Sentinel Echo Newspaper Article & Corbin Times-Tribune Newspaper Article
Friday, January 27, 2012 Saturday, January 28, 2012
Another Vote for Liquor Sales Expansion?
(The diminishing effect of alcohol on the quality of SPIRITUAL Life)
“being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own…
they did not submit to God’s righteousness” (Rom. 10:3).
The date of March 6 has been set for a special vote on alcohol expansion for London. Barbourville and Corbin have also set dates for a special vote. As has been stated, people need to make informed decisions on the matter. These articles have been written from the perspective of what the Bible says about alcohol, intoxication, social drinking and drunkenness. A key factor in this matter is the mindset that religious people already have toward social drinking. Many church-going people do NOT believe that social drinking is condemned in the Bible. This attitude has been shaped by the lack of preaching on social drinking. You simply need to ask your pastor whether the Bible condemns social drinking as sin and see if he readily affirms it or stammers around the issue, ultimately implying that the Bible doesn’t say clearly. Therein, you will see why social drinking (and many other social vices), have become acceptable. The usual response on social drinking is, DRUNKEN-NESS is condemned, but to drink ‘socially’ is different. Man’s wisdom is seen in the ads that suggest “drink-responsibly”; “don’t drink and drive”; and pre-select a ‘designated’ driver. Man’s wisdom is seen in pre-planning transportation arrangements so that you can become “somewhat” intoxicated, thereby being safe and courteous.
A weak effort is made in support of social drinking from Jesus’ act of turning water into wine and the apostle Paul’s words to Timothy to use a little wine for your stomach’s sake. However, neither of these passages imply that social intoxication or intoxication of any degree is acceptable in the sight of God. In fact, Paul’s words to Timothy (1 Timothy 5:23) about the use of wine, was for an infirmity of the stomach and not for social use. “Moderation” in regard to becoming intoxicated is nowhere approved in the Bible. ANY activity that pursues or that would lead to drunkenness is condemned by the condemnation of drunkenness. This can be easily understood by making a parallel example of ‘moderation’ as it relates to godliness and ungodliness. Those who follow Christ are to pursue a life of godliness, as opposed to that which would arouse their fleshly passions. We see this from Titus 2:12 where the grace of God, “teaches…that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world…”. Also, 1 Peter 4:2 teaches that the change wrought in the life of one who has repented of sin, is seen in that he no longer lives, “...for human passions but for the will of God.” Self-control, (i.e., being in control of your own will) is not accomplished by any activity that affects your will-power and the ability to discern and render sound judgment. Drinking intoxicated beverages hinders you from doing so. Self-control will only develop in your life as the teachings of Christ govern your thoughts.
Another parallel to show that drinking in moderation is condemned along with drunkenness is in the teaching on anger. Anger is a sin, yet what of any activity that would cause anger to increase to the point that you commit some other sin. Anger leads to worse acts, as does jealousy and envy. They are the emotions that, if not curtailed, will erupt in other sins, ranging from gossip to murder. Dare any rational person argue that anger ‘in moderation’ is not wrong? Therefore in Ecclesiastes 7:9 we read, “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.” Many other passages condemn anger as a sin as well as the sins that are committed out of anger, and a Christian is to “put it (i.e. anger) off”. Note the following passages condemning anger/wrath:
Matthew 5:22 – But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment…
2 Corinthians 12:20 – For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be…wraths…
Galatians 5:19-21 – Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these…wrath…they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 4:31 – Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Colossians 3:8 – But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice...
1 Timothy 2:8 – I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath...
James 1:19-20 – Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be…slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Earlier in Ephesians 4:26-27, the apostle Paul wrote of anger: “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath; neither give place to the devil.” This passage is not advocating “anger in moderation” for a Christian; rather it is a command against allowing your anger to cause you to sin as sinners do (v. 17). The NIV renders this passage, “In your anger, do not sin.” Righteous indignation toward sin is to be “put on” as Jesus showed in His life. (John 2:15-17; Jude 1:23) The background of Eph. 4 comes from Psalm 4:4-5, where the admonition to sinners is, “Stand in awe, and sin not…offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.” This is the correct way to deal with anger and wrath. Again from Psalm 37:8 we read, “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.” Clearly, ‘tarrying long’ at anger will result in doing other evil! Any and all activity which would fuel one’s anger so as to commit other sins is NOT to be pursued by a child of God. Anger “in moderation” is not a demonstration of wisdom or of self-control. It evidences just the opposite. Being ‘quick’ or ‘soon’ to anger is the opposite of being ‘slow’ to anger. Being ‘slow’ to anger is not anger in moderation; it is to be in control of your passions so as NOT to commit sin! This is the consistent teaching from the Bible. Notice:
Prov. 14:17 – A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.
Prov. 16:32 – Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
Prov. 14:29 – Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
Prov. 19:11 – Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
Prov. 25:28 – A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
Only a fool fuels his spirit so as to stir up anger. So likewise is it true in regard to social use of wine; only a fool drinks “in moderation”. Of pastors, we find in Titus 1:7 that they are NOT to be: “soon angry”, nor “given to wine”. Moderation is NOT permitted in either area!
Prov. 23:29-30 – “Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? Who hath complaining? who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; They that go to seek out mixed wine.”
This is not teaching that woe, sorrow, contentions, complaining, wounds without cause, and redness of eyes will not come to those who tarry ‘short’ at wine. The context here is easily speaking of intoxicating drink. Any degree of its use is condemned, not just full-fledged drunkenness.
Anyone who claims to be a Christian, yet seeks to justify social drinking from the Bible is a hypocrite and a liar. It is these who will vote for this, and it is these who will bear the blame if it is passed.
To be continued…
Roger Bruner
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