(By : Dessy Ariadna – Stand To JESUS Writing Team)
1. Verses against drinking and getting drunk
Recently there have been a handful of people who call themselves Christians and children of God who teach that it is okay for Christians to drink alcohol and get drunk, it is not a problem and God has never questioned or opposed this. But is it true that the Bible does not have a problem with this? Let’s look at the following verses which state the opposite of the teachings circulating out there.
Isaiah 5:22 (IMB) Woe to those who are strong in drinking wine, and those who are strong in mixing strong drinks,
Isaiah 5:22 (ESV) Woe to those who are master drinkers and champions in mixing strong drinks;
Proverbs 31:4-6 (IMB) It is not fitting for kings, O Lemuel, it is not fitting for kings to drink wine, and for rulers to drink strong drink, lest because he drinks, he forgets what he said. he has decided, and changed the rights of the oppressed. Give strong drink to those who are perishing and wine to those whose souls are bitter.
Proverbs 31:4-6 (ESV) It is not fitting for kings, O Lemuel, it is not fitting for kings to drink wine, nor for princes to covet strong drink, lest by drinking he forgets what has been decreed, and perverts the rights of the people the oppressed. Give strong drink to those who are perishing, and wine to the hard-hearted.
The following verses make it clear that the Bible actually opposes drinking alcohol and getting drunk for any reason. If the verses above are not enough, then here are other verses that are against drinking alcohol and drunkenness.
Proverbs 23:29-35 (IMB) Who mourns, grieves, disputes, complains, is hurt without cause and has red eyes? It is those who linger with wine, who go looking for blended wines. Do not look at the wine, even though it is red and sparkling in the cup, tempting with its deliciousness. But in the end he bit like a snake and pecked like a poisonous viper. Your eyes will look at a naughty woman and evil things will arise in your heart. You are like a person lying in the middle of a stormy sea, or a person at the top of a ship’s mast. They hit me, I didn’t feel any pain; they hit me, I didn’t know. When I wake up, I want to look for wine again.
Proverbs 23:29-35 (ESV) Who complains? Who’s complaining? Who’s fighting? Who’s complaining? Who gets injured without cause? Who has red eyes? Namely those who sat with wine until late into the night, those who came to taste mixed wine. Do not look at wine, when it is attractive red in color, and shines in the cup, and flows in deliciously, but then bites like a snake, and spits out venom like a viper. Then your eyes will see strange things, and your heart will speak confused words. You are like a man in the midst of the waves of the sea, like a man on a ship’s mast. You will say: “People hit me, but I don’t feel any pain. People hammer me, but I don’t think so. When will I wake up? I’m going to look for more wine.”
Daniel 1:8-9 (IMB) But Daniel determined in his heart that he would not defile himself with the food of the king’s meal or with the wine of the king’s drink. He asked the chief eunuch of the palace that he should not defile himself. God had caused Daniel to gain favor and mercy before the chief eunuch of the palace.
Daniel 1:8-9 (KJV) Daniel determined not to defile himself with the king’s food and with the wine that the king used to drink; he asked the chief of the palace officials, so that he should not defile himself. So God gave Daniel the love and affection of the chief of the palace officials;
Judges 13:4 (NIV) But now be careful, do not drink wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything unclean.
Judges 13:4 (ESV) Therefore, guard yourselves, do not drink wine or intoxicating drinks and do not eat anything unclean.
Proverbs 20:1 (IMB) Wine is a mocker. Liquor is noise, and all who are led astray by it are not wise.
Proverbs 20:1 (KJV) Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a riot, no one is wise who is shaken by it.
Proverbs 23:20-21 (IMB) Do not be among drunkards and meat eaters. For drunkards and meat-eaters will fall into poverty, and lazy people will be dressed in rags.
Proverbs 23:20-21 (ESV) Do not be among wine drinkers and meat eaters. For both the drinker and the glutton become poor, and sleepiness makes a person clothed in rags.
Isaiah 5:11 (IMB) Woe to those who get up early in the morning, and keep looking for strong drink, those who sit up until the evening, and wine warms them.
Isaiah 5:11 (ESV) Woe to those who get up early in the morning and keep looking for strong drink, and sit around until the evening, while their bodies are warmed by wine!
Isaiah 28:1-3 (IMB) Woe to the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, whose beauty and glory. It is the withered flower, which is at the head of the fertile valley of those who are defeated by the grapes. Behold, God has a mighty warrior, like a hailstorm, and a destructive tempest, like a torrential rain, and a overflowing flood; He has placed him on earth with power. The crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim will be trampled underfoot.
