I was not surprised when one of my young friends told me once that there is nothing wrong in drinking alcohol because God has allowed it. He quoted some verses from the Holy Bible to convince me with his concept. I remembered how Satan quoted the scripture when he tempted our Lord Jesus. Drinking has become one of the most dangerous evils of our modern commercialized life.
Beginning of alcoholism, the dangerous habit
Alcohol habit starts like a fun when it makes people say, “I just had a fun!” and slowly makes them immersed in the pool of alcohol unable to get out of it. Peer pressure, stress, depression, idleness, etc. induce a person into the snare of alcoholism.
Alcoholism is dangerous to health
A report from the Framingham Study shows that moderate to heavy alcohol use is associated with damage to brain tissue and such damage to the brain may lead to higher risk of stroke or dementia. Carol Ann Paul M.S. and her associates the American Academy of Neurology reported in 2007 that even moderate amounts of alcohol are associated with brain atrophy and possibly an increased risk of dementia or stroke.
Danger to the society
In Tamil, a South Indian language, there is a saying that alcoholism destroys the whole society. When an individual is affected in body and mind, it affects his family and becomes an unbearable nuisance to the society. We have seen a lot of incidents how drunkards are creating nuisances in the society.
The Holy Bible warns us
We see in our day to day life what wise Solomon said is quite true. He has said, “The drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them with rags.” (Proverbs 23:21) We see our friends lose all their properties in drinking. I have seen many of my friends mortgaging all the ornaments including the ‘thali’, the sacred symbol of wedding.
Modern weapon of Satan
Alcoholism is the modern weapon used by Satan to capture as many souls as possible. He uses it cleverly in making people addicted to alcohol. Drunkards fail to realize this truth and they go on drinking, bringing misery and pain to their family members.
“For whom are the cries and laments? For whom the complaints and sighs? For whom the blows without reason? For whom the eyes which see double? For those who abandon themselves to wine and go in search of the well-blended wine. Do not consider the wine: how red it is and how sparkling the glass! How smoothly it flows! In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things and you end up speaking non-sense.” (Proverbs 23:29-33)
Warnings from God
There are numerous warnings in the Holy Bible regarding alcoholism. Gospels state clearly that we should always on the guard not to be involved in drinking. Luke says, “Be on the guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap.” (Luke 21:34) St. Paul has included drunkards in the list of those who are not eligible for the kingdom of God. (Ref: 1 Cor. 6: 10) He says, “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit.”(Eph. 5: 18)
God has created us to be happy. Alcohol will push anyone into an abysmal hell. Let nobody cast off the beautiful life that God has granted him. Let us pray God to protect us and others from the misery of alcohol.
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The first miracle of Jesus was when he turned the water into wine. We are to do all things in moderation.Be not drunk wherein is excess.The deacons are not to be given to MUCH wine.We are also told to drink a little wine for the stomach's sake and often infirmities.We are not to get drunk.We have to take the whole word here.
I have no problem with believing the truth and God has not turned over his control to anyone else so he is capable of taking care of each individual.If I should take a cup of wine, I have no problem or with anyone else who does.My problem is with drunkards (who by the way Jesus died for also).
