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NASB | Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a riotous brawler; And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. [Prov 23:29, 30; Is 28:7; Hos 4:11] |
Subject: Don't understand Jesus's view on alcohol |
Bible Note: Greetings Hank! I like that response! :-) I mentioned earlier that I highly recommended John MacArthur's sermon series on, "The Spirit Filled Life". In several sermons, he lists 8 questions that someone must answer if he is going to make the case that it is okay to drink alcohol today. He called this list of questions, 'The Christian Wine List': 1) Is it the same? Since different words in the Old and New Testaments have different meanings, one must determine whether or not the alcohol of today is the same as that of the alcohol of the Bible. The obvious answer is, 'No'! Naturally fermenting wine is not as strong as the distilled beverages of today. And, there is historical evidence that many in the first century, when drinking fermented wine, usually watered it down quite heavily. 2) Is it necessary? Many have argued that they had to drink fermented wine then because they could not keep it from fermenting. Even if this were true then (and there is evidence that it isn't), it definitely isn't the case today. We have many options from which we can choose. 3) Is it the best choice? We know that priests, kings, and nazarites, were all forbidden to drink at all in the Bible. Why? Because, the alcohol could pervert their judgement. John the Baptist didn't drink at all. Is it the best choice for us to drink something that we don't have to drink when it could cause us to do evil or misguided things? 4) Is it habit forming? We are not supposed to be controlled by anything except the Spirit of God. We know that alcohol is habit forming and can lead to addiction. How much is too much? When is when? No one really knows. So, why partake at all? 5) Is it potentially destructive? Yes! How many lives have been personally destroyed because of alcohol? How many famlies have been torn apart? Every drunk who got behind the wheel of a car thought that he could handle it! Why take a chance? 6) Is it offensive to other Christians? Yes! We know from this forum that there are many views on this subject. The principle of the 'weak' and 'strong' forbids us to do anything which might cause our brothers or sisters to stumble. This would definitely qualify. 7) Will it harm my Christian testimony? Yes! Maybe not all unbelievers would be offended at a Christian drinking alcohol, but most would be. Why would we do anything which could harm our witness? 8) Are you really sure it's okay to drink? Are we? This was MacArthur's list, but I agree with it wholeheartedly. In my personal view, there simply isn't any overwhelming advantage to drinking, but there are many for not drinking. Now, as I've said several times, I would never hold anyone else to my personal view. But, obviously, I do think that it is the best course of action. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |