Dangers of Alcohol

I have lately been talking a lot on alcohol use as a widespread theme in the Bible. It is widespread and I believe I have made the point thoroughly that the Bible condones it's use, and that we have no right to condemn it. This is binding where God has not and teaching for doctrine the commandments of men(Matt 15:9). Even still alcohol is a dangerous chemical that can cause a lot of heartache. I only think it fair to talk about this too, and I have already been criticized for not presenting the other side. I thought I had as far as the argument is concerned, but oh well. After this, I think there are other topics I would like to write about. 

The Bible also warns about the dangers of alcoholism, and condemns drunkenness. People were no where near as cautious about it back then as conservative Christians are today, but today there are many more addicts and dangers associated with booze. The earlier you drink, the more likely you are to become and alcoholic. 

The first negative thing we run into in the Bible about alcohol is in Proverbs 20:1. Proverbs also has a few more warnings against it, but this is the most commonly quoted. Wine is a mocker. There is a lot of study you can find on this verse, but put simply, too much wine can cause you to lose your senses and make a fool of yourself. An alcoholic can also rage and hurt his family. This is a huge problem in America, especially since now a drunk driver can kill an entire family without meaning to. Don't drink and drive folks. That is exactly what Proverbs 23:30-32 warns about. At the last, alcohol can bite like a serpent. Proverbs has a lot of good advice. Don't look to alcohol as your source of joy. Those who seek pleasure in it will not be rich. 

Let's skip forward to the New Testament as these are more well-known. 

In the New Testament, the first negative mention of wine is in Ephesians 5:18, again he admonishes against getting drunk. That phrase "wherein is excess" is often taken to mean wherein is riot. Getting drunk can lead to riot. This is just a good way to live. Don't get drunk or go to these drunken parties. Drunkenness can often lead to rebellion against God.

In first TIMOTHY 3:8 and Titus 2:3 we have the admonition to deacons and female leaders not to be given to much wine (no to NO wine, but to much). Wine impairs your reason and gets rid of inhibitions. A leader needs to be cautious, and calculated. Wine just keeps that from happening. Proverbs says it is not for Kings to drink wine. Again, if you are put in a position of authority and are a leader, you shouldn't let wine interfere with that. 

When it started this post, I actually expected to find more than I did on the dangers of alcohol. This isn't EVERYTHING that the scriptures have to say about it, but I covered just about everything in the New Testament and most of it in the Old. There just isn't a lot there because they didn't focus on that nor have the alcohol problems that we do today. Prohibition began the church's fight against alcohol. Before that, it was served as communion even in Churches of Christ. But prohibition is the beginning of our intolerance toward alcohol. I suppose I could do a separate blog post on that, but I am ready to move on from this topic. 

In summary, Alcohol is not condemned in the scriptures, drunkeness is, and you should not condemn alcohol. You should condemn drunkeness and be wary of riotous parties.