Brandon,

My friend, I fear you have made a non-essential essential.

Of greater concern however, is your inference that when you come across a passage where there is disagreement among Christians, YOU dig deeper, YOU study the original languages, YOU consider historical context, and viola – YOU have been able to discern what a biblical author meant to communicate to his ancient audience.  I’m pretty good at the kind of exegetical study you describe, and while it is very important and valuable, I would never claim that such study enables me to know the intimate thinking of a biblical author as he was penning his words.  My human limitation doesn’t cause me to question that there is “one meaning,” it just causes me to humbly admit that when another equally (or more) studied Christian disagree with my interpretation – it might be possible that I don’t know the meaning.

And so, I do not disagree that the HS intended one and only one meaning for the words He inspired.  What I strongly disagree with you about is the idea that any one human being, with a little study, can know the mind of God on issues which have been disputed by good and honorable Christ followers since the day the church was birthed.  The Holy Spirit made very clear those things that needed to be clear, and He left unclear those things which are NOT ESSENTIAL.  I agree with our church father who advises us that with regard to non-essentials we should grant one another liberty.  To claim you are right and I (and all who partake) is wrong, instead of saying, “let’s just agree to disagree,” is not liberty which protects and promotes Christian unity and in all things Charity.

Wendi

When the Word of God directly tells us “Do not look upon wine” (lit. don’t desire it) and subsequently talks about the dangers of such—that ought to be good enough for everybody. Why should we try to read into that and say, “Well, it’s open to MY interpretation”? That passage is crystal clear in its intended meaning. Is this really a gray area or is this something that Christians look at and say, “Well, I love my wine too much to give it up…God must have meant something else when he said not to desire it.”

You are right when you say that this should not be an essential to the Christian faith.  You’re right. But it should be an essential to anyone who would call themselves a Christian leader.

This mind-altering, liquid drug has killed and ruined the lives of millions of people. There is so much evil, filth, debauchery, and sin in this world associated with alcohol (see my examples above).  When you say, “I’ll drink in moderation, I just won’t get drunk” to me that reasoning sounds like, “I’m going to get as close to the edge of sin without falling over.” And yet the pattern of principle in the Word of God is for us to get as close to Jesus and to live as much of a blameless life as possible. Philippians 2:14-15, “Do everything…so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation.” Everyone that I know who drinks does so in order to get drunk (very clearly forbidden in Scripture) or at least to get a little bit of a buzz. When you drink, albeit in moderation, in the eyes of many Christians and non-Christians alike, you become guilty by association.  I tremble to think of how damaging it would be to my testimony if one of my church members or neighbors saw this pastor drinking—whether in public or in private. 

Wendi, what if one of your young church members happened to stumble upon you and your husband sipping wine in the backyard or they come and visit that winery that you are hoping to open. They look at you and say, “Wendi is a woman of God…if its allright for her, it must be allright for me!” And that person takes that first drink and becomes another statistic of alcohol abuse because they are following your example (studies show that 2 out of every 5 people who pick up that first drink will develop a serious alcohol problem).

Let’s say, just hypothetically, that there is nothing in the Bible regarding drinking altogether.  Christian principle and common sense would argue that abstinence truly is the wisest thing—especially for Christian leaders.

Solomon drank fermented wine.  He also had sex with hundreds of concubines. He doesn’t always vouch his life as an example to follow.  Proverbs and Ecclesiastes were written at the end of his life as he looked back and said, “Do this and don’t do this!”

I don’t read the book of Proverbs as a manual of just good, take-it-or-leave-it advice.  Its contents are the commands and dictates of God revealed in Scripture. It deals primarily with how we ought to live our lives. 

If you never take the first drink, you never have to worry about the sin of drunkenness.  It is not just the amount one drinks that makes drinking a sin. God condemns the drink itself. (Prov 20:1) “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” God does not lead us into evil; He delivers us from it. He does not teach us to practice evil in moderation.  Furthermore, God made man to have fellowship with Him. Alcohol goes directly to the brain, the communication center of the body. It interferes with God’s purpose for mankind.  This goes back to the principle in Ephesians 5.

