by Bruce Varner
Deuteronomy 32:33, Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.
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.
Proverbs 20:1, Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Habakkuk 2:15, Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that puttest thy bottle to him….
1. Alcohol is a drug.
Ethanol is listed as a psychoactive drug. A psychoactive drug is a chemical substance that crosses the blood–brain barrier and acts primarily upon the central nervous system where it affects brain function, resulting in alterations in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, and behavior. Lupulin is an additional psychoactive drug found in beer. Lupulin is a hypnotic and sedative. Ethanol and Lupulin are both addictive substances classified as narcotics in the United States.
• Most psychoactive drugs are controlled substances in the United States because of their dangerous addictive traits.
• Most psychoactive drugs are issued by prescription of a Medical Doctor.
• Alcohol alters mood, perception, consciousness, cognition, and behavior and creates euphoria.
• Ethanol and Lupulin can be powdered and ingested in capsules, absorbed through the nasal membrane (“snorted”), they can also be injected intravenously, or smoked.
• Alcohol’s first listed effect is creating a feeling of happiness. This feeling of happiness creates other subtle, psychological changes (feelings of confidence, friendliness, and talkativeness). A person’s feeling of alcohol-happiness is artificial and temporary and highly addictive.
• Alcohol is listed as a depressant drug but by altering dosage it can act as a stimulant or a narcotic. It possesses some of the characteristics of a sedative, a hypnotic, an analgesic and a narcotic.
• Alcohol is not a harmless substance it is a powerful mind altering, psychoactive drug. (Ethanol, Lupulin)
2. Alcohol is addictive.
Most psychoactive drugs are illegal to use without a prescription and Doctor’s supervision because they are highly addictive.
• Alcohol is psychologically addictive. This is perhaps the most subtle and dangerous form of addiction. Drinkers unconsciously become dependent on the psychological changes that Alcohol produces (happiness, sense of well-being, confidence, friendliness, talkativeness).
• Alcohol creates an emotional addiction. The sales gimmick of Bars and Restaurant-bars is to advertise “Happy Hour.” Literally hundreds and thousands of people are emotionally addicted to the false “happiness” that is the initial effect of Alcohol.
• Alcohol is physically addictive. In time the body becomes accustomed to metabolizing Alcohol and becomes dependent upon it. Like other drugs, the amount ingested in order to achieve the desired result continually has to increase. This gradually creates a physical addiction.
3. Alcohol is damaging.
• Alcohol damages brain cells, the liver, stomach, esophagus, lungs, and heart.
• Through the blood stream, Alcohol reaches every system of the body.
• Alcohol is physically damaging, emotionally damaging, and psychologically damaging.
• Alcohol is damaging through the addictions it creates.
4. Alcohol is costly.
Billions of dollars are spent each year on:
• Booze itself (Fathers and mothers spending hundreds of dollars a month on booze that could provide children’s clothing, medicine, food, etc.)
• Lost time (People with hang overs calling in sick to work, making mistakes at work, causing injuries at work)
• Unemployment (People getting fired because of Alcohol use)
• Sicknesses (STD’s, Venereal disease, Gonorrhea, Syphilis)
• Hangovers
• Law enforcement
• Deaths, and physical injuries
• Medical costs
• Insurance premiums
• Auto accidents
• Lawyer fees
• Jail
5. Alcohol is dangerous.
There is a risk involved in every single drink consumed because Alcohol impairs and distorts judgment and perception, lowers inhibitions, and slows reaction time. These effects can result in:
• Violence
• Divorce
• Teen pregnancy
• Automobile accidents
• Fatalities
• Adultery, fornication
• Birth defects
• Children injured or killed
6. Alcohol is degenerative.
Alcohol lowers inhibitions; silences the conscience; impairs judgment; slows response.
