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Introduction: The Problem of “Social” Drinking Ephesians 5:18

What Constitutes Social Drinking? One way to describe a social drinker would be to say that these are individuals who… Only drink occasionally. Do not feel the need to drink alcohol in order to have a good time. Never get into trouble because of alcohol. Don’t do or say things they regret while drinking. Do not spend a lot of time thinking about alcohol. Feel no need to control their intake. Such individuals never drink enough to worry about having to cut back. -- Alcoholrehab.com

What Constitutes Social Drinking? Another way to define social drinking would be to consider the safe limits of alcohol use. The recommendation is that men between the ages of 21 and 65 should not consume more than 2 drinks a day. Women and everyone who is over the age of 65 should not consume more than one drink per day. Here a drink is considered a standard beer or a standard glass of wine. -- Alcoholrehab.com

How does the Bible Define Social Drinking? There are numerous descriptions in the Bible of social situations in which drinking wine occurred. (2 Samuel 13:28; Esther 1:7-10; Daniel 1:5, 8; 5:1-4; John 2:1-12) The Bible term that comes closest to what we refer to as “social drinking” is the term “drinking parties” (1 Peter 4:3, Matthew 10:42) Drinking leads to many physical, social, family, and spiritual problems. (Proverbs 20:1; Isaiah 5:11-12, 21-23)

A Needed Reality Check!

A Needed Reality Check! Drinking is associated with violent crime.

A Needed Reality Check! Drinking affects the home and personal life. Correlation to domestic violence Correlation to the break-up of families Correlation to risky sexual behavior & unintended pregnancies Lack of productivity or loss of job A factor in many diseases and deaths.

A Needed Reality Check! According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the “use of alcohol is one of the world’s leading health risks.” A causal factor in 60 major diseases It’s use results in 2.5 million deaths annually More than HIV/AIDS or TB 4% of all deaths are attributable to alcohol Alcohol ranks 8th among global risk factors for death, while it is the 3rd leading global risk factor for disease and disability.

A Needed Reality Check! Don’t let your reality check bounce! 10,000 deaths per year in the U.S. are related to drinking and driving. Alcohol is directly connected to violent crime. Alcohol has a negative effect on the home and personal life. Alcohol has a net negative effect on health. Don’t let your reality check bounce!

Social Drinking: The Wide Gate to the Sin of Drunkenness! Drunkenness & intoxication will keep people out of heaven! (Galatians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 6:11) AXIOM: Every person who has ever gotten drunk started by drinking a little. Even righteous people can be ensnared (2 Peter 2:8; Genesis 19:30-36; 9:21) Jesus taught us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation!” (Matthew 6:13)

Social Drinking: The Wide Gate to the Sin of Drunkenness! Loss of self control (2 Peter 1:6; Titus 1:8) When does impairment in spiritual skills occur? Praying? Parenting? Decision making?

What’s Stronger than Strong Drink? “Strong drink” (Hebrew “shekar”) is “an intoxicant, that is, intensely alcoholic liquor” (Strong’s Dictionary) Its use is condemned or limited everywhere in the O.T. except as an offering or medicinally. Ancient wine or strong drink contained less than 10% alcohol.

What’s Stronger than Strong Drink? “Strong drink denotes any inebriating drink with about 7–10 percent alcoholic content” (Waltke, NICOT, 2005) Modern wine has an alcohol content of 8% - 15% Some wines have as high as 22% (e.g. Zinfandels). Popular beers are usually in the 4% to 6% range A few are considerably higher. Hard liquors have 40-50% alcohol Bourbon can have nearly 80% alcohol! Virtually every sort of alcoholic beverage sold today would qualify as “strong drink” in Bible times.

The Offense of Social Drinking Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” (Luke 17:1-2)