What the Bible has to say about Alcohol, parts 1-4 April, 2011

Transcription

1 What the Bible has to say about Alcohol, parts 1-4 April, 2011 Passages that seem to allow for the consumption of alcohol Proverbs 9:2-5 wisdom compared to wine Isaiah 25:6 the Lord prepares a feast with wine Isaiah 55:1 Free mercy of the Lord compared to free wine Joel 2:19 the Lord to send wine to the people a sign of restoration and joy Genesis 14:18 Given to Abraham by Melchizedek Psalm 104:14-15 God makes wine to make the heart of man glad Joel 2:24 the people blessed with abundance of wheat and wine and oil Matthew 26:27-29 wine used at meals; wine used in the Lord s Supper John 2:9-10 Jesus makes water into wine 1 Timothy 5:23 Paul tells Timothy to use a little wine for his stomach Exodus 29:40-41 drink offerings are to be part of the sacrifices Colossians 2:16 let no one be your judge as to food and drink 1 Timothy 4:4-5 Everything made by God is good and should be sanctified by the word of God prayer Galatians 5:13 you were called to freedom, not to legal bondage 1 Corinthians 10:31 whatever you do, eating or drinking, do it to the glory of God

2 Passages that seem to speak against the consumption of alcohol Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. Proverbs 21:17 he that loves wine shall not be rich Proverbs 23:19-21 Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path. Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. Proverbs 23:29-35 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. They hit me, you will say, but I m not hurt! They beat me, but I don t feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink? Proverbs 25:16 If you find honey, eat just enough too much of it, and you will vomit. Proverbs 31:4-7 It is not for kings, O Lemuel not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights. Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. Micah 2:11 If a man walking after wind and falsehood had told lies and said I will speak to you concerning wine and liquor, he would be spokesman to this people. Genesis 9:20-21 Noah became drunk and uncovered himself; when his son Ham saw him naked, Noah cursed his son s son (Canaan) Genesis 19:30-38 Lot s daughters get him drunk so they can sleep with him and continue the family name. Leviticus 10:8-10 Aaron and his sons not allowed to drink when they perform priestly duties Numbers 6:3-4 Vow of a Nazirite; never to take of anything from a vine Deuteronomy 29:6 Israelites not to drink in the wilderness to grow closer to the Lord Deuteronomy 21:20-21 drunkards to be stoned to death Judges 13:4, 13, 14 Samson s mom told that she nor he should drink wine, nor strong drink 2 Samuel 11:13 David wants to get Uriah drunk to cover up his own adultery Daniel 1:8, 12 Daniel not to drink wine Isaiah 5:11, 12, 22 Woe to those who drink all day long Isaiah 24:9, 11 drunkards in the streets, joy is darkened

3 Isaiah 28:1-8 the leaders of Ephraim have failed because of drunkenness Joel 3:3 people neglect their families for the love of wine Amos 6:1, 6 the people are drunk and do not grieve Nahum 1:10 the drunkards will be consumed Habakkuk 2:15-16 woe to them who get others drunk for sexual gain Luke 1:15 John the Baptist not to drink wine, nor strong drink Luke 21:34 be ready for the 2 nd coming, not drunk Romans 13:13 let us walk not in drunkenness Galatians 5:19-21 drunkenness listed as an evil work of the flesh Ephesians 5:18 do not drink to excess 1 Thessalonians 5:7-8 let us be sober Matthew 11:19 Jesus falsely accused of being a drunk Acts 2:13-15 Apostles falsely accused of being drunk Romans 14:21 it s good not to drink if it causes a brother to stumble Titus 2:3 women are not to be given to much wine Revelation 14:8 wine associated with immorality and judgment Revelation 16:19 wine associated with the judgment of God 1 Corinthians 5:11 do not eat with a drunkard 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God 1 Timothy 3:3 overseers; not addicted to much wine 1 Timothy 3:8 Deacons shouldn t be addicted to much wine 1 Timothy 3:11 women to be temperate 1 Corinthians 9:19 I give up my freedoms so I may share the gospel 1 Corinthians 8:12 causing another to stumble is a sin against Christ 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 not every legal thing is profitable