Isaiah 28:1-3 (KJV) Woe to the crown of splendor of the drunkards of Ephraim, to the wilted flowers on their beautiful head ornaments — that is, the city set high on a hill, above a fertile valley full of drinkers giddy grapes —! Indeed, with God there is a strong and sturdy person, a person who is like a storm accompanied by hailstones, that is, a storm that destroys, a person who is like a storm accompanied by violent rain that sweeps away; he will throw them to the ground with violence. The crown of glory of the drunkards of Ephraim will be trampled underfoot,
Joel 1:5 (NIV) Wake up the drunkard and weep. Wail over the sweet wine, all you drinkers of wine, for it has been snatched from your mouth.
Joel 1:5 (ESV) Arise, you drunkard, and weep! Wail, all you wine drinkers of new wine, for the wine has been snatched from your mouths!
2. Priests in the Old Testament were prohibited from getting drunk and drinking alcoholic beverages
Even the priests in the Old Testament were forbidden to get drunk and drink strong drinks :
Leviticus 10:8-10 (IMB) And YAHWEH spoke to Aaron, saying: “You and your sons shall not drink wine or strong drink, lest you die when you enter the Tent of Meeting; this is a decree forever for you throughout your generations. You must separate between the holy and the unclean, and between the unclean and the clean.
Leviticus 10:8-10 (ESV) The LORD said to Aaron, “You and your children shall not drink wine or strong drink when you enter the Tent of Meeting, lest you die. This is a decree that will last forever for all your generations. You must be able to distinguish between what is holy and what is not holy, between what is unclean and what is not unclean,
Ezekiel 44:21 (NIV) Every priest will not drink wine when they enter the inner courtyard.
Ezekiel 44:21 (ESV) The priests were not to drink wine when they entered the inner court.
3. Prohibitions in the New Testament
And it doesn’t stop here, people out there often argue that these are all rules in the Old Testament and there is no prohibition in the New Testament for drinking alcohol and getting drunk, is that true?
1 Corinthians 5:11 (IMB) However, what I mean is that you do not continue to be close friends with people who call themselves brothers, even though that person is an immoral, greedy, idolater, slanderer, drunkard or extortionist; do not eat with such people.
1 Corinthians 5:11 (ESV) But what I am writing to you is that you must not associate with people who, even if they call themselves brothers, are immoral, stingy, idolaters, slanderers, drunkards or swindlers; You should never eat together with such people.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (IMB) Do you not know that unrighteous people will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Don’t be misled! Not the sexually immoral, not the idolaters, not the adulterers, not the effeminate, not the homosexuals, not the thieves, not the greedy, not the drunkards , not the slanderers, nor the extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (ESV) Or do you not know that unjust people will not inherit the kingdom of God? Don’t be misled! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate people, thieves, misers, drunkards , slanderers and swindlers will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
So anywhere in the New Testament that supports drunkenness and drinking, of course there is none!
4. Verses that are often misused
But it doesn’t stop here, people who want to maintain their alibi often use the following verses to state that drinking alcohol and getting drunk is not prohibited. The following are the verses that they often distort to impose their opinions :
1 Timothy 5:23 (IMB) Do not drink only water, but use a little wine in connection with your digestion and frequent weakness of your body.
1 Timothy 5:23 (ESV) Don’t just drink water, but add a little wine, because your digestion is disturbed and your body is often weak.
Ecclesiastes 5:18 (IMB) Pay attention to what I have seen, it is good and fitting for a person to eat and drink and enjoy all the results of the labor he has done throughout his life under the sun, which God has given him as his share.
Ecclesiastes 5:18 (KJV) Behold, what I consider good and right is, if a person eats, drinks and takes pleasure in all the endeavors that are done with toil under the sun during the short life that God has given him, for that is his portion.
Does the Bible contradict? Certainly not! The Bible never contradicts one verse with another, contradictions only exist in the human mind, the Bible relates to one another and never contradicts one another. So what is the meaning of all these verses? Those who seem to allow it, let’s dissect it together :
1 Timothy 5:23 (IMB) Do not drink only water, but use a little wine in connection with your digestion and frequent weakness of your body.
1 Timothy 5:23 (ESV) Don’t just drink water, but add a little wine, because your digestion is disturbed and your body is often weak.
This verse is not a green light for Christians to drink alcohol and get drunk, this verse clearly tells us that Timothy often experienced digestive ailments, therefore the Apostle Paul asked Timothy to add a little wine to the water that Timothy drank, underline the little wine, not one glass or one bottle of wine like people out there have been misusing all this time, the purpose of the Apostle Paul asking Timothy to do this was so that his digestion would run smoothly and no longer experience problems. In several studies, wine mixed with a little water actually functions to improve digestion.
Furthermore, the following verse is also often misused :
Ecclesiastes 5:18 (IMB) Pay attention to what I have seen, it is good and fitting for a person to eat and drink and enjoy all the results of the labor he has done throughout his life under the sun, which God has given him as his share.
Ecclesiastes 5:18 (KJV) Behold, what I consider good and right is, if a person eats, drinks and takes pleasure in all the endeavors that are done with toil under the sun during the short life that God has given him, for that is his portion.
