Should You

IntroductionIntroduction

We have a great drug problem in America We have a great drug problem in America today. today.

Illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, Illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroine cause many problems but and heroine cause many problems but

the most deadly drug is alcohol. the most deadly drug is alcohol.

½ of all traffic ½ of all traffic fatalities are related to the fatalities are related to the abuse of alcohol. (NHTSA)abuse of alcohol. (NHTSA)

64% of adults drink in 2009. (Gallup Poll)64% of adults drink in 2009. (Gallup Poll)

There There are about 14 million alcoholics. are about 14 million alcoholics. www.alcoholics-info.com/


Should a Christian drink alcohol today? Should a Christian drink alcohol today?

Many would argue yes, Many would argue yes,

““Jesus turned the water into wine.”Jesus turned the water into wine.”

““The apostle Paul told Timothy to drink The apostle Paul told Timothy to drink wine”wine”

““Doctors say that it’s good for your health.” Doctors say that it’s good for your health.”

““It makes me feel good.”It makes me feel good.”


We must study the Bible so that we might We must study the Bible so that we might be approved to God and handle it be approved to God and handle it

accurately. accurately. (2 Timothy 2:15)(2 Timothy 2:15)

We are commanded to We are commanded to “examine “examine everything carefully, hold fast to that everything carefully, hold fast to that

which is good, abstain from every form which is good, abstain from every form of evil.” of evil.” (1 Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians

5:21-22)5:21-22)

The Bible does not contradict itself since The Bible does not contradict itself since God is not the author of confusion. God is not the author of confusion. (1 (1

Cor. 14:33)Cor. 14:33)

Christians Must Be SoberChristians Must Be Sober

““So then let us not sleep as others do, but So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and let us be alert and sobersober. For those who . For those who

sleep do their sleeping at night, and sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunkthose who get drunk get drunk at night. at night.

But since we are of the day, let us be But since we are of the day, let us be sobersober, having put on the breastplate of , having put on the breastplate of

faith and love, and as a helmet, the faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.” hope of salvation.” (1 Thess. 5:6-8) (1 Thess. 5:6-8)

Sober is from ‘nepho” which means “be Sober is from ‘nepho” which means “be free from the influence of intoxicants” free from the influence of intoxicants”

(Vine’s)… “to abstain from wine” (Vine’s)… “to abstain from wine” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the

Bible) Bible)

Christians Must Be SoberChristians Must Be Sober

This word is also associated with being This word is also associated with being watchful.watchful.

““Be of Be of sobersober spirit, be on the alert. Your spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like adversary, the devil, prowls around like

a roaring lion, seeking someone to a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.“ devour.“ (1 Peter 5:8)(1 Peter 5:8)

Could you imagine a soldier being watchful Could you imagine a soldier being watchful for the enemy while having intoxicants? for the enemy while having intoxicants?

How can we claim to be watchful as How can we claim to be watchful as Christians for our enemy, the devil, Christians for our enemy, the devil,

when we are not free from intoxicating when we are not free from intoxicating drink? drink?

The First Drink Impairs Your The First Drink Impairs Your JudgmentJudgment

Solomon warns, Solomon warns, ““Do not look Do not look on on the wine the wine when it is redwhen it is red, When it sparkles in the , When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly” cup, When it goes down smoothly”

(Proverbs 23:31) (Proverbs 23:31)

He is warning those who are contemplating He is warning those who are contemplating quenching their thirst with “a cold one” quenching their thirst with “a cold one”

while they still have their reasoning while they still have their reasoning intact. Don’t even look at how enticing it intact. Don’t even look at how enticing it

is.is.

This is why the Annheiser Busch campaign This is why the Annheiser Busch campaign of “Know When to Say When” is so of “Know When to Say When” is so foolish. Their judgment is already foolish. Their judgment is already

impaired. impaired.


““Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaining? contentions? Who has complaining?

Who has wounds without cause? Who Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? has redness of eyes? Those who linger Those who linger long over long over winewine, Those who go to , Those who go to taste taste

mixed winemixed wine.” .” (Pr. 23:29-30) (Pr. 23:29-30)

““The AMA acknowledges that all alcohol The AMA acknowledges that all alcohol consumption, even at low levels, has a consumption, even at low levels, has a

negative impact on driver skills, negative impact on driver skills, perceptions, abilities, and performance perceptions, abilities, and performance and poses significant health and safety and poses significant health and safety

risks.” risks.” http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/388/uhttp://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/388/u

nderage_drnkndrive.pdfnderage_drnkndrive.pdf


PHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL PHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

““Alcohol affects the brain similar to the Alcohol affects the brain similar to the way any narcotic does. Reactions include way any narcotic does. Reactions include removal of inhibitions, loss of self control, removal of inhibitions, loss of self control, weakness of willpower, development of weakness of willpower, development of

euphoria, increased confidence, generosity, euphoria, increased confidence, generosity, altered judgment, slurred speech, tremors, altered judgment, slurred speech, tremors,

cessation of automatic movements, cessation of automatic movements, sweating, dilation of surface capillaries, sweating, dilation of surface capillaries, stupor, coma, and death.” stupor, coma, and death.” (Patrick K. O’neil, Will County Coroner, (Patrick K. O’neil, Will County Coroner,

Joliet, IL) Joliet, IL)

http://www.willcountyillinois.com/Portals/0/Departments/Coroner/http://www.willcountyillinois.com/Portals/0/Departments/Coroner/2007FinalCoronerReport.pdf2007FinalCoronerReport.pdf

Drinking Alcohol is PerniciousDrinking Alcohol is Pernicious

It causes great harm and is destructive. It causes great harm and is destructive.

