ALCOHOLISM - ADDICTION TO ALCOHOL
Hopefully, we all know that drunkenness is a sin. There are many passages of scripture to that effect: (Rom 13:13) “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.”, (Gal 5:19-21) “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, {20} Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, {21} Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” We are even told that drunkards will not enter heaven, (1 Cor 6:9-10) “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, {10} Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
Our topic, however, is not drunkenness, or drunkards, but Alcoholism. Even though that term is never used in scripture, we can see the danger. A person may never get drunk a single time in his/her life and still sin in regards to alcohol. First, let me point out that being tempted is not sin. Jesus was tempted in all ways like we are, but He never sinned. There may be many who at one time were given to alcohol, are still tempted, but no longer yield to the temptation. We also need to understand that not all use of alcohol is sinful. Many of the medications that the doctors prescribe, as well as many that can be bought in any drug store contain alcohol. When these medicines are used as intended, they can be wonderful helps. Timothy was told by the apostle Paul to use alcohol for an illness from which he was suffering (1 Tim. 5:23). We need to beware lest we abuse these medications and sin. Finally, we see the danger of alcohol and what many call ‘recreational use’ or ‘social drinking’. God calls us as Christians to be different from the world, and the use of alcohol is one of the ways he wants us to be different. We need to apply the principles of scripture to this problem.
1. Alcohol controls us, or rather takes control away from us. (Eph 5:18) ”And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” Our life is to be filled with God’s Spirit and not alcoholic spirits. We belong to God and are to be under his control and no other.
2. We may cause a weak brother or sister to yield to temptation which they cannot control. (Rom 14:21) “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.”
3. We lose our influence with others. (1 Th 5:22) “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” For this reason alone we should avoid alcohol.
4. We can know a tree by its fruits. (Mat 7:19-20) “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. {20} Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Even though Jesus is specifically referring to people here, we can apply it to things as well. What are the fruits of alcohol, outside the controlled use by a physician we see drunk driving, rape, murder, child abuse, spouse abuse, and a plethora of health problems that are not even associated with drunkenness.
5. Considering its effects on our body, we should remember: (1 Cor 6:19) ”What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
With all of these and possibly others that I have not even mentioned, we should understand that anytime we are unable, or unwilling to give up some fleshly habit for the sake of Christ we are sinning. Alcoholism doesn’t mean drunk, it means placing a desire for alcohol above more important things like: God, family, or health. We should all wisely practice what the wise king Solomon advised, (Prov 23:31-32) “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.” Don’t even look on it, much less drink it.
Hopefully, we all know that drunkenness is a sin. There are many passages of scripture to that effect: (Rom 13:13) “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.”, (Gal 5:19-21) “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, {20} Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, {21} Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” We are even told that drunkards will not enter heaven, (1 Cor 6:9-10) “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, {10} Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
Our topic, however, is not drunkenness, or drunkards, but Alcoholism. Even though that term is never used in scripture, we can see the danger. A person may never get drunk a single time in his/her life and still sin in regards to alcohol. First, let me point out that being tempted is not sin. Jesus was tempted in all ways like we are, but He never sinned. There may be many who at one time were given to alcohol, are still tempted, but no longer yield to the temptation. We also need to understand that not all use of alcohol is sinful. Many of the medications that the doctors prescribe, as well as many that can be bought in any drug store contain alcohol. When these medicines are used as intended, they can be wonderful helps. Timothy was told by the apostle Paul to use alcohol for an illness from which he was suffering (1 Tim. 5:23). We need to beware lest we abuse these medications and sin. Finally, we see the danger of alcohol and what many call ‘recreational use’ or ‘social drinking’. God calls us as Christians to be different from the world, and the use of alcohol is one of the ways he wants us to be different. We need to apply the principles of scripture to this problem.
1. Alcohol controls us, or rather takes control away from us. (Eph 5:18) ”And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” Our life is to be filled with God’s Spirit and not alcoholic spirits. We belong to God and are to be under his control and no other.
2. We may cause a weak brother or sister to yield to temptation which they cannot control. (Rom 14:21) “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.”
3. We lose our influence with others. (1 Th 5:22) “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” For this reason alone we should avoid alcohol.
4. We can know a tree by its fruits. (Mat 7:19-20) “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. {20} Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Even though Jesus is specifically referring to people here, we can apply it to things as well. What are the fruits of alcohol, outside the controlled use by a physician we see drunk driving, rape, murder, child abuse, spouse abuse, and a plethora of health problems that are not even associated with drunkenness.
5. Considering its effects on our body, we should remember: (1 Cor 6:19) ”What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
With all of these and possibly others that I have not even mentioned, we should understand that anytime we are unable, or unwilling to give up some fleshly habit for the sake of Christ we are sinning. Alcoholism doesn’t mean drunk, it means placing a desire for alcohol above more important things like: God, family, or health. We should all wisely practice what the wise king Solomon advised, (Prov 23:31-32) “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.” Don’t even look on it, much less drink it.
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