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To drink or not to drink? The use of alcoholic beverages

INTRODUCTION

To drink or not to drink? – That is the question. Although drunkenness is directly prohibited by God, wine itself was used in the Bible. Almost every society today has a drinking problem. The subject of drinking alcoholic beverages is an important and confusing topic in the contemporary church. Should a Christian drink alcoholic beverages? Does the Bible say anything to help answer this crucial question? Some say that a Christian should not drink and others think otherwise. Others say that a Christian can drink moderately, especially since the Bible comments on characters who drank wine. However, an attempt is made to solve this problem by studying some Biblical principles.

WINE AND USES IN THE BIBLE

In general, wine could be defined as the fermented juice of grapes. It is first mentioned in Scripture when Noah became drunk after the Flood (Gen. 9:20-21). Wine is a common item of Hebrew life and was regularly included in summaries of agricultural products (Gen. 27:28; II Kings 18:32; Jer. 31:12). It is noted that “sometimes the juice of the grapes was served unfermented, but it was usually bottled after fermentation” (Lockyer 1986, 1101).

He came as part of the Offering

The wine was part of several offerings such as the liquid (Lev.23:13), the holocaust and the voluntary offerings (Num.15:4). The latter required a quarter of a hin in profit. The sacrifice of a ram was accompanied by a hin of wine (Num. 15:6-7). In the temple organization established by David, the Levites were designated to oversee these wine offerings (I Chronicles 9:29).

wine as food

The elder of Gabaa offered wine to the traveling Levite (Judg. 19:19). Jesse smells David with bread, a skin of wine and a kid as a gift when Goliath was scaring the Philistines (I Sam.16:20). Abigail brought David two skins of wine (I Sam.25:18).

Ziba brought David wine as he fled from Absalom (II Sam.16:1-2). Wine was on the list of provisions that the Persians provided to the captive Hebrew people when they returned to Jerusalem (Ezra 6:9; 7:22).

wine as medicine

Wine was used as medicine. It was said to be recommended “for those who are exhausted in the desert” (II Sam.16:2) and could serve as a sedative for people in danger (Prov. 31:6). It could be mixed with a drug (Matthew 27:34; Mark 15:23). When the Good Samaritan found a beaten man by the side of the road, “he went up to him, bound up his wounds, poured oil and wine, and mounted his own beast on him, brought him to an inn, and took him.” take care of him” (Luke 10:34).

It is evident from the foregoing that the Samaritan poured wine on the wounds of the wounded traveler. The apostle Paul charged Timothy, “drink no more water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your many diseases” (I Timothy 5:23).

wine in memory

Wine was also used when Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper in Matthew 26 and instructed His followers to keep this ordinance in memory of Him.

He came as slavery

Wine often enslaved the heart (Hosea 4:11). The prophets accused Israel of being overwhelmed with wine (Isa. 28:1), of drinking wine by pitchers (Amos 6:6), and of wanting prophets to speak of wine (Mic. 2:11). The leaders were interested in drinking and were not concerned with the ruin of the country (Is. 5:11-12; 22:12). The list of those drunk with wine in the Bible begins with Noah and includes Lot, Nabal and Ammon (Gen.9:21; 1 Sam.25:36-37; II Sam.13:28).

Drunkenness

This is a drugged or deranged condition that results from drinking intoxicating beverages (I Cor.5:11; 6:10; Eph.5:18). Drunkenness appears regularly on New Testament vice lists (Luke 21:34; Galatians 5:21). The dangers of drunkenness are abundantly recognized in the Bible (Prov. 20:1; 23:29-35). Lot committed incest with his two daughters when he was under the influence of alcohol. Paul admonished his readers to be filled with the Holy Spirit instead of wine (Ephesians 5:18).

BEGINNING

Since the use of wine is a crucial contemporary issue, there are certain principles that can be applied to this thorny issue. Christian drinkers point out that the Bible recommends wine and assume that it is therefore acceptable today. If drinking in Biblical times is to be used as the basis for drinking today, the wine of today must be the same as that used then. This deserves careful analysis.

A. Some Biblical words for wine

Yo. Oinos/Yayin

The most common New Testament word for wine is the Greek word oinos. It is a general word that simply refers to the fermented juice of the grape. The Old Testament equivalent of the Greek word oinos is yayin, the root of which means ‘to bubble’ or ‘to boil’. It is believed that yayin, at least in rabbinic times, was diluted with water.

ii. Gleucos/Tirosh

The Greek word gleukos, from which we get the English word glucose, means ‘new wine’. It is used in Acts 2:13 to refer to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. He says that they were ‘full of new wine’. Although it was comparatively fresh and not fully aged yet, it was potentially intoxicating. The scoffers in Acts 2:13 accused the apostles of being drunk. The Old Testament word for new wine is tirosh. Hosea 4:11 says “wine (yayin) and new wine (tirosh) take away the heart.” Drunkenness is the result of drinking this new wine.

iii. Sikera/Shakar

The Old Testament word for strong drink is shaker, a term that eventually became restricted to intoxicants other than wine. This refers to unblended wine. The New Testament equivalent is the Greek word sikera.