Concerning the wine Solomon says, Concerning the wine Solomon says, “At the “At the last it last it bites like a serpent bites like a serpent And stings like And stings like

a viper.” a viper.” (Proverbs 23:32)(Proverbs 23:32)

There is vomiting, hangovers, and the DT’s. There is vomiting, hangovers, and the DT’s. (hallucinations, delusions, tremors, etc.)(hallucinations, delusions, tremors, etc.)

You are tempted to commit sexual You are tempted to commit sexual immorality and use profanity. immorality and use profanity. (Proverbs (Proverbs

23:33)23:33)


They become addicted so that they don’t They become addicted so that they don’t remember what they did, don’t have remember what they did, don’t have

feeling in their body, and that they must feeling in their body, and that they must have another drink when they get up. have another drink when they get up.

(Proverbs 23:34-35)(Proverbs 23:34-35)

How many drunk drivers live & the How many drunk drivers live & the innocent die? innocent die?

How many women have been raped? How many women have been raped?

How many wives have been beaten and How many wives have been beaten and their marriage and family been their marriage and family been

destroyed? destroyed?

How many have murdered? How many have murdered?


But in the beer commercials you won’t see But in the beer commercials you won’t see the vomit, bloodied wives, or the the vomit, bloodied wives, or the

agonizing cries of the innocent who lost agonizing cries of the innocent who lost their loved one.their loved one.

The advertisements will make you laugh The advertisements will make you laugh and think everybody is having a good and think everybody is having a good

time while Satan enslaves more people time while Satan enslaves more people to do his will. to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:26)(2 Timothy 2:26)

Don’t be deceived by the devil! Those who Don’t be deceived by the devil! Those who practice these things will not go to practice these things will not go to heaven. heaven. (1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. (1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal.

5:19-21; 6:7-8)5:19-21; 6:7-8)

Don’t Drink Because of Your Don’t Drink Because of Your InfluenceInfluence

We are to hold fast to that which is good We are to hold fast to that which is good and abstain from evil. and abstain from evil. (1 Thess. 5:21-22)(1 Thess. 5:21-22)

Does drinking alcohol bear good or bad Does drinking alcohol bear good or bad fruit? fruit? (Matthew 7:17-20; Galatians 5:19-(Matthew 7:17-20; Galatians 5:19-

23) 23)

If you drink alcohol or are ashamed of the If you drink alcohol or are ashamed of the truth, you will likely defend drinking, and truth, you will likely defend drinking, and

hurt, harm, and destroy other souls. hurt, harm, and destroy other souls. (Luke 17:1-2)(Luke 17:1-2)

Abraham Lincoln said, Abraham Lincoln said, “Alcohol has many “Alcohol has many defenders but no defense.”defenders but no defense.”

Don’t Drink Because of Your Don’t Drink Because of Your InfluenceInfluence

““Wine is a Wine is a mockermocker, strong drink a brawler, , strong drink a brawler, And whoever is intoxicated by it is not And whoever is intoxicated by it is not

wise.” wise.” (Proverbs 20:1)(Proverbs 20:1)

““Do not participateDo not participate in the unfruitful deeds in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose of darkness, but instead even expose

them” them” (Eph. 5:11)(Eph. 5:11)

We are no longer to live for the lusts of We are no longer to live for the lusts of men but for the will of God. men but for the will of God. (1 Peter 4:1-(1 Peter 4:1-

4)4)

You are to be the “salt of the earth” and You are to be the “salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.” “the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:13-(Matthew 5:13-

16)16)

ConclusionConclusion

If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God then you know that he didn’t turn God then you know that he didn’t turn

water into an intoxicant or else he would water into an intoxicant or else he would not and could not be our Savior. not and could not be our Savior. (1 Peter (1 Peter

2:22)2:22)

Paul told Timothy to drink a little wine for Paul told Timothy to drink a little wine for medicinal purposes medicinal purposes (1 Timothy 5:23) (1 Timothy 5:23) not not

for recreational reasons.for recreational reasons.

But some will argue vehemently, “What’s But some will argue vehemently, “What’s the harm in just one drink?”the harm in just one drink?”


The Bible commands Christians to be sober. The Bible commands Christians to be sober.

If you never take the first drink, your If you never take the first drink, your judgment won’t be impaired and you will judgment won’t be impaired and you will

never be an alcoholic.never be an alcoholic.

As a faithful Christian, you won’t have to As a faithful Christian, you won’t have to suffer the evil consequences of this drug suffer the evil consequences of this drug that has destroyed so many souls if you that has destroyed so many souls if you

abstain.abstain.

You can be sober and watch, pray, and be You can be sober and watch, pray, and be prepared for the Lord’s coming. prepared for the Lord’s coming.


But how many will still be drinking alcohol But how many will still be drinking alcohol when the Lord returns and have to suffer when the Lord returns and have to suffer an eternal torment in hell because they an eternal torment in hell because they

refused the Lord’s grace, mercy, and refused the Lord’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Don’t let it forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Don’t let it

be you!be you!

If you are not a Christian, you can decide to If you are not a Christian, you can decide to change by being baptized as a penitent change by being baptized as a penitent believer and have all your sins washed believer and have all your sins washed

away and start a new life in Christ. away and start a new life in Christ. (Acts 22:16; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; (Acts 22:16; 1 Cor. 6:9-11;

Rom. 6:3-4)Rom. 6:3-4)

Documents

Should You