INSTRUCTIONS FOR CHOOSING SERVANTS
The letters Paul wrote to Timothy have become known as Pastoral
Epistles, because they contain information for Pastors that,
"....you may know how you ought to behave yourself in the house
of God, which is the church of the living God.." (1 Tim. 3:15 ).
Among the many instructions these letters contain is the
qualifications for DEACONS or those that will be appointed to
serve in an official way within the church. Notice 1 Tim.3:8
"Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given
to MUCH wine..." The NIV translates, "....not indulging in
much wine..." The Fenton translation is "...nor addicted
to much wine..." The Modern Language also renders it the same
as Fenton. The Living Bible says,"They must not be heavy
drinkers..." The Amplified Bible is as the KJV. The literal Greek
reads, "not to much wine."
For the Greek word 'much' the ENGLISHMAN'S GREEK CONCORDANCE
gives among other words these: abundant, great, long, much,
plenteous, great deal.
The ANALYTICAL GREEK LEXICON gives: great in magnitude or
quantity, much, large, the many, the mass, greatly, vehemently.
This Greek word is used dozens of times in the NT - some of the
passages where it is found are:
Mt.6:30; 13:5; Mk.12:41; Lk.7:11; 12:19,48; John 3:23; 6:10; Acts
10:2; 15:7; Rom.16:6; James 5:16; Rev.19:1.
It is obvious the word means - plenteous, great deal, mass, much
or great in quantity.
Now are we to suppose that what Paul was laying down to Timothy
for the qualifications to deaconship was that a man must not
drink much grape juice? What if he did drink a great deal of
unfermented grape juice - would that disqualify him from becoming
a deacon? What if he drank very little grape juice but drank
prodigious amounts of orange juice - would that be okay and so
qualify for deaconship? I will say with Paul "I speak as a
fool." Surely no person is going to say that Paul was here
teaching Timothy that a deacon could not drink much unfermented
grape juice!!
It should be plain to see that Paul was referring to alcoholic
wine. He was telling Timothy that a man who is being considered
for the office of deacon can not be someone who is given to
drinking much, plenteous, a great quantity of wine as a
practicing way of life. Paul is not saying that he can not drink
fermented wine PERIOD! The very structure and use of the Greek
word 'much' should make that truth plain to the unbiased mind.
If Paul had wanted to teach Timothy that no servant of the Lord
should ever drink alcoholic wine, he could have easily said and
used the greek words "not to wine" or "shall not drink wine" or
some other emphatic phrase. The truth is Paul was being inspired
by the Holy Spirit to write these words "not given to much
wine."
There is no way around it - neither the OT or the NT, neither
Moses or Jesus or Paul or any other inspired writer of the Bible
ever condemned anyone for drinking fermented beverages. What they
did condemn was lusting after such drinks, being deceived by such
drinks and getting drunk or tarrying long at them and becoming an
alcoholic.
VARIOUS QUESTIONS ANSWERED
ALCOHOLISM
It is often pointed out by such individuals as Mr.Saunders (which
he does in his booklet) that NO ONE is immune to alcoholism. I
would answer that with the ungenerated heart no one is immune to,
lying, stealing, profanity, hate, covetousness, sexual lust and
immorality and under the right (or should I say wrong)
circumstances, even murder. All of these are SINS just as
alcoholism is. Should we not talk because we may lie? Should
we not look at a man or woman because we are not immune to lust?
Shall we not pick up and use a knife because some have become
murderers with such a tool? Should we not get married because no
one is immune (without God's grace and help) to divorce?
There are many things in life that the Lord gives us to use
(i.e. our sex drive) either for good or for evil. The thing
itself is not always evil, but yes the Lord knows that in giving
it to us - allowing us to use it - even saying at times we are to
use it(such as marriage and reproduction) - He knows it may be
used wrongly, to hurt ourselves and others. That's why He gives
us MUCH instruction on the right use of the things He says we are
allowed to do and handle in life. He knows that the ungenerated
heart of man is prone to evil, that what the Lord intended to be
a BLESSING for us, man would abuse, twist and pervert into EVIL .
Does the Eternal come along and take away our mouth, eyes, sexual
organs, marriage, childrearing, talents and inventive abilities
because we often do not use them the correct way as He intended ?
No, He does not. He cries out to us to come to Him, learn HOW to
use the things He has given us to use CORRECTLY and for our
BLESSING and right enjoyment.
The Lord cries out to mankind to come and partake of His very
divine NATURE - His POWER and LIFE so that man can have the
STRENGTH and the self-control to be able to properly CONTROL all
that He gives and allows us to use. One of the things the Lord
allows us to use is alcoholic beverages!
