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Alcohol

Introduction:  

      For the past 13 weeks, Brad Paisley has been climbing the country music charts with his latest hit song, “Alcohol.” According to Music Row’s country breakout chart it had moved up to number 4 two weeks ago. Who knows, perhaps it will make it all the way to number 1. For those who have not heard the song, do not be too quick to berate it. It actually has a very interesting story to tell. Note some of the lyrics.

I can make anybody pretty

I can make you believe any lie.

I can make you pick a fight with somebody twice your size. Well, I’ve been known to cause a few break-ups,

An’ I’ve been known to cause a few births.

Well, I can make you new friends, or get you fired from work.

 

And since the day I left Milwaukee,

Lynchburg an’ Bordeaux, France,

Been making the bars lots of good money,

An’ helpin’ white people dance.

I got you in trouble in high school,

But college, now that was a ball,

You had some of the best times you’ll never remember with me: Alcohol.

 

I got blamed at your wedding reception,

for your best man’s embarrassing speech.

And I’ll bet you a drink or two, that I can make you put that lampshade on your head.

 

Cause since the day I left…

I been making a fool out of folks just like you

…I am medicine and I am poison

      Not exactly a flattering picture of intoxicating drink is it? I don’t have any idea what Paisley’s thoughts on drinking alcohol are. I am certain, however, that the majority of fans who are sending this song to the top of the charts do not see how serious this is. They view this picture of intoxicating drink as funny. However, I am amazed by the absolute honesty with which this song discusses the impact of alcohol. While this song has climbed the charts, brethren have continued their arguments about Christians drinking intoxicating drinks. What is sad is the number of Christians who make silly comments like, “I am not affected by a few drinks.” “The Bible teaches us to do all things in moderation” (I am still looking for that verse). “If you can’t hold your alcohol you shouldn’t drink, but those of us who can are allowed to drink some as long as we don’t get really drunk.” Considering all of the things I have heard Christians and religious people say in defense of intoxicating drinks and this new song by Paisley, I am reminded once again that the people of the world are sometimes more honest than the religious when it comes to these kinds of issues. After all, the people of the world, not feeling they have to defend alcohol don’t care how it affects them, are more honest about how it affects them. I believe it is time for a little honesty about how intoxicating drink affects us and about what the Bible actually says about it. In a previous lesson, we learned that the Bible uses the word “wine” sometimes to mean intoxicating drink and sometimes just juice. We determine to which each passage refers by the context of the passage. Further, we have learned in the past that the ancients knew very well how to keep juice from fermenting. We do not have the time in this lesson to reestablish those points (see addendum to this outline for the demonstration of these two points)[1]. In this lesson, I want us to perform some simple and honest Bible study. Let’s take a look at the Proverbs. In that book, three passages play a part in our consideration of intoxicating drink and whether or not we should partake (Proverbs 20:1; 23:29-35; 31:4-7). We will ask three questions from these passages. 1) What is intoxicating drink? 2) What does it do? 3) How should we do with it?

Discussion:

I.         What is intoxicating drink?

A.      Proverbs 20:1 gives God’s definition of intoxicating wine and strong drink. “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler.”

1.      The term translated “Mocker” is the Hebrew “luwts.” According to Strong’s Enhanced Lexicon it means “to scorn, make mouths at, talk arrogantly.” The term translated “brawler” is the Hebrew “hamah.” It means “to murmur, growl, roar, cry aloud, mourn, rage, sound, make noise, tumult, be clamorous, be disquieted, be loud, be moved, be troubled, be in an uproar.” Please be careful to note that this verse does not say this is what intoxicating drinks cause people to do. The verse says this is what intoxicating drink is by nature. Granted, because it is these things it will cause people to do them.

2.      To get a true picture of the importance of these definitions, look at what the Proverbialist says about mockers and brawlers.

a.      “Mocker”—According to Proverbs 3:34, God scoffs at the scoffers. God is not impressed with mocking or scoffing. According to Proverbs 14:6, the scoffer or mocker seeks wisdom but gets none. According to Proverbs 19:29, judgment is prepared for the mocker. According to Proverbs 24:9, scoffing and mocking is an abomination to men.

b.      “Brawler”—This word is used three other times in Proverbs. In Proverbs 1:21, it describes the “noisy streets” in which wisdom cries out but receives no hearers. Then in Proverbs 7:11 and 9:13, it describes a harlot who is also a “brawler,” that is boisterous.

