Biblical View of Drinking Wine

One of those controversial issues in the church is the question of whether Christians should drink wine or any alcoholic drink. The church in our culture has experienced a tremendous shift in the past century. Before my time, but not that long ago in the span of history, Christians led the ‘temperance movement’ which in the USA was a movement to ban all consumption of alcohol. In fact between the two world wars it led to prohibition and a very violent period of illegal making and selling of liquor. In places like Australia the temperance movement was one of promoting moderation rather than abstinence. But the movement left its footprint in other nations like Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, and others.
Today the church in our culture has a wide range of views about alcohol. I attended a Presbyterian church in Denver that was promoting its ‘Wine & Roses’ Valentines event. It was planned as a February 14th social to invite their non-churched friends. I know of a home Bible study group that developed a ‘wine study—Bible tasting’ evening to encourage their non-Christian friends to consider being part of a Bible study group. In some conservative corners of the evangelical church that would be considered anathema. My father-in-law still argues that when Jesus changed the water into wine (John 2) that it was non-alcoholic. He obviously has overlooked the steward’s assessment of bringing out the “cheaper wine when the guests have had too much to drink” (effect of too much alcohol) and “saved the best till now” (implying the kind of good wine that they used at the beginning of the wedding feast).
 In many parts of the world the national church takes a strong stand against drinking alcohol because of the problems of drunkenness in their society. When I served in Ethiopia I experienced the tension of ministering to professionals who drank wine with their meals as a common practice and the national church which came out of a rural society of significant alcohol abuse. They prohibited any form of drinking, which meant when working with that church (KHC)we needed to abstain from any form of alcohol.
 For me the question became more personal as our children reached adulthood. In their Christian community drinking a beer or having wine with a meal was quite acceptable. What would be our position as parents? Should we teach total abstinence as a preventative against the alcohol abuse of their culture or should we teach moderation with biblical guidelines? We chose the latter though I think an argument could be made for either position.
So how do I construct a biblical view for drinking wine or any alcoholic drink?
I would begin with Luke 7:33-35 where Jesus is citing the characterization of John the Baptist and himself. “John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking (i.e. wine) and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of sinners.’” Jesus is not admitting to being a drunkard but to drinking wine, and it gave the Pharisees the opportunity of accusing him of being a friend of sinners.
Deuteronomy 14:26 says, “Use your silver to buy…wine and other fermented drink.” The reason was to enjoy what God has given us and to eat in the presence of the Lord with joy. Our action was to rejoice before him.
Leviticus 23:13 describes wine as a ‘drink offering’ – the act of pouring it out was used to celebrate before the Lord. It was God’s provision of life and it was a reminder of his goodness.
Leviticus 10:9 warns the priests not to drink wine or fermented drink when going into the Tent of Meeting. It didn’t prohibit their drinking. It prohibited the ‘when’ and ‘where’ of drinking.
Paul, writing to the Ephesian church, says: “Do not be drunk with wine which leads to debauchery.” His prohibition was against drunkenness – losing control of one’s senses through excessive drinking.
Writing to the Corinthian church Paul rebukes them for coming to the agape meal and eating without concern that others had enough to eat or getting drunk from excessive use of wine. He was basically saying that their coming together for the meal and celebrating the Lord’s Table was to be done with concern for the good of others, for celebrating Christ, and not for your selfish interests.
Paul even instructs Timothy to “stop drinking only water and use a little wine for your stomach sake” (1 Tim 5:23). He was saying what science now tells us that there may be some health benefits to drinking wine when done in moderation.
 So what are the guidelines that I use for drinking wine or ‘other fermented drink’?
 1.Wine is an acceptable joy of life if done as a celebration before the Lord. If what you do in your drinking does not glorify the Lord then do not drink. By that I mean, if it puts you in a place or leads to a behavior that dishonors the Lord then abstain.
 2.Drinking wine or any alcohol should never lead to getting drunk. Drinking is not a sin – drunkenness is. Always beware that the loss of control leads to the loss of good character – and the loss of morals and godliness, of right behavior, etc. etc.
3.Drinking wine is for the home and not the church. There are right and wrong places and times. Old Testament priests were warned not drink before going to serve in the tabernacle. The Corinthian church was rebuked for getting drunk at the agape meal and Lord’s Table. Paul said: “Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in.” Enjoying your wine in the setting of home or social event with friends seems to be the proper venue. A place or time for the sole purpose of drinking is an abuse of God’s gift of joy. It is the wrong venue.
4.Recognize the boundaries of eating and drinking. In writing in Romans 14 Paul calls these “disputable matters” and that we should not do it if it causes a weaker brother to stumble. For those new believers coming out of a background of alcohol abuse the boundary is ‘no drinking’ – abstain when with them. If in a culture where drunkenness is a problem and working with a church coming out of that culture, then don’t drink when ministering in that relationship. Disputable matters are settled for the good of others. Wisdom is knowing the ‘when’ and ‘where.’
5.Drinking wine has benefits – for health and for adding joy to life. A little wine can actually be good for your heart and digestion and enhance the taste of your food. To drink for the sake of numbing the senses or to ‘get bombed’ dishonors the Lord. I recall telling my son, “If you drink, drink for taste not distraction.” Enjoy a good wine with your meal. Celebrate God’s goodness with your friends. Anything less is an abuse of God’s provision.
So my summary is this: There was no shame in Jesus making wine. There should be no shame in my drinking of wine. Paul’s guideline is the best. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31)