Few subjects in America are more controversial than alcohol. It is not so in Europe. C.S. Lewis spoke often of “having a pint.” He saw no problem with drinking. But 100 years after Prohibition, Americans remain divided. We outlawed the sale of liquor to address a serious problem. Then we made it legal again because the prohibition proved unenforceable. Rather than a blanket prohibition (as in Islam and Mormonism), the Bible assumes people will drink, but offers rules to control it. Jesus turned water into wine. He drank wine at the Last Supper and said He would not drink again until He drank in Heaven. Imagine: we will drink in Heaven. That should give us pause.
The Bible mentions alcohol often, but much of that is in the context of a warning about the horrible things wine will do to you. Everyone knows the devastation. Minor problems include absenteeism, poor work, or missed deadlines. Serious problems follow, such as fathers who drink their paychecks and fail to provide for their families. The risks are real; the Bible contains hundreds of warnings. And why is it Nazirites like Samson were not only required to avoid wine, but to avoid even eating a grape?
“The Lord spoke to Aaron: ‘You and your sons are not to drink wine when you enter the tent of meeting, or else you will die” Leviticus 10:9.
“It is not for kings to drink wine … lest they forget the law … Give wine to the man who is perishing so he can forget his trouble” Proverbs 31:4-7.
No drinking for Nazirites. No drinking for priests on duty. No drinking for kings. But give wine to the poor man so he can feel relief.
Highlighting these texts alone oversimplifies the more nuanced message of scripture. But it works for me: I choose not to drink because I would rather be the king with responsibilities than the poor man who needs relief from his problems.
God, give us wisdom about everything we put into our bodies.
ΑΩ
P.S. Drinking is a nuanced issue with plenty of gray areas and room for reasonable minds to disagree. Remember the history of Prohibition in the United States: many churches and denominations took rigid positions on one side or the other–and those positions tend to persist a century after Prohibition was repealed. My conclusion is: Jesus drank wine and miraculously provided it to others. Who am I to say it is wrong? Yet dozens of Bible passages warn of the ill effects of drinking. We must do as Paul says, “let each man have his own conviction” (Romans 14:5) and “judge not” (Matthew 7:1). Finally, If you drink often, consider fasting often. Fasting moderates appetites, ensuring we will “Be not drunk on spirits, but filled with the Holy Spirit” Ephesians 5:18. https://dadsdailydevotionals.com/2023/04/06/its-not-if-but-when/
Household Words: 