Moral Issues 2

1
First Tuesday Class
Todays study topic The Bible The Use Of
Intoxicants
2
Use of Intoxicants Pervades Our Society
3
Core Survey of American Campuses
4
Association of Drug with Cigarette Alcohol Use
by Youths Aged 12 to 17 2002
5
Use of Alcohol by Age - 2002
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Frequent Use of Alcohol in Youth
Current - At least 1 drink in past 30 days
(includes binge and heavy use) Binge - 5 drinks
on same occasion in past 30 days (includes heavy
use) Heavy - 5 drinks on same occasion at least
5 days in the past 30 days

• Current Users
• 2.0 at age 12
• 6.5 at age 13
• 13.4 at age 14
• 19.9 at age 15
• 29.0 at age 16
• 36.2 at age 17
• Reached peak of 70.9 for age 21

• Binge Drinkers
• 0.8 at age 12
• 2.8 at age 13
• 7.0 at age 14
• 11.6 at age 15
• 17.9 at age 16
• 25.0 at age 17
• Reached peak of 50.2 for age 21

7
Modern Setting for Issue

• 1991 University of Michigan study found
• 94.1 of those 19-28 use alcohol
• 54 of 8th graders use alcohol
• 72.3 of 10th graders use alcohol
• 77.7 of 12th graders use alcohol
• 1989 statistics showed consumption of alcoholic
  drinks at 39 gallons for each U.S. adult
• 3.25 gallons a month per adult
• 56 billion was total cost for alcoholic drinks
• Twice amount paid for home furnishings
• Whatever the right figure, we have a problem!

8
Has Our Culture Influenced Our Brethren?
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Examples from Brethren

• Following quotes are from brethren on a
  discussion list called Markslist (Now called
  Marslist)
• There exists no restrictions against alcohol in
  the entire NT save that of drunkenness.
• Many fear sooooooo much accidently crossing some
  line God has drawn, that they will draw the lines
  where God has not. I am opposed to sin, but
  drinking alcohol is not a sin.
• Wine in the NT times was most likely 8-12 and
  maybe even Mad-Dog 20-20 style.
• Jesus clearly did drink wine with enough alcohol
  to get drunk. I don't necessarily believe He got
  drunk. But could have if He kept drinking.

10
More Quotes from Brethren

• I doubt that that God would condemn to the fires
  of hell a person who, on drinking a single glass
  of wine, got drunk, and then realizing that they
  had such a physiological condition, never did it
  again. Markslist (Posted 5/17/95, at 61816am)
• Drunkenness and gluttony are sins of a kind. They
  both reflect taking to excess that which is
  permissible in moderation. Markslist (Posted
  5/18/95, at 75435pm)
• Remember that one of the qualifications for a
  deacon is "not given to much wine." A necessary
  inference of this phrase is that he can drink
  some wine. Markslist (Posted 9/6/94, at 52141pm)

11
(No Transcript)
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Some In Denominations Note Bible Condemnation Of
Using Intoxicants
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What Is Moderate Use?

• Increasing number try to justify a moderate
  non-medicinal use of modern intoxicating
  beverages
• Does Bible approve such? (If so, what passage?)
• How do we understand passages warning against it?
• If only drunkenness is wrong, define drunk
• Some say may get a buzz, but not drunk
• In essence, this gives message identical to
  liquor industry
• Can we mirror the call of the world yet claim
  to have higher moral standards than the world?
• Must look closer at Bible teaching

14
What Is A Drink Of Alcohol?
Standard drink generally considered to be 12 oz.
beer, 5 oz. wine, or 1.5 oz. of 80-proof
distilled spirits. Each contains roughly the
same amount of absolute alcohol -- approximately
0.5 ounce or 12 grams.
15
Old Testament Teaching On WINE
Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it
sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around
smoothly at the last it bites like a serpent and
stings like a viper (Prov. 2331-32).
16
O.T. Condemns Use of Intoxicants

• Prov. 201 Folly danger of use
• Prov. 2329-35 Warning of its effect
• Prov. 314-7 General rule - dont drink
• exceptional case of medicinal need noted
• exception is not rule by which we reinterpret
• Isa. 511, 22 Woe upon user
• Hosea 411 Wine harlotry enslave
• Lev. 109-10 Violates holiness of priest
• that you may distinguish between holy unholy,
  and between unclean clean
• N.T. parallels priests Christians in holiness