Through Alcohol people can be enticed into:
• Fornication
• Crime
• Other drug use
• Violence
• Deception
• Aberrant sexual and other irrational behavior
7. Alcohol is wasteful.
Through Alcohol use and abuse people waste their:
• Youth
• Virtue
• Future
• Fortunes
• Health
8. Alcohol is unnecessary.
• There are ways to be happy without drinking.
• There are ways to feel friendly without drinking.
• There are ways to have a good time without drinking.
• There are ways to socialize without drinking.
• Social drinking, moderate drinking, and recreational drinking are all ADDICTIONS. Drinkers cannot have a good time or enjoy themselves or their company without Alcohol.
• These are addictions that make millions of dollars for special interest groups, so they are socially acceptable and politically correct.
9. Alcohol is debilitating.
• The more you use Alcohol to “break the ice”; the more you’ll need to use Alcohol to break the ice.
• The more you use Alcohol at “Happy Hour”; the more you’ll need Alcohol at “Happy Hour.”
• The more you use Alcohol because of the confidence it gives you; the more you will need Alcohol to be confident.
• Alcohol makes dependents. It creates dependencies that are unrealized or denied.
10. Alcohol is deadly.
(Poisons body, Proverbs 23:32) When enough Alcohol is ingested, the human body shuts down and dies. You should not drink a drop of this poison.
At the following blood-alcohol levels death occurs:
• BAC .35 some people die
• BAC .40 more people die
• BAC .80 everyone dies
Add this information to the multiplied deaths due to Alcohol-related auto accidents, murders, rapes, and crimes and it becomes obvious that you should not drink Alcohol.
Are you addicted? Jesus Christ Saves Sinners. He saved me from a life of wasted Alcohol-years. He can do the same for you.
Eternal life is a free gift. Please read the following tract and accept Jesus Christ. He can deliver you from the world’s most dangerous drug – Alcohol.
by Bruce Varner
Original article can be found at http://www.bbfchurch.net/pastors-corner-20
What do you believe? Ok to use or not? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!
Fantastic !!!!! Could not have said this or written this better myself. Thank you for this article and may God bless you a hundredfold.
Well, first comes our freedom in Christ. All things are lawful unto you. But, if they damage you and yours, they are certainly not profitable! Second, alcohol has health benefits for some! Third, for HIS very first miracle, JESUS chose to turn water into the finest wine at a wedding feast! Do you think HE did so to increase sin? G-D must approve, or JESUS would not have done it!(Unless you think HE wants to tempt us to sin(NOOO WAY!)
Wine is part of the LORD’s Supper. We offer grape juice to those that alcohol is a stumbling block to. I do not sell or otherwise profit from alcohol. But, I am determined to approach these questions with grace, mercy and understanding!
If it causes YOU to sin, DO NOT imbibe! Remember, a charge against JESUS was that HE was a wine bibber!
Seek to work out your own salvation! If you need prayer, if this issue IS a stumbling block, PRAY on IT!
I agree..It’s a sin to get drunk…It’s a sin to let it control you, or put it before God..I don’t think it’s sinful to have a drink.
The wine Jesus turned the water into was not what you think it is. Alcohol is a fermented drink. Fermentation in the Bible is symbolic of sin. Jesus didn’t go around drinking wine or alcohol. It was most likely grape juice. In the cup Jesus passed, the Bible says it was “the fruit of the vine.” It would not have been alcohol (fermentation).
And you people need to stop bringing in other cultures. You’re acting like the Jews in the OT who brought in pagan practices. Just because others do it or it’s culturally relevant doesn’t not make it okay in the eyes of God.
So many Christians today believe it’s ok to drink in moderation. But they would never say that about any other sin. I only lie in moderation. I only commit adultery on the weekends etc.
