Heart Truth
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Sunday, August 01, 2010
SNAKE
Who Would Kiss a Snake?
The Christian and Alchohol...
Some people say God doesn't mind if Christians drink alchoholic beverages. Many religious people used to feel drinking was okay as long as you didn't get drunk, but attitudes are changing. A recent popll by thye Barna Group reveals that one out of every five people who call themselves Christians don't think it is sin to get drunk. What do you think? More importantly, how does God feel about Christians using alchohol? What does the Bibnle say?
Wine in the Bible
Bible students debate whether the wine Jesus and His disciples drank was alchoholic or nonalchoholic. While strong arguments are offered on both sides of the controverseu, we don't benefit by speculating about uncertainties. Sometimes unfermented grape juice, which is not intoxitating, is also called wine.
The Bible affirms that wine can be a blessing. One Bible poet praised God for causing the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; and wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart (Psalm 104:14, 15).
And yet, we can be sure that the wisest approach for the Christian is to abstain from alchoholic drinks. The Bible repeats ominous warnings against wine's destructive effects and the dangers of drinking. Drunkeness will destroy your life!
Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder (Proverbs 23:29, 30, 32).
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise (Proverbs 20:1).
He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich (Proverbs 21:17).
It is not for kings...it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princess strong drink (Proverbs 31:4).
But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink, they err to vision, theystumble in judgment (Isaiah 28:7).
The Old Testament's strong warnings against alchohol's destructive properties tell us it is foolish and presumptuous for the follower of Christ to drink for pleasure. Who shall kiss a snake?
The Dangers of Drunkeness and Addiction
All around us the results of using alchohol confirm the Bible's warnings. Drunkenness and alchohol addiction have become a major problem. Each year, tens of thousands of Americans seek help in substance abuse centers. Young people espcially are likely to abuse alchohol, drinking until they'r drunk and often become
addicted to alchohol. Nearly half of America's teenagers drink alchohol.
The New Testament warns even more strongly that the Old Testament against drinking. Christ and his apostles repeatedly declare that a drunkard has no share in the kingdom of God: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolotors, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor coveteous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9, 10; see also Like 21:34; Romans 13:13; I Corinthins 5:11; Galations5:21; and I Peter 4:3).
The Danger My Drinking May Pose to Others
Maybe you are thinking, Oh yes, but I'm strong enough not to get drunk. Maybe, But we must also conmsider the effects our drinbking may have on our children and our brothers and sisters in Christ.
God says emphatically that we must avoic any behaviour that might contribute to someone elso falling into sin: Let us...resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way if our brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died (Romans 14:13, 15, NEKJ).
Maybe you are strong, but think how awful itwould be to find out that your drinking has caused a weaker person to fall into sin and spiritual death. The use of an intoxitating, addicting substance such as alchohol is a very serious matter because many who become addicted are never able to overcome their addiction. Would you like to discover at God's final judgment that your self-indulgence had caused a brother or sister to fall?
Denying ourselves the use of alchohol for our brother's sake is a small sacrifice compared to how greatly a weaker person may benefit: And think about this: If abstaining from drinking does seem too great a sacrifice, maybe you are not really as strong as you think.
The Cost of Drinking
Drinking is expensive. Americans spend over $150 billion every year on alchohol. God wants His children to help others in need. How can Christ's followers selfishly spend money on wining and dining, while so many people gowithout food, or clothes, or a scrap of Scripture for their children? Just think how much suffering $150 billion could releive.!
Have a Drink?
The followers of Jesus are His purifying salt and illuminating light in a dark world. He has given us His very own Spirit so that we can help lost peopl;e find their way into His pure, whole, and righteous kingdom. How can we justify disapating our strength and wasting God's gifts on drinking for pleasure, espwecially when it may create a temptation for others? Is itChristlike to run the risk of being overcome with drunkenness just fortemporary pleasure? Would you kiss a snake?
On the other hand, the more devoted your heart if to Christ, the more fit you will be to advance His kingdom. We must keep our minds clear, so that we are ready ti give a reason for the hope that is in us, and we ought todevote our resources to bringing His love and blesssings to others who are suffering. It is the Spirit of Jesus to deny one's self for the sake of others, and that Spirit can best live in and guide a heart that is voluntarily free from the use of alchoholic drinks.
