"Can I bring you something to drink
while you are waiting
for
your meal?" "Why, is the food that bad?"
What is the best way to overcome
society's problem with
alcohol?
Many social experts, along with the breweries and
distilleries,
say that "drinking in moderation" is the answer.
That is
not the answer. For much too long that has been the
problem.
Think about it; is that the way to handle society's
problems
with any other drug? Is the answer to the heroin problem
to
encourage people to use it "in moderation"? How about cocaine?
Marijuana?
LSD? Would our society be better if "moderate" use of
these
was urged? Would we be better husbands, wives, fathers,
mothers
and children as well as neighbors, employees and
students?
Absolutely not; so then why is the drug alcohol given
"preferred
drug" status? Whatever the reason, it is not because
it has
been demonstrated to be less harmful than the others!
Just because a thing is popular does not
mean it is right.
Just
because society looks upon an activity with approval does
not
mean that God does. And just because someone says "drinking
won't
hurt me" does not mean that it won't.
DO NOT
BE DECEIVED
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink a
brawler, and whoever is
intoxicated
by it is not wise" (PROVERBS 20:1). Alcohol can
accomplish
much. If you are looking for a way to slow down your
brain
activity for a spell, then alcohol is your ticket. In fact,
if you
drink enough you can do so permanently. If you are looking
for
less self-control, then alcohol is at your service; it will
allow
you to stupidly do and say things you never would while
sober.
If you want to slow down your reflexes and hamper your
motor
skills, again alcohol can do it. And since your
self-control
is also depleted you can get behind the wheel and
"hit
the road" or whatever/whoever else might be in your crooked
path.
Alcohol also helps you break down your immune system so you
can
more easily become infected by some special disease that
you've
always wanted. And who needs all those billions of brain
cells
that will be destroyed? They will always grow back, won't
they?
(NO! They won't!). "Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has
contentions?
Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause?
Who has
redness of the eyes? Those who linger long over wine,
Those
who go to taste mixed wine. Do not look at wine when it is
red,
When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly; At
the
last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper. Your
eyes
will see strange things, And your mind will utter perverse
things.
And you will be like the one who lies down in the middle
of the
sea, ... They struck me, but I did not
become ill; They
beat
me, but I did not know it. When shall I awake? I will seek
another
drink" (PROVERBS 23:29-35).
MISUSE
OF SCRIPTURE TO JUSTIFY USE OF ALCOHOL
"...which the untaught and unstable
distort, as they do also
the
rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction" (II Peter
3:16).
First, the Bible does not condemn all possible uses of all
kinds
of wines! But one cannot justify a use of wine that the
Bible
does condemn on the basis of a use of wine that it allows.
There
are at least three uses of wine that are spoken of
favorably
in the Old Testament: New wine (fresh grape juice) was
used
for its nutritional value and to quench the thirst (GENESIS
27:28);
New wine was also used in religious observances either to
be
consumed (DEUTERONOMY 12:17,18) or poured out as an offering
(NUMBERS
15:10). Fermented wine was used as pain killer for the
injured
or sick (PSALM 69:21 PROVERBS 21:6).
No Biblical passage justifies the recreational
use of
alcohol.
Into what kind of wine did Jesus turn the water (JOHN
2:1-11)?
The record states that it was "good" wine. Early writers
describe
this kind of wine to be "harmless". Pliny describes it
as
being "destitute of spirit". It is naturally sweet, not sour
or
bitter. It is fresh.
Timothy was urged to "No longer
drink water exclusively, but
use a
little wine for the sake of your stomach and frequent
ailments"
(I TIMOTHY 5:23). There was not a large supply of
healthy
drinking water in Bible times. To help alleviate this
problem,
wine would be mixed with the water so that it could be
drunk
without the ill side affects. The ratio was about one part
wine to
four parts water. Timothy's gastro-intestinal tract
needed
help, and such use of wine (not necessarily fermented) was
urged
by Paul. But again, none of these passages justify the
recreational
use of alcoholic beverages.
LIVING
FOR THE LUSTS OF MEN OR THE WILL OF GOD?
"...So as to live the rest of the
time in the flesh no
longer
for the lusts of men but for the will of God. For the time
already
past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire
of the
Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts
drunkenness,
carousals, drinking parties and abominable
idolatries"
(I PETER 4:3). There are three words in the above
passage
that relate to modern drinking habits. All three are
obviously
prohibited from the life of one who is living "for the
will of
God".
The first is translated
"drunkenness". This is the habitual
drunk.
His senses are dulled and his life is in shambles. He is
out of
control. No one admires a person in this state!
The second is "carousals". This
describes the "party
animal".
He is full of fun. He is often admired by the world. He
is the
one you see on the commercials.
The third is "drinking parties"
or "banquetings". This is
similar
to "carousals" with one important exception: the word
does
not necessarily imply drunkenness. It means repeated
drinking
of alcohol regardless of the amount. One is guilty of
this
when he drinks whether he is noticeably intoxicated or not.
All three of these drinking styles are
condemned by God's
word.
They are all damaging to health and influence. They can all
lead to
alcoholism and other serious problems. We are God's
people.
We have better things to do with our lives.
Reprinted From the Bradley Banner
Bradley Church of Christ
Bradley, Illinois
June 6, 1991
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