When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” (John 2:9-10).
No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities (1 Tim 5:23).
I don’t drink wine, beer, or other alcoholic beverages. My reason is spiritual, but not Biblical.
The Bible does not forbid the drinking of wine, beer, or spirits.i
It does forbid getting drunk (Prov 20:1; 23:30-35; Eph 5:18; 1 Thess 5:7).
My dad was an alcoholic. So was his dad, as were most of the members of his extended family. My mom’s side of the family had lots of alcoholics, too.
Studies show that children of alcoholics are ten times more likely than the average person to become alcoholics. Since God does not want me to get drunk, I choose not to drink. That is a spiritual reason. However, I believe that even if I were an unbeliever, I still would not drink as a practical matter. I saw how alcohol hurts people and families. I wouldn’t want to risk bringing that pain upon me and those around me.
The fact that God permits us to do something does not mean we should choose to do it.
It doesn’t bother to be around believers who drink. I’m glad they can enjoy good wine, beer, or spirits. I just don’t want them to get drunk. I don’t like being around drunk people.
Lon Gregg recently retired from being Director of Chaplaincy and Community Care at Denver Rescue Mission. He’s held that position for decades. He told me that he doesn’t buy the current thinking that if you’ve ever been an alcoholic, you’re an alcoholic for the rest of your life. I agree with him. If you haven’t had a drink in a year, you’re not an alcoholic. I’d still advise such a person not to drink. But he should no longer think of himself as an alcoholic.
I’m not an alcoholic. But I could be. And that frightens me. So, I don’t drink.
We make lots of choices in life. May all our choices be governed by our desire to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ in all we say and do (Col 3:24).
__________
i Some people think that Jesus turned water into grape juice and that wine in the NT did not contain alcohol, but that view is not supported by the evidence of Scripture. There is historical evidence, however, that wine was often diluted with water. The wine purified the water by cleansing it of contaminants. However, diluted wine still contained alcohol. And the wine that the Lord Jesus produced was wine, not wine mixed with water.