17
O.T. Words for Wine

• TIROSH (used 38 times)
• Refers to what we call grape juice
• Isa. 658 Joel 224 Hos. 92 Prov. 310
• Generally approved for consumption
• SHEKAR (used 22 times)
• Denoted usually translated strong drink
• Alcohol raised by more sugar or non-grape
• Generally condemned for consumption
• Modern alcoholic beverages fall in this group
• YAYIN (used 135 times)
• Generally used of wine with some alcohol
• About half of references clearly forbid use
• Approved for non-consumptive uses
• Jews of later period noted 3 distinct kinds

18
Encyclopedia Judaica, vol. 16, p. 538
Wine was a popular beverage in talmudic times
the newly pressed wine, prior to fermentation,
was known as yayin mi-gat (wine from the vat
Sanh. 70a) yayin yashan (old wine) was wine
from the previous year, and that from earlier
vintages, yashan noshan (old, very old). The
last was usually diluted by one-third with water
in order to reduce its potency. See Isa. 1610
Jer. 4833 as O.T. parallels of yayin mi-gat
above
19
The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, p 529
There were three kinds of wine, called yayin,
tirosh and shechar. Yayin was ordinary, matured
wine, and was usually drunk diluted with water.
Tirosh was new wine, and Shechar was old, strong
wine used undiluted.
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New Testament Teaching On Intoxicants
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Condemns Drunkenness Intoxicants

• Gal. 521 Drunkenness is work of the flesh
• 1 Cor. 610 Drunkards not inherit kingdom
• Rom. 1312f Intoxication is work of darkness
• 1 Pet. 41-4 Included in desires of the Gentiles
• Later in this lesson, will examine distinct
  meaning of three words used in verse 3
• Eph. 518 Condemn wine, wherein is riot
• Riot or excess said to be in the wine, not in
  the one drinking or the act of drunkenness
• Was there any other kind of wine in N.T. time?

22
Wine (oinos) in N.T.

• Greek word for wine was oinos
• Word could refer to juice freshly squeezed from
  grape or fermented wine in origin
• Whatever the origin, mixture of water above was
  called wine (oinos)
• Plutarch (Symposiacs III, ix) We call a mixture
  wine (oinos) although the larger component
  parts is water.
• Everett Ferguson (Encyclopedia of Early
  Christianity, p. 939) The ordinary table
  beverage of Mediterranean world was a mixture of
  wine and water.
• Thus, modern wine is not same as N.T. wine

23
Robert H. Stein, Wine-Drinking in New Testament
Times, Christianity Today, (June 20, 1975), pp.
9-10
It is evident that wine was seen in ancient times
as a medicine (and as a solvent for medicine) and
of course as a beverage. Yet as a beverage it was
always thought of as a mixed drink. Plutarch
(Symposiacs III, ix), for instance states, We
call a mixture wine, although the larger of the
component parts is water. The ratio of water
might vary, but only barbarians drank it unmixed,
and a mixture of wine and water of equal parts
was seen as strong drink and frowned upon. The
term wine or oinos in the ancient world, then,
did not mean wine as we understand it today but
wine mixed with water. Usually a writer simply
referred to the mixture of water and wine as
wine. To indicate that the beverage was not a
mixture of water and wine he would say unmixed
(akratesteron) wine.
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Ratios of Water to Wine

• Homer (Odyssey IX, 208f.) 20 to 1
• Pliny (Nat. Hist. XIV, vi, 54) 8 to 1
• Athenaeus (Learned Banquet) 3 to 1
• Alexis (The Nurse) 4 to 1
• Hesiod 3 to 1
• Ion (On Chios) 3 to 1
• Talmud (Shabbath 77a) 3 to 1
• Nichochares 5 to 2
• Clement (Instructor II, ii) It is best for the
  wine to be mixed with as much water as possible.

25
Best Case for Moderate Drinking

• Wine from grapes of Bible land would only yield
  about 6 alcohol at maximum
• That fermented wine was then cut
• Ignores fact that wine could be kept without
  fermentation
• Assume wine reached full 6 alcohol content to
  start
• Normal cut was 3-6 water to 1 wine, but will
  assume 3/1
• Yields drink of 1.5 alcohol by volume
• Typical beer is 8
• Modern wine is 12-18
• Distilled spirits liquor around 40 on average
• 22 glasses of N.T. wine vs. 2 modern drinks to
  intoxicate
• If 6 cut 4/1, must drink 2.5 - 3 gallons an hour
• Most liberal case for N.T. time far from modern
  use!

