A dear friend asked me recently; "is it ok for a person to drink wine or alcohol as long as it's in moderation or to help an illness".  Read on.......... .....

PAUL TOLD TIMOTHY....

In the 8th chapter of 1st Corinthians paul talked about eating meat that had been offered to idols. He went on to say;

1 Cr 8:8       But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

He was saying in these verses that meat is nothing and we can eat it if we want and it will not be an offense to us but...verse nine says;

1 Cr 8:9      But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak....

Here he tells us that we had better be careful that, even though we have the liberty to eat this meat, we must be very careful because we might offend a weaker brother.

1 Cr 8:10     For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

1 Cr 8:11     And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

1 Cr 8:12     But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

1 Cr 8:13    Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

Paul is telling us that, even though it is ok for us to eat this meat, when we do, we might offend a weaker brother or sister in the Lord. If we do that, we might cause him/her to stumble and we then sin against them and Christ.

In the 14th chapter of romans paul expands on these thoughts....

Rom 14:13        Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

Rom 14:14        I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

Rom 14:15        But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

Rom 14:16        Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

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

Rom 14:18        For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

Rom 14:19        Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Rom 14:20        For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed [are] pure; but [it is] evil for that man who eateth with offence.

Rom 14:21        It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor [any thing] whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

I believe verse 21 sums it up very nicely. In verse 15 thru 17, he said if your brother is grieved with what you eat or drink, then you are not walking in love. He goes on to say that we should not destroy the work of God to satisfy our own desires. Take another look at  1 COR. 8:13  above.

Yes, paul told Timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach's sake and his often infirmities. Good advice for a day whan wine didn't have such a stigma attached to it and a day when there were no zantac or miracle drugs and even less knowledge of the human body.

We have more remedies for our ailments than we can even imagine. Why even consider, as a good Christian, of offending our brothers and sisters with alcohol when our infirmities can be cured or treated by modern medicine which will offend no one. If we crave the taste or the high, of alcohol, then prayer and fasting are the answer and God will take the desire from you.

You say that you should be able to drink it in the privacy of your own home, im sorry but what about the sinner you bought it from at the store? When you leave the store, they will make it a point to ask someone if you werent supposed to be a christian. Maybe they will ask your Pastor. And while you are buying it, try to tell the store clerk how you love Jesus and you would like them to be saved. The lost know even better it seems, than the Christian, that christians arent supposed to drink.

Drink alcohol? I dont think so. Why would you even consider being like the world. You are bought with a price, you are not your own.....We dont even have the right to consider  offending Christ or a brother or sister....

2 Cr 6:17     Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord.......

Stay in the fight.

Rest, if you have to, but don't quit.

May God Bless and Keep you