Teetotaler Or Social Drinker? (Romans 12:9)

Cause For Concern Most Everyone Has Been Affected By Alcohol. The church has been deeply affected by drug and alcohol addiction. Many come from families with these problems. Many have been affected in some way. There are many within churches that hide these problems in their lives.

Cause For Concern Alcohol Is Responsible For: 40 percent of all auto fatalities. 80 percent of all home violence. 30 percent of all suicides. 60 percent of all child abuse. 65 percent of all drowning. Statistics Are Overwhelming. Over 70% of the people in this country drink. Over 40 million are known alcoholics.

Alcohol Is Nearly As Old As Mankind Drinking and Drunkenness Is Not A New Problem, It Has Always Been Around. Noah got drunk (Genesis 9:20-23). What happened to Noah? His nakedness was exposed! Lot got drunk (Genesis 19:30-38). What happened to Lot? His two daughters committed fornication with him.

We All Know Drunkenness Is A Sin But What About Social Drinking – In Moderation? Responsible Drinking? Occasional Beer Or Wine? Many Will Say, “The Bible Does Not Say, Thou Shall Not Drink Alcohol.”

What About Social Drinking? Some Brethren Defend The Moderation Of Drinking. It was the most compelling argument I've ever heard against social drinking... A young man in his 30s stood in front of the Leaving the Pit Conference in Indianapolis on Saturday and told his story. His alcohol use began in high school and intensified in college. He hid it well. He was drinking heavily even though he was actively involved in church activities. "Knowledge was not my problem; connecting my heart to my head was my problem.“ He shrugged off his first DUI. As he sat in a jail cell following his second DUI, he looked around at other prisoners a decade his senior and asked, "Is this where I want to be in ten years?" It was decision time.

What About Social Drinking? Some Brethren Defend The Moderation Of Drinking. “Today, he is ten years sober, married, and a father. As he told his powerful story, the silence was deafening. And then he said... “I go to an AA meeting where people confess their struggles and where it is acknowledged openly that we cannot place ourselves in any situation where we could be tempted to drink -and then...I sit in a Bible class and hear a brother in Christ make a comment that he doesn't see anything wrong with social drinking and I just shake my head...“Sadly, alcohol is the leading drug of choice for many. Make no mistake: it is a drug. Its force is powerful, addictive, and life changing. And someone dares encourage its recreational use?”

What About Social Drinking? Does The Bible Ever Condemn Drinking Alcohol Beverages? What did Peter say concerning drinking alcohol beverages (1Peter 4:1-3)? Banqueting” (KJV) “drinking party” The drinking bout, the banquet, not of necessity excessive (Trench, 239). POTOS is related to words of excess in that it gives “opportunity for excess.” This, then, is the cocktail party drinking, sipping the wine, “having a few drinks with the boys,” social drinking.

What About Social Drinking? Some Brethren Defend The Moderation Of Drinking. Brother Tant answered the question: “Is it all right to drink a little just to be social with my friends? He said: “I suppose it is no more sin to drink a little than it would be to steal a little or lie a little, or whip your wife a little or even kill a man a little!”

What About Social Drinking? Does The Bible Condemn Drinking Alcohol? What did Solomon say concerning drinking alcohol beverages (Proverbs 20:1; 23:29-35)? Many people focus on the latter half of this verse and think anything less than intoxication is not spoken against. But three things are addressed in this verse: wine, strong drink and intoxication. All of them are condemned. Solomon is trying to get us to see the hidden danger that lies in alcohol consumption, its effect or influence. How would you handle a poisonous snake?

What About Social Drinking? Does The Bible Condemn Drinking Alcohol? What did Paul say concerning drinking alcohol beverages (Ephesians 5:18)? “To begin to be softened” or “To grow drunk (marking the beginning of methuo). Signifies “to make drunk, or to grow drunk, or to become intoxicated” (W. E. Vine). There are degrees of drunkenness. Drinking is Drunkenness—it’s a process! This includes “social or recreational” drinking.

What About Social Drinking? Drinking Is Harmful – Even In Moderation. Alcohol is a poison. Alcohol is a narcotic – a drug. Alcohol has proven to cause brain damage. It is our responsibility in stewardship to take care of the body that belongs to God (1Cor. 6:19-20).

Arguments For Justifying Recreational Drinking Jesus Turned Water Into Wine (John 2:1-11). Did Jesus turn water into an alcoholic beverage? Wine is not always an intoxicating beverage. Wine means fruit of the grape. If such is true then it means that Jesus supplied a large quantity of intoxicating wine to people who were already well drunk! A quick calculation shows that Jesus made about 120 to 160 gallons of drink.

Arguments For Justifying Recreational Drinking Jesus Turned Water Into Wine (John 2:1-11). Note that the governor of the feast, called Jesus’ drink the “best” served during the feast. The best wine does not necessarily refer to the beverage with the greatest alcohol content. The governor was simply complimenting the host on the drink’s “quality” of taste. Would Jesus violate His own scripture condemning the drinking of alcohol (Habakkuk 2:15)? Would Jesus violate His own principle of being a stumbling block (Matthew 18:6-9)?