If Proverbs 23 is not sufficient to build my case for abstinence, look at the totality of the Word of God and come to a logical conclusion. There is more Scripture condemning the use of alcoholic beverages than will be found on the subjects of lying, adultery, swearing, cheating, hypocrisy, pride, or even blasphemy.

Here are just a few:
1) Genesis 9:20-26 - Noah became drunk; the result was immorality and family trouble.
2) Genesis 19:30-38 - Lot was so drunk he did not know what he was doing; this led to immorality
3) Leviticus 10:9-11 - God commanded priests not to drink so that they could tell the difference between the holy and the unholy.
4) Numbers 6:3 - The Nazarites were told to eat or drink nothing from the grape vine.
5) Deuteronomy 21:20 - A drunken son was stubborn and rebellious.
6) Deuteronomy 29:5-6 - God gave no grape juice to Israel nor did they have intoxicating drink in the wilderness.
7) Deuteronomy 32:33 - Intoxicating wine is like the poison of serpents, the cruel venom of asps.
8) Judges 13:4, 7, 14 - Samson was to be a Nazarite for life. His mother was told not to drink wine or strong drink.
9) 1 Samuel 1:14-15 - Accused, Hannah said she drank no wine.
10) 1 Samuel 25:32-38 - Nabal died after a drunken spree.
11) 2 Samuel 11:13 - By getting Uriah drunk, David hoped to cover his sin.
12) 2 Samuel 13:28-29 - Amnon was drunk when he was killed.
13) 1 Kings 16:8-10 - The king was drinking himself into drunkenness when he was assassinated
14) 1 Kings 20:12-21 - Ben-Hadad and 32 other kings were drinking when they were attacked and defeated by the Israelites.
15) Esther 1:5-12 - The king gave each one all the drink he wanted. The king was intoxicated when he commanded the queen to come.
16) Psalm 75:8 - The Lord’s anger is pictured as mixed wine poured out and drunk by the wicked.
17) Proverbs 4:17 - Alcoholic drink is called the wine of violence.
18) Proverbs 20:1 - Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging.
19) Proverbs 23:19-20 - A wise person will not be among the drinkers of alcoholic beverages.
20) Proverbs 23:21 - Drunkenness causes poverty.
21) Proverbs 23:29-30 - Drinking causes woe, sorrow, fighting, babbling, wounds without cause and red eyes.
22) Proverbs 23:31 - God instructs not to look at intoxicating drinks.
23) Proverbs 23:32 - Alcoholic drinks bite like a serpent, sting like an adder.
24) Proverbs 23:33 - Alcohol causes the drinker to have strange and adulterous thoughts, produces willfulness, and prevents reformation.
25) Proverbs 23:34 - Alcohol makes the drinker unstable
26) Proverbs 23:35 - Alcohol makes the drinker insensitive to pain so he does not perceive it as a warning. Alcohol is habit forming.
27) Proverb 31:4-5 - Kings, Princes, and others who rule and judge must not drink alcohol. Alcohol perverts good judgment.
28) Proverbs 31:6-7 - Strong drink could be given to those about to perish or those in pain. Better anesthetics are available today.
29) Ecclesiastes 2:3 - The king tried everything, including intoxicating drink, to see if it satisfied. It did not. (Ecclesiastes 12:8)
30) Ecclesiastes 10:17 - A land is blessed when its leaders do not drink.
31) Isaiah 5:11-12 - Woe to those who get up early to drink and stay up late at night to get drunk.
32) Isaiah 5:22 - Woe to “champion” drinkers and “experts” at mixing drinks.
33) Isaiah 19:14 - Drunken men stagger in their vomit.
