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Sipping Saints / “Responsible” drinking

2nd November
2008
written by Cullen Webb

I pose two questions:

1. Should Christians be allowed to drink, even responsibly?

2. Should Alcohol or cigarettes be legal?

I have a pretty one track mind on this myself. But by discussing this with friends and
online christian forums, you begin to see that there is allot of question around this issue.

When scripture speaks against drinking wine when it “bites”, people are quick to point out
that Jesus Christ turned water into wine. Didn’t he? And what about the advice Timothy was given,
to drink a few sips of wine, when he was ill?

My reasoning is as follows:

Did Jesus really turn water into wine?
Yes and No. You see, wine to the Jew was very different to wine today. They would take grape juice (juice has been the actual Hebrew and Greek word used for wine in the bible) and then boil it down. After doing this they would have a thick grape syrup that could be stored in jars. Whenever the need arose, they would add water to this mixture, and drink. This process prevents the juice from ever fermenting.

What about scripture that leads dying men and women to drink?
(Proverbs 31:6)
I do not have clear enough opinion on this. It says to give it unto them who are ready to perish. So does that mean it is for medical use? Like with Timothy? Or that those who are willing to perish drink? Same with those that have heavy hearts.

I cant get away from this fact. Narcotics are:
1. Addictive
2. Expensive
3. Destructive

Alcohol and cigarettes are:
1. Addictive
2. Expensive
3. Destructive

Why try to justify one or the other? If there was the smallest possible chance, that God would judge you for drinking, would you still drink?

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Ethics, Scripture
  • faithr

    i don’t think that passage was encouraging drinking. what i saw was a message to rulers from the writer, King Lemuel. i’d say it like this, “liquor is for the dying to ease their pain, and its understandable when those in deep depression drink wine, but for a ruler, its inexcusable.” it was the words of a mother to a young king. it does not make drinking right. there are many more passages that speak about the danger of strong drink, (proverbs 23:29-30), its just saying those two points are the only times when it is understandable. not necessarily right, just understandable.

  • faithr

    oh yeah, and “dying” in my book means like, on your bed. as it is used in this passage anyway.

  • faithr

    * bed*

  • faithr

    just ignore the third comment. i was trying to type ” bed” and the computer decided to be a jerk.

  • faithr

    *dea th bed* this blog is picky about that word.

  • http://www.NationPains.com Cullen Webb

    Heheh. Watching you try to type that over and over is kinda funny….

  • faithr

    shut up. i wonder if the words “im going to kill you” work

  • faithr

    oh look! they do!

  • Jake

    I'm not sure where you received your information on the translation of "juice" from the Hebrew or Greek. I've heard an argument like that before as well (wine was really just grape juice…) but I think you need to do some more research on it. It sounds good to those who want to find a way for Scripture to fit into their mold but be careful of that. Did the wine have an "adverse" effect upon those who drank it? Look at the context. Does grape juice have the same effect? Look at history a little as well. Just a suggestion. Keep up the good work and God Bless!