Many people’s view on drinking is, if it’s consumed in small quantities, is neither harmful nor addictive. Some doctors advocate drinking small amounts of red wine for its health benefits, especially for the heart. Consumption of small quantities of alcohol they say, is a matter of Christian freedom. But, with these freedoms comes a personal responsibility. If I choose to drink, am I being a stumbling block to someone else?
Ephesians 5:18 tells us to avoid drunkenness.
1Cor 8:9-21 teaches us to refrain from doing something that makes another stumble in their faith, or conscience. Prov. 23:29-35 goes on to describe drunkenness, and condemns it.
What God commands Christians regarding alcohol is to avoid drunkenness
But, let’s take a look at the realities of alcoholism:
As a former alcoholic, I have strong personal views, and looking at the condition of society today, I hold to the opinion; “why do it?”
As a recovered alcoholic I can’t understand why Christians would drink. I’ve only known alcohol as a way to escape reality. I don’t know why if you are drinking for the taste you wouldn’t just drink something else that tastes good.
Christian weddings who provide alcohol open the door for people being intoxicated. For many, it only takes one glass or two. Alcohol is extremely addictive and is used to alter the mental state and “loosen up”. The results are many times things being said that can ruin relationships, inflicting pain on other’s, and yourself, and living with the regret of it.
I’ve watched this in my family all my life. There are some who are still living in denial, and want nothing to do with me, because my presence brings conviction, even if I say nothing. I just keep praying that some day they wake up and become as ashamed of themselves and as tired of wasting their life as I did, and finally want to change.
Alcohol (also grain alcohol) is a toxin that severely affects the central nervous system when ingested. Most people know that even moderate “social drinking” destroys brain cells.
The strongest advocate of alcohol must honestly admit that its consumption does not glorify God in their body; instead, it slowly destroys body and mind, which is a clear violation of the Sixth Commandment.
Today, “moderation” is taught with alcohol, but history has shown that moderation with an addictive drug or alcoholism is impossible.
In the next 24 hours, alcohol will be responsible for almost half of all:
... the homicides.
…the people who will die on the highway.
…the people who will be admitted to the hospital.
…the people who will be incarcerated in jail or prison.
…the people who will be arrested for domestic violence.
…the people who will be born with birth defects.
It will also be responsible for a quarter of all suicides.
Every year, at the New Year celebrations, this escalates.
According to Zig Ziglar, authorities know that approximately one in sixteen people who ever take a social drink will become an alcoholic. Would you board a plane if you knew there was a one in 16 chance that it would crash and end your life? Yet, how many think nothing of getting into a car drunk, sometimes with children strapped to their car seats; and drive on the highways drunk. They are responsible at times for not only their own deaths, but the innocent victims that are in their way, as they careen down the highway, in a drunken stupor. We see the devastating results on the news all the time. Today it is not unusual to hear of car wrecks where the driver is high on both drugs and alcohol at the same time.
The great Canadian physician Sir William Osler was lecturing one day on alcohol. “Is it true,” asked a student, “that alcohol makes people do some things better?”
“No,” replied Sir William. “It just makes them less ashamed of doing them badly.”
A quote from Paul Harvey-Tests show that after drinking three bottles of beer, there is an average of 13 percent net memory loss. After taking only small quantities of alcohol, trained typists were tested and their errors increased 40 percent. Only one ounce of alcohol increases the time required to make a decision by nearly 10 percent; hinders muscular reaction by 17 percent; increases errors due to lack of attention by 35 percent.
Charles Spurgeon had this to say about bars, and drinking-: "I wish the man who made the law to open them had to keep all the families that they have brought to ruin. Beer shops are the enemies of the home; therefore, the sooner their licenses are taken away, the better."
Billy Sunday-“After all is said that can be said on the liquor traffic, its influence is degrading on the individual, the family, politics and business and upon everything that you touch in this old world."
A sad story:
An anxious father approached his pastor and said, “Please, talk to my boy about drinking. He came home last night and fell sprawling on the floor—too drunk to get up. His mother cried the rest of the night.”
“Why don't you talk to your own boy yourself?” the preacher questioned.