For individuals like Mr.E.L.Saunders to write and talk about
having more of the Spirit of God and then in essence by what they
say about this subject and those "sipping Christians" deny
that the very Holy Spirit of Power can keep you from ever
becoming an alcoholic, is to me, a denial of the Spirit they so
earnestly want to preach. Let me say again, I have known and
still know dozens of Spirit filled Christians who for many many
years have been drinking fermented wine and other strong drink
and are no nearer becoming alcoholics than this PC I'm using - I
happen to be one of them. The POWER of the Holy Spirit is
POWERFUL - it does give you the power and self-control to be
temperate in all things. I have never been drunk in my entire
life - no not once, and that credit goes to the Lord not me and
His Spirit that He has so freely given me.
To those who may be alcoholics let me say this. You can, with
the wonderful help from the Spirit of God, and good organizations
like the AA, OVERCOME!! It is also true that in many cases many
such individuals may have to stay away from alcohol completely,
although I have know some who were able to be moderate drinkers.
The Lord does not command you to drink alcohol - it is not a sin
to be a teetotaller.
MODERATION
In the booklet "Should Christians Drink Fermented Wine?" by
Pastor Saunders he says on page 27, ".. Mr.Rowe says,'The
Key to Christian drinking is moderation.' Of course he dare not
tell us what 'moderation' means...But let me ask this question,
How is one to make known to all men what 'moderation' is in
consuming alcoholic wine? Who 'draws the line' and where? As a
Pastor and Shepherd of the flock of God, am I to tell the people
that one glass of wine is 'moderation' or is it two glasses, or
perhaps more?"
Now Mr.Rowe in his article did not legislate what 'moderation'
is. Neither do I legislate moderation. Why? Very simple - the
Lord does not legislate moderation! This is what the Lord God
legislates:
"..be not addicted to wine ..." (Barclay) or be not "one who
sits long at his wine" (Earle - Word Meanings in the NT)
1 Tim.3:3. ".....not given to much wine......" 1 Tim.3:8, "Be not
drunk with wine...." Eph.5:18.
The Eternal teaches us we can eat clean meat if we desire - He
does not legislate how much! The Lord taught that a Christian
would pray - He did not legislate how many minutes a day.
Jesus said a Christian would fast - He did not legislate how many
times a year!
Our heavenly Father says His children can wear Jewelry and
Make-up (though some will argue that also) if they desire (if you
have never had that proved to you then study my studies on this
Website) but He does not legislate how much! I could go on with
other examples, but I hope you see the point. Within the bounds
of what God has said is lawful for us a Christian is to use the
Spirit of God, which is the very nature of God (2 Pet.1:4 the
divine power (chap. 1:3), to let the mind of Christ be in them so
they are growing up in Him unto a mature and perfect man
(Eph.4:13-15 ).
This is the development of RIGHTEOUS GODLY CHARACTER The Lord
does not have hundreds of do's and don'ts that He has legislated
for us on keeping the Sabbath - He has given us a few broad
principles only, and then expects us to use His Spirit of
sound-mindedness and wisdom to handle all the many circumstances
and questions that may arise on Sabbath keeping. Ministers should
be on the whole more spiritually mature than those they are
serving, but to think that they must legislate things to their
congregations that not even the Lord has legislated is not only
becoming as the Pharisees of Jesus' day, but worse still it is
setting oneself up as God Himself. Woe unto those ministers who
want to dictate what color of tie, shoes, blouse, suit etc. their
people should wear to services or how long the men's side-burns
should be or the ladies dresses. Woe unto those ministers who
want to dictate how many pieces of jewelry the women should or
should not wear. Woe unto those ministers who want to legislate
how many hours of T.V. a week their members are to watch. Such
ministers are no longer "a help of your joy" but have become
religious legislating dictators.
Some seem to want God or their minister to legislate every act of
their lives - some ministers seem to want to legislate every act
of those they pastor, when to come in, when to go out, how many
glasses of apple juice to drink, what time to go to bed etc. They
perhaps feel some kind of safety in this - no decisions to make,
no personal responsibility, no having to go to the Lord for His
help and guidance under different and specific situations. This
may seem the neat and clean way to do things, "Oh if only the
Lord would legislate for me what moderate drinking is, then I
would not have to make all these mental judgments" is what some
desire, but God's way is not to have us as robots. Sure He gives
us some rules that are cut and dry, such as "You shall not steal"
but often it is the broad outline He gives and we are to use His
spirit and wisdom to stay within the bounds - and that develops
CHARACTER!
