THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER
"Search the scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. " (John 5:39)

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 1, 2002

WHAT CAN ALCOHOL DO FOR ME?

             The following was written by Dr. T. Mark Lloyd, a faithful brother in Christ who lives in Gainesville , Florida .  I had the pleasure of spending some time with Mark a few years ago while holding a meeting at the congregation in Gainesville .  I thought what Mark wrote was pertinent in a society that glamorizes the social aspect of alcohol consumption.  

            “Alcohol is a drug which has both immediate (acute) effects and more longer lasting (chronic) effects.  Usually it is the immediate effects that the drinker is seeking.  The first organ system that shows a rapid effect from alcohol is the brain.  The brain is quite compartmentalized and there are certain areas that perform different functions.  The frontal portion of our brain, called the front lobe (that part of the brain which anatomically and neurologically separates man from other animals), controls our inhibitions among other things.  It so happens that this is the portion of the brain quickly affected by alcohol.  This is why we see a person becoming ‘happier’, louder and more boisterous.  He begins to do things he would not normally do.  (By the way, this is not the point at which a person is as yet defined by all criteria as being drunk.)  This is also why it is so very dangerous for the young and others who otherwise under normal conditions have proper sexual inhibitions, but may lose these inhibitions while drinking, thus engaging in sexual activities they would not normally do.  

            “Now we can begin to see why people like alcohol and its immediate effects.  Other acute effects are visual disturbances, loss of balance, and loss of motor coordination.  If questioned closely, law enforcement officials will tell you  that anywhere from 50 to 90 percent of all automobile accidents are a direct or indirect result of someone being under the influence of alcohol.  Not necessarily drunk either, but just drinking and not in total control of all faculties or not totally aware of circumstances.  

            “The ill effects of alcohol also have their longer lasting results.  The most common problem is that of cirrhosis or loss of liver function.  The liver is the organ in the body that detoxifies alcohol.  If taken in abundance and for a long period of time, the liver can and will be destroyed by this drug.  This type of individual is not a very pretty sight to see.  Usually at this stage he also has chronic brain damage which is the direct result of the alcohol as well.  The gastrointestinal tract is the next most common organ that is affected by alcohol.  Diseases such as ulcers, stomach inflammation, and severe bleeding from the esophagus or stomach can occur as a result of alcohol consumption.  The heart can most definitely become adversely involved from its chronic use.  Secondarily, the pancreas, muscles, skin, and a number of other organs are also involved destructively.”  

            When a person drinks alcohol, brain cells are destroyed.  Alcohol causes agglutination, or thickening of the blood and can lead to blockage of the blood flow through some of the brain cells.  Starved of oxygen for as little as three minutes, the affected cells will die and the damage is permanent.  They will not revive themselves or grow back.  

            What does the bible tell us about the acute, immediate effects of alcohol?  In Proverbs 23:29 – 35, we find, “Who has woe? Who has sorrow?  Who has contentions?  Who has complaining?  Who has wounds without cause?  Who has redness of eyes?  Those who linger long over wine, those who go to taste mixed wine.  Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it does down smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper.  Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perverse things.  And you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea, or like one who lies down on the top of a mast.  They struck me, but I did not become ill; they beat me, but I did not know it.  When shall I awake?  I will seek another drink.”  

            It is my conviction that the bible condemns the non-medicinal, recreational consumption of alcohol.  While there are several passages that can be cited to make this  point, 1 Peter 4:3 is perhaps the clearest for those with open, honest hearts.  The passage says, “For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.”   

            The word for “drunkenness” is “oinophlugia”.  It refers to habitual intoxication, deep drinking, drunken bouts.  However, it goes beyond that.  The word “methe” (Gal. 5:21 ), is also rendered “drunkenness”.  Oinophlugia is stronger than that.  It marks a step in advance of methe.

            The word for “carousals” is “komos”.  There is a descent or degression in the strength of the three words.  There is a level of drinking in komos which is distinguishable from oinophlugia.  Komos suggests intoxication with merrymaking.

            The word for “drinking parties” is potos.  Literally, potos is “a drinking” without reference to amount.  The verb form is potizo, “to give to drink” without regard to amount.  R.C. Trench says, “not of necessity excessive.”  He further explains that potos is related to words of excess in that it gives “opportunity for excess”.  This is the cocktail party drinking, the sipping of wine, social drinking.  

            There really is no good reason for drinking alcohol for non-medicinal or recreational purposes.  The bible has nothing good to say about it, and I believe, condemns it.

                                                            Greg Litmer