(Part Seven)

As Christ begins His ministry in John 2, we see the first miracle recorded as He attended a wedding feast in Cana. This particular passage is often used to proclaim that, not only does Christ approve of alcoholic beverages, but encouraged the drinking of such during the Jewish wedding feast.

Let’s take a close look at the passage to see what is said: On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples.When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."And Jesus said to her,"Woman,what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come."His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast." So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now." (Jno. 2:1-10, ESV)

On first reading, many point out that the word oinos (Gk.) is used here. That is alcoholic wine! But, do you remember our discussion of words for wine? Oinos is a generic word for juice, and can mean either fruit juice (non-alcoholic) or fermented juice (alcoholic). So, how do we know which is which? Remember? We have to, then, look at the context. Examine what is taking place, where it is taking place, who is involved, and the social, moral, and religious rules that might apply, here.

First, let’s look at the occasion. Christ and his disciples attended a wedding feast, celebrating the marriage of two individuals. It was a joyous occasion, to be sure. The material used to create the oinos was water – the same water that comes from the sky and is absorbed by plants on the earth. The individual involved in changing the water into wine is Jesus Christ, who created all things, including fixing laws that enable the plants to draw in water and convert it into pleasant tasting fruit juice.

Look at the passage, again. The wine that was initially brought by the family was gone, and Mary told Him there was no more wine. He asked the servants to fill six water pots (about a hundred and twenty gallons) with water and hand it to the master of the feast. When he drank it, he pronounced it good wine.

One has to ask the question, “Is is against the character and teachings of Christ to create intoxicating wine, a hundred and twenty+ gallons of it, from water, and give it to guests who had already drunk a considerable amount, already?” Would Christ, who knew, perfectly, the Law of Moses and the writings of Old Testament writers, who wrote about the effects of alcoholic wine (“a mocker,” “a biting serpent,” “stinging like an adder,” etc.) lead the guests into temptation?

Christ, the Creator, would perform other miracles with food. In Matt. 15:34, He fed four thousand people. In Mark 6:38, again, he took the available food, bread and fish, and fed five thousand. At both of these occasions, the miracle had not only produced enough for everyone to be filled, but seven and twelve baskets of “leftovers” were taken up, afterward.

In both of the occasions of miraculous feedings, Christ had instantly produced food that would, by the laws He instilled in creation, have taken months to produce through catching fish and growing wheat. So, here, in Cana, Christ has produced, instantly, what would have taken months through natural laws.

Psalms 104:13-15 ascribes the wonderful creation of nature and its laws to God, the Provider, and Christ, the Creator: “From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.”

St. Augustine (354 A.D.) wrote, explaining the miracle, “He on that day made wine in six jars which he ordered to be filled with water – He who makes it every year on the vines. What the servants had poured into the water jars was turned into wine by the power of the Lord, so, also, that which the clouds pour forth is turned into wine (unfermented fruit juice) by the power of the selfsame Lord. But we cease to wonder at what is one every year; its very frequency makes astonishment to fail.” (A Bible Commentary, p. 305)

Again, we have to separate ourselves from the day and age we live in to understand the context. Today, distillers try and try to increase the potency of drinks, each year. Proofs, or alcoholic content now stand at 150 proof in some drinks. Modern distillation, as we have already studied, is quite different than that of ancients. While modern man looks at drinking and drunkenness as a way to “get away from it all, or chilling out, or settling one’s nerves,” the ancients looked upon it as shame, something to be done in the night, outside the view of others.

Remember the words of rabbis and writers of the time, who said that alcoholic wines were NOT part of such an occasion as the wedding feast? Remember the writings of various writers of the time who said that “sweet wines,” and the preserved juice of the grape, without being allowed to ferment were the best?

Remember the natural aspects of fermentation to achieve alcoholic beverages? Such a process occurs nowhere in nature. When grapes, or other fruits, are left on the vine, or limb, nature causes them to rot, not ferment. Alcoholic beverages are not a gift from God through His laws.

Remember Noah, who found out, early, the consequences of alcoholic beverages? “Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent.” (Gen. 9:20) Now, did Noah go out and squeeze juice from the grape and immediately get drunk? Understanding that juice must go through a precise process involving sugar, yeast, and temperature, we have to say that he took the juice and fermented it to a point that he became drunk.

