When Christians
Drink
There is
a big dilemma which Christians and non-Christians have towards drinking; many
are troubled with their conscience; many do not feel right about this issue in
their spirit; many are bothered with questions like; Is it Right for me to
drink alcohol as a follower of Christ? Is it moral? What does it reflect about
me? Is God Happy with me drinking? How does it affect my family? How does it
affect my friends? How does it affect my destiny fulfillment? Beloved! Please
do read with a receptive open mind and let the holy spirit answer your
questions. I Pray; My Life Shall not be
hindered In Jesus Name.
When Christians Drink
There is
a mode of thought which pervades the Christian mind and that is the error of
believing that Christian Liberty is the same as the freedom to sin. This
happens when supposed Christians buy into the worldly philosophy of egoistic
hedonism which teaches that happiness is the goal of all conduct. This is
brought about by churches which teach personal euphoria rather than sound
obedience to God’s Word. I would also like to include those Christians who
smoke. I have already written a monograph on Christian Liberty and we all know
the degenerating effects alcohol and tobacco have on our bodies so therefore I
am not going to dwell on this aspect. I am going to dwell on the witness aspect
of concession with the world. Recently a person e-mailed me and vehemently
disagreed with another article I had on my web site concerning drinking
alcohol. He was thoroughly convinced he could have a Budweiser in one hand and
a Bible in the other, and still proclaim he was a Christian. If this person was
standing on the corner with a few friends drinking beer and you saw them, how
would you distinguish who was the Christian and who wasn’t? Let me tell you how
you would know. The Christian would be the one bowing his head and giving
thanks for the beer. (Just Kidding)
Whenever a Christian partakes in any worldly
pleasure such as drinking or smoking, it definitely affects their testimony.
Now I am not speaking of worldly pleasures such as vacations, enjoying the
beach or mountains, or just going to the park. I am thoroughly convinced the Lord
has given us those things to allow us to take a break from the fast pace of the
world. These things can be enjoyed without them doing any physical harm to our
bodies, in fact, they can help rejuvenate us. Here are some facts taken from
the Encyclopedia Britannica about Ethyl Alcohol which is the chief ingredient
of all alcoholic drinks. It is anything but good for the body. Poison ingested
in any amount or form in the human body does not help it but always has a
degenerating effect.
Ethyl Alcohol
Ethyl
Alcohol also called Ethanol, Grain Alcohol, or Alcohol, the most important
member of a class of organic compounds that are given the general name
alcohols; its molecular formula is C2H5OH.
Ø It is the intoxicating
ingredient of many beverages produced by fermentation.
Ø Pure ethanol is a
colorless, flammable liquid (boiling point 78.5º C [173.3º F]) with an
agreeable ethereal odour and a burning taste. Ethanol is toxic, affecting the
central nervous system.
Ø Moderate amounts
stimulate the mind and relax the muscles, but larger amounts impair
coordination and judgment, finally producing coma and death.
Ø It is an addictive drug
leading to alcoholism or drunkenness as the Bible calls it.
encyclopedias reports that Ethyl
Alcohol is a toxin
|
We have
briefly seen that even the encyclopedias report that Ethyl Alcohol is a toxin
and no thinking person is ever going to try and convince themselves that toxins
in any amount are good for the body, and this goes for both Christians and
non-Christians alike. A person may choose to ignore this information but the
fact remains Ethyl Alcohol is a poison to the body and no amount of ignorance
can overcome reality.
5 testimonies of worldly living
At this
time I want to share 5 testimonies that we lose when we take up the mantle of
worldly living.
1. Internal
Testimony
Whenever
we begin to walk with the world in even the slightest manner we lose the purity
of our internal testimony. In other words, whenever we witness to an unbeliever
or counsel a Christian we begin to feel like a hypocrite in that we are telling
the unbeliever his sins will cast him into hell and we are partaking in the
same sin he is.
(Rom
2:21-22 KJV) Thou
therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that
preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? {22} Thou that sayest a man
should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? Thou that abhorrest
idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
The Bible warns us about hypocritical witness.
How can we counsel a Christian about the dangers of sin which we are partaking
in ourselves? Just because we refuse to think of worldly compromise as sin, God
deems any compromise with the world system as sin.
(1
John 2:15-16 KJV) Love
not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the
world, the love of the Father is not in him. {16} For all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not
of the Father, but is of the world.
This includes the ingestion of alcoholic
beverage because it is of the world. Whenever we compromise our internal
testimony it confuses us and you will have trouble knowing who you belong to.
This is why so many Christians walk around wondering if they are saved or not.
