I don't know about you but one of the things I detest is deceit. Another is being mocked and I definately do not favor brawling! Therefore, when I read Proverbs 20:1, I sat up and took note.
"Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler, whoever is led astray by them is not wise" (NIV).
Some versions of the Bible say "strong drink" instead of "beer". I have been informed that generally speaking, 1-2 beers in one go, to a man, is nothing much. Four or five may make him unable to drive home but after that may either put him to sleep or turn him into that stumbling brawler.
To see someone drunk disgusts me but I have to tell myself, God still loves that person. I do not know his or her situation in life nor how he/she got themselves into such degradation. Not, of course, that whichever the root cause is, do I condone drunkenness.
That may seem like arrogant talk but please bear with me, as I really have learned from a study on this issue, and am trying to learn some compassion. My apologies to anyone who has been offended by just that bit I have already said. Please, let us learn together.
In this article I'd like to discuss a few thoughts about drinking and of course, inject biblical references in its regard. We'll start with some definitions followed by secular research, touching on how big a problem drinking is and so on. Try not to cling to what you think unless you've done a similar study. I say this because I've gotten a new perspective or two myself.
Of interest to me, was what "wine" refers to in the Bible. According to Christianity.com, it was fermented juice or grapes (as one might expect), which means "to boil up" and "to be in a ferment;""foaming up," and sometimes coming in a solid cake of pressed grapes. There were times when they added water and spices to the wine which would increase its stimulating properties and "take possession" (intoxicate). "Dibs," is, wine that has been boiled down to a sweet concoction and that was used for the drink offerings presented to the Lord and used at the Lord's Supper.
One very interesting point about wine in those days was that they drank more water with a spike of wine (a dilution). The reason being was that it was supposed that bacterial organisms were in the drinking water causing sickness, thus adding small volumes of wine to the water would help kill what we now realize is harmful bacteria, rendering the water safer to drink. This type of "wine" was the most widely drunk - by younger and older, alike. At least that's the impression I got.
Bible times alcoholic drinks were mostly "home grown brew," natural productions, whereas today's concentrations are mass produced with a great many additives, unheard of 2000 years ago, added. Nowadays, heaping helpings of sugar are liberally used. Additionally, today's drinks use a standard type of yeast, saccharonyces cerevisiae - have fun pronouncing that one - in standardized amounts whereas the yeasts of yesteryears would be whatever had come on the wind and attached itself to the growing, maturing grapes. The wine of bygones could 'go bad' but todays' are more lasting due to perservatives.
Wine was more commonly drunk to excess among the wealthy patrons during Bible times but nowadays we see this among the poorer of society. The Bible does give warning of abuse but wine was also seen as a blessing. The "land that flowed with milk and honey" apparently referred to wine and not actual honey. The boiled down 'dibs' were sweet and referred to as 'honey'! Did you realize that? This I learned from an article called, "Biblical Wine vs Modern Wine - a Poised Perspective". Anyway, I found it fascinating. I trust I'm recounting the facts accurately. You can go check it out for yourself.
Mostly though, the people of those times drank wine after a meal but nowadays we see folks drinking before, during and after, whether its wine, beer or the stronger drinks. This brings me to wonder the difference between 'alcoholism' and 'drunkenness'. Are they one and the same or are they degrees of affectation?
We are all aware of that proverbial frog that gets put into a pot of water which is set on a burner with the flame turned on. The water, of course, gets increasingly hotter but the frog doesn't realize it until it's too late to hop out. A person who drinks and rationalizes the amounts they drink, think they are ok and that they "know their limit," are often in denial. They become "tipsy" and eventually drunk after a few more drinks. Doing this over time to a state of drunken intoxication.
As when dominos are set into motion, in turn, repeated intoxication more often than not, leads to alcoholism - the addiction due to the drinker's inability to stop or even control consumption voluntarily outside of intervention. Intervention is more often than not, vitally necessary to overcome this physical dependancy in ever increasing, larger quantities of alcohol, and/or psychological compulsion despite the negative consequences.
According to www.niaa.nih.gov, "heavy drinking" is when a man will consume more than four drinks on any day or more than 14 per week. By contrast, a "binge drinker" is consuming five or more drinks per occasion for men or four or more per occasion for women yet, although considered a
"deadly pattern of excessive alcohol use, it is still not considered a severe alcohol use disorder"
that would be termed alcoholism (www.cdc.gov - fact sheets Binge Drinking/CDC).