Look at the far-reaching consequences of his drinking. “And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, he said, "Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers." (Gen. 9:21-25)

What consequences would Jesus have unleashed on a people, during the wedding feast, by encouraging them to continue drinking alcoholic wine – adultery, lasciviousness, anger, violence, fornication? Did not Christ know how many times alcohol and its effects had led people away from the law and salvation?

One other note to add – when the master of the feast, who also had been drinking of the earlier wine, tasted it, he said to the bridegroom: “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”

Understanding the medical and biological aspects of alcohol, how could he have noticed the difference in taste? Alcohol numbs the taste buds. After a few drinks the ability to distinguish between a good wine and a bad wine becomes almost impossible. Bartenders begin watering down drinks, or serving cheaper alcohol, after a client has had a few, because he/she does not notice a difference after a while.

These guests were able to taste that this juice was marvelous. It was prepared by the hand of the creator, not for their intoxication, but for their joy and refreshment, or as David put it, previously, “to gladden their hearts.”

As we continue our study, we will look at the advice Paul gave to Timothy, “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thystomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.” (I Tim. 5:23) We will also look at wine as a stumblingblock.

As always, I encourage you to search the scriptures and prove what I have written. Let us study, together, to learn the truth about what God would have us do, in order to inherit eternal life. Please, ask questions, make comments, and pray that our study together will increase our faith and enable us to take what we know to those who still search for truth. His Will be done.

Jesus Himself did not depend on simply the testimony of men concerning His teachings and His character.  He said, ”33) You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34) Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35) He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36) But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.“ (John 5:33-36).  Christ recognized that while there was good testimony given by men such as John, the testimony that was of the most importance would come by the Father. 

The Purpose of Signs 

During His ministry, Jesus at many times would perform miraclesIn John 5:36 which is referenced above, Christ said that His signs bore witness of the fact that He was the Son of God.  Likewise, in John 20: 30-31, John tells us that the different signs that we read about in the Gospel accounts are given to us for the purpose of building our faith on the foundation that Jesus Christ IS the Son of God.  The Gospel of John seems to have been written primarily for the purpose of providing enough evidence to prove that Jesus Christ was indeed God’s son and that He was the Messiah.  John does this in many ways, but specifically by talking about the signs that Jesus did during His ministry here on the earth, or at least those recorded. 

To sum up the questions concerning the purpose of the miracles and other signs that Jesus performed on the earth, it will suffice to say that these signs were performed and recorded so that we can know that Jesus is the Son of God and that He has the power to save us from our sins if we are obedient to Him (John 20:30-31; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). 

The Seven Miracles Recorded By John 

I feel that it is extremely important when studying the reality of Christ’s deity that we consider those signs that Christ did on the earth for the purposes listed above. 

The first one I’d like to take a look at is the instance where Jesus turns water into wine in John 2:1-11.  According to verse 1 of the text, this miracle happened in Cana of Galilee and we see those mentioned as being at a wedding where the wine had run out.  Mary, the mother of Jesus, asked Him to help.  Jesus then took six stone water jars that were full of nothing but water and miraculously changed the water into wine.  This was something done contrary to nature, and naturally as we see in verse 11, many started to believe in Him as a result of this sign. 

Another record I would like to consider is Jesus’ ability to heal the son of an official which is recorded in John 4:46-54.  This scene was also in Cana of Galilee.  There was a father who had a very sick son.  The man who was an official asked Jesus to heal his son.  Jesus does not go to the child directly, but He simply told the man to return to His child and he would live.  The man then returned to his son to find out that his son had been restored to health at the same time Jesus had told him to return.  The man knew that Jesus had saved his son and as a result he and his entire household believe in Jesus. 

The third miracle we should take a look at is when Jesus healed the lame man in John 5:1-9.  Jesus encounters this man who had been lame for 38 years.  This is significant because after 38 years, it would have been a common known thing for those that knew this man, that he was lame for years.  Jesus heals this man and he is able to walk again according to verse 9. 

One of the more popular accounts of Jesus’ ability to perform miracles was the feeding of the 5,000 which is recorded in John 6:1-14.  Jesus, according verses 1 and 2, had many followers because of the signs He was doing.  The people were hungry, so Jesus took five loaves of bread and two fish and divided it among the people.  Such a small amount of food, and yet it was spread among so many people to the point that each was full.  Even more amazing was the fact that once everyone was through, the remaining amounts leftover filled up 12 baskets.  What an amazing thing to be a witness of! 

Probably the most popular scene from the life of Christ was when He walked on the water as recorded in John 6:16-21.  The account given says that the disciples were in a boat and they saw Jesus walking towards them on the sea.  Once they realized who He was, they also realized the miraculousness of the event.  He had defied nature to an extremity, something only God could do.  They knew He was God. 

