For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
michael fleischman
I have been diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder. Its an awful thing to deal with. Feeling panicky, jittery, inability to relax etc… Its genetic and I have suffered from it for years. I take Ativan which is an anti anxiety drug and it helps a lot but its expensive so when I'm really feeling out of sorts I take a couple of shots of whisky. This does not make me drunk but merely takes the edge off and allows me to function normally. Let me stress that I only take two shots on the days that I do drink. I've been doing it for years and its never led me or tempted me to become a heavy drinker. Certainly there must be some allowances in the bible for people like me who don't abuse alcohol but use it for medicinal purposes? I have prayed and prayed to be released from this anxiety affliction to no avail so Im going to assume that God will allow me to deal with it in a temperant manner. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Colin Wong
Hey Michael.
Drinking alcohol is not a sin. Jesus turned water to wine. Jesus also instructed us to drink wine in recognition of a new covenant through his blood in the Holy Communion.
So I think the context of the question being asked is actually directed more towards alcoholics - folks with a destructive addiction, who made alcohol an idol in their life.
Assuming you're taking it for medical reasons and nothing more, you're fine.
reb key
maybe you could go on a serious fasting. drinking is not a sin. getting drunk is. alcoholics will still go to heaven if they confess jesus christ as their savior and believe in their heart. otherwise nobody will go to heaven as the list that includes alcoholics include many other sins. Paul says: you were once like those, but now you are cleansed and sactified. we are saved by grace. alcoholics are in a bondage,but Jesus can break any bondage, so pray the bondage be broken, because that kind of life, free of bondages, exalts god, life governed by alchohol does not exalt god. we will all have to come to the judgment seat of our god even as christians, so make sure your life glorifies god. but i do not think u will not go to heaven if you drink or if you get drunk or if you are an alcoholic. we are saved by grace. otherwise when u come to the Lord as an alcoholic or any kind of addict, does that mean that you are saved only from the moment you leave alcholol? while it is the truth that many still drink even after they have been saved? Does God wait for you to stop drinking to save you? Do you have to be perfect to be saved? NO. This is an important point.
But renew your mind and see what the will of god is, and the will of god is that you exalt his name with your life and your living. you will be responsible how you live your life. Amen
reb key
Anyway, this article on alcoholism is somewhat superflous and, i thougt it would be answering some more important questionmarks such as the one above....
Susan Jeavons
My son is an alcoholic. He also has COPD, and schizo effective disorder. A year ago I sat with him while he accepted Christ as his savior. We cried and he told me he was so happy that he did it. He could not walk very far because of the COPD, so he listened to Christian Country Mornings every Sunday and the pastor at Eagleville Baptist Church brought him much encouragement.
On Thursday, my 49-year-old son passed away. My heart is broken. I am worried for his soul. If he accepted Christ as his savior and tried to repent, which he did, is he saved even though he never conquered his disease?
Thank you in advance.