Not What They Told You

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Society often justifies sin by not portraying the complete facts and, thus, making dangerous things appear to be minorly harmful or even beneficial. Not What They Told You – Alcohol Not What They Told You – Marijuana Not What They Told You – Opioids Not What They Told You – Pornography

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Not What They Told You – Alcohol

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/NotWhatTheyToldYouAlcohol.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Galatians 5:16-24   I.         There are many factors that led to the downfall of Israel, but one reoccurring theme was the greed of its leaders.             A.        They were in it for the money – Isaiah 56:11             B.        They dealt falsely for money – Jeremiah 6:13             C.        Everyone was after money – Jeremiah 8:10…

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I repent, but every week I go out, party, and get drunk

Question: Good day in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ, I have a problem. I am saved, well I think I’m saved. I repent every week after drinking and partying with friends. After a night of binge drinking, I wake up the next day feeling very anxious and thinking that God won’t forgive me because…

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I found your explanation of alcohol very interesting and informative

Question: Hello Minister, As a fellow member of the church of Christ, I found your explanation of alcohol very interesting and informative. I’ve always known the Bible is the living word of God rather than a collection of fables. A salient example of how well you explained it in such a 3-dimensional way was that I could…

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I am learning quite a bit from the sermons

Question: Thank you very much! I am learning quite a bit from the sermons, and I thought the series on Drinking in the Old and New Testaments was excellent. It provided more clarity on Jesus turning the water into wine than most other things I have seen or heard. I plan on checking into some of the…

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The Value of Taking a Drink

by Kent Heaton Alcohol has always been a demon that plagues man with its sparkle and alluring appeal to the desires of the flesh. Noah planted a vineyard and “drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent” (Genesis 9:21). The children of Israel did not take long to fall head-long…

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Why do Christians think they can sin and not go to hell?

Question: Hi sir, I am Muslim, and I have some questions. Please do not ignore them. In Pakistan, where I was brought up, I had a lot of Christian friends. I use to visit their homes and I always felt comfortable with them. I have been to their churches and always stared at the beautiful…

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Can a Christian be addicted to alcohol?

Question: I am a professed Christian and an ordained minister of 30 years. In the last several years I became addicted to alcohol. My question is: Can a saved man, a Christian, be addicted to a substance, such as alcohol? Answer: Being a Christian does not make a person immune to sin. “If we say…

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I realize now that I can be forgiven, so how do I get past the guilt?

Question: I’ve obsessed for a long time about committing the unpardonable sin, as some have called it. I have struggled with some addictions for a while (alcohol and pornography), and a few times had the thought come into my mind: “if you give in to certain temptations, you will lose the Holy Spirit.” Well, I…

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What do you suggest I do?

Question: Hi, I badly need someone to talk to and someone to give me advice as I am really in extreme emotional pain. I’m several months pregnant. My boyfriend is separated and has children from his ex-wife. I have accepted that for he is getting his divorce this year after his ongoing trial. We were…

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Flaws Found in Moderate Drinking Studies

Source: Alice Walton, “Moderate Drinking May Not Be as Healthy as We Thought,” Forbes, 2016-03-23 In reviewing past studies that seemed to indicate that moderate drinking had some health benefits, researchers found that former drinkers were being included in the categories of “abstainers” or “occasional drinkers.” The problem is the studies didn’t factor in why the…

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Leaving the Pit

by Wilson Adams It was the most compelling argument I’ve ever heard against social drinking… A young man in his 30s stood in front of the Leaving the Pit Conference in Indianapolis on Saturday and told his story. His alcohol use began in high school and intensified in college. He hid it well. He was…

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How is smoking weed any worse than drinking once in a while?

Question: Is smoking weed bad in God’s eyes? Yes, I know the horrible effects it can have on your health, but I’m talking from a Christian’s point of view. Some people get drunk and God will see them through, but when they smoke weed will God resent them? What if I want to try it?…

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Will having sex outside of marriage keep me out of heaven?