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholishm (nih) terms Binge Drinking as
"a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.088 g/dL (0.08 percent) or higher"
in a time frame of two hours. I won't go too indepth on this as this is only to give an idea for those of us who don't drink, or don't drink much, and so have little clue about drinking and alcoholism.
This is also not just an adult problem! Some of the viewed internet articles state that children aged 12 or even younger, even have drinking problems. Christians must reach out and have compassion for those caught in such webs of deceit and mockery. Problems are not solved by dulling the mind with drink. People need to understand this.
In one 2014 study I looked at, it said that 45.8 % of Malaysians consume an excessive amount of alcohol. In the UK, there are 27% binge drinkers while in Indonesia, the number reached 29 % in an age group of 15 year olds and up. This could be the consumption of beer, brandy, wine or even the less preferred Shandy. This was said to be more prevalent in urban areas but that the more risky drinking patterns were more widespread in rural regions and among those of lower socio-economic groups.
Another article written by Kanpai's CEO Jeremy Royston Wong, titled, How the Pandemic [Covid-19] Tranformed the Drinking Culture in Malaysia. Wong said the orders tripled! Some customers ordering every 2-3 days and wanting it delivered immediately. (This, by no means, is meant to give free advertising to this company! Neither to advertise, nor to speak negatively of.)
Excessive amounts are certainly harmful to a person's overall health over time, with immediate harmful effects in the form of physical and financial abuse towards family members. Having said that, could there possibly be any positive benefits of drinking?
According to a Mayo Clinic report, moderate drinking, meaning 1-2 drinks only at the most per day for men and 1 per women, will improve health - by this I'm assuming certain types of wine imbibed. Supposedly there is reduced risk of developing and dying of heart disease, stroke and even diabetes. Improved health and longer life could happen BUT with emphasis on the "moderate" drinking.
My emphasis on this is not to condone nor restrict. A wise person will look into this for themself and even consult their physician. Again, I wish to state I'm exploring this topic mainly for my own information but sharing only for those who might be interested to glean more of an understanding themselves and then go check it out further on their own.
Now for the negative consequences of drinking of those who imbibe excessively, on themselves and towards their loved ones and others. There's a list: we all know the disaster of drinking and driving; violent crimes; disrupted sleep; depression; breast cancer; haemorrhagic stroke; liver/pancratic disease; heart failure; interactions with medicatons; and reduced inhibitions; abuse towards others; and last but definitely not least, become an alcoholic. This list would not preclude other negative effects. As you can see, the drinker is not the only person who is affected. (see also Alcohol Use: Weighing Risks & Benefits - Mayo clinic.)
Once again we see Proverbs 20:1 is bang on; "wine is a mocker...beer, a brawler...anyone led astray by drink is not wise". Is your disgust or your compassion filtering up in your heart for such people? If you are one being affected by a loved one with a drinking problem, you may be finding it difficult to have positive thoughts towards the drinker, maybe you even fear for your life. Do try to get to a safe haven to remove yourself and children - if any- and make the drinker accountable for what is happening. Pray, and direct him/her to get help for his/herself even while lovingly (if possible) affirming their personage but not condoning their behavior.
Sounds easier said than done. No doubt. Find those who can help you be that boundary line for the good and benefit of your loved one. Get trusted others to pray with you and be the moral support needed.
Are you wondering about what the Bible has to say? Aside from Proverbs 20:1 there are numberous other instances about wine, strong drink and drunkards. King Lemuel's Mom told him it wasn't for kings to drink wine nor crave beer so much so that they would forget themselves and deprive the oppressed of their rights (Proverbs 31:4-5). Excellent advice, right?
She continued, let the perishing and those in anguish drink to forget their problems and misery (Proberbs 31:6-7). Instead, he was to speak up for those who couldn't speak for themselves, judge fairly and defend the rights of the poor and needy. He'd need all his faculties to be pristinely clear.
While wine or other drink does give a reprieve and help one laugh and be merry, we need to realize it is only a temporary 'fix' (Ecclesiastes 10:9). When effects wear off, the situation of life is still staring one in the face.