34) Isaiah 22:12-13 - The Israelites choose to drink; their future looks hopeless to them.
35) Isaiah 24:9 - Drinkers cannot escape the consequences when God judges.
36) Isaiah 28:1 - God pronounces woe on the drunkards of Ephraim.
37) Isaiah 28:3 - Proud drunkards shall be trodden down.
38) Isaiah 28:7 - Priests and prophets stagger and reel from beer and wine, err in vision, and stumble in judgment.
39) Isaiah 28:8 - Drinkers’ tables are covered with vomit and filth.
40) Isaiah 56:9-12 - Drinkers seek their own gain and expect tomorrow to be just like today.
41) Jeremiah 35:2-14 - The Rechabites drank no grape juice or intoxicating wine and were blessed.
42) Ezekiel 44:21 - Again God instructed the priests not to drink wine.
43) Daniel 1:5-17 - Daniel refused the king’s intoxicating wine and was blessed for it along with his abstaining friends.
44) Daniel 5:1 - Belshazzar, ruler of Babylon; led his people in drinking.
45) Daniel 5:2-3 - The king, along with his nobles, wives, and concubines, drank from the goblets which had been taken from God’s temple.
46) Daniel 5:4 - Drinking wine was combined with praising false gods.
47) Daniel 5:23 - God sent word to Belshazzar that punishment would be swift for the evil he had committed.
48) Hosea 4:11 - Intoxicating wine takes away intelligence.
49) Hosea 7:5 - God reproves princes for drinking.
50) Joel 1:5 - Drunkards awake to see God’s judgment.
51) Joel 3:3 - The enemy is judged for selling girls for wine.
52) Amos 2:8 - Unrighteous acts of Israel included the drinking of wine which had been taken for the payment of fines.
53) Amos 2:12 - Israel is condemned for forcing Nazarites to drink wine.
54) Micah 2:11 - Israelites are eager to follow false teachers who prophesy plenty of intoxicating drinks.
55) Nahum 1:10 - The drunkards of Nineveh will be destroyed by God.
56) Habakkuk 2:5 - A man is betrayed by wine.
57) Habakkuk 2:15 - Woe to him that gives his neighbor drink.
58) Habakkuk 2:16 - Drinking leads to shame.
59) Matthew 24:48-51 - A drinking servant is unprepared for his Lord’s return.
60) Luke 1:15 - John the Baptist drank neither grape juice nor wine.
61) Luke 12:45 - Christ warned against drunkenness.
62) Luke 21:34 - Drunkenness will cause a person not to be ready for the Lord’s return.
63) Romans 13:13 - Do not walk in drunkenness or immorality.
64) Romans 14:21 - Do not do anything that will hurt your testimony as a believer.
65) 1 Corinthians 5:11 - If a Christian brother is a drinker, do not associate with him.
66) 1 Corinthians 6:10 - Drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God
67) Galatians 5:21 - Acts of the sinful nature, such as drunkenness, will prohibit a person from inheriting the kingdom of God.
68) Ephesians 5:18 - In contrast to being drunk with wine, the believer is to be filled with the Spirit.
69) 1 Thessalonians 5:6-7 - Christians are to be alert and self-controlled, belonging to the day. Drunkards belong to the night and darkness.
70) 1 Timothy 3:2-3 - Bishops (elders) are to be temperate, sober, and not near any wine.
71) 1 Timothy 3:8 - Deacons are to be worthy of respect and not drinkers.
72) 1 Timothy 3:11 - Deacons’ wives are to be temperate and sober.
73) Titus 1:7-8 - An overseer is to be disciplined.
74) Titus 2:2-3 - The older men and older women of the church are to be temperate and not addicted to wine.
75) 1 Peter 4:3-4 - The past life of drunkenness and carousing has no place in the Christian’s life.