3.      The point is that wine is a mocker because it speaks great swelling words that promise a great deal, but it is lying. It knows it and it laughs at you as listen to its arrogant babbling. It is a brawler because it is boisterous and stubborn. It yells, hollers and clamors but does not provide any benefit.

B.     Proverbs 20:1 goes on to say “And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise” (NASU). However, this translation does not accurately portray what is said here. Consider some other translations. The KJV says, “whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” The ASV says, “whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.” The RSV says, “whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” The NIV says, “Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.” Thus, this last half of the verse does not say anything about levels of intoxication. It simply points out that not only is intoxicating drink a mocker and a brawler, it is also a deceiver that leads people astray. How many people are deceived by this mocking, scoffing, brawling, boisterous and stubborn drink? We have to have these kinds of lessons repeatedly because so many are deceived. If we are deceived by the empty and arrogant words of intoxicating drink, then we are fools.

II.       What intoxicating drink does?

A.      Proverbs 23:31 explains that intoxicating drink sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. Let’s face it, intoxicating drink is enticing and inviting. Isn’t that why the beer commercials used to tell us, “It doesn’t get any better than this”? It seems good. However, remember what we have learned already from Proverbs 20:1. Intoxicating drink is a mocking, brawling deceiver. It invites and entices and promises much. It is wonderful to look at. It is great to taste. However, according to Proverbs 23:32, once it enters the stomach it bites like a serpent and stings like a viper. Am I the only one who is reminded of the scene in the Garden when the serpent convinced Eve that the forbidden fruit was good for food, a delight to the eyes and desirable to make one wise (Genesis 3:6).

B.     Read all of Proverbs 23:29-35. Intoxicating drink causes woe, sorrow, contentions, complaining wounds and redness of the eyes (may refer to bloodshot eyes, some suggest the concept of blurred vision). This is the goal of intoxicating drink, yet some suggest we can walk a little way down the path of this mocker. Intoxicating drink will cause you see strange things and utter perverse things (have you ever heard of putting on your beer goggles?). Intoxicating drink causes you to be like a person who lies down in the middle of the sea. What do you know about a person who is lying in the midst of the sea—they are drowning. According to Deane and Taswell in the Pulpit commentary, the Germans had a saying, “More are drowned in the wine-cup than in the ocean” (Pulpit Commentary, “Proverbs”, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 1950, p 383.) It also makes you like one who lies down at the top of the mast. Have you seen the top of a mast? You couldn’t stand at the top of the mast, let alone lay on it. Especially if the boat is rocking on the ocean. Intoxicating drink is a danger. I wonder if the writer of the Brad Paisley song we read earlier had read these verses. That songwriter said alcohol can make anybody look pretty, make you believe lies, make you pick fights with people twice your size, get you fired, make you a fool, get you in trouble. Granted it says you can have a ball with it, but you won’t remember most of it. For another popular look from an honest country musician, consider Neil McCoy’s song (also climbing the country charts right now), “Billy’s Got His Beer Goggles On.” Billy is trying to drown his sorrows. He chases everything in sight because “he can’t see ugly through bloodshot eyes.” “Right now his worries are gone” but “He’ll fall apart when he gets home.” Alcohol is great stuff, isn’t it.

C.     Also, according to Proverbs 23:35 it is addictive. What else could cause all of this but cause a person to wake up and want some more. I will never forget some of my high school buddies who came to school almost every Monday complaining about spending Sundays puking and how they will never drink again.

