It is a vice that has tightened its grip upon the masses of mankind virtually throughout the history of the world. Its dangers are obvious and consequences well documented. It has severed marriages, broken homes, left its victims in moral and financial ruin, and torn lives apart. Yet more and more people, instead of running away from it, are found running into its arms, seeking the “comforts” and “entertainment” they believe it can provide. Billions have had to learn the hard way that this “social past time” is in reality a social and spiritual disaster. Television tries to distinguish it as a sign of intelligence, attractiveness, authority, and popularity; but rather than being a sign of distinction, Solomon would characterize it in this way: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1).
T.B. Larimore used to the tell the story of a man he knew in Nashville who had a pet monkey named Jack:
“This man had some blackberry wine that was quite intoxicative. He had Jack on a leash in the back yard of his place. He decided one day to fill Jack’s cup with the wine. Jack went over and began to gulp down the wine. Soon he was a drunk monkey. He reeled and staggered around the yard in characteristic style of one under the influence of strong drink. The owner gave Jack sufficient time to regain his sobriety again. Then he proceeded with step number two of the experiment. Again he filled Jack’s cup with the blackberry wine. Jack went over and sniffed this time. The first sniff was sufficient. This time he went just as far away from the cup of wine as the leash would allow. The owner said he had a look on his face that seemed to be saying, “Master, you make a man out of me once, from now on I am staying a monkey!” (Taylor, How Young People Get Hurt, pg. 7).
Sadly, there are many humans that are not as bright as that monkey, because they return again and again to the cup that contains strong drink. In that way they are indeed dumber than a drunk monkey! At least he learned his lesson the first time. Others go an entire lifetime given to this vice of the devil, resolved to depart earthly scenes before they would depart the grasp of their favorite drink. The world loves is liquor and will defend its use till the end. But what is sadder is that there are even some Christians that seek every conceivable justification to be involved in the same. However, to the Bible we must go to determine God’s view of alcoholic consumption.
The Bible’s condemnation of alcohol consumption. When the Bible condemns the consumption of alcohol, it does so by the avenue of any form and any amount. The reason such a statement is necessary is because of the ever increasing popularity of the concept that the Bible does condemn drunkenness, but never “social drinking” in a “moderated form”. The clear conclusion that shall be reached is that there is no Biblical distinction between the two. There is nothing social about drinking, and there is no form or amount that justifies its use.
Begin by noting a few passages of scripture that clearly states the Biblical position of drinking:
- Psalm 75:8—“For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.”
- Proverbs 23:31-32—“Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.”
- Isaiah 5:22—“Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink…”
- Isaiah 28:7—“But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.”
Is there any doubt that these passages illustrate a strong condemnation of alcoholic consumption? And notice that none of them merely mention drunkenness (though several do—Romans 13:13; Galatians 5:21, etc.), but condemn the generic consumption of alcohol in any moderation, whether large or small. It is the consumption that is condemned, not the amount. However, some would interject at this point that the Bible does refer to “wine” in an uncondemned fashion. But know that while it might refer to “wine” without condemnation, it never refers to alcohol without condemnation. How can such be said?
-to be continued
-Andy Brewer
