The Sanctuary

Posts Tagged ‘drinking’

Of course you had to have known there would be some friendly opposition to my views, interpretations, and beliefs. So, in the search of Truth, and in an effort to be fair to those who have so graciously read my previous post on the subject of alcohol, and have responded generously, I am willing to share their thoughts as well as my “II Opinions” on the matter. NOTE: If you have not read the previous message, please do. Everything will make more sense, if you have all the information.

Let me remind you that this message is not to create division among believers. I am not preaching a message of judgement, but one of freedom. It is freedom to let go of the not-forbidden, and embrace the good, pleasing, and perfect (Rom. 12:2). I am merely asking us all to take a introspective look into our hearts…our desires. With that being said…

Here is the correspondence between my friend and I:

Mary,

I read your note, and I wanted to respond to it. Your note was very thoughtful and filled with many cogent details. I’d like to respond, however, because I disagree with your conclusions and would like to offer you some food for thought from the other side of the aisle on this issue.

First off, no Christian has to drink alcohol, except for Communion, if one’s church uses wine. If you don’t want to drink, you don’t have to do so. My wife doesn’t drink, not because she thinks it’s wrong, but because she hates the taste. She’s not sinning by not drinking.

However…

1. The Bible actually records that God gave us wine to make us happy: Psalm 103:15 shows that God gave us wine “To gladden the heart of man”. Now, “wine” here can’t possibly mean grape juice as grape juice has nothing in it to make one happy in the sense that this verse means.
MARY: If you haven’t looked it up already, Psalm 103:15 doesn’t make any reference to wine/alcohol.. I believe this could have been a typo from my friend, but I have yet to find the phrase he was refering to. If anyone does find it, please share. In response though, grape juice is rich, sweet, and flavorful, and it is one of my favorite fruit drinks…it definitely has the potential to “gladden [my heart].”

2. In the OT, God told the sons of Israel that drinking wine and strong drink was an acceptable way to obey God’s commands. If you look at Deuteronomy 14, God tells his children that if the way to Jerusalem is too far away for them to carry their tithes to, they can sell what they would tithe then come to Jerusalem with that money. Note that one of the things that they can do with that money is: “spend the money for whatever you desire–oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves. And you shall eat there before the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household.”
MARY: I have reason to believe that “wine” is referring to a grape drink or the writer would not have used “strong drink” after it. I don’t have any background information about this particular verse, but I could see how it may cause the reader to believe that it is ok to desire “strong” drinks. Then, I would have to go back to asking, “when is enough, enough?” In order to avoid falling into sin (drunkenness), shall we test our limits to see how much alcohol we can take?

3. Jesus used wine to institute the Lord’s Supper. He didn’t use grape juice or grape paste (as I heard one commentator say), but wine. If He allowed wine to be used in one of the sacraments, one would assume its use is not prohibited.
MARY: Although, we are commanded to partake in “communion,” I haven’t seen any reference to it being alcoholic wine. The references I’ve found in regards to the “communion” have all described Jesus taking the “cup.”  The phrase “take this cup” is one that is used many times in the Bible, and although this particular one can be taken literally, they most often refer to a sacrificial act. Eating a sacrifice was deeply connected to unity and fellowship with God. Old Testament Jews would eat part of the sacrifice as a way of restoring their unity with God, against whom they had sinned (Deut. 12:17). This really puts the Lord’s Supper into context, because Jesus is the sacrifice. So, to remember the sacrifice and the believer’s restored unity with God, we eat the bread and drink the cup. All that to say, Scripture does not indicate what Jesus drank, but we can be certain that he wanted us to understand the significance of remembering what He did for us, and why.

4. Paul commanded Timothy to drink wine. Paul says to Timothy, “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments” (1 Tim 5:23). Here the apostle Paul says that Timothy should use wine to help calm his stomach. He tells Timothy to use wine as a health remedy. 
MARY: 1 Timothy 5:23 “No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.” It is true that Paul told Timothy to use a little “oinos” for his stomach and other ailments. However, a personal message, to one man, who [may have] suffered from drinking discusting, bacteria-filled water, in a culture that didn’t have the medical advances that we are blessed with today doesn’t advocate the entire body of Christ to drink. Also, Paul tells Timothy not to drink onlywater, and tells him to add a little wine. This seems to be a better arguement for Tylenol than alcohol.

