Teri and I were putting cardboard in the recycling bin next to a man unloading cardboard from his pickup. He bent over and picked up a carton that he had dropped. To my surprise, he kissed it and said “This is the best beer there is!” Even more surprising, the haul of cardboard was from his “church”! That local church has a liquor license, and I have been told it sells a lot of alcohol. 

Brothers, I pray you aren’t using alcohol. I’ve heard all sorts of justifications for Christian’s using it, but I plead with you to consider it poison. I’ve seen so many ruined lives as a result of it. 

In the Old Testament we read, “And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations” (Leviticus 10:8-9). The example that Aaron could not come near to God if he had been drinking was enough for me to never want to touch the stuff. As New Testament believers the Bible tell us this, “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:6). I desire to be close to my God always. If the Old Testament priests were forbidden from wine and strong drink when coming into His presence, alcohol would not be beneficial in my relationship with the Lord either.

Another thing to consider is even if you were able to control your use of alcohol to moderation, your example of using it, gives the green light to your children. What you might control, they likely will do in excess. I’m guessing you have seen examples of that already.”All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any (1 Corinthians 6:12).