Winter 1994

Wine or No Wine?

By: Michael Tao

I work at a hospital and have come across many patients with major alcohol abuse problems. To put it in layman's terms, they are drunkards. None of them started their drinking by saying I am going to become a drunkard, then make a mess of my life, and die of liver or renal failure. They all started from social drinking, and became addictive long before they knew it. As a matter of fact, the most difficult step for a drunkard to recover, is to recognize that he has an addiction. One can be a drunkard for twenty or thirty years yet still denies that he is alcoholic. Once I saw a young man who was admitted to the hospital because of depression and suicidal ideation. He was a drunkard, and his depression originated from his addiction. He said he had attended several detoxication programs, but uneventful. He said that he was going to try another detox program; and if he failed again, he would kill himself. He told me in a firm and decisive manner, that he used to be an ambulance paramedical and knew which was the most effective way to kill himself. I have not heard anything about him since then, but if he was honest to himself, I believe he was probably dead. You may think I am pessimistic, but I do see the power of alcohol, and the mystic power behind this eye pleasing liquid.

I always thought people use alcohol for pleasure. Then I was told by a drunkard that it was no pleasure in it, but because of the relief of pain. They are so profoundly controlled by the alcohol, when there is not enough alcohol in their blood streams, they will experience great physical and emotional agonies. They need alcohol to suppress these agonies, reinforcing an vicious cycle.

The largest problem of Canada is not the national debt, nor high unemployment rate, nor racial conflict, nor politicians without integrity, the problem that really drags down the nation is drunkenness. I can guarantee you that the revenue generated in the Federal liquor stores, can never cover the cost generated by problems from alcoholic abuse.

Does the Scripture endorse wine? Does the Scripture allow people to use a certain amount of alcohol, as long as nobody gets drunk?

Wine has been manufactured from earliest times. The first record of alcohol use in the Bible is connected to Noah's drunkenness (Genesis 9), which led to the sin of his son, Ham. Noah planted a vineyard, but he also made wine out of it. Vine is a good source of sugar for energy, however it can also produce alcohol that is so harmful to health.

The "pure blood of the grape" (Deuteronomy 32:14) is not only harmless, but also sweet and healthful. However the yeast bacteria at the grape skins can break down the fruit sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide, this process is called fermentation. The product of fermentation is wine. Fermentation is essentially a decaying process, in which the complex sugar molecules are caused to break down into the simpler molecules of alcohol. At body temperature, sugar that enters into our body is inhibited from this type of decay, and becomes a source of energy for the body's activities. Alcohol, on the other hand, is a result of decay, when entering into the blood stream, it will attack the nervous and other systems. With enough amount, alcohol can kill.

In the Old Testament two Hebrew words ("tiyrosh" and "yayin") are both translated "wine". The former means the fresh juice of the grape and the latter the fermented or decayed juice. When it is translated into "new wine" in the Bible, it always indicates grape juice. In the New Testament, the Greek uses the same word "oninos" for both juice and wine. The word "wine" in New Testament, can mean either the fresh "fruit of the vine" or its decayed product - wine, as the context may indicate. However very few people refer to the original Bible text for their Bible study, so there have been some confusions in this area.

Nowhere in the scripture endorses the drinking of wine. On the contrary, there are numerous warnings against it. For example: "Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). A more precise translation for the first clause is: "Do not even begin to be drunk with wine, where in is debauchery"! The word "Methusko", which is used here, means "begin to be drunk", rather than simply "be drunk," and thus the verse is clearly a command to abstain from alcohol.

Similarly, Proverbs 23:31 commands, "Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright"; Proverbs 31:4 says, "...It is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes strong drinks: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted". We can clearly see that Scripture not only warns against drunkenness, but not to use alcohol at all. There are many other warnings against drunkenness because it will result in a lack of moral inhibitions, a decrease of proper judgment, and a retardation in motor function. It is extremely rare to suggest alcohol to someone with a stomach ailment, so Paul very likely recommend a medicinal use of fresh juice to Timothy (1 Timothy 5:23), and not wine. Remember - the same Greek word "oninos" is used for both juice and wine.

It is significant that, in establishing the Lord's Supper, Jesus was always careful to use the phrase "fruit of the vine," instead of "wine", lest He be misunderstood. Alcohol, a product of decay and thus the perfect symbol of death, could not represent the lifegiving quality of the blood of the Lord Jesus symbolized in the cup at His table.

Furthermore, Jesus frequently warned against drunkenness, Luke 21:34 says, "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life,and so that day come upon you unawares".12:45).

It is impossible that he would use a substance at a wedding feast which would cause drunkenness! The wine which He made was, in fact, new wine, freshly created!

Habakkuk 2:15 says, "Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!" The scripture also put a woe to those who offer, sell or serve alcohol to anyone. It is obviously that Christ would not step into this curse, and contradict His own very Word.

It is very clear that God wants people to abstain from alcohol, so that they can have a sober mind, and be circumspect.

Beaver Valley Baptist Chuch has recently published a booklet which lists 80 some evidences or verses in the Bible, that God forbid his people to use alcohol. Please write to us for a copy, if you have interest.

References:
- The Bible Has the Answer, Henry Morris et al.
- The Double Curse of Booze, John Rice.