D.     Proverbs 31:5 says intoxicating drink will cause a person to forget God’s law. Intoxicating drink immediately impacts your ability to think clearly. It attacks your logic, your reason, your judgment and your inhibitions. That is why Proverbs 23:33 said the drinker utters perverse things. This is the true danger of intoxicating drink. The real issue is not about your health. The real issue is not about whether you look like a fool. The issue is that with every drink you take your ability to control yourself is hindered—beginning with the very first one. This was Paul’s point in Ephesians 5:18. The word for “drunk” in that passage is “methusko.” Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words says this word is “an inceptive verb, marking the process of the state expressed in [methuo].” “Methuo” means signifies being drunk. Ephesians 5:18 is not condemning being stone-cold drunk. It explains that every step you take down the path of being intoxicated with alcohol prevents you that much more from being controlled by the Holy Spirit, that is, from being able to make your judgments based on the word of the Holy Spirit (cf. Colossians 3:16). (See endnote for more information on this term.[2])

III.      What should we do with intoxicating drink?

A.      Proverbs 31:6-7 provides the only passage that is permissive for drinking intoxicating drinks. The person who is dying and in great pain may drink to remove the pain. Despite how so many want to read this passage, the text does not describe a depressed person who is trying to drown his sorrows. Rather, it speaks of a person in pain and misery because he is dying. Thus, we find permission to use alcohol medicinally as a pain killer. Everyone else needs to consider what the rest of these passages in Proverbs say.

B.     According to Proverbs 20:1, we recognize that we must not let it deceive us. It is going to promise all kinds of wonderful things. Don’t buy it. Its end is misery and death. Do not allow it to deceive you into saying that only a little won’t matter. That is a lie from the devil.

C.     Proverbs 31:4-5 says, “It is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink.” Allow me to remind you that we as Christians are a “royal priesthood” (I Peter 2:9). We are kings and it is not for us to desire or drink intoxicating drinks, because with every drink it takes away our ability to control ourselves.

D.     Interestingly, I have heard numerous Christians turn to Proverbs 23:29-35 and explain that this it what happens to those who drink too much. After all the passage does say it happens to “those who linger long over wine.” However, notice it also says it happens to “those who go to taste mixed wine (vs. 30). What amazes me is that some Christians today read this passage and teach that what it means is we should only drink a little bit in moderation. The Proverbialist also gave instruction on what we should do with this intoxicating drink that causes all these problems. He said, “Do not look on the wine…” Did he mean that as we drink a little bit of it in moderation that we should keep our eyes closed? Or did he mean we need to stay away from it and not even look at it, lest the deceiving drink tempt us to partake?

E.     Consider an interesting connection of passages. Remember that wine is a mocker or scoffer (Proverbs 20:1). Further it causes contentions (Proverbs 23:29). Interestingly, Proverbs 22:10 says if we drive out the scoffer we will get rid of contentions. It did not say just put up with the scoffer in small doses of moderation, but drive out the scoffer. (This corresponds with another interesting connection. The New Testament counterpart to “brawler” in Proverbs 20:1, is found in Ephesians 4:31, in which Paul taught us to “Let all…clamor…be put away from you.”)

Conclusion:

      Now that we have looked more closely at these passages from Proverbs, you tell me what the Christian’s relationship to intoxicating drink ought to be. Should it be one of moderation and small doses? Or should it be one of abstinence and absolute sobriety? The answer is clear. Do not even look on intoxicating drink, let alone drink it, lest you drink and neglect God’s law, losing your soul.

 

[1] The following is copied from the sermon “Is Intoxicating Drink Allowed in Moderation?” presented at the Franklin Church of Christ on June 13, 2004.

I.         Modern assumptions that cloud the Bible issue.

A.      “Wine is wine is wine and all of it is intoxicating.”

1.       If I asked you to go to the store and buy me some cider, what would you purchase? Because you know me, you would purchase unfermented apple cider. However, if I was a drinker and you knew I was going to a BYOB New Year’s Eve party, you would run by a package store and pick up some hard cider. Here is a word that we use today which can mean either intoxicating or non-intoxicating drink. We determine which is meant based on the context of the statement.

2.       In our modern day, the words “wine” and “cider” are different. “Cider” refers to either intoxicating or non-intoxicating juice depending on the context, but, for us, “wine” always refers to an intoxicating drink. Was it that way in the Bible? No.

