Everything in Moderation

By Dr. Ken Matto

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.

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?