Is Alcohol for Christians?

Alcoholic abuse has become a cancer that has been eating into the vitals of the modern society. Today, however, we have transformed alcohol into a symbol of status and nobility. Alcohol makes people brutes and an alcoholic makes the family a hell.

Alcoholics do not consider drinking as a sin. Many people think like this – Everything in this world has been created for the enjoyment of man. But God has never allowed His children to indulge in the lusts of people. India has now turned into a den of toddy shops, bars and outlets selling alcoholic beverages. Against this, God gives us timely warning: “Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. At last it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder” (Pro 23:31).

Inspite of knowing that alcoholism would cause havoc on our home, society, wealth and even on self respect, we plunge ourselves into ruin very much like a butterfly trying to befriend flames. What a deplorable state of affairs!

We spend more money on alcohol than on food. Most of the road accidents are the results of drunken driving. If we look into the cases of divorce in India, we find the main reason for divorce is alcohol abuse. People with liver and heart diseases are also on the increase in India. Assaults on women and sexual perversions are also on the rise here.

Some people justify themselves by asking what is wrong in taking an occasional drink. They will say that they do that just to get some relief after carrying out all their responsibilities. Such pretext of drinking is not good for a good Christian. God wants us to live a life that is appropriate for the day, abandoning our love of luxury and desire for drinks.

Alcoholism destroys our health and sanctity of our body. What is displayed on the bottle labels and on the boards of shops selling alcohol? Isn’t it “Drinking alcohol is injurious to health?” We should realize our mistakes and give up drinking.

God asks us, “Don’t you know that you are the temple of God and the Holy spirit dwells in you? “If anyone destroys God’s temple ,God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy and you are that temple” (1 Cor 3:17).

Our bodies are temples of God. When we spoil our bodies with alcohol, we are actually pouring dirty water into the temple of God. Any act that destroys the nobility and purity of our body is a sin. We should have this knowledge and conviction.

( by Surjith Jacob taken from turnbacktogod.com)