You are right in that alcohol itself is not a problem just as gun itself is not the issue. It is the human heart. I agree that drinking is not proper for a Christian, but then so it is to be obese. I’ve never heard any preacher preach on the sin of gluttony! Why not? Why don’t we preach that food is very highly addictive and overeating is “sin”? We only preach selectively just as we only selectively call “sin.” Your so called “sin” is based on cultural perspective. In France or any European countries, a glass of wine with your meal is NOT an issue at all! Being obese is a sin! I find that Independent Baptist who hasn’t seen or been to other cultures tend to have this very narrow view of sin. I wonder if our Jesus is an Independent Fundamental Baptist? Last time I checked, he was Jewish. Would you pray and ask the Lord to open your eyes in a foreign mission field or just keep on being loud, obese, dumb American as the world sees us? Why not confront more serious issues such as the growing threat of Muslims or other cults? How about poverty and hunger? Would you be stuck in this very self absorbed narrow view of “alcohol is sin?” Pray sincerely.
I agree and most of my friends never stop at 1 drink Wethersfield it be hard alcohol or wine. I alway say what makes us different then the non believers. People cannot tell any more!
Life is a dangerous activity; be careful.
Respectfully, alcohol isn’t the enemy. Sin is. As well, Im not sure I would say that “Alcohol is…” for each of your points since that is not the case for everyone. There are many who are not addicted to it. There are many who do not spend exceedingly because of it. There are many who do not pose a danger to others (because they do not get drunk though they drink). There are many who have not become degenerates because of it… and so on.
Instead, I think it would be more accurate to state that “Alcohol can be…”.
Most of what you have stated is good stuff. However, again, to paint alcohol as the problem as opposed to the real problem (sin), I believe is missing the mark.
I couln’t agree with you more. Many stay as Independent Fundamental Baptist b/c that’s the only perspective they hear. I am utterly dissapointed b/c they do not get out of thir rural comfort zone. They tithe and missionaries and they think they’ve done their good work. Nothing could be further than the truth. This Pharisaic spirituality is dangerous b/c it constantly and exceedingly pursue works. It makes walking with the Lord very difficult and there is no relationship with Christ. It is an 60’s American religion and not a true spiritual Christocentric worship. What if Jesus came to our A/C, plush carpeted, soft pew filled churches? Would He be welcomed or judged by the modern Southern Pharisees?
1st Timothy 5:23
Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
This is a series our pastor has been doing in Sunday School, and it’s been very informative! I didn’t realize there were so many verses about alcohol and consumption of it in the bible.
Practically, in the middle East, water was infested with bacteria that only way to drink water was to mix it with wine to kill the germ. When Jesus made wine from the water in a wedding party, can you prove that He didn’t drink any water mixed with wine? How come He turned water into wine? I think there are so many more things more harmful than alcohol. What about processed sugar? How about soft drinks? Do your research. You’ll find the devastating effect of sugar in our society. Food and sugar is even more addictive than alcohol!
All 10 points are missing the word “abuse”. Just google” the health benefits of red wine” for example.
Who cares what “science” says about something?? One of the main things about science is to give people justification anyway to do what they want. They had a study showing that when people got hurt that their pain level was actually much less if they would yell obscenities then if they would just grin and bear it. Though science says it’s good and healthy for you it doesn’t make it right!! Stop walking in the counsel of ungodly men (Ps. 1), and listen to and obey what the Bible says–don’t drink alcohol!! Prov. 20:1, 23:19-35.
The reason why red wine is good for health because of the grapes. You get the same benefits if you drink grape juice
The so called “benefit” of wine came from grapes. You can get the same beneifit from eating grapes. To use that as an excuse to drink is a cop out.
Why don’t I drink? Practical reason – my family tree is liberally decorated with alcoholics. Primary reasons – God clearly communicated to me than an alcohol-free lifestyle was His plan. Two, so that I would not be a stumbling block to anyone. Other thoughts: Comparing alcohol use to obesity is a bit off the mark. Obese people don’t usually cause auto deaths due to impaired driving; however, I agree that gluttony is a sin (happens to be the one I have the most trouble with). Citing Jesus’ drinking needs to take into consideration the alcohol content of 1st century beverages vs the “high octane” products available today and the increasing congruence of drug use associated with alcohol consumption. Finally, I will spend eternity in heaven with Christians who drink alcohol – it’s not a salvation issue.