On a final note, it is not just Southern Baptists who have taken a firm stand for abstinence, but also the Assemblies of God denomination.  They make some interesting points as well…
“Alcohol destroys the body. Even in small amounts it begins its subtle work of destruction, taking its toll on mental and physical reactions. God knew this fact very well when He gave instructions that priests and kings (spiritual and secular leaders) should refrain from any use of alcoholic beverages.
In the Old Testament instruction to the Levites, the spiritual leaders of Israel, priests were commanded to abstain from wine or intoxicating drink when they went into the presence of the Lord to minister (Leviticus 10:8-11). This requirement of abstinence was given so the ministering priest would be able to distinguish between the holy and the unholy, between the clean and the unclean, and so he could be a teacher of all the statutes of God.
Today, all born-again Christians have been made priests to God (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6). As such we should always give our best and be at our best in His service. We believe the standard of abstinence demanded of the Old Testament priest should be the standard of every Christian today. We too must distinguish between right and wrong. We must be Spirit-led teachers in a society that greatly needs divine instruction and godly example.
The Christian who advocates or condones “drinking in moderation” is providing Satan an opening he would not have with an individual committed to total abstinence. By medical definition, alcohol is a drug. The moderate drinker is naive if he does not recognize the peril of eventually becoming addicted himself.
The individual who refuses to have anything to do with such a dangerous taskmaster is wise indeed. No alcoholic ever intended to become an alcoholic when he/she took the first drink. And no individual who persistently refused to take the first drink ever became an alcoholic. The church of Jesus Christ must take a bold stand against this evil that in the end “bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper” (Proverbs 23:32, NKJV).
The standard for God’s people is no less in the New Testament than in the Old. The Old Testament warnings about the abuses and excesses of alcohol become in the New Testament a call to holy living through the power of the Holy Spirit. Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). We need to cleanse them from all profane habits, including alcohol. Opening up the human temple to the possible influence and control of alcohol is absolutely contrary to the Biblical admonition to keep those temples filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). The only safe way is to leave alcoholic beverages alone.
The use of alcohol violates some basic principles laid down for all believers, whether minister or laymen. One of these important principles is the Biblical caution not to offend a weaker brother or cause a younger Christian to fall.
The apostle Paul deals with the responsibility of the stronger brother toward the weaker brother in Romans 14. “It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak” (v. 21, NKJV). It takes a stronger act of the will to abstain from the consumption of alcohol than to participate in this social practice of the world. Yet believers who take their Christian responsibility seriously cannot avoid the obvious importance of total abstinence to their Christian testimony.
This truth is especially significant when it is applied to the young people of the world who are turning to alcohol in unprecedented numbers as an acceptable mind-altering drug. They are going beyond moderation, no matter what their parents and elders say. If Christian parents and adults use alcohol even in moderation or just to be socially accepted, the next generation will use it with less care and self-control. The best example our generation can set for the next generation is to practice and teach total abstinence.
Jesus spoke very clearly to the disciples about the responsibility of the older generation to its children and youth: “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones” (Luke 17:1, 2, NKJV). We must not set an example that will send others to hell and destruction.
As believers we must draw a line on the use of alcohol. If we draw the line at the point of moderation, our ministers will soon find it necessary to exhort congregations to forsake drunkenness. If we draw the line at total abstinence, we will save a multitude of young and old from the sin of alcoholism.
The term social drinking suggests that the consumption of alcohol in respectable surroundings is in some way different from drinking in other environments. There was a time when it would have been unthinkable that we would have to speak out against social drinking among Christians. The fact that such a problem has grown to the currently distressing proportions shows what a powerful and insidious influence the present age exerts on the church of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit can deliver from the shackles of social drinking, and we plead with all Christians who have fallen into this bondage to cry out for God’s help immediately.
Every one of the 13 million problem drinkers in the United States today started on the road to alcoholism with a social drink or an innocent first taste. Half of the fatal automobile accidents in this country are caused by drinking drivers. According to government estimates, the economic cost of alcoholism--including lost production, automobile accidents, health care, violent crimes, and fire losses--exceeds 100 billion dollars every year. [1] Alcohol is consistently linked to a high percentage of reported murders, assaults, and rapes, as well as to suicide. domestic violence, and child abuse. The role of social drinking as the starting point for much of this abuse can only be estimated.
Alcoholic beverages should have no place in the life of the Christian. Let there be no doubt about the Assemblies of God stand on this critical issue. We declare unequivocally our conviction that total abstinence from alcoholic beverages is the only acceptable way of life for the Christian. We call upon every member and adherent in our Fellowship, including both the ministry and the laity, to teach by word and example a life-style that abstains totally from the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Leonard,
My feelings are nothing personal.  I have always been an abstainer and I come from a family that believes likewise.  My convictions regarding this issue is the result of 1.) what I have read in the Bible concerning alcohol and the dangers of its use (see previous post), 2.) the devastating affect this drug has had on our society (i.e. 40% of all crimes are alcohol related), and 3.) the increasing compromise we are seeing in the church (i.e. a brew fest in the church parking lot). 

