Should Christians drink wine ?

What does the Bible teach about drinking wine ?

1. Priests are not to be under the influence of intoxicating beverages while serving in the temple. You will notice that nothing was said against a priest drinking a little wine when not serving in the temple. God does not want drunk priests serving in the Old Testament Temple nor drunk Preachers, Ministers or Counselors serving in the New Testament Church.
   
   Ezekiel 44:21
   Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.
   
   Leviticus 10:8-11
   And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.
   
   
2. Paul warns all believers concerning the deeds of the flesh, that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
   
   Ephesians 5:3-7
   But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
   
   
3. There is nothing wrong with having a little wine as long as we don't overdo it by becoming drunk and ruining our witness. A little is fine whereas a lot is wrong because it causes us to lose touch with the Spirit of God.
   
   Ephesians 5:17-21
   Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
   
   

Works of the Flesh

1. Galations 5:19-21
   Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
   
   
2. Simon did not receive the baptism and power of the Holy Spirit because he was not right with God.
   
   Acts 8:18-23
   And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
   
   

Fruit of the Spirit

1. Galations 5:22-23
   But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
   
   
2. Paul tells us that the fullness of the Holy Spirit is contingent upon the believer's response to the grace given to him to attain and maintain sanctification. A person cannot be drunk with wine and at the same time be filled with the Spirit. Those who practice the works of the flesh will have no part in the abiding presence and fullness of the Holy Spirit. To lack the fruit of the Spirit is to lose the fullness of the Spirit.
   
   Ephesians 5:18-21
   And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
   
   

Excess of intoxicating drink incompatible
with God's highest standard of godliness

1. In the qualifications for the ministry a Bishop must not be given to wine and a Deacon must not be given to much wine.
   
   
   1. I Timothy 3:1-7 tells us that a Bishop or Elder of the Church will not allow himself to consume wine or other intoxicating beverage while performing the functions of his office and even at home he will never consume enough to cause him to get drunk.
      
      
   2. I Timothy 3:8-13 tells us that a Deacon will not allow himself to consume wine or other intoxicating beverage while performing the functions of his office and at home he will very seldom allow himself to become intoxicated.
      
      
   3. I Timothy 5:23 We see that Timothy, a deacon in the early church, was told to use a little wine to take care of his stomach problems. This instruction would not have been given to Timothy if deacons were never to use wine.
      
      
2. Rulers are not to drink intoxicating drink while they are making judgments. Such drinking would weaken them morally and lead them to disobey God's law and pervert justice. The last part of this scripture refers to the overuse of intoxicating beverages by those who have rejected God and have no hope.
   
   Proverbs 31:4-7
   It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
   
   
3. Drunkards (alcholics) are listed among the people that shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Consistent overindulgence is a sin and will keep you out of heaven.
   
   I Corinthians 6:9-10
   Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
   
   
4. We are not told to avoid wine. This scripture tells us to be wise and not drink wine to excess; but be filled with the Spirit.
   
   Ephesians 5:15-21
   See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
   
   
5. If wine was not to be used by the Jews or the new church Peter would not have had to make explanation of the actions of the Apostles on the Day Of Pentecost.
   
   Acts 2:13-15
   Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
   
   
6. The nature and potential evil of fermented drink. "Whosoever is deceived" into thinking that intoxicating beverages are acceptable, good, healthy, or safe when taken in excess ignores the clear warning of scripture (Proverbs 21:17).
   
   Proverbs 20:1
   Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
   
   Proverbs 21:17
   He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
   
   
7. The Scriptures tell us of the troubles that an alcholic has who uses wine or other alcholic beverages to excess because he is addicted. This type of person not only wants to look at wine but to consume it to excess. This overuse leads to accidents, bad health, and many other problems.
   
   Proverbs 23:29-35
   Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
   
   
8. Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding feast so that everyone could enjoy it. Jesus was not violating God's law or standard by making an alcholic wine for this feast because He was not operating as a priest in the temple when He made the wine.
   
   John 2:3-10
   And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
   
   
9. God created wine to make the heart of man glad. This is only if it is not used to excess.
   
   Psalm 104:14-15
   He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.