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Does the Bible really condone alcoholic drink ?
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Alcohol Does the Bible really condone alcoholic drink ? |
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![[A drawing of wine bottles and glasses should be here. Sorry if
it is missing.]](drink.gif)
A PLEA FROM THE HEART OF A CHRISTIAN NURSE
All night they come - 365 nights a year - ambulances and police cars, and out stagger (if they're lucky) the drunks, men gasping for breath, kids 'high' on drugs, seeing weird and terrifying scenes, battered wives and little ones, the overdoses, frantic relatives, lives ruined by rape and abortions, over-worked policemen, beautiful girls scarred for life because someone smashed a glass and crushed it into the nearest face. Road traffic-accident victims, young and old folks - bruised and bleeding after being mugged. Aids sufferers staring death in the face - a heart-breaking stream of suffering. Inside Casualty the nurses face violence, verbal aggression, mindless laughter and taunts, stupid answers to important questions.
Exhausted doctors see the 'regulars' yet again - and send them to a short-stay ward, smelling of alcohol, vomit and dirty clothes. Into bed they fall, to sleep off the effects of the night out to wake to another day - smoking, drinking, stealing, begging. The injured go to wards where the nurses will try to ease the pain - or to theatre where the repair work begins. Some go to the mortuary.
Brethren, do you think this is an exaggeration of how this permissive society suffers? In twenty years of night nursing at a city hospital I've seen thousands of patients - many dying horrible deaths from cirrhosis of the liver, lung cancer, drug abuse, Aids, V.D., assaults and many diseases. I don't think any words can describe the real thing - it is no exaggeration.
You may wonder why I'm writing this. I have been horrified, saddened and extremely worried to hear that some Christians are smoking and drinking in their own homes. Is it right to bring poison - which alcohol certainly is - (how often we see young men die after a 'celebration') within easy reach of our children and young members of the church and to give them the impression that it's harmless?
Would you ask a teenager to inject with heroin to see if he would become an addict? or suggest a glue sniffing session or an experiment with 'crack' because you might have a fantastic ' trip'? Of course you wouldn't!. Alcohol causes more misery than drugs, glue and all the other addictions put together.
Our families visit each other and maybe your child will be offered a drink. How tragic if he or she becomes an alcoholic. No one knows until the first drink or the first cigarette whether they will be able to control the craving. It only takes one drink to start a life-time's agony. Please teach your families from the earliest days, both by words and example, that cigarettes, alcohol and drugs, are dangerous and painful.
On Monday I came home to find my daughter Carole and my very close friend in tears. Why? Because on Saturday evening my friend's youngest son, a fine, handsome, strong, clever 26 year-old man had gone to his home, written two notes, then committed suicide. His shattered dad found him dead. Dead - because for ten dreadful years he was an aggressive lonely alcoholic - drinking fifteen pints of strong beer some nights. His wife had said that day that they couldn't live together any more. Their beautiful baby was going out of his life, and the future without them was unbearable.
Brethren, please don't be guilty of causing any little ones to stumble. Our loving heavenly Father has given us advice which will save us from the misery of abuse if we take it.
- Please read:-
- Prov. 20:1
- Prov. 23:20-21;
- Prov. 23:29-35
- Prov.26:9;
- Prov. 31:4-7
- Lev. 10:8-10.
Surely we are the people who should be trying to denounce the vicious teaching given in magazines, on television and in the newspapers, that bad things are good and that we are the losers by not trying them out. How clever the devil is !
We have the true vine - with the promise of love, joy and peace - harmony and happy family life and all the blessings we can think of. Let us enjoy and treasure these, and pray for the millions who suffer because they haven't been loved and taught that life can be full with Jesus, and care for those we know who need us so desperately. May our homes always be a safe haven and a place where hope can replace despair.
For Jesus' sake and in His love,
Copyright 1996 Gretchen Ashurst, Stretford, U.K..
ADDENDUMIn the Authorized Version of the Bible the word wine is translated from several Hebrew words in the Old Testament and two Greek words in the New Testament.
"WINE" IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
The words most frequently translated wine are Yayin and Tirosh.
Yayin is a generic term which can refer to either non-alcoholic or alcoholic grape juice. It is one of the words used where God's disapproval. is expressed.
Tirosh refers to fresh non-alcoholic grape juice. It is never used when expressing disapproval except in Hosea 4:11. Even there it is not referring to drunkenness ["whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart (understanding)" The phrase "take away the understanding" cannot mean "makes drunk" because whoredom does not inebriate].
It is evident that God disapproves the drinking of alcoholic wine in the Old Testament. The variant meanings of the several Hebrew words translated wine are lost in English translations.
"WINE" IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
The Greek word gleukos - meaning fresh sweet grape juice - is used once - sarcastically - in Acts 2:13.
The only other Greek word translated wine - oinos - is a generic term like tirosh, So it is wrong to assume that "wine" means alcoholic wine unless the context requires it.
THE CUP AT THE LORD'S SUPPER
The content of the cup is consistently refered to as "fruit of the vine" and never called "wine". It is wicked to offer alcohol to someone who has problems with alcoholism.
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