As for alcoholic beverages, the one boundary line is, you MAY or
you MAY NOT drink such beverages, and the other boundary line is,
do not sit long, get ADDICTED or get DRUNK on wine. The Christian
is to stay within that boundary, and that is moderation!
IS DRINKING ALCOHOL HABIT FORMING?
Mr.Saunders writes on page 17 of his booklet,"Consuming
alcoholic beverages whether it's wine, liquor, or just 'coke'
is habit forming..."
This statement is totally incorrect!
To say "Consuming alcoholic drinks MAY be habit forming" is one
thing, but saying "Consuming alcoholic beverages IS habit
forming" is altogether another. How do I know that Mr.Saunders'
statement is wrong? I know from the experience of a person
as close to me as you can get - myself. I at times, such as when
observing the seven day Feast of Tabernacles, may consume
anywhere from one to four alcoholic drinks per day, some weekly
Sabbath days I may enjoy 1 or 3 glasses of wine, BUT THEN a
number of weeks may go by without drinking any fermented
beverage. Drinking wine or any alcoholic beverage is only habit
forming if you let it be!
DON'T LOOK ON WINE?
In answer to my statement that there is no direct command of the
Lord that we should not drink alcoholic beverages, some will say
yes there is, and turn quickly to Prov.23:31 "Look not thou
upon the wine when it is red, when it gives its color in the cup.
..." and declare, "There you are, if we are not even to look
upon wine how much more are we not to drink it." Some say this
statement is very EMPHATIC and emphasize the word emphatic. The
comment in the WYCLIFFE BIBLE COMMENTARY is an example of this
teaching.
If we are to be EMPHATIC with the first part of this clause
should we not be as willing to be just as emphatic with the last
part? " Look not thou upon wine WHEN IT IS RED..." So it is only
RED wine that we are emphatically told not to look at - WHITE
wine and STRONG DRINK (shekar) are excluded!! Oh the silly
reasonings of men that desire to uphold their personal emotional
whims and are not willing to let the word of God correct them so
they maybe, "not unwise but understanding what the will
of the LORD is" (Eph.5:17).
Look at the CONTEXT of Prov.23:31. Verse 30 says, "They that
tarry long at wine ..." Verse 32, At the last it bites like
a serpent..." ADAM CLARKE was being honest with this verse
when he wrote in his commentary:
"Let neither the color, the odour, the sparkling, etc., of the
wine, when poured out, induce you to drink it. However good and
pure it may be, it will be to THEE a snare, because THOU ART
addicted to it, and hast NO SELF-COMMAND." (emphasis mine).
The context shows: clearly that this proverbial advice was given
to those "that tarry long at wine" to those who are addicted to
it. They should not be tempted to drink it when its poured out -
they had better stay away from it altogether because they will
get drunk, and when awake will seek it yet again (verses 33-35).
This is instruction is for those who are addicted to
alcoholic beverages.
STRONG DRINK - HARD LIQUOR
It is very important to note that when you relate the words
"strong drink" (Heb. is 'shekar') as used in the Bible, you
do not think of this as meaning what we today call 'hard liquor.'
It may refer to a type of 'beer' that the ancients used, but it
should not be acquainted with our hard drinks like 'gin' or
'brandy.' As for the health benefits of our hard liquors, see my
next comments.
ALCOHOL AND ITS EFFECTS ON HEALTH
In trying to drive the nail home for the case of 'total
abstinence' Mr.Saunders quotes a Doctor Haven Emerson as
saying, "Alcohol is a ... protoplasmic poison ... causes
disease .... causes death from acute and chronic poisoning
... decreases expectancy of life ..."
Here is my answer to this argument.
FIRST. The word 'alcohol' is a very broad term, applied to all
fermented intoxicating beverages from mild wines to beer to hard
liquor. There is enough data available to show that a prolonged
and regular use of our modern HARD LIQUORS is detrimental to ones
health. Their usefulness may be seen in the famous stories of
the snowy Alpines, where the St.Bernard dogs were sent out to
rescue lost or trapped people in the snow. They would carry a
little bottle of brandy around their necks which would often make
the difference between life or death for the stranded But on the
whole, hard drinks should be used very sparingly and not in any
way as a regular diet or your health could be adversely effected.
SECONDLY. As shocking as this may sound to many, Doctors and
Researchers are often to say the least, very BIASED and to say
the worst - plain LIARS! They will often twist the facts or give
you half truths to comply with what they want you to believe
because of their personal views on that particular subject. You
don't believe me? You want proof of this statement of mine? I
will give it to you from the pen of a well known and respected
doctor - DR. ROBERT S. MENDELSOHN, Chairman of the Medical
Licensing Committee of the State of Illinois (who is now dead as
I put this study up to my Website. I wrote this study in 1985).
