Beverage Alcohol as a Medicine

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Is it Wrong to use Beverage Alcohol as a Medicine?

Beverage alcohol is simply alcohol (in any form: beer, wine, liquor) that is consumed as a beverage.  I cannot imagine why anyone would want to use it that way!  Far too many are looking for an excuse to drink and, therefore, pacify themselves by claiming it is for "medicinal purposes."

Alcohol is a "colorless volatile flammable liquid that is the intoxicating agent in fermented and distilled liquors."  It is a disinfectant, "an agent that frees from infection, a chemical that destroys vegetative forms of harmful micro-organisms."  It is a killer!  It destroys thousands and thousands of lives each year.

The Bible condemns beverage alcohol every step of the way.  "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise" (Proverbs 20:1). "Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness" (Habakkuk 2:15)!  Drunkenness is a work of the flesh and prohibits one from ever entering the kingdom of heaven (Galations 5:19-21).  Certainly one can repent and turn from drinking, but there will be no drunkards (alcoholics) in heaven.  Even the first drink, which begins the process of becoming drunk, is condemned in Ephesians 5:18.  Friend, don’t be guilty of drinking.

Even if one were able to get around the scriptures (which one cannot) and use beverage alcohol as a medicine, what about your influence?  How are you going to obtain it?  What about those who see you buy it, the passerby, the clerk, the sack boy?  If you say you will have someone else buy it for you, then what about that person?  What about those who see it in your house?  Would you be embarrassed by its discovery in your home?  Would you attempt to hide it or leave it in open view?  What about the people who pick up your garbage?  Will they ever think you do not drink when they continually dispose of empty bottles and cans week after week?  You bring reproach and shame on yourself by its very appearance.

There are plenty of medicines available today for our illnesses.  Nothing is thought about the use of these medicines; whereas, a great deal is thought about when alcohol is used.  A faithful Christian will not be connected or associated with it.

– Garland M. Robinson, December 2000 –