Part 1: Introductory Comments
Part 2: Sola Scriptura and the SBC
In this installment, I will bring Scripture to bear on the assertions I have made. To systematically go through every mention of wine or strong drink in Scripture is a long and tedious process. I know, I’ve done it. I won’t bore you with every one of them. The comments to this post will be the place to bring up passages that you believe I have overlooked or avoided. I will attempt to answer objections in a later post.
As you saw at the end of the last installment, there are over two hundred uses of the words wine and strong drink in Scripture. There are passages describing, forbidding, and warning against drunkenness, which are not germane to this discussion. There are passages dealing with special circumstances requiring abstention. Those will be discussed in a later post.
There are numerous passages in which wine appears just as a matter of fact. Nothing positive or negative is said about it. That, however, does not mean we cannot draw any conclusions from them concerning wine. The most obvious conclusion is that wine was a constant, normal part of life throughout Bible history. Through it all, there are no sweaty preachers ranting about the evils of “demon rum” and repeating tearful anecdotes about the poor man who thought he could get away with “taking Satan into his mouth” just once, but ended his life an alcoholic wreck. That kind of drama is entirely missing from Scripture. (I do realize that not all prohibitionists are “sweaty” or “ranting,” but if they will portray Biblical enjoyment of a gift as carnal and licentious, then I must be allowed my caricatures, as well.)
Throughout the Old Testament we see wine as an integral part of worship, which continues as Christ instituted the Lord's Table, assigning the representation of his blood to the Passover wine.
The first mention of wine in Scripture, after that of Noah’s drunkenness, is in Genesis 14. Lot had been taken captive, and Abram had rescued him along with all the other captives and spoils of battle. “Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine; and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of Heaven and Earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thine hand.” Melchizedek brought wine for the purpose of dispensing a priestly blessing. Lest anyone doubt Melchizedek’s character, Psalm 110 declares Christ himself to be “a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”
Exodus 29 brings the institution of “one fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering,” repeated again in Leviticus and Numbers. Wine is included among the produce that must be tithed on. The passage that nailed me between the eyes when I was at the height of my (brief) prohibitionist piety is Deuteronomy 14:22–26, “You shall surely tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes out of the field every year. "You shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always. If the distance is so great for you that you are not able to bring the tithe, since the place where the LORD your God chooses to set His name is too far away from you when the LORD your God blesses you, then you shall exchange it for money, and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses. You may spend the money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household.” The idea of spending a tithe on “strong drink” was a revelation to me. Clearly, God could not both prescribe and forbid the same thing.
Wine is also named frequently as a blessing. Isaac’s blessing of Jacob (Genesis 27) includes these words: “Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine.” In Deuteronomy 7, God promises that, if Israel will keep his commandments, that he will “bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.” In 2 Kings 18, the Lord promises to return Israel “to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die.”
Numerous texts describe the loss of wine (and other crops) or its production as judgment from God. Among them are Deuteronomy 28, Isaiah 16 & 24, Jeremiah 48, and Lamentations 2.
Probably the most common text cited in favor of wine is Psalm 104:14–15: “He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man.” It seems fairly obvious that wine is given by God, and that we should receive it gratefully.
More convincing than the texts that describe literal wine as a blessing are those that do so figuratively. If wine was a thing to be condemned, surely God would not choose it to represent blessing when he has all of creation to choose from. Yet, he includes it among other things as a cause of joy, health, and wealth.
In Zechariah 10, it is said that “Ephraim . . . shall rejoice as through wine (at the salvation of the Lord).” In the previous chapter, we read “. . . corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.”
Hosea 2 speaks of the woman who played the harlot (Israel) and did not acknowledge that her corn, wine, and oil were given by her husband (God) and offered silver and gold to Baal. God then destroys the vineyards that she has attributed to her lovers. Then, in a picture of redemptive grace, he draws her back to himself, and gives her new vineyards. “And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel (God sows).”
Song of Solomon repeatedly uses wine as a metaphor for the sweetness of marital intimacy: “. . . thy love is better than wine” (1:2), “. . . how much better is thy love than wine!” (4:10), and the erotic suggestion, “I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate” (8:2).