In John 9:1-12, we see the account of Jesus healing the blind man.  Jesus encounters a man in verse 1 that had been blind from birth.  Jesus put mud on his eyes and told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam.  In verse 7 when the man returned, he could see!  People started to notice the man that they had seen for years sitting and begging because of his blindness.  They recognized that he could now see! 

Perhaps Christ’s most impressive miracle was when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead as recorded in John 11:38-44.  When someone dies, there is no way to restore that life unless it is by the power of God.  It would be against nature and impossible to do otherwise.  Jesus came to the tomb where Lazarus had been dead for four days.  He told Lazarus to come out and out he came, very much alive.  After this, the Pharisees were very angry because of this sign and as a result started to plot his murder. 

In conclusion, we recognize these miracles that Jesus did while on earth.  Jesus did this things so that people would have evidence that He was the Son of God (John 5:33-36).  John recorded this impressive events so that we who read about it will also know that Christ is the Son of God (John 20:30-31).  Jesus has shown that he had the ability to defy nature by creating things, healing the sick, changing things, and also by raising the dead!  No doubt, Jesus has shown over the course of His life that He is ALL POWERFUL!  Only God can be ALL POWERFUL!  Jesus Christ must be God since He has the ability to do such things. 

Beyond these scenes of miraculous actions on the part of Jesus Christ, there stands the ultimate bit of evidence of the deity of Christ.  Our next lesson will focus directly on that bit of evidence as it is the scene of the resurrection of Jesus Christ!  I hope these lessons that have been written and the lessons yet to come will help you to see that Jesus Christ is our Lord so that you too reader will accept the Gospel invitation that He has offered to you if you will be obedient to him. 

(Part Six)

“For John cameneither eatingnor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’The Son of Man cameeating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” (Matt. 11:18, 19)

What we have, here, in this verse, is what we would call, in our day, “a little cat-calling” by a bunch of children. The men Christ is addressing in this verse are unreasonable men who refuse to see Him as the Son of God.

John the Baptist was a strict Nazarite. Because of his adherence to the strictness of this sect, people saw him as an austere man. He was abstinent, he wore strange clothing, and he ate peculiar foods. When he became uncompromising in his preparation for Christ and denounced them, they simply said, “He hath a demon.”

When Jesus came, He lived a lifestyle different from John. His mission was different from John’s. Christ mingled with other men, even the “lowest dregs of society,” we might say. The Pharisees hated Christ even more, and accused him of being “a glutton and a drunkard.” Their rationale? He associated with them, He must also be one who is used to alcoholic beverages.

If we are to believe that Christ drank alcoholic beverages, and to excess on occasion, based on this passage, then, we must also infer that John the Baptist was demon possessed. We must also believe that Christ was a glutton. Anyone care to give a passage in Scripture, other than this one, that proves, or even infers this accusation?

These were accusations by Christ’s enemies, who would accuse Him throughout His ministry of various sins, and some of whom who would, later, crucify Him. Their accusations, untrue as they were, were designed to deter and prevent Christ’s work.

However, Christ did not spend a lot of time on such slander. He simply said to them, “. . . wisdom is justified by her deeds.” Jesus understood that His words and His work would ultimately prove His character and His work. Those who would come to know Him would see Him as He is. Those who continued to hate Him would not be slowed in their work to deny Him, accuse Him, and attempt to mark Him as a sinful man.

Yet, some of us, today, continue to do the same thing. Many through ignorance of the Scripture. Let us look at two occasions that many modern Christians misunderstand as acceptance of the consumption of alcoholic beverages – the Lord’s Supper and the miracle at the wedding in Cana.

First, let’s examine the use of “wine” during the Passover. “Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said,”Take, eat; this is my body.”And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying,”Drink of it, all of you,for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matt. 26:26-29)

The institution of the Lord’s Supper came during the Passover week. The bread and wine that was eaten in the upper room was the Passover bread and wine. When God established the first Passover meal with Moses, as the children of Israel prepared to leave Egypt, He commanded that the bread be unleavened. “They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; withunleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it.” (Exo. 12:8) The bread was to be without yeast.

“Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day,that person shall be cut off from Israel.” (v. 15) If leaven, yeast, was to be totally omitted from what they consumed during this time, that would also mean no leavened beverages, would it not?