If you refuse believe that the Bible explicitly teaches abstinence, wouldn’t you have to agree that common sense and an adherence to the principles set forth in the Bible proves that abstinence is the wisest thing to do?

As I said earlier, I challenge anyone to prove to me the superior wisdom of drinking in moderation as opposed to not drinking at all.  As Christians, we don’t need alcohol—there are plenty of other things for us to drink.  So why risk damaging our testimony by the stigma associated with this drug and the possibility of leading others in developing an alcoholic problem by following our poor example.

To wrap it all up let me give you 7 REASONS WHY CHRISTIANS SHOULD ABSTAIN FROM ALCOHOL:

1. DRINKING LEADS TO DRUNKENNESS
In the April 24, 1965 issue of Christianity Today, the article, on page 25 says, “People must be informed that the use of alcohol is not unlike Russian roulette: 1 out of every ten is automatically addicted and 2 out of every 5 will develop a serious alcohol problem. These statistics are supported by the American Medical Association.  As you have said, we all agree that drunkenness is a sin.

2. THE BIBLE CONDEMNS STRONG DRINK ALSO
Proverbs 20:1 “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
NOTE again, Isaiah 5:11—“Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!”

WHAT WAS “STRONG DRINK” IN BIBLE TIMES?
Distillation was not discovered until about 1500 A.D. Strong drink and unmixed wine in Bible times was from 3% to 10% alcohol. Dr. John MacArthur says “...since anybody in biblical times who drank unmixed wine (9-11% alcohol) was definitely considered a barbarian, then we don’t even need to discuss whether a Christian should drink today’s alcohol--that is apparent!”

CHRISTIANS SHOULD NOT DRINK STRONG DRINK!
Since wine has 9 to 11% alcohol and one brand 20% alcohol, you should not drink that. Brandy contains 15 to 20% alcohol, so that’s out! Hard liquor has 40 to 50% alcohol (80 to 100 proof), and that is obviously excluded!

3. HISTORICAL EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT WHAT PEOPLE DRANK AS A COMMON BEVERAGE WAS SUB-ALCOHOLIC
Remember the Hebrew word “yayin” and the Greek word “oinos” that we looked at earlier? These were the companion words for wine whether fermented or unfermented. In fact, whether fermented or not, it was MIXED WITH WATER.

Norman Geisler, has written: “Many wine drinking Christians today mistakenly assume that what the New Testament meant by wine is identical to wine used today. This, however, is false. In fact, today’s wine is by Biblical definition strong drink, and hence forbidden by the Bible. What the Bible frequently meant by wine was basically purified water,” purified by adding some alcoholic wine. The Holman Bible dictionary says, wine was also used as a medicine and disinfectant.

Geisler goes on to say, “Therefore, Christians ought not to drink wine, beer, or other alcoholic beverages for they are actually strong drink forbidden in Scripture. Even ancient pagans did not drink what some Christians drink today.”

All alcoholic beverages used in our culture fall under the biblical classification of STRONG DRINK and are therefore forbidden. The least ratio of water to wine mixture used in Bible times was 3 parts water to 1 wine. That produced a sub-alcoholic drink that was 2.5% to 2.75% alcohol. Normally, the ratio was even higher, up to 20 to 1. There is NO BIBLICAL SUPPORT FOR CHRISTIANS DRINKING THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OF OUR DAY! What early believers drank was sub-alcoholic by today’s standards. Pastors and deacons were cautioned to steer around even the sub-alcoholic stuff (I Timothy 3:3 & 8).

