Introduction
The Holy Scripture teaches us that we “should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind” (Ephesians 4:17) and we should be “redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16). These teachings and warning have been mentioned many times in the Bible simply because “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). That shouldn’t scare us since God will always protect us and keep us in His Hands as He promised saying “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15).
With this Godly love and care Christians should present their bodies as acceptable holy sacrifices before the Lord. They should wake up from their asleep because salvation is drawing much nearer than we think “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11). We should also differentiate between good and evil as St. Paul said, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret” (Ephesians 5:11, 12).
One of the “unfruitful works of darkness” is drunkenness caused by drinking wine for its hidden and destructive effects. Wine has been mentioned many times in the Bible in many different places and in many different occasions that was mistakenly understood and interpreted. Unfortunately, many people tried to make their own interpretations in a way that make drinking wine a commandment rather than a sin, which contradicts the true teaching of the church. Therefore, this article is intended to take a step toward the true interpretation of the Bible about wine by answering many critical questions raised by youths and adults.
2. The Word “Wine” in the Bible
Some people have tried to interpret some of the scripture as allowing us to drink wine. For example, they think that the scripture “And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil” (Deuteronomy 11:13, 14) is a clear permission from God to collect and drink wine. If this verse permits us to drink wine, how about the Bible’s warning that prohibits us from even looking at wine “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” (Proverbs 23:31, 32) and “Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying: Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations” (Leviticus 10:8, 9).
Is there a conflict between the above verses? Never. The problem lies in the personal interpretation not in the true interpretation. The Bible teaches us that breaking one commandment is the same as breaking them all “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). Drinking wine is no exception. It is treated as a sin like all others. For example when we talk about richness and money, we never say that being rich is a sin, but it is a sin if you misuse the money or treat money as a god. Similarly, there is nothing wrong with wine in itself (the substance), however the problem lies in the misuse of wine. For example we use wine in the liturgy as a holy sacrament and the church practices this sacrament every day. However, getting drunk and hurting yourself and others is inappropriate as will be detailed a little later in our discussion.
Now, the Bible tells us that when God was blessing the Israelites, He was also blessing their grain, their wine and their oil. These things were gifts from God. However we should notice a couple of things in the listing of these gifts. First, the word wine is mentioned as “new wine”. Second, wine is preceded and followed by plants (grain and oil). From this we should understand that the real meaning of “wine” is the grape itself or probably the grape juice mix that was produced in these days, or the fermented wine that has a very small percentage of alcohol and not the kind of wine that causes drunkenness. We should also notice that the Bible used to refer to the whole thing by just one of its characteristics. Therefore, when the Bible mentions the word “wine”, it could simply mean the fruit (the grape) itself. Here are few examples:
v Moses told the Israelites “You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always” (Deuteronomy 14:22,23). This verse indicates that tithing is for all “grain that the field produces”, and wine and oil are not grains that the field produces. Therefore, the verse must mean the plants or fruits that produce oil and wine; namely, olive and grape.
v Moses also said “Then Israel shall dwell in safety, the fountain of Jacob alone, in a land of grain and new wine; His heavens shall also drop dew” (Deuteronomy 33:28). The word “land of” followed by “grain and new wine” refers to the land and the plants that produce grain and grape.
v Hosea said, “The earth shall answer with grain, with new wine, and with oil; they shall answer Jezreel” (Hosea 2:22). It is clear here that the earth will not answer with wine, but by grape.
v In the book of Revelation, it is written that “When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, ‘Come and see’. So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying: A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine” (Revelation 6:5, 6). He who sat on the black horse was told to harm all trees and plants of the land but not to harm the oil and the wine. Since oil and wine are not trees or plants, then oil and wine must be referring to olive and grape.
v When God mentioned the curses to the Israelites, He said, “You shall plant vineyards and tend them, but you shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them” (Deuteronomy 28:39). This clearly refers to the grapes and its juice as the Bible many times used the word “soul” to refer to the whole body or to a person.
From the above discussion, the Bible describes three meaning for the word wine:
v Wine that does not cause drunkenness (e.g., grape juice).
v Wine drink like fermented grape juice, grape juice mixes or nectarines.
v Wine that causes drunkenness. This is the type that the Lord condemns saying “Awake, you drunkards, and weep; and wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the new wine, for it has been cut off from your mouth” (Joel 1:5).
