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LifeInChrist

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I can understand you as i had been an alcoholic myself. I had indulged in both light, moderate and heavy drinking in the past. By God's grace, better sense prevailed within me and i was able to overcome.

Alcoholic drinking is not a sin but could turn out harmful to health if taken in excess. Jesus said what goes into the stomach does not defile us, but what goes into our hearts can defile us. So, Jesus urges us to keep our hearts from any kind of defilement.

Moderate alcoholic drinking is allowed in the Bible but heavy drinking is discouraged. There is however an instance when people indulged in heavy drinking i.e during the Marriage of Jesus Christ's relative at Cana of Galilee. Jesus did not condemn them at that time. There are also instances throughout the Old Testament when people used to drink Alcoholic Drinks.

There are people who take a few pegs of alcohol in order to keep their bodies warm when living in cold climatic places.

Proverbs 31:6 advises strong alcoholic drink to those who are of heavy hearts and to those who are nearing their death so that they may be strong-hearted and can boldly face their death. It would not be considered as a sin for such people.

Alcoholic drinks can be taken as per Doctors suggestion as a medicine. For example in case of patients who have heart-blocks. A christian Man of God, whom i knew very well, was advised by his Doctor to have a few pegs of alcohol as he had blocks in his heart.

Scientific Research has come up with observations that Moderate alcoholic drinking is good for health whereas heavy alcoholic drinking is harmful for health. But, how many of us can exercise such strong self-control of drinking alcohol moderately. The Moderate alcoholic drinkers can slowly end up as Heavy alcoholic drinkers.

Supportive verses regarding Alcoholic Drinking in the Bible

Matthew 11:19 - The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

1 Corinthians 10:31 - Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Timothy 5:23 - Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.

Deuteronomy 14:26 - And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,

Proverbs 31:6 - Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

Exhortations for Alcoholic Drinkers in the Bible

Ephesians 5:18 - And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Romans 13:13 - Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Judges 13:4 - Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:

Proverbs 20:1 - Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Isaiah 28:7 - But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

We are urged to be filled with His Divine Spirit rather than be filled with alcoholic drinks.

If we have learnt that we are addicted to heavy alcoholic drinking then it is better we strive to leave it altogether before it can damage our health.

The best way is to stop it suddenly and immediately and cling to God, and our fellow-believers for help, encouragement and strength.

Taking our Spiritual Growth as Top Priority and our alcoholic drinking as the Least Priority can help us to overcome our Alcoholic Drinking addiction.

Where there is a Will, there is a Way. If we are committed to leave Alcoholic Drinking then it is possible to leave it either immediately (which is the best and safest) or slowly over a period of time (which is risky). We can seek God earnestly in prayer and God will help us in overcoming this addiction.

This is my honest personal opinion.
 
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DIVA_for_Christ

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IzzyK said:
Alcholism seems to becoming a big problem in my life and I am seeking a support group to help me with this. I live in a small town and would prefer to work on this privately. Any ideas?

As you have the desire to break free from alcholism I would not find reasons or scriptures to justify drinking. Give your alcholism to God and trust Him to deliver you. He can do it in an instant. My step father and mother were alcholics and the devil tried to get me to go down that road, but once I recognized that he was trying to do to me, what he did to them I trusted God and that was that - I stopped drinking.

As a alcholic, when God delivers you, stay away from any drinking because it was already a weakness for you and you will be tempted by the devil to see if he can come back again. He will look for an open door. Make sure every door is closed because if you let him come back he will come back seven times stronger.

You really have to trust God on this and don't let shame or pride keep you from reaching out to others that are close by you. Pray that God will send you the people He wants in your life to support you during this time.

God Bless!
 
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JBranded

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If you keep your focus on God and make sure you're always in sight of him, amazing things will happen. it takes a change of your heart to see that through, and i believe you're already taking the first steps to recovery.

i know you'd like to do it privately, and living in a small town it might be different (I live in a large city), but i believe that fellowship and accountability will help you stay on track. it could be something like alcoholic's anonymous or maybe just your pastor or very close friend.

at any rate, always thinka bout the future and how good it will be to finally be freed of those chains. you'll be able to worship with such less weight. always have a goal in mind and go for it!
 
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tapero

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IzzyK said:
Alcholism seems to becoming a big problem in my life and I am seeking a support group to help me with this. I live in a small town and would prefer to work on this privately. Any ideas?

Hi, Can you drive over to a bigger town and get involved in meetings there? I also wanted to tell you there is a forum here for alcohol abuse; it's: http://www.christianforums.com/f605-alcohol-abuse.html

Take care, Tapero
 
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For building you up:

My brother would have been considered an alcoholic. There was a party at his house every single day. Drugs, alcohol and people non stop. (His house got raided regularly).

The Lord caused my brother to just stop (beats me how). Just one day, that was it. He threw out all the alcohol. And it wasnt long after his friends all left him. All his friends were interested in was alcohol and drugs (what my brother could do for them).

For five, going on six years now my brother hasnt touched the stuff.

God can take that desire to drink away from you.

I hope you find a place that you feel comfortable- something for AA's maybe. My uncle went to AA Meetings.

Well Be Blessed
 
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IzzyK

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It happens that my best friend is the pastors wife and I just recently told her and she understands addictions. She has lost 160 pounds and if she can do that, I can certainly stop consuming so much wine daily. She said she would go with me to a meeting to get me started. I would like to visit the site you suggested.
 
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