"Doctors have been shown not to be above fudging and even
fabricating research results when the stakes were high enough.
Dr.Leroy Wolins, a psychologist at Iowa State University, had a
student write to thirty-seven authors of scientific reports
asking for the raw data on which they based their conclusions. Of
the thirty-two who replied, twenty-one said their data either had
been lost or accidentally destroyed. Dr.Wolins analyzed seven
sets of the data that did come in and found errors in three
significant enough to invalidate what had been passed off as
scientific fact." (Confessions of a Medical Heretic, pages 205
and 206).
It should also be remembered that Doctors disagree among
themselves on various subjects as much as the Theologians do on
what the word of God teaches. You should handle the statements of
Doctors as you should Theologians - get ALL the facts from
various sources, PROVE all things as Paul wrote and then hold
fast to that which is good!
THIRDLY. Whatever case can be brought against the use of HARD
LIQUOR on a prolonged basis, such can not be brought against
WINE. It has now been proved beyond a reasonable doubt that wine
is GOOD FOR YOU!!
FOURTHLY. As the LORD has instructed in His word that we can if
we desire, partake of fermented wine and Biblical 'strong drink'
I know that it must be under normal conditions, HEALTHY for you!
The Eternal God would not give us positive instructions
relating to anything if it was "that alcohol(or something else
I will add)in any form should never be introduced into the
human body" as E.L.Saunders writes (page 46 of his booklet).
The Lord God was the creator of man, He knows what is good
for man to take into his body to promote health - He is the one
who gave the clean and unclean food laws, not some doctor in his
clinic or research lab. Why I have read articles by doctors who
claim pork, horse meat or crabs are good for you, listing the
amount of protein, vitamins and minerals in each. The Eternal
says such is not good for you - they should not be consumed, but
some learned doctors think otherwise. The Eternal says wine and
strong drink you may consume, but some educated doctors say it is
'poison.' Such have rejected the revealed revelation of God and
have as Paul wrote, "Professing themselves to be wise, they
became fools" (Rom. 1:22). We are admonished to AVOID science
when it is in direct contradiction to the revelation of God,
"...avoiding profane and vain babblings and opposition of science
falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning
the faith..." (1 Tim.6:20,21).
THE PRESERVATION OF GRAPE JUICE?
I have not chosen to enter this area of contention, as to whether
the ancients knew how to preserve grape juice unfermented,
because it has no bearing on proving or not whether it is
Christian to drink alcoholic beverages.
WINE IS GOOD FOR YOU !
For more information you may want to
purchase the book: GATEWAY TO WINE AND HEALTH by Herbert M.Baus.
Obtainable from Cole's Book Stores or from Deborah Bond, 4
Ireland Court, Islington, Ont. M9A2C9. Phone (416) 233-9407.
(I'm not sure if that book is still in print in this year of 2003
- Keith Hunt).
..............
TO BE CONTINUED
Christians and Wine? #5What God teaches and allowsTHE GREEK WORD "OINOS"
Despite the fancy foot work used by Mr.Saunders in saying,
"...the Greek word 'oinos' translated 'wine' was a composite
word, sometimes meaning fermented wine and sometimes
unfermented.." the use of this word in the NT would show that
it clearly means fermented wine and never unfermented grape
juice, at least as used by the writers of the NT. Paul said, "be
not drunk with OINOS" (Eph.5:18). "not given to(or addicted to)
OINOS" (1 Tim.3:3). "not given to much OINOS" (1 Tim.3:8).
Jesus turned water into OINOS (John 2:1-11), etc.
But Mr. Saunders says NO! And he tries to prove that 'oinos' can
mean unfermented grape juice by referring you to Luke 5:37.He
writes, "This is an example of 'oinos' meaning 'new wine' ... Now
we have already proven 'new wine' to mean fresh juice before
fermentation sets in. Further proof: How would fermented wine
burst the wine skins? Fermentation has already taken place. But
if grape juice were put into 'old wine skins' it would cause
fermentation, thereby bursting the wine skins!" (page 21 "Should
Christians Drink Fermented Wine" ).
FIRST. Does 'new wine' mean fresh juice before fermentation sets
in? Turn to Acts the second chapter - read verses one to thirteen
- especially notice verse 13. It should be obvious, many people
on that day of Pentecost when seeing what was happening to the
disciples and what they were doing, thought the disciples were
DRUNK on 'new wine.' Actually the Greek for 'new wine' in Acts
2:13 is GLEUKOS whereas the Greek for 'new wine' in Luke 5:37 is
'new OINOS.'
