Skip to main content

Alcohol


         Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. (I Timothy 5:23)

          Did you know that the Temperance Movement began as a women’s issue? Men weren’t the only drunks, of course, but men stopped on their way home from work and drank a good portion of their pay, meaning that women and children suffered. Even today people in Boston spend an average of $900 on beer, and people in New York City, an average of $1,300.[1] That might not be so bad if you’re making more than $40,000. It’s harder if you make less. And keep in mind that that’s the average. That means those who do drink actually tend to spend more, but they’re buying and drinking someone else’s alcohol as well.
         Add to that the fact that some 40% of all criminals claim to have been under the influence of alcohol when they committed their crimes. Forty percent of those who abuse wives, forty percent of those who abuse children, forty percent of those who rape, or murder. Some 88,000 people per year die at the hands of someone who has been drinking.
          The Bible is not anti-alcohol, but it’s definitely against the abuse of alcohol, so when people pull today's passage or one of the others that mention drinking out of context as proof that drinking is Scripturally acceptable, or when people pull passages out of context to prove that all alcohol is Scripturally unacceptable, they’re barking up the wrong tree.
          Historically, water available in or near cities was contaminated. Apparently, Timothy had chosen to forego alcohol and was suffering as a result. Wine was a preferred beverage because it helped prevent some of these diseases. Paul also warned Timothy against elders who were given to much drink.
         The key is not in moderation. It is in love. If alcohol gets in the way of your love (care) for yourself, it needs to be kicked to the curb. If it takes money from your family that your family could better use elsewhere, it needs to be thrown off a cliff. If it interferes with your service to God, throw it in the trash.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Right Road

          Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (Psalm 139:7-12)                  For years before GPSes existed, I told people I wanted something in my car that would tell me, “Turn left in half a mile…turn left in a quarter mile…turn left in 500 feet… turn left in 100 feet…turn left now …You missed the turn, Dummy!” The problem isn’t necessarily that I get lost so much as I’m afraid I’ll get lost. I don’t want to have to spend my whole trip stressing over the next turn. I have the same problem with my spiritual journey.   
Post a Comment
Read more

Died as a Ransom

                 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:15)                  This is something I’d really rather not think about but here it is and it’s important. I was reading in Bold Love about seeking revenge.  The author wrote of seeking justice when a supposed Christian does something sinful, harmful, and/or horrific, like sexually abusing a daughter.  And the thought that came to mind was of God asking if Jesus’ death was sufficient payment to me for the sin committed against me.                I have no specific longing for revenge, vengeance, or justice. I’m sure there are some lurking somewhere in my heart, but this wasn’t a response to one. It was more a question of principle. Jesus’ death was sufficient payment for to God for our sins.  That’s the standard Sunday Schoo
1 comment
Read more

Out of the Depths

  Out of the depths I have cried to You, Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the sound of my pleadings.   If You, Lord, were to keep account of guilty deeds, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, so that You may be revered. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and I wait for His word. My soul waits in hope for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; Yes, more than the watchmen for the morning. Israel, wait for the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his guilty deeds . (Psalm 130)             I like Mr. Peterson’s interpretation of the first line. “The bottom has fallen out of my life!” Of course, the problem for some of us is the fact that we’re drama queens, and/or we’re weak. Any time anything happens that disturbs our sense of mastery and control, the bottom has fallen out of our lives. If the past couple of days have taught me anything, they’ve t
1 comment
Read more