http://www.charismamag.com/life/men/20091-beer-bubbly-and-libation-lies-but-god-is-not-a-buzzkill
I was appalled by a recent article written for charisma magazine which is referred to above. A part of the title was "God is not a buzz kill". The author evidently is stating that God sanctions and excepts a person getting a buzz from an alcoholic drink. At the risk of sounding condescending, I am afraid that ignorance is pandemic in Christendom. With a little objective studying in the word of God, an understanding in all biblical subjects could be arrived at safely, sound, and with proper balance, doing no damage to the human soul.
The word "wine" is a generic term used in the Bible referring to both fermented and unfermented wine.
Isaiah 65:8 (KJV)
8 Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.
Obviously, the wine referred to here is still in the cluster of grapes, thus it would certainly not be fermented. However, it is also used for the fermented as seen in the below Scripture.
Genesis 9:21 (KJV)
21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
Context becomes extremely important in deciphering the use of the word wine in Scripture.
The following Scripture has become the staple for many who state that Jesus did not forbid the drinking of alcoholic beverages, but even aided in the practice of it.
John 2:10 (KJV) And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
Without getting into a long theological discourse of the right and wrong interpretation of this verse, let's just use some good old-fashioned sense. Are we to believe that Jesus Christ, who was the epitome of moral consistency and standards, would have miraculously produced 160 gallons of intoxicating wine for men, women, and children, at a wedding feast? Then after their consumption, making himself morally responsible for increasing their drunkenness. Would Jesus have been the referee when fights broke out as a result of men and women who are intoxicated? Or, did the Lord pray a special blessing over these drunken revelers that they would be insulated from any mishaps on their way home and any marital woes would be miraculously resolved? Of course it would be absurd to think so, and no sane Christian thinks that the marriage at Cana of Galilee was some sort of happy hour.
Proverbs 23:29-35 (KJV)
29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
Solomon was known as the wisest man that ever lived. The wisdom that he possessed was not the result of IQ, the educational system, or from any other human source. This wisdom was a gift from God. Notice what the wisest man that ever existed had to say about drinking alcoholic beverages. He said that not only are we not to partake of it, but we are not even to look at it. This is a biblical principle throughout Scripture. If something is forbidden by God, we are not to look at it. The reason is, what you look at has the power to create desire in your heart. This is why Jesus said that a man is not to look on a woman to lust after her who is not his wife.
Judges 13:7 (KJV)
7 But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.
Numbers 6:3 (KJV)
3 He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
Luke 1:15 (KJV)
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.
Again, we see the bible distinguishing the difference between the two. Let’s notice the high standard for people who were to be consecrated to the service of the Lord in representing him. Are we no less in our responsibility in representing the King and his Kingdom?
I am reminded of the words of Paul when he said:
2 Corinthians 6:17 (KJV) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
Amen!! The Bible says: 2 Timothy 2:15
ReplyDeleteStudy to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. AND IF WE DON'T
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.