(some of you are going to go crazy with this one)
OKAY,
if we allow the possibility that there are verses in the Bible, which indicates that God is not hostile to wine, and
if we acknowledge that God has approved of the use of wine for certain purposes, and
if we could prove that there were well known and respected church leaders since the time of Patmos who drank drank alcoholic beverages, and
if we had the greatest Bible teachers alive today agree that it is not a sin to drink alcoholic beverages,
NONE OF THAT, EITHER SEPARATE OR COMBINED, would commend the drinking of alcoholic beverages, because alcoholic consumption is not good for anything except carnal pleasure and it is is the cause of great sorrow, and Christians are to be guided by enlightened love and compassion, not personal desire and pleasure at the expense of others.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHILE "CHRISTIANS" ARGUE THE MERITS OF ALCOHOL there is a tsunami of suffering sweeping across our land, because people want to do what they like rather than what is good for society.
Even if it can be argued that it is not a sin to drink booze, it is still a sin to choose personal, carnal pleasure over the wellbeing of people around us.
Like it or not, when believers drink alcoholic beverages they are a stumbling block to others.
Like it or not, when believers drink alcoholic beverages they are presenting the appearance of evil.
Like it or not, God calls us to deny ourselves for the good of others.
Like it or not, we are watching our country follow other societies into destruction because Christians are more concerned about promoting alcohol than protecting their fellow Americans.
Hey folks, even if (and I do mean IF) a Christian is not forbidden by Divine law to drink alcohol, Christians are forbidden by God to be a stumbling block and we are commanded to deny ourselves, and we are told to live by the law of love, for God and for others.
We can fool ourselves all we want to by saying that there are no consequences to drinking alcohol. TELL THAT TO THE VICTIMS AND THE SURVIVORS OF ALCOHOLIC ABUSE. And remember, there would be no alcoholic abuse if there was not alcohol in a person's life, and there would be a lot less alcohol in people's lives if believers would choose to say no to this terrible drug.
ALSO. The Bible does forbid drunkenness. You can be sure not to get drunk (whatever that means) and you can be sure not to lead others into drunkenness IF YOU DON'T DRINK ALCOHOL YOURSELF.
AND REMEMBER THIS, the Bible does forbid the drinking of strong drink or that which impairs our reasoning, our self control our moral behavior.
AND DON'T MISS THIS EITHER. The reason Paul had to tell Timothy that it was acceptable to use A LITTLE WINE medicinally was because the drinking of wine was not something that Timothy was doing as a believer.
The more deeply dedicated servants of God, in the Old Testament and the New Testament were directed not to drink wine or strong drink. And we are all called to be priests of God and called to life on the highest plain.
Proverbs 20:1
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Proverbs 23:29-35
29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
Isaiah 5:11
11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
Isaiah 5:20-22
20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
Isaiah 22:13
13 And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die.
Romans 14:19-23
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
I guess it comes down to this.
You will drink because you say you can.
I will refuse to drink because I can.
You will drink for your own benefit.
I will not drink, in order to be a benefit to others AND for my own benefit.
You will drink because you have Old Testament excuses.
I will not drink because I have Old Testament directives, New Testament self control, New Testament compassion for the weak, and New Testament respect for the temple of the Holy Spirit.
A FRIEND ASKED how I would respond to a person who says, "I only drink a glass of wine in the privacy of my home."
I RESPONDED...
Obviously they don't just have it in the privacy of their home, since they talk about it to other people. So what you have there is a "closet drinker." Being a closet drinker should really be a good influence on a young person who is looking up to church people for leadership, NOT.
Also, why do they only have a glass at home?
Another "also," does that mean that all the people who say they are closet drinkers really do not have more than a glass or have it elsewhere? Even if we do not doubt their words, how does that help young people develop a clear position on drinking.
Still more, If any young people follow in that adult's steps, what makes us think they will only have one glass, at home.
If the young person does only have one glass at home, what will their testimony be with other young people, who are either Christians or not.
And, this is more of a "hiding" something from other people. So, WHY. Are they ashamed? Do they think it is a bad witness?
Regardless of what the adults are thinking, the young people are interpreting things differently.
This is part of what I am talking about when I refer to, "appearance" and "influence."
And I am sorry. If anyone has a loved one who struggles with alcohol, then they should not be further confused by selfish family or friend who refuses to give up a stupid glass of alcohol. A glass is not worth the cost of a soul, nor is a bottle, a case, a cellar or an entire winery.
HERE IS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER... The world is more honest about the hypocrisy of drinking Christians than the drinking Christians are about themselves.
While I am on it, let me mention, if there is NO CHANCE THAT A PERSON WILL BECOME EVEN TIPSY OR SLIGHTLY BUZZED, MUCH LESS DRUNK AT ANY LEVEL, AND THERE IS NO CHANCE THAT THEY WILL BECOME ADDICTED, AT ALL, then that is one thing. But if that is not the case, what gives anyone the right to play Russian Roulette with another person's life or soul?
We have not moved into this Christian drinking society because of strong Biblical commitment. The drinking Christians have their roots in Liberal churches and Catholic and Episcopal and even some Lutheran groups. It was not the Bible believing, Holy Spirit filled, Christ followers who have promoted the idea of drinking Christians. It was those who did not accept the concept of a transformed life and a break with worldliness and worldly pleasures. Why should we follow the crowd that was messed up from the beginning?
Look at the fascination and addiction the young adults in our society have with alcohol. They are constantly going to bars, they show up to school and work with more than a slight buzz. This is not the result of strong shepherding or discipling. It is the spreading cancer of a worldly church.
AND LET ME ADD THIS... It is not the occasional drink that is the major concern. It is the accumulated influence and impact of alcohol on a person's life, relationships, spiritual growth that is paramount. It is the Spirit of God that God wants us to receive, not spirits in a bottle. LET ME REPEAT AND EMPHASIZE, ALCOHOL IS ALSO KNOWN AS SPIRITS BECAUSE IT IS A COUNTERFEIT.
STRANGE AS IT MAY SEEM, I hardly ever address this problem and I do not confront folks privately. I am not shy, nor afraid to deal with it, but thankfully I don't have that problem in my church. I am open and honest when I witness to people or when I actually counsel them. But I do not go around acting like I am pastor to everyone I meet. But as you know, DRINKING IS SACRED GROUND to some people. It is as if they are being asked to deny the Son of David instead of Mogen David.
