erroneous it is diametrically opposed to Scripture. The Scripture that is used to as a “proof text” for this belief is Philippians 4:5 where the word “moderation” is used. This is the only place in the Bible where the word moderation is used. Now the Greek word behind “moderation” means “gentle, patient, yielding.” In fact it is used in four other verses in the Scriptures.

(1 Tim 3:3 KJV) Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

(Titus 3:2 KJV) To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.

(James 3:17 KJV) But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

(1 Pet 2:18 KJV) Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

As we can plainly see, the word has absolutely nothing to do with enjoying everything in life in moderation. It is a word which denotes a Christian trait and that is “gentleness.” We are to let our gentleness be known unto all as part of our Christian character. The reason that many Christians attempt to fallaciously follow the idea of everything in moderation is so they can partake of the world’s goods. For example, sitting in front of a TV and watching sports with a six pack of beer in front of you. If I only drink 4 cans, then I am doing it in moderation. This method can be transferred to anything you want. A Christian plays the lottery for $5 a week. They are not going overboard but they are playing it in moderation.

The problem is that the Bible does not condone nor teach that type of behavior. It boils down to the Christian just allowing their flesh to rule. As we saw, the word moderation has nothing to do with an indulging lifestyle. Let us take that concept of everything in moderation a little further and see if the Bible can condone it. The worldly Christian says “everything in moderation.” So that means I can commit adultery once a month, after all, that is in moderation. I can gamble in the casinos with a limit of $100, after all, that is in moderation. I can embezzle from my employer with a low limit, after all, that is in moderation. Well of course, the Bible does not condone this type of lifestyle but when someone claims “everything in moderation,” these things come under the “everything.”

What really amazes me is that worldly Christians will attach themselves to concepts like “everything in moderation” and completely skip over all the verses which deal with giving. Heaven help them if they would have to open their moth eaten wallets and give a few bucks to missions. That would probably cut into their weekly beer allotment. They would rather adapt themselves to an unscriptural lifestyle like sitting in front of a TV and watching sports with a six pack of beer and cry out “Christian Liberty, Christian Liberty.” It is no small wonder why countries that were once bastions of Christian truth are being completely taken over by false gospels, simply because the Christians would rather drink beer and talk the nonsensical talk of sports than engage in spiritual warfare. When the Lord looks down from Heaven on recycling days, I wonder how many of His children are recycling beer bottles and cans? No wonder He asked the question that when He returns will He find faith upon the earth?

The Bible is very clear that we are not to minister to the flesh and when we begin to adapt these lifestyles under the umbrella cry of “Christian Liberty” then we have begun a downward slide in our Christian walk to the point of the question as to whether we were ever saved. Any Christian who fights for the idea that it is okay for them to drink beer or engage in worldly pursuits under the mythical “moderation” belief system needs to check whether they are truly in the faith or not. Christ did not die on the cross so Christians can enjoy a self-centered sinful lifestyle. (Rom 14:8 KJV) For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. There is no way getting around it, if you are truly saved, you must abandon the idea of “everything in moderation” and live totally unto the Lord unless you be found a reprobate and not saved. God did not save you so you can drink beer and immerse your mind in useless chatter. You were saved to bear fruit. The hour is late and it is time to get busy in the Lord’s work. (Rom 13:12 KJV) The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

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