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| One of the most popular activities among young adults is getting drunk. If you visit a
college campus on Friday or Saturday night, you will find an assortment of drunks. The
weekend is party time, a time of drunkenness, illicit sex, drug use, excessive, unbridled
lust, lasciviousness, carousing and riotous living. Drinking parties are viewed by many
young adults with favor and delight. A typical example of Monday morning conversation
among American young people is as follows: “I got so drunk Friday night I blacked
out. You should have seen me Saturday night, I couldn’t even walk. I put down a
six-pack and three shots in a half an hour. I puked my guts out, but it was great.” |
| There is no question that getting drunk has risen in
popularity on college campuses. Most people frown upon drug use because it is illegal and
relatively new to our culture. Getting drunk on the other hand is more acceptable. Many
consider getting drunk, premarital sex and such to be a normal part of growing up. Many
young people smoke, get drunk and have illicit six because they equate such activities
with adulthood. Others think getting drunk is cool (e.g., sex, drugs and rock-and-roll).
The crucial thing that people have been ignoring is God’s attitude toward drunkards
and drunkenness. God has a lot to say about this issue in His word—the Bible.
“God’s holy will is infallibly and unchangeably revealed in the Bible.
Consequently, the Bible—and the Bible alone—must be the starting point
and supreme standard for defining truly Christian ethical behavior” (Kenneth L.
Gentry). |
Drunkenness Is a False Escape
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| Many people get drunk in order to escape reality. Some people get drunk for fun, while
others want to forget their problems. People who get drunk have rejected God’s
created human consciousness in favor of a chemically altered consciousness. God created
man straight and sober. It is foolish and sinful to damage our minds. It is an insult to
God to destroy our bodies. God does not want us to run from our problems. Getting drunk
does not solve problems. Jesus said that getting drunk deepens depression, it does not
eliminate it. “Be on guard, that your hearts may not be weighted down with
dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of live...” (Luke 21:34). |
Drunkenness Destroys the Family
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| Drinking to excess is destructive of the family and society. That is because
drunkenness leads to name calling, fighting and poverty. “Wine is a mocker, strong
drink a brawler , and whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1). How many
husbands and wives act civil until they are drunk? Drunkenness causes arguments and a
contentious spirit. “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions?...Those who
linger long over wine...” (Proverbs 23:29-30). How many men get drunk and beat their wives
and children? How many women get drunk and abuse and neglect their children? How many
families are poor because a parent is a drunkard and irresponsible? “Do not be with
heavy drinkers of wine, or with gluttonous eaters of meat. For the heavy drinker and the
glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags” (Proverbs
23:20-21). |
Drunkenness Leads to Debauchery
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| Drunkenness can lead to sexual immorality, anger, fighting and even murder. Men have
used alcohol for millennia to get women drunk in order to have their way with them
sexually. Drinking to excess breaks down one’s inhibitions. It clouds the conscience
and suppresses guilt. Lot’s daughters got their own father drunk so he would act
wickedly and commit incest. “Come, let us make our father drink wine, and let us lie
[i.e., have sexual intercourse] with him...” Genesis 19:32). Getting drunk and getting
naked have a long history. Around twenty centuries ago Jeremiah spoke against Edom and
said “...you will become drunk and make yourself naked” (Lamentations 4:21). In the
Roman Empire nearly two thousand years ago drunken parties and sexual immorality were very
popular. “...the Gentiles having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness,
carousals, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries” (1 Peter 4:3). Party goers in
Isaiah’s day even had musical groups for entertainment. Martinis and big band jazz,
and beer, pot and rock-and-roll are all variations on the same theme. “Woe to those
who rise early in the morning that they may pursue strong drink; or stay up late in the
evening that wine may inflame them! And their banquets are accompanied by the lyre and
harp, by tambourine and flute, and by wine; but they do not pay attention to the deeds of
the Lord nor do they consider the work of His hands” (Isaiah 5:11-12). The apostle Paul
says that getting drunk, sexual promiscuity and strife are “deeds of darkness”
(Romans 13:12). “Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and
drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy”
(Romans 13:13). The testimony of God’s word is clear. God hates drunkenness, drinking
parties and the sexual immorality and idolatry that accompanies them. “And do not
become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat
and drink, and rose up to play.’ Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them
did, and on one day twenty-three thousand fell [in god’s judgment]” (1 Corinthians
10:7-8). |
Drunkenness Is a Sin Not a Disease
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| Modern psychology has proclaimed “alcoholism” to be a sickness or disease.
The Bible says that getting drunk is a sin. “Let us behave properly as in the day, not
in carousing and drunkenness...” (Romans 13:13). Getting drunk is strictly forbidden by
the Scriptures. “Do not get drunk with wine, in which is dissipation”
(Ephesians 5:18). The apostle Paul says that getting drunk is an evil sin of the flesh.
