The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

ANY and everything can be a tool used by Satan to deceive and lead people astray.

One of the instruments used by Satan unbeknownst to some is stated in Proverbs 20:1 “Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.”

Many people can attest to engaging in activities while under the influence of alcohol, and often regretting what they did. It is for this reason Christians should not allow themselves to be led astray by alcohol, as it is a tool used by the enemy to advance his agenda, said Dr Albert Ferguson.

“In the proverb there are two operative words: mocker and deceived. On the one hand, something that is mocked is not the real thing. Wine has the potential of causing you to misrepresent who you truly are. On the other hand, to mock is to hold up for ridicule, and wine has the potential to cause a person to make a fool of him or her self. In the Hebrew, the word mock has the same meaning as our English understanding,” said Dr Ferguson.

“Alcoholic beverages are tricky vices. The devil advises that moderation is fine and tells folks that they have control over themselves—the whole humanistic idea, but Satan knows that alcohol has the potential of negative consequences. It is a tricky vice so the best approach is not to proceed with caution but to abstain,” he said.

When it comes to the topic of alcohol consumption Pastor Matthew Allen said some religious leaders have used this proverb to chastise people who drink, instead of teaching them the importance of not being led by alcohol.
“Some of them use this scripture to castigate, criticize and condemn those that drink. Whereas the scripture itself does not support such actions or behaviour. It is simply saying that it is not wise to be deceived or led astray by drinking to the point of getting drunk,” he said.

In order to deceive someone Pastor Allen said, the enemy presents drinking in a pleasurable and satisfying way. “This within itself is the deceptive trick and move of the enemy, to lure one through the over consumption of alcohol via a partying or celebrating atmosphere, where the sense of using good judgment or discretion would be at an all time low.”

“A person is not wise if they are led by alcohol, bearing in mind that alcohol is also a spirit. Whenever one is drunk, he or she at times is almost transformed into another person (totally wasted) and would sometimes say and do some things that he or she would not normally do,” said Pastor Allen.
“I am a habitual drinker and I do my best not to get drunk because I know the things I am capable of when I do. I have gotten drunk in the past and I did some very horrible things I really wish I did not do. It was not something I would normally and it was also very embarrassing. No no one needs to be led by alcohol because it would have you doing some very ungodly things,” said Marissa, a Baptist follower.

Daniel Munroe, an Anglican believer, told Tribune Religion: “It seems everything that was created for our enjoyment, Satan tries to in some way pervert it. There is nothing wrong with drinking. But when I did drank in past I would have sex with all kinds of different women and I felt disgusted about it especially because I was a born again believer. I knew I had to cut it out altogether, because moderation when it comes to alcohol is something I cannot exercise,” he said.