Alcohol
Before I came to know Jesus, I misused alcohol, even though I was just a young teenager. Alcohol was freely available at the parties I attended, and I was usually the first person to get drunk. After coming to the Lord at the age of 17, everything changed, and for years, I didn’t consume any alcohol at all. Over the years, my view of it has changed.
Initially I took the view that it was a sin to drink alcohol. While it was certainly healthy for me to abstain totally for a while - some years in my case - Scripture nowhere condemns or prohibits consuming moderate levels of alcohol.
Jesus drank wine. The religious leaders accused our Lord of being a drunkard. But when the Son of Man came, he ate and drank as you do (Luke 7:34).
Despite their accusations, Jesus never got drunk, but he did drink wine. He began his ministry at Cana by providing the drinks for a wedding celebration. (John 2:1-11). Jews also drank wine at the yearly Passover meal - the Lord’s Supper includes bread and wine (Luke 22:14-20).
Drinking is not a sin, but Scripture’s overwhelming warning is that alcohol misuse is dangerous.
Christians are permitted to drink alcohol, but we are clearly forbidden to get drunk. “Don’t fill yourself up with wine. Getting drunk will lead to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit”.(Ephesians 5:18; also see Proverbs 20:1, 23:20, Isaiah 5:22). And some of us, because addictive behavioural tendencies, should abstain altogether. Addiction levels are at epidemic levels.
Consider these scriptures:
“Don’t join those who drink too much wine. Don’t join those who stuff themselves with meat. Those who drink or eat too much will become poor. If they sleep too much, they’ll have to wear rags (Proverbs 23:20-21).
How terrible it will be for those who get up early in the morning to start drinking! How terrible for those who stay up late at night until they are drunk with wine! (Isaiah 5:11)
‘A leader must be free from blame. He must be faithful to his wife. In anything he does, he must not go too far. He must control himself. He must be worthy of respect. He must welcome people into his home. He must be able to teach. He must not get drunk (1 Timothy 3:2-3, 8, also see Prov. 31:4-5).
“You have spent enough time in the past doing what ungodly people choose to do. You lived a wild life. You longed for evil things. You got drunk. You went to wild parties. You worshiped statues of gods. The Lord hates that’ (1 Peter 4:3)
“In the same way, teach the older women to lead a holy life. They must not tell lies about others. They must not let wine control them. Instead, they must teach what is good’ (Titus 2:3).
“So eat and drink and do everything else for the glory of God’ (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Across the UK there are different varieties of rehab clinics working hard every single day to help alcoholics and drug users regain control of the lives. Each type of clinic has its own focus despite the common goal of helping addicts break free. For example, Christian rehabs focus on recovery from the perspective of the Christian faith.
There is no reliable information to indicate the exact number of Christian rehabs in the UK, but their numbers appear to be growing. Those who choose to go this route typically do so because they want to add the spiritual component to their recovery, above and beyond what the traditional 12-step philosophy involves.
For more information visit https://www.uk-rehab.com/treatment-rehab/christian/
To call for confidential Help and Advice - 0203 8115 619