Wine Drinking Debate
Christians Drinking Bible Explanation
You may have considered becoming a Christian, in the past, and for
one reason or another, decided against it. I have been told by many
of those I encounter that some Christians and even some Christian
leaders, make it very hard for those who would become Christians to
do so.
Matthew 23:13
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up
the Kingdom of Heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves,
neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
This is because they elect to preach law to the potential Christian,
instead of God's Grace
by saying such things as "If you have done this or that, you will be
damned."
For example ... If a potential Christian ever divorced their spouse,
stole, abused drugs, had sex out of marriage, or anything else one
can think of ... It somehow makes these "holier than thou" teachers
of law feel they have the right to find the potential Christian
unworthy of God's Grace and to pass judgment, causing the potential
Christian to walk away and never consider becoming a Christian again.
They even condemn these potential Christians for drinking.
If one suggests that people in the Bible drank, as the Word of God reveals, they usually say that the wine in the Bible was not "fermented" and that it was not the kind of wine that gets you drunk. Wow ... That sounds kind of strange. We best seek the Truth in God's Word (The Bible).
Wine Drinking Bible Story
Christians Drinking In Modern Times
Okay here is our simple question ... Can Christians drink alcohol? The Bible is clear that there are many of God's chosen people who drank wine. From Noah to the Apostles:
Genesis 9:20-21
20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a
vineyard:
21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken;
Genesis 14:18
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine:
and he was the priest of the most high God.
Genesis 27:25
And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison,
that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he
did eat: and he brought him wine and he drank.
In Truth ... Even our Lord Jesus drank wine.
Matthew 11:19
The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man
gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and
sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
And Jesus said that He will drink wine again in God's Kingdom.
Matthew 26:29
But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of
the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my
Father's Kingdom.
Wine Drinking Bible Woe
Christians Drinking Scripture
So, Can Christians drink alcohol? We have established that Chosen people of God and even
Jesus Himself drank wine and that there is wine in Heaven. However,
some like to say that the wine that Jesus drank and the wine that
Jesus said would be in Heaven was not fermented. They even say that
wine in the Bible was not able to get one drunk.
Why would people say this? Simple ... Most folks think of drinking as a sin and they believe to suggest that Jesus drank fermented wine is calling Him a sinner. But ... Is it a sin for a Christian to drink wine? That is the true question it seems.
Another reason they believe that Jesus drank fermented wine is they suggest that there are variations of the word "Wine" in the Greek and Hebrew text that may mean fermented or unfermented wine. One can Google the words "Greek words for Wine" or "Winebibber" or
other variations of this topic and find many web sites that say one
thing and others that say the complete opposite, each defending their
own point of view and/or beliefs.
Make sure you do not read one study and take it as the Gospel though ... Not even this Can Christians drink wine and alcohol Bible study. It is always best to use your Bible to confirm and to read it in context. Then discern for yourselves, what you believe the Truth to be. So, the first question becomes ... Was the alcohol consumed in the Bible "fermented"? Does the wine spoken of in the Bible intoxicate or not?
We just read that Noah created a vineyard and the wine he made got him drunk.
Genesis 9:20-21
20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a
vineyard:
21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken;
So, obviously that wine did intoxicate the one who consumed it.
Paul revealed that Wine did get one drunk when it is consumed in excess.
Ephesians 5:18
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled
with the Spirit;
So, some wine in the New Testament times ... Was able to get one drunk. In fact all throughout the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments, it indicates that wine and strong drink were in Truth able to get one intoxicated. So, everyone should agree that there is wine in the Bible that does intoxicate.
And most do agree, but, there are those who suggest that there is other wine which was not able to intoxicate and that is the wine Jesus and the Apostles drank.
New Testament Wine Drinking Bible Verses
Christians Drinking Bible Policy
So, the question in everyone's mind and heart becomes, Was the wine that Jesus drank fermented (able to intoxicate) or not?
Ponder on this. Jesus shared this with us:
Luke 5:39
No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.
Why is old wine better than new wine? Could be the taste, maybe? Could be I suppose. But, this was spoken of John the Baptist:
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.
Can Christians drink alcohol Bible trivia question ... Why would Jesus say the following, if the wine was not able to intoxicate?
Matthew 11:18-19
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and
they say, He hath a devil.
19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and
they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of
publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
Why would they call Jesus a "Winebibber" if it was not fermented? Who would care that Jesus was drinking Grape juice? Very peculiar, huh?
Wine Drinking Bible Test
Christians Drinking Fact Finding
Another interesting point is that there was a prophecy given by Jacob
to his children foretelling their future. When he got to Judah, he
said a very strange thing:
Genesis 49:8-12
8 Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy
hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children
shall bow down before thee.
9 Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art
gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion;
who shall rouse him up?
10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver
from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall
the gathering of the people be.
11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt
unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his
clothes in the blood of grapes:
12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and His teeth white
with milk.
