Just walked with a second friend in the course of 8 months through the pain of alchoholism’s bite. Both went from, “I don’t see anything wrong with having a beer or two every now and then!” to “I can handle it, I can quit anytime” to “Pray for me. I’m trying to quit” to losing a job & messing up important relationships, to financial ruin, to a detoxification center and now trying to restart life.

I know you have freedom in Christ. I know the Bible is not against having a beer but against being drunk. I know it’s part of the culture down here. I know, I know, I know… but don’t take the Bible’s warnings lightly. It still has a bite.

“Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine. Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.” http://bible.us/prov23.29-32.esv