The War Against Beverage Alcohol

GOLDEN TEXT: “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” —Romans 12:2

ISAIAH 5:11-14; MATTHEW 18:6; ROMANS 13:11-14; JAMES 4:17

THE example of a Christian life of righteousness should be a potent influence for good, and against all the evil practices of the world, including the use of strong drink. However, God has not commissioned his people during this age to participate in crusades against moral corruption, whether of strong drink or along other lines. The Christian’s business is to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom, and to back up his oral witnessing by a life conformed to the righteous will of God pertaining to purity of conduct along all lines.

Such witnessing for the truth is likely to accomplish considerable in the way of reforming the lives of the hearers, and most certainly will in the case of those who believe. It is thus that the Holy Spirit, through the lives of God’s consecrated believers, brings a sense of condemnation upon many in the unbelieving world. And certainly we all rejoice to see evidences along this line. The situation would be hopeless, however, were it not for the assurances of God’s Word that the thousand-year reign of Christ will actually and fully accomplish the moral reformation of the people; so we look for that “new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

In the 5th chapter of Isaiah the nation of Israel is likened to a “vineyard” planted by the Lord, but it failed to bring forth the fruits of righteousness. Because of this, the destruction of the nation is foretold. In Matthew 21:33-46 Jesus sets forth this same parable, and indicates that the foretold punishment was due to come upon Israel in his day.

In Isaiah’s prophecy, a number of “woes” are expressed, and different reasons given for them. The verses assigned for our lesson refer to those who continue in “strong drink, that continue until night till wine inflame them,” or as the margin states it, “pursue them.” “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.”—vs. 12

A literal scene of this kind would certainly be displeasing to the Lord, and quite out of keeping with Christian standards of conduct. However, it may also be a symbolic description of the general attitude of the nation of Israel—their lack of reverence for God, and their failure to obey his Law. They had become intoxicated with the worship of false gods, and other evil practices.

“Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge.” (vs. 13) This could refer to the captivity in Babylon, but since Jesus takes a lesson from this chapter and applies it to Israel in his day, it would seem to have a larger fulfillment in the general scattering of the Israelites among all nations, which was a much greater and longer captivity.

“Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure.” (vs. 14) “Hell” here is a translation of the Hebrew word sheol, which denotes the state or condition of death. Thus emphasis is again placed on the fact that “the wages of sin is death.” (Rom. 6:23) This is true of nations as well as of individuals. Israel died as a free and independent nation in 606 B.C., but is now being “resurrected” because the time has come to “bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem.”—Joel 3:1

The “little ones” referred to in Matthew 18:6 are the Lord’s own disciples of the Gospel age. They are thus named because they “become as little children,” in contrast with the apparent ambition of some of Jesus’ immediate followers to be greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 18:1) These “little ones” are very precious in the sight of God, and any injury done to them will not go unpunished. Jesus speaks of the possibility of offending one of them. This could apply to any effort to lead them away from the path of truth.

Paul’s admonition to cast off the “works of darkness” and “put on the armor of light” because the “night is far spent and the day is at hand,” is a very timely one. “Let us walk honestly, as in the day,” he writes, and then adds, “not in … drunkenness.” Most Bible students apply this to spiritual intoxication. It would hardly seem possible that those to whom Paul is writing, those whom he admonishes—as in our Golden Text—to renew their minds and to prove what “is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God,” would be living so far from the Lord as to be indulging in “rioting and drunkenness,” and in “chambering and wantonness.”

However, in this “evil day” in which we are living, there is a danger of becoming intoxicated with false doctrines and to become lawless in our walk in the narrow way. Our only protection against all these evils is to “put on the whole armor of God,” which is the “armor of light”—that is, the truth.

QUESTIONS

Are Christians commissioned to participate in crusades against sin?

Explain the general lesson set forth in Isaiah, chapter 5. How did Jesus apply it?

Who are the “little ones” referred to by Jesus, and how may they be offended?

In Romans 13:13, does Paul refer to literal drunkenness or spiritual intoxication?

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