First, I would like to say that I am glad that so many have decided to join those of us who are "biblical literalists" and are so interested in what the bible has to say literally on Jesus making water into wine and one drink being sin.
Is there a verse that says, "Take one drink of what you define alcohol as and it is sin"? No.
Is there biblical principle for even taking one drink of what we define alcohol to be, being sin? I believe yes, or have at least come to that conclusion for my own life. If you have not...that is fine. We also have an awful lot of common sense principles that tell us that even one drink is not what we should do. By the way, I do not drink, not because I feel that I am better than anyone, rather because I know who I am...and I would become a slobbering alcoholic. I am scared to death of the stuff.
Lets take Jesus turning water into wine first. The Greek word used for wine is non-conclusive in my opinion. It is a general word for wine. It can not be proven that it is non-alcoholic any more than it can be proven it was absolutely alcoholic. http://biblehub.com/greek/3631.htm (link to word used in John 2 if you want to look). So this (in my opinion) is where we need to bring in some practical questions to help us determine if there was a chance it was alcoholic. The biggest one of these questions (I will cut to the chase for brevity sake) is, "Is Jesus the minister of sin?". Would Jesus have made wine that people (maybe not even everyone), but anyone would get drunk on? Would not someone have drank to excess? Would Jesus put Himself into a position where He could be blamed for drunkenness (sin)? I certainly do not think so.
Lets assume for the time being that I am completely wrong about the above conclusion and the Greek word there absolutely indicates alcoholic wine, literally...no questions about it. Shouldn't we also take the exhortation in I Peter 5 super literally about being sober? The word sober http://biblehub.com/greek/3525.htm also doesn't necessarily only mean "no wine", but it is the main definition.
I know my heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, I have to trust the Lord to know my heart. (Jeremiah 17:9-10) And I also know that the decisions I make seem right to me, but the end thereof is death. (Proverbs 14:12) I can not be trusted! I will always try to justify my sin! Generally, the more vehement I am in my defense, the more off track I am. This is speaking about my own life findings, about myself.
Bible for what we define alcohol to be being sin? I will skip this (anyone can find these that wants to) because this post is getting so long and instead get onto the common sense I promised.
Why do so many Christians who preach abstinence in so many areas seem to drop this standard when it comes to drinking? Why do we not allow our kids to drink alcohol? Would it be sin to allow your 6 year old just one drink? Does the law (of the United States) saying it is okay for someone over 21 all of a sudden change it being good for you? If we won't allow our kids to do it...why would we do it as adults? Do you tell your kids..."No Billy, you can feel free to snort that line...just do it once" or do you keep them from all drugs and preach the dangers of "just one puff" or "just one line"? What about cigarettes? Do you tell them it is okay to take just one drag? Or do you preach the dangers in even one drag because of what it could lead to? Why do we not allow our kids to do it...or even better, protect them from it?
I could go on and on with practical, very simple questions but I will stop for your eyes sake and just say...if it hurts the cause of Christ...it is not something we should be doing...and the number one thing an unsaved person wants to point out about "that hypocrite who claims to be a Christian over there" is that he drinks...
SL
Is there a verse that says, "Take one drink of what you define alcohol as and it is sin"? No.
Is there biblical principle for even taking one drink of what we define alcohol to be, being sin? I believe yes, or have at least come to that conclusion for my own life. If you have not...that is fine. We also have an awful lot of common sense principles that tell us that even one drink is not what we should do. By the way, I do not drink, not because I feel that I am better than anyone, rather because I know who I am...and I would become a slobbering alcoholic. I am scared to death of the stuff.
Lets take Jesus turning water into wine first. The Greek word used for wine is non-conclusive in my opinion. It is a general word for wine. It can not be proven that it is non-alcoholic any more than it can be proven it was absolutely alcoholic. http://biblehub.com/greek/3631.htm (link to word used in John 2 if you want to look). So this (in my opinion) is where we need to bring in some practical questions to help us determine if there was a chance it was alcoholic. The biggest one of these questions (I will cut to the chase for brevity sake) is, "Is Jesus the minister of sin?". Would Jesus have made wine that people (maybe not even everyone), but anyone would get drunk on? Would not someone have drank to excess? Would Jesus put Himself into a position where He could be blamed for drunkenness (sin)? I certainly do not think so.
Lets assume for the time being that I am completely wrong about the above conclusion and the Greek word there absolutely indicates alcoholic wine, literally...no questions about it. Shouldn't we also take the exhortation in I Peter 5 super literally about being sober? The word sober http://biblehub.com/greek/3525.htm also doesn't necessarily only mean "no wine", but it is the main definition.
I know my heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, I have to trust the Lord to know my heart. (Jeremiah 17:9-10) And I also know that the decisions I make seem right to me, but the end thereof is death. (Proverbs 14:12) I can not be trusted! I will always try to justify my sin! Generally, the more vehement I am in my defense, the more off track I am. This is speaking about my own life findings, about myself.
Bible for what we define alcohol to be being sin? I will skip this (anyone can find these that wants to) because this post is getting so long and instead get onto the common sense I promised.
Why do so many Christians who preach abstinence in so many areas seem to drop this standard when it comes to drinking? Why do we not allow our kids to drink alcohol? Would it be sin to allow your 6 year old just one drink? Does the law (of the United States) saying it is okay for someone over 21 all of a sudden change it being good for you? If we won't allow our kids to do it...why would we do it as adults? Do you tell your kids..."No Billy, you can feel free to snort that line...just do it once" or do you keep them from all drugs and preach the dangers of "just one puff" or "just one line"? What about cigarettes? Do you tell them it is okay to take just one drag? Or do you preach the dangers in even one drag because of what it could lead to? Why do we not allow our kids to do it...or even better, protect them from it?
I could go on and on with practical, very simple questions but I will stop for your eyes sake and just say...if it hurts the cause of Christ...it is not something we should be doing...and the number one thing an unsaved person wants to point out about "that hypocrite who claims to be a Christian over there" is that he drinks...
SL
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