4. IT WILL CAUSE OTHERS TO STUMBLE
Romans 14:21 says “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to “to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”

Innumerable Christians claim their “Christian Liberty” when it comes to social drinking. In order to do that, they must turn their backs on this passage of Scripture. “Sipping Saints” have given multitudes of people an excuse to drink. More than once, I have heard a believer say “there is nothing wrong with drinking in moderation. Pastor so and so even says it is OK.”

The problem is, drinking often sets off a chain reaction of influences that are like tipping over the first domino. Drinking causes some to stumble, others to be offended, and many to be weakened. Studies support my statement.

According to a survey done by the Daily Journal newspaper, October 26, 1988, one of the top five reasons teenagers drink is because their parents drink. This has proven true time and time again.
Let me take it one step further. PARENTS, YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT WHATEVER YOU DO IN MODERATION, YOUR CHILDREN ARE LIKELY TO DO IN EXCESS.

The Bible clearly defines drinking as an activity that is to be foregone because it causes others to stumble and makes them weak (fall into sin).

There is yet another reason believers should not drink…

5. IT HARMS OUR BODIES WHICH ARE THE LORD’S

I Corinthians 6:19-20 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

I Corinthians 3:16-17 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

The first effect of alcohol on the brain is to dull the capacity for self-criticism and the sense of caution. A lessening of care and anxiety follows this. The checks on irresponsibility and unreasonable behavior are also curtailed. Actions follow the impulses, which is dangerous. Reaction time become slower; coordination is disturbed; drowsiness follows.

Dr. Robert Haas, M.D., a former president of the American College of Sports Nutrition, said, “Beer, wine and hard liquor form toxic substances called aldehydes that can destroy the liver, kidney and brain cells. Aldehydes serve a useful function in preserving or ‘pickling’ dead animal tissue, but they serve no beneficial purpose in people. Alcohol dehydrates (robs) your body of its precious water supply, and along with the water go vital nutrients such as B Vitamins, calcium, magnesium and potassium.”

According to Good Housekeeping “Even in moderate amounts alcohol has noticeable effects on the body. Because it enters the blood stream it touches almost every organ, and its effects on feelings and behavior are well known.”

Alcohol has adverse affects on your esophagus, stomach & intestines, bloodstream, pancreas, liver, heart, bladder, kidneys, glands and your brain.

“The most drastic and noticed effect of alcohol is the brain. It depresses brain centers, progressively produces uncoordination, confusion, disorientation, stupor, anesthesia, coma, death. Alcohol kills brain cells, and brain damage is permanent” (From-Office of Highway Safety, Madison, WI)

As believers, our body belongs to the Lord. We should not knowingly do anything that would harm it. Alcohol harms the body, therefore we should not drink alcohol.
There is a further reason you should not drink…

6. ALCOHOL IS ADDICTIVE

I Corinthians 6:12 tells us that we are not to “be brought under the power” or to be controlled by anything. The only exception is the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)

Alcohol is clearly a powerful substance (Proverbs 23:35). Because alcohol is addictive, we should choose not to drink alcoholic beverages.

The final reason we will consider for not drinking alcoholic beverages is…

7. BELIEVERS ARE KINGS AND PRIESTS SEPARATED UNTO GOD

“The prophets, the kings, the Nazarites, the leaders—those who were special in the plan of God were total abstainers” says Dr. Paul Dixon, and he is correct. Kings and public officials were not to drink (Proverbs 31:4-5). Further Dr. Dixon says “the priests of the Old Testament were to abstain totally.” The Aaronic priests were not to drink because they ministered in the tabernacle before the Lord (Leviticus 10:9)

The application: Believers are a “royal” or kingly priesthood (I Peter 2:9). We are the temple of God (I Peter 2:5). We are God’s special children and should choose total abstinence.

