Breaking: Gulas Switches Allegiance

In the past few weeks many people have been frothing at the mouth to find out what LeBron James is going to be doing with his future in the NBA. Would he go to Miami? Some believed he would even follow in Michael Jordan's footsteps and play in Chicago with Derrick Rose and Joaqim Noah. However, no one could have predicted the fanfare that has transpired over the past week.

It remains to be seen where LeBron will play next season, but for one of LeBron and Cleveland's many fans -- the decision has already been made. Alabama native, Nic Gulas, has decided to drop LeBron, Cleveland, and Daniel Gibson and become a fan of the NBA's up-and-coming power, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Gulas was not immediately available for comment, but when asked about his decision prior to the final announcement, Gulas had many thoughts.

On what made him change his allegiance: "It started once the Free Agency 2010 fiasco began to encompass more than it should have encompassed. Too many people began getting involved with the process and made more of it than it actually was, in reality. Truth be told, only two of these players were worth the hype: Dwayne Wade and LeBron James. Chris Bosh got lucky. If he was a free agent next year -- no one would care. "

So what did the Cavaliers and LeBron in for Gulas? "The swirling of all the useless attention got me thinking about what I was supporting, and has made for some interesting developments."

With the explanations laid on the line, there's only one thing many people would wonder. Why the OKC Thunder? "The biggest draw is that they are a team in the truest sense of the word. Everything from the way they act, to how they get along, to the fact that Durant was at the team's Summer League games in Orlando cheering on the Thunder summer squad. The Cavaliers appear that way on TV," Gulas said ," but with LeBron doing all of these stunts and the with the potential dismembering of the squad, I realized they really weren't much of a team outside of wearing the same jerseys. When I stepped back and looked at everything presented today between LeBron's ESPN Special (Thursday, 9ET) and Durant's tweets on re-signing [with the Thunder] -- the difference between those was quite clear. The way Durant leads and lives [his life] comes across better than that of LeBron James."

With the developments of the past 48 hours, it remains to be seen what impact LeBron's decision will have on his personal fan base, and the Cleveland Cavaliers fan base. A lot of people will be jumping off of that bandwagon, if LeBron leaves, and will quickly join LeBron's new team. Regardless, one thing is for sure -- the Cavaliers and LeBron's persona have been damaged. The effects are imminent, and as Nic Gulas has shown us all, a reconsideration of fan allegiance is something many people should and will consider. For Nic Gulas, it's a change that's respected, and a change for the better.

Collecting Thoughts

I haven't written anything here in a very, very long time -- so I wanted to go ahead and try to get something started back up. At the very least, I will try to be posting some thoughts when I get the chance. Hope whoever reads it is blessed and enjoys it.

Recently, God has been showing me some amazing things. Quite frankly, there isn't a concise way to put into words what he has taught me this semester. However, I'm gonna try.

When the spring semester began, I started it off as usual. Just my normal self, carrying on, laughing at things I shouldn't, saying things I probably shouldn't, and so on and so forth. But about a week or two into the semester, the chaplain from my fraternity sat me down, and talked to me in a general manner. We just talked about our faith, what God means to us, and what we struggle with, etc. Throughout the course of this discussion, he said some things that really challenged me, and really ignited the flame that has come over me in recent weeks/months.

• I need to be in God's Word everyday. Not just reading it -- understanding and dissecting it. Using it. Heeding it. Growing from what I learn.
• I need to view the people on this campus as Christ views us. We/I need to train myself to look at people on the quad, in my classes, at the dining halls -- with his love and compassion. If Christ had it in his power to show us compassion and love, and we're the most wretched of sinners , then I think we can show a His love to others.
• Be bold. God has put each and every Christian in this world and on this campus for a unique calling and reason. However, we are all called to be missionaries in a lost, lost world. The Christian by IDENTITY is missional. We don't just DO missions, but we ARE missionaries. This relates to the way we carry ourselves, things we say in class, things we say in passing -- all of it. If we are put here to advance the Kingdom of God, and make a difference, than how can we do this without being bold and taking initiative as Christians?

These are just a few of the things he pointed out. Above all, he pointed out the potential that I and every one of my fraternity brothers has in Christ. We all have such a great potential to impact this University, and be (to use an over-used term) "on-fire" for Christ. We have the potential to make the devil sneer and scowl every morning we wake up, figuratively of course, in a "Oh no. He's awake again." way.

I'll be the first to admit. All of the things that our chaplain challenged me to do is hard. They are all a work-in-progress. And that's exactly what we need as Christians. Progress. Growth.

Another encouragement that helped foster the growth I've had this semester is related to worldly influences. It's long been said that what goes into your ears, comes out of your mouth. I'd always wondered why my parents shielded me from secular music. I reached a point in my youthfulness when I could decide right from wrong. So, I started listening to secular music, along WITH my Christian music. I grew the typical response to Christian music, over time, though: "It's too lame and boring. Not enough imagination with the music. It all sounds the same." I mean, after all, when someone is singing about Jesus for 12 tracks on an album, it's not always the most appealing thing to someone who has become accustomed to the things of this world.

As that progressed, I started soaking up as much music as I could. I'll confess, (my friends know this all too well) I greatly enjoy rap/hip-hop music. I have loads and loads of current and old rap/hip-hop songs on my computer, and I've always been known to listen to them all the time. Over time, though, I saw exactly what my parents always talked about coming true before my eyes. Desensitizing to the world. As I was listening to Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 album, and uttering some lyrics in my mind without any second thoughts, it hit me one day -- this really does reflect my heart. What you put into your ears, reflects what your heart cherishes above the surface, and what comes out of your mouth.

All of these things (and more things that I cannot even begin to describe) have changed my heart. I was always told that you need to be completely satisfied in Christ so much that nothing else in this world matters to you. I truly understand this now. Sure, I have things that still come back. Someone recovering from the flu is never changed immediately when they leave the doctor's office. It's a process, but one that is worth seeking, embarking on, and taking to heart. I've reached a point in my spiritual life recently that I quite frankly didn't know existed. I can truly say that nothing else matters to me. Alabama football, basketball, etc. None of it holds anything to the joy I have in knowing my mission in Christ, and waking up every day and going to class with the full-intent of representing Christ in whatever way He would have me do it.

(A lot of people have seen the writing I've been putting on my right hand every morning. It reads, : "4IANA 1:16" . Very simply, it means , "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, " Romans 1:16 . I started doing this, because I know that I'm not vocal enough to just openly start conversations with classmates and people on campus about the Gospel. This creates an avenue for me to be able to talk to them about it. People ask questions. Just something that I started doing that helps me, and is a constant reminder on my hand about who I'm set apart for, and who I'm supposed to glorify.)