Just in case there may be some doubt about how God felt about leavening agents in His children’s lives during this period, here is clarification: “And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever.In the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening.For seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses. If anyone eats what is leavened, that person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a sojourner or a native of the land.You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwelling places you shall eat unleavened bread.” (vs. 17-20)

The same law is in effect at the time Jesus is observing the Passover with His disciples in the upper room. Seor (Heb.), yeast, or anything that could excite fermentation was forbidden. Khamatz (Heb.), whatever had become fermented, or had been contaminated by seor, was forbidden.

Yeast, or leavening, was seen as a symbol of corruption, or decay. Until modern times, Jews did not use fermented beverages during religious festivals or weddings because of this idea of corruption.

David had prophesied of the Messiah that He would not see corruption. “For you will not abandon my soul toSheol, or let your holy one see corruption.” (Psa 16:10) There was no decomposition of Christ’s body. Following His resurrection, He was recognized as He was before His execution. Acts 13:35-37 contrasts the death of David whose body did decay. But, Christ saw no corruption.

God refused sacrifices mingled with leaven. “You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with anything leavened, or let the sacrifice of the Feast of the Passover remain until the morning.” (Exo. 34:25) Was it not also true of the most precious sacrifice of all, Jesus Christ? If leaven was refused in sacrifices which were types of the atoning blood of Christ, how could God allow fermented wine to be the symbol of salvation through the blood of Christ?

“I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” The word oinos (generic) is not used, here, by Christ. Properly translated in the English Standard Version are the words genneematos tees ampelou (Gk) (specific) – fruit of the vine.

If this were alcoholic wine, would Christ constantly tempt His disciples to imbibe every first day of the week as a religious duty? After all, He is the One who taught us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation.”

There are those, today, who have taken the cup, as Christ and Paul refer to it, and have made the table of remembrance unacceptable to Christ and the Father. In fact, to use yeast beverages in remembrance is contrary to the pattern Christ established on the night He was betrayed.

No, my friend, no passage in the Gospels that show the pattern Christ gave us for remembering His death, burial, and resurrection, ever demonstrates the fruit of the vine was alcoholic. In fact, every passage in Scripture pertaining to the Passover is emphatic that to do so would sever the relationship of God and Christ.

In Part Seven of this study, I would like to take a close look at what happened during the marriage feast at Cana. This passage has been used by so many to prove that, not only did Christ drink, but encouraged others to do so, as well. If you have not read the previous studies about the medical, psychological and scientific aspects of alcohol, please do so before the next study.

As always, may God continue to bless us in this study. Please continue sending your comments and questions.

(Part Five)

So far, we have looked at alcohol from the scientific, the grammatical/translation, the medical, the psychological, and the historical viewpoints. I felt that this was important, in order to establish an understanding of fermentation and effects of alcoholic drink, and to use this knowledge and apply it to scriptural use of the word wine.

As we come to this portion of our study, let us look at specific instances where the use of the word, wine, has caused some controversy. The first is Matthew 9:14-17:

“Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.” (English Standard Version)

These comments by Christ about Himself and His disciples’ fasting also appears in Mark 2:22 and Luke 5:37. Jesus was speaking about the reluctance of the Jews to accept His new teachings. They were satisfied with the old law, which was very cumbersome, and impossible for them to keep wholly.

As He often did, Christ used examples of something they knew about, in order to illustrate the teaching. They understood the process of preserving wine, Was this wine grape juice, or intoxicating wine?

Look at the passage, again. They did not put new wine, or freshly squeezed grape juice into old wineskins – “bottles” made of goatskin made to preserve liquids. Why? Well, as our Lord said, “. . . the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed.”

To understand this, we must go back to the fermentation process to make alcoholic beverages. Remember that three things are necessary for preventing fermentation: depriving oxygen, boiling juice down to a syrup (evaporating water by excess heat), and filtration of the gluten (yeast).

It is evident from the context that, historically, the people in this hot, arid location knew how to preserve grape juice, not only to keep it from being contaminated by anything that would add to its fermentation, but also how to store it for lengthily periods of time in suitable containers.

Fermentation begins to create carbonic acid gasses. Jesus understood that old wineskins, left open to air and heat, contained some residual traces of the old wine that had been stored in the old skins. If new wine, or fresh juice, were added to the old skins, particularly if they held fermented wine, they would gradually pick up these contaminates and begin to ferment. As time went on, the build up of gasses would cause the skins, weakened by past use, to burst.