-Tim Kennedy
The Christian and Alchohol...
Some people say God doesn't mind if Christians drink alchoholic beverages. Many religious people used to feel drinking was okay as long as you didn't get drunk, but attitudes are changing. A recent popll by thye Barna Group reveals that one out of every five people who call themselves Christians don't think it is sin to get drunk. What do you think? More importantly, how does God feel about Christians using alchohol? What does the Bibnle say?
Wine in the Bible
Bible students debate whether the wine Jesus and His disciples drank was alchoholic or nonalchoholic. While strong arguments are offered on both sides of the controverseu, we don't benefit by speculating about uncertainties. Sometimes unfermented grape juice, which is not intoxitating, is also called wine.
The Bible affirms that wine can be a blessing. One Bible poet praised God for causing the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; and wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart (Psalm 104:14, 15).
And yet, we can be sure that the wisest approach for the Christian is to abstain from alchoholic drinks. The Bible repeats ominous warnings against wine's destructive effects and the dangers of drinking. Drunkeness will destroy your life!
Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder (Proverbs 23:29, 30, 32).
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise (Proverbs 20:1).
He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich (Proverbs 21:17).
It is not for kings...it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princess strong drink (Proverbs 31:4).
But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink, they err to vision, theystumble in judgment (Isaiah 28:7).
The Old Testament's strong warnings against alchohol's destructive properties tell us it is foolish and presumptuous for the follower of Christ to drink for pleasure. Who shall kiss a snake?
The Dangers of Drunkeness and Addiction
All around us the results of using alchohol confirm the Bible's warnings. Drunkenness and alchohol addiction have become a major problem. Each year, tens of thousands of Americans seek help in substance abuse centers. Young people espcially are likely to abuse alchohol, drinking until they'r drunk and often become
addicted to alchohol. Nearly half of America's teenagers drink alchohol.
The New Testament warns even more strongly that the Old Testament against drinking. Christ and his apostles repeatedly declare that a drunkard has no share in the kingdom of God: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolotors, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor coveteous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9, 10; see also Like 21:34; Romans 13:13; I Corinthins 5:11; Galations5:21; and I Peter 4:3).
The Danger My Drinking May Pose to Others
Maybe you are thinking, Oh yes, but I'm strong enough not to get drunk. Maybe, But we must also conmsider the effects our drinbking may have on our children and our brothers and sisters in Christ.
God says emphatically that we must avoic any behaviour that might contribute to someone elso falling into sin: Let us...resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way if our brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died (Romans 14:13, 15, NEKJ).
Maybe you are strong, but think how awful itwould be to find out that your drinking has caused a weaker person to fall into sin and spiritual death. The use of an intoxitating, addicting substance such as alchohol is a very serious matter because many who become addicted are never able to overcome their addiction. Would you like to discover at God's final judgment that your self-indulgence had caused a brother or sister to fall?
Denying ourselves the use of alchohol for our brother's sake is a small sacrifice compared to how greatly a weaker person may benefit: And think about this: If abstaining from drinking does seem too great a sacrifice, maybe you are not really as strong as you think.
The Cost of Drinking
Drinking is expensive. Americans spend over $150 billion every year on alchohol. God wants His children to help others in need. How can Christ's followers selfishly spend money on wining and dining, while so many people gowithout food, or clothes, or a scrap of Scripture for their children? Just think how much suffering $150 billion could releive.!
Have a Drink?
The followers of Jesus are His purifying salt and illuminating light in a dark world. He has given us His very own Spirit so that we can help lost peopl;e find their way into His pure, whole, and righteous kingdom. How can we justify disapating our strength and wasting God's gifts on drinking for pleasure, espwecially when it may create a temptation for others? Is itChristlike to run the risk of being overcome with drunkenness just fortemporary pleasure? Would you kiss a snake?
On the other hand, the more devoted your heart if to Christ, the more fit you will be to advance His kingdom. We must keep our minds clear, so that we are ready ti give a reason for the hope that is in us, and we ought todevote our resources to bringing His love and blesssings to others who are suffering. It is the Spirit of Jesus to deny one's self for the sake of others, and that Spirit can best live in and guide a heart that is voluntarily free from the use of alchoholic drinks.
-Tim Kennedy
Labels: ALCHOHOL
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