CHRISTIANS MUST STAND UP TO ALCOHOL

By P.J. FULLERGuest Columnist Tuesday, September 11, 2007 8:04 PM CDT

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Isaiah 28:1-8 tells us about the fate of the people of Ephraim. This was a society filled with drunkards. Alcohol abuse always starts from that first drink. It goes with the saying, “A first drink leads to another drink, another drinks leads to another drink, then the drink has the person.” Habakkuk 2:15 tells us not to give drink to our neighbors. In John 2, many have tried to prove that Jesus made alcoholic wine (wine was made, but it wasn’t the alcoholic drink). This would be a direct violation of what Habakkuk 2:15 says. Jesus knew this Scripture. Ephesians 5:18 tells us, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” We are prohibited from getting drunk. Alcohol leads to drunkenness.

In God’s eye, a sin is a sin. It seems to reason that once we are filled with the Holy Spirit, then we should be able to see a sin for what it is. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 tell us, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the HolySpirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” Our bodies being the temple of the Holy Spirit, so why would you want to partake of alcohol, especially if you are a Christian? Can you really give God honor and glory with a glass of alcohol in your hand? Can you really say that you’re drinking alcohol for the glory of God? As a health-care giver, I have seen the end results of what alcohol does to the body. Alcohol is a toxic, mind-altering drug.

Alcohol causes ill-effects on the digestive, muscular, skeletal, nervous and circulatory systems. Alcohol causes cirrhosis of the liver, jaundice, pancreatitis, blackouts, hallucinations (seeing worms, snakes, spiders crawling on the wall or on the body), etc., and it all started with just one innocent drink. Every 30 minutes, someone in this country dies in an alcohol-related automobile crash. Alcohol leads to bondage; you become enslaved to the addiction. Alcohol leads to other addictions. Alcohol causes divorce. Alcohol causes destruction of the family. Alcohol causes poverty – socially,economically, physically, mentally and spiritually. There is nothing positive that comes from alcohol.

Proverbs 20:1 says, “Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.” So, where does alcohol belong? Alcohol belongs in hell. Alcohol doesn’t belong in our towns or cities. So, what about the revenues? My answer to that is, “God will provide. He has in the past, He will in the present, and He will in the future.” It is time that Christians stand up for what we believe and what the Bible stands for, and quit hiding our heads in the sand. We need to see alcohol for what it is. It is against the teachings in the Bible.

If you know of someone who has an alcohol problem, then pray for them. If you have an alcohol problem, ask God to help you. If you proclaim to be a Christian and you drink alcohol, then you have a problem. You need to ask God to help you, and show you the right way. The Bible tells us we cannot serve the world and love the Lord. We either hate the world or love the Lord, or we love the world and hate the Lord. We cannot serve both.

Alcohol is of the world. Satan and his demons have used alcohol long enough to destroy God’s people. As for me, a Christian, I feel alcohol should not be served in restaurants, nor sold in convenience stores or any other stores.

The writer is a resident of Andrews