5. Christian history shows us that, until the advent of teetotalism in the 19th century, Christians drank. Men like Luther and Calvin, giants of the faith, drank alcohol. In fact, Calvin was paid partially in casks of wine for the purpose of entertaining his house guests. 
MARY: If Luther and Calvin jumped off a bridge, would you? There are many “giants of faith” throughout history that I disagree with. I love C.S. Lewis, but I don’t believe that he had everything all figured out. Same with Luther and Calvin. Although, I respect them and thank God for their wisdom, I would not base my core values on their testimony alone. We are told to test everything against the Truths of the Scriptures. And as far as Christian history goes, it has also shown some of the most brutal and un-Christlike acts. Point being, we can often learn what not to do from our history.

6. The Temperance Movement is, in large part, the reason for many in the American church viewing alcohol as an evil. This movement started in response to the fact that in the 19th century people drank too much. But instead of calling people to repent of drunkenness, they called people to stop drinking all together. Instead of speaking to the hearts of the people, they took their drinks from their hands. They focused on the behavior instead of the heart, a fatal mistake. The irony of the Temperance movement is that temperance does not mean abstention but moderation. They corrupted the meaning of the word!MARY: I don’t believe [drinking] to be evil, as you say. However, I don’t believe the Bible teaches that it is something we should strive to do. Why would God use alcohol to “make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean” (Lev. 10:9)? Why would the Bible, time and time again, warn us of the dangers? If alcohol is so godly, why aren’t there more references for us to drink? The wrongness that I believe in, lies in the disregard for the abundant information that weighs against it and the refusal of the Bride to let it go.

As far as the movement is concerned, I have no question that they probably over-corrected the problem. However, it wasn’t even a consideration in my conclusion. To clarify -it wasn’t the Church who told me to stop drinking (most are definitely on the side of “personal conviction”), rather, I believe, it was the Holy Spirit and God’s Word. I used to drink regularly, and in abundance. I didn’t have a drinking problem or anything like that, but when I started following Christ, something told me that it was wrong. As I searched for scriptures to confirm what the Spirit was telling me, the information that I found did just that.

7. Saying that alcohol can be abused does not mean that its proper use is forbidden. Adultery and fornication are abuses of sex, but that does not mean sex, in its proper context, is wrong. In fact, it’s a good thing. One can use fire to burn down houses, but that doesn’t mean that using fire to keep yourself warm on a cold night is wrong.
MARY: I agree, “the loveof money is the root of all evil” not the money itself. The forbiddeness of “strong drink” was, again, for priests and royalty (leadership). Since the scripture clearly indicates that Jesus was/is our High Priest, he could not have partaken or it would make God’s Word void. The scripture also calls us priests and kings. Therefore, it makes logical sense that we should not partake.

8. By your logic, I expect to soon see articles on not drinking coffee. Coffee has caffeine and is a diuretic. Coffee is a legal drug that is used for effect only. Moreover, drinking coffee is not mentioned in the Bible at all, so should you be drinking it? How about soda? McDonald’s French fries? Ice cream? Brownies? You see, we can keep going until we only drink water and eat gruel. A horrible existence, no?
MARY: Well there’s an idea! Ha ha. Seriously though…I don’t advocate drinking/taking excessive amounts of caffeine (or any substance for that matter). I believe we are called to keep our bodies as healthy as possible with our diets and excercise (anti-idleness). That is a spiritual act of worship. Additionally, caffeine is definitely not a depressant, and studies have failed to show its link to aggressive behavior. I don’t have to worry about getting behind the wheel if I have a couple sodas or icecreams or brownies. Most importantly, my decisions aren’t affected by its consumption. I can be sure that if I take excedrine for a migraine, I will still be able to make good decisions and it won’t affect my manner in a negative way.

At any rate, those are some thoughts of mine. Thanks for posting your comments on Facebook. Please feel free to dialogue with me about this topic and to excoriate any of the points I made.

Again, I ask that you take all of the evidence into consideration, study the Scripture for yourself. Decide for yourself. Thank you for taking the time to read my post. A special thanks to my friend, who cared enough to send me a well-thought response, and allowed me to post our conversation. I love you all in Christ Jesus, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Mary

A friend has recently asked me to discuss my beliefs and the scriptural references of Christians drinking or not drinking in the Bible. He asks, “Where in the Bible does it say that we [Christians] should not drink.” He also mentions, “The Bible says ‘do not get drunk.’ So, why do you think it is wrong to drink in moderation?”

I have had this discussion many times before, and have come to slightly different conclusions as I’ve studied more of the Bible, and learned more in my relationship with God. However, it is plain to me now, that my current (since 2001) refrain from alcohol has been a very cleansing experience, as well as a God-inspired choice.