What a prophecy! Shiloh, is a word that represents the Messiah. The Messiah is of course Jesus. You see ... Judah was the bloodline that
David was from and the bloodline that God chose to place Jesus within. This prophecy even mentioned that Shiloh would be on a donkey's colt ... Just as another Prophet foretold of:
Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem:
behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation;
lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
And of course Jesus fulfilled this prophecy:
Matthew 21:5
Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee,
meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
Wine Drinking Bible Prophecy
Christians Drinking in the Bible
So, once again looking back at the prophecy foretold by Jacob:
Genesis 49:8-12
8 Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy
hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children
shall bow down before thee.
9 Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art
gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion;
who shall rouse him up?
10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver
from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the
gathering of the people be.
11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto
the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in
the blood of grapes:
12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and His teeth
white with milk.
Shiloh would have eyes that were red with wine. What causes eyes to become red when drinking wine? Was the wine that Jesus drank fermented or not? As Jesus said ... Wisdom is justified of her children.
Then there is this popular story in the Bible; Jesus even turned water to wine so others could drink wine.
John 2:1-11
1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of
Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2 And both Jesus was called, and His disciples, to the
marriage.
3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith
unto Him, They have no wine.
4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what
have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever He saith
unto you, do it.
6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after
the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three
firkins apiece.
7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the
waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8 And He saith unto them, Draw out
now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that
was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which
drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10 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.
11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of
Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed
on Him.
Wine Drinking Bible Fear
Christians Drinking Or Not
Why would the ruler of the feast say, That people usually serve good
wine at first and then a "worse" wine was served when men had well
drunk? But, that good wine was brought out afterward in this case?
Why would one serve a lesser wine after men had well drunk? What made
the wine that was served ... Good? The taste or that it was able to
lift the spirits?
Can Christians drink alcohol? In Truth it reveals in the Bible that wine was and is to be used to
make the heart merry, which fermented wine does. It was also to be
given to those who suffer from a heavy heart, stomach ailments and is
even to be given to those that are near death.
Psalms 104:15
And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make
his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.
Proverbs 31:6
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto
those that be of heavy hearts.
1 Timothy 5:23
Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's
sake and thine often infirmities.
Jesus even used wine to symbolize His Blood for the New Covenant and had His Apostles drink it at the Last Supper.
Matthew 26:27-28
27 And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to
them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28 For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is
shed for many for the remission of sins.
This act has become known as "Communion" in many Churches.
1 Corinthians 10:16
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the
blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of
the body of Christ?
Wine Drinking Bible Warning
Christians Drinking Bible Pitfall
Now, a stern ... Can Christians drink alcohol warning is shared with us by Paul concerning communion. Back in the early Church days, Paul found that the Christians were gathering together to honor the Lord's Supper by having this Communion and some people would show up late so others would begin drinking the wine early and were getting drunk at this gathering.
Paul said this:
1 Corinthians 11:17-29
17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not,
that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church,
I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they
which are approved may be made manifest among you.
20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is
not to eat the Lord's supper.
21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own
supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or
despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? what
shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I
delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which He
was betrayed took bread:
24 And when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said,
Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in
remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had
supped, saying, this cup is the New Testament in my blood: this do
ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup,
ye do shew the Lord's death till He come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink
this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and
blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of
that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and
drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
Yet again, it appears that wine was able to intoxicate. Even the Church wine, it seems. Which brings us to the problem with drinking wine and strong drink. It is habit forming, becoming addictive for many, and it tends to make you drink more and more. Here is an important, Can Christians drink alcohol point of interest ... Drinking in excess can make you do foolish things. It is excess of drinking and one's reactions from being intoxicated that can end up becoming sin.
Wine Drinking Bible Sin
Christians Drinking Bible Curse
Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Proverbs 21:17
He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and
oil shall not be rich.
Proverbs 23:29-30
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.
Isaiah 5:11
Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow
strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
Isaiah 28:7
But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are
out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong
drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through
strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
Hosea 4:11-12
11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff
declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to
err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.
Wine Drinking Bible Tips
Christians Drinking Occasions
One more point that should be brought up. Paul also said:
Romans 14:21
It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Another, Can Christians drink alcohol tidbit of Truth ... This is saying that we should not drink in front of those who it may offend or cause them to become weak and stumble as they cannot drink in moderation or because they may judge you and lose faith because they saw a Christian drinking and thought it a sin.
Then Paul said:
Romans 14:22-23
22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God.
Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he
alloweth.
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he
eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
But, if you know that there is nothing wrong with it (as long as you
do not do so in excess) you are to have Faith and may do so in
privacy and before God. Do not allow their doubt to negatively affect
your Faith in Truth.
The study below will further explain this matter:
So, what have we learned from this Wine Drinking - Christians Drinking Bible study?
- Yes, God's people and even Jesus Himself drank wine.
- Yes, The wine in the Bible was able to intoxicate.
- Yes, There will be wine in Heaven.
- Yes, Wine has good uses.
- Yes, Wine can become a problem if taken in excess.
Can Christians Drink Alcohol Summary
Paul says it best:
Ephesians 5:18
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