Additionally, the word “wine” in the New Testament was used in many different places with many different meanings. For example:
v “Wine” or “vine” was used by our Lord Jesus Christ to describe Himself, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word, which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:1-5). With the same meaning, the word “branches” here refers to the believers and the word “fruit” is the working and loving faith.
v “Wine” was used by Isaiah to describe the Bible’s teaching, “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1). What indicates that wine means Bible’s teaching is God’s saying “But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved” (Luke 5:38), referring to His new teaching as the “new wine”. This is similar to St. Paul’s use of milk to refer to his preaching, “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able” (1 Corinthians 3:1, 2).
v “Wine” or “the fruit of vine” was used to describe eternal happiness, “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29). It is certainly known that saints do not physically eat or drink in heaven for they never thirst or hunger and therefore this fruit of the vine (wine) means eternal happiness for being with God the eternal as He promised “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24).
v “Wine” was used to describe punishment for sinners, “For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red. It is fully mixed, and He pours it out; surely its dregs shall all the wicked of the earth drain and drink down” (Psalms 75:8).
v “Wine” was used to describe wrong teachings, “And another angel followed, saying: Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice: If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb” (Revelation 14:8-9).
v “Wine” was used to as a medication (because of the nature of the alcohol in it and because there were no other known medications at that time) as St. Paul commanded his disciple St. Timothy “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities” (1 Timothy 5:23) and also “So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him” (Luke 10:34).
v “Wine” was used to describe holiness where it was used along with oil in the offerings, “With the one lamb shall be one-tenth of an ephah of flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of pressed oil, and one-fourth of a hin of wine as a drink offering” (Exodus 29:40). Note that bread and wine were the only two things presented by Melchizedek to Abraham, “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High” (Genesis 14:18). Therefore, oil and wine were used together to describe blessings, “The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil” (Joel 2:24).
It is important to note here that Yousifous the Historian indicated that the Jews in his time were very moderate in their drinking habits. It was indicated that most of the Jews used to drink the fermented grape juice not the one that causes drunkenness. This meaning could also be understood from St. Paul’s teaching “Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy” (Romans 13:13), “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner-- not even to eat with such a person” (1 Corinthians 5:11), and “Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). St. Peter agrees with that teaching saying “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries” (1 Peter 4:3).
3. What is wrong with Drinking Wine?
This question is very common not only in Youth Meetings but also in public meetings and debates. Many people try to make their own view and interpretation. They even go further by using verses from the Bible that assures the permission of drinking wine and say it is written that Jesus Himself used to drink. Well, let us answer some of these claims.
First, drinking intoxicated wine is and has always been a punishable sin in both the Old and New Testaments. For example, it is written:
v “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not heed them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city, to the gate of his city. And they shall say to the elders of his city: This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard. Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones; so you shall put away the evil from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear” (Deuteronomy 21:18-21). The reason for such a big punishment for the rebellious and drunkard son is that his body is no longer suited for the inhabitance of the Holy Spirit, “If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” (1 Corinthians 3:17).
v “Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations” (Leviticus 10:9). This warning to Aaron and his children was given very early in Moses Law. Notice also that God mentioned two types of drinks: wine and intoxicating drink.
v “Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may follow intoxicating drink; who continue until night, till wine inflames them” (Isaiah 5:11). Here Isaiah declares a “woe” to those who become slaves to intoxicated drinks so that they rise up early seeking drinks continuing until night. This wine will eventually inflame them.
v “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, pressing him to your bottle, even to make him drunk, that you may look on his nakedness” (Habakkuk 2:15). This is a very serious warning. Imaging the fate of the person whom you invite for just one drink. What happens if that person, who may be much weaker than yourself enjoyed your drink and could not stop (that is if you think you are strong enough to stop drinking when you so desire, as everybody else claims). What happens to his life, his future, or his family? Can you make it up to him? Can you make up the years of his life that he may lose? Can you bring him back the decent job and successful career? Can you bring him back his family and children? Woe to him who gives a drink to his neighbor, just as a little wine.
v “Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, and trust in Mount Samaria, notable persons in the chief nation, to whom the house of Israel comes! … Who drink wine from bowls, and anoint yourselves with the best ointments, but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. Therefore they shall now go captive as the first of the captives, and those who recline at banquets shall be removed” (Amos 6:1-7). This verse shows how angry God becomes at those who drink wine.
v “You also will be drunk; you will be hidden; you also will seek refuge from the enemy”
(Nahum 3:11).
v “What do you conspire against the Lord? He will make an utter end of it. Affliction will not rise up a second time. For while tangled like thorns, and while drunken like drunkards, they shall be devoured like stubble fully dried” (Nahum 1:9, 10).