So, as you read this, I pray you receive it with an open mind, heart, and spirit. I beseech you in the name of Jesus Christ, that you allow the Holy Spirit to work in your heart regarding this matter. I also challenge you to test my thoughts against the scriptures or other references for any incorrectness or concepts taken out-of-context. Your thoughts are welcome.

1) It was prohibited for priests, prophets, and kings (Prov. 31:4-5): “[Aaron,] Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you will not die–it is a perpetual statute throughout your generations—and so as to make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean, and so as to teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them through Moses”(Lev. 10:9). “for [John the Baptist] will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth” (Luke 1:15). “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted” (Prov. 31:4-5). The significance of these verses is tremendous to the subject of alcohol, because we [Christians] are called priests, prophets (1 Cor.), and kings (Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 20:6).

2) Jesus did not drink alcoholic wine: Jesus was/is our “high priest” according to Hebrews 2:17; 4:14, he did not drink alcoholic wine as many may believe, because it was forbidden (see previous scripture from #1) “…they gave Him wine to drink mingled with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink” (Mt. 27:34). We, also, are given the title of priests and kings. We are called to be light to the world (lead the world). We are prophets (not of future events, but divinely inspired proclaimers of the Word of God). And of course, most importantly, we are called to live like Christ –who also abstained from drinking alcohol.

I don’t believe He made alcoholic wine, either. Jesus’ miracle of turning water to “wine” (John 2) should be reconsidered as evidence that Jesus did not encourage alcoholic drinking. In verse 10, the headwaiter tastes the wine and says it is better wine than what they had already consumed. If it was alcoholic wine, they would have been too intoxicated to tell the difference. And being the Holy Son of God that He was/is, He would not have created something that would lead the intoxicated to sin (drunkenness). I don’t think Jesus would have told a drunken wedding party, “hey everybody, the drinks are on me! Time to get hammered!”

Another interesting thing to note about this passage is the six stone waterpots. These were used for ceremonial washing. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus uses these pots?! How fitting that he was sent to cleanse us from all unrighteousness! This miracle clearly points to purification and ultimately redemption…not a justification to drink.

3)  Filling yourself with alcohol vs. Holy Spirit –Ultimately, no matter how big or small the dosage, you are still choosing to give over control to a substance (alcohol affects the way we act and make decisions – how can we make godly decisions when our bodies our being controlled by a substance?) “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.  Instead, be filled with the Spirit…” (Eph. 5:18).

4) Alcohol consumption is unwise: “Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise” (Prov 20:1).

5) Hurts your witness – many non-believers see Christians who drink as hypocrites. Even the unbeliever feels a natural (dare I say spiritual) disdain for drinking. So, when Christians accept a worldly habit, it makes it harder to point people to Christ, because if the Christian is so much like the world that you can’t tell the difference, why should I become a Christian?

6) Don’t cause a Brother to stumble (Romans 14:19-21): “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.” This one is a little complicated, more on this passage later…

7) Alcohol is a poison at 100%: Drinking an alcoholic beverage is consenting to put a poison into your body. It has immediate, long-term, and detrimental effects on your body. A pure body is our spiritual act of worship. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship” (Rom. 12:1). “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body” (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

  Alcohol in moderation: Is killing yourself in moderation any different than killing yourself all at once? Do I even need to give scripture references to the wrongness of murder/suicide?

9) Drinking for pleasure vs. health. “Blessed are you, O land whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat at a proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness” (Eccl. 10:17). The body needs sustenance. We drink to quench our thirst, not to “take it easy” or “loosen up” or even “relate to others.” The main reason to drink something is because you are thirsty. Because alcohol is a diuretic; it causes the body to increase its production of urine and makes the kidneys stop absorbing water, which makes you more thirsty. So, we can logically infer that people drink alcohol for the effect –not health reasons.

10) Health Benefits of Wine: There are many recent studies on the so-called “health benefits” of wine. However, all the “benefits” can be gained through healthier sources. Rather than justifying drinking on the basis that elements from the grape skin can be beneficial in small portions, or the antioxidants are healthy, we should consider the consequences and effects and ask ourselves, “is it worth it?” Also, most of the “benefits” are from studies that show that some elements in the wine are counteracting a different unhealthy habit. We should be taking better care of our bodies!

