"Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18).
"It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak" (Romans 14:21)
These verses pinpoint drunkenness and drinking wine, or we might say alcohol. More to the point, an addiction. I'll insinuate further, any addictions to drink, to drugs, internet surfing, and/or even listening excessively to world news, morning, noon and night.
In moderation most of these are permissible. However, not all are beneficial. It could be referring to beneficial to an individual or to the person's family in general. One person's actions do have consequences not only to the individual but to those in their circle of family and friends.
Scripture is so direct in its command here, "Do not be drunk ..." But then if we are so continuously panting for that next bottle of wine, beer or stronger drink; or the next fix of drugs, and so on, and have gotten out of control and you are a believer in Jesus Christ then the guilt aspect comes in to compound the issue.
Yet, the apostle Paul who penned Ephesians 5:18 gives the antidote,
"...but be filled with the Holy Spirit."
It is to be noted that one of the characteristics of the Holy Spirit fruit is 'self-control'.
When we take this to heart and become willing to change and persevere in it, there is overcoming.
Secondly, it looks to me like the rest of the followers of Jesus Christ have a responsibility in their care of the one with the addiction. Whether it's in eating meat, drinking drink or indulging some other thing that would cause a brother or sister-in-Christ to once again fall back into harmful ways of drunkenness and other addictive behavior, then 'the others' need to be cautious and help him or her avoid slipping back.
For example, I once read an autobiography of an Indian guru who had come to Christ. As most of us know, Hindu's will not eat beef because cows are sacred animals to them. This guru, after his conversion to Jesus Christ, still would not eat beef although he now knew he had freedom in Christ to eat it. He refused to in order to win as many as possible of his family, friends, and compatriots to Christ. He would have offended them if he had carelessly and flippantly said, "Christ set me free of all that, I'll eat beef!" He would have lost credibility with those people. They would then not listen to the message of the gospel!
Another story is of one assembly of believers who purposely do NOT use wine for their holy communion. "Why?" you may ask. It's because several in their midst are recovered alcoholics. They do not want to be the one to cause such a brother to stumble back into the destructive behavior once again. Grape juice is therefore used instead of wine. I really like it that the whole group of believers there would support those people in this way.
As to causes for the addictive behavior - they are many and varied; but in Jesus' name they can overcome. It's a serious matter to cause another to stumble but this group of believers shows God's love and grace to their brethren by this action. This is truly helping a friend in need who truly wishes to be helped.
~ ERC march 2025 ~
Based on Ephesians 5:18 and Romans 14:21. Also, Counseling Friends In Need by Harold J. Sala - Chapter 9 - Using the Bible to Counsel Addictive Behavior, pages 175-182.
Sing, They Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet, along with Amy Grant.
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