Seven Deadly Sins – Staying Away From the MirY ClAY Gluttony (An aside about the Bible and alcohol)

Alcohol A review of last week’s material on gluttony and a quick review of what the Bible says about alcohol Seven Deadly Sins - Staying Away from the Miry Clay

Prohibition Causes and effects Industrial Revolution 1760-1840 In 1850 “Americans drank 36 million gallons of the stuff (1.5 gallons per capita); by 1890 annual consumption had exploded to 855 million gallons (13 gallons per capita).” Last Call, Daniel Okrent Social Reform 1913-1920 Prohibition outcomes Seven Deadly Sins - Staying Away from the Miry Clay

RPCNA history In 1872-1995 RP Synod standing committee on Temperance Today: "Because drunkenness is so common, and because the intemperate use of alcohol is constantly being promoted… Christians must be careful not to conform to the attitudes and the practices of the world with regard to alcoholic beverages. To prevent damage to our neighbor, to provide mutual help in godly living, and to strengthen each other in living a disciplined life it is altogether wise and proper that Christians refrain from the use, sale and manufacture of alcoholic beverages." RP Testimony 26:6 Seven Deadly Sins - Staying Away from the Miry Clay

A REVIEW - BIBLICAL FRAMEWORK ITEMS COVERED LAST WEEK ...Christians must be careful not to conform to the attitudes and the practices of the world with regard to alcoholic beverages. RP Testimony 26:6 What do the Scriptures teach? Common Pairing of Food and Drink, Deut. 21:20 This son of ours is a glutton and a drunkard. Symbol or Content of Blessing Gen. 14:18 Melchizadek brought out bread and wine. He blessed… Symbol or Content of Warning/Curse Psalm 60:3 Thou hast made thy people experience hardship, Thou hast given us wine to drink that makes us stagger. .

Key WORD STUDY ...Christians must be careful not to conform to the attitudes and the practices of the world with regard to alcoholic beverages. RP Testimony 26:6 What do the Scriptures teach? Hebrew Greek English ‘asis(6071)[5} gleukos (1098)[1] sweet wine tirosh (8492)[38] ----------- new wine yayin (3196)[141] oinos (3631)[34] wine chometz (2558)[6] oxos (3690)[6] vinegar shekar (7941)[23] strong drink . NOTE re: PAIRING OF GRAIN AND NEW WINE, BREAD AND WINE A FARM TO TABLE MOVEMENT?

Blessing or cursing? ...Christians must be careful not to conform to the attitudes and the practices of the world with regard to alcoholic beverages. RP Testimony 26:6 What do the Scriptures teach? How will we resolve this conflict between references to blessing and cursing? First attempt: Wine vs. New Wine .

BLESSING OR CURSING? ...Christians must be careful not to conform to the attitudes and the practices of the world with regard to alcoholic beverages. RP Testimony 26:6 What do the Scriptures teach? If new wine is not alcoholic, or less so, maybe it is the blessed stuff? Problem: Wine (yayin) is on both sides of the question. It is referenced as to be avoided and to be given to those in need. It is offered to God, part of feasting, and is a symbol of woe. And the NT only uses oinos… .

Blessing or cursing? ...Christians must be careful not to conform to the attitudes and the practices of the world with regard to alcoholic beverages. RP Testimony 26:6 What do the Scriptures teach? How will we resolve this conflict between references to blessing and cursing? Second attempt: two senses Wine: One word for two materials, one of which is good and the other bad. Wine: One word for one material, which may be used rightly or wrongly. .

