Proverbs 23:29-32 Alcohol & other drugs

The cost to society, the church & individual is staggering Money spent on health care Money spent on law enforcement, imprisonment & rehabilitation Time & efficiency lost by employers Good reputations & productive careers wrecked Sexual permissiveness encouraged Mental problems Murder, theft, other serious crimes increased Wives battered, children abused Homes broken by divorce Thousands killed & maimed in auto accidents Suicides

WHAT IS GOD’s will? Ephesians 5:17 NKJV 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Hebrews 5:14 NKJV 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Alcohol & drugs Drugs & Their Abuse, American Red Cross: Alcohol placed first in list of abused drugs Alcohol abuse & drug abuse produce same effects Many of the same biblical principles apply to both

Bible condemns “drunkenness” “intoxication to the point of impairment of physical & mental faculties.” Impaired consciousness – Genesis 19:33 Irrational behavior – Genesis 9:21 Incoherent speech – Proverbs 23:33b Hallucinations – Proverbs 23:33a Inability to reason – Proverbs 31:3,5; Leviticus 10:8-11

Bible condemns “drunkenness” Old Testament: Proverbs 20:1 “not wise” Proverbs 23:19-35 “do not look on the wine when it is red” Proverbs 31:3,4 “not for kings to drink wine”

Bible condemns “drunkenness” New Testament: Romans 13:13 “ not in revelry and drunkenness” 1 Corinthians 5:11 “a drunkard” 1 Corinthians 6:10 “drunkards”

Bible condemns “drunkenness” New Testament: Galatians 5:21 “drunkenness” Ephesians 5:18 “do not be drunk” 1 Peter 4:1-5 “drinking parties”

Biblical principles rule out the “moderate” or “social” use of alcohol & drugs

Arguments defending “social” use “The Bible nowhere condemns moderate use.” “Where does it say not to? 1Corinthians 10:23 “Paul told Timothy to use a little wine for his stomach’s sake.” 1Timothy 5:23 “In Bible times, fermented wine was customarily drunk – Jesus turned water into wine (John 2:1-12) & was called a wine drinker (Luke 7:33,34).”

What they drank was not always fermented Genesis 40:11 “grapes pressed” Even when fermented, diluted with water Use of wine in Bible times to justification for use today where: No necessity for its use Social “aura” that surrounds consumption of such beverages is different “Signal” one sends are very different

Christians can never say they have no choice but to violate god’s will 1 Corinthians 10:13 “will also make the way of escape” IF a Christian could not travel to some places without violating God’s will, he would simply not be able to travel to those places. The activity would have to be sacrificed to higher priorities.

Arguments defending “social” use “One may drink in moderation as long as it is done in the privacy of one’s own home.” Character determined by what you do in private Many dangers of alcohol and drug use present in public or private To be thought of as a non-drinker – will not drink, period – Proverbs 22:1

Questions regarding “social” use of alcohol & drugs “Is it legal?” Romans 13:1-7 “Will it harm me physically?” Romans 12:1; 1Corinthians 6:19,20 “Is it a good use of my money?” 1Corinthians 4:2; Ephesians 4:28 “Will it give me a good name?” Proverbs 22:1; 1Timothy 4:12 “Do I want my children to do it?” Ephesians 6:4

Questions regarding “social” use of alcohol & drugs “Does it identify me with undesirable companions, take me to questionable places, and surround me with influences that will weaken me?” 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Will it weaken or hinder someone else’s efforts to serve God?” Romans 14:21; 1Corinthians 8:13

Questions regarding “social” use of alcohol & drugs “Is it questionable in my own mind?” Romans 14:23 “Will it obscure my identity as a child of God?” 2 Corinthians 6:14- 18 “If the Lord were here, would He do it with me?” Colossians 3:17

Drunkenness is a sin which will keep an individual out of heaven 1Peter 4:1-5 NKJV 1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

The “moderate” use of alcohol and drugs violate scriptural principles 2 Corinthians 8:21 “providing honorable things…in the sight of men.” Romans 12:17 “Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.” Philippians 4:8 “meditate on these things” 1 Peter 2:12 “having our conduct honorable among the Gentiles…glorify God in the day of visitation.”