Saturday, January 31, 2009

Sipping “Christians”

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

Lately, I have been hearing more and more about "Christians" partaking in "adult beverages" as they have been referred to lately. Not every one who names the name of Christ is one of his, that's for certain but for a Christian to be partaking of wine and other strong drinks is wrong and I truly question their relationship with Christ. I know, there is that old argument that Jesus and his disciples drank wine and that he even made water into wine which was his first miracle but it was also commented by the governor of the feast, "And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now." John 2:10 That's because it was the new wine which was hardly fermented. Paul said the following in Ephesians 5:18, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit". Wine was the principle beverage then and even children drank it but that was because it was not as potent as now. But, I'm not an expert on that so I suppose one could argue on the technical aspects of wine.

There is also another problem with wine, whiskey, and other strong beverages" they are the appearance of evil. While the church seems to be slipping ever so much more into decay, the average sinner on the street will still tell you that it is really wrong to partake of a beverage of this type. While they still do it, they know it is really not pleasing to God. They look to the church as a light but, once again, the light in general is getting dimmer. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says, "Abstain from all appearance of evil." Only a backslidden or carnal Christian by name only will really defend this.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. Proverbs 31:4-7

It was advised for kings not to drink strong drink, so much the more for Christians who are to be filled with the spirit. Another reason is that the traditional church, that is the Bible believing church, has never embraced social drinking until the past few years when Hollywood stars suddenly became Christians and yet never came out of that filth they were in. It's time we get back to the Bible and the things that bring the church forward instead of constantly making excuses for the things we now allow. Christ will not take part with the devil and we can't be part Christ's and part Satan's. "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit." Matthew 12:33 May we that are truly Christians strive to bring forth good fruits. May the Lord bless you as you follow Him.