SECOND. When we understand the process of how wine was made in
Palestine, we can understand this analogy Jesus was using and
that the oinos being related to was indeed fermented, but still
fermenting. It would seem Mr.Saunders either did not know this
information or was not willing to give it, as it would destroy
his argument. You can find it in past studies on this topic under
"Fermentation." But I will take the space here to quote it again:
"In the climate of Palestine fermentation begins almost
immediately, frequently on the same day for juice pressed out in
the morning, but never later than the next day. At first a slight
foam appears on the surface of the liquid ... The action rapidly
becomes more violent, and while it is in progress the liquid must
be kept in JARS or in a VAT, for it would burst even the newest
and strongest of wine skins (Job 32:19 ). Within about a week
this VIOLENT FERMENTATION subsides, and the wine is TRANSFERRED
to other jars or STRONG WINE - SKINS (Mk 2:22), in which it
undergoes the SECONDARY FERMENTATION..."(emphasis mine).
So do you see how the new OINOS was wine that had gone through
the first violent stage of fermentation and was now being put
into strong new wine skins to undergo the secondary stage of
fermentation.It was at the end of 40 days that it was regarded as
properly "wine" and could be offered as a drink offering. See
"Fermentation" in past studies.
THE BEST WINE?
In the account of Jesus attending a marriage feast as recorded by
John (ch.2:1-11), we see Him turning water into wine and the
governor of the feast calling this "the good wine" or the "best
wine" (v.10). Mr.Saunders would have us believe that this "best
wine" was unfermented GRAPE juice. He quotes from the ROMAN
writer Pliny as proof that Jesus turned water into grape juice
and not fermented wine. Pliny wrote, "Fresh grape juice, to make
it keep without fermenting, was boiled until it became thick,
like molasses, and in that form was stored away in large jars for
future use, to be eaten spread upon bread, or mixed and stirredup
in water to make a drink. When grape juice was boiled down to
one-third of its bulk to secure the finest flavor, it was called
'SAPA' (the BEST WINE)."
Mr. Saunders says, "This was unfermented wine, the 'best wine'
you could get. That's the kind Jesus made." (Should Christians
Drink Fermented Wine? page 19).
Let us look very carefully at this account of Jesus turning water
into wine. I want you to study attentively these comments by ADAM
CLARKE - the emphasis is his:
"...'But did not our Lord by this miracle minister to vice, by
producing an excess of inebriating liquor?' No; for the following
reasons: 1. The company was a select and holy company, where no
excess could be permitted. And, 2. Our Lord does not appear to
have furnished any EXTRA quantity, but only WHAT was necessary.
But it is intimated in the text that the guests were NEARLY
INTOXICATED before this miraculous addition to their wine took
place; for the evangelist says, 'OTAN METHUSTHOOSI,' WHEN THEY
HAVE BECOME INTOXICATED. I answer: 1. It is not intimated, even
in the most indirect manner, that THESE guests were at all
intoxicated. 2. The words are not spoken of the persons at THAT
wedding at all: the governor of the feast only states that such
was the COMMON CUSTOM at feasts of this nature; without
intimating that any such custom prevailed there. 3. The original
word... signify not only to INEBRIATE, but to TAKE WINE, to DRINK
WINE, to DRINK ENOUGH: and in this sense the verb is evidently
used in the Septuagint, Gen.43:34; Cant.5:1; 1 Macc.16:16; Hag.
1:6; Ecclus.1:16..."(Clarke's Comm. Vol.3, p.527).
The basic word used in John 2:10 for "have well drunk"is METHUOO
it is a verb.
The verb is used of being intoxicated in Mat.24:49; Acts 2:15;
1 Cor.11:21; 1 Thes.5:7b. (See Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT
Words,pages 331 and 333).
Using THE ANALYTICAL GREEK LEXICON in trasing the Greek word for
"have well drunk" we find that, Methusthoosi is from METHUSKOO
which is a verb meaning to inebriate, make drunk; to be
intoxicated, to drink freely. This word in turn is from METHUOO -
to be intoxicated, strong drink, be drunk. (See the above Lex.
page 261).
Do you see what we have found? I believe the KJV has a good
rendering with "have well drunk" for the word Methusthoosi, but
the very word itself in Greek refers to drinking well of an
intoxicating wine,a wine that will if drinking of it too well -
make you drunk! Now read again the above comment by Adam Clarke.