Does The New Testament Teach Complete Control Over Mind & Body? The Bible Commands Self-Control. Self-control describes the dominion that one has over his thoughts, words, and actions (1Peter 1:6). The consumption of alcohol influences an individual’s thoughts, words, and actions. The Bible Commands Soberness Of Mind. Signifies to be free from the influence of intoxicants (Vines, 1Peter 5:8). It suggests the exercise of that restraint that governs all passions and desires (Vines). The consumption of alcohol takes away an individual’s inhibitions (1Thess. 5:5-8; Titus 2:7).

Does The New Testament Teach Complete Control Over Mind & Body? The Bible Commands Sound Judgment. SOPHROSUNE – denotes soundness of mind; sound judgment, practically expresses the meaning; it is that habitual inner self-government, with its constant rein on all passions and desires, which would hinder the temptation to these from arising… (Vines). Paul describes this type of sound judgment to be manifest when dealing with modest attire (1Timothy 2:9).

Arguments For Justifying Recreational Drinking Paul Told Timothy To Drink A little Wine (1Timothy 5:23). There is no Biblical proof that this was “fermented” wine. Suggested by Paul because of Timothy’s medical condition. This passage cannot be used to justify drinking alcohol.

The Affect Of Alcohol Intoxication. Is the process of physiological change which occurs upon the consumption of drinking alcohol. It is not a state of being, but a process.

The Affect Of Alcohol Does One Drink Make A Difference? Beer - One drink = one 12-ounce beer. This is normal-strength beer (5% alcohol). Malt liquor ranges from 6-9% alcohol, so 12 ounces of malt liquor is approximately 1.5 drinks; 40 ounces of malt liquor is 4.5 drinks. Liquor - One drink = 1.5 ounces of liquor (40% alcohol or 80 proof). This is how much whiskey, vodka, gin, tequila, brandy, etc. is in a measured mixed drink or in a standard-size shot glass. Remember that mixed drinks may not be measured and often contain far more than 1.5 ounces of alcohol.

The Affect Of Alcohol Does One Drink Make A Difference? Wine - One drink = 5 ounces of standard wine (12% alcohol). This is most table wines: white, red, and champagne.

The Affect Of Alcohol Does One Drink Make A Difference? 1 drink FOR MALES The Affect Of Alcohol Does One Drink Make A Difference? Body weight (lbs) 1 drink 2 drinks 3 drinks 4 drinks 5 drinks 6 drinks 7 drinks 8 drinks 9 drinks 10 drinks 100 .043 .087 .130 .174 .217 .261 .304 .348 .391 .435 125 .034 .069 .103 .139 .173 .209 .242 .278 .312 .346 150 .029 .058 .116 .145 .203 .232 .290 175 .025 .050 .075 .100 .125 .150 .175 .200 .225 .250 200 .022 .065 .108 .152 .195 225 .019 .039 .078 .097 .117 .136 .156 .198 250 .017 .035 .052 .070 .105 .122

The Affect Of Alcohol Does One Drink Make A Difference? FOR MALES The Affect Of Alcohol Does One Drink Make A Difference? 0.02 - 0.03 Legal definition of intoxication in R.I. for people under 21 years of age. Few obvious effects; slight intensification of mood. 0.05 - 0.06 Feeling of warmth, relaxation, mild sedation; exaggeration of emotion and behavior; slight decrease in reaction time and in fine-muscle coordination; impaired judgment about continued drinking. 0.07 - 0.09 More noticeable speech impairment and disturbance of balance; impaired motor coordination, hearing and vision; feeling of elation or depression; increased confidence; may not recognize impairment. 0.08  Legal definition of intoxication for people 21 years and older. 0.11 - 0.12  Coordination and balance becoming difficult; distinct impairment of mental faculties and judgment. 0.14 - 0.15  Major impairment of mental and physical control; slurred speech, blurred vision and lack of motor skills; needs medical evaluation.

Scriptural Principles Violated By Those Who Drink How Can They Influence Others For “Good”? A “social drinker” cannot be an influence for good to believers or sinners (Matthew 5:13-16). How can we convince the drunkard to lay down his bottle and get sober while at the same while, we have a “sip” now and then (Romans 13:14). How can you tell another to “abstain” from fleshly lusts when you are failing to do so in your own life (1Peter 2:11-12)?

Scriptural Principles Violated By Those Who Drink How Can They Influence Others For “Good”? How much is your soul and others worth? What does this do for your influence for Christ? What if you saw an elder drinking at a bar? What if you saw a preacher drinking at a bar? Alcohol damages and destroys your influence for godliness. Your ability to effectively help others with soberness & self-control is ruined. Your influence is one which promotes sinful conduct.

Conclusion: One Who Never Drinks: Will NEVER become an alcoholic. FOR MALES Conclusion: One Who Never Drinks: Will NEVER become an alcoholic. Will NEVER be responsible for the damage drinking causes to oneself and to others. Will NEVER get drunk. Will NEVER become enslaved to alcohol. Will NEVER influence another person to drink. Will NEVER destroy his body by drinking. Will NEVER hurt Jesus and His church.