QUESTIONS and ANSWERS – Viewpoint

The Apostle Paul is his letter to Timothy tells him to take a little wine for his stomach problem. Was Paul aware that this advice could be a problem to some since many people use this text as grounds to support their use of alcohol?

“Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.” 1 Timothy 5:23

This is a subject, on which, I doubt we can all come to a unanimous conclusion. In considering this question, we must take into account the time and culture in which they lived as well as ours, today.

Was alcohol a problem in the early church? Yes, we read Paul’s warning about its danger in Ephesians 5:18, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” In Jesus day, as well as the early church, water was not always of the best quality. Purifying systems did not exist and so wine was more often than not, the beverage at meals, since it was free of the contaminants that existed in water. It was believed then, and by some health advisors today, that moderate drinking of wine has a remedial effect on the human body.

In the qualifications for elders and deacons found in 1 Timothy 3:3 & 8 (KJV), Paul states that those chosen for these positions should be “not given to much wine.” In Titus 1:7 (KJV) it states, “not given to wine,” but most other translations give the thought of being moderate. These specifications show us that Paul was indeed aware of the consequences of alcohol and though he did not forbid it, the church’s leaders who used it were to do so using self-control.

Jesus first miracle performed in Cana was to turn water into wine. I think no Christian would fault Jesus for doing this. In fact, He did so at His mother’s request. This tells us that the custom of that day was to serve wine on such occasions. If the host had not planned for enough wine for his guests and should run short, this would have caused great embarrassment to him and the wedding party.

Nevertheless, we know that alcoholism is a serious problem in many countries, including our own. It will probably remain so because even in the past Prohibition period in this country, illegal alcohol flowed freely. The Bible is clear on the abusive use of alcohol.

Proverbs 20:1 says, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.”

What should a Christian do along these lines? Is it wrong to drink wine at all? Should we abstain totally because of its potential danger of being misused leading to addiction? Should we abstain because others might be upset if we drank wine? Should we abstain because it would set a bad example for our children? Is it wrong to drink wine when we celebrate remembering the Lord’s death? If there is the possibility of stumbling a new Christian ~ what should we do?

Each of these questions should lead us to examine our conscience. If our conscience has been calibrated to God’s Word, then we should be able to make a decision that would be right and pleasing to God. The motives for our decisions are not to be hypocritical, so that we will appear to be righteous to others, when we truly are not. However, we do need to take into consideration the influence we have as Christians on others around us.

Since the drinking of wine has some value to the human body in some cases and the Bible only condemns over-indulgence or abuse of alcohol, we think it would be wise not to condemn those who disagree with total abstinence, and drink wine at the table. It is so easy to take on a “holier that thou” attitude and look down on others who differ with us on this issue; such an attitude has at its core an aspect of pride, which God hates. See Proverbs 6:16, 17.

Again, motive is all-important. If our motive is to edify the body of Christ, we must be very careful that what we do, even if we have the liberty to do so, does not cause a weaker brother or sister to stumble. Paul makes this quite clear in Romans 14:21: “It is good neither to eat meat, nor drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.”

Let us heed the wise words of counsel in Romans 14:17-19: “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 tells us, “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” But let us be careful not to use our liberty to the detriment of others thereby negating the Law of Love.

E. Weeks