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As a diligent student of the Bible, you will want to make sure the Bible really says what this study says. Always remember to test all things with God's word - as the Bereans did. They "received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11). Read the study all the way through, without looking up the Scriptures. Then read the study again, this time looking up the Scriptures. Highlight or mark each verse you look up so you can easily find it later. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Our modern society calls alcoholism a disease. Logic demands that if alcoholism is a disease, so are smoking, eating disorders, and drug addiction. Let's consider that alcoholism is not a disease. Then what is it? Alcoholism is a
penalty. It is a just effect caused by abuse or misuse of a
privilege. Alcohol by itself does no harm to anyone. Guns by
themselves do no harm to anyone. Food by itself does no harm to
anyone. Salt, pepper, and spices in moderate amounts do no harm to
anyone. But what would be the Great amounts of pepper can kill a person. Too much food can kill a person. Guns can kill people, yet they also can do a lot of good. It becomes evident that we are the culprits. God has given us this world and all it contains to use and enjoy, not to abuse and destroy. Yet, we can't help but destroy because the word of God says we were born with an evil, destructive nature (Gen. 8:21; Eph. 2:3; Rom. 7:18-19). God's word says we are being held captive by Satan to do his will (2 Tim. 2:26). Our nature is out to destroy us, but we must master it (Gen. 4:7). Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil by performing the works of God daily in His life (1 John 3:8). This is a very easy thing to do (Matt. 11:30). Just overcome evil by doing good (Rom. 12:21). Resist Satan and he will flee from you (Rom. 16:19-20; James 4:7). Who is there to harm us if we prove zealous for good deeds (1 Peter 3:13)? Jesus Christ drank wine (Luke 22:18; 7:34). He made wine from water and in the future, He will serve wine at the wedding supper for the saints (John 2:6-10; Is. 25:6). There are many Scriptures that support the wise, moderate use of alcohol (Eccl. 9:7; 8:15; 2:24; 5:18; Prov. 20:1; Eph. 5:18). Yet, the New Testament warns us not to become drunk (Gal. 5:21; Rom. 13:13; 1 Thess. 5:7). The Bible teaches us we are to be controlled by God's Spirit, not alcohol (John 16:13; Rom. 8:14; 1 Tim. 3:3). Those who love God are told to practice moderation in all things (Prov. 11:1). So, if you are going to abuse alcohol, don't use it. If you have abused it and are receiving your just penalty, then don't use it anymore. There is much more to life than alcohol. (Feel free to give copies of this study to others who want to know God’s truth. You will be doing God’s Will when you show and tell others how to live this special Way.)
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