The words drinking in this verse are often misinterpreted by people out there as drinking alcohol and getting drunk, even though the Hebrew version of this verse does not write drinking in the sense of liquor, but drinking in the general sense.
Ecclesiastes 5:18 (HEB) הנה אשר ראיתי אני טוב אשר יפה לאכול ולשתות ולראות טובה בכל ע מלו שיעמל תחת השמש מספר ימי חיו אשר נתן לו האלהים כי הוא חלקו׃
Drinking here has a general meaning, because this verse uses the word ולשתות which means drinking in the ordinary sense (drinking water or drinking sweet drinks, because the culture of the Jewish people since ancient times has been to drink sweet drinks when they are rejoicing and celebrating something). What is the proof that the Jews drank sweet drinks to celebrate something?
Nehemiah 8:10 (IMB) Then he said to them, “Go, eat the fat and drink the sweet and send some to those who have provided nothing for themselves, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not let your heart be sad for the joy of YAHWEH is your protection. ”
Nehemiah 8:10 (ESV) Then he said to them, “Go, eat delicious things and drink sweet drinks and send some to those who do not have anything, for this day is holy to our Lord! Do not be troubled, for joy in the LORD is your protection!”
Drinking sweet drinks to celebrate something has been the culture of the Israelites (Jews) since ancient times, and this passage has nothing to do with drinking liquor and getting drunk.
5. Accusations against JESUS
Irresponsible outsiders often make accusations that JESUS started the culture of drinking wine and getting drunk, they quote this passage :
Matthew 11:19 (IMB) The Son of Man came, eating and drinking, and they said: “Behold, a glutton and a drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. ” But wisdom is proven true by the lives of those who follow it.
Matthew 11:19 (ESV) Then the Son of Man came, eating and drinking, and they said, Behold, he is a glutton and a drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. But God’s wisdom is vindicated by his works.”
Is this accusation true? The answer is not correct! Pay close attention to the essence of this passage correctly and completely :
Matthew 11:18-19 (IMB) For John had come, neither eating nor drinking, and they said, He has an evil spirit. The Son of Man came, eating and drinking, and they said: “Behold, a glutton and a drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. ” But wisdom is proven true by the lives of those who follow it.
Matthew 11:18-19 (ESV) For John came, neither eating nor drinking, and they said, He is possessed by a devil. Then the Son of Man came, He ate and drank, and they said, Behold, He is a glutton and a drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. But God’s wisdom is vindicated by his works.”
This passage is an incident where JESUS rebuked the Jews who did not believe in Him even though they had seen the many signs and miracles that JESUS performed among them, even in the previous passage JESUS rebuked them with the words :
Matthew 11:16-17 (IMB) However, to what would I liken this generation? These are like children who were sitting in the market place and called their friends, and said: “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we mourn for you, and you do not mourn. “
Matthew 11:16-17 (ESV) To what shall I liken this generation? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call out to their friends: We blew the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang songs of sorrow, but you did not mourn.
JESUS rebuked them for their unbelief, when John the Baptist came preaching about the Messiah and the Kingdom of Heaven, they called John the Baptist a person possessed by a devil just because he ate locusts and wild honey and did not eat and drink various foods like the Jews usually do. Eat.
Matthew 3:4 (IMB) John wore clothes made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and forest honey.
Matthew 3:4 (ESV) John wore a camel’s hair robe and a leather belt, and his food was grasshoppers and wild honey.
The grasshopper here is not an animal but a plant called grasshopper which grows abundantly in the Middle East, as shown in the photo :
This is the locust plant that John the Baptist ate, he also ate forest honey, and the Jews at that time called John the Baptist possessed by a devil because he only ate locust plants and forest honey, and did not eat various kinds of food like the Jews usually eat.
And when they saw Jesus eating and drinking with his disciples, tax collectors and people who were ostracized in society because they were considered sinners, they then mocked Jesus with the words “Behold, he is a glutton and a drinker, friend of tax collectors and sinners.”
6. The accusation of Holy Communion using alcoholic wine
Outsiders who do not understand God’s words often make accusations to justify their argument that the Holy Communion uses alcoholic and intoxicating wine, is that true? Absolutely not true!
In fact, Holy Communion in churches in the Middle East, especially in Israel, never uses alcoholic wine for the Sacrament of Holy Communion (Eucharist). There are two types of wine found in Israel, the first is fermented wine which contains alcohol, and the second is fermented wine. without fermentation (which does not contain alcohol) comes from sweetened first-press grapes, this type can be drunk even by children, this type of wine is used in churches as the Sacrament of Holy Communion, so only people misunderstand who consider the Sacrament of Holy Communion to be alcoholic wine. Even in churches in general, grape syrup is used as the Sacrament of Holy Communion, not wine (which is alcoholic and fermented).
