As with other issues not specifically spelled out in Scripture, the decision whether to drink alcohol is something each person must wrestle with on their own, consulting the Bible and taking the matter to God in prayer. Even so, ample evidence exists that Jesus Christ drank wine. In fact, his first miracle, performed at a wedding feast at Cana, was turning ordinary water into wine.

• Yet all these embraced and applauded the original program.
• Again, the Good Book says quite clearly that God can cure, heal, and deliver.
• He or she may need salvation, the baptism of the Spirit, and the fruit of the Spirit for their own sake.
• Of course, religious participation and affiliation aren’t the only factors that affect these views and behaviors.

6 Technically, Jesus and the disciples had only three ritual cups of wine. The fourth cup, which represented the kingdom, was not drunk. Thus, when Jesus prayed in the garden, “If it is your will, take this cup from me” he was referring to the symbolism of the third cup–the cup of redemption by judgment. However, even though they had only three ritual cups, they may well have had more non-ritual wine, for this was allowed. 3My views comport with my understanding of what it means to be a New Covenant Christian.

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him

So, my prayer is that Tanya and all others who have found help in A.A. Would give thanks to God for his great grace in using A.A. And then my prayer is that they would go deep into the distinctive, precious, powerful way that the Bible glorifies Christ and his cross in how we fight sin as blood-bought, justified, forgiven children of God. And that is because the greatest problem https://ecosoberhouse.com/ of humankind is missing — namely, not alcoholism, not the hurt we have done others, but sin against God, and the outrage it is in dishonoring God. What would worry me is if Tanya did not see the serious shortcomings of the 12 steps, and seek to make up for them in her ongoing warfare with sin in some kind of good, solid, healthy church, and in her own study of Scripture.

God, though, can show alcoholics the way out and give them hope for a new future. Before one can experience God’s cure, one must admit total helplessness. In spite of repeated failure, alcoholics commonly think somehow, somewhere, sometime they will be able to drink in a controlled way or quit when they want to. Of course, religious participation and affiliation aren’t the only factors that affect these views and behaviors. For instance, college-educated Americans are more likely than those without a college degree to say they had a drink in the past month (69% vs. 51%), but they are no more likely to binge drink (17% for both groups). Men are more likely than women to say they had an alcoholic beverage in the past 30 days (60% vs. 52%), while people ages 65 and older almost never binge drink (4%).

Chapter 3: The Good News: What God Can Do about Alcoholism

Christianity played a large role in the U.S. temperance movement. Yet alcohol remains a prominent part of the Christian religion, from the Gospel account of Jesus turning water into wine, to present-day European monks who support themselves by brewing beer, to the use of wine in some contemporary communion services. The best way to overcome alcoholism is through a Christian rehab program, because this type of program will incorporate God’s power, His love, and His healing for a renewed life. God wants what is best for you physically in this life and eternally with Him in heaven. If you trust God to be your strength and guidance, He will be your source of transformation.

For those who believe they can get by with an occasional drink, their example may still lead others to habits that they don’t have the willpower to break. For those who encourage others in anything which brings about their downfall, they myths about alcoholism are guilty. These patterns may be explained by the diversity of views that people from different religious traditions hold about the morality of alcohol. But it is this first drink that does the damage—not the second nor the twelfth.

Jordan Peterson and His Useful God

Long-term heavy drinking increases the risk of certain forms of cancer, especially cancer of the esophagus, mouth, throat, and larynx (voice box). Research suggests that for some women as little as one drink per day can slightly raise the risk of breast cancer. Drinking may also increase the risk for developing cancer of the colon and rectum. Bill W, co-founder of AA, offered a profound picture of God’s saving grace for the alcoholic. Each of us needs to commit ourselves to God before recovery can begin. We need to acknowledge that we are powerless by ourselves; turn our addiction over to God.

It needs more than the fleeting gratification of a moment’s peace and numbness—though I have been chasing that numbness for years. It is what, according to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), makes us restless, irritable, and gives us a deep sense of being discontent. I myself have been attempting to fill this hole with drugs and alcohol. This is what I hold onto as I am currently in rehab; writing to God and asking for his forgiveness; knowing that Jesus died for me in this addiction.

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Similarly, while the Lutheran and Anglican churches felt some pressure, they did not alter their moderationist position. Catholics (15%) and Protestants (16%) are about twice as likely as religiously unaffiliated Americans (7%) to say drinking is morally wrong, according to a separate survey conducted by the Center in 2017. Rates of drinking also vary by Protestant subgroup. For instance, two-thirds of white mainline Protestants (66%) say they’ve had alcohol in the past month, compared with roughly half of black Protestants (48%) and white evangelical Protestants (45%). White mainline Protestants (21%) also are more likely than these two latter groups to binge drink (12% for each). About 4 million Americans are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), which can cause liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.