New wine, then, should be understood to be grape juice (unfermented). If it was fermented, the age of the bottle would not matter. Adding more contaminates to the mix would not effect, or add pressure from gasses to, the skins. New wine would have the necessary oxygen to begin the fermentation process, once the yeast and other matter on the sides of the skin became mixed with the sugar in the juice.

The historians of the time wrote that new skins must be thoroughly cleaned free from any gluten that might start fermentation. This was essential to preserving the juice in an unfermented state. Their descriptions of preservation included clean skins, or bottles, tying them tightly to prevent oxygen (usually, also, coating them with a form of pitch [Noah used this to coat his ark to keep it watertight], to ensure proper seal), and storing them in ponds, springs, or caves to keep the temperature down.

Columella, who lived in the first century, noted: “the newest juice (must) should always be put in a new amphora, or jar.” He and others noted that the absolute adherence to this recipe was “to keep the wine sweet.”

This passage gives us much to think about. First Christ and the people of his day and region knew that there were two kinds of wine – alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Second, they not only enjoyed drinking grape juice, but were well schooled in its preparation and preservation for drinking throughout the year.

This initial short study, hopefully, will start our minds to be open and analytical as we continue our studies of whether the Scriptures encourage alcoholic drinking, or whether they warn us of the dangers. In our next study, we will look at whether Christ was, as the Pharisees claimed, “having a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, . . .Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber . . .” (Matt. 11:19 KJV)

Continue to think on these things. Ask questions. Make comments. Be as the Bereans, Acts 17:11 (ESV): “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if  what Paul said was true.”

(Part Four)

The Medical and Psychological Effects of Alcohol

I. Medical

Commercials and ads for liquor and beer companies picture pleasant scenes of good times with friends and, sometimes, family. Alcohol is something that they like to portray as a vehicle for taking one away from the hubbub and frenzy of the rat race. Certainly, we cannot argue that alcohol does not relax those who take even a small amount into their bodies.

Let’s take a look at what effects alcohol has on the body, the brain, and the psyche. These points will be included in our understanding of certain biblical texts involving the drinking of “wine.” When applying context to the passage, we will also include an understanding of the effects upon individuals to conclude whether alcoholic wine, or grape juice is involved.

Alcohol is one of the most abused and used drugs in the United States. It:

· Inflicts more damage than the illegal one (heroin) does:

· More than 100,000 people die every year from alcohol-related causes, making alcohol the third leading cause of preventable mortality.

· Alcohol in combination with other drugs accounts for one in four admissions to Emergency Rooms.

· Drinking even moderately during pregnancy can mean a baby born with a multitude of birth defects, including severe mental retardation.

· If used inappropriately, alcohol is one of the few drugs that attacks every vital organ system in the human body.

· The American Academy of Family Physicians says that more than 7 percent of patients have a problem with alcohol, representing more than 23 million people.

So despite its warm and fuzzy image, alcohol kills more people and destroys more families than any other drug in the United States. Here are just some of the ways that alcohol abuse damages the human body.

Liver failure: A person in the early stages of alcoholism often has an inflamed fatty liver. These conditions develop because drinking too much overworks the liver, which can only handle one drink per hour. Binge drinking is particularly dangerous because of the damage it does to the human liver.

One life-threatening complication of liver cirrhosis is esophageal varices, or enlarged veins in the tube that connects throat to stomach. These veins can rupture, causing death.

Female alcoholics often quit menstruating, begin early menopause, or menstruate without ovulation. If they get pregnant, they often miscarry. The babies who survive often suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome, which can include physical abnormalities of the heart, kidneys, bones, and genitals; undersized heads and brains; problems in their central nervous systems; and mental retardation.

II. Psychological Effects of Alcohol:

The effects that alcoholism has on the body are well documented. Everyone knows how heavy, problem drinking can lead to rapid deterioration of a personal health and internal organs. What is discussed less frequently, but in many ways equally damaging, is the toll alcohol abuse takes on the mind. The following are some of the most significant mental effects of alcoholism and how they negatively impact the individual.

A diminished self-esteem. The behavior of the alcoholic leads them to be looked down upon by family and friends. This often leads to lower self-esteem, which can perpetuate the cycle of problem drinking. Simply put, the worse a person feels about themselves, the more likely they are to go looking for escape in a bottle. This loss of self-esteem can lead to other problems as well, including: poor performance at work and withdrawal in common social situations.

