Your Daily Slice

Av 21

Sobriety

“A congregation leader must be above reproach … He must not drink excessively or get into fights.” (1Tim 3:2-3 CJB)

In my lifetime, I have met only one person – face to face – who has never taken even a sip of an alcoholic beverage, nor has he had a single puff of a cigarette.  The gentleman is a Full-Gospel minister, son of a Full-Gospel minister, and a very special friend to my husband and I.  This man is so filled with joy, from not only his relationship with Elohim, but from life itself, and it overflows to all around him.  It has been an honor to know this man and his family, and his dedication to our Creator has been an example to us for years.

Not many, I would imagine, could make the same claim as our minister friend.  Alcohol and substance abuse is at epidemic stage in our nation, and the severe health problems associated with such abuse is only the tip of the iceberg.  The financial loss is astronomical, starting with the cost of the alcohol consumed, and carrying through to the treatment of all of the medical problems that are the effect of the addiction.  Follow through with all of the behavioral changes in any individual that is involved in consuming large amounts of alcohol, and we end up with a “Dr. Jekyll/Mister Hyde” type syndrome, with personality disorders that are off the chart.  Most people – not all, I will concede – that are heavy drinkers ultimately end up in bar fights and brawls; again, injuries sustained in these events, as well as any property damage incurred, can be very costly.  None of it is good, and does not paint a pretty picture.

Please notice that our opening verse uses the phrase “drink excessively”.  I am certainly not against having the occasional glass of wine or cocktail; however, I stress the word ‘occasional’.  A daily habit of partaking of alcoholic beverages should be carefully scrutinized; perhaps there are problems beneath the surface that need to be addressed, and not drowned in alcohol.  We are admonished in the Scriptures to be ‘sober’, or ‘sober-minded’ (1Pet 4:7), and the KJV of Phi 4:5 reads to “Let your moderation be known unto all men.”

Years ago, when my husband and I were still part of the westernized church system, there was a phrase that was fairly common in Full-Gospel circles.  We were advised and forewarned to never do anything that would harm or destroy our witness and testimony.  Now, since we have learned about the concept of honor/shame in the Scriptural narrative, we understand and translate that to mean that we must never do anything that would bring shame to the One who created us.  We are to always, to the best of our ability, bring Him honor.

A potential congregational leader that is continuously drunk and disorderly should not even be seriously considered.  There is no fear of Elohim, and there is no honor in what that one is doing.

‘Nuf said.

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