Alcohol? Not for kings
Consider the following discussion on alcohol consumption between two Universalist Christians.
After considering both views (‘pro alcohol’ and ‘against alcohol’), you may decide for yourselves which you want to abide by.
“Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.” (Proverbs 31:6 – 7)
Pro Alcohol: A man used this passage as an example of a “stupid command” from God in the Bible.
The Bible does allow for consumption of alcohol. Jesus drank wine. He even turned water into wine. It is drunkenness that is ungodly. If you can’t handle it, don’t drink it, and do not allow your freedom to be a stumbling block for your brot
Against Alcohol: Read carefully (wisdom)
Answer him thus:
The passage is both “merciful” & “instructive”,
Instructive in that it actually discourages drinking since it implies that the one doing it is on the road to “perish”-ing (not commending one to drink nor exhorting that act).
It’s also merciful in that it leaves the choice in a person’s hands in that if he still thinks that alcohol helps ease his problems (by forgetting it temporarily while drunk), so be it. He will only wake up (after retaining consciousness) to realize his “perishing” state. Mercy to “choose” for himself whether to drink or not (“let him drink” not “make him drink” – no commands here; just a choice between wisdom or foolishness).
Jesus drank wine proves what I posted earlier (above) that alcohol consumption (in itself) is not wrong.
However, the fact remains that most of us can’t handle it. It will eventually lead to drunkenness & other irrational behavior.
Christ didn’t get drunk nor ever lost control due to any amount of alcohol.
Drinking alcohol is a sign of an immature faith. Consumption in itself is not sin but the thoughts, words and actions which often follow it lead to sin. It is not uncommon to hear one reminiscing about the reason one did or indulged in certain sins is due to moments of irrationality which arose as a result of alcohol consumption. This is what it means to being unwise as the verse below declares:
“Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.” (Proverbs 20:1)
We can see this requirement for a mature faith laid down with all subtlety when we compare the qualifications needed for a deacon (lower) and an overseer (higher) in the verses below (when taken “literally”):
It is written in Scripture that a deacon (ministrant) is “not given to much wine” (1 Timothy 3:8) while an overseer (elder; bishop) is “not given to wine” (1 Timothy 3:3) at all!
A different phrase used in each of the verse s above means that a deacon may drink alcohol but not too much of it while an overseer cannot!
Remember,
“and be not drunk with wine, in which is dissoluteness, but be filled in the Spirit,” (Ephesians 5:18)
Pro Alcohol: If drinking alcohol is a sign of immaturity, then that would mean that Jesus was immature at the last supper
Paul told Timothy to drink some wine for his stomach.
I personally do not drink alcohol, but I would not say that anyone who drinks alcohol is immature and is drinking for their own amusement. Alcohol serves a medicinal purpose as well. Let’s not look down on someone because they drink alcohol, but let anyone who drinks alcohol always think of their brother and sister above themselves. It’s all a matter of the heart.
Against Alcohol: Lord Jesus drinking alcohol does not imply immature faith (not immaturity mentioned here) simply because He is the author of our faith itself (Hebrews 12:2)
The exhortation is for us to not consume alcohol (as the higher position of faith = bishop or overseer), that’s a requirement (for men).
It’s a matter of obedience which reveals the language of the heart, mostly.
What is the language of the heart? Love.
And obedience is the key to His Love simply because Lord Jesus Himself said,
“If you Love Me, keep My commands” (John 14:15)
P/S:
The Bible allows for medicinal consumption of alcohol (you’re right on this! – 1 Timothy 5:23)
Pro Alcohol: The question is, what does “not given to wine” mean? In the NIV it says “not given to drunkenness.” The bottom line is always love. That is the command that Jesus gave. Let love reign in our hearts. There is no other law needed, for love is the fulfillment of the law.
This issue is not of prime importance to me personally, but there are people in my life who would definitely benefit from not ever drinking alcohol again. There is nothing wrong with being prudent and simply staying away from it altogether. If you never drink alcohol, there is no chance of getting drunk. I don’t think drinking alcohol is necessary at all for anyone’s benefit, except perhaps in its medicinal use.
There are other things that a person can be addicted to. Refined sugar also messes with one’s brain in the same way that alcohol does. It is technically a drug. Something to consider. There is more than one substance that can screw a person up. Even computer use can rewire a person’s brain and Facebook is very addictive!
God bless!
Against Alcohol: Literal translation as written in Greek = “not given to wine” = means not consuming wine (wine here represents all alcoholic consumption).
The NIV translators just stated “what they think” that phrase means and not “what is actually written in Greek“. That’s all.
The Greek word here is πάροινον (paroinon) . It occurs both in 1 Timothy 3:3 and Titus 1:7 and means “given to wine” (not drunkenness).
A good place to see the “literal” meaning of these words is Ephesians 5:18. Here we find “both” the words “drunk” and “wine” clearly distinguished:
“and be not drunk with wine, in which is dissoluteness, but be filled in the Spirit,” (Ephesians 5:18)
1. Drunk = μεθύσκεσθε (methyskesthe) .
2. Wine = οἴνῳ (oinō). Also occurs in 1 Timothy 3:8; 1 Timothy 5:23; Titus 2:3.
It’s obvious that the “root word” = “oino” is found in our passage in consideration inside the phrase “paroinon” ( 1 Timothy 3:3) for both 1 Timothy 3:3 & Titus 1:7.
P/S:
Lastly, if the NIV translators got it “right” (and are consistent), then their 1 Timothy 3:8 should read something like “not given to too much drunkenness” (Lol). I think you get the point.
Pro Alcohol: Ok.
Against Alcohol:
P/S 2:
Here are two verses which states that true believers will be kings and priests in His Kingdom (into the age to come):
“and didst make us to our God kings and priests, and we shall reign upon the earth.’” (Revelation 5:10)
“and did make us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him is the glory and the power to the ages of the ages! Amen.” (Revelation 1:6)
And as long as we are in our weak earthly body, it’s best not to consume alcohol because we may behave irrationally (pervert justice etc.) as the verses below state literally too:
“Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.
Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction” (Proverbs 31:4 – 5)
However, this earthly principle applies no more in His Kingdom (in the coming age) simply because in our resurrected bodies (being made new), we do not have the weakness of becoming irrational due to alcohol consumption anymore. Hence, we may drink wine in the marriage supper of the Lamb:
“He saith to me, ‘Write: Happy are they who to the supper of the marriage of the Lamb have been called;’ and he saith to me, ‘These are the true words of God;‘” (Revelation 19:19)
It is very likely that drinking wine (fruit of the vine) mentioned by Christ in the verse below (in Matthew 26:29) refers to the marriage supper of the Lamb mentioned in Revelation 19:19 above! (note that in the verse below, even Lord Jesus said that He will abstain from drinking wine till His Kingdom is established on earth – literally):
“and I say to you, that I may not drink henceforth on this produce of the vine, till that day when I may drink it with you new in the reign of my Father.‘ – Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 26:29
God alone is Good. He will eventually extend His Feasts (even the consumption of wine) in the age to come to all people too as the verse below declares literally (note that all people will be saved by the end of the next age – post Judgment Day):
“And made hath Jehovah of Hosts, For all people in this mount, A banquet of fat things, a well refined wine on the lees, Fat things full of marrow, preserved things refined.” (Isaiah 25:6)
But remember, drinking alcohol and eating is not the focus of the Kingdom of God as the verse below declares literally too!
“for the reign of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit;” (Romans 14:17)
