Imbibing Alcohol

[WASR10]

I am a member of the churches of Christ. I was recently kicked from a Facebook c of C group because I disagree with what they were claiming regarding the consumption of alcohol. The New Testament does command against drunkenness and for church leaders to not be 'addicted to much wine,' but I have found no commandments against social drinking or consuming in moderation. In the church of Christ, we are big on Book, Chapter, Verse to prove any doctrinal stance, and the only verse that was produced is Ephesians 5:18; in which it was claimed that the word 'drunk' is translated from a word that means even to sip. Every study I have read disagrees with this, the word 'drunk' meaning the act of drinking to be intoxicated, or actively being intoxicated. Therefore, I find no verse that condemns consuming alcohol socially, if not to the point of intoxication.

So, I wonder... What do you believe the Bible teaches in regards to alcohol consumption? What does your church teach? I am not referring to the wisdom of abstaining, or the benefits of not drinking. I think they are evident. I ask about what you think God's will is regarding alcohol. Thanks!

[Alan Block]

Even Jesus turned water into wine. He can't disapprove too much. For us Jews, the amount of wine consumed on Passover is biblical (pun intended). The script (Haggadah) proscribes at least 6 cups.

[Red-Osier]

I am a member of the churches of Christ. I was recently kicked from a Facebook c of C group because I disagree with what they were claiming regarding the consumption of alcohol. The New Testament does command against drunkenness and for church leaders to not be 'addicted to much wine,' but I have found no commandments against social drinking or consuming in moderation. In the church of Christ, we are big on Book, Chapter, Verse to prove any doctrinal stance, and the only verse that was produced is Ephesians 5:18; in which it was claimed that the word 'drunk' is translated from a word that means even to sip. Every study I have read disagrees with this, the word 'drunk' meaning the act of drinking to be intoxicated, or actively being intoxicated. Therefore, I find no verse that condemns consuming alcohol socially, if not to the point of intoxication.

So, I wonder... What do you believe the Bible teaches in regards to alcohol consumption? What does your church teach? I am not referring to the wisdom of abstaining, or the benefits of not drinking. I think they are evident. I ask about what you think God's will is regarding alcohol. Thanks!

1 Cup Church of Christ or the whole bunch of little cups during communion Church of Christ?

[FatCity67]

Its facebook. Get over it. You know what's correct. Why concern yourself with some petty power hungry insignificant group desperate to use scripture to enforce their version of morality.

Rinse, repeat et al.

[Volksgrenadier]

In the Havamal, the Allfather cautions against getting drunk.

Given this is California, many are expecting a "ban mead" law as drinking mead causes Vikings.

LOL

[Sailormilan2]

WASR10, it sounds like you are dealing with a group similar to my religion. One of those "don't let the facts interfere with their beliefs".
According to Strong's, Eph 5:18 used the Greek word "methysko" which means drunk or intoxicated.
Christ says he drank wine in Luke 7:33,34, and He was called a winebibber for it.
Daniel says he drank wine in Dan 10:3. Though he actually says he stopped drinking for 3 weeks.
After Aaron's sons died for bringing"strange fire" into the Sanctuary after getting drunk, the Lord told Aaron that the Levites were not to drink before they came before Him. Lev 10:9. Note, that was only directed at the Levites and only before they were to go into the Sanctuary.
1Cor 6:9,10 says "drunkards"(methysos), not drinkers will not go to heaven.
Those who are giving you a bad time are basing their ideology on one verse, and misusing/misinterpreting it to boot.
There is no place in the Bible that says drinking is wrong, and several places that condone it.

BTW, you won't be able to change their minds, no matter how right you are. I'm fairly certain I've given myself brain damage from beating my head against the proverbial brick wall trying to convince people that their beliefs are wrong and the Bible is right.

[billvau]

... the only verse that was produced is Ephesians 5:18; in which it was claimed that the word 'drunk' is translated from a word that means even to sip. Every study I have read disagrees with this, the word 'drunk' meaning the act of drinking to be intoxicated, or actively being intoxicated.

