"MORAL ISSUES CONFRONTING CHRISTIANS"

Alcohol

INTRODUCTION
  1. A serious moral issue confronting Christians today involves the consumption of alcohol...
    1. More than 30% of Americans at some time in their lives has had an alcohol use disorder - Bridget Gant, National Institute On Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism
    2. Nearly 100,000 people die every year of alcohol-related causes - Dr. James C. Garbutt, medical director of the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program (UNC at Chapel Hill)
    3. Alcohol is more dangerous than some illegal drugs like marijuana or Ecstasy and should be classified as such in legal systems - Professor David Nutt, Bristol University
    4. Alcohol is blamed for more than half of all visits to hospital emergency rooms - ibid.
  2. The Bible clearly warns against the dangers of alcohol...
    1. Whether in the form of wine or strong drink
    2. With the potential of leading one astray - Pr 20:1

[What further wisdom can be gleaned from just the book of Proverbs alone concerning alcohol...?]

  1. ALCOHOL IN THE BOOK OF PROVERBS
    1. ALCOHOL LEADS TO POVERTY...
      1. A warning against those who love wine - Pr 21:17
      2. A warning against spending time with winebibbers and drunkards - Pr 23:20-21
      -- Alcohol has been the downfall of many businessmen
    2. ALCOHOL DESTROYS LIVES...
      1. Leads to woe and sorrow, contentions and complaints, wounds without cause and redness of eyes - Pr 23:29-30
      2. Seductive, destroying one just like the seductress - Pro 23:31-32; 5:3-5; 6:24-26
      3. Alter your senses, leading you to say things you'll regret (e.g., "office parties") - Pr 23:33
      4. Gives a false sense of security, exposing you to great danger (e.g., "driving drunk") - Pr 23:34-35
      -- Alcohol has destroyed many lives, both those who drink and innocent ones who cross their paths
    3. ALCOHOL IMPAIRS JUDGMENT...
      1. Which is why kings and princes were to abstain - Pr 31:4-5
      2. It is better reserved for the dying and devastated - Pr 31:6-7
      -- Alcohol is not for those who would be wise

    [Indeed, "Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise." (Pr 20:1). Because of such warnings, and with the serious problems with alcohol in our society, let's review what is said about...]

  2. ALCOHOL IN THE LIVES OF CHRISTIANS
    1. WHAT IS CONDEMNED...
      1. Drunkenness
        1. A work of darkness, not an element of the armor of light - Ro 13:11-14
        2. Which will keep one out of the kingdom of God - 1Co 6:9-10; Ga 5:19-21
        3. Conduct suitable for church discipline - 1Co 5:11-13
      2. Social drinking
        1. We are to dedicate ourselves to doing the will of God, not the lusts of men - 1Pe 4:1-2
        2. Thus we are to abstain from drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties - 1Pe 4:3
        3. Though we should expect others to think ill of us for abstaining - 1Pe 4:4
        -- The popular use of alcohol has no place in the life of the Christian
    2. WHAT IS COMMANDED...
      1. Concern for the weaknesses of others
        1. Are we willing to destroy the one for whom Christ died? - Ro 14:14-15
        2. Are we more interested in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit? - Ro 14:16-18
      2. Willingness to forego wine if a stumbling block to others
        1. Do we know someone who struggles with alcohol abuse and addiction? - Ro 14:19-20
        2. Do we love them more than any presumed right we may have to drink? - Ro 14:21
      3. Evidently Timothy had chosen to forego wine for such reasons
        1. Paul prescribed that Timothy drink wine for medicinal purposes - 1Ti 5:23
        2. Wine was often used to purify water, yet for some reason Timothy had abstained
        -- The Christian must prayerfully consider the role of influence regarding alcohol
CONCLUSION
  1. What is God's will regarding the consumption of alcohol...?
    1. In view of the warnings found in Proverbs?
      1. It can lead to poverty
      2. It can destroy lives
      3. It impairs judgment
    2. In view of the teachings found in the New Testament?
      1. Prohibitions concerning drunkenness
      2. Concerns regarding influence on weaker brethren
  2. What is God's will in light of the problems of alcohol abuse in our society today...?
    1. Shall we flirt with the seducing effects of alcohol?
      1. Alcohol can be tempting and easily ensnare the unsuspecting
      2. If one in three have succumbed, might not we?
    2. Shall we be insensitive to the weaknesses that many have regarding alcohol?
      1. Alcohol is the number one drug problem we face today
      2. If one in three have problems with it, dare we become stumbling blocks to them?

It shouldn't take the wisdom of Solomon to see that Christians should take the dangers of alcohol seriously and be proactive in helping themselves and others to remain free from its clutches...!

It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. - Ro 14:21