Many people call this the question of "
social drinking", or maybe just "
moderate drinking". The question is not one of whether someone can get drunk, but it is a question of whether one can drink moderate amounts, maybe only on social occasions. Since we cannot find a strict "
Thou shalt not drink alcohol", or "
Thou shalt drink alcohol" for this question, we will have to examine the related passages and draw a conclusion based off of principles, wisdom, and examples.
I believe we are agreed that drinking to the point of drunkenness is clearly condemned (
Galatians 5:19-21; I Peter 4:3-5; Romans 13:13; Luke 21:33-36); however, I also believe the Scriptures condemn moderate drinking. Now that you know my position, let us examine your argument about Jesus and Noah drinking alcoholic wine:
Regarding Noah, please notice that he not only drank moderate amounts, but he became so drunk that he passed out! Now, if Noah's example approves drinking moderately, then it also approves getting excessively drunk! There's an old saying that says, "What proves too much, proves nothing." Since Noah's example violates clear teaching of the New Testament on drunkenness (
Galatians 5:19-21; I Peter 4:3-5), then it cannot be considered a supportive example. In fact, it shows how bad drinking can be. Did Noah set out to get drunk? I imagine not, but look what happened after drinking in the privacy of his own home:
Moses by the Holy Spirit wrote:"And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside."
"But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father's nakedness."
"So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him. Then he said: 'Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brethren.'" (Genesis 9:20-25)
It is not clear to me if Ham committed some heinous sexual act (consider "Noah awoke and knew what his son had done to him"), or if Ham just gazed and mocked at his father. Either way, I don't think this is something that I would like to see repeated in my family. Instead of proving the nobility and innocence of drinking, this example shows the dangers, folly, and ruin that comes from drinking, even if conducted by good, moderate men in the privacy of their own homes!
Now, about Jesus drinking wine, it is important to understand that wine in the Bible does not always refer to alcoholic wine. Often it refers to fresh grape juice. We have to look at the context to determine which is under consideration. The following is somewhat laborious, but for a clear example of this point, please consider the following passages:
- In Leviticus 23:10-14, the Israelites were commanded to offer wine as part of their "firstfruit" offering. In fact, they were commanded not to eat or drink anything from the new harvest, until they had offered this sacrifice. How much time is required to turn grape juice into alcoholic wine, fit for a sacrifice to the Lord? If "wine", as found in this passage, does not refer to fresh grape juice, the Israelites would have been required to wait an unreasonable amount of time before enjoying any of their harvest.
- Levites were commanded to eat part of the sacrifices, including the wine, after they were offered to the Lord (Deuteronomy 12:17-18). However, the Levites were not to consume any intoxicating drink (Leviticus 10:9). So, how did they drink the wine without consuming intoxicating drink? Clearly, wine does not always refer to alcoholic grape juice.
- Aalthough not necessary to understand the truth, examining the Hebrew words yields a little more information: The above passage in Leviticus 10 uses the common Hebrew word for wine, yayin, while the word in Deuteronomy 12 clearly uses a Hebrew word, tiyrowsh, which means "new, fresh grape juice". This might be used to explain how the Levites were able to drink "wine" (Deuteronomy 12:17 tiyrowsh, fresh grape juice), but not drink "wine" (Leviticus 10:9 yayin, wine). However, if you look closely, you will see that back in Leviticus 23, the word for wine is also yayin. Because the same sacrifice is referenced in Leviticus 23:13 and Deuteronomy 12:17, we learn that two different Hebrew words can be used for the same thing. Since the word for wine is used interchangeably with the word for fresh grape juice, we know that "wine" can sometime refer to fresh grape juice.
Please note that we had to go outside the immediate context to determine this. In fact we had to go to a completely different book in the Old Testamnet to get the whole story! Sometimes we have to put the whole Bible together to get the complete story. God does not always say everything He wants to say about one subject in one place. We often have to do some digging to answer the tough questions (
II Timothy 2:15).
Now, back to the New Testament and the topic of Jesus drinking: Can you find anything in the context of Jesus turning water into wine that suggests it was intoxicating? As we are thinking on this, let's look at some other passages that should help soften our prejudices, before we examine the account of Jesus turning water into wine:
Drinking alcohol is extremely unwise. King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, advised that we stay far away from alcohol:
Solomon by the Holy Spirit wrote:"Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise." (Proverbs 20:1)
"Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. 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 23:29-33)
Even if one does not sin in becoming moderately intoxicated, even if one somehow manages to keep his mouth shut, while avoiding saying foolish, damaging words, he is still in danger of sinning through "dissipation":
Paul by the Holy Ghost wrote:"And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," (Ephesians 5:18-20)
Like the one who went and buried his talent in the ground, if we waste exorbitant time on any earthly pleasure, then we are squandering the most precious gift that God has given us. This will leave us empty handed to meet the Lord on the day that He returns to judge His servants (
Matthew 25:14-46). I already have too much trouble redeeming the precious time that I have been given (
Ephesians 5:14-18). I do not need an additional "monkey on my back", or some "ball and chain" slowing me down any more. If we want to serve the Lord, then we should lay aside these burdens, so that we can run with all of the might that God has given us (
Hebrews 12:1-2).
