Moderation is the keyword... not only in this topic but in most everything that we do so as not to damage our bodies with external influences.
Scripture warns us about wine in excess in several locations; One being in
Judges 13:7 (KJV) where the wife of Manoah is warned not to consume any at all during her pregnancy.
It must also be understood that the word 'wine' in scripture can mean BOTH a fermented OR unfermented product. Our studies group has traced the usage of the word "wine" backward, from English, to Latin, to Greek and finally to Hebrew. The study shows that the four related words; 'wine' in English, 'vinum' in Latin, 'oinos' in Greek and 'yayin' in Hebrew, have been used historically to refer to the juice of the grape, whether fermented or unfermented.
The unfermented variety of grape juice was spoken of to represent the divine blessing of material prosperity (
Gen 27:28; 49:10-11;
Deut 33:28), the blessing of the messianic age (
Joel 2:18-19;
Jer 31:10-12;
Amos 9:13, 14), the free offer of God’s saving grace (Is 55:1), the wholesome joy God offers to His people (
Ps 104:14-15; 4:7), and the acknowledgment of God through the use of grape juice as tithe, offerings and libations (
Num 18:12;
Deut 14:23;
Ex 29:40;
Lev 23:13).
The fermented variety is spoken of as a beverage that distorts the perception of reality (Is 28:7;
Prov 23:33); they impair the capacity to make responsible decisions (
Lev 10:9-11); they weaken moral sensitivities and inhibitions (
Gen 9:21; 19:32;
Hab 2:15; Is 5:11-12); they cause physical sickness if excessive (
Prov 23:20-21;
Hos 7:5; Is 19:14;
Ps 60:3); and they disqualify for both civil and religious service (
Prov 31:4-5;
Lev 10:9-11; Ezek 44:23;
1 Tim 3:2-3;
Titus 1:7-8).
Wine is also mentioned as a medicinal remedy as found in
1Timothy 5:23, "Drink no longer water, but use a
little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities."
It is the responsibility of the individual who considers drinking alcohol to think very carefully about the results of that decision and how the actions of that individual, if impared, may affect the lives others - family members, co workers, pedestrians and drivers. Unfortunately in many cases, it is the alcohol that does the deciding, not the individual. As a former law enforcement officer of 21 years seniority, I can tell you first hand what alcohol does to individuals, families and innocent persons. Countless times, I had to break up civil disturbances, send little kids into County Protective Custody to keep them from being beaten to death by a drunk parent and to scrape the remains of innocent drivers out of their vehicles after some DUI driver smashed into them head on...