Well, I guess that's it for now. I will try to keep this updated, if I can find more time like this in-between studying and fraternal things. I leave on Friday for a week-long mission trip to Trujillo, Peru to minister to the people of that city through an organization called, Peru Mission. Please be in prayer for this trip and this opportunity to see God's kingdom advanced through his people. I'll end this entry with a quote from John Calvin: "You must submit to supreme suffering in order to discover the completion of joy"

*Note: I am not urging anyone to completely stop listening to secular music, or music with a message that isn't of Christ. I am urging everyone to step back, and look at what they are listening to the most. Is it something that could possibly be influencing you in a negative light? If it's not glorifying God, then who is it glorifying? Just think about it, and consider it.

Red vs. Phil. No way

Another annoying comparison this week is the Phil Jackson vs. Red Auerbach debate. I wasn't around for Red and can't really speak on the subject, but I have heard people use the fact that Red had more Hall of Famers on his squad. This is a ridiculous argument considering that Red scouted, drafted, and coached these players. Also, there were like 8 teams in the league back then and there are 30 teams now. Every team was packed with Hall of Famers; what was he supposed to do, draft bums? Phil is a fantastic coach, but he will never, ever be revered more than Red Auerbach.

D-Wight Howard -- His game

After my last entry, I figured I'd just prove to myself that I was not writing on mere boredom, so I decided to write about Dwight Howard.

Dwight Howard. Orlando's driving force. Stan Van Gundy's supreme impressionist. Scorer of 7035 points in his regular season career, 814 blocked shots, and 5107 total rebounds since he was drafted by the Orlando Magic in the 1st round (1st pick, 1st overall) of the 2004 NBA draft. Superman himself.

Dwight has now led the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals. In what began as an amazing year, second to Boston and Cleveland's phenomenal start, Superman has his team poised to face the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, and the daunting thing is the fact that no one predicted the Orlando Magic to be where they are right now.

Why are the Magic in the position they are today? Is it Stan Van Gundy's coaching move in the Conference semifinals, where he chose to give D12 the basketball more times, and trust him to make a play down low? Is it Hedo Turkoglu's spectacular 3-minute spans throughout the playoffs? Almost all of these – and more – are great reasons why Orlando is back in the Finals for the first time since 1995. However, Dwight Howard's leadership ability, and sheer athletic prowess down-low is what got the Magic here.

Go back and look at the numbers. Without Dwight's performance in every game since he demanded more touches, the Magic would be no where close to the Finals. I say all of this as a preface to my analysis of the league's best big man. Chris Bosh, go home. Your stint as the league's best big man lasted about...2 weeks? Who am I kidding, Dwight Howard has been the league's biggest and best force down in the post since 2006 – at the very LEAST.

What makes Dwight so good is not the fact that he can dunk harder than Shaq. It's the fact that he knows the fundamentals of basketball so well, that he creates open looks for the rest of the team, as well as for himself. Dwight consistently gets to the rack with force, can put up a nice jump-hook, land a nice lay-up, and with any contest he will almost automatically earn a 3-point play opportunity. He is simply that good at what he does...down low.

Here is where I begin to critique Dwight. It's widely known that he is confident in his abilities. He will stand by that confidence and trust it to get his team to where it needs to be. However, if Howard could shape up TWO aspects of his game, he would be the greatest big man to ever play the game of basketball professionally – since Wilt Chamberlain. If you don't think so, after I present these two points – you're blind.

What does Kevin Garnett have, and Zydrunas Illgauskas for that matter, that Dwight Howard does not? A mid-range game. The Boston Celtics were overly successful this past season, and they can attribute a vast majority of this to Kevin Garnett's well rounded game. He can step out and hit a jump-shot with a man in his face with absolute consistency. Big Z can do this as well. Howard, who is about the same size height wise, can NOT hit a shot to save his life outside of the restricted area. Dwight – listen to me – practice this in the off-season. Grasp this concept and make it yours. If D-12 can incorporate this into his game this next year, the Orlando Magic (barring a huge trade that decimates the team's chemistry) will be the team to beat in the Eastern Conference for the upcoming season. If Dwight Howard can become an all-around big man, rather than strictly a post player who sets his teammates up from time to time, he will excel exponentially.

The other area where Howard HAS to improve? Free-throws. A good big man can shoot free-throws, because he's going to get there many times. Dwight has a lifetime average of .601 from the free-throw line. Howard has made 2056 out of 3423 free throws. (These are all regular season numbers over his career). That means that Howard has botched a total of 1367 free points for the Orlando Magic over the course of his career. Dwight, their called free-throws for a reason. They should not be a burden on your team. Granted, Howard has excelled throughout the postseason in this area, and is making some strides. His routine is getting better, and he seems to be locking in on his motion. Still, this has to become consistent. Dwight has got to become a better free-throw shooter, if he wants to be a truly outstanding player in the NBA.

I know many people have probably noted all of these things, but I just wanted to lay my two cents out there. Dwight Howard's potential is through the roof. He's virtually unstoppable right now, and he's barely even scratched the surface of what he can accomplish. If Mr. Howard can remain humble, continue to develop in every area of his game, stop with the technical fouls, keep his mouth shut, and stay true to what basketball is about, he will be one of the greatest big men that the National Basketball Association has ever seen take the floor. Count on it.

Lebron and Kobe: Ahhhh Yes.

The Sunday before the NBA Finals begin, and there sure has been a lot of talk about a player who isn't even playing in the Finals. Sure, he and his team were predicted to make it to the NBA Finals to take on the Kobe Bryant led Los Angeles Lakers. However, LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers lost their best-of-7 series last night to the Orlando Magic 4-2, but it was LeBron's actions after the game that have sparked many points on talk shows across the nation.

The Cavs had just been handed their 103-90 defeat at the hands of Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic, and LeBron James (who has already been revered as the "Next Jordan") did something Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant (yea, I said it) , Magic, or even the fiery Rasheed Wallace would not do. LeBron trotted off the court, into the Cavaliers' locker room, and did not address the media until the day after the loss. However, LeBron's comments on the matter were even more astounding. Check them out when you can, but LeBron likened his actions to not congratulating someone who beats you up after a fight. Simply put, LeBron thought shaking hands and being a good sport was stupid, if you just lost the game.

So, what does this mean for the Kobe vs. LeBron debate? Puppets won't solve it, and we obviously won't get an answer in the postseason. However, after evaluating certain aspects of both player's games, I think I have a reasonable explanation for which player is better.

Let's start with their inside game.

