There are 247 references to wine and strong drink in the Bible. 40 negative, 62 that are neutral and 145 that are positive. Jesus made nearly 200 gallons of wine for a party in Cana after the participants had already "well drunk." Obviously drunkenness and addiction should be avoided, but I can find no scriptural reason to believe that any alcohol drinking is sinful in every instance.
2007-02-17 14:25:37 · 25 answers · asked by celebduath 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Love Child: if the wine in scripture was non alcoholic, why are there warnings against getting drunk on it?
2007-02-17 14:35:46 · update #1
Matt: so, at the Last Supper, for example, you would have cautioned Jesus and the apostles against drinking the wine? Would you have scolded Jesus for his miracle in Cana? Think about what you are saying.
2007-02-18 03:00:31 · update #2
cath g: If what you say is true, explain Acts 2:13, where the people that Peter said were "not drunk as you suppose," were thought to be "full of new wine" by the onlookers?
2007-02-21 13:39:58 · update #3
You have obviously been doing your research. I think churches are against alcoholic beverages because alcoholic beverages have the potential to get a person drunk. When a person is drunk, it could lead that person to sin. We are always supposed to be in control of our bodies and aware that Jesus Christ is the Savior. I myself, have conflicting opinions about this issue. You cannot prove to me that the wine Jesus made from water was not fermented. That seems to be the argument from the churches point of view. If the wine wasn't fermented, it couldn't cause drunkenness. I really don't see anything wrong with alcohol, as long as it isn't an addiction. Churches teach that alcohol has the potential to ruin lives and families. There's no argument there. I just don't see how drinking alcohol would send a person straight to Hell as some churches claim.
2007-02-17 14:37:19 · answer #1 · answered by valkyria 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am told that the Greek for wine can refer to either unfermented juice or fermented, so I believe your numbers are a bit off. Perhaps they see the great sorrow that alcohol causes, and realize that there would be no problem if people did not take the first drink. I believe you are right that Scripture does not condemn drinking. However I also believe that using a medicine recreationally is indeed sinful.
2007-02-17 22:31:15 · answer #2 · answered by hasse_john 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
After distillation was discovered by the Arabs, people went from seeing wine the food to whiskey the reality reliever as a substitute for religion. Alcoholism in America was rampant from the middle of the 17th century up until Prohibition in the USA. Revolutionary Way and Civil War soldiers on both sides went into battle blitzed. The Whiskey Rebellion makes interesting background reading. After Prohibition (1919-1933) moderation in drinking was established. During the 19th century when many of the recent Christan sects were developed they set themselves apart from the older Protestant and Lutheran sects and the original Catholic sect by attacking alcoholism and as a side were into predicting the end of the world. The end of the world predictions caused problems for many of the sects as they kept choosing dates that came and went with no fulfillment so they dropped it and kept on bashing alcohol.
That BS about unfermented grape juice is out in left field since the juice naturally fermants from the yeast present on the skin and changes to wine. Open a jar of grape juice and set it out for a few days and see what you have. Food was valuable and to save the grapes they were turned into wine. If they hit you with that jazz about Jesus Grapes, tell them to produce them.
2007-02-17 22:59:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question.
Jesus told them, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, ... (John 2:7-9)
Wine is used throughout both the Old and New Testaments. The first recorded miracle of Jesus was to turn water in wine at the wedding in Cana.
It is true that we should not become drunk but used in moderation, wine is a biblically acceptable beverage.
Go, eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a merry heart, because it is now that God favors your works. (Ecclesiastes 9:7)
What would Jesus do? Jesus had a cup of wine with dinner.
If some people wish to totally forego alcohol to eliminate the temptation to over indulge, that's fine. But I don't think they should force that unbiblical teaching onto others.
With love in Christ.
2007-02-19 00:12:20 · answer #4 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
the lesson is "everything should be done in moderation." when we depend on certain things or overindulge we create what is known as a "vice." that is what the bible is talking about. When something becomes a vice and distracts us from being followers of God...that is the sin. Our vices encourage other bad behavior. For example, when a follower drinks too much wine, we may have the urge to fornicate. see how the snowball effect begins
2007-02-17 22:33:15 · answer #5 · answered by Patrick the Carpathian, CaFO 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are 2 kinds of wine in the bible the old wine and new wine, but the one prohibited by God is the old wine. In 1Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Saint Paul was talking to the early Christian, you will see on that verse that he only mention some wrong doing and telling them that some of them are like that before, right. As a Christian we must be clean in the eyes of the Lord, so to avoid committing sin we must avoid where a sin starts, when we drink liquor there is possibility that we will be got drunk in became drunkards, so to avoid being drunkards we should get away from drinking liquor, right, read this verses
Eph 5:18 And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit;
1Th 5:22 abstain from every form of evil.
So there is a form already or appearance of evil in drinking liquor, you might be drunk, so avoid it, as it is written in 1Th5:22.
1Ti 3:8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
In this verse it is said WINE , there are two kinds of wine in the bible, one is the new and old,
Luk 5:37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
Luk 5:38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
Luk 5:39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.
So God allow the early Christian to drink wine the new one which you will not be intoxicated or got drunk, unlike the alcohol you talking about.
Luke 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
See that in Luke 1:15, WINE or STRONG DRINK.
So used common sense or logic: What will God let his people drink or used as symbol of prosperity and security. the new wine or the old wine that can make you drunk in can cause trouble.
In the bible it is not specific whether it is a new wine or old wine, however you your self know what kind of wine was used in the verses, When Jesus make the water into wine
Source(s):
http://www.truthcaster.com
2007-02-21 00:54:49 · answer #6 · answered by cath g 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I would say MOST caution against excess in anything. However, it's a popular drum to beat (wage war against the drunkard even if it's a glass of wine at supper) for some
Moderation in all things...well, in all things other than forgiveness.
2007-02-17 22:29:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it has to do with having God as the most important thing in your life. If you are a drunk then you can not have God first, drinking is first. The reason why we preach against drinking is because it is better to avoid it than become addicted.
2007-02-17 22:31:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mine doesn't teach that it is a sin. (Over indulgence is a sin) We had a party at church on Friday night with dim lights, music from the Beetles era, and lots of wine! Come on over to the Episcopalians!! Whenever 2 or more are gathered, there will be a 5th among them. ;-)
2007-02-17 22:31:50 · answer #9 · answered by tonks_op 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because people can't control themselves. I don't think it would be taught against if individuals could control themselves - but they can't for the most part. That's why alcoholism is a problem. One drink a day is fine, but how many people stop at one?
2007-02-17 22:30:17 · answer #10 · answered by flutterby 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