Alcohol

by Jannie

Alcohol, or for that matter, allowing any doubtful substance in you to “feel good”…

On our own, without God’s grace, we all fall dismally short of God’s glory.  No one of us can claim moral superiority for it is only by God’s gracious proof of Love in Jesus Christ that we can be saved – from ourselves.  So, while we can never look down on anyone in trouble with substance abuse, is it also of no use to be in denial and be too stubborn to accept an honest and straightforward attempt at help. Conceit, arrogance, haughtiness, egotism, superciliousness, pomposity, etc. are all on the same scale albeit at different positions and ends.  All are variants of the same human problem: self-righteousness; and self-righteousness can only land us in trouble.  We are dependent on guidance from God [Love].

Then there are those who attempt to use the Bible to “prove” that they can become drunk and still please God in it.  This discussion and these principles apply equally to even the mildest of drugs.  Yes God made these plants and seeds but for that matter He also made [now] poisonous snakes as well – should we play with them, and fire, too?  People so foolish to try and fool true Christians – even God – don’t seem to realize that they only fool themselves.  People under the influence often feel highly sophisticated while they’re unable to pronounce it.  Some obstinately and blindly refuse [rationalize] the warnings of addicts in rehab institutions and point to opinions from the spiritually immature and loosers instead.

Carefully contemplate the principle in Rom 10:1-3; then, Is 5:18-22.  Stop, and think sober about it first.

We can all look up words like “wine” and “drink” in a concordance, and then come up with hordes of verses, and concoct a theology, a dogma, or plain dim-witted ideas to try and justify ourselves.  For the purpose of this writing, however, we will leave all those Scriptures, and rather seek a deeper Truth.  The Truth that sets captives free.  And if He sets you free, you will unquestionably and truly be free indeed.

You may quote verses from the Bible, but what are you hearing from Jesus Christ Himself (Jn 10:27)?  Paul have also personally heard from Jesus Christ, after His resurrection, and then said Gal 1:6-12.  Paul also said 1 Tim 1:3-7; 3:2,3.  If doctors in [Mosaic] law miss the spiritual truth of the Bible, how dare people who have not even studied the Word properly or thoroughly, proclaim to use it to “justify” their false conceptions?  How can anyone think to try and use the Word of God to “talk right” anything that is destructive and enslaving?  Try Jer 17:9-10.  Alcohol impairs reasoning.  This is a medical/scientific fact.

So, how can we propagate the use of something that impairs judgment, and then pre-meditate to rely on that impaired judgment to decide when we would have had enough [of the substance that impaired our judgment]?  This is ludicrous!  It is even more ludicrous to try and twist God’s Word so that you think you can make Him an accomplice and get Him to approve drunkenness.  This is ridiculous and futile.

Now please, don’t run away with these words, this is not saying that you may not enjoy a glass of wine!  If you find yourself offensive or overly sensitive here, it could very possibly be a reason for concern…

A beast [animal] seems to have a soul [intellect, emotion, will] and a body, while a re-born man has a spirit [God-consciousness] as well.  The soul needs the body to express itself.  The Spirit makes the difference between immorality and morality.  The body is unaware of the Spirit, but can benefit by it (Rom 8:11-19).  The mind therefore, is actually designed to, and so needs to control the body.  This is why fasting[1] is an exercise to get and demonstrate control over your beastly selfish instincts of self-preservation [eating and even reproducing or breeding or stimulation as referred to in 1 Cor 7:5-7]; to gain control over self-righteousness and the spiritual deafness it brings, so that you can hear God’s Voice more clearly by purposefully and intentionally getting rid of the “noise” of worldly and fleshly arguments and your own cravings screaming at you (Rom 8:5-9).

In Jn 15:1-8, Jesus [again] speaks of a vineyard.  He uses it as an analogy or picture because, as people familiar with arid landscapes, they could probably more easily understand the spiritual meaning and implication; and they knew about Lev 10:9; Num 6; … and Christians should know 1 Cor 6:12-20; 10:31.  The idea is that Jesus Himself is the Vine, and our Father the Vinedresser.  Only in His Word, in Him, do we bear fruit [see results due to conversations with Him, prayer].  This brings about a joy unspeakable as a gift of His Spirit Who then indwells us [by our choice] permanently.  Consider Gal 5:18-26 carefully.

The “fruit of the wine” does not have to contain alcohol.  Grape juice, perhaps even extracts from red grape pips as a medicine was also used.  Anything good can be spoiled by something bad mixed with it as an ingredient.  Rat poison, for example, is about 99% good mixed with 1% bad.