Automatically, LeBron is going to stick out in any knowledgeable sport maniac's mind. He's stronger, taller, and is an all-around force in the lane. When he plays off of the pick and roll, he is simply one of the greatest players the NBA has ever had take the floor. The Magic showed that stifling on-ball defense can stop him to an extent, but LeBron still consistently scored 30+ points, and tacked on many of these points from drives off of the pick and roll situations, and by getting to the free throw line. Kobe , though, isn't horrible inside. Bryant's speed is comparable to LeBron's, which makes him a huge force inside the lane as well. With the slightest amount of space, Bryant will drive past anyone who is checking him and make them look silly. Both players continuously make insane plays at the rim, created by their sheer athletic ability in being able to ward off the on-ball defense long enough to create space and get into the lane. This is what separated Kobe from Carmelo (aside from his disappearance from the superstardom realm) in the Western Conference Finals. After all of this, I have to give the edge to LeBron James. His ability to create points no matter who stands in his way is simply unmatchable (however close behind Kobe might be) on any level.

From there, I took a look at the inverse of the inside game, and took a look at each player's outside game.

LeBron is certainly deadly from anywhere on the floor. We saw this with his circus shot at the end of game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Give the man space, and he'll make you pay. Simple as that. When he needs space, he creates it, and hits the outside shot as well as anyone in the game. (I'm not a huge fan of the natural fade he's incorporated, though. Seems to me that it does more to alter his shot than help it.) Kobe is just as good, or better. Take a quick second to think about how many times you've seen Kobe Bryant come down the floor in a game -- whether trailing or leading in the fourth quarter -- and hit a gigantic three pointer to either take the lead or put the game away. The number has to be pretty large. He's simply still the best, at age 30, with clutch shots from anywhere on the floor. I will stand by this statement until LeBron proves me wrong. Sure, LeBron can provide for some flashy, consistent 3-point buckets, but Kobe (to me) seems to consistently shoot that shot a little bit better than the King. I'm going to give the edge on this matter to Kobe Bryant. The discrepancy is small though.

At third base, we have the pull-up jumper.

(*Takes a deep breath*)

I know what you're thinking. "How can he possibly distinguish a leader in this aspect of the game? Both players are equally as deadly." No. They're both spectacular. LeBron can pick his spots from anywhere on the floor, pick up his dribble, and shoot at the peak of his jump and still hit the shot as deadly as anyone. However, LeBron doesn't utilize this part of his game as much. I thoroughly enjoy watching LeBron play. Thinking back to when he joined the league, it has been really interesting to see him mature as a player and as a person. With this part of this game, though, LeBron still needs some maturity. For someone with as deadly of a shot and a game as he has, it would benefit himself even more if he'd utilize this part of his game more than driving to the basket. Still, LeBron is no where close to lacking ability in this area. Kobe Bryant has also taken on the role of sharpshooter from anywhere on the court. When Kobe has the ball in his hands, not only does he regret to pass the ball, he becomes the most feared player on the court. Remember his shot over J.R. Smith in this year's Western Conference Finals? He's the greatest closer in all of basketball, and I KNOW you're heard that statement before in these playoffs. As Mike Breen says, "Bang!". And now we have the winner in the pull-up jumper category -- Kobe Bean Bryant. (Yes, that's his middle name.)

So where else could these two prolific players be compared? Their post play is just another aspect I looked at.

With Lebron, the presence in the post is assured. It is not his given position, but he can surely be effective here. Against Orlando, James took over the position at times, and moved from the corner, backed in on Pietrus, or whoever was guarding him at the time, and usually pulled a textbook Dwight Howard move. He spin around the defense, hop-stepped into position and laid the ball in the hole. (Never without contest from Orlando though.) He seemingly takes over “Big Z's” job from time to time, and makes Anderson Verejao look like an under developed role player....oh wait – that's all he'll ever be. LeBron's height, power, and innate ability to create points and pressure to open up shots for other teammates is something that gives him a large advantage over Mr. Faber in this cate...I mean Kobe Bryant – in this category. However, Shaq's “little brother” is still a good force in the post, just by sheer ability. He's strong, but not near as tall as LeBron or many other post players. But when Bryant goes down low – like he did with Carmelo in many of the 7 games of the Western Conference Finals – he is absolutely a pleasure to watch. He creates more circus shots, usually fade-away jumpers, than any star player has since the Jordan era. The even more daunting statistic is the amount of shots he hits from this type of act. Regardless, Bryant just cannot and WILL not ever be better than LeBron James in the post. There are just too many qualities that LeBron has the upper hand in, that Kobe just does not match up as well.

The next aspect I considered does not have to do with either player's shooting abilities. This evaluation, though, is the hardest for me. Who is better in off-ball play? Kobe or King James?

Kobe has a knack for creating space with screens, and being almost impossible to guard off of the ball. He also designs some pretty, pretty set-ups on the offensive end for the other Lakers. He's constantly moving, never satisfied, and always looking for a way to help his team out. As regrettable as it is to say for someone who absolutely cannot stand Kobe Bryant's persona and facial gestures, language, and much more – he can do it all. LeBron has a knack for creating space with screens, and being almost impossible to guard off of the ball. He also designs some pretty, pretty set-ups on the offensive end for the other Cavs. He's constantly moving, never satisfied, and always looking for a way to help his team out. He had more triple-doubles this year, than most players will have in a lifetime. You see where I'm going with this? Both players are great off the ball players. I can not give either one the upper hand.

From here, I moved to some off-the-court analysis. Which player is the better leader? Is it possible to know with the difference in years played in the league?

LeBron James has won almost every year since he's been in Cleve-town. He's taken his team to the Eastern Conference Finals three times (I believe.) He's won once, and lost twice. When James' Cavaliers beat the Pistons to advance to the clean sweep that the Foreign Floppers (San Antonio Spurs) had coming their way, LeBron was a huge leader in this run. In fact, he carried them. When you have Daniel Gibson as your main contributer in a Finals run, you have to have some type of NBA god-like figure on your team carrying you. LeBron led them through everything...only to get destroyed by an older, more experienced San Antonio team. Last year, LeBron showed promise. Some thought he'd finally become the next “greatest to ever play the game”. He took his Cavaliers to a 7 game series against the Boston Celtics. In a classic game, LeBron outscored Paul “I run slower than Charles Barkley” Pierce, but failed to lead his team back to the Finals. Then, there was Orlando. LeBron had a circus shot/buzzer beater. He took his entire team on his back and scored amazing numbers. Still, the Cavaliers were humiliated after walking through the first two rounds with sweeps. Was he a leader? Sure. He led his team the best that he could. However, my only knock on the guy is this – he still has not showed me that killer instinct that Kobe Bryant has under his belt. When the Cavaliers were trailing in Game 6, LeBron was still trying to set up his other teammates up for open looks. While in one respect, this is a good thing, when you're the MVP, you need to take over games. Pull-up a jumper. Relentlessly drive to the lane. If you fail, then Orlando succeeded in their goal. Kobe Bryant has all of these qualities. Does it come from experience? Maybe. Still, there is no excuse for continuing to return to tricks that are not working, Bron. Bryant smells blood, and he gets what he wants. Sure, he's going to have some games where he is absolutely played superbly on defense. He will still lead his team in scoring 9 out of 10 times. He puts the entire weight of his team filled with great players on HIS BACK. He is, as I said before, the best closer in all of basketball. More times than not, when Bryant is provided with an opportunity, he takes it and capitalizes for all it is worth. (See Denver, Colorado.) I give the edge in leadership to Kobe Bryant

Finally, I looked at one last aspect. This is the aspect that shapes fan's views on players all across this nation. Class.