In such cases, could God possibly relieve these problems in a more lasting manner, do you suppose? Philippians 4:6-7 and 1 Peter 5:7 both indicate, "YES!" We can cast all our cares and anxieties upon the Lord in prayers, petitions, requests and then, of course, thanksgiving.
Telling our Savior all about it will relieve our minds even though our situations may not have magically changed. We can ask the Lord for wisdom and help on how to overcome and then wait expectantly for His answer and guidance. Every time the anxiousness, flashbacks and so on, raise their heads, tell it to the Lord, and don't go to your 'cups'.
Their could be tremdous pressure, especially from within the younger peer groups to join them in their cups and to "make merry". If they don't, then abuse and ridcule can often be heaped upon their heads causing them to capitualate and join the 'wild' living. However, if the Christian man or woman has made a decision to stand fast and to exercise self-control and/or even to abstain, they will be blessed spiritually and honor the Lord with maintained composure, come what may. As children of God, we are also kings and priests before our Lord and Master. Like King Lemuel, keep a clear mind to administer God's wisdom, grace, justice and to help the poor and needy (see 1Peter 4:1-4).
Our Heavenly Father is not trying to take something good away from us, His children. No. He does not want to see us uninhibited with confused minds nor to wake up from a drunken stupor only to go at it again in a viscious cycle! That is no life for a child of the King of kings!
Drunkenness brings poverty and clothes the person and likely even his/her family in rags. There will be woe, sorrow, strife, bruises, bloodshot eyes; deeds of darkness and much gratifying of the desires of the flesh. This does not paint a pretty picture in the least.
Many will say, "Yes, I know, I know, all that." There are those already to the point of "in-so-deep" they don't want to, or don't know how to, extracate themselves. This is where accountability and intervention is desparately needed and not loved ones continuing to enable the drinker. This is serious.
When we are "in Christ" this is not a state in which to find ourselves - drunkenly alcoholic. Paul told the Corinthians, that among a list of other "used to be's", was drunkenness. However, now they were no longer that. They had been redeemed and freed from such slavery; they were
"Washed...sanctified...justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
That "other life' was all an "act of the flesh" in which people would not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21). The writer of Romans implored his readers to "behave decently" and to "clothe" themselves with the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:12-14).
This is our bulwark when we are "in Christ". Realize what is an act of the flesh vs walking in step with the Holy Spirit of God. There is power in the blood of Jesus Christ and dynamic power in living according to God's Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Yes, the Lord has allowed human helps as well but it all boils down to, willingness of the heart and living to please the Lord vs gratifying the desires of the flesh. Like Joshua of old once said, he set before the people of Israel to choose life or death; to choose serving the LORD or serving themselves. He chose life and faithful service to the Lord.
I do not say all this to condemn anyone caught in this web of drunken deceit. It is not to further harm but to prayerfully help or even a pre-emptive measure to those who do not have this difficulty - yet - but may be borderline - to be made aware of where drinking leads and all its horrible effects.
BEWARE. Get help you need to overcome.
One of the biggest temptations towards a life of drink is peer presure as already noted. "Social drinkers" is a rationalization towards 'having a drink'. To me there are pros and cons for allowing this but one must never even deceive oneself. First Peter 4:1-4 tells us not to live for "evil human desire" but for the "will of God".
I've heard my Dad tell the story more than once, of a brother who went to pubs to drink socially. He wanted to reach out to the usual pub-goers, with Christ. That is a noble cause, right? Of course right. It didn't end well, in that case though. The brother was drawn in and "converted' to that way of living instead of the reverse.
It would take much self-control and keeping in step with the Holy Spirit in order to truly further the kingdom of God in a pub. May the Lord bless those who do but be very aware of ones own "evil desires" because our hearts are deceitful. Go in God's strength and not our own or ask for wisdom for a better way to reach out to that set group of people.
For instance, wait for a binge drinker to come out of the pub and drive him home. Tell the person or leave a message for a more sober version of the person, "I brought you home last night to show you the love of God in a practical way. God loves you and wants to hear from you." You could sign it, "a follower of Jesus Christ".
The Bible describes men who were influenced by wine. Noah lay shamefully naked in his own tent. You might argue, that was the privacy of his own home. Yet his son Ham thought it funny and newsworthy. Shem and Japheth wouldn't even look in at their father's exposed position. No, they walked in backwards with a garment to cover their Dad up (see Genesis 9:20-21).
