The following material is from Christian Counseling-A comprehensive Guide by Gary R. Collins We suggest you purchase this book for your library at Amazon.com
THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

Excessive use of alcohol does not affect everyone in the same way. It is well known, for example, that some people become charming and loquacious after a few drinks, others become nasty and aggressive. Some hide their alcoholic intake well, but others show almost immediate behavior changes. Even with these differences, however, developing alcoholics show many similar physical and behavioral effects of the addiction.

An alcoholic moves from the early stages of occasional social drinking through the crucial and chronic phases to the point where complete defeat is admitted and the alcoholic progresses through reha­bilitation to recovery.

1. Physical Effects. Whenever a chemical substance is taken into the body there will be a physiological reaction. The nature of this reaction depends on the physical condition of the person, the type of drug taken, the amount, and the frequency with which it is used.
Alcohol is a toxin (poison) that affects most body cells. If taken rapidly, the alco­hol content of the blood rises, the brain's functioning is impaired temporarily, and the drinker's balance, motor skills, thinking, and emotional responses are influ­enced. If alcohol is taken consistently and in large amounts, almost every body organ will be affected either directly or indirectly, and severe physical damage can result.
In about one-third off all heavy drinkers, for example, liver cells are destroyed and the organ is no longer able to process the nutrients in food. This liver disease, cirrho­sis, is usually painless until the damage is too advanced to be treated successfully.

Heavy alcohol use can also permanently damage the brain and nervous system, lead to numerous gastrointestinal diseases, put extra pressure on the heart so that strokes or heart attacks are more likely, inhibit the manufacture of red and white blood cells, lead to impotence, and cause potentially serious risk to a developing fetus. Recent research suggests that long-term alcohol abuse can also increase the risk of liver, stomach, colon, or breast cancer. Because of these physical aspects of addiction, medical intervention is a crucial part of treatment.

2. Psychological-Social Effects. Since alcohol abuse is so common, many peo­ple are familiar with its most obvious effects: dulled thinking, inappropriate behav­ior and emotional responses, self-neglect, withdrawal, and loss of social inhibitions. As the condition worsens, psychological defenses begin to build, most noticeably rationalizations (making excuses for drinking or the resulting behavior), repression, spontaneous forgetting of shameful and painful memories), projection (blaming others for one's problems and unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or actions) and, per­haps most common of all, denial that a problem exists.38 Later life is built around getting enough alcohol; all else is of secondary importance.



3. Family Effects. The family effects of alcohol abuse have already been men­tioned. Families at first try to protect, control, and blame the drinker. Then they take over the alcoholic's responsibilities, all the while living with tension, fear, inse­curity, and shame. Often there is embarrassment that leads the family to withdraw from others. As a result there may be loneliness and social isolation.

4. Spiritual Effects. It is impossible to grow spiritually when one is dependent on and controlled by a drug. Many alcoholics know this, but they seem powerless to change. As a result there is greater alienation from God. The alcohol becomes an idol of worship, the thing that matters most. This can have adverse spiritual influ­ences on the family, although some families appear to draw closer to God during their time of crisis.

THE BIBLE AND ALCOHOLISM

The Bible does not appear to teach abstinence, although it does teach temperance. In Psalm 104, wine is included among the blessings from God and described as something that "gladdens the heart of man." In his first miracle, Jesus made wine from water, wine apparently was taken at the last supper, and it appears that Jesus himself drank wine. Paul showed no hesitation in urging Timothy to "use a little wine" because of his stomach problems and frequent illnesses.

According to one writer, the wine in first-century Judea was mixed with water, probably on an average of three parts water to one part wine. Translated into mod­ern terms, two present-day martinis would equal twenty-two glasses of Palestinian wine. Even so, the early wine could produce drunkenness, and the headwaiter at the Cana wedding implied that people drank freely and at the end of the celebration were less able to tell good wine from bad. Whether the wine was strong or diluted, the drinker had a responsibility to control his or her input.

Throughout the pages of Scripture, excessive drinking is condemned. "Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise," the writer of Proverbs warned. "Do not join with those who drink too much wine or gorge them­selves with meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. Paul gave a similar warning. "Do not get drunk on wine," he wrote to the Ephesians. This "leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Perhaps no biblical passage is more powerful and more descriptive of alcohol ~ abuse than

Prov. 23:29-35:-­
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. "They hit me," you will say,"but I'm not hurt! They beat me up but I do not feel it! When will I wake up so I can have another drink?"

Although the Bible warns against drunkenness and teaches moderation in drink­ing, abstinence was also considered favorably. John the Baptist was a special mes­senger from God who "drank no wine. When a person took the Nazarene vow, "to dedicate himself to the Lord," this was marked by abstinence from wine and strong drink.


Many Christians today would conclude that moderation is good, but abstinence is better, especially in view of the clear dangers inherent in drinking. Alcohol is a
mind altering drug that for some can become psychologically and physically ad­dicting. While its moderate use is not condemned or forbidden by Scripture, drink­ing may fall into the category of an act that is permissible but not beneficial.

If Questionable behavior such as drinking alcoholic beverages controls the drinker, hurts the body, numbs sensation, dulls the mind, makes one more susceptible to immorality and other sin, causes harm to other human beings, or makes another believer stumble and fall, then such practices should be abandoned or avoided. Sometimes believers must choose to use self-restraint because this will be for the good and growth of the body of Christ, the church.

What if another believer falls and begins drinking heavily or becomes an alcoholic? Spirit-led Christians, including counselors, have a responsibility to restore people who fall into sinful patterns of behavior that harm themselves or others. In a spirit of gentleness, humility, and compassion the people-helper patiently seeks to do I good, confronting the fallen one with his or her responsibilities, and trusting that at the proper time, there will be restoration if we do not give up.

Points of Interest

1. Alcohol is a poison that affects most body cells.
2. As alcohol abuse worsens, psychological defenses begin to build.
3. It is impossible for a Christian to grow spiritually when he or she is dependent on and controlled by a drug.
4. Many people who identify themselves as Christians believe that while moderate use of alcohol is good, total abstinence is better.
5. Spirit-led Christians, including counselors, have a responsibility to restore people who fall into sinful patterns or behavior that harm themselves or others.

Congratulations! You have finished Lesson 3. Reflect back now on all that you have learned and jot down a brief summary before continuing to the next lesson.

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