If Christians started stripping away their pet sins, their internal testimony
will return in full confidence of which they belong to and then they will be
able to witness in confidence.
2.
External Testimony
Another
testimony we lose is our external testimony in that others see us and we lose
our testimony to them. How can we go to others and say we are Christians when
we are partaking in a worldly concession. Every Christian has a responsibility
to other Christians. Billy Graham has lost his external testimony when he had
his picture taken with the Pope. Jimmy Swaggart lost his testimony when he was
exposed concerning the prostitute. Jim Baker lost his testimony when his
cloaked lifestyle with Jessica was exposed. Jerry Falwell lost his testimony
when he courted the Sodomites. Some of these men may not be saved but their
testimony to the world was that they are Christians and as a result of
compromise they have lost their testimony. The world now sees Christians as a pack
of frauds. You see when one Christian is exposed for wrong it affects every
single believer because the world lumps us together as one entity. Your
testimony to other Christians works in the same way.
(1
Cor 8:9-13 KJV) But
take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are
weak. {10} For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat
in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be
emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; {11} And through thy
knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? {12} But
when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin
against Christ. {13} wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat
no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
Here Paul is stating to the Corinthians that
just because they are freed from keeping the requirements of the law, they have
a solemn responsibility to other believers, especially new Christians who can
easily be thrown off course by observing the actions of those who are supposed
to know better. The Bible in these passages teaches us that if another
Christian can stumble in their beliefs because of a wrong or questionable
action on my part, then it is best not to partake. Those Christians who like to
drink or smoke in front of others are in essence saying they don’t care about
others. They just want to have their own pet sins. Their attitude is that it is
no one’s business what I do. Your actions are affecting other Christians and
you are responsible for your actions especially when they confuse and possibly
draw another Christian into your sin. Preachers who drink alcohol and then
teach the congregation that it is okay and that they are exercising Christian
liberty are nothing more than vipers in the pulpit.
Actually I like to refer to them as Pulpit
Prostitutes. Isn’t it interesting that a man or woman can be arrested for
selling their body but the church promotes and gives raises and perks to those
who sell out their testimony? Your external testimony is a very fragile thing
and must be guarded so it is not tainted intentionally. How can a person who is
holding on to the very sins which sent Christ to the cross teach the true
gospel? He cannot, he must conform it to his own personal prejudices.
(Mat
12:34 KJV) O
generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
(Rom
14:21 KJV) It
is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy
brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
3.
God-ward Testimony
Another
testimony we lose is our God-ward testimony. It gives the idea that God accepts
questionable behavior by His children. There are some denominations which
believe that their clergy can forgive sins and be like a "Savior by
proxy." The denomination I belonged to some years back believed by
answering 4 questions at time of communion, the presiding minister could
pronounce the remission of your sins. This is the attitude that carries over
with some people when they become saved. The problem is that we represent the
Lord Jesus Christ on this earth.
(2 Cor 5:20 KJV) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God
did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Whenever we begin to adopt ideas that it is
permissible to start drinking alcohol, then the world looks at us and begins to
believe that God accepts sinful behavior. I remember many years ago I was
walking on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, NJ and I was handed a tract which
I started reading. The tract stated that there was nothing wrong with having
sex because God is the one who created it. They of course were not speaking of
having sex in marriage but outside of marriage. I do not believe they were Christians
but some kind of cult, yet that tract made an impression on me, because over 30
years later I remember it. People tend to remember the things that are not
right with us rather than the things which are.
This is why it is dangerous to embrace an idea
that it is okay to drink alcohol because people will think it is accepted by
God. When a person sees a Christian with a beer, they will immediately think
that God approves it. The fact is that God commands His children to be holy
which means to be separate. This means to be separated from the philosophies of
the world which propel and set a person’s behavior.
(Lev
20:7 KJV) Sanctify
yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.
(1
Pet 1:15-16 KJV) But
as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of
conversation; {16} Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
The holiness of the Christian is to be set
apart from the rest of the world which includes the ideas and the actions which
are spawned from those ideas. God saves us with the express intent of bearing
spiritual fruit not to become entangled with the world from which were
delivered from. Our responsibility as Christians is to please God and not to
please the world. There is no way to hold a Bible in one hand and a Budweiser
in the other and still be a holy testimony for Christ.
(2
Tim 2:3-4 KJV) Thou
therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. {4} No man that warreth entangleth
himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be
a soldier.
4. Separation
Testimony
When a
Christian begins to drink alcohol they are showing they are not separated. Many
Christians wonder why God does not use them. God does not use a compromised
Christian for the furtherance of His Kingdom. God only uses clean vessels.
(Ezek 44:23 KJV) And they shall teach my people the difference
between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and
the clean.