4 Alcohol was made by God to be used by man to make him glad and merry. Wine was used as a symbol of the blood of Jesus Christ. Paul says for Christians to not let others stand as their judge in regard to food and drink. Paul encouraged Timothy to take a little wine for his ailing stomach it has a medicinal purpose. In the Bible, alcohol is never forbidden for all people. Paul said that everything made by God is good and should be sanctified by prayer (thanksgiving) and the word of God. While this seems to give free license to drinking alcohol, it also places 1 condition on it. That it be sanctified. To be sanctified is to be made holy. It is to be made holy in 2 ways: first, by prayer, which is the giving of thanks and the request for God s wisdom and guidance. The second means of sanctification is by the Word of God, the Bible. This means that a person who consumes is to consume with an awareness and submission to what the Bible says about it. Though, the Bible does allow for the consumption of alcohol, it also presents some stern warnings against its abuse. There are more than twice as many scriptures speaking against the use and misuse of alcohol as those which allow for it. This is not a contradiction, but it simply shows that for each instance of allowance, there are 2-3 warnings that must be accepted. Scripture speaks of the misuse of alcohol in vivid terms, and shows that alcohol can ruin a person s life. Alcoholism can ruin a person s job, fortune, ability to function, relationships, family, and standing with God. Israel s idolatries were compared to alcohol addiction. In Revelation, the sins that bring the judgment of God are compared to alcohol abuse. Paul stated that drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God. Alcohol was instrumental in many sins and deaths. Also, while the Bible never forbids alcohol for everyone, it shows that the Lord did forbid it for some who had a special service. And while Paul spoke of having freedom, he also tempered that with a call to laying aside those freedoms for the benefit of others. Paul spoke of laying aside his freedoms for 2 reasons: to share the gospel with others, and to help Christians grow in their faith. These are both noble goals for every Christian. In addition to the Bible s warning against the abuse of alcohol, we have personal experience and modern science which speak to alcohol s destructive tendencies. (See statistics on alcohol) Statistics on alcohol: Every year, more money is spent promoting the use of alcohol than any other product. Perhaps through its elaborate and creative marketing, the most basic, yet important fact about alcohol is often overlooked alcohol is a drug the most commonly used and widely abused psychoactive drug in the world. One concept that many people find difficult to accept is that alcoholism and alcohol problems are a disease. Research has shown that alcohol interacts with the body s systems in predictable ways to lead to physiological addiction. Alcoholism is a disease a chronic, progressive, fatal disease if not treated. Short Term Effects Even at low doses, alcohol significantly impairs the judgment and coordination required to drive a car or operate machinery safely. Low to moderate doses of alcohol can also increase the incidence of a variety of aggressive acts, including domestic violence and child abuse.

5 Effects of moderate alcohol intake include dizziness and talkativeness. The immediate effects of a larger amount of alcohol include slurred speech, disturbed sleep, nausea, and vomiting. Hangovers are another effect after large amounts of alcohol are consumed symptoms including headache, nausea, thirst, dizziness, and fatigue. Long Term Effects Prolonged, heavy use of alcohol can lead to addiction (alcoholism). Sudden cessation of long term, extensive alcohol intake is likely to produce withdrawal symptoms, including severe anxiety, tremors, hallucinations, and convulsions. Long-term effects of consuming large quantities of alcohol can lead to: permanent damage to vital organs several different types of cancer gastrointestinal irritations, such as nausea, diarrhea, and ulcers malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies sexual dysfunctions high blood pressure lowered resistance to disease Mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy may give birth to infants with fetal alcohol syndrome. These infants may suffer from mental retardation and other irreversible physical abnormalities. In addition, research indicates that children of alcoholic parents are at greater risk than other children of becoming alcoholics. Alcohol Statistics More than 100,000 U.S. deaths are caused by excessive alcohol consumption each year. Direct and indirect causes of death include drunk driving, cirrhosis of the liver, falls, cancer, and stroke. 1 At least once a year, the guidelines for low risk drinking are exceeded by an estimated 74% of male drinkers and 72% of female drinkers aged 21 and older. 2 65% of youth surveyed said that they got the alcohol they drink from family and friends. 7 Nearly 14 million Americans meet diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorders. 5 Youth who drink alcohol are 50 times more likely to use cocaine than those who never drink alcohol. 3 Among current adult drinkers, more than half say they have a blood relative who is or was an alcoholic or problem drinker. 1 Across people of all ages, males are four times as likely as females to be heavy drinkers. 1 More than 18% of Americans experience alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence at some time in their lives. 6 Traffic crashes are the greatest single cause of death for persons aged About 45% of these fatalities are in alcohol-related crashes. 4