4. Does the Bible Condemn Drunkenness or Drinking?
People in Bible times drank a primitive wine that contained low levels of alcohol, yet it was sufficiently intoxicating that a person could get drunk if they consumed enough of it. Consequently, the Bible does address this question. Generally speaking, the Bible condemns drunkenness as a sin and warns the righteous to carefully avoid intoxication. Since this was true in a day of weak and watered down wines, it is widely held by Christians today that complete abstinence is the only responsible choice when it comes to the relatively strong alcoholic beverages of our own day.
A closer look at the Bible’s teaching indicates hard punishment not only for drinking but also for looking (i.e., considering) wine “Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly” (Proverbs 23:31). The word “Do not look” is a clear commandment that does not require any further explanation. It reminds us with God’s commandment about adultery “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). Again, here it emphasizes the fact that looking can start and initiate the sin and we should stop here before it grows up. Therefore, if God prohibits looking, telling people that a little drink will not hurt violates God’s commandment and makes them vulnerable to God’s punishment.
In the Book of Numbers, the Lord told Moses “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: When either a man or woman consecrates an offering to take the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the Lord, he shall separate himself from wine and similar drink; he shall drink neither vinegar made from wine nor vinegar made from similar drink; neither shall he drink any grape juice, nor eat fresh grapes or raisins. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, from seed to skin” (Numbers 6:2-4). This was emphasized when the angel appeared to Manoah’s wife to tell her about the birth of Samson. He clearly asked her not to drink wine or any similar drinks, “Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines” (Judges 13:4-5).
If you debate that this warning was only given to the Nazirites, are you saying that we are all not Nazirites, I mean temples of God. If not, how about St. John’s teaching that God “has made us kings and priests to His God and Father” (Revelation 1:6) and God forbade kings from drinking wine “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink; lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted” (Proverbs 31:4-7). That was simply stated by St. Paul when he said “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2). You see, we are God’s priests, kings and virgins (the spiritual meaning) and He “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14). Therefore, as Nazarities, we must live in purity and righteousness and watch not to cause others to sin “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” (Romans 14:21).
5. Drunkenness Condemned
From our discussion let us recite and add more verses that condemn drinking and drunkenness:
v “So Eli said to her, ‘How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!’ And Hannah answered and said: No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now” (1 Samuel 1:14 -16).
v “But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming’, and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk” (Luke 12:45).
v “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly” (Luke 21:34).
v “Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy” (Romans 13:13).
v “Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:10).
v “Envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:21).
v “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
6. Examples of Evil that Result from Intoxication
v “Then he (Noah) drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent” (Genesis 9:21).
v “So they made their father (Lot) drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. It happened on the next day that the firstborn said to the younger, ‘Indeed I lay with my father last night; let us make him drink wine tonight also, and you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father’. Then they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose” (Genesis 19:33-35).
v “Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. And Moses said to Aaron: This is what the Lord spoke, saying ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified’. So Aaron held his peace…Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying: Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean” (Leviticus 10:1-3, 8 –10).
v “Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying: Watch now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon!’ then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant” (2 Samuel 13:28).
7. Excessive Drinking and Drinking Parties Condemned
v “Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may follow intoxicating drink; who continue until night, till wine inflames them! The harp and the strings, the tambourine and flute, and wine are in their feasts; but they do not regard the work of the Lord, nor consider the operation of His hands. Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink” (Isaiah 5:11-12, 22).
v “Yes, they are greedy dogs which never have enough. And they are shepherds who cannot understand; they all look to their own way, every one for his own gain, from his own territory. ‘Come’, one says: I will bring wine, and we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink; tomorrow will be as today, and much more abundant” (Isaiah 56:11-12).
v “And begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards” (Matthew 24:49).
v “Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy” (Romans 13:13).
v “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you” (1 Peter 4:3-4).
8. The Unpleasant Circumstances of the Drinker
v “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1).
v “Do not mix with winebibbers, or with gluttonous eaters of meat; for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags…who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, those who go in search of mixed wine. 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. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart will utter perverse things. Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: They have struck me, but I was not hurt; they have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?” (Proverbs 23:20-21, 29-35).
v “The Lord has mingled a perverse spirit in her midst; and they have caused Egypt to err in all her work, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit” (Isaiah 19:14).
v “But they also have erred through wine, and through intoxicating drink are out of the way; The priest and the prophet have erred through intoxicating drink, they are swallowed up by wine, they are out of the way through intoxicating drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filth; no place is clean” (Isaiah 28:7-8).
9. Was Drinking Wine Ever Prohibited
Absolutely. Here are few examples:
Priests in Service
v “Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations” (Leviticus 10:9).
v “No priest shall drink wine when he enters the inner court” (Ezekiel 44:21).
