WINKING AT DRINKING Does the Bible Support Drinking

WINKING AT DRINKING Does the Bible Support Drinking Alcohol as a Beverage?

Support of Alcohol? n Some passages are cited in an attempt to support the use of alcohol. n We will examine some of these passages. n Our goal is to see if the Bible supports the use of alcohol as a beverage.

John 2: 1 -5 1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine. ” 4 Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come. ” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it. ”

John 2: 6 -8 6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water. ” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast. ” And they took it.

John 2: 9 -10 9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”

Support of Alcohol? John 2: 1 -10 n It is argued that Jesus made intoxicating wine. n Jesus, thus, approved drinking in moderation.

Support of Alcohol? John 2: 1 -10 n If this was intoxicating wine, Jesus would have been guilty of sin. n Habakkuk 2: 15 – “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor. ”

Support of Alcohol? John 2: 1 -10 n The phrase “well drunk” (methusthosin) has reference to being full, not drunk. n Psalm 23: 5 – “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. ”

Support of Alcohol? John 2: 1 -10 n The phrase “well drunk” (methusthosin) has reference to being full, not drunk. n Ephesians 5: 18 – “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ”

Support of Alcohol? John 2: 1 -10 n Some think that “good wine” means intoxicating wine. n They regarded unfermented wine as of higher quality than any other. n Reason: It took care to prevent fermentation.

Support of Alcohol? John 2: 1 -10 Pliny, Plutarch, and Horace all mention that the best wine was that which was “destitute of spirit. ”

Support of Alcohol? Luke 7: 31 -32 31 And the Lord said, “To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying: ‘We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not weep. ’

Support of Alcohol? Luke 7: 33 -35 33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon. 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 But wisdom is justified by all her children. ”

Support of Alcohol? Luke 7: 31 -35 n Enemies of Jesus accused Him of being a winebibber. n They also accused Him of being a glutton. n They also charged John of having a demon.

Support of Alcohol? Luke 7: 31 -35 n Do you believe these other charges? n These are trumped up charges by His enemies. n Even to admit that Jesus drank “wine” does not prove alcohol consumption.

Support of Alcohol? Luke 7: 31 -35 n The charge is one of contrast with John. n John was under a Nazarite vow. n Nazarites could not eat any grape product in any form – raisins, fresh grapes, juice, or fermented.

Support of Alcohol? Numbers 6: 1 -4 1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2“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, 3 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. 4 All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, from seed to skin.

Support of Alcohol? Acts 2: 13 n Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine. ” n Not “drunk” but “full”. n Not alcoholic wine but “new wine” (gleukos – grape juice). n See study of John 2.

Support of Alcohol? Acts 2: 13 n Peter did not argue – “We are not drunk. ” n All knew this was not the charge. n He argued – “It is too early in the day to be full. ”

Support of Alcohol? Colossians 2: 16 n So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, n We must not judge another about what they eat or drink. n Matthew 7: 1 - “Judge not, that you be not judged.

Support of Alcohol? Colossians 2: 16 n We must not judge another’s – n Eternal destiny n Motives n Intention of heart n We cannot write the rules for others.

Support of Alcohol? 1 Timothy 3: 8 n Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, n Some see a difference in “much wine” and “no wine” for elders.

Support of Alcohol? 1 Timothy 3: 8 n In both Hebrew and Greek the use is different than in English. n Here are some examples to study -

Support of Alcohol? 1 Timothy 3: 8 n Ecclesiastes 7: 17 - Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: n Is it OK to be a “little” wicked? n James 1: 21 - Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, n Is a less amount of wickedness approved?

Support of Alcohol? 1 Timothy 3: 8 n 1 Peter 4: 4 - 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. n Does God approve of dissipation (excess) if it is less than a “flood”?

Support of Alcohol? 1 Timothy 5: 23 n No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities. n Is Timothy commanded to drink wine? n Is this “wine” alcoholic? n Is this a beverage or medicine?

Support of Alcohol? 1 Timothy 5: 23 n Use of this passage is grasping for 2 reasons: n Medicinal – not as a beverage n Intoxicating – most likely not

Support of Alcohol? 1 Timothy 5: 23 n Pliny stated that wines most adapted to the sick were wines that had their forces broken by the strainer. n Pliny, Columella, and Philo all stated that wines which were destitute of strength were exceedingly useful to the body.

WINKING AT DRINKING Does the Bible Prohibit Drinking Alcohol as a Beverage?

Prohibitions Against Drunkenness vs. Drinking n Ephesians 5: 18 - And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, n Galatians 5: 21 - 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.