6 Underage drinking costs the United States more than $58 billion every year enough to buy every public school student a state-of-the-art computer. 2 Alcohol is the most commonly used drug among young people. 1 Problem drinkers average four times as many days in the hospital as nondrinkers mostly because of drinking-related injuries. 1 Alcohol kills 6½ times more youth than all other illicit drugs combined. 2 Concerning the past 30 days, 50% of high school seniors report drinking, with 32% report being drunk at least once. 2 95% of alcoholics die from their disease and die approximately 26 years earlier than their normal life expectancy. More than one-half of American adults have a close family member who has or has had alcoholism. Alcohol is a factor in nearly half of America's murders, suicides and accidental deaths. Underage drinking costs Americans nearly $53 billion annually. If this cost were shared equally by each congressional district, the amount would total more than $120 million per district. Individuals in stable marriages have the lowest incidence of lifetime prevalence of alcoholism ( 8.9%) as opposed to co-habiting adults who have never been married (29.2%). 500,000 Americans who are dependent on alcohol are between the ages of 9 and 12. It is estimated that over 3 million teens between the ages of 14 and 17 in the United States today are alcoholics. 56% of students in grades 5 through 12 say that alcohol advertising encourages them to drink. A study of fifth and sixth-grade students found that those who demonstrated an awareness of beer ads also held more favorable beliefs about drinking and intended to drink more frequently when they grew up. Each year, a typical young person in the United States is inundated with more than 1,000 commercials for beer and wine coolers and several thousand fictional drinking incidents on television. Americans spend over $90 billion dollars total on alcohol each year. 43% of Americans have been exposed to alcoholism in their families. Nearly one out of 4 Americans admitted to general hospitals have alcohol problems or are undiagnosed alcoholics being diagnosed for alcohol related consequences. Alcohol and alcohol related problems is costing the American economy at least $100 million in health care and lost of productivity every year. Four in ten criminal offenders report alcohol as a factor in violence. Among spouse violence victims, three out of four incidents were reported to have involved alcohol use by the offender. In 1996, local law enforcement agencies made an estimated 1,467,300 arrests nationwide for driving under the influence of alcohol.

7 There has also been discussion regarding the exact meaning of the word(s) used to refer to alcohol in the Bible. Some assert that the passages allowing for consumption of wine refer to non-fermented grape juice, while others feel that the terms refer to drinks containing alcohol. Where does this leave us? The Bible does allow for the consumption of alcohol, but it also strongly warns of its dangers. The culture we live in is vastly different from the cultures of the Old and New Testaments. The biggest difference which pertains to this discussion is the technological advance of automobiles and heavy machinery. This presents a much greater physical danger for us. Where in those days, a drunk person would simply fall asleep while walking on the road, or fall of his donkey, now we have the possibility of intoxicated persons driving machines that can easily kill others. The problem is 2-fold: first there is the ability to physically injure or kill another person while driving, and secondly there is the ability for a drunk person to take himself to a place he should not go and increase his unsafe behavior in various ways. Technically, the freedom of drinking is allowed, but it s safe to say that the dangers and tragedy reaped by its abuse far outweigh its benefits. One thing needs to be made clear here: the issue is not of the allowance of getting drunk. The Bible speaks against drunkenness. The issue is of having drinks. Getting drunk is forbidden, while drinking is not. The problem in our culture is that drinking is most often equated with getting drunk, and in that case it is forbidden. If a person is not able to drink without getting drunk, that person should not drink. If a person can drink without getting drunk, they should still be responsible and not allow it to stand in the way of their Christian witness and ability to help others. The best option with respect to alcohol is to not drink at all. It protects the believer from subtle temptations and sins that can easily entangle through alcohol. As well, it protects the believer from being a stumbling block to others who may not understand responsible drinking. As Southern Baptists, we encourage all Christians to abstain from alcohol. How should we deal with those who either drink to excess, either occasionally or habitually? Matthew 9:10 What did Jesus do? 1 Corinthians 5:11 What does Paul say? What s the difference? When dealing with a person who drinks or gets drunk (either as a believer or nonbeliever), we must first of all, show love. A drunk who doesn t feel respected and loved won t listen to anything you have to say. When the relationship of good-will is developed, you have earned the right to be heard. At that point, you can speak of what the Lord says about drinking. Even if you don t win them over, you can still have a friend and the opportunity to minister to them in the future. How should we deal with children and minors with regard to drinking? Honor the law it s not legal to drink before age 21 Speak with them about the dangers of drinking Tell them what the Bible says about drinking Monitor influences in their lives, such as TV, friends, music, people Model for them the practice you want them to have in life Practical lessons from this study: While there is a freedom to drink, it is forbidden to get drunk. While drinking a safe amount is allowed, it is best to completely abstain for safety s sake. Christians should love others no matter where they stand on this issue. Christians shouldn t cast out those who abuse alcohol, but should seek to help them. Have an intelligent conversation about what the Bible says about drinking Be wary of the dangers of alcohol abuse

8 Understand how to deal with others who either drink and/or are addicted to alcohol There is a lot more to be said concerning alcohol, but this is a good starting point. Questions for Discussion Why do people drink alcohol? What are the dangers of drinking alcohol? What does responsible drinking look like? Is abstinence a good idea or a bad idea? Why? What does Paul mean when he said to refuse a freedom which might lead a brother to stumble? Can a Christian who drinks be a good witness to others? Does social drinking increase influence? What does it mean for someone to have a drinking problem? How can you help someone who has a drinking problem?