Abstinence. Not Temperance
Abstinence. Not Temperance
INTRODUCTION
Many Christians believe in temperance, being moderate in the consumption of alcoholic beverages, but are strongly opposed to excessive drinking. What is the Christian’s position? The safest, most Scriptural answer is complete abstinence, for temperance may get broader than one can control. Some say that since Jesus changed the water into wine in John 2:1-11; that the Saviour gave permission for wine at a wedding.
What kind of wine did Jesus create in John 2:1-25? The Greek word is "oinos" meaning grape juice while the word for intoxicating liquor is "shekar." Both of these words are used in Luke 1:15, "For he (John the Baptist) shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine (oinos) nor strong drink (shekar)." In 1 Timothy 5:23, Paul exhorts Timothy to use wine as a medicine, "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities." The word used here is "oinos" (grape juice). A writer says that the U. S. A. now has five million alcoholics and three million prealcoholics, tottering on the brink of social helplessness. The financial loss to the nation is about 700 million dollars annually.
Dr. Andrew Ivy of the University of Illinois says, "Alcoholism is now the nation’s number three health problem from the viewpoint of lives lost and people disabled I. WHY DO PEOPLE CONSUME ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES?
If liquor clouds the brain and makes a fool out of a person why does he drink? If alcohol makes the driver reckless and a potential killer why does he drink? The Manila Times (Philippines), Nov. 6, 1960 listed 13 answers given by drinkers.
Popularity; if you don’t drink you are unpopular and ostracized from society.
Conformity to the crowd; everybody drinks, why shouldn’t I?
The thought of power; it gives you nerve and courage to do what you ought to do.
As a gesture of friendship; it is considered anti-social and impolite not to drink.
As a show of manliness; this is particularly true of the teen-ager trying to attain.
As an escape from problems; in actuality liquor merely doubles the problems.
To overcome shyness; it is better to be shy and sober than drunk and talkative.
As public relations; it is essential to go to night clubs to close a "big deal."
Because they are disgusted with their ordinary, mediocre life; for a few hours they want to live in the world of imagination, excitement and action.
Loneliness; strangers and students in a far-away city drink for entertainment.
To get confidence; some men drink before asking the boss for a raise in pay.
"Because it’s my business to live as I please and I can drink if I want to"; this may be true, but remember Romans 14:7; our lives do affect others.
Social occasions like toasting a dignitary demands it; this is not true, for they can be toasted with water as easily as with liquor.
WHAT GREAT MEN HAVE SAID ABOUT ALCOHOL
Shakespeare, "Alcohol is a poison men take into the mouth to steal away the brain. "
Gladstone, "Strong drink is more destructive than war, pestilence and famine. "
Sir Wilfred Lawson, "The devil in solution."
Abraham Lincoln, "A cancer in human society, eating out its vitals and threatening its destruction."
Robert Hall, "Distilled damnation."
Lord Chesterfield, "An artist in human slaughter."
Ruskin, “The most criminal and artistic method of assassination ever invented by the bravos of any age or nation."
General Pershing, "Drunkenness has killed more men than all of history’s wars. "
General Robert E. Lee, "My experience through life has convinced me that abstinence from spirituous liquors is the best safeguard to morals and health. "
President Taft, "He who drinks is deliberately disqualifying himself for administration. "
WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY ABOUT LIQUOR INDULGENCE
Proverbs 20:1, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." In God’s estimation only fools consume liquor.
Proverbs 23:29-35, is wise Solomon’s earnest exhortation to his sons not to consume liquor. He says, "Look not thou upon the wine when it is red . . . at the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder." Beware , BEWARE!
Genesis 9:21, is the first mention of wine in the Bible and tells of Noah being drunk and the calamity that fell on his son Ham and the black race to this day.
Isaiah 28:7, condemns wine as sidetracking the priests, and causing them to err in judgment due to a marred vision.
Hosea 4:11, "Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart"; wine and immorality nearly always go together.
1 Corinthians 6:10, lists those who will not enter the kingdom of God and mentions thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers and extortioners.
