If we are intellectually honest,
regardless of how we feel about alcohol or see its negative effects on the lives
of people we know, we have to conclude that wine is not expressly forbidden in the Scriptures nor is it inherently sinful.
The caveats are; there can be no abusing of the substance (Eph 5:18) or
causing, by the use of it, a weaker brother to fall (Rom 14:13, 21). It was
encouraged by Paul for medicinal purposes to Timothy (1 Tim 5:23). The highly
sensitive area for me is Jesus’ involvement with wine. Did He make alcoholic
wine, and did He drink it?
Good people are divided on the
answers. Some believers are convinced that Jesus not only made alcoholic wine, but He also drank it as well. Since we are not talking about man but the God-Man,
others, like myself, are rather reluctant to go that far and declare with the
certainty of others that Jesus did drink and change the molecular composition
of water into alcoholic wine at the wedding in Cana (Jn 2:6-10) and drank
alcoholic wine with tax collectors and sinners (Lk 7:33-34) or drank fermented
wine from the Passover cup (Mk 14:23).
We should be careful in
thinking Jesus gave into cultural expectations of Jewish weddings (something
more pressurized than that was performing miracles on the Sabbath) or put
much stock in His enemies accusing Jesus of gluttony and drunkenness, or that
the Passover wine was alcoholic. I do
agree with the comment that the Greek word translated “wine” (oínos)
was a common Greek word for normal wine that was fermented, and the same Greek
word for the wine that they ran out of at the wedding feast in Cana b, but there was something different about
this wine according to the master of the feast after tasting it,
“Every man at the beginning sets out
the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior.
You have kept the good wine until now!” (Jn 2:10).
“The verb does not mean that these
guests are now drunk, but that this is a common custom to put “the worse” (ton elassō, the less, the
inferior) wine last. It is real wine that is meant by oinos here”
(Robertson’s Word Pictures).
John made this statement following the
miracle at Cana,
“This beginning of signs Jesus did in
Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him
(Jn 2:11).”
Some have maintained that back in the
first-century wine fermented very quickly and that it was practically nigh to
impossible to maintain grape juice for any length of time. Well, there is an article
I think is worth reading on this. Let me offer two quotes from it,
“This chapter aims at ascertaining whether the preservation of grape juice in its unfermented state was possible or impossible in Bible times. Our investigation will show that the ancients were far more knowledgeable in the art of preserving fruits and wines than generally presumed.… It is widely believed that in the ancient world, it was much easier to preserve fermented wine than to preserve unfermented grape juice. Such a belief rests on the mistaken assumption that the preservation of fermented wine was a simple process requiring only that the pressed grape juice ferment naturally. The truth is quite different”b.
The other question is this; are alcoholic beverages right for me? It is a wise question to ask oneself. Though we have the spiritual liberty to drink alcohol in a non-abusive manner (1 Cor 6:12, 1 Cor 10:23), it still might not be right for us if we are feeling uncomfortable with it (Rom 14:5, 14). If we choose to refrain, we still do not have the right to judge others who drink socially in moderation (not becoming intoxicated or controlled by it), Jn 7:24. Then there are the weaker ones to consider out of agape love (Rom 14:13; 1 Cor 8:9-13; 1 Jn 2:10).
“This chapter aims at ascertaining whether the preservation of grape juice in its unfermented state was possible or impossible in Bible times. Our investigation will show that the ancients were far more knowledgeable in the art of preserving fruits and wines than generally presumed.… It is widely believed that in the ancient world, it was much easier to preserve fermented wine than to preserve unfermented grape juice. Such a belief rests on the mistaken assumption that the preservation of fermented wine was a simple process requiring only that the pressed grape juice ferment naturally. The truth is quite different”b.
The other question is this; are alcoholic beverages right for me? It is a wise question to ask oneself. Though we have the spiritual liberty to drink alcohol in a non-abusive manner (1 Cor 6:12, 1 Cor 10:23), it still might not be right for us if we are feeling uncomfortable with it (Rom 14:5, 14). If we choose to refrain, we still do not have the right to judge others who drink socially in moderation (not becoming intoxicated or controlled by it), Jn 7:24. Then there are the weaker ones to consider out of agape love (Rom 14:13; 1 Cor 8:9-13; 1 Jn 2:10).