Prohibitions Against Drunkenness vs. Drinking n The Bible condemns drunkenness! n Most people condemn “drunkenness” but not drinking alcohol as a beverage. n American Medical Association – “There is no minimum blood alcohol which can be set at which there will be absolutely no effect. ”

Prohibitions Against Drunkenness vs. Drinking n The word “drunkenness” (Greek – methuo) is used in Ephesians 5: 18. n And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit. n W. E. Vine – “To make drunk, or grow drunk, marking the process of the state expressed, to become intoxicated”

Prohibitions Against Drunkenness vs. Drinking n Young & Haynes – “To begin to be softened” n E. W. Bullinger – “To grow drunk” n Thayer – “To get drunk, to become intoxicated”

Prohibitions Against Drunkenness vs. Drinking n Why does God condemn drunkenness? n What is the “sin” in being intoxicated? n Why is this a sin which would prevent one from entering heaven? n Think with me for a minute:

Prohibitions Against Drunkenness vs. Drinking n What is worse? What would God condemn? n 12 drinks – passed out n 11 drinks – vomit n 10 drinks – stumble, stagger n 9 drinks – loosen up, inhibitions gone

Prohibitions Against Drunkenness vs. Drinking n What is worse? What would God condemn? n 8 drinks – speech slurred n 6 drinks – vision distorted n 4 drinks – life of party, happy, silly n 1 drink – begin to lose judgment and morals are impaired

Prohibitions Against Drunkenness vs. Drinking n I have never met a person who claims to drink socially who has never admitted getting a “buzz”. n Is there such a person who drinks socially, but never gets drunk? n Does such a creature really exist?

Prohibitions Against Influence on Others n Romans 14: 21 - 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. n Is there any debate that some are led into drunkenness, alcoholism, and other sins, by our example? n Is there any question about the negative influence upon others if an elder or preacher drinks?

WINKING AT DRINKING What About Social Drinking?

Serious Questions n Is the sin drinking or being drunk? n Does the place matter – home, tavern, wedding reception? n What is the sin involved with alcohol? n Does 1 Timothy 5: 23 approve social drinking?

Serious Questions n 1 Timothy 5: 23 n Think about this: n If Timothy were already drinking alcohol as a beverage, socially, with every meal, it would not be necessary to urge him to take some more. n You cannot straddle the fence here.

Serious Questions n John 2: 1 -10 n Did Jesus make intoxicating wine? n Jesus could not violate Habakkuk 2: 15. n Habakkuk 2: 15 – “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! n Is Jesus sinless? n Hebrews 4: 15 - For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Serious Questions n People did drink fresh grape juice in Jesus’ time. n The better wine has less alcohol. n The best wine had no alcohol n The wine Jesus made was the best of the feast.

Serious Questions n What was the purpose of miracles? n Produce faith through reason n Alcohol causes a lack of ability to reason n John 20: 30 -31 - And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

Serious Questions n What about the “wineskins” of Matthew 9: 17? n Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved. ”

Serious Questions n What about the “wineskins” of Matthew 9: 17? n Jim Mc. Guiggan, The Bible, the Saint, and the Liquor Industry, pages 113 -114 n The reason for the new skins was to AVOID the dregs in the old skin which would cause fermentation.

Serious Questions n What about the “wineskins” of Matthew 9: 17? n No skin (new or old) could stand the pressure of fermentation. n 1 cubic inch of sugar transformed into carbonic gas expands 40 times. n Grape juice was put into wineskins to prevent fermentation.

Serious Questions n Why were Nadab and Abihu struck dead? n Leviticus 10: 8 -11 - Then the LORD spoke to Aaron, saying: 9“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, 10 that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, 11 and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them by the hand of Moses. ”

Serious Questions n Why were Nadab and Abihu struck dead? n God’s definition of “drunk” n Not: thick tongue, blurred vision, staggering, or passed out n But: breakdown of judgment, no restraint, lack of reason, loss of moral sense

Serious Questions n What is “temperance”? n 2 Peter 1: 6 – to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness n Temperance (self-control) is a Biblical requirement

Serious Questions n What is “temperance”? n Acts 24: 25 - Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you. ” n Titus 2: 2 – that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound if faith, in love, in patience

Serious Questions n What is “temperance”? n Galatians 5: 23 - gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. n 1 Corinthians 6: 19 - Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

Serious Questions n What is “temperance”? n 1 Corinthians 3: 16 -17 - Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Conclusions: n Having weighed the evidence, I am convinced that the Bible teaches that drunkenness is a matter of degree. n And that it continues to worsen with each subsequent drink. n MADD (Mother Against Drunk Driving) – “When you have drunk one drink, you are one drink drunk. ”

Conclusions: n Alcohol as a drug has its uses and benefits n Alcohol as a beverage is abused and does harm n Alcohol as a beverage: n Deprives n Destroys n Deceives n Damns those who flirt with it

Conclusions: Proverbs 20: 1 – Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.