Alcohol and the Kingdom

Comments Posted on Nov 09, 2010 Posted by Cherry Davis

Today I had the pleasure of overhearing (no I wasn’t maccoing) some of my colleagues talk about their night out clubbing and the incident of one of them forgetting their shoes and walking home staggering. From what I had heard, she obviously had too much to drink. This was confirmed when she couldn’t remember how she got home, when they left the club or when they got into the car.

We cannot be ignorant to the fact that our society is becoming one which drowns its sorrows in alcohol and buries its head when problems arise in scotch, brandy, and the local pleaser rum. Our young people participate in social drinking and as the Christmas and carnival season quickly approaches we know that this would become all the more prevalent, coming to work stale-drunk or hung-over. The world is trying to fill a God sized void in alcohol and sadly this is creeping into the Kingdom.

I would be lying, if I said that I have never thought of taking a drink when problems seem larger than me and bigger that the God I believe in, but this thought is often short lived. I remind myself about the fact that I am breathing and the complexities of the human life that only God could create and know that I serve a Big God larger than any of my problems and desires.

With the countless parties every weekend and clubs with specials for every occasion and targeting many of our young people even attracting young Christians. It’s not uncommon for songs to be written about drowning sorrows in sex or alcohol but it’s rare that I would listen to such songs (I actually don’t listen to secular songs at all, unless I have no choice). The latest of such songs is Liquor Store Blues by Bruno Marz featuring Damian Marley, which speaks of finding pleasure in alcohol. With an infectious beat and simple words it’s quite easy to walk out of a taxi still singing the song. The entire song resonates the theme of forgetting sorrows when alcohol is consumed, but is that what really happens? Temporarily this may happen, but the consequences are they worth it?

I remember hearing my pastor preaching a message about the sons of Aaron the High Priest of Isreal, Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-10). These were two of the sons of Aaron who were also consecrated as priest to serve in the tent of meeting (church); they met their death after offering up a strange fire unto God and was consumed by it. In some verses after God spoke to Aaron telling him that neither he nor any of his sons were allowed to drink wine or any fermented drink (that means No alcohol!) God specifically told him “You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean.”

Some of you may say well this is the Old Testament and this doesn’t apply today, well I believe that God allowed the writers of the New testament to reiterate this, just for us Paul writes to the Ephesians warning not to get drunk, because it leads to debauchery (sin, wildness, wickedness), he also admonishes them that they should be wise and understand what is God’s will. Romans 13:13 (New Living Translation) Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Clearly God has something to say about alcoholism in His body, that he would lump it with promiscuity and other sins that we should not be engaging in.

I’ve heard many Christians say they indulge in alcohol socially, my response to that is 1 Peter 4:3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.

Apostle Peter I couldn’t have said it better myself. For those of you who don’t have a quite as colorful past as some who have partied and gotten drunk, Jesus cautioned us to be careful that we don’t become drunks and self indulgent that when he returns we are caught by surprised. My favorite is the excuse to drink is when we use Paul’s advice to Timothy that he should not only drink water but some wine for the stomach sake…umm please read the rest of the verse; it says to use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. Timothy was sick! (1 Timothy 5:23)

All in all, we Christians have the word of God to stand on, and the lyrics of this song that encourages us to drown our sorrows and cares of this world in alcohol is cannot stand when we examine the guidelines which God sets. If after all of this you are still torn and unsure about how you should consume alcohol remember this, 1 Corinthians 6:12 "Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything. I use this when I am unsure of what I should do in any situation, how is my action beneficial to the Kingdom of God? How would this action affect a young Christian or an unsaved friend? Would this honor God?

Liqour Store Blues Bruno Marz featuring Damian Marley

Standing at this liquor store,

Whisky coming through my pores, Feeling like I run this whole block.

Lotto tickets and cheap beer That's why you can catch me here, Tryna scratch my way up to the top.

(Hook)

Because my job got me going nowhere, so I ain't got a thing to lose.

Take me to a place where I don't care, this is me and my liquor store blues.

(Chorus)

I'll take one shot for my pain, One drag for my sorrow.

Get messed up today, I'll be ok tomorrow.

One shot for my pain, One drag for my sorrow. Get messed up today, I'll be ok tomorrow.

(Verse 2)

Me and my guitar tonight, singing to the city lights, tryna live on more than what I got.

Cause '68 Citrus ain't gonna pay the rent, so I'll be out here til they call the cops.

(Hook)

Because my job got me going nowhere, so I ain't got a thing to lose.

Take me to a place where I don't care, this is me and my liquor store blues.

(Chorus)

I'll take one shot for my pain, One drag for my sorrow.

Get messed up today, I'll be ok tomorrow.

One shot for my pain, One drag for my sorrow.

Get messed up today, I'll be ok tomorrow.

(Damian Marley)

Here comes junior gong

I'm flying like I'm Superman

I'm thinking that I run the whole block.

I don't know if it's just because

Pineapple kush between my jaws

Has got me feeling that I'm on top

Feeling like I woulda stand up to the cops

and stand up to the bigger head cuz de whole a dem a sops

All the talk dem ah talk and imply make no drop

Nuff ghetto yute can not escape the trap

(Chorus)

Give me this one shot for my pain, One drag for my sorrow. Get messed up today, I'll be ok tomorrow. One shot for my pain, One drag for my sorrow. Get messed up today, I'll be ok tomorrow.

Written by :

cherry davis

Comments

0 #6 Andrew Olton 2010-11-15 16:02

Hey great job Cherry, I enjoyed reading this. Looking forward to reading more from you.

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0 #5 cherry davis 2010-11-10 11:42

Thanks for the comments all Glory and Honor to Christ, my sanity. Andy I too struggled with drinking at a very young age and I am aware that Jesus made water into wine, but what kinda wine was it?

The wine that we know of today is the alcoholic fermented wine that causes many to become drunk, but in biblical days there were different types of wine that were more popular, especially at weddings. The wine which the bible speaks of in Jesus' time is know as Kosher wine.

I believe that we need to further examine the concept of social drinking? why drink socially? and how much is too much? and my biggest question to myself is why do a 'small' sin that can cause someone else to fall? to me Christianity isnt a selfish lifestyle.

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0 #4 cassius rochford 2010-11-09 04:00

good word andre!truth be told i struggle with arguing that theres no problem but when u said all things are lawful but not all things are expedient u got me!good word!

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0 #3 Andy Gray 2010-11-09 01:54

The Bible is clear its problem is with being Drunk not Alcohol!

Jesus said "John (The Baptist) neither ate nor drank, yet you said he had demons. I eat and drink and you call me a glutenous alcoholic."

Jesus could not of made that statement if he had not drunk alcohol!

I used to be drunk all the time at 15, Im in the UK and its against the law when I was nearly 16 I got serious and God changed my world. Then I stopped drinking alcohol as it was illegal. I honoured God and the law. Then when I made it to 18 I started to drink again socially and in moderation.

Jesus provided a lot of booze at the Wedding in Cana, the Bible says God can not tempt us to sin so if drinking alcohol was wrong. Then Jesus would of been tempting them to sin? Since Jesus is God He can not do that. There fore Drinking is ok... But NOT getting drunk... Getting Drunk is WRONG! As Christians we need to not be doing it!

This is by no means a exhaustive response just a few quick thoughts!

Mad love fam, love ur passion can see Christ in you!
And its good we dont listen to music that is going to pollute our minds!
I thank God for your life!

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