WASR10 - you're absolutely right about Ephesians 5:18. The word is "filled" and it doesn't mean filled as in the sense of filling your car's gas tank. It means filled in the sense of "control" so that the verse teaches to be under control of the Holy Spirit, not under the control of wine. BUT, Ephesians 4-6 the application section of the letter (4:1 "Therefore") and the context is your "walk" = your whole lifestyle. 4:1-3 has the theme verse of chapters 4-6 and they say to "walk in a manner worthy..." which means to literally balance the scales between your position in Christ and your life (your practice). 4:17 Don't walk as the Gentiles walk...5:1 Walk in Love... 5:7 Walk in Light and 5:15 Walk in Wisdom. Kinda obvious that the whole context is screaming about your life, how you live overall and NOT a "sip." The wise walk of 5:15 builds to a peak in 5:18 with a set of contrasts and then follows with results that go through 6:9.

And, to your overall question, the Bible does speak MUCH about alcohol and drunkenness, because back then alcohol made water safe to drink and they didn't have refrigeration,etc. They drank alcohol partly because of necessity. Their alcohol as only about 2.5-2.7% alcohol and they would still get drunk.

But, the Bible does NOT ever say anything about NO alcohol at all. That's just legalism. I spent a bit of time on Eph. 5:18 because CONTROL is the issue with ANYTHING in this world that would keep you from being under the control of the Holy Spirit for everything you do (Gal. 5:16-24!). That's the key and alcohol is just one example of how a Christian can mis-use something allowed in this world.

Hope that helps,
Bill

[danfinger]

"Next came Dionysus, the son of the virgin, bringing the counterpart to bread: wine and the blessings of life's flowing juices. His blood, the blood of the grape, lightens the burden of our mortal misery. Though himself a God, it is his blood we pour out to offer thanks to the Gods. And through him, we are blessed."
-Euripides

[Sailormilan2]

WASR10 - you're absolutely right about Ephesians 5:18. The word is "filled" and it doesn't mean filled as in the sense of filling your car's gas tank. It means filled in the sense of "control" so that the verse teaches to be under control of the Holy Spirit, not under the control of wine. BUT, Ephesians 4-6 the application section of the letter (4:1 "Therefore") and the context is your "walk" = your whole lifestyle. 4:1-3 has the theme verse of chapters 4-6 and they say to "walk in a manner worthy..." which means to literally balance the scales between your position in Christ and your life (your practice). 4:17 Don't walk as the Gentiles walk...5:1 Walk in Love... 5:7 Walk in Light and 5:15 Walk in Wisdom. Kinda obvious that the whole context is screaming about your life, how you live overall and NOT a "sip." The wise walk of 5:15 builds to a peak in 5:18 with a set of contrasts and then follows with results that go through 6:9.

And, to your overall question, the Bible does speak MUCH about alcohol and drunkenness, because back then alcohol made water safe to drink and they didn't have refrigeration,etc. They drank alcohol partly because of necessity. Their alcohol as only about 2.5-2.7% alcohol and they would still get drunk.

But, the Bible does NOT ever say anything about NO alcohol at all. That's just legalism. I spent a bit of time on Eph. 5:18 because CONTROL is the issue with ANYTHING in this world that would keep you from being under the control of the Holy Spirit for everything you do (Gal. 5:16-24!). That's the key and alcohol is just one example of how a Christian can mis-use something allowed in this world.

Hope that helps,
Bill

Agreed. The Bible is about Self Control and personal responsibility. When people take verses out of context and ignore other parts of the Bible, it's about controlling YOU.

[RAMCLAP]

The beauty of the freedom in Christ is that it flows everywhere. If you are addicted, He frees you from your addiction. If you want to relax with a glass of wine or beer you're free to do that as well. Remember the Lord's first miracle.

Then there's this gem in The Acts of the Apostle's.

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

Peter Addresses the Crowd
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!

So can we then glean that if the people came back around 4:00 it would be Happy Hour?

Water doesn't get better with age. It goes bad quickly. Well water is for the most part safer. River and lake water would have already been bad and these people didn't know about microbes. They just knew that if they drank the water they would get sick and die. So water storage would have been a no no. Wine, however would last because the alcohol kills the microbes. Thus it can be stored for long periods of time. They drank wine not grape juice.

[Sailormilan2]

In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the Samaritan applied oil and wine to the wounds of the injured man. They not only drank wine, but they knew it had antiseptic qualities. Luke 10:34

[Volksgrenadier]

15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose.

[Just Dave]

Drinking isn't a sin but drunkenness is.

[FatCity67]

Many times in my youth I tried to disinfect my whole body inside and out.

In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the Samaritan applied oil and wine to the wounds of the injured man. They not only drank wine, but they knew it had antiseptic qualities. Luke 10:34

[WASR10]

Wonderful answers, folks. Very thoughtful. Thank you