Since his entrance into this league, Kobe's demeanor has been one of cockiness, and selfishness. Every aspect of the season, in his mind, is about what HE can accomplish for himself and his team. While the latter of this statement sounds great, it's horribly deceptive. He should have his eye on what THE ENTIRE TEAM can accomplish. Likewise, Kobe has long been thought of as having one of the NBA's largest heads. (Not literally, of course. JoaQueen Noah wins that prestigious award.) He was documented to have told Tracy McGrady when they were younger – and by younger I mean still in high school – that he was better than Michael Jordan already. The daft punk, no pun intended, seriously thought he was better than Michael Jordan at age 18. Not only is he a jerk, he's a social time-bomb. He's been involved in a rape case, and then paid off the accuser so that the case would not go further (which to me, is Kobe's way of telling the world “I did it. Just shut up.”). Now, over the course of the past year or so, he and his wife are involved in a case with his former nanny. He's reportedly talked down to her, treated her wrongly, neglected her payments, and his wife was supposedly even worse. I'm waiting for him to pay the nanny off, so that she'll shut up. Note to Kobe: Don't worry, kid. You're reputation is tarnished in the mature adult world. He's everything Michael wasn't, and I don't mean that in a good way. You remember Michael's last All-Star Game, right? Kobe single-handedly tried to make the game about him. He wanted so badly to show the NBA world that he was better than Michael. In the end, Michael hit the circus shot in the corner, and Kobe was left with the ugliest excuse for an afro I've ever seen. Kobe Bryant, because of his persona, will never, ever, ever, come close to being better than Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, or Larry Bird. He's a larger scale Stephon Marbury, without the tattoo and inept basketball ability. LeBron, in this area, already has Kobe beat in far more ways than Kobe beat Denver. Sure, he did not shake Dwight Howard's hand. His logic was flawed, and he should know better now, but I gotta give the guy one free pass. That's the worst thing I've heard LeBron doing since he's been in the league. He's well-spoken, he's kind to the public eye, and rarely does he feel the need to make reporters laugh with coarse words. LeBron is everything Kobe “Cryant” will never be, and I mean this in a GOOD sense. (Their numbers will speak for themselves when they are finished playing the game.)

After all of this painstaking evaluation, I've come to a startling conclusion. I don't think either player is better than the other. Sure, LeBron is a classier guy than Kobe. However, in basketball terms, it just isn't fair to compare the two players. Both players are world-class players, and the privilege the NBA has right now can not be expressed with any words. Think about it. There are two players in the NBA right now that are constantly in verbal contention for the “Greatest Player Ever” award amongst fans. This type of play has not happened since the late 80's. Stop arguing about who is better, and sit back and enjoy some of the best basketball you will see for a long while. It took a handful of years after Jordan retired for the 12th time for the NBA to welcome a player on the caliber of LeBron and Kobe. Cherish this. Dislike certain players for their off-the-court antics, but when they play the game, respect them for what they do. Both players are in a league of their own. One man just has a little more support.

Drinking Game

The following is a result of research I conducted online, and 2 articles I have found.




When I was young in the Lord, it appeared to me that Christians who chose not to drink alcohol were more spiritually mature (in their words and actions) than Christians who do drink alcohol (even in moderation). Granted this was a generalization which was simply based on my personal observations, and it is not necessarily true for every Christian who chooses to drink or not to drink. However, this observation got me wondering about whether or not it is a sin for Christians to drink alcohol. When I studied what the New Testament says about this, I was surprised to find that Jesus and the apostles may have drunk wine.

However, whether Jesus and the apostles drank alcoholic wine or not, the Bible is very clear that drunkenness is a sin:

"Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy." (Romans 13:13)

"But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat." (1 Corinthians 5:11)

"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)

"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." (Ephesians 5:18)

"For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do--living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." (1 Peter 4:3-5)

So the question is whether or not it is acceptable for modern Christians to drink alcohol in moderation, as long as we don't get drunk.

Before I became a Christian, I got drunk quite a few times in college. However, after I graduated from college I got saved, and I decided to drink alcohol only in moderation. I had the occasional beer or the occasional glass of wine with dinner. But as I grew in spiritual maturity and learned how to hear God's voice more clearly, it seemed that God was leading me to ask myself why I drank wine or beer at all. What was my motive? You see, whether or not drinking a little wine is a sin, God looks at the motives of our hearts (see 1 Chronicles 28:9, Proverbs 16:2, and 1 Corinthians 4:5, for example). I began to see that my only reason for drinking a little wine or beer was for that "buzz," because it was "relaxing." I didn't get roaring drunk, but I came to realize that when I started feeling that "buzz" from the alcohol then it meant that the alcohol was affecting me and that I was in the early stages of becoming drunk. So my only reason for drinking a little wine or beer was for the purpose of getting that mild "high," or that mild stage of drunkenness. When I realized that my motive for drinking wine or beer did not seem to be pure before the Lord, I made the choice to stop drinking alcohol, and I haven't had any beer or wine or other alcoholic drink for several years now. But don't get me wrong, I don't mind eating something in a restaurant that has a wine sauce, and I don't mind using something like mouthwash that has alcohol in it, and I would drink the cup of wine at communion if that's what my church served. It's my motives that God is looking at, and therefore I no longer drink alcohol for any kind of "feeling" (or for any other reason).

Even though there are some passages which might indicate that Jesus and the apostles possibly drank wine, consider that their motives were probably different than ours (for one thing, they did not have the wide variety of drinks to choose from that we have today). If Jesus and the apostles drank wine, surely they had much purer motives than we have, and surely they didn't drink it in order to get a "buzz" or to get relaxed and happy like we do! They had the true joy of the Holy Spirit, they didn't need the false joy from fermented spirits.