Poor judgment. The alcoholic makes bad decisions. During their impaired state under the influence, they are likely to lie to the people they care about, steal, or engage in other destructive mental behavior. The alcoholic becomes a person that nobody wants to be around.

Reduced inhibitions. Problem drinking causes many people to temporarily lose their inhibitions. This can lead to a multitude of problems – all associated with unprotected sex with multiple partners. These serious issues include sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted or unplanned pregnancy and rape.

Loss of sexual interest. On the flip-side of the reduced inhibitions "coin", is the lack of sexual interest brought on by alcoholism. Many alcoholics replace the love and affection of their partners with the solace they find in their drinking. Also, erectile dysfunction becomes more prevalent in heavy drinkers-leading to abstinent behavior with the alcoholic’s spouse or significant other.

Exaggerated emotions. Alcoholics are prone to extreme moods and mood swings. Unable to cope with problems on a rational level, the alcoholic will grow deeply depressed at the smallest things, and have a hard time bouncing back from the curveballs life throws at us all. Conversely, the problem drinker may get extremely happy and excitable during a drinking binge, only to "crash and burn" when that high period ends.

Memory loss. An alcoholic is likely to drink so much that they experience blackouts – periods where they cannot remember anything about their actions. Memory loss due to alcohol abuse is psychologically damaging and highly self-destructive in nature. Although he personally has no memory of it, the alcoholic may say or do things to friends and family, that leave emotional scars that take a great deal of time to heal.

Increased aggression. Violent, aggressive behavior is common among male (and may times female) alcoholics. The loss of inhibitions, coupled with the destruction of brain cells caused by drinking can create abusive behavior in alcohol abusers. Spousal abuse and street fighting are often the result of alcoholism and binge drinking.

Effects on children. Alcohol abuse doesn’t only effect the drinker. Children can be negatively impacted as well. With a parent who is experiencing significant mental issues associated with alcoholism, the child’s development may be stunted – they have a good chance growing up with significant learning and anger management issues. Without a reliable parent, the child is liable to grow up lacking the trust and self-confidence necessary to succeed.

It’s obvious that alcoholism affects behavior as much as it does our physical capacities. The psychological impact of alcoholism, however, is in many ways worse than the physical counterpart, because it not only affects the drinker himself, but those around him as well. (From an article by Scott Briggs.)

With all of the above said, can any reader give a good reason for courting death, violence, shame, or other consequences that may even lead to addiction? The Bible’s call to remain sober cannot include someone under the influence of alcohol, or certain medications to make clear and reasonable judgments as a Christian, or as an elder. What if people who know you are a Christians “caught” you during an off moment of relaxation while having a beer, or two? Would you be a good influence to sobriety? Would you have everything under control, or would your brain be influenced to be a little lax with your control, with your aggression, with your conduct or speech?

I can’t answer those questions. Alcohol affects people differently, to be sure. However, knowing what we know about alcohol and its effect on the body and the mind, why would anyone tempt themselves to believe it will never happen to them. Why would someone risk additction, loss of family, loss of job, loss of credibility just to be sociable and be lulled into a passing sense of euphoria.

I want you to understand that I have seen and known, firsthand, the effects of alcohol in my own family. I have seen family members begging at the back porch for food, because they couldn’t hold a job. I have seen family arrested for DUI, because they thought nothing was wrong with them. I also can attest, first hand, that alcohol is a deceiver. I have written this to assure you, the reader, that I am not just someone casting stones at a subject of which I am ignorant. I have seen and felt the hold alcohol has on good people.

Let me apologize to you for publishing this section before we look at specific instances in the scripture. When we look at “new wine in old bottles,” we will need to understand the scientific aspects of fermentation. Considering “water into wine,” we must consider context and the medical/psychological effects of alcohol. In other passages we will look at historical, scientific, medical and psychological effects. Now, you have notes to refer to when we look at the passages and consider what is actually said, or is taking place.

Again, let me thank you for your questions, comments, and encouragement. In order to follow God’s Will, we must understand ALL of it. That means reading, studying, considering, and doing all with an open mind, and a desire to grow in His Will. May God continue to bless us with understanding and exercise of His Will and Commandments.

Bruce Higdon

References:
Burge, Sandra. PH.D., and F. David Schneider, M.D., M.S.P.H. University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas. Alcohol Related Problems: Recognition and Intervention, The American Academy of Family Physicians, see http://www.aafp.org/afp/990115ap/361.html.

Shuker, Nancy. Everything You Need to Know About An Alcoholic Parent. New York: Rosen Publishing, 1998.