We will now turn our attention to the phrase "good wine" or
"best wine ." The marriage feast Jesus was attending was a JEWISH
marriage not a Roman one. What the Roman Pliny had to say about
the phrase "best wine" as used by the Romans, MAY or MAY NOT be
the same as what the JEWS meant by this same phrase. Surely we
would be on safer ground to prove our point by knowing what the
Jews understood this to mean. I submit that "good wine" herein
used is the same as saying "old wine." Compare this section in
John with Luke 5:37-39. Now notice this comment by Adam Clarke on
Lk.5:39.
"...The OLD WINE, among the Rabbis, was THE WINE OF THREE LEAVES;
that is, wine three years old; because, from the time that the
vine had produced that wine, it had put forth its leaves three
times."
The Greek language has shown us that this "good wine" was
fermented - it was "old wine," about three years old, and was
(as given in John) usually served FIRST at a Jewish marriage
feast. Then when the guests had well drunk of this fermented
OINOS (wine) the poorer, younger wine was served. But, as Adam
Clarke observed, "That which our Lord now made being perfectly
pure, and highly nutritive."
NOT OFFENDING PEOPLE?
To defend the teaching that a Christian should never drink an
alcoholic beverage, this argument is often put forth:
"But you may defend your drinking by saying, 'I have total
control of my drinking, I know when it's enough, and I can stop
at any time.' Well, that may, or may not be so. But, dear
commited Christian, according to Paul's exhortation, that is not
the criterion. Paul says you could cause a 'weak brother' to sin
(See 1 Cor.8:9-13; Rom.14:21) if he should follow your example
and become a drunkard. Here is another passage from Paul, the
apostle: 'All things are lawful for me, but all things are not
expedient, all things are lawful for me, but all things edify
not' (1 Cor.10:23).
I suggest this passage 'hits the nail on the head.' You see, we,
as free moral agents in a democratic society, have the privilege
of our own choices and doing as we wish, (except if we break a
law of our society. This would include drinking alcoholic
beverages under certain regulations), but, what Paul is saying is
that we are NOT FREE to do anything we wish. Paul continues,
'Let not one then seek his own good and advantage and profit, but
(rather let him seek the welfare of his neighbour) each one of
the other' (v.24, Amp. Ver.)"
The above was taken from "Should Christians Drink Fermented
Wine?" pages 16, 17.
The scriptures used in this argument are a part of the inspired
word of God. They are true and should be followed within the
scope of how Paul was meaning them. Was Paul meaning that a
Christian should NEVER at any time or place have a fermented
drink because some other Christian whom he did not know, had
never seen, and was not present, might be offended? Was Paul
saying that a Christian should NEVER at any time or place eat
meat, or food offered to an idol, because some other Christian
whom he had never seen, did not know, and was not present, might
be offended?
Let's take the logic of the above argument about not drinking
alcohol and apply it to some other things in life that some
people and some groups take as very important in being a
Christian.
Some large Christian organizations believe that MAKE-UP
(lipstick, eye coloring etc.) is SIN - that a Christian woman
should not use such evil things. Now should another Christian
woman who is not a part of this belief and sees no evil in
makeup, not use makeup at all - never, because she may pass on
the street a Christian woman whom she knows not, but is from the
group that thinks makeup is evil? Many religious (and otherwise
people) are VEGETARIANS - some feel they have Biblical evidence
to uphold their 'no meat' diet. Now should another Christian who
does not hold such views, never at any time eat meat? Should he
never eat meat at home, at a friend's home, or at the restaurant,
incase another 'no meat' Christian that he does not know, has
never seen before, should come along and seeing him eat meat, be
offended? Some Christian organizations teach it is UN-Christian
to wear GOLD, PEARLS and costly apparel. Should the Christian who
does not hold such convictions, never at any time wear jewelry or
expensive clothes, because they may pass on the street or ride
next to on the bus, a 'no gold no pearls' Christian that they do
not know is a Christian holding such beliefs? There are some who
dress all in BLACK as they practice their Christianity, now am I
to do the same because I may walk by somewhere, one of these
individuals and I do not want to offend him? Can I never at any
time, cut my lawn on Sunday, because my Catholic neighbour who
lives three blocks away and I do not know, may believe I'm
breaking his sabbath day? Examples like this are endless!
Of course Paul is not teaching that we can be ALL THINGS to ALL
PEOPLE at ALL TIMES. If we do not take ourselves out of society,
it would be MENTALLY and PHYSICALLY an impossibility to act,
dress, eat, drink etc. etc. so not to offend ANYONE. Someone
somewhere is sure to not approve of something you are saying or
doing.
Read again these verses in Rom.14:21; 1 Cor.8:9-13; 10:23, but
now read them in CONTEXT within the chapter.