But what about Jesus' first miracle, where He turned water into wine at a wedding? (see John 2:1-11). Again, it's important to consider the motives for this miracle. Was Jesus saying, "Become My disciples, and we'll booze it up every day and party every night"? Was that His motive for turning water into wine? Isn't it more likely that there was some deeper spiritual or theological significance to this miracle? For example, Bible teachers sometimes point out that Moses (Israel's "deliverer") performed the miracle of turning water into blood (Exodus 7:20). Then they point out that Jesus (our Deliverer) performed the miracle of turning water into wine, wine being a symbol of His blood (Matthew 26:27-29). Also, The Bible Knowledge Commentary (Walvoord and Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary, p.278) points out that the water in the six stone jars at that wedding was for the Jewish purification rites, and Jesus' miracle demonstrated a contrast between the old order of the Pharisees and the new way in Christ. The master of the banquet was surprised that the best wine was saved for last, which was unusual at a wedding. As this commentary says, "The significance of this miracle is that Christianity is an advance over Judaism. God has kept the best gift - His Son - until now." (p.278). Furthermore, the NIV Study Bible says that "John always refers to Jesus' miracles as "signs," a word emphasizing the significance of the action rather than the marvel [itself]" (p.2028, emphasis added). So when the apostle John described the miracle of turning water into wine (John 2:1-11), he was emphasizing that this miracle had spiritual significance. As John 2:11 tells us, Jesus did this miraculous sign in order to reveal His glory. So if we want to use Jesus' miracle of turning water into wine as a justification for drinking alcohol then we need to remember that there were deeper spiritual or theological principles which were the motives for this miracle. There were no Christians at this wedding because the Church had not been born yet, and we should be cautious about justifying our Christian behaviors (such as drinking alcohol) based on events which only concerned Jews who were still living under the Law of Moses.

There is a Scriptural principle that we have freedom in Christ, but notice that this does not mean that everything is beneficial for us in our spiritual growth and maturity:

""Everything is permissible for me"-- but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything." (1 Corinthians 6:12)

""Everything is permissible"-- but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive." (1 Corinthians 10:23)

"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature [the flesh]; rather, serve one another in love." (Galatians 5:13)

Now, consider that there are numerous areas in our lives which God has to deal with us about. We would not be able to handle it if He showed us all of our flaws all at once, so He deals with only one or two issues at a time in our lives. This means that a Christian can probably drink alcohol and still operate in the power of the Holy Spirit while God works on other issues in that Christian's life. I'm not suggesting you do that, I'm just saying that God might deal with you about alcohol after He changes you in other areas first. However, when you start to become "interested" in this issue about whether or not Christians should drink alcohol, then maybe the Lord has started to work with you in this area. If you are a Christian who drinks alcohol, have you been "squirming" while reading this? If you are a Christian who drinks alcohol, has this article offended or upset you? If so, then consider that it might be because your conscience is trying to tell you something. God often speaks to us through our consciences (see my article called How to Hear the Voice of God), so we should obey what our consciences are telling us. Rationalizations such as, "I only drink alcohol because I like the taste," won't fool God if He begins to bother your conscience about drinking (even "moderate" or "social" drinking).

Conclusion

My suggestion would be that if you are a Christian who drinks alcohol, consider examining your motives carefully. Why do you drink? Is it so that you will "fit in" with the worldly people around you? If so, notice God's view of this:

"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." (James 4:4)

We should be very careful about trying to "fit in" with the worldly people around us, because the above passage says that if we choose to be friendly with the world's way of doing things then we are putting ourselves in the position of enemies of God!

Do you drink alcohol for the feeling it gives you? If so, that "feeling" means that the alcohol is affecting you, and therefore your body has reached the beginning stages of drunkenness. We have already seen God's view of drunkenness (see the passages above), so why would a Christian want to flirt with something which God condemns so strongly?

If you drink alcohol, I hope you don't think that I am condemning you, because I'm not (we shouldn't be condemning our brothers and sisters in Christ over issues like this - see chapter 14 of Romans, for example). I am not going to be judged by the things that you do, the Lord is only going to judge me based on the things that I do. So whether you choose to drink or not is none of my business. But I do care what happens to my brothers and sisters in the Lord, and I do want to help encourage you to continue growing more and more in spiritual maturity. That's why I want to help you to see that the Lord might begin to trouble your conscience about your drinking, and that the only way to grow in the Lord is to be obedient to Him. Notice how important it is for us to keep a clear conscience before God:

"So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man." (Acts 24:16)

"Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience." (Romans 13:5)

"My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me." (1 Corinthians 4:4)

"Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace." (2 Corinthians 1:12)

"The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." (1 Timothy 1:5)

"Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith." (1 Timothy 1:18-19)

"They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience." (1 Timothy 3:9)

"I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers." (2 Timothy 1:3)

"How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" (Hebrews 9:14)

"let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:22)

"Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way." (Hebrews 13:18)

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." (1 Peter 3:15-16)

It is very important that we keep a clear conscience before the Lord because that is one way in which He often guides us. So if you are a Christian who drinks alcohol, and you find that you are beginning to wonder if it's okay for Christians to drink (or if you have been "squirming" or getting upset while reading this), then God is probably dealing with you in your conscience about drinking. Simply obey Him and give it up. You'll be glad you did! Notice that I'm not saying that alcohol is evil or that we shouldn't be drinking, I'm simply saying that we should all be trying to honor God by obeying our consciences. My point is that God has dealt with me in my conscience about moderate drinking, and there are prominent Christians who also say that God has led them not to drink alcohol. Therefore, if you are a Christian who drinks alcohol (even in moderation), it is possible that God will begin to work with you in your conscience at some point about your drinking. If He does, then that's when you should obey Him and give it up.

Now, Based on a thorough examination of the Greek texts, the author of Wine in the Bible: A Biblical Study on the Use of Alcoholic Beverages provides interesting evidence that Jesus and the apostles never drank alcoholic wine, nor did they ever approve of alcohol in any form. This would mean that Christians have no Scriptural support for drinking any alcoholic drinks, even in moderation.






A Biblical Study of Alcohol

WINE IN THE BIBLE: A BIBLICAL STUDY ON THE USE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

A PREVIEW OF WINE IN THE BIBLE

Samuele Bacchiocchi, Ph. D., Andrews University

A comment I often hear when meeting readers of my books in different parts of the world, goes something like this: "I enjoyed immensely your book on . . . , but I must confess that I haven’t finished reading it yet." Reading only a portion of a book often means missing what could be the most important part of its content and failing to gain a complete picture of the subject presented.