26
1 Peter 41-4 1Forasmuch then as Christ suffered
in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the
same mind for he that hath suffered in the flesh
hath ceased from sin 2that ye no longer should
live the rest of your time in flesh to the lusts
of men, but to the will of God. 3For the time
past may suffice to have wrought the desire of
the Gentiles, and to have walked in
lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings,
carousings, and abominable idolatries 4wherein
they think strange that ye run not with them into
the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you.
(ASV)
1Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in
the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same
mind for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath
ceased from sin 2That he no longer should live
the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of
men, but to the will of God. 3For the time past
of our life may suffice us to have wrought the
will of the Gentiles, when we walked in
lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine,
revellings, banquetings, and abominable
idolatries 4Wherein they think it strange that
ye run not with them to the same excess of riot,
speaking evil of you. KJV
27
Words Used in 1 Peter 43

• Two ways of life are addressed
• life of one with the mind of Christ
• life of the flesh lived to lust of men
• List of sins includes those dealing with
  decreasing effects of alcohol
• Winebibbings or excess of wine (oinophlugia)
• Revellings (komos)
• Carousings or banquetings (potos)

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Winebibbings (oinophlugia)

• Also translated drunkenness
• Trench marks a step in advance of methe
• More dissipated state of alcohols effect
  described in Gal. 521 and Rom. 1313
• One in oinophlugia has lost all control
• Word used by Aristotle for state that harms body
  permanently (Eth. Nic. iii. 5. 15)
• Arrian used word to denote drunken debauch
  causing death of Alexander the Great (vii. 24,
  25).
• Summary drunk prone to passing out

29
Revellings (komos)

• Arndt Gingrich originally a festal procession
  in honor of Dionysus, then a joyous meal of
  banquet, in the NT... only in the bad sense
  excessive feasting (461).
• Thayer a nocturnal and riotous procession of
  half-drunken and frolicsome fellows who after
  supper parade through the streets with torches
  and music in honor of Bacchus or some other
  deity, and sing and play before houses of their
  male and female friends hence used generally, of
  feasts and drinking-parties that are protracted
  till late at night and indulge in revelry (367).
• Summary those partying at Mardi Gras or bar scene

30
Carousings (potos)

• R.C. Trench (Syn. of the N.T.) "not of necessity
  excessive, but giving opportunity for excess"
  (225)
• Kistemaker (in Commentary on 1 Pet.) noted the
  same point (160)
• Primary definition by lexicographers for this
  word is simply "a drinking
• Other forms of word illustrate point
• poterion - cup
• potidzo - I drink
• In context, a drinking of intoxicants not to
  excess
• Summary modern moderate drinker
• Necessarily implies moderate drinking is sinful

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Where Is Case To Justify Moderate Drinking?

• Condemnation of wine wherein is excess excludes
  drinking of modern intoxicants
• 1 Peter 4 leaves no room for such
• Condemned to be drunk to loss of control
• Condemned to drink for buzz or partying drinker
  (has a drink to get happy)
• Condemned to drink to level of lesser effect than
  above - a drinking of intoxicants
• What level of use would that condemn?
• Where is the passage authorizing a moderate use
  of intoxicants?

32
Efforts to Justify Practice

• 1 Tim. 523 For thy stomachs sake
• Shows only that medicinal use is authorized
• Does not authorize any recreational or social use
• John 21-11 Water turned to wine
• Word wine is not equivalent to modern
  intoxicant
• Amount made was 106-160 gallons
• If intoxicating, Jesus provided for total
  drunkenness
• Jesus power made it best of most highly valued
  type
• Luke 733-34 Jesus called winebibber
• No truth necessarily present in charge made by
  critics
• Contrast of context with John the Baptist being
  Nazarite
• 1 Tim. 33 vs. 1 Tim. 38 or Titus 23
• All deal with what one is not to do no positive
  authority
• Dont get high on dope -- Authorize using a
  little?

