A few months ago, in Summit’s foyer, someone loudly interrupted and corrected my mistake. I had referred to drunkenness as a sin and not an addiction.

But when did drunkenness move from the sin to sickness category? It was in 1935, in Akron, OH. Two hopeless alcoholics, Bill W. and Dr. Bob S. started Alcoholics Anonymous. So, a NY Stockbroker and Physician made the decision to move drunkenness to a disease.

However, never, in all of scripture, is drunkenness referred to as a disease that overtakes a helpless victim. God warned us about the danger of choosing the world over His Word in Colossians 2:8 (ESV): See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Instead God says — And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18 ESV).  Therefore, the result of “drunk with wine” is not a helpless, diseased alcoholic. Instead it is DEBAUCHERY. This word is the direct opposite of salvation. Literally it is unsaved (ἀσωτία).

Friend, the bottom line is that ADDICTIONS ARE THE RESULT OF CHOICES that lead to utterly ruined lives devoid of any hope of salvation.

Deuteronomy 30:19 (ESV) — 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live!