Partly out of consideration toward those readers whose busy lifestyle makes it difficult to read a book through systematically to the end, and partly out of a desire to give at the outset an overview of the issues discussed, I decided to try something new. Instead of giving a summary of this book at the end by way of conclusion, I am presenting a preview of its content at the beginning. The concept of a preview is hardly new. The underlying assumption is that if a person likes the preview, he or she will be motivated to purchase the product. Applied to this study, it is my hope that an introductory preview will accomplish two objectives: (1) provide an overview of the various issues examined and conclusions reached; (2) stimulate readers to read the whole book to gain a fuller understanding of the many issues discussed.

This book addresses from a Biblical perspective the most prevailing, costly and destructive habit of our society, the drinking of alcoholic beverages.

A Look at the Drinking Problem. The study begins in Chapter 1 with a look at the drinking problem in America today and our Christian responsibility toward it. The drinking of alcoholic beverages by over 100 million Americans is rightly regarded by social analysts as America’s number-one public enemy. This "beloved enemy," as Jack Van Impe calls it,1 claims at least 100,000 American lives per year, 25 times as many as all illegal drugs combined.2

The economic cost to the American society of the use of alcohol is estimated by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism at $117 billion a year.3 This staggering figure includes the cost of premature deaths, reduced production and special treatments.

The real human cost of alcohol, however, transcends any statistical estimate of deaths, disabilities or dollar figures. A 1987 Gallup Poll indicates that 1 in 4 families are troubled by alcohol.4 This means that more than 61 million Americans are affected by some alcohol-related problems such as retarded children, divorce, violence in the home, crime, sickness and death.

A Christian Responsibility. Christian churches bear considerable responsibility for the inestimable human and economic costs of alcohol, because through their beliefs, teachings and preaching they are able to influence the moral values and practices of society, possibly more than does any other institution. For example, in the early part of this century evangelical churches played a major role in influencing the passing of the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States on January 16, 1919, outlawing the "manufacture, sale or transportation" of alcoholic beverages.

Since the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, however, most churches have abandoned their stand for total abstinence, encouragin " moderation" instead. Unfortunately, moderation has led over 18 million Americans to become immoderate drinkers,5 because alcohol is a habit-forming narcotic which weakens one’s capacity for self-control.

The moderationist position rests on the belief that Scripture condemns the immoderate use of alcohol but approves its moderate use. This belief is in turn based on the assumption that the Bible knows only of fermented wine ("one wine theory") which it considers as a divine blessing to be enjoyed with moderation. According to this theory, any condemnation of wine in the Bible refers not to the kind of wine, but to the amount consumed.

Moral or Medical Issue? By maintaining that the Bible sanctions the moderate use of alcoholic beverages, moderationists have led people to believe that drinking alcohol is not a moral but a medical issue. It is not a transgression of a God-given principle, but a habit which can harm one’s health, if abused. The elimination of any sinful connotation from the use of alcohol has had an enormous influence on the drinking habits of millions of Christians. It has provided Christians with an alleged Biblical and moral justification for drinking alcohol, thus depriving them of a Biblical and moral conviction for abstaining from intoxicating beverages.

In view of the immense influence the moderationist view has had on the drinking habits of millions of Christians, the major objective of this study has been to examine its fundamental assumption, namely, that the Bible sanctions a moderate use of alcoholic beverages. Since this assumption is dictated by the belief that the terms for "wine" in the Bible always mean "fermented wine," I began this investigation by ascertaining the Biblical and historical usage of such terms.

The Meaning of "Wine." The objective of the survey conducted in Chapter 2 was to ascertain if the terms used for "wine" in the Bible denote exclusively fermented wine or inclusively either fermented or unfermented wine. I traced the usage of the word "wine" backward, from English, to Latin, Greek and finally to Hebrew. The survey shows that the four related words—wine in English, vinum in Latin, oinos in Greek and yayin in Hebrew—have been used historically to refer to the juice of the grape, whether fermented or unfermented. This significant finding discredits the claim that the Bible knows only fermented wine, which it approves when used moderately. The truth of the matter is that the Bible knows both fermented wine, which it disapproves, and unfermented grape juice, which it approves.

"Wine" in Biblical Perspective. Building on the conclusions reached in Chapter 2, I proceeded in Chapter 3 to examine the reasons for the Biblical approval and disapproval of wine. What I found is that the positive references to "wine" have to do with unfermented and unintoxicating grape juice. Because of its natural and nourishing properties, grape juice was fittingly used to represent the divine blessing of material prosperity (Gen 27:28; 49:10-11; Deut 33:28), the blessing of the messianic age (Joel 2:18-19; Jer 31:10-12; Amos 9:13, 14), the free offer of God’s saving grace (Is 55:1), the wholesome joy God offers to His people (Ps 104:14-15; 4:7), and the acknowledgment of God through the use of grape juice as tithe, offerings and libations (Num 18:12; Deut 14:23; Ex 29:40; Lev 23:13).

On the other hand, the negative references to "wine" have to do with fermented and intoxicating wine. Some of the reasons Scripture condemns the use of alcoholic beverages are that they distort the perception of reality (Is 28:7; Prov 23:33); they impair the capacity to make responsible decisions (Lev 10:9-11); they weaken moral sensitivities and inhibitions (Gen 9:21; 19:32; Hab 2:15; Is 5:11-12); they cause physical sickness (Prov 23:20-21; Hos 7:5; Is 19:14; Ps 60:3); and they disqualify for both civil and religious service (Prov 31:4-5; Lev 10:9-11; Ezek 44:23; 1 Tim 3:2-3; Titus 1:7-8).

The Preservation of Wine. A major objection against the view that Scripture approves the use of unfermented grape juice is the alleged impossibility in Bible times of preserving grape juice unfermented. Thus, I devoted Chapter 4 to probing this popular assumption by investigating the testimonies of ancient writers regarding the art of preserving fruits and wines in general and grape juice in particular. To my surprise I discovered that the ancients were far more knowledgeable in the art of preserving fruits and wines than is generally believed.

Contrary to popular opinion, the problems the ancients encountered in preserving fermented wine were as great as, if not actually greater than, those faced in preserving unfermented grape juice. To prevent fermented wine from becoming acid, moldy, or foul-smelling, vintners used a host of preservatives such as salt, sea-water, liquid or solid pitch, boiled-down must, marble dust, lime, sulphur fumes and crushed iris.

In comparison to preserving fermented wine, preserving grape juice unfermented was a relatively simpler process. It was accomplished by boiling down the juice to a syrup, or by separating the fermentable pulp from the juice of the grape by means of filtration, or by placing the grape juice in sealed jars which were immersed in a pool of cold water, or by fumigating the wine jars with sulphur before sealing them. The use of such techniques clearly indicates that the means of preserving grape juice without fermentation were known and used in the ancient world. This conclusion is indirectly supported by the teachings and example of Jesus.