Galatians 5:21, also lists certain things that will not inherit the kingdom of God and mentions envyings, murders drunkenness, revellings and such like (liquor leads to all these related sins and evils and is a damnable curse in our land).
REASONS WHY I BELIEVE IN ABSTINENCE RATHER THAN TEMPERANCE
My body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost and not to be defiled with poison or anything that would defile it in any way. 1 Corinthians 6:19.
I am a witness for Christ and if I should take one tiny sip my weaker brother might be tempted thereby to take a larger portion.
I am my brother’s keeper-- Genesis 4:9; I have a responsibility to help my brother (friend. neighbour or acquaintance) to live a noble, upright, righteous life.
I am a steward of my money and I have absolutely no right whatsoever to squander it for that which is not bread or profitable for me- Isaiah 55:2.
My Bible reveals the effects of liquor, therefore, as a Christian I heed its advice and refuse to allow one drop of the filthy stuff to contaminate me.
I need not yield to the temptation to drink either socially or moderately; with every temptation God guarantees a way of escape. 1 Corinthians 10:13.
I have been redeemed from sin, therefore, I refuse to return to its slavery; in Christ I am master over evil- Romans 6:14.
As a Christian my life is to be a living witness of the power of God; if I live an intoxicated life I’m an insult to the grace and goodness of God.
I want the world to be better because I have lived; if I’ve lived like the world then I’m on the broad road going the wrong way; if I’m living on the straight and narrow way (Matthew 7:14) then I’ll lift others to higher standards.
If I have to drink to be popular then I’m living with the wrong crowd; liquor is absolutely unnecessary in clean Christian circles.
For the sake of my loving wife, devoted children and the community that I live in, I refuse to touch one drop of liquor.
For the safety of others on the highway I refuse to imbibe, lest I become a menace and thoughtlessly bring tragedy into the lives of other people.
A NOBLE EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW
Daniel in Daniel 1:8-20, purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank.
God honoured Daniel tremendously and advanced him to high positions because he was a complete abstainer; God honours those who obey Him implicitly.
Daniel was strong physically, morally and spiritually. How did Daniel attain this unusual strength?
By purpose (determination}- Daniel 1:8; Daniel purposed in his heart to abstain.
By prayer- Daniel 6:10; pray diligently for victory over this social menace.
By self-denial; he could have lived like a king on royal dainties which would have led to fatness, laziness and a dull mind.
By devotion; he kept close to God by constant meditation and obedience.
CONCLUSION .
Because one taste leads to another, one glass to another, the only safe, Scriptural conclusion is complete abstinence always under ALL circumstances. A taste for liquor is easily developed but the breaking of this vicious habit is a task superior to most men and only successful by the power and goodness of God.
Rev. William McCarrell outlines his lesson on liquor this way: Liquor indulgence is wrong because it:
Leads to other sins-- Deuteronomy 21:18; Deuteronomy 21:20 (disobedience, disrespect, stubbornness).
Aids in breaking homes- Deuteronomy 21:18-21.
Leads from the seemingly harmless to chronic drunkards-- Deuteronomy 21:20.
Brings severe judgment- Deuteronomy 21:21.
Because it is costly- Deuteronomy 21:18-21.
Because it is linked with debauchery- Proverbs 23:20 (winebibbing, riotous fleshliness ).
Tends to poverty- Proverbs 23:21 (eventually, if not immediately).
Causes one to miss God’s kingdom- 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
What type of wine did Jesus make in John 2:9?
What type of wine was Timothy to use as a medicine in 1 Timothy 5:23 ?
Which one of the 13 reasons why people consume alcoholic beverages do you consider
(1) the most logical;
(2) the most illogical?
Of the ten sayings of the wise men about alcohol which do you consider
(1) the best;
(2) the weakest.
Why shouldn’t one look on the wine when it is red? (two reasons)
What does God call wine in Proverbs 20:1? What does this mean?
Prove that drunkards will not go to heaven.
List ten reasons why one should practice abstinence.
What prophet was abundantly rewarded because he was an abstainer?
What do you learn about the results of liquor consumption from Deuteronomy 21:18-21 ?