"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise" (Proverbs 20:1).
This nation is fast becoming a sodden society of too many intoxicated citizens. Alcohol is now the modern golden calf, and millions of people, young and old, male and female, have been seduced by it.
The teetotaler, the prohibitionists, and all the others who have for years fought against this flood of booze have been laughed out of existence. We laugh to scorn those old–fashioned little ladies who went around smashing barrels of whiskey and shutting down bars and honky–tonks, and taking pledges of abstinence.
We liberated moderns have made it fashionable to drink. It is now considered sophisticated, urbane, cool — to drink socially. Try saying "No" to the airline stewardess who keeps pushing drinks at you from the time you get on the airplane till you deplane. "What do you mean, no drinks?" She looks at you as some kind of kook for refusing free drinks.
People are offended nowadays when you refuse their offer of a complimentary drink. They try to make you feel unneighborly for not joining them, or that you are putting on a "holier than thou" attitude. Even President Carter couldn't keep drinks out of the White House.
"Be not among winebibbers…" (Proverbs 23:20).
To me, the real tragedy is that so many who call themselves "Christian" are now drinking. I call them "sipping saints," because that is how it all begins — one sip at a time. A recent poll revealed that 81% of all Catholics now drink and 64% of all Protestants. These shocking figures keep mounting higher each month. The permissive attitude toward social drinking is fast creeping even into the most conservative, evangelical church circles. I have spoken at Charismatic conventions where thousands of "Spirit–filled" saints of God lifted hands in praise and adoration to God — and after being dismissed, numbers of them walk out into the parking lot, open their car trunks and pull out a couple six–packs and pass them around to fellow worshipers. Others order mixed drinks with their restaurant meals, in between the praise sessions. They return to speak with "pickled tongues."
"And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands" (Isaiah 5:12).
The prophet Isaiah has a message for the entire Charismatic movement — in both Catholic and Protestant circles.
"God's people are in captivity to these things because of a lack of knowledge…But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness" (Isaiah 5:13–16).
The prophet Hosea said, "…wine and new wine take away the heart…" (Hosea 4:11).
This suggests that sipping saints have divided hearts.
Read more HERE.
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