Fermented or Unfermented? – Alcohol and the Christian

I was asked recently if I could publish my stand on the subject of alcohol drinking and the Christian. Some of you will not agree but that is between you and GOD.

I believe to start out with it would be in order for me to give a brief background on myself. Have I drank alcohol in the past? YES! Have I been drunk before? YES! Has my thinking been impaired by my drinking? YES! Was it my intention to get drunk when I took my first drink each time? NO!

Historically, I have been involved as a worker with the Teen Challenge Addiction Recovery Program and I led an addiction recovery program through an inner-city church I pastored for five years. Have I had my share of working with addicts? YES! Did any of them take their first drink with the intention of becoming an addict? NO!

To begin, I would like to share some facts published by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism based on the year 2013. About 88,000 Americans die annually from alcohol-related causes; 10,076 died in alcohol-related traffic fatalities. In 2006, alcohol misuse cost the US 223.5 billion dollars. Alcohol contributes to over 200 different diseases and injury-related health conditions. Each year, 696,000 young people between 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking. 97,000 drinking-related rapes occur annually on college campuses. This small list of alcohol-related consequences gives us a picture of the problems with alcohol.

Now, as alcohol related to Christians. I hear so many say, “I drink in moderation, so that is okay.” Well, I wish that these same misguided individuals could produce Scriptural evidence to that fact. Let me say that in both the Hebrew and Greek, the same word is used for fermented and unfermented so to say that wine always relates to fermented drink is an abuse of the original language. Jesus turned water into wine. The word for wine again is used both ways. I would postulate that Jesus turned the water into unfermented grape juice.

Certainly, you can disagree with me but I want to look at a few texts Solomon wrote. I believe Solomon partied a great deal. I believe he realized he made a great deal of bad decisions during those times of partying under the influence of alcohol.

In Proverbs 20:1, Solomon wrote: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” He warned in Proverbs 23:19-20 that a wise person will refrain from hanging out with drinkers of strong drink. In verses 29-30, he warned that drinking causes woe, sorrow, fighting, babbling, etc. Noah got drunk and his son paid for his mistake. Lot got drunk and ended up acting immoral. I could proceed throughout the Scriptures showing bad decisions and outcomes due to alcohol consumption.

Let me go over to what Paul tells the believer in Ephesians 5:18, “And don’t get drunk with wine, which [leads to] reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit.” In 1 Corinthians 6:10, drunkards are in the listing of those who will not inherit the kingdom of GOD.

Certainly, there are those out there who fail to heed these warnings for themselves; rather, following the path that could very well end in eternal destruction. That is your choice, of course, but it is not GOD’s choice for you.

I believe, as Christians, we are called to live to a higher standard than the rest of the world. We are called to live above these things and to not allow them to have any control over us. When an individual “drinks in moderation” they are already hooked by the drug. Otherwise, they would just say NO out of reverence for GOD and His Word and His divine direction for His children.

As a means of closing, let me relate something to you. I remember meeting with a mom and dad who had just lost their child in an auto accident involving a “drunk Christian.” I will never forget the questions out of broken hearts pertaining to how a “Christian” could get drunk, get behind the wheel and go out and take their child’s life? Did that “Christian” set out to drink and drive that day? I doubt it, probably just a moderate drinker that got overtaken by his desire for a little wine.

I have stood and talked to people trying to overcome their addictions while “Christians” are sitting around in the same room drinking a little wine. They cannot fathom how any “Christian” can do that to themselves and worse yet, do that to the one in recovery trying to get away from it.

Let me be straight-up. I will never adhere to the belief that drinking in moderation is okay for Christians. When I hear and see “Christians” taking up for their drinking in moderation, it sickens my soul. GOD help us to take a stand against every evil thing in this world. GOD help us to say NO! to every evil thing in this world.

There is not enough time left for Christians to be sitting around enjoying their drink while people all around are dying and going to hell.