Drinking, even social drinking, cannot be legitimately supported by the Bible. Every drink that is available today, even beer, falls into the category of unmixed or strong drink. Clearly, Christians should not drink alcoholic beverages. Drinking socially is a worldly activity and in light of the fact that believers are neither to be conformed to the world (Romans 12:2) nor love the world(I John 2:15) our choice should be clear. We ARE to be SEPARATE FROM the world (II Corinthians 6:17) and LIGHT TO the world (Ephesians 5:8; Phillipians 2:15). Perhaps social drinking has enhanced the acceptability of Christians in society, but it has not advanced the cause of Christ, and it does not glorify God! Social drinking is simply a means which the devil uses to blunt our testimony for Christ and squeeze us into his mold.

There are at least SEVEN GOOD REASONS A BELIEVER SHOULD NOT DRINK. One should be enough!  You may not agree with me on all these points, but if you agree with at least one—that should be enough to decide that as a Christian leader, you must abstain.

Why are so many people hung up on Brandon’s interpretation of Proverbs 23 (which is only a small percentage of his argument) and yet continually ignore 90% of his strong and Biblically based argument?  (And I believe he did address the wedding of Cana miracle about 20 posts ago).

If Scripture does not prohibit drinking alcohol (as you and others have said you believe) then wouldn’t you have to agree with him in light of his very thorough argument that “abstinence truly is the wisest thing to do?”

In his last post, Brandon said, [“Romans 14:21 says “It is good neither to eat flesh, NOR TO DRINK WINE, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”

Innumerable Christians claim their “Christian Liberty” when it comes to social drinking. In order to do that, they must turn their backs on this passage of Scripture. “Sipping Saints” have given multitudes of people an excuse to drink. More than once, I have heard a believer say “there is nothing wrong with drinking in moderation. Pastor so and so even says it is OK.”

The problem is, drinking often sets off a chain reaction of influences that are like tipping over the first domino. Drinking causes some to stumble, others to be offended, and many to be weakened. Studies support my statement…

The Bible clearly defines drinking as an activity that is to be foregone because it causes others to stumble and makes them weak (fall into sin).”]

Brandon, even if I didn’t agree with you on everything that you have said [which I do agree with you 99% of the time on this argument] that one reason ought to motivate anybody for total abstinence. 

Peter and Leonard, if you are looking for a Scripture that prohibits drinking for believers…there it is.  And God forbid that we as Pastors do anything to cause one of our parishioners to stumble into alcoholism.

Come on guys…this argument is ridiculous!  Teetotaler is the way to go!

God bless!

If drinking can potentially lead to drunkenness (which is clearly a sin), then wouldn’t it be wise to avoid that which can lead to sin.  It is a Christian’s duty, not only to keep from gross wickedness, but also from things that lead to sin, or appear evil.  If you’re “drinking in moderation” you’re walking a fine line between what you consider to be “Christian liberty” and what is outright sin (getting drunk and being a stumbling block to others).  Brandon’s right—“You don’t need it.” Unlike in Biblical times, we have a whole lot more things to drink today.  IT’S NOT WORTH THE RISK.  And as a pastor, you never know who may have seen you drinking that beer at the ball game. 

If alcohol never existed—this country would be in a lot better shape.  And rather than the church taking a stand on the moral ills of our society—what are we doing? Indulging in it and giving license for others to do also! 

No matter what you believe, you cannot argue against the wisdom of abstinence.  A person will NEVER develop an alcoholic problem if he never picks up that first drink.

I have sort of enjoyed this ongoing discussion. I haven’t had the chance to jump in until now. As a fellow “sipping saint” I wanted to respond to Vick comment “If drinking can potentially lead to drunkenness (which is clearly a sin), then wouldn’t it be wise to avoid that which can lead to sin.”

I think we all agree that drunkness is a sin.
I hope we can all agree—as Peter/Leonard have been pointed out—the Bible does not command that we are required to abstain from all alcohol consumption.

So the question is whether or not abstaining from all alcohol is the wisest thing to do, as Vick/Brandon have suggusted. I think Vick’s logic is a bit faulty. If we are to abstain from anything that can potentially lead to sin then should we abstain from money? Using money could lead to the love of money, which is the root of all sin. Should we also abstain from the Internet? There is a lot of porn out there. On and on it goes.