Since Jesus was without sin, exceeding
moderation would never have been an issue with Him anyway, but man possessing a
sinful nature is prone to abusing it like anything else intrinsically neutral.
Twisting a little of Shakespeare, “It is neither good or bad, but abusing
maketh it so.” Sin! If Jesus did indeed drink alcoholic wine, it would make, at
least in my way of thinking, the teaching of Rom 14:13, 21 a moot point with
regard to drinking alcoholic beverages or not; if it is a Christlike thing to
do there is no longer any dilemma to concern ourselves with, only the misuse of
it.
Jesus represents the highest of
standards of morality and ethics that are unachievable in fleshly overtures,
requiring the assistance of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:16). If we believe alcoholic
wine is not inherently sinful (Psa 104:14-15; Eccl 9:7; Isa 55:1; Amos 9:14), only the abuse of it (intoxication, drunkenness, and addiction) is sinful (Eph
5:18; Prov 23:29-35; 1 Cor 6:12; 2 Pet 2:19), then theoretically, Jesus could
have drank and made wine. It has been noted,
“Everything, from the context of a wedding feast, to the usage of oínos in 1st century Greek literature (in the New Testament and outside the New Testament), argues for the wine that Jesus created to be normal, ordinary wine, containing alcohol. There is simply no solid historical, cultural, exegetical, contextual, or lexical reason to understand it to have been grape juice”b.
“Everything, from the context of a wedding feast, to the usage of oínos in 1st century Greek literature (in the New Testament and outside the New Testament), argues for the wine that Jesus created to be normal, ordinary wine, containing alcohol. There is simply no solid historical, cultural, exegetical, contextual, or lexical reason to understand it to have been grape juice”b.
However, one may be found theologically
without getting into a spitting contest with the interpretations of oínos in its context to be grape juice or
fermented wine. Here, therefore, in my humble opinion, is the cogent theological
reason why Jesus didn’t drink or make alcoholic wine (oínos). There are
no actions by Jesus that ever caused a man to fall into sin through the
emulation of His actions or requiring the actions of Jesus to fall under the scrutiny of whether such actions posed a potential threat to a weaker believer
(Rom 14:13, 21). Being Christ-like is the safest of all behaviors most pleasing
to the Father (3 Jn 1:4).
Wine mentioned in Scripture is a
generic term; the context will determine if it is referring to grape juice or
alcoholic wine. Sometimes it refers to fresh grape juice (Deut 11:14; 2 Chron
31:5; Neh 13:15; Prov 3:10; Isa 16:10; 65:8; Jer 48:33). In other passages it
has reference to fermented wine and warns against the drinking of alcoholic
wine (Gn 9:21; Prov 20:1; 23:29-35; 31:4-5; Isa 5:11-14; 28:7-8).
Some other things to consider in this conversation are these. Jesus
did not drink or make alcoholic wine because He did not want to contradict
Scripture (Hab 2:15; Mt 5:17-18). As High Priest, He could not drink alcoholic
wine (Lev 10:8-9). As King and Prince, Jesus could not drink
alcoholic wine (Prov 31:4-5; Isa 9:6; Rev 19:16).
Jesus did not come to mock or deceive man (Prov 20:1; Jn 3:17) or to cast a
stumbling block before anyone (Rom 14:21).
If the water had been miraculously
alcoholic at the wedding in Cana, Jesus would have been seen as encouraging or
promoting the use of alcohol or drunkenness. Those ruined by alcohol would point an accusing finger at Jesus;
you know they would. When things are cool, people will say, “Praise Jesus!”
When things turn into a catastrophe, people will blame Jesus, “It’s Jesus’ fault; He
was pushing alcohol on us by His example!” Moderation is like trying to grab hold of a greasy
pig! What glory does Jesus receive by making drunk people drunker if the wine
consumed at the wedding was alcoholic (Jn 2:11)?
