Alcohol results when sugar reacts with yeast during fermentation. Though there are different kinds of alcohol, the kind in an alcoholic beverage is ethyl alcohol. It can produce a variety of feelings, alter moods, affect the physical body and become addicting.
Inhibitions are the first to be suppressed when alcohol is consumed, which results in talking more, becoming disorderly and acting foolishly. Time is the only way to rid the body of alcohol after it has been consumed—approximately one hour per ounce of alcohol. As little as one or two drinks can adversely affect a driver’s judgment and reaction time.
Drunkenness (and/or alcoholism) is a very serious problem in our society. The statistics associated with drinking alcohol are both alarming and disturbing, especially from a Christian point of view:
● In America alone there are 14,000,000 people who are alcoholics.
● Among 15 year olds, girls binge drink at a rate almost the same as that of the boys.
● 20% of the suicides are alcoholics.
● 50% of all traffic fatalities are related to alcohol abuse.
● 1/3 of all traffic accidents are related to alcohol abuse.
● 50% of all homicides in the USA are related to alcohol abuse.
● The average American consumes more beer than coffee or milk.
● Alcohol increases the risk of car accidents, drowning, violence and physical diseases.
● Any alcohol consumption during pregnancy is risky for the offspring.
● 40% of school students consumed alcohol before age 13.
● Over 3,000,000 teenagers in the 14-17 year age bracket in America are problem drinkers.
● 62% of high school seniors say they have been drunk.
● 44% of all college students binge drink, that is, drink to get drunk.
● School students consume more alcohol than smoke cigarettes.
● Single car fatal accidents are 3 times higher at night among 15-20 year olds than other fatal crashes.
● Non-Hispanic whites aged 15-20 binge drink more than other racial groups.
● Males are nearly three times more likely to be problem drinkers than females.
● People with drinking problems have a higher rate of divorce.
The physical dangers of alcohol consumption include:
● Liver damage especially, but also brain, heart, bone marrow and gastrointestinal tract. Such can lead to cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, cirrhosis, nerve problems, etc. When the liver is affected nutrition is also adversely impacted which will hurt the entire body.
● Becoming overweight. One glass of wine daily can add 10 pounds a year to your weight.
The Greatest Danger
It is apparent that a wide variety of temporal problems stem from drinking alcohol, as just shown. The above cited dangers and sufferings for the drunk, however, are inconsequential and almost not even worth mentioning compared to the greatest danger in the entire universe—that of being thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, which is forever.
There are only two possible eternal destinies. If one doesn’t inherit the kingdom of God he will be thrown into the lake of fire, and drunkenness can prevent one from inheriting the kingdom of God:
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21).
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexuals nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Cor. 6:9-11).
According to the above passage, “once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic” is not true. It says that is what they were (past tense), but now they were different having been washed, sanctified and justified in the name of Lord Jesus and by the Holy Spirit. Drunkards don’t need rehabilitation to get freed from alcohol addiction. They need salvation, which will immediately set them free from sin’s slavery and change their spiritual identity. Furthermore, there is no such thing as a Christian alcoholic since drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Jesus similarly taught about drunkenness:
But suppose the servant says to himself, “My master is taking a long time in coming,” and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers (Luke 12:45, 46).
This last passage, among many others, refutes the teaching of eternal security for it is written about those who had been saved in the past.
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