The consumption of alcohol, the lifestyle that surrounds it and the draw that it has on Christians is certainly nothing new. Christians often puff out the “Jesus drank wine” claim as justification of drinking, or even the “all things done in moderation” to even a practical excuse of social drinking. However, if we are serious about our testimony as Christians; we might want to see this from God’s position rather than the justification of our flesh.

Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Deception is the way of satan, not God. If God so plainly identifies the facts that a fermented alcoholic beverage that is called wine and/or strong drink, are not something that God’s people should drink; why is it that those who seek to be called Christians work so hard to justify drinking it?

Isaiah 5:11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!

Leviticus 10:9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

Allow me to pause here on verse 10. There is or SHOULD BE a clear difference between holy and unholy, clean and unclean. There should never be a question from the lost world about the fact that God is clean and Holy and His children are also clean and holy! When we were lost we knew drinking, smoking, tattoos, piercings, cuttings and branding were wrong; yet when we get saved we want to bring those things into our life and body?

Jesus Drank Wine

Lets tackle this with Bible.

Luke 1:15  For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

John Chapter 2 gives an account where Jesus turned water into wine.. however:

John 2:9  When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,

It does NOT say that Jesus drank wine, nor is it identified as fermented.

Matthew 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

Note: “but wisdom is justified of her children”, the context of this statement is a contrast to the statement of rather the false accusation that was made; simply… God’s people should know better.

I can elaborate more to deal with “new wine vs fermented wine” but I will say it like this: God’s people should know better. There should be things of the world we stay away from, that we avoid for testimony’s sake if nothing else. But because there are those that like to run to verses to justify their action and their own sin, lets deal with this one too:

As a Medical treatment

1 Timothy 5:23  Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.

It is no secret that alcohol, taken properly, can be used in the production of; and use as a medicinal remedy. However, as a medicine is not the gateway or excuse to have a glass of wine with dinner at your favorite restaurant.

Is your testimony something that is important to you? Is your “liberty” more precious to you that a soul saved?

Galatians 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Something to consider

When someone meets God there is a change that takes place in their life. The things of the world should not compel a Christian, yet we allow them to. Then we work hard to try and justify them with the highest level of authority we can find. They will point at a Pastor, a public figure, a celebrity and even the Word of God and say see… they say it’s ok; even perverting or changing the words to fit their sin.

Drinking alcohol is no different. The witness of your testimony is as important as the subject matter at hand. One final thing on this topic, I often have said that if you want to know what sin is, you don’t ask a Christian; you ask a sinner. Ask someone who has lost their job, their children their marriage, their home… if a Christian should drink. Remember wine is a mocker…