While alcohol can be viewed this way, drunkenness is the sin. For many of these points, you can substitute the abuse of food – overeating, gluttony. This is on the fly, so to speak
1. People use food as comfort for emotional issue hence the term “comfort food.” They are seeking to correct their emotional state with something else than Jesus.
2. Food is addictive. Sugar, caffeine etc.
3. Food is damaging. Heart disease, cerebral vascular incidents, cancer to name a few.
4. Food is costly. Especially if you are gluttonous.
5. Food is dangerous – granted, maybe not as much as alcohol but still produces poor health.
6. Food is degenerative. May chronic health conditions are related or exacerbated by food. ie gout.
7. Food is wasteful. Do we really need that much, that fancy all the time? Especially if you eat out all the time. Not to mention the healthcare costs of these issues that ultimately are born by the insured’s program or tax payers in general.
8. Well, food is necessary I agree. In quality healthy and in moderation
9. Food is debilitating. Obesity causes disability and chronic degenerative conditions that affect a persons quality of life and their ability to be productive in society.
10. Food is deadly – Yep for all the health issues above.
My point: wisdom and moderation. If you feel alcohol is an issue for you, by all means stay away from it. If you choose to partake, use wisdom and moderation and definitely avoid drunkenness.
PS. Wonder when we will hear it preached from pulpits about gluttony and over eating!
BTW, I am a healthcare provider so I see this regularly. I also have pastored two churches.
Quite ignorant of the main point of the article there, bud. Though gluttony may be a sin (especially to a Catholic, which tellingly doesn’t have drunkenness on their “seven deadly sins” list!!), it’s not the same as the sin of drinking alcohol. Me eating a double cheeseburger with curly fries and a milk shake is not running the risk of killing an innocent bystander as I drive home. I’m not out abusing other people under the influence of…a pecan pie. I’m not wasting all my money, taking away grocery money and money for my children’s education so I can stuff myself with candy and snacks. Alcohol is a poison, it poisons the body physically, which you should be well aware of as a healthcare provider. It also poisons the soul–it’s demonic! As the saying goes, “When Satan cannot come himself, he sends wine as his messenger.” It’s a tool of the devil to wreck the home, waste the life, and damn the soul.
Here is what you never hear on the news: Couple killed in car crash because driver who hit them was overeating. Wife beaten by husband because husband had eaten too much. Nor do you hear how someone lost their virginity because their inhibitions were lowered because of eating too much. You do, however hear similar reports because of someone DRINKING too much. Get real people and stop comparing drinking too much with eating too much. The comparative results are drastically different. “At the last it biteth like a serpent.” Prov. 23:32
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. James 2:10
So as you can see, overeating is indeed the same sin as drinking alcohol.
Good points.
Amen I totally agree with your reply. Prov.23:32 says “at the last” it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder, not at the first. (Proverbs 14:12 KJV) There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but THE END thereof are the ways of death. No one in prison for manslaughter is there for hitting and killing someone with their car because they pigged out on food.
What a narrow minded view.
Idiots!! If Jesus drank fermented wine at the table He broke jewish laws! Uhmm was yeast allowed? Uhmm what’s used in fermentation process? If Jesus is the Word why would Jesus warn so much against alcohol then just make booze so everybody could get drunk at a wedding?!? We perverted a wedding by getting drunk you fools!! This was a religious wedding not like our perverted weddings we have today!!!! Food was not made to get drunk or high, don’t compare what God made with what we sinners perverted into substance!!
Here is what you never hear on the news: Couple killed in car crash because driver who hit them was overeating. Wife beaten by husband because husband had eaten too much. Nor do you hear how someone lost their virginity because their inhibitions were lowered because of eating too much. You do, however hear similar reports because of someone DRINKING too much
AMEN!