In the Old Testament God expected His people
to know the difference between the holy and profane and the clean and unclean.
With the Bible we have that at our fingertips. When we drink, we are showing
that we are not separated from the ways of the world and are not discerning the
difference between the two. This is because we are hindering our obedience by
justifying our pet sins. Where did we ever get the idea that Christ saved us so
we can do what we want?
(Prov
23:31 KJV) Look
not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup,
when it moveth itself aright.
Many Christians believe there are no
Scriptures which prohibit the drinking of alcohol. Here is one which tells us
that we should not even look upon the red wine in the cup. Looking comes before
drinking. Alcoholic beverage is such a snare that God does not even want His
children looking at it because He knows how strong temptation can be and how
inadequate the flesh is in handling it. The object that distinguishes the real
Christian from the false Christian is our separation from the world. Nowhere in
Scripture are we to go back into the sins of the old nature. Alcohol is a sin
of the old nature.
(Rom
14:7-8 KJV) For
none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. {8} For whether we
live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether
we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
(Rom
13:14 KJV) But
put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to
fulfil the lusts thereof.
Alcohol ministers to the flesh and does not
minister to the spirit. Ask yourself the question, while you are drinking beer
or whiskey, how much thought do you give to the things of the Lord? NONE,
because you are too busy feeling a falsely induced euphoria.
5.
Identification Testimony
The fifth
testimony that you lose is your identification testimony. When you drink
alcohol, people do not know of what Kingdom you are identified with. It is a
shame when you have to tell someone you are a Christian because your actions
prove otherwise. When you do this, what do you think goes through people’s
minds when you stress you are a Christian and you are drinking alcohol? In
their mind, you are one of them and there is no difference. This is why people
feel comfortable in their false churches because they see God’s regenerated
Christians doing the same thing, so they figure they are on the road to heaven
when in reality they are on the way to hell. Losing one’s identification with
the Kingdom of God is like losing one’s mental capacities.
Summary
Christians
who drink alcohol carry ruined testimonies to the outside world and also to
those in the church. One group I have not mentioned that is always hurt by poor
testimonies are children. They tend to follow the parents in their training.
Don’t you think it is confusing to a child to see Daddy or Mommy praying and
then have a few beers or smokes? When the children begin to emulate this
pattern for themselves, will the parents then beat them for learning their
sinful ways? Ask yourself the following question the next time you pop a top or
light up, "What spiritual benefit do I gain from this?" Any
compromise with the world will always ruin your testimony and keep you from
growing in your Christian walk. You may be angry for reading this but the fact
remains:
(1
Cor 6:20 KJV) For
ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your
spirit, which are God's.
Drinking alcohol does not glorify God in your body;
instead it actually begins to destroy your body which is the violation of the
sixth commandment.
(1
Cor 10:31 KJV) Whether
therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
(Col
3:17 KJV) And
whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God and the Father by him.
I leave you with this one thought. Do you
believe you can sit a six pack of beer in front of you and then say to the
Lord, "I drink this beer to your glory?" If you can drink alcohol to
the glory of God and in the name of the Lord Jesus, then guzzle. If you can’t,
then don’t, it is never too late to regain and repair your testimony for
Christ. When a Christian loses their testimony to the world, they lose the most
precious aspect of their salvation. When they lose their testimony to the
brethren, they lose the trust and respect others had for them and as the
Scripture states:
(Luke
16:11 KJV) If
therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit
to your trust the true riches?
The verse
speaks of handling money but the principle can be carried to every aspect of
the Christian walk. If you are walking with the world, who will trust you with
the true riches?
By Dr. Ken Matto
Prayer Points
1. Spirit of alcoholism afflicting my life, Die in the name of
Jesus
2. Inherited Bondage of alcoholism break by the power in the blood
of Jesus.
3. O God, arise and let every weapon of the enemy backfire, in the
name of Jesus.
4. Holy Ghost! Empower me to overcome alcoholism in the name of
Jesus.
5. Every Soul Ties with Alcohol Break in the name of Jesus.
6. Holy Ghost bulldozer! Make a way for me by fire, in the name of
Jesus.
7. The Bible Says; if the Son Shall Set You Free You are Fee Indeed.
Jesus Christ, Son Of God; Set Me Free Totally From Alcohol In the Name of
Jesus.
8. Powers! That wants to destroy my destiny through Alcohol; destroy
your selves and Die in the name of Jesus.
9. Holy Spirit of the Living God; Replace the Spirit of Alcohol in my
Life In the Name of Jesus.
10.
Every door of blessings
that has been closed by alcoholism; Be open, in the name of Jesus.