11) Alcohol is a Depressant: Alcohol has been found to lower serotonin and norepinephrine levels
(“Food and Mood,” Natural Medicine Chest, Conquer Depression Without Drugs, Let’s Live magazine, Jan. 2000). Alcohol temporarily blunts the effects of stress hormones. It typically leaves you feeling worse than ever because it depresses the brain and nervous system. (The Brain, “You Can Control Your Emotional Wellness,” USA WEEKEND, Jan. 3, 1999, Jim Thorton, health reporter)

12) Alcohol related Deaths: The Center for Disease Control (CDCP) statistics for 2006 show…Number of alcoholic liver disease deaths: 13,050; Number of alcohol-induced deaths, excluding accidents and homicides: 22,073; now add the number of deaths caused by drunk drivers and drunk abusers, and we’ve got quite an impact on the mortality rate in America. Anything that can cause such a tremendous and unfortunate casualty should be considered a danger to any person, let alone a Christian who is held to a higher standard. The world’s standard states that: “excessive drinking” is approximately 2 or more drinks/day for the average male and 1 or more drinks/day for the average female. (CDCP)

13) The Means to an End: Although alcohol is not always the cause of aggression, there is definitely a correlation between the two. It has shown to increase aggressive and violent behavior. An increase in aggression can lead to violence that inflicts physical, emotional, and in my opinion, spiritual harm. Of all the ways to enjoy life, why choose one that has so many harmful outlets?

14) Living Like the World: What alcohol represents (or is associated with…sex, drugs, partying, self-indulgency) today and how that affects Christian society and witness should be considered very seriously. By endorsing drinking, we are encouraging the lifestyle that is often a counterpart to it. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Rom. 12:2).

15) Words, Translations, and Contexts: We must consider the scripture in its context. There are several  translations of the word “wine” in the Bible. In particular, the one that refers to a fermented, alcoholic beverage is the Greek word, “oinos.” It is most often used in context with the sin of drunkenness and to the drink that the Roman soldiers drank and offered to Jesus (Jesus did not drink it).

16) Old Grape Juice: The process to make an alcoholic wine is not a natural process. Time alone will not automatically produce alcoholic wine from unrefrigerated grape juice.  Fermentation takes place through time, specific temperatures, oxygen levels, and added by-products.

17) Letting the world dictate what’s right and wrong: why is it that Christians are so quick to respond that they would never pick up a cigarette as opposed to a beer? Smoking is out of fashion now – drinking is in fashion…you’re cool if you drink…you’re not cool if you smoke. In so many ways we have let the world tell us what is right and wrong instead of seeking God’s truth about the matter.

18) Is this glorifying God or self? This is a question we should ask of every action we take as believers. “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires” (Gal 5:24). “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). Is partaking in alcohol building the body of Christ up? Is it a good thing that God (in His Word) encourages me to do? Or is it something that I want for myself to make me feel better, have more fun, etc.?

19) Pros vs. Cons: I can give you several reasons, references, and scriptures that discourage or forbid drinking for the believer. Can you give me one good reason why you believe it is good for me and I should? I’ve found that most arguments to the non-drinking message are justifications rather than reasons to promote drinking.

In conclusion, I have found that drinking alcohol is not permissible (to the believer) under any circumstance. Nor is it wise for the unbeliever. I will also note that drunkenness is listed as unrighteous…“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10). That is not to say that a believer who drinks is going to Hell, but rather that she is choosing a lifestyle that is in opposition to Christ.

In addition, I want to make clear my position on “freedom in Christ.” “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other” (Galatians 5:13-14). “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer” (Rom. 5:1-2)? I believe that we are free from the shackles of sin, death, and eternal separation from God. I think it is wrong to look down on a man for indulging in wine or alcohol, because everyone has their own struggles. Do I believe that it is wrong to warn a brother who may walk into quicksand? Of course not! So, friends, this message is one of encouragement. If you are a slave to drunkenness, God can deliver you from it. If you are a social drinker, God has a better way for you to honor Him and glorify Him. If you abstain, be encouraged in your choice.

Many will disagree with my thoughts on this matter, or acquiesce to the common statement: “it is a matter of personal conviction.” However, I don’t see how one could ignore the scripture and abundant information indicating the wrongness, or in the least, dangers of drinking. That being said, I will look forward to your thoughts on the matter, and hope that you are encouraged by my studies to seek after the Truth for yourself. I will part with this final thought:

“There was life before my life, provision before my need. There was redemption before my sin. For the sake of the world, I thank the Lord that the Truth is not contingent on me.” –Derek Webb, “Truth.”

In God’s Love and Grace,

Mary