What's one drink?
It is needless to say that alcoholism is a major problem in America today. It has been noted to be a factor in at least half of the country's suicides, murders, and accidents. Yet, drinking is socially acceptable in America as long as we "drink responsibly." Even among Christian circles, it seems many churches take a position of moderation on this issue. Some people have gone so far to say that alcohol is a medical, not moral issue.
However, what does the Bible say on this issue? Let's take a look at a few verses:
Leviticus 10:8-11 - Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying: "Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them by the hand of Moses."
Proverbs 20:1 - Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
Proverbs 23:31-33 - Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart will utter perverse things.
Proverbs 31:4-5 - It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink; lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted.
1 Timothy 3:2-3 - A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous
In light of these verses, how can the Bible commend wine as good and also condemn it as bad? Can God recommend the moderate use of wine, while knowing fully its bad effects on people?
Some people will try to defend the moderate use of wine citing Jesus' miracle of turning water to wine in Cana (John 2:1-11) and when He drank wine with His disciples at communion (Matthew 26:27-29). However, do you think Jesus would promote alcoholism at a wedding feast by making several gallons of alcoholic wine? Would Jesus choose alcoholic wine, with its ill effects on the body and the mind, to symbolize His precious pure blood to cleanse us of our sins? I would suggest in these cases, Jesus turned water into grape juice and also drank grape juice with His disciples at communion. Wouldn't a sweet, refreshing drink be something Jesus would give instead of alcoholic wine? Wouldn't grape juice, squeezed from grapes in a vineyard (Deuteronomy 32:14) be a better symbol for Jesus' blood than alcoholic wine?
I would like to suggest that the Bible actually promotes abstinence from alcoholic wine, not moderation. Furthermore, I would like you to consider the possibility that all the negative verses in the Bible wine refer to alcoholic wine and all the positive verses refer to unfermented grape juice.
Whether or not you drink alcohol, I invite you to study this issue for yourself and see what the Bible says. Does the Word of God support moderation or complete abstinence? You may find that perhaps that one drink might be a bigger deal than you initially thought.


