This can be a touchy topic for many people, however we cannot deny the truth. Whether or not drinking alcohol is an actual sin, it is undoubtedly a "gateway" to sin. The Bible tells us to remove any temptations (gateways) of sin from our lives.Matthew 5:29-30 - "29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."
I believe the list "could" go on and on. In other words, what I'm getting at is if drinking has potential to lead you toward sin, then it's probably wise as a Christian to give it up. As Christians, we battle temptations every day in the world. It's a constant fight every day of our lives. In one way or another, every single day we are in the ring fighting to keep our image clean as followers of God. To drink may not necessarily be a sin (or maybe it is... I'm not sure), but what I do know is that when we drink, we are letting down our guard in the middle of this metaphorical fight. Which is not very wise (especially in today's world).
How serious should we take this so called "fight" in life? Well put it this way, winning and losing depends on heaven or hell. So letting down your guard in this fight may not be in your best interest. To be on the safe side, I wouldn't drink. In my opinion, gambling or "playing dangerous" with your soul is probably frowned upon by God. Again, this is just my opinion so please don't get offended.
Yes, I know. The Bible lets us know that wine can be good for us when Psalms tells us a list of things God has created for the health of man:
Psalms 104:14-15 - 14 He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate— bringing forth food from the earth: 15 wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart.
Also, lets not forget Jesus' first miracle - turning water into wine.
John 2:7-11 - 7Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. 8Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."
They did so, 9and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." 11This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
They did so, 9and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." 11This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
Some say this wine was actually juice, not alcohol. Verse 10 above states that when people have had "too much to drink" they brought out the cheaper wine to decieve them and save the good wine... to me, insinuating they were "drunk" when saying they had "too much to drink."
Regardless of how you interpret this topic, you cannot deny that alcohol is a gateway to sin.
Let me leave you with this thought. If you know something could even come close to offending the Lord (even if you don't consider it to be an actual sin), why do it period? In fear of God and my constant urge to please Him, I don't like to "play dangerous" when it comes to upsetting or disappointing Him. I simply choose the path that I "know" will not have a negative image.
(Plus, it simply looks bad for a Christian and puts out the wrong message)
Here's a link to several verses where the Bible has negative views on drinking.
wow mark this is another reason why i look up to u so much.....u have a wonderful way with words. u can say something and make anybody believe its true(not that what ur saying isnt true lol) but my point is that u could really turn someones life around. u are very special and u are talented and very blessed(u know that lol) i just want u to know that i was plning on drinking when i got older...but not enough to get drunk...but then when i think about it i probably would try getting drunk once just to know what its like....but now i never want to drink. i always had a reason not to smoke cuz i would ruine my singing voice, bt i never thought there was a reason for me not to drink...and here it is...you've said it all the reason is that it leads to temtation of getting drunk...i think thats a sin but im not sure lol...but anyways thank u mark i love u soooo much and ur amazing to me!!! ~Jessie~
ReplyDeleteWow,there is so much to say I dont know what to say. When I looked up wine in the BIBLE I was overwhelmed with scripture. From reading the massive overload it was clear that wine "Alcohol" was not a sin ,but the abuse of it can and most of the time will cause man to fall in to sin. if you drink people will talk about you "thats a sin also". Remember in Matt 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Here is a glutton and a drunkard,a friend of tax collectors and "sinners'. We know Jesus was not a drunkard but it would not have been said if there was no "ALCOHOL" so to say Drinking is a Sin is to say Jesus was a sinner "and HE WAS NOT" and the first Miracul was a sin. use the WORD to learn, if you can't drink without sinning DON'T DRINK ! Thats why I don't drink. Thats all for now, GOD BLESS!!!
ReplyDeleteMark, excellent blog. Your last statement provides a lot of answers to the subject of your blog... "Plus, it simply looks bad for a Christian and puts out the wrong message." You are absolutely right, so just think of the responsibility placed on Jesus for the same reason. He knew that down through the ages that this story would be told, so why would He knowingly, provide so much more alcohol to an "already intoxicated" crowd. Would He be guilty of breaking His own warning in Habakkuk 2:15 ""Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor..."?
ReplyDeleteThe fact is, that He didn't. What? But it says, (in the NIV) "after the guests have had too much to drink..." This is one reason among many others I choose not to use the NIV, and use the NKJV instead. In the NKJV a more literal translation of the original text is used, "and after the guests have had their fill..." The Young's Literal Translation says, "and when they may have drunk freely..." Most other direct translations express this phrase pretty much the same way.
I have done very indepth studies on this subject over the past 25 years because alcohol nearly destroyed me. From the time I was 22 years old, until 30, I was drunk almost every night. Many times, I literally threw up blood (sorry for being so graphic) So, I wanted to know, why would Jesus put His seal of approval on it by getting drunk people drunker?
Here's the deal. This wedding feast was held by devout Jews who knew the scriptures and all the "woes" about intoxicating beverage. The difficulty in translation lies in the fact that the same word "oinos (Greek)" was used both for grape juice and intoxicating wine. When grape juice was made (in a winepress, which, by the way, makes juice, not wine), some of it was placed in sealed jugs and put at the bottom of a well to keep it cool (appx 50 degrees). However, even this would allow the juice to eventually sour, so another process was implemented to further preserve the fresh juice. It was slowly boiled to the consistency of paste, then reconstituted with water when needed. The paste would keep for much longer times, much like jelly does when it is canned.
Now picture the occasion: The wedding feast is underway, and because of the time of year the reconstituted juices are being served. Well, they ran out. So, Mary says, "Son, this is your opportunity..." you can read the story. Jesus then miraculously turns 56 to 72 gallons of water into "fresh squeezed grape juice" tasting just like it would fresh out of the press--indeed a miracle! This is why they they commented on saving the best for last.
I have a whole lot more I could say, but maybe later. Mark, thanks for bringing ths up.
I think Steve hit the nail on the head.
ReplyDeleteThat was a great answer Steve.
ReplyDeleteTo help me better understand, if the word "oinos" was used for both juice and for intoxicating wine, then how do we know for sure which kind it was referring to? I also believe that it was juice at the wedding in that scripture as you mentioned what Jesus said in Habbakuk 2:15 "Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink,"(I agree with you there as Jesus would never contradict himeself).
But digging deeper and broadening a bit, not just for the wedding (as we've solved that), but any time "oinos" or wine was used in the Bible, how can we differentiate whether it was referring to juice or intoxicating wine?
"Methuo" is the Greek word for "well drunk" meaning the people were constantly having something to drink (not fermented).
ReplyDeleteWeddings would last up to a week. Those in charge of the wedding caculated for the number of people at the wedding.
Jesus would not turn "pure" water into an "impure" fermented liquor. The wine was the best wine because it was made by Jesus (juice). This juice does not neccessarily have to be grape. It could have been fig juice or another juice... but it was juice.
The Greek word "oinos" means "wine." Oinos is unfermented wine which is purified juice. Do you think Jesus Christ who is without sin would have provided more liquor to people that already had too much to drink?
Gal 5:19-21
Heb 12:14
Matt 5:20
Luke 21:34-36
Eph 5:5
1 Cor 6:9-10
Rev 21:8
Rev 22:14, 15, 19
gal 5:19-21
(19)Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,(20)Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,(21)Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
(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, (10)Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Jesus cannot lie. The wine was fresh juice.
I think it great Mark that you have it so together at such a young age. I agree with you about alcohol, if you drink, you are not in control and that could be very dangerous
ReplyDelete