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SCRIPTURE READING: Gal. 5:16-25 As we go through our lesson, keep the above passage in mind. This morning I want to talk about the subject of drinking alcohol. As with any issue we might encounter in this life, in regards to intoxicating drink we turn to the word of God to find out what the Lord has to say, and we'll do that today because the Lord certainly does address the issue of drinking and being drunk. But our object today is not to answer the questions "Can I drink?" or "How much can I drink?"; rather, by looking at Bible principles for the Christian life, we will see how a Christian asking those questions is already in the wrong. It is a matter of our attitude toward drinking alcohol. This is a well-reviewed topic by most of you, no doubt because it is such a common thing. Drinking alcohol is just a part of everyday life for most people in the world. You can go into the deepest rainforests of Africa or South America and finds tribe who've hardly ever encountered any other civilization, and even they've got moonshine or some such. So most of you have dealt with the topic at some time or another. This lesson is more for the benefit of the kids--those of you who are in elementary and middle school. Perhaps some of you are starting to think you ought to do something about becoming a Christian. I hope something I say this morning causes you to act on those considerations. We're going to answer two questions today
that you will be asked at some point or another in your life.
1. People drank wine in the Bible, so why can't I?People drank wine in the Bible, so why can't I? Certainly wine is talked about in the Bible. As a matter of fact, it is mentioned 242 times in the Bible, so there's no denying there's something in there about it. Of course, we know that wine, whether alcoholic or not, comes from grape juice. In this time before refrigerators and Tupperware, the only difference between the two was a matter of time. And yet, the difference it caused on the person drinking it was great. The word "wine" appears first in Genesis 9, when Noah plants a vineyard and drinks some of the fermented grape juice and becomes drunk and makes himself indecent. So the word "wine" is introduced here as an intoxicant. Now we know this particular instance of drunkenness has a bad end. Let's see what the Bible has to say further about drunkenness: Proverbs 20:1: Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. Isaiah 5:22-23: [We can read how being drunk had caused public officials to be corrupted, clearly a result of having been made "not wise" by the drink.] Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink; Who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away the rights of the ones who are in the right! Isaiah 28:7-8: [The prophet paints quite an unpleasant picture of what drunkenness is like. What Isaiah is doing here is comparing the people's wickedness to drunkenness.] And these also reel with wine and stagger from strong drink: the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, they are confused by wine, they stagger from strong drink; they reel while having visions, they totter when rendering judgment. For all the tables are full of filthy vomit, without a single clean place. Matthew 24:48-51: [Here Jesus is telling a parable of a righteous servant who is studious and prepared, and one who puts aside works of good for later so he can do evil things. And what does Jesus use to illustrate wickedness in His illustration?] "But if that evil slave says in his
heart, My master is not coming for a long time,
And shall cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; weeping shall be there and the gnashing of teeth. Notice here that the servant himself was never named a drunkard (although his actions certainly imply that he was drunk), but he was punished by his master for "eating and drinking with drunkards." We will discuss this a little deeper in a few moments. Drunkenness is clearly identified as something that is wicked, a sin that God condemns and will punish you for: I Corinthians 6:9-10: Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, Nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Notice the kind of company drunkards are placed into! God DOES have an opinion on drunkenness, and He has made it quite clear! God created us and knows what is best for us. He knows what is best for us. Look at the Bible examples of the heartache and problems that drinking caused. King Ben-hadad, while drunk, issued foolish orders that resulted in a slaughter of his men (I Kings 20:16-21). We're familiar with the story of Esther, and how it began that the king was looking for a new queen in the first place. In chapter 1, Ahasuerus was drunk and made an indecent request that his wife dance for his guests, which she refused. This made him angry, once again because his judgment was impaired, and he later regretted all that had happened, but it was too late. In Daniel 5, the Babylonian Empire came to an end the night of a great drinking party. Among the brethren of Corinth in I Corinthians 11, we see drunkenness used to show the over-indulgence and disorder of the observance of the Lord's Supper, and Paul condemns the brethren for it. We see all of the same things being caused by alcohol today. Thousands every year are killed on the roads as a result of drunkenness. Assault, rape, murder, improper relations between men and women, divorce . . . any combination of those and dozens of other problems are caused by intoxication. Just ask Mr. Franks or Mr. Hafley some time how often they've had to arrest people for things they did while they were drunk. Drunkenness is used to illustrate destruction, chaos, persecution, and general error and loss of control in scripture. It is condemned by God. Well, if drunkenness is the result of drinking wine, how come so many good people in the Bible used it, including Jesus? This is where we have to understand that there is more than one meaning of the word "wine" in the Bible, and it's important to know what they are and where they are used. A. There are three words in the Old Testament translated "wine" from the Hebrew language: 1. Shekar, which is most often translated as "strong drink" (21 times) and "strong wine" one time. This is the word that is used in Proverbs 20:1, which we just read: "Strong drink is a brawler." Often this form of drink had spices added to it to make it stronger. 2. Yayin, translated "wine" (133 times) and "banqueting" once. Proverbs 23:31-33: Do not look on the 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. 3. Tirosh, translated "wine" 26 times, "new wine" 11 times and "sweet wine" once. This is the word for fresh grape juice, which will not make you drunk. Isaiah 65:8: Thus says the Lord, "As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one says, Do not destroy it, for there is benefit in it, so I will act on behalf of My servants in order not to destroy all of them." B. In the New Testament, we have two Greek words that are translated "wine": 1. Gleukos, which appears only in Acts 2:13, and is translated "new wine." This was on the Day of Pentecost when the disciples spoke in tongues, and the people accused them, saying, "These men are full of new wine." And, clearly, this wine they spoke of could get you drunk. 2. Oinos, which is translated "wine" every time it is used in the New Testament. This word could mean grape juice OR alcoholic wine, and the only way you can tell is the way it is used in a sentence. So this word, "wine," in the New Testament is a lot like many words we use today that could mean lots of things. Take "shot" for example. "I went to the doctor and he gave me a shot." "I went hunting with no orange on and got shot." "In the last five seconds of the basketball game, I made the shot." "He went to a bar and had a few shots of brandy." We understand that the meaning of the word changes in its context. Consider, then, which one of these is grape juice and which one is alcoholic: Ephesians 5:18: And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit . . . . John 2:1-10 Considering what the Bible has said about
drunkenness, which comes from drinking too much alcoholic wine, do you
think Jesus would go to a party where people had been getting drunk, and
make more intoxicating wine for them? In verse 10, it very clearly says
these people had "drunk freely," and yet there is no mention of them being
drunk. This "wine" they were drinking did not intoxicate themit was grape
juice. Imagine the time the Pharisees and Sadducees would have had if Christ
had created gallons of alcoholic wine for the guests! That would be like
one of us today going and fetching a new keg for the party that's getting
low on beer. That would tarnish our reputation! With that in mind, let's
consider our next question.