But the father said, “Pastor, I can't talk to my son about it, because I am to blame. I wanted him to be a man, so I gave him his first glass of liquor. I didn't dream that he'd ever become a drunkard. Please speak to my boy. I can't talk to him.”
I grew up in this kind of environment, so I know the reality of this kind of scenario. I was given my first taste of drink, a glass of wine, at a New Years Eve party at a relatives house. I was twelve years old. This started my road to devastation and many heartaches.
My father drank and I saw him drunken many times. I watched him abuse my mother, feeling helpless to do anything about it. I hated him for how he treated her. We watched him waste away many days, and spending years drinking in front of the TV from Friday night to Sunday, only getting sober enough to make it to work on Monday. At times, he didn't get sober even then.
It was only after he was dying of lung cancer, caused by smoking, that he stopped drinking, and I got to know him. Drinking changes people. They say things and do things they would never do when sober. Those who have to live with them are the ones who suffer the most, because the drunken many times do not remember their foolishness, cruelty, or abuse they have inflicted on other's.
The last five years of his life; God brought forgiveness between us, and he came to faith in Christ only six days before his death. God’s hand moves to redeem us, no matter how deep the pit we’ve dropped into.
One morning in 1978 in my living room, at the age of 25, I called on the Lord to forgive me from my sins, and deliver me from drinking. He answered that prayer. I thank God for these many years of freedom I've enjoyed, that drinking did not steal from me. There is never a day that I miss the fuzzy head, the hangovers, the nausea, and all the rest that came with that addiction.
I'm very aware that there are some who may read this and find it just humorous entertainment. I've lived with the numerous reactions from people, depending on where they are in their own life. Many people who enjoy drinking will continue to deny it's affects on them, and will never change. When I am mocked, I consider the source of where it is coming from.
But, I also know there are many out there who have, or still are, living in this kind of wasted life; and wish there was a way out. Over the years I've talked to many who have told their own horror stories of living with alcoholics, and how it's ruined their lives. For some, the only way out, was to leave. It was the only way they could survive.
But, I've also listened to some wonderful testimonies of those who have made it out, and the lives that has been restored, and put back together. There is hope, and it is in Jesus Christ. What he has done for me, and other's, He can do for anyone. If you really want to change, He is there if you call on Him.
Lorna Couillard
Ephesians 5:18 tells us to avoid drunkenness.
1Cor 8:9-21 teaches us to refrain from doing something that makes another stumble in their faith, or conscience. Prov. 23:29-35 goes on to describe drunkenness, and condemns it.
What God commands Christians regarding alcohol is to avoid drunkenness
But, let’s take a look at the realities of alcoholism:
As a former alcoholic, I have strong personal views, and looking at the condition of society today, I hold to the opinion; “why do it?”
As a recovered alcoholic I can’t understand why Christians would drink. I’ve only known alcohol as a way to escape reality. I don’t know why if you are drinking for the taste you wouldn’t just drink something else that tastes good.
Christian weddings who provide alcohol open the door for people being intoxicated. For many, it only takes one glass or two. Alcohol is extremely addictive and is used to alter the mental state and “loosen up”. The results are many times things being said that can ruin relationships, inflicting pain on other’s, and yourself, and living with the regret of it.
I’ve watched this in my family all my life. There are some who are still living in denial, and want nothing to do with me, because my presence brings conviction, even if I say nothing. I just keep praying that some day they wake up and become as ashamed of themselves and as tired of wasting their life as I did, and finally want to change.
Alcohol (also grain alcohol) is a toxin that severely affects the central nervous system when ingested. Most people know that even moderate “social drinking” destroys brain cells.
The strongest advocate of alcohol must honestly admit that its consumption does not glorify God in their body; instead, it slowly destroys body and mind, which is a clear violation of the Sixth Commandment.
Today, “moderation” is taught with alcohol, but history has shown that moderation with an addictive drug or alcoholism is impossible.
In the next 24 hours, alcohol will be responsible for almost half of all:
... the homicides.
…the people who will die on the highway.
…the people who will be admitted to the hospital.
…the people who will be incarcerated in jail or prison.
…the people who will be arrested for domestic violence.
…the people who will be born with birth defects.