Now do you see? Paul was talking about SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES and
SPECIFIC persons whom you DID KNOW or would come to you and say
they were offended by what you were doing. Many would be "weak in
the faith" (not understanding all that God taught on a specific
subject in His word) or new members in the Church of God, and
may, because of their former upbringing, background or training,
be OFFENDED at what you knew was your liberty in the Lord. Then
under THOSE SITUATIONS Paul says DO NOT USE YOUR LIBERTY - as
long as the situation lasts, as long as you are with, or when you
are with, that person or persons that would be offended at you
eating 'meat,' or 'drinking wine,' or 'eating food offered to
idols' or anything where by their conscience is defiled or made
weak - DO NOT BE SELFISH, do not use your LIBERTY, do not DESTROY
your BROTHER (church brother, physical brother, personal friend)
with that which is your liberty to do and which does not defile
your conscience. Paul is teaching us to be considerate of the
feelings and beliefs of others WHEN WE KNOW THEM and when KEEPING
COMPANY WITH THEM or when THEY TELL US THEY ARE OFFENDED.
I have a number of Seventh Day Adventists as friends. I know
their feelings - they do not drink any alcohol ever. When they
visit with me I never serve any type of wine or alcoholic
beverage as I know this would offend them. Some do not eat meat
at any time or on any occasion. When they come over for a meal
with I never serve meat - I will make some very delicious
vegetarian dishes so they are not offended. If I had a neighbour
who would be offended at my cutting the lawn on Sunday, I would
cut it on some other day.
I think you should now get the picture.
DRINKING AND DRIVING?
The high speed automobile was not around in Abraham's, Moses', or
Jesus' day.
In those days they did not have to think about whether 'drinking
and driving' mixed, but we today DO!! The Lord says "come let us
reason together" - the Spirit of the Lord is a Spirit of "a sound
mind." God's word is not a text book on science, surgery,
automobile repairs or hundreds of other technical arts. God's
word is a text book of the basic laws of life that will produce
health and happiness in our physical life and is an instruction
book of how to obtain everlasting life. Some of these laws are
ETERNAL - never changing under any generation or age. Some of
God's instructions are within what you would call "the liberty of
the Lord" - the Lord allows us to DO or NOT DO certain things and
still be within His law and grace, such as eating meat or not
eating eat. Some of these allowences and principles must also be
used with LOVE and WISDOM within the context of the circumstances
of any particular time, as we have seen in the above section of
not offending people in specific situations.
The drinking and driving circumstance is within the context of a
particular time - the age when the automobile is a reality - when
the human mind that God gave us together with FACTS tell us that
the automobile can be a deadly weapon when driven by someone who
has, in some cases, only had a few drinks of alcohol. Through
much study and research many countries have instituted laws as to
what they consider is the safe amount of alcohol that a person
can have in their blood and still be a SAFE and RESPONSIBLE
DRIVER. This is using the mind and scientific ability that the
Lord endowed us with to a RIGHT and GOOD purpose, applied to a
circumstance that is relatively new to mankind, that of drinking
alcohol and driving an automobile. WE SHOULD HEED THIS KNOWLEDGE
AND THIS LAW OF OUR LAND!! The world cries out "Do not drink and
drive." ANY responsible person, SHOULD TAKE HEED AND OBEY THAT
INSTRUCTION - IT IS WISDOM! It is sound mindedness based on true
research, knowledge and facts.
The Lord gave us wine and strong drink FOR OUR ENJOYMENT, to make
glad our hearts, to make His Festivals times of physical as well
as spiritual delight, to make the marriage feast brim full of
happiness, to lift the mind and heart of the down cast, to use
as a health tonic. Wine and strong drink are for times of
RELAXATION and NOT when you are going to take a DEADLY WEAPON
into your hands. And an automobile IS A DEADLY WEAPON! Thousands
of people are killed every year on our highways by automobiles,
WHEN THEY ARE QUITE SOBER!! IT IS A VERY SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY
TO DRIVE AN AUTOMOBILE - ANY TIME .
The Lord has allowed us to invent the horseless carriage (even
they could be dangerous). The automobile like the horse drawn
carriage is NOT SIN OF AND BY ITSELF. Likewise, alcohol is not
sin of and by itself (though some will teach it is) as God's word
has shown us, but it must be used CAREFULLY and with
SELF-CONTROL. So it must also be with the automobile, it should
be used with care and with self-control. And as the world has
proven beyond any reasonable doubt - the two do not mix.
DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE!!
ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND DRUGS?