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Alcohol has many defenders, but no defense! ---
Abraham Lincoln ---
34
REMEMBER A Christian Has Higher Call as Example

• 1 Thess. 521-22 Prove all things hold fast to
  good
• Col. 317 Do all in name by authority of the
  Lord
• 1 Cor. 1031 Must do all to the glory of God
• 1 Pet. 211-15 Work to glorify God silence
  evil
• Lk. 171-2 Not to be a stumbling-block to others
• 1 Cor. 1032 Not to cause offense, but bring
  profit
• 1 Pet. 315-17 Live beyond reproach shame evil
• Matt. 513-16 Let light shine so good works seen
• Eph. 511 No fellowship, but rather reprove them

35
2 Corinthians 614 - 71 Be not unequally yoked
with unbelievers for what fellowship have
righteousness and iniquity? or what communion
hath light with darkness? And what concord hath
Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a
believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement
hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a
temple of the living God even as God said, I
will dwell in them, and walk in them and I will
be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean
thing And I will receive you, And will be to you
a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having
therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all defilement of flesh and
spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
36
2 Corinthians 614 - 71 Be not unequally yoked
with unbelievers for what fellowship have
righteousness and iniquity? or what communion
hath light with darkness? And what concord hath
Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a
believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement
hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a
temple of the living God even as God said, I
will dwell in them, and walk in them and I will
be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean
thing And I will receive you, And will be to you
a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having
therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all defilement of flesh and
spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
37
2 Corinthians 614 - 71 Be not unequally yoked
with unbelievers for what fellowship have
righteousness and iniquity? or what communion
hath light with darkness? And what concord hath
Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a
believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement
hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a
temple of the living God even as God said, I
will dwell in them, and walk in them and I will
be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean
thing And I will receive you, And will be to you
a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having
therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all defilement of flesh and
spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
38
2 Corinthians 614 - 71 Be not unequally yoked
with unbelievers for what fellowship have
righteousness and iniquity? or what communion
hath light with darkness? And what concord hath
Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a
believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement
hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a
temple of the living God even as God said, I
will dwell in them, and walk in them and I will
be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean
thing And I will receive you, And will be to you
a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having
therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all defilement of flesh and
spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
39
2 Corinthians 614 - 71 Be not unequally yoked
with unbelievers for what fellowship have
righteousness and iniquity? or what communion
hath light with darkness? And what concord hath
Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a
believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement
hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a
temple of the living God even as God said, I
will dwell in them, and walk in them and I will
be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean
thing And I will receive you, And will be to you
a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having
therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all defilement of flesh and
spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
40
2 Corinthians 614 - 71 Be not unequally yoked
with unbelievers for what fellowship have
righteousness and iniquity? or what communion
hath light with darkness? And what concord hath
Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a
believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement
hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a
temple of the living God even as God said, I
will dwell in them, and walk in them and I will
be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean
thing And I will receive you, And will be to you
a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having
therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all defilement of flesh and
spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
41
2 Corinthians 614 - 71 Be not unequally yoked
with unbelievers for what fellowship have
righteousness and iniquity? or what communion
hath light with darkness? And what concord hath
Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a
believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement
hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a
temple of the living God even as God said, I
will dwell in them, and walk in them and I will
be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean
thing And I will receive you, And will be to you
a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having
therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all defilement of flesh and
spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
42
2 Corinthians 614 - 71 Be not unequally yoked
with unbelievers for what fellowship have
righteousness and iniquity? or what communion
hath light with darkness? And what concord hath
Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a
believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement
hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a
temple of the living God even as God said, I
will dwell in them, and walk in them and I will
be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean
thing And I will receive you, And will be to you
a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having
therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all defilement of flesh and
spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
43
2 Corinthians 614 - 71 Be not unequally yoked
with unbelievers for what fellowship have
righteousness and iniquity? or what communion
hath light with darkness? And what concord hath
Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a
believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement
hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a
temple of the living God even as God said, I
will dwell in them, and walk in them and I will
be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean
thing And I will receive you, And will be to you
a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having
therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all defilement of flesh and
spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
44
2 Corinthians 614 - 71 Be not unequally yoked
with unbelievers for what fellowship have
righteousness and iniquity? or what communion
hath light with darkness? And what concord hath
Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a
believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement
hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a
temple of the living God even as God said, I
will dwell in them, and walk in them and I will
be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean
thing And I will receive you, And will be to you
a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having
therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all defilement of flesh and
spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
45
What Can We Prove Right?

• Can we justify the use of alcohol to point of
  getting a buzz or chill out?
• Can we justify one drink of 80 proof distilled
  spirits in the bar? At home? Elsewhere?
• Can we find a Bible passage that says drinking a
  glass of modern wine (12-18 alcohol) is good?
• Does it make a difference whether that wine is at
  home, a party or a bar?
• What passage would allow us to drink a beer (8
  alcohol) to unwind?
• What practice can we prove right, good holy?