Good evening.  Tonight we are going to continue taking a look at some hot topic or controversial issues.  Last week, we discussed the idea of capital punishment, and tonight, we are going to address a Christian view of alcohol.

Before we get started, what is your opinion on the issue of alcohol?

Well, here are a couple of Bible verses that address the issue of alcohol.  In Psalm 104:14-15 it says, “He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate, bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart.”  In this verse, God seems to be okay with wine.

Proverbs 20:1 says, “Wine is a moocher and beer a brawler, whoever is led astray by them is not wise.”  This verse however seems to say that wine is a wrong thing.

And finally, Romans 14:21 says, “It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.”  Again, we have a verse that seems to go against drinking alcohol.  So, what is the answer to the big question, “Is it wrong for a Christian, or anyone for that matter, to drink alcohol.”

So, how should you view drinking as a Christian?  What does the Bible collectively have to say about this issue?  To address these questions we will first examine 4 popular myths about alcohol and then contrast these by examining 4 Biblical truths.

Now, before we take a look at these, allow me to begin with a word of prayer.  Let’s Pray!

First, what are some myths that you have heard about alcohol, that just aren’t true?

Well, there are 4 major myths that exist when it comes to drinking alcohol.  And at this time, I am going to share those with you.

Myth # 1 – Drinking makes you cool and desirable, it allows you to be your uninhibited self, and ensures you’ll have more fun.

As I think about this myth, I have to laugh because it makes me think about a commercial that I saw that was advertising a certain drink.  This add shows a party taking place on some mountain peak in Colorado with barely dressed women dancing.  The camera zooms in on a few young men drinking the advertised beer with giant smiles on their faces as they realize that they have instantly become the most desirable members of the male species.  The right beer makes all the difference, right?  Wrong!

Would anyone like to address that myth?

Well, drinking the right drink does not make you any more popular than you were before you started drinking.  Also, drinking does not let our the real you.  In fact, alcohol creates someone who is not you at all.

Now, if you need to lighten up a bit, there are better ways to do it than by drinking.  And it is simply false that you have to drink in order to have a good time.

The people that are portrayed in those commercials were paid for their hour in the studio to sell you a lie, and then they went home to their normal life.  so, myth # 1 is that drinking makes you cool and desirable, it allows you to be your uninhibited self, and ensures that you will have more fun.  And as you realize the role that alcohol really plays in a person’s life, you will see that that myth is just that, a myth.

Myth # 2 – Wasn’t the wine spoken of in the Bible really grape juice?

What do you think about that myth?

Well, there are times in scripture that that statement can be true.  But the short answer is no.  The words “wine” and “strong drink” show up hundreds of times in the Bible, but let’s just take 2 examples that demonstrate that the wine spoken of in the Bible is the same kind of wine we have today.  In fact, the wine from the Bible is the kind of beverage that can get you drunk.

In Genesis we find that Noah gets into an undesirable situation because of too much wine.  If you have your Bibles, go ahead and turn with me to Genesis 9:20-23.  It is in this passage that we read about Noah’s drunkenness.  Genesis 9:20-23 says, “1”

You see, in this story, Noah’s act of becoming drunk brings shame upon himself and it dishonors God as well.

In the gospel of John, we learn that Jesus performed His first recorded miracle at a wedding feast in Cana by turning water into wine.  Go ahead and turn in your Bibles with me John 2:1-10.  Listen to these verses.  John 2:1-10 says, “2”

A New Testament scholar comments on the significance of this passage saying that, “the headwaiter’s response makes perfect sense… The reason why a man brings out the poorer win later is because the good wine has already numbed the senses a bit.  Now as far as I know, it doesn’t matter how much grape juice that you drink, it doesn’t have the ability to mask anything.”  In addition to this, the verb John used in this passage, “drunk freely,” almost always means “to cause to become intoxicated.”  Taken together, these observations strongly suggest that the wine mentioned here in these verses is the kind of beverage that can lead to intoxication.

Myth # 3 – The Bible only speaks about wine and strong drink in a negative way.

Let me ask you, do you know of any passages that speak of wine in a favorable way?

It is often said that the Bible uniformly condemns the drinking of alcohol.  This is simply not the case though.

To be sure, there are many instances where God’s word warns against getting drunk or shows the foolish consequences of being seduced by too much wine.  However, it may surprise you to learn that the Bible also speaks of wine in a positive light as well.  In fact, in Deuteronomy 14:22-26 it says, “3”

And then in Psalm 104:14-15 we read that at the beginning, and it said that God gives us the wine we drink.  In fact, wine becomes an important image of joy, celebration, and festivity, often expressive of the abundant blessings of God.  Because of this, God’s withholding wine form Israel is often a sign of judgment for their disobedience as in Jeremiah 48:33.

God is not against our pleasure, but He does want us to order our affections appropriately, with Him at the center and being our greatest source of pleasure.  So, the Bible both speaks negatively and positively about alcohol.

Myth # 4 – Mature Christians should not drink alcohol, period!

How do you feel about that statement?  Is it true or is it just an opinion?

Well, it is completely appropriate for Christians to have the conviction that drinking alcohol is wrong for them.  For example, there may be abuse of it, or there may be a history of alcoholism in the family.  But this is a matter of conscience and personal conviction, and not a Biblical teaching.

As we have already seen, the Bible, while condemning drunkenness, does not condemn wine in and of itself.  One commentary writer had this to say, “Christian liberty permits one to abstain or partake in moderation, but total abstainers are not justified in holding up their practice as the more Biblical, virtuous, or spiritual of the two.”