Isn't it okay to drink alcohol, so long as I don't get drunk? Chances are very good that at least some of your friends at school are exposed to drinking every day. When they open their refrigerators at home to get some milk, there are their dad's beers right next to it. Or maybe there's a cabinet in the dining room where mom and dad keep liquor for special occasions. These kids that you know on a daily basis are shown by their parent's acceptance and use of alcohol that there's nothing necessarily wrong with drinking it. And while they may warn their children about drinking, and tell them not to do it, most often what they tell them is, "Don't do it until you're an adult." Some of your friends are planning on growing up and drinking alcohol. I knew people at my high schools whose parents would let them invite friends over and have drinking parties. They not only knew about it, they allowed it! I asked one of these folks about that, and they told me, "Well, my parents know that we'd go out and do it anyway if they didn't let us, and this way there's less chance anyone will get hurt while driving or something." So with all that in mind, what we see your friends are being taught is, basically, "There's nothing wrong with drinking a little, and you can even drink a lot from time to time, so long as you're safe about it." The attitude we have here is one of, "How much can I get away with before I get into trouble?" "How close can I get to drunkenness before it's actually considered a sin?" The answer is, "Too late! You're already sinning." Christians are to submit their lives wholly to Christ. Look back at our scripture reading passage, Gal. 5:16-25 (Read from Bible, marked). The problem we have when someone suggests that it's okay to drink intoxicating beverages in moderation is a skewed concept of goodness and wickedness: picture the Asian yin-yang symbol, with good AND evil included in the same body. In fact, the Bible paints a much different picture. Goodness and wickedness should be pictured as two different and opposing magnets. We notice people apply the same reasoning that they do with drinking in regards to sexual sins. They want to toe the line and say that looking isn't bad, and touching isn't bad, so long as you don't go all the way and commit fornication. But what did Jesus say? Matthew 5:27-28: "You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery; But I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. Scripture condemns drunkenness. When you question how close to that you can get, you have already violated God's law in your heart. We kids especially can understand what that is. When you tell someone, "Stay out of my room!" and you see them taunting you by tapping their toes JUST inside the doorway . . . It's very clear to you that that person doesn't respect what you've just told them, isn't it? Romans 12:1: I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. The only difference between binge drinking and social drinking is the amount partaken of in the SAME ACTIVITY. If we drink socially, are we following God's instruction? II Timothy 2:22: Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. I Thessalonians 5:22: . . . abstain from every form of evil. And if we are seen at a party where people are getting drunk, do we heed God's warning in I Corinthians 15:33? I Corinthians 15:33: Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." At the end of Romans 1, Paul speaks of those whom God had given over to a depraved mind, listing all works of sin, and he concludes his list with this: Romans 1:32: . . . and, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. If you are seen sitting, laughing with people who are drinking, can you be said to be disapproving of their becoming drunk? If a person sees you with them, they see you abiding error! And if they see you with a drink, toothey won't know that you're "just drinking socially." They see you holding an intoxicating beverage. It's the same as someone walking into a room to find you holding a smoking gun over a dead bodytheyre going to be led to certain conclusions that will forever tarnish your reputation with that individual. In I Peter 4, the apostle speaking to Christians says, "You are a Christian now, you are beyond all that stuff." In his list of "such things" they were beyond, Peter lists not only drunkenness, but drinking partiesthe truth being firmly established then, that you don't just have to be drunk with alcohol to be in sin . . . you're not to participate in drinking. I Peter 4:1-3: Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 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.
Scripture is quite plain about God's instructions
regarding drunkenness and drinking. We are to be holy, new creatures, separate
from this world fleeing from wickedness, not seeing how close we can get
to the fire before we get burned. The life of a Christian is one of joy
in purity and assurance of salvation at the end of this world. The world
seeks comfort in a substance that looses the inhibitions, poisons the body,
and dulls the mind. They wake up and crawl in to school or work on Monday
with the only result of their joy being a splitting headache, vomiting,
and perhaps a few new bruises and a police record. The joy of a Christian
is life everlasting. What more do we need? That's God's poi Submit yourself
wholly to God. Repent of your sins and be baptized, and become a child
of God.
Drunkennessstate of intoxication A. Evils of: Debases Gen.9:21, 22
Defeat in battle ..I Kin. 20:16-21
Death .Deut. 21:20, 21
Destruction Isa. 49:26
1. People drank wine in the Bible, so why can't I? Different words translated "wine." Old Testament (Hebrew): 1. Shekar wine with additives "strong drink" (21 times) Ref. Prov. 20:1.
"banqueting" (1 time)
"wine" (26 times)
1. Gleukos strong drink Context determines usage. |