Wine and Woe

When it comes to mixed wine and other alcoholic beverages, the modern Christian world battles over the subject of to drink or not to drink. The Baptists proclaim that scripture is against any form of alcoholic consumption. The Lutherans believe that pure wine is the essences of the Lord’s Supper. And the Catholics just walk any old way that the current, “infallible man” chooses to lead.

This article makes no effort to establish laws on the matter of drinking alcoholic beverages. Men must work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. I am neither judge nor master.

Scripture proclaims a clear message against overindulgences in all things, including the intake of strong drink, mixed wines, and other alcoholic combinations. The scripture also speaks of a God-fearing people who habitually drank fermented wine. I will not rip out pages in order to make a stand, nor will I pick and chose the verses that fit a particular side of this argument.

Drinking strong drink is like smoking, over eating, cluttering your mind with TV filth, or numerous other shadow sins. By this, I mean that though not necessary sinful in a single act, partaking in these things can become a shadow that hinders your ministry, your witness, and your very peace with Jesus. In fact, shadow sins can end up consuming the very goodness from your life. In all things, it is good not to tarry too long.

As I said, the bible records many thoughts concerning drinking and not drinking. I am going to present only one small collection of verses. They do not proclaim a prohibition against strong drink; they merely post a warning. It is written in this manner:

“²⁹ Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
³⁰ They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
³¹ Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
³² At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
³³ Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
³⁴ 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.
³⁵ 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,” (Proverbs 23:29-35).

Wow. The cost of overindulgences is high. Maybe you do not agree with these statements concerning the suffering that accompanies spending too much time in the presences of fermented wine. You would be a self-deceived person. In fact, if you deny that strong drink can and often does bring forth woe, and sorrow, and contentions, you are at risk of being beaten without the ability to feel the pain.

Is it easy to lay aside shadow sins? Not on your life. But the start lies in learning to refocus and retrain your mind.

How can one retrain their mind? Use the same methods that you follow when learning to exercise, or establish good work habits, or to follow the current sports season. Spend more time doing what you should do rather than in doing what you should not.

Go to the gym of scripture. Develop a timed, scheduled, and purposeful habit of prayer. Seek after the things of God rather than the things of this life. Pursue holiness and you shall not be disappointed.

A mother surrenders herself to the needs of a newborn child. Long before the birth became physical to this world, the child was alive within the woman. Her love grew in a place that could be touched and shared by none other than her and the child.

So too is the truth with God. Long before you can birth His power into this world, you must see Him alive within your heart. Long before you can challenge the shadows, you must come to the knowledge of light.

Jesus is waiting to help. Come now. Receive truth. Conquer the shadows in your life.

About The Author:

Hi, rmharrington here.

Read also about the relevance of truth to understanding at: http://jobshopesolutions.com/hireawriter/christian/christian-outreach/is-truth-relevant-to-understanding-or-is-understanding-relevant-to-truth/

Or

5 Steps to Christian Discernment at: http://jobshopesolutions.com/index.php?page=article&article_id=22848

Many Thanks,

Grace and mercy always.