As Christians, we are often stereotyped as being against everything, especially if it can be associated with having fun.  Non-Christians often stumble over the fact that our Christian culture views drinking as wrong.  Now, I am not suggesting that we need to lure people to the church with keg parties.  But we cannot allow something that is not scriptural be used as a spotlight to point to people and to say, “You’re doing it wrong.”

So, myth # 4, mature Christians should not drink alcohol, period.  Now, those were 4 myths about alcohol consumption.  Next, I want us to discuss 4 Biblical truths about alcohol.  As we do that, what are some Biblical truths that you can think of when it comes to alcohol?

Well, let’s go ahead and take a look at these 4 Biblical truths about alcohol.

Biblical Truth # 1 – If you are under the age of 21 in America, then it is illegal fo you to drink alcohol, end of story!

Why do you think that is a Biblical truth?

Well, as Christians, this is a matter of obedience not conviction.  Go ahead and turn with me to Romans 13:1-7.  In this passage, it informs us that we are to obey the law of the land, and American law states that you must be 21 to purchase and consume alcohol.  Listen to this passage.  Romans 13:1-7 says, “4”

So, you have to follow the law of the land, and in America, the drinking age is 21.  If you were growing up in Italy where there is no legal drinking age, obedience to the law would not be an issue for you.  However, it does fall under the next 3 truths.

Biblical Truth # 2 – The Bible is crystal clear that you are not to get drunk.

What does it mean to not be drunk?

Why would God say not to get drunk?

The apostle Paul states this clearly in Ephesians 5:18 when he says, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation (or wasteful indulgence), instead be filled with the Holy Spirit.”  When a person is drunk, they are no longer in complete control, and this almost always leads down an undesirable path.  God’s reason for not wanting us to get drunk isn’t because He is a cosmic kill-joy.  Rather, He gives this command because He loves us and desires the best for us, even if we don’t see things His way at first.  So, the Bible is clear in the fact that we are not to get drunk.

Biblical Truth # 3 – Christians of legal age, while having liberty to drink in moderation, should not drink if it is going to cause a brother or sister in Christ to stumble.

What is the meaning of that Biblical truth?  How does that happen?

Freedom exists so that we can choose to do the good and virtuous thing, not so that we can choose to do whatever we want to do.  The Bible is clear that we are not to use our liberty to cause brothers and sisters in Christ to stumble.  We are to look out for the interests of others as it tells us in Philippians 2:4-11.  This principle is illustrated by Paul in I Corinthians 8:7-13  In that passage, it says, “5”

Notice that Paul’s response wasn’t “I have liberty to eat meant and they need to get over it.”  Instead, Paul says, “If my eating meat causes them to stumble, I’ll never eat it again.  My liberty isn’t worth causing someone to stumble.”  So, we need to make sure that in our liberty to drink alcohol in moderation that we do not cause someone else to stumble.

Biblical Truth # 4 – Let your conscience be your guide; is it a sin for you?

What do you think that means?

Well, if you are of legal age, can you participate in drinking with a pure conscience?  Scripture instructs us to ask ourselves a question concerning activities that the Bible does not specifically prohibit or endorse.  In Romans 14:13-23 it says, “6”

Paul again explicitly affirms Biblical Truth # 3 in verse 21, but he also adds that we are not to violate our conscience or personal convictions before the Lord.  In other words, if you think that drinking alcohol is wrong, then for you it is wrong.  But if it is not an issue for you, then it is okay to drink in moderation, as long as you meet the other Biblical criteria.

The human conscience is complex and sometimes difficult to interpret.  A person of legal age may be unable to sort out whether the hesitation in drinking alcohol is from guilt, associated with past social or family experiences perhaps, or if it is from a legitimate conviction that drinking is wrong.  Time, prayer, and a close community of Christian friends can help you to process your feelings regarding alcohol.

Now, the reality is that for many of us, alcohol is a gray area complicated by life experiences.  We must face the harsh emotional realities that accompany alcohol when it is abused.  If you haven’t experienced this first hand, odds are, someone close to you has.

In my family, both of my brothers have had times when they were addicted to alcohol, and it was a series problem for them.  So I know the destructive power that alcohol can have on a person, their family and their everyday life if it is not controlled and done in moderation.

There is no denying the dark side of the bottle.  Liberty comes with a responsibility, and the consequences of abuse are painfully real in a person’s life.

Now, I am aware that I am not talking to an audience who has never experimented with alcohol or been in a drunken state before.  So what if you have already blown it?  Well, I have some good news for you.  Drunkenness is not an unforgivable sin.  Now this is not an excuse to go out and get drunk.  But, if you are honest with God and confess your sins, because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross on your behalf, God will forgive you.  You can be washed clean and have a fresh start.

Grace is a beautiful thing, but remember, even though God is graceful and promises to forgive you if you repent, He has also given you significant freedom with witch to make meaningful decisions.  And this means that the consequences of sin will follow you into your future.

Now, before we close this evening, does anyone have anything that they would like to add?

Well, if there is nothing else, just remember the 4 popular myths about alcohol:

• Drinking makes you cool and desirable, it allows you to be your uninhibited self, and ensures you’ll have more fun.
• Wasn’t the wine spoken of in the Bible really grape juice?
• The Bible only speaks about wine and strong drink in a negative way.
• Mature Christians should not drink alcohol, period!

Also, keep in mind the 4 Biblical truths about alcohol that we looked at:

• If you are under the age of 21 in America, then it is illegal fo you to drink alcohol, end of story!
• The Bible is crystal clear that you are not to get drunk.
• Christians of legal age, while having liberty to drink in moderation, should not drink if it is going to cause a brother or sister in Christ to stumble.
• Let your conscience be your guide; is it a sin for you?

Let’s Pray!