3.       No doubt in places the term “wine” referred to intoxicating, alcoholic drink, e.g. Genesis 9:20; 19:32; Proverbs 23:29-31. On the other hand, notice some other places where “wine” could not possibly have referred to intoxicating, alcoholic drink. Isaiah 16:10 spoke of “wine” being treaded out in the presses. It is not possible for what is treaded out in the presses to be fermented and intoxicating. Likewise Jeremiah 40:10-12 referred to gathering in the wine along with the summer fruits. In other words, this was the juice in the grape when brought in from the field. It could not possibly be fermented, alcoholic, intoxicating drink. Jeremiah 48:33 spoke again of wine being in the wine presses. Again, this was the juice as it was pressed out of the grapes and therefore must not have been alcoholic or intoxicating. Understand clearly what this demonstrates. As we strive to see what God has equipped us to do in scripture, it is not enough to find a place where “wine” is consumed with approval. It must be a place where we know it is intoxicating wine and it is consumed with approval.

B.     “Ancient people of the Bible days did not know how to keep juice from fermenting.”

1.       Some will grudgingly concede the prior point that in the Bible, “wine” is a generic term used to refer to juice from a grape whether fermented or not. So, if it is freshly squeezed it is non-fermented. But if it was squeezed a week ago, the ancients had no way of keeping it from fermenting and therefore it must be intoxicating and alcoholic. It is not surprising that people feel this way. After all, every generation believes knowledge and wisdom begins with them. But it simply is not true.

2.       A study of history has demonstrated that men of antiquity knew how to keep wine unfermented. Consider the following:

a.     “If you wish to have must (i.e., grape juice) all year put grape juice in an amphora and seal the cork with pitch: sink it in a fishpond. After 30 days take it out. It will be grape juice for a whole year.” (De Agri Cultura CXX, Marcus Porcius Cato the elder who lived from 234-149 B.C.; quoted from Sipping Saints by Rick Lanning and also The Bible, The Saint, and The Liquor Industry by Jim McGuiggan). Thus juice could be kept from fermenting if sealed and kept below a certain temperature which immobilizes the yeast from fermenting. Interestingly, the Bible speaks of storing wine in cellars which by their very nature would perform this cooling operation (I Chronicles 27:27).

b.     Pliny who lived from AD 61-113 said, “The most useful wine has all its force or strength broken by the filter.” And Plutarch who lived from AD 46-120 said, “Wine is rendered old or feeble in strength when it is frequently filtered. The strength or spirit being thus excluded, the wine neither inflames the brain nor infests the mind and the passions, and is much more pleasant to drink” (From the same sources as above). This filtering referred to a process by which the yeast would be removed and thus not allow fermentation. The Bible speaks of this very thing. In Isaiah 25:6, God claims He will host a feast in which He will provide “refined” wine. According to Strong’s Enhanced Lexicon, that translates the Hebrew word “zaqaq” which refers to purifying or straining. In other words, in Isaiah’s day, they knew they could filter wine.

c.     Have you ever heard someone who argues vehemently against consuming alcohol claim it is lawful to cook with alcohol? Of course you have. Why? Because the alcohol cooks out. Alcohol has a lower boiling point than water. When boiled, the alcohol in fermented wine will cook out just as it cooks out of the vanilla you add to your cake recipes. Virgil who lived from 70 to 19 BC wrote, “Meanwhile his spouse, … over the fire boils down the liquor of the lucious must, and skims with leaves the tide of the trembling cauldron” (quoted from The Bible, The Saint, and The Liquor Industry, p 45). After the wine was boiled down it became pasty and thick like honey. It was a concentrate and to be drunk it had to be mixed with water.

3.       The ancients were not as simple or ignorant as we may think. They knew full well how to keep juice unfermented. And if it fermented, they knew how to remove the alcohol and make it non-intoxicating. They did this by procedures even referred to in the Bible. Thus, we cannot assume that the word “wine” in the Bible refers to alcohol or intoxicating drink, no matter how old it is.

[2]  1) Webster’s Dictionary defines “inceptive” as “expressing the beginning of the action indicated by the underlying verb, …” 2) Abbot-Smith’s Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament claims “methusko” is “causal of [methuo]” (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, Scotland. 1973, p 282.). 3) Bullinger’s A Critical Lexicon and Concordance To the English and Greek New Testament says “methusko” means “to grow drunk (marking the beginning of No. 1 [methuo])” (Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids. 1978. P 238.). 

 


Glory to God in the church by Christ Jesus
Franklin Church of Christ