Question: Hello Minister, My question is regarding sex before marriage. I want to be clear that I know it is against God’s Word to partake in such activities. I am 21 and have been a virgin all my life, avoiding temptations wherever I go. Last week my mates and I drank too much. By the…

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A Question to be Answered

by Doy Moyer Will anyone defend this: “The wise and good thing to do today is to start drinking alcohol”? If one says, “But the Bible doesn’t condemn all drinking,” I will respond by asking that question again. If one says, “But there are passages in the Bible that speak of fermented drinks in a…

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How do I correct the mess I’ve made with my life?

Question: My question is regarding sex outside of marriage. I know God tells us not to do it. And I have regrettably led a life thus far where I knew God’s commands, but chose to ignore them thinking I knew what was best. I’m struggling to find my way back to the straight and narrow.…

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Does Proverbs 31:6-7 give approval to the use of alcohol?

Question: I was reviewing your articles on alcohol. I realize that you are not the author of all of the articles, but I did not see a reference to Proverbs 31:6-7. Proverbs 31 specifically does not condemn strong drink. However, you have a sermon, Drinking in the Old Testament, posted on your website that claims that…

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I’m slipping into sin, but I know I need to return to the Father

Question: I’ve been struggling horribly the past two years, going deeper into my desires and sins, going away from God and His purposes for me. I used to be “on fire” and always reading the Bible and spending time with God. But honestly, I gave up seeking. I gave up on the Spirit of God…

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Can I be forgiven of my sins?

Question: I need advice. I am in my early twenties. I was born in a Christian family. I was a clever child and a good learner under the guidance of my grandparents, who raised me and my siblings after our mother passed away. Around age 14, my life changed. I started drinking alcohol and attempted…

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Social Drinking (Thompson)

by Floyd Thompson Many times in trying to justify social drinking people will use as a defense Paul’s admonition to Timothy in I Timothy 5:23, which says, “use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake, and thine often infirmities.” I think this passage has not been thoroughly discussed until we recognize that Timothy was a…

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I Peter 4:3 and ‘Social Drinking’

by Ron Halbrook (edited for length) Searching The Scriptures, June 1973 Three words are used in I Peter 4:3 which have a bearing on modern drinking practices. All three words describe the lifestyle of the old man, dead in sin — living “in the flesh to the lusts of men.” Peter pleads with those who are…

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I’m so mad! I’m afraid someone is going to get killed!

Question: I’m a Christian, I’ve had the born-again experience. I know that we all slip sometimes, but I’ve done more than slip. I have ruined my testimony to my family, which I’m sure doesn’t matter to them anyway. They’ve all been in church their whole lives and treat Jesus like he’s a fairy tale. I…

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I need to testify against my alcoholic husband. What do I do?

Question: Hello, I came across your website and thought I would tell you my situation and get your perspective on it. I’ve been married for a little over five years. My husband is an alcoholic. He can go for months without a drink, then once he does, he’s usually off and running to do drugs.…

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Does “wine on the lees” support the use of alcohol?

Question: I am studying with a brother in Christ about alcoholic drinking. He is quite persistent in his assertion that moderate drinking is not only acceptable for a Christian but that it is beneficial. How would you approach Isaiah 25:6? His assertion is that this must be alcoholic wine and as a metaphor of the…

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I fear I’m becoming a lukewarm Christian

Question: I have been a Christian for about five years now. Recently I have found myself becoming a slave to sin instead of a slave to Christ. I don’t like to talk about my emotions and things, so instead of dealing with them, I choose to bottle them up until it finally feels like I…

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Notes on Alcohol

Based on a list by Dave Hart There is more Scripture condemning the use of alcoholic beverages than will be found on the subjects of lying, adultery, swearing, cheating, hypocrisy, pride, or even blasphemy. Genesis 9:20-27 – Noah became drunk; the result was immorality and family trouble. Genesis 19:30-38 – Lot was so drunk he…

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How do I let go of my girlfriend’s past?

Question: I am 21 and have been a Christian since I was 8, I am a virgin and plan to stay that way until I get married. A while back I started dating a girl who I had met at church, she had only been a Christian for about a year and a half. I…

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