Two Approaches to the Question PROHIBITIONIST: MODERATIONIST: One word Two materials One use for each material Two moral outcomes, depending on the material One word One material Two uses for one material Two moral outcomes, depending on the use Seven Deadly Sins - Staying Away from the Miry Clay

Prohibitionist ANSWER “There were, therefore, two kinds of wine in ancient use. The one was sweet, pleasant, refreshing, unfermented; the other was exciting, inflaming, intoxicating. Each was called wine. How natural, now, to say of the one, A blessing is in it—it maketh glad the heart! How natural to say of the other, Deceit is in it—it bringeth woe and sorrow! There is no difficulty now in the reconciliation of Scripture with Scripture. - Patton “What, then, is the difficulty in taking the position that the good and innocent wine is meant in all cases where it is commended and allowed; or that the alcoholic or intoxicating wine is meant in all cases of prohibition and denunciation? - Patton Seven Deadly Sins - Staying Away from the Miry Clay

MODERATIONIST ANSWER When the word is the same, the thing is the same; if, therefore, wine means intoxicating wine when applied to the case of Noah and Lot, it must have meant the same when used by David in the Psalms, and so of its correspondent in the Gospel narrative of the changing of water into wine. As Noah and others got drunk with yayin (wine), yayin must in every text mean a fermented liquor. -Patton The same wine (Hebrew Yayin) that made Noah, Lot, Nabal, Ahasuerus and others drunk, was also given to Abraham by Melchizedek, kept in the storehouses of the Kings of Israel and permitted to all God's people. The warnings against the danger of drinking too much wine are so numerous in Scripture that one can only conclude that the term itself means an intoxicating beverage. -Williamson Seven Deadly Sins - Staying Away from the Miry Clay

THREE SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT Prohibition – Alcohol is prohibited for the Christian and ought to be in society. The only use for alcohol is drunkenness. Abstinence – Alcohol is dangerous for the Christian and causes harm in society. The use of alcohol is not worth the risk. Moderation – Alcohol is allowed for the Christian and in society. There is a legitimate use of alcohol that is separate from drunkenness. Seven Deadly Sins - Staying Away from the Miry Clay

Some practical suggestions… Seven Deadly Sins - Staying Away from the Miry Clay

Some practical suggestions… FOR THE PROHIBITIONIST: Remember that this is not necessarily the first sin that the Holy Spirit will work on in the life of the believer. Chuck Swindoll, Grace Awakening Wrestle with the question – Why are gluttony and drunkenness, eating and drinking, bread and wine paired? Remember that there is more to work on yourself. You still have the same trouble with temperance and gluttony as others. Seven Deadly Sins - Staying Away from the Miry Clay

Some practical suggestions… FOR THE ABSTAINER: Beware of the gluttony of delicacy. Are you just really driven by your appetities? Wrestle with the question – Are you judging others who do not view the risks/warnings the same way? Remember that there is more to work on yourself. You still have the same trouble with temperance and gluttony as others. Seven Deadly Sins - Staying Away from the Miry Clay

Some practical suggestions… FOR THE MODERATIONIST: Be mindful of the warnings of scripture. As parents we may allow things to our children, while warning them about dangers. Do they always listen? Do we? Wrestle with the question – Am I really just taking a greek view? Am I pursuing just a little drunkenness, but not to much? Drink Responsibly? Be mindful of others. Don’t cause another to stumble. Don’t exercise your freedom when it causes harm. Remember that there is more to work on yourself. You still have the same trouble with temperance and gluttony as others. Seven Deadly Sins - Staying Away from the Miry Clay

Some practical suggestions… FOR EVERYBODY: The warnings against / prohibitions of wine occur in Wisdom Literature (Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiates, Job). Not in Law (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Dueteronomy). I think we should think about it this way. The bible puts wine in the context of meals. So should we. Separation of wine from the table is behind our problems on both sides. Pray before we drink? Receive with thanksgiving (I Tim 4:4) ? Seven Deadly Sins - Staying Away from the Miry Clay

Some practical suggestions… FOR EVERYBODY: Prophets, priests, and kings. Leviticus 10:9, Proverbs 31:4, Micah 2:11. I Timothy 3:3,8 Nobody decides to become a drunkard, It happens bit by bit, decision by decision. Seven Deadly Sins - Staying Away from the Miry Clay

Returning to Gluttony Are you driven by your appetites? Are you filled with wine, or filled with the Spirit? Seven Deadly Sins - Staying Away from the Miry Clay

Seven Deadly Sins – Staying Away From the MirY ClAY A more modern treatment. The Case for Total Abstinence. - Adrian Rogers