We are supposed to get “drunk” [filled, uninhibited by law or self] with His Holy Spirit, not alcohol [impairment].  Jesus paid [with His blood] to set also you free from slavery.  Alcohol certainly has enslaved many through the lie that they need that substance to make them feel and think they are OK.  They normally would not believe [take God’s Word for it], but believe the drugged mind instead.  Jesus thought the devil is the father of all lies (Jn 8:41-47), and who do you listen to?  It is the impaired mind that gets you further into a downward spiral called the law of diminutive return.  The more you put in [try, invest], the less you – and everyone around you – get from it.  It rather achieves the opposite – you become enslaved, captured, unreasonable, offensive and blunt, insensitive [numb] to beauty and Truth.

If your mind is not renewed to the point where you can control your fleshly and bodily desires, you find yourself in an extremely precarious place – by choice.  Just pause.  Stop.  Think about it, and be honest.

Rom 13:14 says, “But clothe yourself with the Lord[2] Jesus Christ and make no provision for indulging the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to gratify its desires [lusts]”.  Why “make provision” for flesh?  Why rely on alcohol to “make you feel – not be -good”?  Are you generally feeling so needy and beggarly and poor that you need a chemical substance to uplift you?  A substance that is scientifically proven to actually achieve the opposite – and you call it reason when you fight for it?  Jesus never was drunk with alcohol, neither needed alcohol to uplift His Spirit.

It is noteworthy that, being under the influence of alcohol, is not acceptable when operating machinery;  or when important matters are being discussed.  And you want to use alcohol to “relax and feel good” and then expect a meaningful discussion [guidance] from God?  Think of the airline captain who only had one glass of wine and/or one beer, and welcomes you onboard; or the anesthetist and surgeon, just before your brain surgery, admitting they only had a few glasses of wine.  Often you see these “controlled drinkers” suddenly finding the simplest of tasks a huge challenge.  Don’t be a play-actor.  Be consistent.

If you stick to your memorized list of scriptures that –in your mind – justifies drunkenness, so be it.  Just know that you live with your choices and so must everyone around you.  Consider reading the paper entitled “The Last supper”.  We are not saying alcoholics cannot be saved, or that God does not love them, just go to Him, and listen to His Voice.  Read His Word with His precepts [teachings, commands, not law] in it.  You will then discover that the worldly counseling keeps you in your self [the problem].

Your body does not know one body from the next, and it does not know right from wrong.  This your mind has to do [instruct, discern, command].  This is what to look out for when putting your body in close proximity with someone other than your spouse [dancing].  The thing will respond – it is designed to do so, and is functioning correctly.  At closer investigation, you’ll find that it actually was the mind that is corrupt and a tremendous play-actor.  It is your mind that needs to be in the right place [moral position, frame of reference]; if this mind is impaired by a chemical, you could easily have started a chain of events that has excellent potential to end up in a huge problem at the very least, and quite possibly, a catastrophe.  Similar to the strong impulse of sexual vice (1 Cor 6:12-20); is the urge to satisfy the “self” by feeling good [through manipulative use of chemical means, to compensate for the lack of real lasting joy in the Living Word – Christ in us].  Similarly, do most people still have to overcome their urge to be adored while wrongly not feeling good about themselves (contemplate 1 Jn 3:20; Jn 5:45; Col 1:22; 1 Pet 3:16 will apply when understanding Rom 12:9; Heb 10:24-29. Digest Rom 8:29-39.  No one needs a drinking pal, but we all need to know our perfect Father-Savior-Counselor-Teacher-Guide-Friend-God Who loves us more than we’ll probably ever know and Who want us to follow [trust] Him.

No, it is probably not a “sin” to enjoy a good few glasses of snobbish wine, or whatever alcoholic drink;  it is however, a dangerous position to defend misuse [an utter lack of understanding or Spiritual enlightenment] under the pretence of being “intellectual” or “mature” about the issue of using alcohol.

Even just the NT is not silent on the [misuse] of wine [alcohol].  Consider Lk 1:15; 7:33; Rom 14:21; Eph 5:18; 1 Tim 3:3,8; 5:23; Titus 1:7; 2:3; 1 Pet 4:3 (Rev 17:2; 18:3; 21:8 with 1 Jn 2:4).

Maturity should be understood to be the full stature and measure of Jesus Christ (Eph 4:12-20)!  And surely we can consider 1 Tim 3:2,3; 1 Cor 10:31; even Num 6 (note vv 3,4,20) with Rom 10:4…

Then, if you will, again consider Jn 4:24; 16:23-26; Rom 1:18-22,; 8:14-17, 29-39; 1 Cor 6:12-20 and 2 Cor 10:4-6…

May you enjoy God’s lasting rest, peace, mercy, grace, Light, Love and joy right here, right now.

Be more than a conqueror and able to all victory – in Jesus Christ.  Persist, like God does in His Love

– for us all.

Amen.

[1] In Mt 6:16-21 Jesus says “when”, not “if” you [give… pray…  fast]…

[2] “Lord” means final, uppermost command, [sole] owner.  You pay [rent] to a landlord.  What do you pay to who?