Jesus and Wine. The next logical step was to examine the major wine-related stories or sayings of Jesus since these are commonly used to prove that Christ made, commended, used and even commanded the use of alcoholic wine. In Chapter 5 I went into considerable detail to examine these claims. The conclusion of my analysis is that they are devoid of textual, contextual and historical support.

The "good wine" Jesus made at Cana (John 2:10) was "good" not because of its high alcoholic content, but because it was fresh, unfermented grape juice. This is indicated by external and internal considerations. Externally, contemporary authors, such as Pliny and Plutarch, attest that "good wines" were those which did not intoxicate, having had their alcoholic potency removed. Internally, moral consistency demands that Christ could not have miraculously produced between 120 to 160 gallons of intoxicating wine for the use of men, women and children gathered at the Cana’s wedding feast, without becoming morally responsible for prolonging and increasing their intoxication. Scriptural and moral consistency requires that "the good wine" produced by Christ was fresh, unfermented grape juice. This is supported by the very adjective used to describe it, namely kalos, which denotes that which is morally excellent, instead of agathos, which means simply good.

The "new wine" Jesus commended through the parable of the new wineskins (Luke 5:37-38; Mark 2:22) was unfermented must, either boiled or filtered, because not even new wineskins could withstand the pressure of the gas produced by fermenting new wine.

The self-description of Jesus as "eating and drinking" (Matt 11:19; Luke 7:34) does not imply that He used alcoholic wine, but rather that He freely associated with people at their meals and elsewhere. The phrase "eating and drinking" was used idiomatically to describe Christ’s social lifestyle.

The "fruit of the vine" Christ commanded to be used as a memorial of His redeeming blood (Matt 26:28-29; Mark 14:24-25) was not fermented wine, which in the Scripture represents human depravity and divine indignation, but pure unfermented grape juice, which is a fitting emblem of Christ’s untainted blood shed for the remission of our sins. This conclusion was established through a study of the language of the Last Supper, the Jewish Passover wine, the Passover law of fermentation, the consistency of the symbol and the survival of the use of unfermented grape juice at the Lord’s Supper. Most telling is the fact that Josephus calls the freshly squeezed grape juice "the fruit of the vine." This establishes unequivocally that the phrase was used to designate the sweet, unfermented juice of the grape. The evidences submitted shows that Jesus abstained from all intoxicating substances and gave no sanction to His followers for using them.

Wine in the Apostolic Church. The way the Apostolic Church understood, preached and practiced the teachings of Jesus and of the Old Testament regarding the use of alcoholic beverages provides a most valuable verification and clarification as to whether Scripture teaches moderation or abstinence. In view of the fundamental importance attached to the witness of the Apostolic Church, my next logical step was to examine in Chapter 6 the apostolic teachings regarding the use of wine in particular and of intoxicating substances in general.

This investigation proved to be the most rewarding. Contrary to the prevailing perception, I found that the New Testament is amazingly consistent in its teaching of abstinence from the use of alcoholic beverages. The very passages often used to support the moderationist view, under close scrutiny were found to negate such a view, teaching abstinence instead. For example, the irony of the mockers’ charge that on the day of Pentecost the apostles were drunk on gleukos, that is, on the grape juice which apparently was their common beverage (Acts 2:13), provides an indirect but important proof of their abstmious life-style and inferentially of the life-style of their Master. There would have been no point in the mockers' attributing to unfermented grape juice the cause of the disciples' strange actions, if it was not common knowledge that the apostles abstained from intoxicating wine. The intended jibewas that the disciples were such naíve simpletons they got drunk on grape juice!

Similarly, Paul’s reference to drunkenness at the communion table of the Corinthian church (1 Cor 11:21) offers no support for a moderate use of alcoholic wine, for two reasons. First, whatever was done at Corinth was a departure from the instructions Paul had delivered to the church (1 Cor 11:23); thus, the Corinthians' conduct constitutes a warning rather than an example for us. Second, a study of the meaning of the verb methuo ("satiated") and of the implications of Paul’s admonitions, clearly suggests that the problem at Corinth was indulgence in eating rather than intoxication with alcoholic wine.

I found one of the most powerful Biblical indictments against intoxicating wine in Ephesians 5:18, where Paul condemns wine as the cause of debauchery and shows the irreconcilable contrast between the spirit of wine and the Holy Spirit of God. To my great surprise, however, I found that most English translations and commentaries have chosen to translate or interpret Ephesians 5:18 by making "drunkenness" rather than "wine" the cause of debauchery. This was surprising to me because not only the Catholic and Protestant Italian translations, with which I am most familiar, but also numerous other ancient and modern translations, all translate Paul’s text as saying that in the very nature of wine is debauchery. It seems that some English translators had such a predilection for wine that they decided, to borrow the words of Ernest Gordon, to "save the face of wine while condemning drunkenness."6

The translators’ bias toward wine became most evident in the study of the apostolic admonitions to abstinence, expressed through the verb nepho and the adjective nephalios. The first meaning of the verb is "to abstain from wine" and of the adjective "abstinent, without wine." Yet these words have been consistently translated with their secondary sense of being "temperate, sober, steady," rather than by their primary sense of being "abstinent." Such biased and inaccurate translations have misled many sincere Christians into believing that the Bible teaches moderation in the use of alcoholic beverages, rather than abstinence from them.

It was equally surprising for me to discover that the fundamental reason given by Peter and Paul for their call to a life of mental vigilance and physical abstinence is eschatological, namely, preparation to live in the holy presence of Christ at His soon Coming. This reason has added significance for Christians like the Seventh-day Adventists, who accept the Biblical teachings on the Second Advent literally rather than existentially, that is, as a future realization of our present expectations rather than a present experience of the future. To abstain from intoxicating substances represents a tangible response to God’s invitation to make concrete preparation for the physical return of Christ. The analysis of the apostolic teachings regarding alcoholic beverages presented in Chapter 6, the longest in the book, provides in my view the most compelling defense of the Biblical principle of abstinence from intoxicating beverages.

Some Misunderstood Passages. To be fair to those who find support for their moderationist position in certain Biblical passages, I devoted Chapter 7 to an extensive analysis of five of such passages. The study of each text in the light of its immediate and larger context, the historical customs of the time and the overall teaching of Scripture, has shown that none of them contradict the Biblical imperative for abstinence. On the contrary, some of them indirectly but conclusively support abstinence.

Proverbs 31:6, for example, suggests in an ironical fashion that alcoholic beverages are only suited for killing the excruciating pain of someone who is dying. Similarly, Hosea 4:11 provides no justification for a moderate use of alcoholic beverages for two reasons. First, because "wine and new wine" are mentioned figuratively, as representative of the good gifts God had provided to the children of Israel, gifts which they had used for idolatrous purposes. Second, even if "wine and new wine" were alcoholic, they are condemned in the text for taking away understanding, irrespective of the quantity used.