It will also be responsible for a quarter of all suicides.
Every year, at the New Year celebrations, this escalates.
According to Zig Ziglar, authorities know that approximately one in sixteen people who ever take a social drink will become an alcoholic. Would you board a plane if you knew there was a one in 16 chance that it would crash and end your life? Yet, how many think nothing of getting into a car drunk, sometimes with children strapped to their car seats; and drive on the highways drunk. They are responsible at times for not only their own deaths, but the innocent victims that are in their way, as they careen down the highway, in a drunken stupor. We see the devastating results on the news all the time. Today it is not unusual to hear of car wrecks where the driver is high on both drugs and alcohol at the same time.
The great Canadian physician Sir William Osler was lecturing one day on alcohol. “Is it true,” asked a student, “that alcohol makes people do some things better?”
“No,” replied Sir William. “It just makes them less ashamed of doing them badly.”
A quote from Paul Harvey-Tests show that after drinking three bottles of beer, there is an average of 13 percent net memory loss. After taking only small quantities of alcohol, trained typists were tested and their errors increased 40 percent. Only one ounce of alcohol increases the time required to make a decision by nearly 10 percent; hinders muscular reaction by 17 percent; increases errors due to lack of attention by 35 percent.
Charles Spurgeon had this to say about bars, and drinking-: "I wish the man who made the law to open them had to keep all the families that they have brought to ruin. Beer shops are the enemies of the home; therefore, the sooner their licenses are taken away, the better."
Billy Sunday-“After all is said that can be said on the liquor traffic, its influence is degrading on the individual, the family, politics and business and upon everything that you touch in this old world."
A sad story:
An anxious father approached his pastor and said, “Please, talk to my boy about drinking. He came home last night and fell sprawling on the floor—too drunk to get up. His mother cried the rest of the night.”
“Why don't you talk to your own boy yourself?” the preacher questioned.
But the father said, “Pastor, I can't talk to my son about it, because I am to blame. I wanted him to be a man, so I gave him his first glass of liquor. I didn't dream that he'd ever become a drunkard. Please speak to my boy. I can't talk to him.”
I grew up in this kind of environment, so I know the reality of this kind of scenario. I was given my first taste of drink, a glass of wine, at a New Years Eve party at a relatives house. I was twelve years old. This started my road to devastation and many heartaches.
My father drank and I saw him drunken many times. I watched him abuse my mother, feeling helpless to do anything about it. I hated him for how he treated her. We watched him waste away many days, and spending years drinking in front of the TV from Friday night to Sunday, only getting sober enough to make it to work on Monday. At times, he didn't get sober even then.
It was only after he was dying of lung cancer, caused by smoking, that he stopped drinking, and I got to know him. Drinking changes people. They say things and do things they would never do when sober. Those who have to live with them are the ones who suffer the most, because the drunken many times do not remember their foolishness, cruelty, or abuse they have inflicted on other's.
The last five years of his life; God brought forgiveness between us, and he came to faith in Christ only six days before his death. God’s hand moves to redeem us, no matter how deep the pit we’ve dropped into.
One morning in 1978 in my living room, at the age of 25, I called on the Lord to forgive me from my sins, and deliver me from drinking. He answered that prayer. I thank God for these many years of freedom I've enjoyed, that drinking did not steal from me. There is never a day that I miss the fuzzy head, the hangovers, the nausea, and all the rest that came with that addiction.
I'm very aware that there are some who may read this and find it just humorous entertainment. I've lived with the numerous reactions from people, depending on where they are in their own life. Many people who enjoy drinking will continue to deny it's affects on them, and will never change. When I am mocked, I consider the source of where it is coming from.
But, I also know there are many out there who have, or still are, living in this kind of wasted life; and wish there was a way out. Over the years I've talked to many who have told their own horror stories of living with alcoholics, and how it's ruined their lives. For some, the only way out, was to leave. It was the only way they could survive.
But, I've also listened to some wonderful testimonies of those who have made it out, and the lives that has been restored, and put back together. There is hope, and it is in Jesus Christ. What he has done for me, and other's, He can do for anyone. If you really want to change, He is there if you call on Him.
Lorna Couillard