Isaiah 55:1 presents “wine and milk” as a picture of grace: “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”
Throughout the Old Testament wine is constantly present. It is present as an ordinary part of life. It is present in the priestly sacrifices. It is used in celebration, and it is a cause for gladness and joy. It is a choice metaphor for marital intimacy.
In the New Testament, as we should expect, wine is still an ordinary staple of life. Jesus used wine to illustrate his messages (Matthew 9, Mark 2, Luke 5). The “good Samaritan” didn’t have go get wine to pour on the beaten man’s wounds, he was carrying it with him (Luke 10). More to the point, Jesus drank wine. In Luke 7, he is even accused of drunkenness. Furthermore, he made wine — several gallons of it, for the purpose of celebration. Finally, observing the Passover with his disciples, he took the cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Wine is a good thing; of that, there should be no doubt. It should be treated the same as every other gift from God. It should be received with gratitude, giving glory to God.
Part 4: Abstinence in Scripture
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20 Comments:
#1 || 06·07·25··09:58 || Don Fields
Glad to see that you are back at it. I look forward to reading your complete thoughts on this subject. I appreciate you stretching my thinking and doing it from the Scripture.
#2 || 06·07·25··16:00 || Jonathan Moorhead
Jim mocked me in your first post for suggesting that we glorify God for wine. I wonder if he feels the same way after this post.
#3 || 06·07·25··20:03 || David
Jonathan, if you feel neglected, I'll stop by the Moor later and mock you.
#4 || 06·07·25··22:17 || fitzage
I just went back and read Jim's comment on the first article about being sanctimonious.
I'd like to say that I don't always drink as to the Lord, but I strive to, glorifying God for His good gift of alcohol. By His grace, I trust I will do so more and more.
Is this sanctimonious? No, it's what Christians ought to do in all things.
#5 || 06·07·26··06:00 || lisa4given
I was getting weary of these such posts... But, WOW!!! This one is really good.
#6 || 06·07·26··11:15 || Even So...
Hello....
Interesting, pedantic, stuff...
I will weigh in later, and no, it won't be ad hominem, or knee jerk, etc.
I'm waiting for the next installment with "baited breath"....
BTW, I am 5'3", and have less "cred" with the "big boys of blogging" than you do, so I will take on the role of "Mighty Mouse" as well, thank you...
#7 || 06·07·26··11:49 || David
pe·dan·tic (pə-dăn'tĭk) adj.
Characterized by a narrow, often ostentatious concern for book learning and formal rules.
If the "book" in question is the Bible, and the "formal rules" are the rules of sound hermeneutics, then I'll plead guilty and take it as a compliment.
By the way, it's "bated breath." How's that for pedantic?
Thanks for stopping by, JD, and I look forward to your comments. I trust you to be reasonable, right or wrong. Incidentally, one of my good friends when I was younger was only 5'2", and he could kick butt on almost anyone who tried him. So I'm not letting my guard down with you.
#8 || 06·07·26··13:39 || Lance Roberts
Exodus 29 says "new wine" so it wouldn't necessarily have had time to ferment.
#9 || 06·07·26··14:22 || Even So...
David
I did mean pedantic as a compliment, see Brad's blog (Sojouner) for another who uses it as such...
"baited breath" was in quotes to emphasize "bait".....you have me, now convince me...BTW recheck what I wrote, I am against teetotalism, etc.
God bless you in this...
#10 || 06·07·26··14:30 || David
Ah, I get it... and I thought I was being clever.
#11 || 06·07·26··15:50 || daniel
Do you realise that the word wine historically can mean either fermented or non-fermented grape juice.
eg. Noah Websters Dictionary: "Must, New WINE; wine pressed from the grape but not fermented." (1828 A.D.)
#12 || 06·07·27··09:13 || fitzage
Thanks, daniel, for bringing out one of my pet peeves: using Webster's to define biblical words.
#13 || 06·07·29··11:13 || csheidler
tell me, daniel...how many people have you known who have ever gotten drunk as a result of drinking non-fermented grape juice?
None? That's what I thought. Thanks.