Mr.Saunders in his booklet writes, "... Mr. Rowe... though he
acknowledges the evils of drunkeness, he argues that a 'moderate
amount of alcohol won't hurt you, nor is it wrong for Christians
to drink alcoholic beverages moderately.' If this be true, can it
not be argued that using tobacco 'moderately' is not wrong? And
how about a 'moderate dose of drugs? ..." (page 27).
Well if we want to speak about "drug" in general, then, I will
point out to you that there are a number of books on the market
written by doctors that admit and state that ALL DRUGS
(manmade pharmacist chemical drugs) ARE TOXIC, that is POISONOUS
to some extent. Some are more poisonous than others. ALL have
SIDE EFFECTS to one degree or the other. The MEDICINE profession
has come a long long way from its founding father HIPPOCRATES who
said, "Food must be our medicine, and our medicine must be our
food."
As for TOBACCO, it is not specifically mentioned in the word of
God, but then a lot of other substances that people want to take
into their bodies are not mentioned either, such as TEA or COFFEE
or PEPSI-COLA. We again must use our minds in a logical way
together with what scientific information may come our way, to
determine whether we should deliberately take into our bodies
certain substances. It has never to me seemed very logical to
inhale smoke. This deduction of mine was probably due to my many
camp-fire cookings I experienced as a Boy-Scout when growing up.
Now we have mountains of factual and research data that show
smoking tobacco is very detramental to your health and our bodies
well being.
The word of God plainly says that our bodies are the temple of
the Holy Spirit and if we defile that temple - if we practice a
way of life that leads to destroying our mind or body, God will
destroy us. He does expect us to physically take care of His
temple. A Christian should not take poisons into God's temple. A
Christian should not smoke tobacco even in moderation just as
they should not take strong toxic drugs even in moderation, for
the evidence of the bad effects of these outweigh by far any so
called 'good' that some claim they have on the body, the nerves
or the mind.
But such is not the case for the moderate use of wine, beer or
the Biblical strong drink. God's word endorses that last sentence
and modern scientific research is ever proving the Eternals word
as accurate.
Wine is now proven to be healthy for you, of course used in
moderation. For it is also proven that many "good things" over-
done, can become harmful to you.
IN CONCLUSION
David Wilkerson (author of the best-seller "The Cross and the
Switchblade") has had intimate contact with countless people,
mostly teen-agers, whose lives have been ruined by drugs and
alcohol. He has written a small book called, "Sipping Saints" in
which he competently exposes the dreadful and tragic results of
alcoholism. While I can also deplore the abuse of alcohol by the
young or the old, and shout just as loud as Mr.Wilkerson against
drunkeness and alcohol addiction, I find that David Wilkerson has
followed the oath that so many others have trod when talking or
writing about this subject. Lots of GLANDULAR EMOTION and very
little scholarly research into ascertaining what the word of God
truly says.
I find Mr.Wilkerson's emotional outbursts against those
Christians who do not hold his "no Christian should drink
alcohol" attitude, very unbecoming to say the least and possibly
very offensive to many self-controlled Christian drinkers. Some
of his statements are:
"Who drinks beverage alcohol. Those whose hearts are in revolt
against emptiness ... Those whose spiritual minds are out of
joint ... Those who have not yet fastened onto a higher love ...
The need for alcohol originates with unfulfilled spiritual
desires. Artificial stimulation becomes a crutch for weak
Christians who have not learned to tap the inner river of life
that flows from God's Holy Spirit ... Why is drinking an
irresponsible act for any true Christian? Because the machinery
of a spiritual heart can run on nothing less than holy oil! ...
The only responsible drinking I know is drinking from the
fountain of life in Jesus Christ! ... Only impaired spirits need
stimulants of any kind ... "
As I have always been a methodical thinker, one who has always
tried to "prove all things" by getting as much information and
facts on any doctrine as possible before arriving at a
conclusion, I find the name calling, down grading and disparging
comments of Mr.Wilkinson very distainful. I do not know how he
hopes to win others to his way of thinking with such remarks,
unless they are ones who are just as glandularly emotional as he
is himself with regards to this topic. I ask those who are
hungering for truth and righteousness not to let human feelings
and emotions on this topic of alcohol rule their mind. But to do
as the wise Bareans did when Paul preached to them, "....They
received the word with all readiness of mind, and SEARCHED THE
SCRIPTURES DAILY, whether those things were so. Therefore many of
them BELIEVED..."(Acts 17:11,12).
REMEMBER IT IS NOT MAN'S WORD, BUT GOD'S WORD THAT IS TRUTH
(John 17:17).
.................
Written in 1985
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