Kings
v “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink; Lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted. Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitter of heart. Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more” (Proverbs 31:4-7).
Nazirites
v “Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When either a man or woman consecrates an offering to take the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the Lord, he shall separate himself from wine and similar drink; he shall drink neither vinegar made from wine nor vinegar made from similar drink; neither shall he drink any grape juice, nor eat fresh grapes or raisins. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, from seed to skin” (Numbers 6:1-4).
v “But you gave the Nazirites wine to drink, and commanded the prophets saying: Do not prophesy!” (Amos 2:12).
General Public
10. Arguments for Complete Abstinence
v The alcoholic content of nearly any modern alcoholic beverage, compared with the weak and watered-down wine used in the old times, would lead us to define modern alcoholic beverages as “strong drink”, and the consumption of even a small amount would be considered excessive drinking in Biblical terms. The stronger the drink, the more this conclusion would apply. When we consider all of the above passages that warn against excessive drinking, we must conclude that this fact alone would lead us to abstain from all present day alcoholic beverages.
v Sobriety is very difficult to maintain when drinking modern alcoholic beverages. In Bible times a relatively large quantity of wine had to be consumed before one’s reasoning abilities were impaired. Today, one mixed drink or one beer is sufficient to lower one’s inhibitions and make it likely that more alcohol will be consumed. Complete abstinence is the only way to insure that we will avoid the sin of drunkenness.
v Priests who served in the house of God were commanded to avoid all wine so that they might not profane God’s house. This includes all Christians who are “spiritually” priests, meaning they raise their hands and present themselves as sacrifices to God: “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). Since we find ourselves in a similar position of responsibility, we should take similar precautions.
v Many reasons for not drinking have to do with Biblical principles concerning influence. Alcohol is a destructive and evil force in our society. We must maintain a life of purity that separates us from the wickedness around us: “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:11-12).
v “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Romans 13:10-14).
v “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
v “But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things, which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light. See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:3-18).
v Associating ourselves with the consumption of today’s “strong drinks”, and the evil that goes with them, would violate this principle. We must influence others for good, not evil. We might believe that the moderate consumption of weak beverages is lawful, but the strength of today’s beverages makes such distinctions precarious. Those around us, especially the young and the ignorant, are not able to distinguish between our “moderate” consumption and the world’s excess. When teenagers see their parents or elder brothers drink wine, they may not have the ability to stop and may be led to destruction. Who would be responsible then? If you bring alcohol home, how do you know that your young ones will not drink? If you think they don’t, think again… The weak and ignorant will be encouraged and emboldened to sin, and this we should not allow.
v In Bible times wine was a staple food source that in many places was something of a necessity. In many areas grapes were one of the few crops that could be grown that could provide ample amounts of nutrition. The only way to store sufficient quantities of the grape harvest for year-round use was by turning the juice into wine. Wine provided a source of carbohydrates and sugar that could be stored. Through most of the year the only beverages available were water, milk, and wine. In many places the water sources were unreliable or contaminated. Fresh milk was not available to everyone in sufficient quantities. Wine filled a crucial role as a reliable and safe source of liquid refreshment, and by mixture it helped to purify poor water and make it more palatable.
Today we find ourselves in completely different circumstances. With our numerous food sources and expansive selection of innocent beverages there is absolutely no need for anyone to drink alcoholic beverages. The only reason anyone would choose to do so would be to satisfy a personal craving. But when we consider all of the dangers and objections that we have presented, such a choice would be unwise at best, and in my opinion it would actually be wanton.
The circumstances in which one might consume alcohol would often put a Christian in places he ought not be:
“Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy” (Romans 13:13).
“For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you” (1 Peter 4:3-4).
Drinking parties and Bars are off limits to those professing Christ. We have no business associating with drunkards in their sin, “Do not mix with winebibbers, or with gluttonous eaters of meat” (Proverbs 23:20).
Conclusion
“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18); being filled with the Spirit, and not spirits.
“Go to the house of the Rechabites, speak to them, and bring them into the house of the Lord, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink… Then I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites bowls full of wine, and cups; and I said to them, ‘Drink wine.’ But they said: We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall drink no wine, you nor your sons, forever’… Thus we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters… Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will you not receive instruction to obey My words? says the Lord. The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; for to this day they drink none, and obey their father’s commandment. But although I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, you did not obey Me” (Jeremiah 35:1-14). If the sons of Rechabites listened to their father and the Lord used their obedience of NOT drinking wine as an example of obeying Him, wouldn’t you strongly consider obeying His commandments?