Lot committed incest, twice, by the guile of wine indulgence and his two daughters (see Genesis 19:30-31). He didn't use self-control. Elah was so drunk he couldn't defend himself against his assassin (1 Kings 16-8-10) and Belshazzar desecrated the Temple's goblets with wine and drunken carousing at his party. That is, until he saw the writing on the wall (see Daniel 5:1-6). So you see, drinking is generally seen in a negative light in Scripture.
There are folks who feel the Scripture also gives us liberty to drink. Jesus Himself drank wine and He even turned water into wine so the wedding festivities could continue.
Recently, I heard a preacher say people miss the point of this miracle. It wasn't giving liberty to drink socially and liberally, but to show the power of God in Jesus. Afterall, Jesus is God and the people of that day needed to realize Who He was by these 'signs' (Matthew 11:18-19; John 2:1-12). Paul told Timothy to use "a little" wine - medicinally (1 Timothy 5:23) but admonished women not to be addicted to wine (Titus 2:3).
This of course, we must remember that Bible times wine was not as strong as today's concoctions so it couldn't have been as easily intoxicating. Whatever, we really need to take this matter to the Lord in prayer and decide for ourselves with all this 'evidence' what we, personally, are going to do about it for ourself or on behalf of a loved one. In the name of Jesus, and before the Holy God, do what YOU decide and keep strict perameters with your decision that should glorify and honor the Lord who gave you freedom in Christ.
If unbelievers are alarmed at the harm alcohol brings, so much more for those of us who belong to Christ. We need to strongly, vigilantly excerise the quality of the fruit of the Spirit which is self-control. In the past it was called "temperance," meaning abstinence from alcoholic drink. Although I am not advocating total abstinance in general, it is something to think about and govern ourselves therewith.
It is not a matter of justifying drink but as in anything we need to let our moderation be known to all (see Philippians 4:5 KJV). It is important to know and understand what excess does to a person and therefore limit oneself to a limited amount, not of ones own personalize rationalization of how much one's body can withstand because that would be deceiving oneself.
One's body can become immune to ever increasing amounts. By choosing, by a matter of determined, Spirit-led choice and decision to only have ONE glass or according to the online guide 1-2 for men, one for women, and sticking to this choice, one would show moderation and self-control and therefore not, excess and intoxication.
Otherwise, there is indeed cause for great alarm towards the worse case eventual scenario, alcoholism, no matter the amount of verbal justification and ego talk.
Advantages or disadvantages of indulgences of wine over beer aside, we need to ask ourselves, "are we looking out for our own interests or for God's? Do we desire to do His will and go his way in our lives? Spend time in God's Word, prayer and fellowship with the believers who do not imbibe, or at least not to excess. Be under the influence of Christ Himself and sing songs of praise from your heart, to Him, instead (Ephesians 5;18-20).
Finally, no doubt drinking can be a deceptive, incidious pursuit. The element of self-control, through the Holy Sprit needs to be exercised constantly. Either to commit to NOT, ever, having any drinks socially, or otherwise (even in the privacy of home), OR to sticking to that one moderate amount prescribed and as mentioned earlier (12 fluid oz or 355 ml).
True, depending on the type of drink there are some health benefits. I think one absolutely NEEDS to be well conscious of, and sensitive to, the Holy Spirit's directions in our lives and let whatever we do honor Him, Jesus and our Heavenly Father - we don't want to give Him a bad reputation because of our actions and behavior. Remember too, that our liberality to even have that one moderate bit could be a stumbling block for others.
I know one gathering of believers where a number of the brothers are recovered alcoholics, Corthinian-like. The Lord's Day bread and wine symbols are not bread and wine, rather they are bread and a very nice version of non-alcoholic grape juice. I love that the brothers and sisters among them are so helpful and showing their care and love in this very practical way. It is such an exceptionally, commendably Christlike consideration and behavior. Praise the Lord!
Think of all the good we could do for the Lord with the money we might otherwise spend on drink. Think of our Lord's interests for futhering His kingdom and building up others in their most holy faith until Jesus comes or death releases us from all our earthly cares - which ever comes first in God's timetable for you. Be wise.
~ERC May 2022~
Based on a youth Bible Study Guide called Moral Issues Facing the Church, by Rob Harison.
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