Now, you might be thinking these verses address being "drunk", not "moderate drinking" or "social drinking". While I could argue there is great danger expressed by these verses, and I could reference the command to stay far away from similar evils (
II Timothy 2:22; I Timothy 6:11), and I could mention that we are to stay
far away from things that
may be innocent but lead to sin (
Romans 13:14), instead please closely examine the following passage in
I Peter:
Peter by inspiration wrote:"For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles -- when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you." (I Peter 4:3-4)
Please notice that three different kinds of drinking are prohibited: drunkenness, wild drinking parties, and social drinking parties. While the first two words clearly relate to excess of wine, the last word has reference to a slightly more moderated form of drinking. It is a party where people are not drunk, but they have been affected by alcohol.
Finally, please consider Paul's command to Timothy:
Paul by the Holy Ghost wrote:"No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities." (I Timothy 5:23)
Please notice that the occasion for drinking wine was for medicinal purposes. If drinking was a frequent and regular part of the Christian's life, then why did Paul have to
command Timothy to drink a little wine? Why did he not chastise Timothy for unnecessarily avoiding wine altogether and binding what was not bound? Instead, Paul directed Timothy to drink a
little wine, which he was not previously doing. Why?
Their drinking water was not as clean as our water today, so a little bit of wine mixed with water would help to kill the bacteria in the water. This would remedy Timothy's upset stomach and other "infirmities" that were associated with unhealthy drinking water. That being said, again consider, "Why did Paul have to command Timothy to take a little wine for medicine?" Every Scripture has a purpose, so God expected us to get something from this passage (
II Timothy 3:16-17), but what?
Now getting back to Jesus drinking wine: It is important that we understand that ancient wine was very different form our modern wine in one significant aspect: The alcoholic content was greatly reduced. It was dramatically lower for multiple reasons, some technological. Regardless of the reason, common "hard" wine was only about 1%-2% alcoholic, versus the much higher 15%-25% that we have today. Even at that time, one was considered a barbarian that drank this "hard" wine without mixing it with water. The common wine they drank was cut down many times, such that you would have to drink gallons to become drunk. Or, you would have to drink it straight, which would still be much less potent than modern wine.
What kind of wine do you think they drank at this wedding feast, where Jesus turned water into wine? Do we see people getting intoxicated? The people had "well drunk". In fact, they drank
all the wine. Yet, there is no record of intoxication Moreover, they were still able to distinguish the good-tasting wine that Jesus created and appreciate it (
John 2:1-10). How could people have "well drunk", even drank "all the wine", and not be intoxicated? The only reasonable answer is that the alcoholic content was dramatically lower and was not sufficient to affect one's senses or mental state!
Christians are to be sober, serious people. This does not mean that they cannot laugh or have a good time, but they should be characterized by a clearness of mind. They should never participate in something that causes them to lose sight of who they are, Whom they serve, or where they are going (
I Thessalonians 5:6-8; I Peter 1:13-15; 5:8).
In conclusion, I would argue against moderate drinking for these reasons:
- It is difficult to control, and can easily, unnoticably lead to the sin of drunkenness (Romans 13:11-14; Ephesians 5:14-18).
- It is difficult to control, and may lead to our ruin (Proverbs 20:1; 23:29-33).
- It is difficult to control, and may lead to us squandering our precious time and talents (Ephesians 5:18; Matthew 25:14-46).
- Social drinking parties, although not culminating in excessive drink, are strictly condemned in Scripture (I Peter 4:3-4).
- In spite of arguments that Jesus drank wine, the evidence suggests Jesus did not drink alcoholic wine (John 2:1-10).
- Timothy had to be commanded to drink a "little wine", and only then it was for "his stomach's sake" (I Timothy 5:23). Why did he have to be commanded, if it was such a common practice?
- Christians are to be characterized by a sober mind (Thessalonians 5:6-8), focused on their mission and the lost souls that are at stake.
God doesn't always say, "Thou shalt not do ..."; however, for those that desperately want to serve Him, a direct command is not necessary. A subtle hint is good enough. The above reasons constitute much more than a subtle hint. Clearly, God has not shed a positive light on the subject.