B. Historical wine data

1. Unfermented wine

Wine was often boiled until the liquid evaporated (as a result of refrigeration problems in ancient times), leaving a thick, non-intoxicating paste that stored well. It was somewhat similar to modern grape jam. People spread it on bread like a jam, and some still do today in the Middle East. It is suggested that the wine “was brought into the city on skins and sold in the public markets. He said it had the appearance of coarse honey” (Russell 1894, 26). The wine consumed in Biblical times was not what we know as wine today. Most were more of a concentrated grape juice with its intoxicating properties basically stripped away. One cannot defend drinking wine today on the basis of drinking wine in Biblical times because the two are totally different.

2. Fermented wine

A. The procedure

However, indisputably, wine stored as a liquid would ferment. Pure, unmixed wine was drawn from these jars and poured into large bowls called kraters, where it was mixed with water. From these kraters, it would then be poured into kylix or goblets. It is generally noted that historical studies state that “wine would never be served directly from the amphora without first mixing it. And based on other historical data from this period, the mixing could be as high as a 20:1 ratio or less than 1 : 1” (Stein 1975, 10).

b. The present

From the above, the researcher wishes to present the following line of reasoning. Beer is about 4% alcohol, wine 9-11%, brandy 15-20%, and hard liquor 40-50%. Unblended wine in Biblical times measured at approximately 9-11%. The mixed wine, in a ratio of 3:1, would be between 2:25 and 2.75%. By today’s standards, a drink must exceed 3.2% to be considered an alcoholic beverage. It is argued that “the wine they consumed was completely non-alcoholic or sub-alcoholic by today’s standards. To get drunk on wine in those days, you would have to drink all day” (MacArthur 2004). That is why the Bible commands the elders of the church not to be addicted to much wine (I Tim.3:3). With such a low alcohol content, you would have to aim to get drunk. Therefore, drinking wine today is not necessarily the same as it was in Biblical times. In any case, if drinking wine was a necessity in the past, today it is a preference. There are a variety of non-alcoholic beverages in many parts of the world today. In our contemporary society, drinking alcohol is simply and only a preference. Today’s wine is not necessarily mixed with water and can be very intoxicating. The wine that people drank mainly during Biblical times was mixed with generous amounts of water and was largely intoxicating. The researcher believes that these considerations should be considered by Christians. The Bible also gives examples of people in positions of spiritual authority who abstained from alcohol (Lev.10:8-11); Judges 13:3-4; Luke 1:14-15).

The Bible condemns drunkenness and it is forbidden to drink when it causes another believer to stumble (Romans 14:1-23; I Corinthians 8:9-13). Does one’s drink cause another to stumble? One must evaluate these earlier passages to determine if another will ultimately stumble. Realistically, this is what is happening. Many people justify drinking by quoting other Christians, especially those in authority, who drink.

The Bible warns the Christian to refrain from all forms or appearances of evil (I Thess. 5:22). Without a doubt, drunkenness is wrong, and since the only way one can get drunk on wine today is by drinking it, the principle of abstaining is a realistic suggestion for the sober Christian. Discussing the issue of prevention, it is argued that ministers of the Gospel are the only care professionals who have daily and weekly access to members of the congregation or parish.

According to Apthorp, “It is clear that our most useful and effective ministry will be preventive maintenance. The goal, therefore, is to stop the problem before it starts, by enabling God’s people to make responsible decisions… Prevention is primordial” (1985, 38).

This advice is significant when you consider that “according to national (US) statistics, there are 9 to 10 million alcoholics in this country—men, women, and teens who cannot control their drinking or the effect it has on them.” in their lives” (Hawthorm 1980). , 245).

CONCLUSION

There are various degrees of drunkenness, but one cannot claim to know where that fine line is for everyone. However, one becomes drunk whenever one relinquishes control of the senses to alcohol. The Bible condemns drunkenness. A Christian is warned against its consequences (see Gal. 5:19-21; Rom.13:13; I Cor. 6:9-10; I Pet.4:3; I Thes.5:6-7; Prov. 23:20, 29-35, 31:6-7, Is.5:11, Is.28:7-8, Lev.10:9, Is.56:11-12, Hosea 4:11). Although the issue of drinking is controversial in modern times, “there is no Biblical justification for the heavy traffic in alcoholic beverages of modern times” (Lockyer 1986, 1102). In modern times, drinking “excites carnal lust; and to wallow with delight in the mire of sensuality, a man, created in the image of God, must first intoxicate himself” (Delitzch 1970, 120). As temples of the Holy Spirit, every Christian is expected to help his brother/sister to grow rather than serve like the Pharisees who were stumbling blocks. Therefore, a Christian should abstain from alcoholic beverages.

REFERENCE LIST

Apthorp. Stephen P. 1985. Alcohol and Substance Abuse: A Manual for Clergy. Wilton: Morehouse-Barlow.

Delitzch, Franz. 1970. Biblical Commentary on the Proverbs of Solomon, vol. 2. Grand Rapids: Eerdman.

Thorn, Madalyn. 1980. The ABC’s of a drunkard’s life. Ohio: Deckard Publishing Company.

Illustrated Dictionary and Concordance of the Bible. 1986. Jerusalem: The Jerusalem Publishing House Ltd.

Lockyer, Herbert. 1986. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary. New York: Guides.

MacArthur, John. 2004. Don’t get drunk on wine, part 2. Available [online] [http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/sq1937.htm]. Accessed October 3, 2004.

Russell, A. 1894. Natural history of Aleppo. London: GG and J.Robinson.

Steins, Robert. 1975. Wine Drinking in New Testament Times, Christianity Today, 4(2): 9-11.