“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are immorality,
impurity...drunkenness...” (Galatians 5:19, 21). God proclaims divine judgment upon
“alcoholics” or drunkards in Isaiah. “Woe to those who are heroes in
drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink” (Isaiah 5:22). If getting drunk
was a disease for which man could not help himself then God would not condemn drunkenness. |
| The modern idea that drunkards are not responsible for their
behaviour is wrong, sinful, dangerous and cruel. It is wrong because it contradicts the
clear teaching of Scripture. It is sinful because it is an excuse for evil sinful
behavior. It is dangerous because it destroys the concept of personal responsibility. It
is cruel because it takes away the hope that Jesus Christ offers to drunkards. If getting
drunk or being a drunkard is something that people cannot help because it is a disease
like catching the flu, then Christ’s death on the cross and granting of repentance
are of no consequence to the drunkard. |
| It may be the case that you come from a terrible family
situation. Perhaps your parents were alcoholics. Perhaps they abused you. Perhaps you were
even abandoned by your parents. No matter how bad your upbringing was, God will still hold
you accountable for your actions. God, on the day of judgment, will accept no excuses for
sinful behavior. You must admit your sins before God. You need to confess to God that your
behavior is sinful and wrong, and then trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation. “He
who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have
mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). |
Drunkards Will Go To Hell
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| God explicitly says that drunkards will not go to heaven. “Neither
thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards shall inherit the kingdom of God”
(1 Corinthians 6:10). If you think you are a Christian and are involved in the party scene, you
are mistaken. If you believe that you can get drunk any time you wish and that God will
look the other way, you are living in gross deception. God hates getting drunk so much
that He says that Christians should not associate with drunkards (cf. Proverbs 23:30). The
apostle Paul commanded Christians “...not to associate with any so-called
brother if he should be an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a
drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one” (1 Corinthians 5:11).
Drunkenness is a wicked sin of the flesh which bars entrance into God’s kingdom.
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lewdness...envy...drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I
tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such
things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19, 21). |
Conclusion
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| Now that you have an understanding of what God thinks of drunkenness, never again can
you “party on” without having a clear knowledge of the guilt and damnation you
are incurring for the coming day of judgment when Jesus Christ will cast unrepentant
fornicators (e.g., those who engage in pre-marital sex, adultery, pornography,
homosexuality, etc.) drug abusers, and people who get drunk, into hell. “The Lord
Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire taking
vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord,
and the glory of His power” (2Thessalonians 1:7-9). |
| God provided a way to escape the penalty and guilt that rests
upon those enslaved to sin. Your only hope of obtaining forgiveness of sins and eternal
life is to believe in Jesus Christ. “The Father loves the Son and has given all
things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not
believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John
3:35-36). |
| Why did Jesus Christ have to die a bloody death on the cross
to forgive sin? Couldn’t God the Father simply ignore or overlook our transgressions?
Couldn’t God just let our wicked behaviour slide? Absolutely not! Why? Because God is
infinitely holy and God has promised to punish sin with death (spiritual, physical and
eternal). |
| Almost anyone acknowledges that God is loving and merciful
but very few people understand the importance of God’s holiness. God is ethically
perfect. He is the very basis, and the only foundation for absolute, unchanging moral law.
God’s moral character is reflected and summarized in the Ten Commandments. God’s
holiness expressed to mankind is perfect justice or righteousness. God’s holiness is
the reason He hates sin with an infinite hatred. God’s holiness is emphasized in the
Bible more than any other divine attribute including love. Because God is infinitely holy
He cannot dwell with sinners. “You [O Lord] are of purer eyes than to behold evil,
and cannot look on iniquity” (Habakkuk 1:13). Thus God cannot just sweep sin under
the rug and forget it. God’s majestic holiness demands that all sin be punished. |
| Because sin is such an insult against God’s majestic
holiness it should be no surprise that sin merits spiritual and eternal death away from
God’s glorious presence. God has warned us repeatedly about the consequences of sin
and rebellion against Him. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4).
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Thus we have two serious needs that we ourselves can
never eliminate. First, the guilt of sin merits eternal death . We cannot pay this penalty
without dying and going to hell ourselves. Thus, a perfect substitute is needed if we are
to escape our just desserts. Secondly, we need a perfect righteousness toward God
before we can be restored to fellowship and friendship with Him and dwell in His presence.
But how can we who are sinful and unrighteous obtain perfect righteousness? Can we reach
the righteousness we need before God by doing good works and giving to charity? No,
because our “good deeds” do not erase or eliminate our past evil acts. And even
our best acts are intermingled with sins, impure thoughts and such. How much dung would
you find acceptable in your pot of stew? Now perhaps you understand my point? |
| There is only one way to eliminate the guilt and penalty we
deserve for our sins. And there is only one way that we can obtain the perfect holiness or
righteousness required to dwell in God’s presence. The only way is to have faith in
Jesus Christ. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:10). When we place our trust in Jesus Christ and believe
that He died a sacrificial death for us, His blood removes the guilt and penalty for our
sins. “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that , while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:8-9). Also, when a person believes in Jesus Christ
(as He is revealed in the Scriptures) Christ’s sinless, perfect life is imputed to
the believer. Therefore, when God looks upon the believing sinner He sees the
righteousness of Christ. Jesus has merited eternal life for the believer. Once a person is
justified before God he then is adopted into God’s own family. If you have placed
your trust in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation then contact one of the churches
mentioned on this Web site and join a solid Bible-believing church in your area. |
Used with permission, copyright © Brian Schwertley, Lansing MI, 1999
bschwertley@tds.net
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