Let’s be sensible;
if this wine was alcoholic in quality, making people drunk would not have
inspired faith in Him from His disciples (Jn 2:11). Even etymological usage has
to bow to the greater context; God’s revelation of Himself in the wholeness of
Scripture. Though oínos is commonly
associated with fermented wine as agapao is to God’s love (1 Jn 4:10), here in
Cana alcoholic wine production was as foreign to Jesus as agapao (God’s
love) was to unregenerate man, “Men loved [agapao] darkness rather
than light” (Jn 3:19)?
It seems out there on that line of
reasoning, but think of what Mary, the mother of Jesus, said to Him when the
wine ran out, “They have no wine (oínos)” (Jn 2:3). What was Jesus’ response? Jesus said to her
abruptly, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not
yet come” (Jn 2:4). Jesus took oínos as referring to his blood being freely given on the cross. I love the
last recorded words of Mary, “Whatever He says to you, do it” (Jn 2:5). That’s
good advice for us all! When Jesus’ blood flowed down the cross for you and me,
you can be assured that there was no dying under the influence, the blood
alcohol content was 0% as we would expect.
What I do concur with all of this is
that consuming alcoholic beverages is not inherently sinful. There is no
wholesale prohibition on drinking alcoholic beverages. It is no more sinful
to indulge (within personal limits) as it is to abstain. I think most sensible
people will agree that sinfulness is in intoxication, drunkenness, or
addiction. We should refrain from drinking in any situation that will cause a
weaker brother to violate his conscience. Should we choose to abstain for
whatever reason, we must be careful not to judge others who drink responsibly
(Jn 7:24).
Warren Wiersbe talked about why we
shouldn’t use the miracle at Cana as an argument for partaking in alcoholic
beverages today.
Wine was
the normal drink of the people on that day, and we must not use this miracle as
an argument for the use of alcoholic beverages today. A man given to drink once
said to me, ‘After all, Jesus turned water into wine!’ My reply was, ‘If you use Jesus as your example for drinking, why don’t you follow His example in
everything else?’ then I read Lk 22:18 to him. This verse clearly states that in heaven now, Jesus is a teetotaler!
Since
Christians of our day consider such verses as 1 Cor 8:9; 10:23, 31 before
concluding that the use of alcoholic beverages is a wise thing today. I am
reminded of the story of the drunken coal miner who was converted and became a
vocal witness for Christ. One of his friends tried to trap him by asking, ‘Do
you believe that Jesus turned water into wine?’ ‘I certainly do!’ The believer
replied. ‘In my home, He has turned wine into furniture, decent clothes and
food for my children!’
Finally, it is worth noting
that the Jews always diluted the wine with water, usually to the proportion of
three parts water to one part wine. While the Bible does not command total
abstinence, it certainly magnifies it
and definitely warns against drunkenness (Wiersbe
Bible Commentary: New Testament).
I don’t think this controversy will
ever come to an end on this side of glory. I do agree with the teachings on
alcoholic beverages as presented here. I just don’t like dragging Christ down
to our level; we need to be very cautious about such a thing. Biblically
established Christ-like behavior is worry free of sin.
The reason I do not drink alcohol is
not a spiritual one, per se. When I received Christ as my Lord and Savior, the
expectation was not to drink any alcohol; so I didn’t. As I grew more
knowledgeable in the Word, I learned that drinking alcoholic beverages was not
wrong. I chose to continue abstention from intoxicating drinks more for
personal reasons than spiritual ones. I really don’t like the taste of it. I save
money and avoid any potential issues off the road or on the road whether
spiritual or physical.
The irony of my abstinence is people
who do drink around me “feel” that I am judging them deep within my spirit! I have to expend extra effort to reassure the sensitive and respectful
that I am not offended by their use of alcohol and should never feel guilty drinking in my presence.
Sometimes these situations develop over dinner in a private residence or a dining
establishment. I deeply appreciate the respect shown toward me, but I am not
condemning them in any way for their social drinking. When it comes to alcoholic beverages, you wine
some; you lose some, if you aren’t careful! <><
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