Bible Question:
Dear Ed, Greetings in the name of Jesus! Well, the Lord said the first shall be last, and the last shall be first! :-) (I'm pretty certain it won't be the last!) My brother, please understand that this post is not 'aimed' at you personally. Because we were discussing this issue together, I just decide to re-start it here. It seems this thread has been resurrected, so I would like to make a further comment... The original question asked if Jesus made a mistake by turning water into wine. This evolved into a discussion as to what the word wine meant, i.e. was alcoholic content a necessary part of the meaning. Up to this point things were fine, and most agreed that the word wine itself did not 'necessarily' mean alcoholic. Then a schism occured between those that 'a little wine' was acceptable behavior, and those that either claimed alcohol in any amount is forbidden, or that 'admitting' alcohol consumption was unacceptable behavior, akin to 'promoting' intoxicants. So, without saying whether I drink or not, I simply say that careful exegesis of the Biblical account suggests that Jesus may well have made wine with some alcoholic content. It would follow that He also consumed wine with some alcoholic content. He could not have become drunk without breaking the Biblical commandment against drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18). The alternative is to declare that every reference of wine where Jesus was involved was totally non-alcoholic wine, and every instance of wine relating to drunkenness (as well as 'merry' and 'happy') meant alcoholic wine. I don't think that objective exegesis of Scripture could support this theory. Therefore, if we say that Jesus drank, made, or served wine with any alcoholic content at all, we must conclude that the consumption of alcoholic wine is acceptable behavior, as long as it is in temperance and never to the point of drunkenness or addiction. Please notice that I am very careful to say 'wine.' I do NOT see that Jesus ever drank or accepted 'strong drink.' The Bible (and common sense!) tells me that consuming more potent beverages is dangerous. The same common sense would apply to illicit drugs. The next argument cited is 'causing a brother to stumble.' There are so many things in this modern world, not spoken of in Scripture, that could be construed as 'stumble-inducung.' I drive a car. Some good folk think this is sin. I drive a motorcycle. Some consider this delinquency. I wear glasses. Some say I lack faith. I use a computer connected to the internet. To many, this is a step away from hell. I am 20 pounds overweight. Irresponsible gluttony. I have a Seiko. A Timex will do the job. I drove to church the other morning in the snow to clear the walk out front. I could have had an accident. I ate raw fish. (Yum!) I could get food poisoning! I gave my dog a bone. She could have choked to death. Many of the above actions are 'potentially' dangerous. Many are 'unacceptable behavior' to certain individuals. Many of these actions could hypothetically influence others to sin. I find it hard to please everyone, but sense by my testimony that I please God. The final point I will make is the 'example' issue. "I know a guy..." "So many have become..." Misapplication of statistics is an age-old ploy to sway listeners from the truth. Many Christian men have consumed wine for 2,000 years without becoming addicts, or causing those around them to fall to hell. I don't have any numbers, but I suspect it is the overwhelming majority. Friend (and friends), my two cents! (payable in Yen) I remain unconvinced that we are forbidden to drink any wine, and ask for clear Biblical reference to sway my opinion. Kurisumasu Omedetou! (Merry Christmas!) Blessings and peace in Christ Jesus, charis |
Bible Answer: Charis I never said we were forbidden to drink wine. I never said all references to wine in the bible was non alcoholic. I never said Jesus never drank alcohol although I find it very unlikely. He really won't have needed the buzz. I said the word for wine in the Bible is used for both alcoholic and non alcoholic wines. I said that alcohol is akin to leaven and therefore would be symbolically prohibited from all ceremonies where leaven was prohibited. I said I can not imagine Jesus who was all knowing and therefore very aware of the effects of alcohol on unborn infants would have endanger the babies of any pregnant women that more than likely attended the wedding of Cana by providing alcohol. I said fermentation was not a way to preserve grape juice as many suggest. I then looked at the nature of alcohol and alcohol by definition is the excrement of sugar eating bacteria, to which I can’t imagine anyone defending the drinking of. Alcohol is also a poison to the body and a controlled substance neither of which makes it very desirable. I then looked at the spiritual aspect. Alcohol has a tendency to dull the senses, burr reality and remove inhibitions. None of these aspects enhance our pursuit of the gifts of the spirit, and does in fact in many cases actually retard them. Certainly alcohol itself does not enhance or improve our relationship with our God. So that being the case why even discuss it on a Christian forum? We are not forbidden from drinking wine. We are called to holiness. I remain unconvinced a Christian should drink alcohol for other than medical use and I ask for a clear biblical reference to sway my opinion. EdB |