That means that Scripture MUST be referring to the fermented variety, or else there would be absolutely no point in commands such as "be not drunk with wine..."
#14 || 06·08·02··13:08 || Jim
Jonathan,
I simply thought your comment sounded rather self serving. An alcoholic never admits their dependancy.
As I suggested to David earlier, we have a habit of defending those things we enjoy in a spiritualized way. I intended no personal injury.
As for your question regarding sex; I believe sex within a godly marriage is a glory to God. Of course, it has been and is being much abused. But man cannot survive without sex, he can do very well with alcohol.
David, seeing as scripture condones the usage of wine in "moderation", would you affirm a resolution to ban all strong drink; say anything over 10% content?
#15 || 06·08·02··13:34 || David
Jim,
I would reject and rebuke, in every case and in the strongest terms, any ban on anything that Scripture doesn't forbid, especially those things that Scripture calls good. How would a ban on strong drink fit in with Deuteronomy 14:22-26?
Really, you're still looking for a way to sneak in a rule based on your personal perceptions rather than Scripture. The rule here is sola Scriptura.
While you may not intend any personal injury in your comments to Jonathan, that is exacltly the kind of ad hominem suggestion I referred to at the beginning of this series. It is an attempt to discredit the argument by questioning the motive behind it.
#16 || 06·08·02··14:58 || Jim
David,
I have noticed that those who get rather defensive on an issue usually do so because they feel threatened.
The reason I questioned your view on a ban of strong intoxicants was that it seems you are defending the usage of alcohol based upon the Biblical acceptance of wine. Is this same acceptance placed upon higher beverages such as Vodka, Whiskey, or Rum?
I get the feeling that was somehow one is missing out on something when they do not drink. Are you trying to say that a well balanced christian (and a biblical one for that matter) will consume wine?
I have seen nothing positive about the use of alcohol, therefore I choose to abstain. Neither will I condone it's use to my children or any other person.
You are free to drink yourself silly, that is your perogative. However, to insinuate someone is more holy for drinking is something I take strong objection to.
#17 || 06·08·02··16:13 || David
Jim,
I see the ad hominem continues, e.g. implying defensiveness of carnal lusts and the desire to "drink [myself] silly." You either have not really read my posts, or are dismissing me (and Jonathan) as disingenuous.
I would urge you to base your theology on something more solid than "I have seen nothing positive about the use of alcohol, therefore..." I have seen and experienced much that is positive about the use of alcohol, yet you will not catch me using my experience to prove anything. If you do, you should call me on it.
No one has insinuated that drinking is more holy than not drinking. However, the opposite is frequently stated outright, e.g. your own words in Daniel's comments: "Where is the holiness, where is the sanctification?"
#18 || 06·08·02··22:35 || Jim
David,
I will confess that it is hard to gauge a person solely by their blog posts. Therefore I should perhaps have given you and JM the benefit of the doubt. I apologize for the heavy handed comment concerning "drinking silly".
While scripture does not implicity prohibit drinking, and as you have pointedly observed insists it can be beneficial, I still maintain that abstinence (or the lack of consumption) is still a respectable decision regardless of the reasons for it.
I will also commend you for your due diligence in researching this topic. Would that your opponents could articulate their concerns as accurately and concisely.
#19 || 07·01·08··18:12 || Diane
Jim,
"Man cannot survive without sex..??" ....are you serious! Do you mean for the procreation of the human race, or for physical fulfillment? When I read your thoughts, I am taken back to a self-absorbed, fundamentalist world where the list of "Don't do This and you're a Good Christian" was right next to Scripture. Thankfully, God revealed GRACE to me! Hanging your 'goodness' on the fact that you don't "drink"....(I love that...don't drink what?..Coke, Diet Coke, Wine, Coffe...?)I always loved to see a 280 lb pastor scream about the evils of drinking, with every intention on demolishing the buffet after service. Nothing we do as followers of Christ should be done to excess...NOTHING! Drinking, eating, working, sex....nothing... BUT HIM! God's grace is sufficient to see us through lack of anything in this temporary world....even sex.
#20 || 07·01·08··18:25 || David
I'm pretty sure Jim meant for procreation.
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