I think people must decide from themselves by the leadership of the Holy Spirit and love one another even if we disagree.

g&p;Derek

Vick writes [wouldn’t you have to agree with him in light of his very thorough argument that abstinence truly is the wisest thing to do?] Often, if not most times, I agree that abstinence is the wise choice. I simply disagree that the Bible prohibits drinking in any fashion ever.

As far as the Cana wedding. I disagree. It has NOT been properly addressed. Neither he nor anyone else has, to my satisfaction, proven that it was not real wine that Jesus made for a bunch of people who had had “quite a lot of wine” already. They lexical argument is, with regard to the greek word Oinos (don’t go to hebrew here. They spoke Aramaic or greek NOT hebrew) is one I’ve heard before and one that has absolutely no serious support that I have ever been able to find. It is proof-texting. Here’s that little section of John 2:10 that is the hinge point…

NLT “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink”

KJV “and when men have well drunk” (I love that one)

ESV (NASB is very similar) “and when people have drunk freely”

NIV “after the guests have had too much to drink”

This particular passage makes it very difficult to interpret the rest of the biblical record on this as Brandon has. I remain unconvinced.

But I repeat… Drunkenness is very much to be avoided for spiritual and physical health. The Bible is very clear on that.

Thanks again all for the discussion.

Todd,

This is one of the most interesting buzz groupings you’ve had yet.

The question, “Didn’t Jesus drink fermented wine?” comes from what the false religious leaders said about Jesus in Matthew 11:18,19. “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ “The Son of Man came eating and drinking (Jesus was not fasting like John, and did drink unfermented oinos wine), and they say, “Look, a gluttonous man and a winebibber (wine drinker), a friend of tax collectors and sinners! NKJV
John was a Nazarite and was not to drink grape juice or fermented wine Luke 1:15. Jesus on the other hand had a different type of ministry. Jesus did talk with drinkers who were considered sinners and this made the religious leaders angry. These were the same men who said Jesus was a glutton and had a demon. These leaders were jealous and upset because Jesus was becoming so popular. They were lying about Jesus being a glutton, about Jesus having a demon, and they were also lying when they said Jesus was a winebibber (or alcoholic drinker)!
Interestingly, John MacArthur, in his commentary on this passage makes another interesting observation Brandon has alluded to previously.  He says:
“The wine Jesus and most other Jews drank was oinos, a drink made by boiling or evaporating fresh grape juice down to a heavy syrup or paste in order to prevent spoilage and simplify storage.  To make a beverage, water would be added as needed to a small quantity of the syrup.  That mixture was nonalcoholic, and even when allowed to ferment, it was not intoxicating, because it was mostly water.  Perhaps Jesus miraculously made wine from water for the wedding of Cana by creating the paste.” (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary for Matthew 8-15).
Now the argument, Paul told Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach’s sake. Yes, Paul told Timothy, “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your often infirmities.” 1 Timothy 5:23 This text clearly implies that Timothy did not drink any wine before this time. The recommendation by Paul was strictly medicinal, so to quote the advice of Paul to Timothy to justify drinking is to distort the intent of the passage!

Brandon is not proof-texting Proverbs 23.  You will be very misled if you believe that every time “wine” is used in Scripture it is referring to an intoxicating drink.  Proverbs 23: 31-32 not to look at the wine WHEN it is fermented, “Do not look on the wine WHEN it is red, WHEN it sparkles in the cup, WHEN it swirls around smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper.” In, Isaiah 16:10b it says, “…no treaders will tread out wine in their presses…” As soon as the juice was pressed out of the grapes it was called “wine.” Even in one instance, that which is still in the cluster of grapes is referred to as “wine.” It seems as if most Christian leaders today are ignorant of the different Hebrew and Greek words used for our one English word “wine.” So to assume that every time the Bible uses the word “wine,” it is talking about a fermented drink is not looking at the facts.