Alcolol And The Church Series

Alcohol and the Church

#2 Hot Potato the church won’t Touch

Ephesians 5:18

We live in strange times. Our nation has declared war on drugs, and our president even appointed a drug Czar. However, the most widely used, and equally destructive drug alcohol is still legal. The Country has also declared war on the tobacco industry. You won’t see tobacco ads on television anymore, but beer ads seem to multiply. And you can’t smoke in public places anymore, but you can drink in many public places. With tobacco usually the only person you harm is yourself, and maybe those close to you with second hand smoke. But many innocent people have been harmed or killed by people under the influence of alcohol. The other strange thing is that in the past the church has lead the way in the fight against all kinds of drugs and alcohol, even when few were following. As they did in the days of prohibition. However, now you would be more likely to hear a warning about the dangers of alcohol, drugs and tobacco from the government (the Surgeon general’s warning) or the alcohol and tobacco industry themselves. (Drink Responsibly commercials) The church has been strangely silent in recent years preferring to be politically tolerant.

Drunkenness is considered an evil in most of the world’s major religious traditions, and Islam has for centuries forbidden even the moderate use of fermented drink. In the West, however, efforts to ban the consumption of alcohol have been a relatively recent phenomenon. Their origin can be traced to the apparently rapid spread of the technology of distillation and of alcohol abuse in 18th-century Europe, which alarmed those concerned with public health and morals.

Many people believed a close relationship existed between drunkenness and the rising incidence of crime, poverty, and violence, concluding that the only way to protect society from this threat was to abolish the “drunkard-making business.” The first state prohibition law, passed in Maine in 1851, prohibited the manufacture and sale of “spiritous or intoxicating liquors” not intended for medical or mechanical purposes, and 13 of the 31 states had such laws by 1855.

By 1900, millions of men and women were beginning to share this hostility toward the saloon and to regard it as the most dangerous social institution then threatening the family.

The Prohibition era began in 1920, following the ratification of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States in 1919. The amendment banned the sale or manufacture of alcoholic beverages. Here, government agents dump alcohol confiscated from bootleggers. Prohibition ended in 1933 when the 18th Amendment was repealed. Microsoft Encarta Ency. 2001

I The Bible Always Condemns Drunkenness

Isaiah 5:11

Doom to those who get up early and start drinking booze before breakfast, Who stay up all hours of the night drinking themselves into a stupor. (The message)

1Cor 6:9-10 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders

10. nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Peter 4:3

You’ve already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it’s time to be done with it for good.(the message)

1 Thess. 5:6-8 (The Message) So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart. [7] People sleep at night and get drunk at night. [8] But not us! Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.

1 Cor 5:11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

Eph 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Gal. 5:19-20 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20. idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21. and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Romans 13:13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.

II If Jesus drank Wine, can we?

-much is made of the fact that Jesus drank wine in contrast to John Matthew 11:18,19, and he turned water into wine at the marriage of Cana of Galilee.