An Issue of Control

Ephesians 5:18 KJV 1900

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

The literal teaching....a warning against drunkenness.

Differing views on alcohol use....

Shouldn’t drink at all....teetotaler!

Bible doesn’t expressly forbid it, so.....

Scripture sometimes commends the use of wine....

Drink offerings accompanied many of the O.T. sacrifices ()

Exodus 29:40 KJV 1900

And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering.

For use as a sedative ()

Proverbs 31:6 KJV 1900

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, And wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

For medicinal purposes (; )

Luke 10:34 KJV 1900

And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding feast ()

Wine was obviously consumed during Bible times....

Jesus and other Bible characters drank wine...

Proverbs 20:1 KJV 1900

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: And whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

In light of the fact that the Bible at times seems to condone the use of alcoholic beverages, but at other times gives many warnings concerning such…how should a believer view this issue?

Do not make the issue of alcohol consumption a measuring stick of spirituality

First, do not make the issue of alcohol consumption a measuring stick of spirituality

John the Baptist abstained and was called a devil.

Jesus consumed and was called “a partier”

Luke 9:33–34 KJV 1900

And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.

Luke 7:33–34 KJV 1900

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

Drunkenness is a right-wrong issue. Consumption is an issue of wisdom.

John the Baptist abstained and was called a devil.

Jesus consumed and was called “a partier”

Context of - He’s talking about walking wisely

Considerations for wise decision-making concerning alcohol consumption.

Consider that any form of drunkenness is sin.

“drunkenness” - state of intoxication in which the person’s faculties (mentally or physically) are impaired or altered.

We’re not talking about the “legal definition” of driving drunk.

1 drink (12 oz. beer, 5 oz. wine, 1.5 oz of whiskey)= beginning of impairment. (relaxed mood; altered mood; may make poor judgments)

2 drinks =behavior is exaggerated (speak louder, gesture more); inhibitions lowered.

3 drinks= reasoning; self-control; memory all impaired

Consider the alcohol content of wine in Biblical times vs. alcoholic drinks today.

Jesus turned water into “

Consider the alcohol content of wine in Biblical times vs. alcoholic drinks today.

Wine (“oinos/yahin’”) - can refer to that which is fermented or that which has just begun to ferment. (Also the Greeks/Jews would always mix 3 parts water to 1 part wine) - this would render even the strongest of fermented wines to a 2-3% alcohol range (modern wine is 12-15%)

New Wine - What Jesus created at the Wedding (fresh pressed grape juice which is just beginning to ferment) -It’s difficult to say what percent alcohol would be but would have a very low percentage of alcohol content.

Biblical wine was the same as modern wine (Jesus drank it, created it, didn’t condone drinking it - why shouldn’t I?)

Strong Drink (“shekar”) - Unmixed wine; intoxicating beverage made with grain (beer) 4-5% (consumption of this is always warned against in the Bible)

Modern Day Beer: 4-5%

Modern Wine: 12-15%

Strong Drink - “shekar” - intoxicating drink made from grain/dates (beer) - always forbidden and warned against.

Modern Hard Liquor: 40% and up

They would know nothing of distillation (vodka, tequila, whiskey) - these would be completely out of the question.

There is no question that most of the wine referenced in the Bible was alcoholic. However, the content in most cases was much lower than that of modern beverages.

Consider the availability of other drink options in Bible times vs. today.

Why was wine referenced so much in the Bible as a beverage? (wouldn’t it make it alot easier if Bible characters never drank it?)

Reason: Not many alternatives in that day

Water - dependant upon location as to drinkability/disease (Timothy)

Milk - goats and cows

Soda - no

Coffee -no

Tea -no

Grapes were plentiful in the middle east so wine was readily available. It’s antiseptic nature made it a much healthier drink than much of the water or other alternatives at the time.

In other words, wine drinking was often of necessity -Certainly not a necessity today.

Consider the motives behind alcohol consumption.

Stress/Avoidance

-take the edge off

Positive-effect motives: Drinking to be sociable; have a good time; loosen up.

Peer Pressure/Sociable

Fun/Have a good time

Lose inhibitions

Preference

Reasons 1, 3,4 have “getting drunk” as the goal. Reason 2 is to fit it which means instead of being a light in the darkness, we are trying to fit in with the darkness.

Reason 1 - Substitutes alcohol for praying ()

Reason 2 - We are told to be separate, lights in a dark world, but we drink so that we might be accepted and fit in with the dark world.

Reason 3 - Substitutes alcohol for the joy of the Lord.

Reason 4 - The fruit of the Spirit is temperance (self control), but drinking for the purpose of losing a little self -control.

“Preference” is the only legitimate reason for drinking (You like the taste better than alternatives)

Consider the Biblical warnings

Remember this....these warnings were given based upon the alcoholic drinks of Bible times (lower alcohol content). We would assume the warnings to be even stronger today...

Proverbs 20:1 KJV 1900

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: And whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Proverbs 23:29–35 KJV 1900

Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; They that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, When it giveth his colour in the cup, When it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, And thine heart shall utter perverse things. 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. 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.

Pr. 23:

Proverbs 31:4–5 KJV 1900

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; Nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

Warnings for church leadership - not given to wine, not given to much wine.

Consider the potential consequences

Health Issues

Reported on Liberal News Channel CNN

There's no amount of liquor, wine or beer that is safe for your overall health, according to a new analysis of 2016 global alcohol consumption and disease risk. "The most surprising finding was that even small amounts of alcohol use contribute to health loss globally," said senior study author Emmanuela Gakidou, a professor at the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. "We're used to hearing that a drink or two a day is fine. But the evidence is the evidence."

Liver Damage

Cardiovascular Disease

Cancers

Alcohol use related deaths is the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S.

Financial Issues

Proverbs 21:17 KJV 1900

He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

Proverbs 4:17 KJV 1900

For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.

In the U.S. - alcohol misuse cost the country $249B

Addiction

“Moderation is not the cure for the liquor problem it is the cause. Becoming an alcoholic does not begin with the last drink, it always begins with the first.”

No one taking that first drink thinks - I think I’ll probably become an alcoholic and destroy my life doing this...

Proverbs 20:1 KJV 1900

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: And whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

The deception - I can handle this; I won’t let this...

1 Corinthians 6:12 KJV 1900

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Anything that has an incredibly high tendency towards compulsive or addictive behaviour should be avoided if at all possible.

Eating can become addictive - but you have to eat (you cannot obstain)

With alcohol, there are many other drinks which are available that are far less likely to cause addiction.

Consider your responsibility to others

Romans 14:14 KJV 1900

I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

Romans 14:21 KJV 1900

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.

What if your disciple is a young believer who just came out of drunkkeness?

What if a young lady in the church is here, here husband left her because he got so messed up with alcohol?

What if it’s a child of yours and you see there life/marriage going down the tubes because of alcohol abuse and you don’t have a platform because they grew up watching you drink regularly...

What if Context of verse…Issue is about control.

Context of verse…Issue is about control.

If right now, you’re bothered by something I’ve said....if you feel a bit defensive right now…remember, I’ve not said that having a drink is a sin, or that you’re less spiritual....however, in light of this passage....in light of what we learned last week...

Is there a command? (don’t get drunk)

Is there a principle? (several that I’ve mentioned tonight)

Are there red flags/warnings when it comes to drinking? (yes, both in the Bible, and by what you see in the lives of those it’s affected)

Do I sense any pressure in my decision to drink?

What would my Godly counselors say?

Am I asking the right questions?

-Not, what’s wrong with it....

-Not, God doesn’t say it’s sin....

Is it the best decision for my life right now?

Is this about me being happy or about God being glorified?