In a different yet equally convincing way, 1 Timothy 5:23 supports the principle of abstinence in two significant ways. First, the advice, "No longer drink only water," implies that Timothy, like the priests and Nazirites, had abstained until that time from both fermented and unfermented wines, presumably in accordance with the instructions and example of Paul. Second, the apostle recommended to Timothy to use only a little wine, not for the physical pleasure of the belly, but for the medical need of the stomach. Ancient writers such as Aristotle, Athanaeus, and Pliny indicate that unfermented wine was known and preferred to alcoholic wine for medical purposes, because it did not have the side effects of the latter. In the light of these testimonies and of the other Biblical teachings regarding wine, it is reasonable to assume that the wine recommended by Paul for medical use was unfermented grape juice.

The conclusion of this whole study on the Biblical teaching regarding the use of alcoholic beverages can be summarized in one sentence: Scripture is consistent in teaching moderation in the use of wholesome, unfermented beverages and abstinence from the use of intoxicating fermented beverages.

Ellen White and Alcoholic Beverages. In view of the major influence exerted by Ellen G. While in the adoption of the Biblical principle of abstinence from alcoholic beverages by the Seventh-day Adventist church, I felt it appropriate to examine in Chapter 8 her understanding of Christian temperance in general and of abstinence in particular.

The study reveals that for Ellen White the message of temperance was a fundamental part of the gospel and of the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist church. Such a message entails teaching people moderation in the use of healthful things and abstinence from the use of harmful things such as alcoholic beverages.

Ellen White deeply believed that total abstinence is a principle clearly taught in the Scripture by warnings and examples. Disregard for this principle represents a violation of the law of God. Obedience to this principle, through Christ’s enabling power, contributes to the restoration of God’s moral image in us. This restoration is an essential part of our preparation for Christ’s return.

Ellen White discusses at great length the harmful effects of the use of alcoholic beverages upon the individual, the home and society at large. The ill effects upon the drinker are mental, moral and physical. As for the home, the use of alcoholic beverages often deprives families of their basic necessities, and fosters violence and the abuse of children. With reference to society, Ellen White finds alcohol consumption to be an incentive to crime, a major cause of accidents and of public-health problems. The theological convictions and practical counsels of Ellen White on the use of alcoholic beverages stand out, in my view, for their Biblical consistency and their practical relevance to our time.

Alcohol in America. To help the reader appreciate from a social and medical perspective why the Bible condemns the use of alcoholic beverages, I have devoted Chapter 9 to a brief survey of the social and medical consequences of alcohol consumption in American society. The survey indicates that the cost of alcohol use to the American people is appallingly high, not only in economic terms ($117 billion per year), but also in terms of human pain, misery, violence, child and spouse abuse, divorces, crime, sickness and death. It is inconceivable to think that at least 100,000 human lives are lost every year in America alone because of alcohol-related problems.

If America wants to deal effectively with the tragedy of alcohol, it must develop an entirely new cultural attitude through the aggressive promotion of abstinence. Christians can play a vital role in this endeavor, if they recover the Biblical imperative for abstinence. It is only when Christians recognize and accept the fact that drinking alcoholic beverages is not only physically harmful, but also Biblically and morally wrong, that they are likely to feel compelled, not only to abstain from intoxicating substances themselves, but also to help others do likewise.

A Striking Thought

Well, I've been here in college for about 2 weeks now. Things have been very fast, very fun, and highly enjoyable. I've met some awesome people, and I am really excited to see what things God shows and teaches me over the next four years.

However, there is something I have already realized since I've been down here, and it's something that I believe many people are having a problem with as well.

As I've spent the past two weeks here in Tuscaloosa I've encountered a plethora of people from all sorts of religious backgrounds. Some are muslim, some are undoubtedly Buddhist, and there are some that are as religiously stale as they come. The bulk of the Tuscaloosa crowd, however, would claim to be Christian. Now, I realize that some people have different outlooks on the Bible and things of that sort, but recently I have been very disturbed by what I've seen. Countless numbers of these people claim Christ as their savior, yet display no fruits of the spirit. How am I supposed to know that they are a Christian? By the way they "religiously" attend The Well on Wednesday nights, in what looks like an attempt to "make things right," before they kick-off the party scene on Thursday night and get plastered with their friends? That is NOT the vibe I wish I was getting from many of these people.

I know this may sound a little "harsh" , if you will, but I don't mean this in a judging way. This is just something that erks me to the fullest extent. How can you claim Christ and then go out and live like this? Are you really telling me that you think it is PERFECTLY ok to go out and play some beer pong and get plastered, and then come back home and sleep it off, and wake up and do it again until Sunday. On Sunday, you wake up and go to church and feel bad about yourself, and leave feeling like a better person. Then, on Wednesday you go BACK to church and feel even worse about yourself, and have a good time getting closer to God....for an hour. Then, on Thursday you throw Christ to the backseat, and let your sinful desires take over. It's a disgusting cycle.

Note -- I am not singling out anyone. I can say these things based on friends I have back home, and people I have encountered and know.



So, as preturbed as I am by this, I have realized where I fail. I absolutely cannot stand people who live like I just decribed, yet I claim to be a Christian too. I, scratch that, WE should be going out and ministering to these people. Showing Christ's love to them day in and day out. Could it be that the reason they act that way is because they have not surrounded themselves with Godly friends to help keep them accountable? Probably so!

This campus is on fire. However, it's not on fire for Christ, it's on a sinful rage, and it's overwhelming. The row I live on, the people I go to class with, the friends that are in my study groups -- it's all around me.

I've made many mistakes in my life. I've also seen my fair share of mistake-ridden people turn into God-fearing men and women. People who have lived their life with Christ in the backseat, and with the world at the wheel. People who don't understand the full meaning of the statement, "Be in the world, not of it."

So I end my rant on this note. Which Jesus do you follow? If Ephesians says to imitate Christ
Then why do you look so much like the world? My Jesus bled and died for my sins. He spent His time with thieves, and sluts, and liars. He loved the poor and accosted the rich.
So which one do you want to be?


I want to be like my Jesus.


Prayer: Dear God, I pray that you would take hold of my life and make me more like you. I have a desire for these people that don't know you, and are stale in their walk with You, to come closer to you. Please use me in their lives. Use me on this campus. I want to be able to leave in 2013 knowing that I made an impact for You in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Guide me, and show me your will, but above all else, be GLORIFIED, in all that I say, and in all that I do. In Your Holy name,

Amen.