Let me share with you some statistics from the United States in 2001:

- According to drunk driving statistics from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 17,419 people died in the year 2002 in alcohol-related traffic crashes, an average of one every 30 minutes.

- Drunk driving statistics say that in 2001, more than half a million people were injured in crashes where police reported that alcohol was present, an average of one person injured approximately every two minutes.

- Drunk driving is the nation's most frequently committed violent crime, killing someone every 30 minutes. 

- Currently, nearly 14 million Americans 1 in every 13 adults-abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. Several million more adults engage in risky drinking patterns that could lead to drug addiction. In addition, approximately 53 percent of men and women in the United States report that one or more of their close relatives have a drinking problem.

- Think of the shattered families, jobs lost, broken friendships and money wasted by those who use this drug.

Now, some verses from scripture:

Proverbs 20:1 - Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Proverbs 23:29-35 - Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?  They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.  Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.  At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.  Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

- Drinking alcohol is drug use – legal, yes, but drug use nonetheless.

Considering the loss of testimony by using drugs, the risk of someone under your influence developing a problem with alcohol and suffering the tragedy and suffering it brings, the impact of alcohol on the one’s thinking and the sinful situations use of it often leads to, please answer this question:

Why would any God-fearing, Christ-loving, missionary-minded mature Christian use alcohol?

The answer:  They don't.

Praying for you,

Pastor