Lord’s Day, Vol. 5 No. 32

Wine Is a Mocker

Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

“Total Abstinence” is a distinctive of the Bible-Presbyterian Church at its formation in 1937, predominantly through the efforts of such conservative Presbyterian clergymen as Carl McIntire, J. Oliver Buswell and Allen A. MacRae. The First General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church was held in 1938 in Collingswood, NJ.

Two main issues made the existence of these factions within the Orthodox Presbyterian Church evident. The first had to do with a classic Reformed piety over against a piety of fundamentalism. It came down to a conflict of the use of alcoholic beverages.

The “Orthodox” side condemned drunkenness, but nevertheless, did not agree that Scripture taught total abstinence from alcoholic beverages. The “Bible” side asserted that Christians ought to abstain totally from alcohol.

The wretched victims of strong or intoxicating drink have been mocked and grievously deceived. Be not deceived is the warning! Not only does strong drink overcome the victims before they are aware of it, but it promises pleasure which it can never give.

The raging power of strong drink causes unruly behaviour, degrades man below the level of beast because the government of reason is surrendered to lust, appetite or passion.

It is also destructive – raging means to be boisterous, turbulent, as the roaring of the sea (Jeremiah 5:22, Zechariah 9:15).

Strong drink excites its victims to the worst passions – quarrels, brawls, murders (Hosea 4:11, 7:5; Galatians 5:21). It makes shipwreck of chastity, conscience, reputations, homes and friendships. It is also delusive.

Strong drink is deceptive in that it led us astray and to wander from the path of instruction.

The Bible regards drunkenness as sin.

Habakkuk 2:15-16 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness! Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD’S right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.

The Bible condemns drunkenness (Isaiah 5:22-23), warns of it (Luke 21:34-36), and admonishes watchfulness against it (1 Corinthians 9:27, 10:12, Ephesians 5:18).

Social Drinking

The term social drinking suggests that the consumption of alcohol in respectable surroundings is in some way different from drinking in other environments.

There was a time when it would have been unthinkable that we had to speak out against social drinking among Christians.

The fact that such a problem has grown to the currently distressing proportions shows what a powerful and insidious influence the present age exerts on the Church of Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul deals with the responsibility of the stronger brother toward the weaker brother in Romans 14.

Romans 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

It takes a stronger act of the will to abstain from the consumption of alcohol than to participate in this social practice of the world.

Words of Admonition

Drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Alcohol destroys the body. Even in small amounts, it begins its subtle work of destruction, taking its toll on the victims’ mental and physical reactions.

God knew this fact very well when He gave instructions that priests and kings (spiritual and secular leaders) should refrain from any use of alcoholic beverages.

While we do not drink, we should not give it to others as well (Habakkuk 2:15). May the Lord grant us the discernment to choose wisely for Him.

Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee